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pianokeys's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- 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
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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:
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.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
saramacna's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
martian1119's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
margolovie89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
mangofraiche's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
kirst_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
eefjeee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty, Self harm, and Vomit
snazzysie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
P.S read for Laufey's book club! Always trust that queen!
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
shaleen64's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book initially is challenging due to how directly it covers issues relating to mental health, however, the writing style lends it to be an easy read despite covering a range of complex topics.
The premise of the book is unique and whilst other books have made me feel a grater range of emotions, with potentially a more developed plot line, I have to give 4 stars purely for how relatable and affirming the book is (and the dedication, given the time at which the book was written).
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Grief