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yalena's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
***2.75 *** T.W. talk about self-harm****
I kept seeing this book everywhere so when I got the chance to buy it, I did!
I love the premise of the book as I have never read anything like it. It was philosophical and heart warming. It teetered on a self-help premise but there is only so many ways to handle suicide that allow it to hold a positive nature. The book was very plot-driven in my eyes. I never found myself fully invested in Nora, I just wanted to see what happened at the end. The ending was sweet and definitely perfect for the book, I wasn’t left wanting much more. The part where she met Hugo honestly threw me off and I don’t know why.
I’d recommend this book but also would warn people that the whole premise of the book is centered around suicide. I would have liked a bit of a disclaimer, not for me, but for others that may not be in the headspace to jump into this book.
I kept seeing this book everywhere so when I got the chance to buy it, I did!
I love the premise of the book as I have never read anything like it. It was philosophical and heart warming. It teetered on a self-help premise but there is only so many ways to handle suicide that allow it to hold a positive nature. The book was very plot-driven in my eyes. I never found myself fully invested in Nora, I just wanted to see what happened at the end. The ending was sweet and definitely perfect for the book, I wasn’t left wanting much more. The part where she met Hugo honestly threw me off and I don’t know why.
I’d recommend this book but also would warn people that the whole premise of the book is centered around suicide. I would have liked a bit of a disclaimer, not for me, but for others that may not be in the headspace to jump into this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
****TW*** THE BOOK USES SUCIDE AS ITS PREFACE AND TENSION THROUGHOUT THE STORYLINE. BE AWARE OF THIS AS THERE IS NEVER AN INCLINATION OF THIS IN ANY OF THE SUMMARIESabigailhartnett's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Vomit
swivelandjess's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide attempt
hdersh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Self harm
ryyzap's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book had a strange mix of being pretentious yet predictable, simple yet profound almost as if it were deep but only on the surface. I would say it was a nice easy read but it explores a lot of dark themes rather rashly and the message would likely be hidden behind all the triggers for those the message is intended for.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Animal death, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
‼️TW: Suicide/ SI
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•
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Oooh we’re gonna get honest and dark with this review, folks… buckle up or back out now!
I’ve been suicidal (always passively, and sometimes actively) since I was 6-years-old. That’s not a typo. I can very clearly remember sitting in my childhood bedroom, legs dangling off of the edge of my red bunk bed, and thinking “I’m going to kill myself.” I’ve managed to trick myself into staying alive for the last 30 years, but I can’t say it’s been easy and I’ve made a lot of choices I wish I could take back - closed a lot of doors I wish I had walked through, run through others that I should have slammed shut. In the really dark moments the thing I regret most is not just ending things when I was 6 or 16 or 26. A whole book of regrets.
The concept of The Midnight Library really appealed to me. On the edge of death, Nora is given the opportunity to address her greatest regrets and sample the lives she could have had if she’d made different choices, in the hopes of find one where she could be happy - one where she would want to keep living. Spoiler Alert:She learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and that there is still time to save herself and make positive changes in her real (“root”) life. Must be nice.
Maybe it’s wrong for me to hate the optimistic ending, but I do. If an anti-suicide message was the goal (and of course it was, because who is out here writing pro-suicide novels?) I truly would’ve preferred the gut punch ending of Nora realizing her root life was the best one for her and still dying anyway. A “learn from this character’s mistake” kind of approach. You made your death bed, now die in it.
Disappointing ending aside, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not great either. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters, it’s difficult to stay grounded in a story that’s primarily spent jumping between different lives, and there were plot points that were just fully abandoned (like Hugo and the other “sliders”… why even bother with that?) but it’s an enjoyable enough concept, easy to binge, and most of the chapters are very short, which I love. I doubt I would pick this book up again, but it was a decent way to occupy my brain for a couple of days.
•
•
•
Oooh we’re gonna get honest and dark with this review, folks… buckle up or back out now!
I’ve been suicidal (always passively, and sometimes actively) since I was 6-years-old. That’s not a typo. I can very clearly remember sitting in my childhood bedroom, legs dangling off of the edge of my red bunk bed, and thinking “I’m going to kill myself.” I’ve managed to trick myself into staying alive for the last 30 years, but I can’t say it’s been easy and I’ve made a lot of choices I wish I could take back - closed a lot of doors I wish I had walked through, run through others that I should have slammed shut. In the really dark moments the thing I regret most is not just ending things when I was 6 or 16 or 26. A whole book of regrets.
The concept of The Midnight Library really appealed to me. On the edge of death, Nora is given the opportunity to address her greatest regrets and sample the lives she could have had if she’d made different choices, in the hopes of find one where she could be happy - one where she would want to keep living. Spoiler Alert:
Maybe it’s wrong for me to hate the optimistic ending, but I do. If an anti-suicide message was the goal (and of course it was, because who is out here writing pro-suicide novels?) I truly would’ve preferred the gut punch ending of Nora realizing her root life was the best one for her and still dying anyway. A “learn from this character’s mistake” kind of approach. You made your death bed, now die in it.
Disappointing ending aside, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not great either. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters, it’s difficult to stay grounded in a story that’s primarily spent jumping between different lives, and there were plot points that were just fully abandoned (like Hugo and the other “sliders”… why even bother with that?) but it’s an enjoyable enough concept, easy to binge, and most of the chapters are very short, which I love. I doubt I would pick this book up again, but it was a decent way to occupy my brain for a couple of days.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Death, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, and Animal death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cancer, Car accident, Drug abuse, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
xgabrielle_hx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Medical content, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
happyeditx's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A warm blanket in a world of sorrow
The Midnight Library is everything I hoped it would be and more. It's a straightforward plot with lovable characters, interesting theories about life and literary/historical references that are easy ti understand if you know the context. Some people call this book full of clichés, but I encourage you to find the deeper meaning behind those. For example; The reason Nora returns to the library in her popstar life isn't because the fame got too much, but because of her brother's death that she blamed herself for. The book took me on a trip through Nora's world, thoughts and feelings. Nora is a lovable character with great humor and is very relatable. Although it's a reflective novel, it doesn't wreck your brain. Everything feels light yet there is always an underlying inexplicable tension.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
Although it contains mentions of suicide, it's very brief and leaves it over to the imagination. I am someone who is very sensitive with that topic and it wasn't a problem for me.lisailacqua's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
magecosplay's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Such a strong premise, but the overall effect couldn't live up to it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt