vrtlz0 's review for:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
5.0
challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced
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
this is my opinion.

things i loved:
  1. this book is legit a depression curer bro. junior year me read this and i was suffering bro. abusive family, bad home, bad neighborhood, strict rules, closeted, insecure, malnourished, etc. this gave me a shimmer of hope, so in senior year i applied for a university in the usa KNOWING i DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I'D GET THE MONEY FROM. 2 years later i'm here. reached some goals, and i have some more, but this book's lessons are so real.
  2. i REALLY liked how nora felt so real, yet she was so masterfully used as a symbol for transformation and healing. i FUCKED HEAVY with how miserable she was written cuz that was real asf, like. usually popular reads will write a woman struggling and it's laughably cliche like, "look at her... so sad. she was ugly and fat and she had no friends and nobody believed in her talent". we begin with her fucking HATING her job and feeling dog shit compared to her past, bright self. she also has a few people in her life she loves but never feels close enough with them to open up. she's not exaggeratingly depressed, either. it really makes you feel for her. this genuine mix of hope and sorrow was exactly what was needed in order to craft nora's character, because this book would NOT HAVE WORKED with anyone else. i actually always rooted for her and i never thought once, "wow she's a dumb fuck" because i HATE when male authors can only create struggle for fem protagonists by making them dumb as fuck.
  3. I LOVE HOW NORA'S LIFE IS *NOT* A SOB STORY AND *NOT* THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE STORY. no, instread, matt haig writes in a way that's devastatingly honest. nora's flawed as fuck, and seeing that in media was a big, "wait a second, i get that, too" moment. i can tell this book was written with the best intentions frfr cuz by the end of it i realized, "i can only live the life i want if i take accountability for it". and like the book demonstrated, extreme actions isn't required to get a good life or a life someone wants. just steps in the right direction.
  4. it's written in grounded, everyday language. this could've been a grandeur book and landed itself as something profoundly sophisticated. but this book was clearly meant to reach audiences that really could use the message in their lives. those who are marginalized, poor, lacking in astute education, and sick need this book (that was me lmao). people need more than hope, yes, but it is always the foundation.
  5. everything idk everything bro i owe my life to this book idc

things i hated:

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