I am absolutely flabbergasted that this book is so ubiquitous. What do you all see in it? The writing was so flat, the characters even flatter. And the plotting! ‘Round and ’round in circles we went and where did we end up in the end? Exactly where we started.
So many reviews of this book have touted it as life-saving. I guess if it’s that important to you, I won’t try to dissuade you. But if you’re on the fence about reading The Midnight Library, climb back over to safety and pick a better read.
The story is pitiful – the main character attempts suicide and is taken to a secret library where she can see how her life would have played out if she’d made different decisions. On the surface, it sounds like a great set-up for a novel, which is why I bought it. But in practice, it reads as if the author has no experience wrestling with serious mental health issues. It’s a fluffy, vapid, shallow book and, as someone who has been dealing with disabling mental illness and suicidal ideation for my entire adult life, I found it borderline offensive.
If this is your cup of tea, #sorrynotsorry. I despised this book and, because I was a dolt and bought both the audiobook and the ebook, I was parted with my money like a fool. The Midnight Library was a top contender for my worst read of 2021, and I do not recommend it to anyone.
Dates read: August 5th through 9th, 2021
Emjay Reads 