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Extremely highly touted (won Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ book of the year 2020), this one had really high expectations. But seriously, I thought they were worth it. This is a quite magical book, with layers and layers of our main character unfolding while both the reader and the protagonist learn about themselves, and the decisions that bring us to who we are today. I loved those themes, and felt it made me as a reader reflect on my own life, and what brought me to where I am today- and how this could be different.

I've read one other Matt Haig, and while they are extremely different in tone, they both use the sense of time, and shifting/staying between time similarly. Nora Seed tries to end her life, but finds herself at the 'Midnight Library' somewhere between life and death- here she meets an old librarian who explains Nora's 'Book of Regrets'. Nora can choose to see how her life would have played out had different decision and choices were made along the way. We get a 'It's a Wonderful Life' look at Nora's different lives. The book was engaging, extremely easy to read, the tone was both dark and brooding-while still having poignancy and uplifting moments. Some lives we stay in shortly, some we stay longer and see how differences- both big and small- would effect the present Nora, and her perspective on life.

My biggest qualm was the "perfect life" that she seemed- before the full ending of (view spoiler)[realizing her original life was the best (hide spoiler)] was based around her being (view spoiler)[a mother. I felt this was a bit of a cop out- she didn't find her "fulfilled life" until she became a mother? Lot's of women don't need this aspect to be fulfilled. (hide spoiler)]. Happily, they did remedy this in the ending, but then everything felt so tied with a bow- so opposite of the beginning that it was a bit too much. Mental health isn't (view spoiler)[ just "fixed" with a new perspective, even with magic (hide spoiler)], and I wish they would have reflected on and the future that a bit more.

Just finished this one. I think I agree with all the points you made in your last paragraph.

I also read it earlier this month, and I also agree about the points you make in your last paragraph--it definitely felt a little nicely bow-tied, and I did feel that the themes felt a little heavy-handed in comparison with the other book by him that I've read. I do think that the themes he addresses are in general really important, though, so I have every intention of continuing to pick up what he writes.

Thanks for this nice review. This book is on the list this year for another club I'm in so I'll get to it then -- eagerly now!

I’m excited to read it ,🙂