A review by calamitywithinsanity
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I really wanted to like this book. I think it started off strong, but it goes downhill from there. Matt Haig uses deliberate structure to drive to the main plot of the story, however, once the story is actually in motion, it falls flat. I related a lot to the main character, Nora, in the beginning, but I found the repeating plot device of choosing different life paths to be annoying after the fourth or fifth time. Nora's character development felt a bit "on the nose" at times and I predicted the ending as soon as she stepped into the library. The supporting characters felt flat and two-dimensional, even across every parallel universe.

Haig earns an additional quarter-star for using the word "ceilidh", but overall, The Midnight Library earns a solid "meh" for me.
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