★★★★☆
Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. But what stories do the books tell? Another life you could have lived. That's what Nora discovers when she tries to end her life after going through a horrible period where everything seems to be going wrong. When she is given the chance to live the different lives that would have been had she made different choices, she begins to question whether her life is worth ending after all.
Having been an avid fan of Matt Haig for years, I had no doubts that I would absolutely adore this book. My expectations were high but they were definitely met. Haig does a brilliant job of telling what could have been a simple, predictable story. Having suffered with his mental health and spoken about it so publicly, I think only someone who has battled with suicidal thoughts would be able to fully dive into Nora's story realistically and shed light on why these choices are made, which is exactly what he does. The story is intense. However, the utter confusion and somewhat happiness Nora feels through the different lives she chooses has you rooting for her from the beginning.
Even though a work of fiction, the story makes us ask ourselves so many questions:
What if I'd made a different choice?
Where would I be now if I'd gone after the dreams I had when I was a child?
What truly makes life perfect?
Although there are countless questions asked of us, there is one underlining lesson that Haig pushes throughout the entirety of the story: embrace every moment of your life because even when you feel trapped and suffocated, the only way is up and there's always light at the end of the tunnel; you just have to take that first step and you'll be on your way out of the darkness.
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