Great book! I grew to care for and root for each of the main characters and in this very difficult time in the world, it reminded me that if we come together and support each other, we can ease many of life's tragedies.

Lovely, and sometimes heartfelt, story about what happens when a surprise snowstorm hits and a small library in Colorado becomes the refuge for five more or less strangers. As the story unfolds we find that Nora, Marlene, Vlado, Lewis and Jasmine have more in common than any of them could imagine. A story full of hope and courage.

Nora is the local librarian and do-gooder trying to help everyone, be it by recommending books or providing food packages or a blanket to those in need. Along the way she’s forgotten to help herself and live her own life.

Marlene is lost since her late-in-life found soulmate passed away, leaving her bitter and suicidal..

Vlado is working as a security guard at the library, but dreaming of pursing his Ph.D. in English.

Lewis is feeling lost and regretful, but hoping to become clean and reconnect with his granddaughter.

Jasmine lives with her grandmother and is trying to be a good role model to her younger sister whilst struggling with finding her own identity.

I loved this line in the book: “libraries were one of the last places someone could go where they didn’t have to buy or believe in anything to come in”

This book is about five people( all different) who are stranded at their community library ( I know!! We probably all dreamed of this at some point) LOL!

For me it was a slow start but I did enjoy parts of it.
While this is my first book by this author, it won’t be my last!

I love the plot of strangers trapped together overnight, but this was much different than the lighthearted fun I’m used to. The Night of Many Endings really tugged on my heart strings, and made for a semi-heavy read due to the topics mentioned throughout.

CW: drug abuse, overdose, grief, suicidal thoughts, loss of a loved one

A surprise winter storm hits in March in a little town of Colorado.

Nora, Vlado, Marlene, Jasmine and Lewis end up spending a night together in the library. As they desperately work to stay warm without power, they hesitantly open up to each other. Over the course of the night, assumptions about one another are proven false, and tragedy strikes where they all must work together quickly.

Told from three different point of views, it kept the book moving along, and made for an interesting read. Even with the heavier topics, this book has hopeful tendencies, and overall feel good vibes!

Thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Melissa Payne for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. The Night of Many Endings comes out October 19!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the premise of this book - during a winter snow storm 5 people end up taking refuge in the local library, each is battling their own personal issues and appear to be closed to the world. Through out the night they spend in the library they begin to unlock and support each other. Flash forward six months and how has the night together impacted upon them in the longer term......

This was well written but parts of it were a little slow for me. Whilst it's ultimately a feel good novel it does deal with some very bleak issues (suicide, grief, drug overdose, addiction) so be warned that if your looking for an uncomplicated uplifting story, this isn't it.

Review posted on Goodreads (Cheryl Surgeoner) and Instagram @bibliomaniac_ni

The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne was a wonderful read. A group of misfits are brought together by forces outside their control and leads to each of them learning someting about themselves. I was quickly drawn in by this diverse cast of characters. It highlighted their characteristics so well, both negative and positive. This was a book that I did not want to put down.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

When there's a big snow storm a group of unlikely characters find themselves snowed in at the local library. These include Nora the librarian worried about her homeless brother, a cantankerous old lady, a teenager with a secret and Lewis a homeless, drug addict. Over the course of the night they get to know each other and their stories

This was an uplifting read on many counts, hard hitting and thought provoking. Certainly brings home the point of never judging a book by its cover!

The characters are beautifully thought out and written, making most of them likeable. Even the old lady has a soft centre!!!

Locked inside a library overnight? This sounds like a dream. Until it turns into reality and suddenly, it isn’t quite a dream anymore. Diverse characters and personalities drive this for a book club pick. .

There are a lot of conceptions about being locked in a library overnight….but not quite like this. The collision of the characters’ lives, and the resulting changes that sprang from that night had me thoroughly invested. A sad, hopeful, very enjoyable read.

I read more than half of this book but wasn't compelled to finish it and couldn't find the option for "Will Not Give Feedback".
The story was interesting but something was missing for me with the characters... I was okay with not knowing how it all turned out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of Melissa Payne’s latest novel, The Night of Many Endings, in exchange for an honest review.
While I enjoyed Melissa Payne's previous book this one was really hard for me to connect with as a reader. I find myself struggling to focus on the story between the main characters. Since most of the book is set in the library while learning about various characters backstories I felt something was missing to hook me into this book. This book dealt with addiction, death, and loneliness which most people can relate to in some shape or form. It was just something about the chemistry of all the characters that did not interest me even though the writing was done fine.

The beginning of this book drew me in SO quickly. I was so invested in Nora's life. She was such a sweet woman with so much love and hope. It really made me stop and quesion myself and how I treat people who have struggled with addiction and homelessness because she always makes sure that she is kind, understanding and helpful.

The other characters really didn't capture my attention like Nora did, and for that reason, the book fell a little flat for me. I felt myself skimming through everyone else's chapters to get back to Nora's.

Orphaned at a young age and witness to her brother’s decline into addiction, Nora Martinez has every excuse to question the fairness of life. Instead, the openhearted librarian in the small Colorado community of Silver Ridge sees the only promise. She holds on to the hope that she’ll be reunited with her missing brother and does what she can at the town library. It’s her home away from home, but it’s also a sanctuary for others who, like her brother, could use a second chance.

There’s Marlene, an elderly loner who believes that, apart from her husband, there’s little good left in the world; Jasmine, a troubled teen; Lewis, a homeless man with lost hope and one last wish; and Vlado, the security guard who loves a good book and, from afar, Nora.

