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A review by smchoate
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
I quite liked this book. I think we can all see ourselves in Nora, our main character, who finds herself regretting many of her past choices and wondering about the lives they could have led her to. This story is inspiring and engaging, and it's a very quick and fast-paced read. I would encourage anyone to check out content warnings before diving in, as some heavy topics are dealt with, though never in an overly indulgent or dark way.
Some may find the inspiring messages in this book to be too obvious and in-your-face. I felt this way at certain moments, but overall, it didn't bother me too much. Not everything always needs to be super subtle to be worthwhile. The plot was pretty predictable, but again, I didn't pick up this book to be shocked. That being said, this was a satisfying read that I likely won't need to read again.
The other issue I found with this book was the pacing and delivery of the main points in the story. A lot of this is likely due to the premise itself, but there was a section in the middle when things got a bit repetitive, and I was impatient to get on, especially since it was easy to see where the plot was going.
These minor gripes aside, this is a well-written, worthwhile story that many readers will closely relate to, for one reason or another. Overall, I admire what Haig achieved in this novel; it addresses important themes in a touching way and deserves the hype it has gotten.
Some may find the inspiring messages in this book to be too obvious and in-your-face. I felt this way at certain moments, but overall, it didn't bother me too much. Not everything always needs to be super subtle to be worthwhile. The plot was pretty predictable, but again, I didn't pick up this book to be shocked. That being said, this was a satisfying read that I likely won't need to read again.
The other issue I found with this book was the pacing and delivery of the main points in the story. A lot of this is likely due to the premise itself, but there was a section in the middle when things got a bit repetitive, and I was impatient to get on, especially since it was easy to see where the plot was going.
These minor gripes aside, this is a well-written, worthwhile story that many readers will closely relate to, for one reason or another. Overall, I admire what Haig achieved in this novel; it addresses important themes in a touching way and deserves the hype it has gotten.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
Minor: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Sexual content