Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

1172 reviews

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a fantastic read. It’s a perfect life affirming dramedy that tiptoes in the fantastical. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Sexual content

There’s themes of generational suicide tendencies and alcoholism/drug abuse.

cassiacow's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book has such an interesting premise - a Library where you can read all of your alternate lives. 

I personally found the writing style a bit too 'simple' - much like Coelho's The Alchemist, it is clearly written as a self-help book under a superficial story. The philosophy that was discussed also didn't resonate with my particular brand of depression - but it was still interesting to read through the lens of someone with different struggles to me.

However, this was such an easy read and one that definitely could help someone reading it at the right time - if you are paralysed by regrets about your life, for example, this book is definitely worth a read. I read it at a time when I've been feeling very unsure about my future, at the recommendation of a friend - and I can see how it would help some people in that scenario, but I don't feel I got as much out of it as some people did.

Overall, really enjoyed this book! Definitely a quick easy one that anyone feeling a bit lost can try.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Self harm, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Drug use

Minor: Cancer, Vomit, and Terminal illness

riverofhorton's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was completely unexpected for me. Going into it, I knew nothing but what the blurb says and that it is/was quite popular on BookTok. What I definitely did not expect was to read this in one sitting. It does have a couple of slight issues that had me wondering what the editor was doing, but those instances thankfully don't impact on the story itself. Apart from those minor issues, I found this book to be a very enjoyable read and will be returning to it again in the future. It has an intriguing premise at its heart which I haven't personally encountered before, and provided a fascinating way to gain perspective on life. Indeed, at several points, I found myself wondering if the library is actually real, in the context of some of my own experiences.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Terminal illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Car accident, Colonisation, Gore, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Cursing, Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

anh_off's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad

• 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Addiction

estherk809's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

What is a life for, if not to live? This book certainly shows a new perspective and embodies the notion of “a new lease on life”. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Death, and Alcoholism

Minor: Animal cruelty

coleanne's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Animal death, and Stalking

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Panic attacks/disorders

lex24's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The initial chapters are challenging to read due to their heavy content, but the author skillfully avoids explicit or sensationalised descriptions. As the story progresses, it adopts a hopeful tone, offering insightful perspectives on life, success, and the ways we often undervalue ourselves. While it is a wonderful and thought-provoking story, I would still only recommend it to those in a good mental headspace.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Cancer, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Drug abuse

juliarenae's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

I think I have never read anything like this. I have never found so much inspiration and hope from a sad book. Could not recommend it more.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Infidelity

hayitshaley's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-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

2.5

A cliche for the fuck of being a cliche whose only purpose is to attempt to make the reader sad. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt

tuhkasirius's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Suicide attempt, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm

Minor: Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Medical content, Drug use, Homophobia, Vomit, and Drug abuse