The Midnight Library: A Reflection on Connection, Perspective, and the Beauty of Now
This review touches on some key themes and moments from The Midnight Library. If you haven’t read it yet and want to go in completely fresh, maybe bookmark this and come back later!
Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is more than just a novel—it’s an experience, a revelation, and for many, a lifeline. As I turned each page, highlighting passage after passage, I found myself not only relating deeply to Nora Seed but also recognizing pieces of myself in the words of countless other readers. Reading the overwhelming number of positive reviews, I realized that this book, in its raw and honest exploration of regret, possibility, and the human condition, unites us in a shared understanding of what it means to live. It is a life-changing book if you allow it to be.
The sheer number of highlights and annotations in my copy serve as a testament to how much this book resonates with me. It is not merely a story to be read and shelved; it’s a guide, a reference for those inevitable moments of doubt and longing. One passage that particularly struck me reads:
“It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you wanted to escape to is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn’t the place, but the perspective.”
This quote perfectly encapsulates a truth I’ve wrestled with for much of my life. We often believe that happiness or fulfillment lies somewhere outside of our current reality, that a different version of life would have been the answer. But what The Midnight Library teaches us is that our circumstances are not necessarily what trap us—it’s how we view them. That realization is both terrifying and liberating. It forces us to take ownership of our perspectives and, ultimately, our lives.
Matt Haig beautifully showcases the interconnectedness of human existence. His portrayal of life’s complexity and the significance of relationships is both humbling and enlightening. How often do we mourn what was, what isn’t, and what could have been, all the while neglecting the beauty of the present? The truth is, nothing is perfect—there will always be pain, uncertainty, and loss. But just as there is darkness, there is light. Just as there is sadness, there is joy. No one’s life is perfect, and that is okay. As J. Cole wisely put it, “Love yourz.” The Midnight Library reinforces that sentiment—we must embrace the lives we have, flaws and all.
For those of us who struggle with mental health, this book serves as a reminder that we are not alone. There is help, and more importantly, there is hope. While I can’t prescribe a universal solution—because we are all different—I can say, with certainty, that life is worth it. You are worth it. You are loved.
In the end, The Midnight Library leaves us with a message that lingers long after the final page:
“Dream big . . . You can be anything you want to be. Because in one life, you are.”
And that, perhaps, is the greatest revelation of all. We are not defined by our regrets or by the roads not taken. We are defined by how we choose to live now, in this moment. And that is a choice worth making.
Turning Pages, Sparking Thoughts,
—The Rested Radical