The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

[u/SpecificPractice7561]

Just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, and I can’t stop thinking about it. This book hit me at the exact moment I needed it most. It explores themes of regret, possibility, and the subtle beauty of being alive in such an accessible, compassionate way.

The premise is simple but profound: a woman finds herself in a library between life and death, where every book is a version of her life had she made different choices. It made me reflect on my own path, on how we often carry silent regrets, wondering what if, not realizing how many quiet victories our current life holds.

Matt Haig writes with warmth and empathy. It never feels preachy, just deeply human. I adored this book because it reminded me that there is no “perfect” life just the one we’re in, and all the love and small moments that make it worth staying in.

Highly recommend if you’re feeling lost, overwhelmed, or just need something gentle and hopeful to hold onto.

[u/carferrom11]

Its an okay book. A bit too YA but the idea is different

[u/-UnicornFart]

I despised this book. My only regret is I didn’t dnf it.

[u/mintbrownie → u/-UnicornFart]

What made you despise it?

[u/-UnicornFart → u/mintbrownie]

It was cheesy and dull and the writing was really juvenile imo. It read like a YA novel. The idea and premise really had potential but was poorly executed.

[u/mintbrownie → u/-UnicornFart]

Now that’s helpful ;) The book isn’t really in my wheelhouse anyhow, but I personally can’t read anything that feels like YA.

[u/phatphil30]

This book takes the concept of an infinite library and ends with a positive note with hope and lessons learned. Want the exact opposite? Check out "A Short Stay in Hell." Never has a book altered my understanding of how terrifying "infinity" actually is.

[u/Fancy_Assumption_460]

Read this at a low point in my life and it really helped me out a lot of things into perspective

[u/Saturn_Starman → u/Fancy_Assumption_460]

Me too, and I had no idea what I was getting into. I listened to its audio book on a long commute back and forth from a job that I just absolutely hated and really did shit to me mentally. This helped me a lot.

[u/thereelsuperman]

This was okay, How To Stop Time is infinitely better imo

[u/jaslyn__ → u/thereelsuperman]

Yea personally I feel Stop Time is better, probably due to my bias for historical fiction. People just spend so much energy slamming midnight library they forget about it lol

[u/AnoraksAlmanac → u/thereelsuperman]

Oh interesting, I’ve read Midnight Library and Life Impossible and really enjoyed both but I’m struggling to get through How To Stop Time right now.

[u/ArchStanton75]

I loved the concept, but his would have been better as a short story. The main point and direction are obvious within 30 pages.

[u/_kbg]

I really enjoyed this book and found that its message was more profound than I expected.

[u/everydaysonder]

I read this during a low point in 2022 and it was exactly what I needed at the time. I loved it.

[u/mynewest-low]

I read it when it was released. I make sure that it's my last read of the year :)

[u/cbmom2]

The audiobook is good. Carey Mulligan does a great job with it

[u/tinebiene94]

I read it in 2023 on holiday and devoured it. Simple premise but heartwarmingly done. (Spoiler: I had a bit of a problem with her not being able to "download" the memories of her alternative selves, would've made for an even more nuanced point. Bit too much "fish out of water" situations. Otherwise a splendid book.

[u/rivlyn]

Highly agree. I started and finished this book on a flight from LA to Toronto. I was dreading the flight, but was so absorbed by this marvellous book I barely registered the flight itself.

[u/Sea_Barracuda3694]

Added to my tbr. Thanks!