The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Megan | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9

Rating: *****

Nora Seed is going through a dark time in her life, and after a particularly bad day, she decides to end it all. She discovers that in-between life and death lies The Midnight Library. Each book represents a different life that she could’ve led if she made one different decision. Nora is given the opportunity to travel the paths that she could’ve taken and undo her deepest regrets. However, every time she does not feel truly satisfied, she is whisked back to The Midnight Library. Nora travels to countless alternate-universes, embarking on a journey to find a life in which she is truly happy. Haig tells a beautiful, heartfelt, and uplifting story of regrets, choices, and finding meaning in life.

Personally, as an overthinker, I am constantly thinking about the decisions that I could have made long after they have occurred. Additionally, I am a huge fan of books that incorporate the concept of the butterfly effect and how much of an impact our everyday actions, however small, can have on the courses of our lives, as well as the lives of people around us. Thus, the premise of The Midnight Library was incredibly intriguing to me, and I sure wasn’t disappointed. Haig weaves in many poignant and philosophical themes, and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall mood and atmosphere of magic, fantasy, and hope. Furthermore, I really empathized with Nora’s character, who was very well-developed and loveable. Her grapples with depression, her insecurities, as well as her unwavering love for the people around her can be very relatable to many readers. Overall, if you are looking for a heartwarming, thought-provoking, and inspirational novel that will remind you of what is truly important in life, you should definitely check out The Midnight Library.