As a winter storm buries Silver Ridge, this collection of lonely hearts takes shelter in the library. They’ll discover more about each other, and themselves, than they ever knew—and Nora will be forced to question her brother’s disappearance in ways she never could have imagined. No matter how stranded in life they feel, this fateful night could be the new beginning they didn’t think was possible.

I totally loved The Night of Many Endings, Wonderfully written, and I related to each person. It showed many pov, but the people were so different. Touched on addiction, pain, loneliness and making it through a cold lonely night. I read the book in a day. Could not stop for long. Well done.

This one has a compelling premise – a winter snowstorm hits a mountain town in Colorado and a diverse group of people take shelter inside the library. It’s a gorgeous Carnegie library in Silver Ridge, but as the night goes on without power it’s drafty, cold, and dark.

Librarian Nora has become a community leader and she is always helping people, especially the homeless and those with addiction. Once you learn that she has a brother in just this situation, you understand her passion. She doesn’t know where her brother is but hopes that someone is helping him like she helps others.

Also in the library are the security guard, Vlado; a grumpy senior Marlene; a teenager with a few secrets, Jasmine; and finally, Lewis, a homeless man.

As the snow piles up outside, we learn more about each of these people and secrets begin to come out. Some of Marlene’s assumptions are challenged and Lewis opens up about why he is in his situation.

This one had a slow start, and I did prefer the second half. This one doesn’t feel dark, but does have themes of addiction, homelessness, loneliness, and depression. It’s ultimately hopeful, but I was not emotionally pulled into this one.

CAN ONE NIGHT CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

The “feel” of this book is “cozy” but the issues tackled-LONLINESS, HOMELESSNESS, GUILT and ADDICTION are ANYTHING BUT.

A severe Winter Storm is brewing in Silver Ridge, Colorado and five residents are forced to shelter in place at the town library, until it passes.

Fortunately, Nora Martinez is a librarian with an open heart and an open door. She realizes that libraries are one of the few places left where you don’t have to buy something to enter, and where everyone is welcome.

Her brother is missing, and possibly homeless after battling with addiction and she volunteers at the homeless shelter, and passes out food and other supplies to others who share this fate.

She and her security guard, Vlado are inside with the last remaining patrons, Marlene-a lonely Widow and Jasmine, a troubled teen when they spot Lewis, a homeless man, outside in the raging storm, and usher him in.

The SNOW ❄️ will come down all night.

And, little by little, the walls they have built up to protect themselves, will come down too.

I struggled to connect with the first half of the book, as you are told about the characters through their reflection and reminiscing, through alternating POV’s. The second half, was better, as the characters began to engage with one another and pull together to survive the many challenges they will face overnight.

Although there was a heartwarming scene or two, I expected this story to touch me more emotionally than it did.
The ending is definitely FEEL GOOD FICTION-wrapped up neatly with a bow! 🎁

3.5 ⭐️

This one was a really great look into "you never know what someone is going through." I love that they all came together in a library during a snowstorm. There are some really interesting characters here. Not my favorite book ever set in a library, but it is good.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

Nora is hoping her brother is sober and still crashing with friends. I liked the characters,dialogue and descriptions. Amanda is trying to be a good friend through Mario's sobriety and potential homelessness. I liked that Nora helped with the homeless. I was rooting for Mario to be safe and sober

The Night of Many Endings
By Melissa Payne

The Night of Many Endings was a feel-good story that we could all use now! Nora Martinez had a challenging childhood (who didn’t?). She also had the unfortunate view of watching her brother’s demise due to an early tragedy. I wasn’t a fan of how often the author had Nora thinking about her brother, which seemed like every other page. However, I got past that to the basic premise of the story, which revolved around 5 very different people who ended up sharing a long night in a library, where Nora worked. The various scenarios that played out during the night and afterward were very thought-provoking. Each of the people brought their life experiences, prejudices, demons, and expectations to the group that one faithful night. It was interesting to see how they navigated unavoidable situations and the take always they sometimes did or did not absorb into their future life actions. I believe the author's intent is for you to really think beyond what is written on the page about the characters and situations. A library is a special place and being surrounded by books that can take you on any mind adventure, seems to be the perfect stage for this lovely story.

What a beautiful piece of literature. The development of the characters was something to behold. The descriptive writing put me right in the library with them. I was feeling the cold. All I can say is this is a stunning piece of work.

Orphaned at a young age and witness to her brother’s decline into addiction, Nora Martinez has every excuse to question the fairness of life. Instead, the openhearted librarian in the small Colorado community of Silver Ridge sees only promise. She holds on to the hope that she’ll be reunited with her missing brother and does what she can at the town library. It’s her home away from home, but it’s also a sanctuary for others who, like her brother, could use a second chance.

There’s Marlene, an elderly loner who believes that, apart from her husband, there’s little good left in the world; Jasmine, a troubled teen; Lewis, a homeless man with lost hope and one last wish; and Vlado, the security guard who loves a good book and, from afar, Nora.

As a winter storm buries Silver Ridge, this collection of lonely hearts takes shelter in the library. They’ll discover more about each other, and themselves, than they ever knew—and Nora will be forced to question her brother’s disappearance in ways she never could have imagined. No matter how stranded in life they feel, this fateful night could be the new beginning they didn’t think was possible.

I read this book in one sitting in less than a day and loved every minute of it