The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library cover
Good Books rating 3.38
Contemporary Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £18.99
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Format • £9.49
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Technical
  • ID: 58
  • Added: 2025-08-30
  • Updated: 2026-01-01
  • ISBN: 9781786892713
  • Publisher: Canongate Books
  • Published: 2020-08-13
  • Formats: 72
  • Reviews: 4

Nora's life has taken a turn for the worse, and at midnight on her last day, she is transported to a mysterious library. This library offers her the chance to undo her regrets and experience the lives she could have lived. Each choice presents a new path, forcing her to confront the ultimate question: what is the best way to live with infinite possibilities? The Midnight Library is a thought-provoking exploration of regret, choice, and the meaning of life. It has been praised for its uplifting and absorbing narrative, winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction and becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Reviews
Reddit - r/books · 2025-12-16
critical 1.50

The book is criticized for its shallow portrayal of depression and lack of depth. It is seen as simplistic and lacking in profound insights.

This reviewer found The Midnight Library to be a superficial take on depression, feeling it lacks the complexity and depth needed to truly explore the subject. They argue that the book reads like a naive interpretation of mental health struggles, missing the mark on intelligence and profundity. The narrative is seen as inventive but ultimately falls short in delivering a meaningful exploration of life's choices and regrets.

Quick quotes

    The Midnight Library reads like what someone who has never suffered from depression imagines it to be

    Lacks all the intelligence, profundity, and complex

    The narrative is inventive but ultimately falls short

The Wallflower Digest · 2025-08-30
uplifting 4.00

An uplifting and inspiring fantasy story that encourages readers to consider the impact of their life choices, rated positively for its hopeful message.

The Wallflower Digest reviewer finds 'The Midnight Library' to be an uplifting and inspiring narrative, praising its imaginative fantasy elements and the way it explores the significance of life choices. They emphasize the book’s hopeful outlook, which offers readers a sense of encouragement to reflect on their regrets without despair. The reviewer highlights the novel’s ability to balance its philosophical themes with an engaging story, making it accessible and moving.

Quick quotes

    Uplifting, inspiring story.

    Encourages reflection on the impact of life choices.

    A hopeful and imaginative fantasy novel.

Sugar and Sloth · 2025-08-30
reflective 3.75

The book is seen as uplifting and inspiring, though the reviewer expresses some ambivalence, enjoying it more upon a second reading.

The reviewer shares a nuanced take on 'The Midnight Library,' finding it uplifting and inspiring at its core but also expressing uncertainty about their initial reaction. On a second read, they appreciated the story more, suggesting that the book’s themes and messages might resonate differently upon revisiting. This perspective highlights the book’s emotional complexity and its ability to provoke reflection on life's possibilities and regrets.

Quick quotes

    I'm not sure what I thought of it.

    Second time reading it, and I enjoyed it more.

    An uplifting and inspiring story.

Fantasy-Hive · 2025-08-30
thoughtful 4.25

The novel is appreciated for its thoughtful exploration of mental health and the meaning of life, featuring a near-death protagonist navigating alternate realities to find contentment.

This review values Matt Haig's contribution to the theme of life’s choices and regrets through the character Nora Seed, who faces suicidal despair and is given a chance to explore what might have been. The reviewer highlights how the story handles heavy topics like depression and suicide sensitively, weaving in philosophical reflections about living and personal fulfillment. They appreciate the introspective nature of the narrative and how it encourages readers to think about the possibilities in their own lives, making it a meaningful and impactful read.

Quick quotes

    Matt Haig's The Midnight Library makes another fine contribution to that theme with the suicidal and near-death protagonist Nora Seed finding herself in the Midnight Library.

    The story is a thoughtful exploration of life’s choices, regrets, and the search for meaning.

    It handles heavy topics like depression and suicide with sensitivity and philosophical insight.

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