The Midnight LibraryThe Midnight Library
Score Modern
What it's about
Somewhere beyond the edge of the universe is a library with an infinite number of books, each the story of a life you could have lived if you had made a different choice. Matt Haig's heroine, at the lowest point of her life, gets the chance to see for herself. Would any of those lives truly be better?
Why it's worth reading
It spent 125 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a hopeful, comforting novel about regret and what makes life worth living.
You'll love it if you liked
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
A Man Called Ove
The HumansGood to know
It deals with depression and suicide. It's short and easy to read.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller78 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #159 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #242 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #877 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1625 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking, Moving
More by Matt Haig
If you like this, read next
Anathem
Cloud Atlas
Station Eleven
Exhalation
The Dispossessed
On the Calculation of VolumeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Midnight Library worth reading?
Yes. It spent 125 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,625 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Midnight Library about?
Somewhere beyond the edge of the universe is a library with an infinite number of books, each the story of a life you could have lived if you had made a different choice. Matt Haig's heroine, at the lowest point of her life, gets the chance to see for herself. Would any of those lives truly be better?
How long does it take to read The Midnight Library?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Midnight Library?
If you liked it, try The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman or The Humans by Matt Haig.