The Midnight Library Review: Lessons From Matt Haig’s Novel

Life is full of what-ifs. What if you could live those lives that you wanted? What if I was a rockstar, a vineyard owner, or a glaciologist? Would I be happier now? What if I pursued a different path or a career? Would my life be better? What if I could travel to multiple realities and live my dreams? That’s what Nora Seed – the protagonist of The Midnight Library – experienced in this magical and inspiring novel. 

The Midnight Library isn’t just an enchanting tale. 

Despite the novel’s fantastical plot and sci-fi elements, The Midnight Library is relatable. 

It’s an eye-opening novel that shines a light on some of our darkest fears and speaks to our deepest insecurities. 

Full of life lessons, it’s a masterpiece and a philosophical novel exploring the meaning of life. 

To me, it’s a self-help book with a magical twist. 

Furthermore, it offers a guide to self-acceptance.

I’m not going to lie. 

I was deeply moved after completing this book by Matt Haig. 

When I read it, I was an emotional mess riddled with problems. 

I was dealing with marriage problems, mental health issues, and deaths in the family. 

And while it exactly wasn’t life-changing, the Midnight Library gave me a flicker of hope and a multitude of reasons to be alive. 

A year later, I realized I couldn’t have survived the Covid era and those dark days without this book. 

And that’s why I’m sharing my thoughts on this book. 

Why is The Midnight Library so good? 

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is easy to read, with a simple plot, wide margins, and short chapters. 

And it’s full of lessons that everyone can apply in their daily life. 

I also love the multiverse concept of The Midnight Library. 

In this novel, the protagonist, Nora Seed, is transported into a library with an endless array of books. 

And each book contains an alternate reality about her life. 

In her search for the perfect life, she jumps into different realities and versions of her life. 

She follows her dreams, undoes breakups and chases fame. 

Along the way, she discovers a ton of lessons. 

The book’s concept, from my perspective, is a mix of Dark Matter by Blake Crouch and The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. 

Lessons from The Midnight Library 

The Midnight Library has so many lessons to teach modern-day humans. 

Our protagonist, like millions of people worldwide, is lonely and depressed. 

Hopeless, she tries to end her life. 

Afterward, she wakes up in the mystical Midnight Library, a realm between life and death. 

Nora, in The Midnight Library, gets to explore the lives she could have lived, hoping to find the perfect life where she can be happy. 

Here are the lessons you can learn from reading Matt Haig’s fantasy novel. 

There’s no perfect life 

In The Midnight Library, Nora has infinite opportunities to erase all her regrets. 

From a vegan powerlifter to a glaciologist in the Arctic, Nora experiences a whirlwind of lives as she delves into alternate realities. 

On the surface, it seems like she will eventually find a life that fits like a glove. 

But she realizes there’s no perfect version of her life. 

Even in these seemingly perfect lives, there are many drawbacks. 

Her journey through a library of unlimited lives and realities is a metaphor for our longing for the perfect life. 

Like Nora, we often wonder what would have happened if we had taken paths we didn’t take. 

We usually look back at the crossroads in our lives, wondering “what if” and believing the grass would be greener had we taken a different path. 

We dream of the perfect life and how different it would be from our reality. 

And Nora’s journey shatters the illusion of perfection. 

Every life she lives has its own set of tribulations and challenges. 

The Midnight Library is a beautiful reminder to appreciate our messy lives with their trials and imperfections. 

So, the next time you feel down, remember it’s okay to feel that way. 

It’s part of being human. 

Regrets distort your reality 

Regrets are like a heavy backpack filled with unnecessary gear and items. 

They can weigh us down as we trek the journey we call life. 

When Nora arrives at the library, she reads a book full of all her regrets in life. 

All these regrets have tortured her throughout her life. 

And Nora has allowed them to dictate her life. 

In every regret, she sees a missed opportunity for happiness and success. 

But, when given a chance to erase those regrets, she discovers those paths still wouldn’t make her happy. 

Sometimes, we let our regrets take over our reality. 

We imagine future scenarios and alternate lives where we take a different path. 

And we let those regrets torture us and distort our reality. 

What could have happened if you asked that cute girl or guy on a date?

