The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig

If you’re looking for a book that reminds you, “the only way to learn is to live“, let The Midnight Library by Matt Haig be your next read. A dash of sci-fi, a sprinkle of fantasy, and a pinch of magical realism. For me, a combo of It’s a Wonderful Life and The Butterfly Effect all rolled into one.

Nora feels trapped inside of her life. She struggles with her mental health and feels like a failure with nothing to gain from or contribute to the world. Her attempt to end her life finds her in a different world…The Midnight Library…where the book selection is limitless, each story containing a different version of her current reality.

Nora slips in and out of each book and explores the pros and cons of each life she could have or could be living. She contemplates her regrets, the what ifs, and weighs the sacrifices she’d have to make if any other version of her life were her current circumstance. She asks herself hard questions and faces her problems head-on.

I was immediately drawn in by the premise of this story and was so happily pleased with the way it played out. It’s really a story about the humanity in each of us…the choices that we make and how they shape who we are. Our regrets, sorrows, joys, etc…definitely a thought provoking novel! And I personally appreciated the focus on mental health throughout the story.

Overall this one touched all the right places for me and I gave this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

TW: self harm; depression; suicidal ideation; drug use