84 pages • 2 hours read
The Midnight Library
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
269
Novel • Fiction
England • Contemporary
2020
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
In Matt Haig's The Midnight Library, Nora Seed, grappling with life's disappointments, attempts suicide and finds herself in a magical library that allows her to explore alternate versions of her life. Through these experiences, Nora learns about the impact of small acts of kindness, the power of perception, and ultimately, what makes life worth living.
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Inspirational
Serene
Reviews & Readership
2,215,827 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Matt Haig's The Midnight Library captivates with its imaginative narrative and philosophical depth. Protagonist Nora's journey through parallel lives resonates emotionally, although some find the novel's message overly simplistic. Engaging and inspiring, it encourages reflection on choices and regrets, making it a thought-provoking read despite occasional predictability.
Who Should Read The Midnight Library?
A reader who would enjoy The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is someone intrigued by the intersection of magical realism and philosophical exploration. Similar to fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife and Life After Life, they appreciate stories that blend life’s possibilities with deep existential themes, reflecting on life choices and second chances.
2,215,827 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mrs. Elm
Mrs. Elm
Mrs. Elm was Nora's high school librarian and offers support and guidance both in the real world and as a guide in the Midnight Library.
Joe Seed
Joe Seed
Joe is Nora’s estranged brother. Their strained relationship is explored through different lives in the Midnight Library.
Ash
Ash
Ash is a doctor in Bedford who shows kindness toward Nora, and they share a connection explored in various alternate lives.
Dan
Dan
Dan is Nora’s ex-fiancé, whose dream of opening a pub in the countryside did not align with Nora's own aspirations. Various versions of their relationship are explored in the Midnight Library.
Hugo Lefèvre
Hugo Lefèvre
Hugo is another traveler in the in-between state who calls people like them "sliders." He is intrigued by the concept of moving across different lives.
269
Novel • Fiction
England • Contemporary
2020
Adult
16+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.