Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Midnight Library: The No.1 Sunday Times bestseller and worldwide phenomenon

Top positive review

Loved the premise of this book so much

Reviewed in Australia on 13 September 2020

I loved the premise of this book so much and I loved reading it even more! This is the perfect book for anyone who has many (or any!) regrets in their life.

This is "Sliding Doors" on steroids - what if you could get a sneak peak of what your life would look like if you'd made just one decision differently? Maybe it would have been a thousand times better. Or maybe it wouldn't have been...

8 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Joanne Smith

It was just OK

Reviewed in Australia on 30 November 2020

Love the premise of The Midnight Library and how well constructed the concept of it is, but I just didn’t care about Nora!

For some reason I could not engage with her character at all and wasn’t bothered where she lived or if she lived. Sorry, I probably sound like a heartless brute!

That said, I needed to know how things panned out so I finished the book and found the ending sweet. Even for a heartless brute.

18 people found this helpful

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From Australia

Joanne Smith

It was just OK

Reviewed in Australia on 30 November 2020

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18 people found this helpful

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Cas22

A far-fetched premise that gives food for thought

Reviewed in Australia on 18 July 2021

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This novel is based on the far-fetched premise that we all have a multitude of parallel lives, all happening at the same time somewhere in the universe. The protagonist, Nora, gets a chance to experience some of these alternative lives as she hovers between life and death following a suicide attempt. In the end, she learns that no life is better or worse than another, they all have their joys and despairs. She also realises that her current life, while far from perfect, offers a wide array of possibilities, if she chooses to take advantage of them. I quite enjoyed the book and its gentle lessons in letting go of regret, being true to yourself and making the most of what you are given in life. It won’t be one of my top reads for the year but it prompted some useful reflection.

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Jo C

predictable but heartwarming

Reviewed in Australia on 3 February 2022

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This is a story about Nora. She confronts death and with it finds herself by exploring other possible variations of her life in a “sliding doors” kind of way (if you’ve seen the movie you will understand…). I nearly didn’t buy it because some of the reviews were scathing. About those reviews: I agree that the end is very predictable from early on in the novel; I also agree that the plot is a little far fetched and Nora a little dull and not particularly likeable; but I really enjoyed the book despite (or perhaps because) of this. It’s an easy read of a complex subject. But perhaps the simplicity and lightness of the writing makes it easier to digest the seriousness of the topic (suicide). It’s philosophical to a point but the story is able to unfold without dragging the reader mercilessly through despair. And the end is certainly predictable, but happy. I liked it. I would give it 3.5 stars.

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Bouquet

Good but a little over goodly-reviewed

Reviewed in Australia on 20 March 2021

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While an interesting novel I gave it 3 stars because I knew immediately how it would end. It would have gotten 4 if things had been different with Volts (spoiler?) during the course of the novel like it was with others. Didn't make sense re Volts.

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A Parable

Reviewed in Australia on 3 January 2022

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Thick with lessons on how to live life. A counselling session with a few interesting anecdotes. Not my choice. Even the review algorithm won't let me stop till I have done the required number of words!

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Jules

Trigger

Reviewed in Australia on 2 January 2021

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A very real depiction of suicidal ideation. Some great moments, and a lovely message overall.
I disliked the slightly long winded philosophical rants, or the main character, as she felt incomplete.

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Kirsten

Quick boost

Reviewed in Australia on 8 May 2022

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Good overall message. Main character was a bit thin. Really relied on you building your own main character to care about as the book didn't supply one. Possibly designed that way so you imagine yourself as the main character.

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