What if you accepted that job offer? 

What if you studied in a different school or pursued a different course?

Those missed opportunities may have led you to a happier and more rewarding life. 

But have you considered the other side of it? 

The cons and drawbacks of those lives? 

Have you imagined the bad scenarios of those missed paths?

The truth is people have regrets because they just assume the best outcome. 

They ignore all the ways those “missed opportunities” could go badly. 

Here’s one example. 

I once thought I made a mistake getting married. 

Honestly, the life of a married man isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. 

There’s no happily ever after. 

There are tons of expenses, sleepless nights, stress, and conflicts. 

I should have stayed single, I’ve said. 

To escape my reality, I imagined a life free of stress and responsibilities. 

I dreamed of a life where I conquered mountains and explored the world alone.

And these imagined lives made my life miserable and even led me to make bad decisions.  

In an unexpected twist, I did have a taste of that life. 

And it’s lonely, empty, and sad AF. 

Today, I have no regrets and am happy with my decisions. 

Sure, my marriage hasn’t been a fairytale or a rom-com movie. 

But it gave me the greatest joy of my life: my daughter. 

We all have opportunities we didn’t seize and paths we didn’t take. 

But instead of dwelling on what could have been, The Midnight Library tells us to learn from the past, make peace with it, and stride forward. 

Your life matter

Matt Haig’s book tells us that you don’t have to be a Nobel laureate, a rockstar, a celebrity, or a mega-successful business owner to make a difference. 

Since we don’t see the big picture, we usually assume our lives don’t matter. 

We think that our influence is minimal. 

But guess what? 

We do matter. 

Every word we speak and action we take may influence someone else’s life. 

A positive act, no matter how small, can do wonders for others. 

Who knows? 

That small act can trigger a chain of positivity. 

Sharing your life story with someone may uplift spirits or prevent suicidal thoughts. 

A compliment to a workmate can make their day. 

Donating a few bucks can fill empty stomachs and provide hope to hopeless souls. 

So, don’t underestimate your role in this society. 

Even horse manure and fallen leaves make an excellent fertilizer. 

An ordinary life is a good life

“Be anything but vanilla.”

That has got to be the worst slogan ever made. 

What’s wrong with being vanilla? 

What’s wrong with living an ordinary life? 

Our society always pushes us to live a spectacular and extraordinary life. 

Movies, social media, and vlogs urge us to chase grand adventures, flashy cars, and lavish vacations. 

People are praised for gaining wealth, achieving grand milestones, and living a life filled with adventures. 

But here’s the thing. 

There’s no blueprint or universal rule for a meaningful life. 

Spectacular, as Nora has learned, doesn’t always equate to happiness. 

She also found out that there’s nothing wrong with an ordinary life. 

Contrary to popular belief, ordinary life isn’t lived in obscurity and mediocrity. 

It’s a life free from stress and the pressures of chasing goals. 

And it’s filled with everyday miracles and simple joys, including stunning sunsets, fresh air, and the laughter of loved ones. 

It’s about living in the moment instead of constantly chasing after the next big thing. 

Don’t get me wrong. 

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big and reaching for the stars. 

But I find ordinary life, without the fuss and bustle of city life, more appealing. 

In the rat race, our time is consumed by excessive commitments and demanding tasks. 

On the other hand, a simple life means we have control of our time and can dedicate it to activities that bring us fulfillment and joy. 

Does the Midnight Library have LGBT characters? 

The Midnight Library has an LGBT character. 

Though Nora isn’t an LGBT character,she has a gay brother who has an important role to this story.  

Is the Midnight Library worth reading? 

The Midnight Library is, no doubt, worth reading. 

It’s an inspiring read for those struggling with the rat race and modern life. 

The book accurately depicts depression, loneliness, and the feeling of being stuck inside your mind. 

Those who read the novel can identify the protagonist’s feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. 

The Midnight Library will give you awareness and a deeper understanding of depression. 

Drawn from his real-life experiences, Matt Haig wrote an engaging story about a character who struggles with mental life and finds hope through a one-of-a-kind journey. 

The Midnight Library is an impactful, eye-opening story with magical and sci-fi elements. 

I rate this book 4.5 out of 5.