This is a story of a young woman searching for a reason to stay alive. She has so many missed opportunities that she starts looking back over her life and feels she has wasted it. When she tries to end it she proceeds to the Midnight Library. It's a storage of all memories and gives Nora a chance to see what might have been. 12 different possibilities to reunite with her brother, an old boyfriend, a girlfriend that moved away. All in all a good fantasy story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A good read about a women looking to find the life she should have lived.

Nora ends up at the Midnight Library where books will help her find out if she is really living the life she should. An interesting concept but one that feels a little contrived and goes on a bit too lone. I enjoyed the premise of the novel but did not find that it really resonated with me.

This was such a captivating and soothing story! Easy to see why it's been so beloved by so many friends and coworkers.

This is one of those books that, if you read when you really need it, will leave a lasting impression upon the reader. It is lyrical and thought provoking but has enough plot and character development to keep the reader engaged. Huge trigger warning for suicide, suicidal thoughts, overdose, and depression.

This book was a wonderful breath of fresh air. It was so easy to pick up and difficult to put down. I read it so quick and it recharged my reading batteries.

The Midnight Library
by Matt Haig
This book seemed so exciting when I read the summary, alast The Midnnight Library, was not what I expected from the author.I thought the the concept of a Library that you enter when contemplating sucide or in a depressed state of mind was a novel idea.

Nora is young, depressed and in need to look at possibilities that could make her life better, more livable. She arrives at the Midnight Library, where "Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived.

Nora enters The Midnight Library in a state of mind where, to paraphrase Robert Frost, “where two roads diverged" and Nora realises she took the wrong turn. The author repeatedly gives Nora a chances to choose a different life. None of these offered choices appealed to Nora. Nora continues on her quest for the right book. Trying book after book, trying out life after life until as a surprise ending, she realizes what needs to be done with her life.

This book is to me into a merging of different books I have read, The Christmas Carol, where Nora sees the future and is not satisfied with the present. Ground Hogs Day, Nora now repeatedly tries new books to searching to find a different life. Finally I was ready to stop reading, when Nora realizes the truth.

Thank you to Netgallery and Penguin Group for the ARC format of this book, for my honest review.
I gave this book 4 stars I felt that the endless choices made the book a slow read. I am sorry for this late review, I read this a second time because the concept of this novel was intriguing, though book to me was to long.

Vaguely reminiscent of “It’s a Wonderful Life”, this book illustrates the importance of seemingly insignificant decisions and their myriad potential consequences. A fantastic read for those under the misconception that “the grass is always greener...”

Well written but disappointingly predictable, from the regrets, to the insights, to the ending. The theory and execution of the library itself was cursory -- a good idea badly executed. Not sure why this is so popular, except that people seem to want something easy with a happy ending to read because of the pandemic. Will not recommend.

What goes on in a rare library at night? A new job and a 24 library that has few patrons. An interesting find.

I enjoyed the the unique plot of this book. While the idea of living one's life again or the every famous Capra-esque "I wish I was never born" has been done before, it has never been done quite like this. That being said it is definitely a book that will resonate and affect each person differently, I think it depends on where you are in your life. I like the plot, the writing was above average, but the philopshy didn't impress upon me, therefore I gave it 3 stars. However I can see how others would give it a higher rating.

Angst filled and bittersweet, The Midnight library is the story of Nora and complex choices. Nora has a chance to begin a new life through her missed opportunities, but is that what Nora truly wants? A story filled with heartache and happiness, Nora takes a look at her own life's regrets and realizes that missed opportunities often best left alone.

The Midnight Library is an emotional and interesting tale of regrets we have and what we do with them. What choices would we change if we had the chance to do so...and the different lives we could lead. This book is fast paced and quite captivating. I really loved it.

Nora is having the worst day. Her cat dies, her boss fires her, she runs into a former bandmate that is still bitter she left and cost them a music deal, an old high school associate reminds her that she could have been an Olympic swimmer, and her old neighbor no longer needs her assistance. Nora has nothing and no one, and decides that she just isn't going to stick around anymore. Nora take a bunch of pills and as the click slips to midnight, she closes her eyes, only to wake up in front of a strange building. There Nora is greeted by her old elementary school librarian, Mrs. Elm, and is informed that she is in the Midnight Library. While she's here, she can take the chance to read any of the books about her parallel lives, and find one that she'd rather live in. As Nora jumps from possible life to possible life, she becomes increasingly frustrated as all these lives have their own disappointments. As Nora struggles with what is happening and what her future could possibly be, she is reminded about all of the reasons life is worth living. A very unique take on the parallel universe theory, and what life after death could actually be. Well worth the read.

I like the premise of this book. It is an original idea. I enjoyed it. but it was very quick and I never really sank into it like I wanted to.

I really enjoyed reading the Midnight Library. I selected this title because "the whole world" was reading it and as a librarian, I felt I should learn why. Let me say upfront that my preferred reading alternates between action adventure, fantasy with strong "do the right thing" but flawed protagonists, and sarcastic humorous stories. This book did not appear to fit into my usual preferred reading. In fact, the first two chapters, although very important to the overall story, were so depressing that I fought to keep myself reading. As the tale progressed, I discovered that I began waiting for the evening so that I would have time to continue the story. By the end, I realized the tale had enough action and fantasy for me to change my mind. I am now able conduct a reader's advisory promoting the title. My main caveat will be, "If you find the beginning depressing, stick with it! The beginning is depressing, but also essential to the tale. I found it worth reading to the very end.

I was hesitant going into a book about a suicide victim. I really enjoyed the premise of this story and the many lives of Nora. I really ended up rooting for Nora to find her one story that suited her. It made me think about my own regrets and how to let go.

Interesting concept, just not as deep as I was hoping for. Can see how so many loved it. Just not for me.

I absolutely loved this. Matt Haig is such an interesting author with very thought-provoking things to say. He presented such unique concepts in this book that really had me thinking and contemplating the entire way through the story. Not only was I wanting to know what the main character decided to do, but it made me think very hard each time she contemplated a different option for her life, especially when she thought she found one she wanted to stay in. It was just such a beautiful story and I can't wait to see what Matt Haig delivers next.

This is one of those books that I kept hearing was wonderful and grabbed without knowing anything about the plot. I thought this book was beautiful. As someone who often does wonder, "How would my life be different if I went down this other path?", I loved that this book explored that idea in such an imaginative way. I felt that I could relate to Nora and thoroughly enjoyed her journey. This was a great book to start the new year, especially after a year like 2020, and to find a renewed appreciation for the life one has.

The Midnight Library is a story about life, death and what ifs. Nora feels like her life is amounting to nothing and that it is no longer worth living. Upon attempting to commit suicide, she finds herself in the midnight library. Here time stands still and Nora is in between life and death. In the library she is able to "try on" different versions of her life.

“The only way to learn is to live"

I very much enjoyed this book. The concept of being able to go back and make different choices has always been something I've thought about. There is something about thinking "what-if" and this book really shows the huge impact small choices can make. Throughout the book I found myself pausing and thinking about my life and how I want to live. Nora's life and her struggles felt relatable, sometimes I wanted to reach into the book and hug her. Overall I thought this was a wonderful book and I would recommend it to anyone!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Viking for my dARc of this book! The Midnight Library is now available for purchase.