The Midnight Library - Matt Haig

I can't remember where I heard about this book, I think it was probably during research for the latest Cover to Cocktails book. But it ended up on my Holds list at the library and finally after a very long wait, it was my turn.

The Midnight Library had such an interesting concept. The story followed Nora Seed, who is living what she believes is a sad life. She lives alone in a small apartment. She no longer has contact with her brother, her cat just died, and she just got fired. On her way home from losing her job she runs into an old bandmate and ends up feeling even worse about herself. That night she tries to kill herself.

Nora doesn't die, but she isn't alive either. She is stuck in between in the Midnight Library where every book is about her life if she had made one different decision. She gets the opportunity to try out different lives and if she finds one she truly wants to be in, she will stay there. Sounds interesting doesn't it? What would life look like if we had made one different decision? Nora gets to try it.

In her different lives, she first starts with the big regrets she has, so in one life she sticks with swimming and ends up an Olympic athlete, in another she stays with the band and becomes international star. But none of those lives are what she wants. She tries staying with her ex-boyfriend and tries dating a customer from the music store. She keeps trying over and over but none of them fit quite right.

The book was very good. It explored concepts I'm sure many of us wonder about, first what happens when you die, and second what if you made a different decision, what would life look like? I definitely recommend this book!