Between life and death there is a library.

When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.

The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren’t always what she imagined they’d be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.

Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?

I’m five years late to this one, but I finally made time for it. Both the audiobook and the ebook have been sitting in my digital collection since release, quietly waiting for the right moment. That moment finally arrived, and I’m so glad it did.

This book was everything I needed it to be. Emotional. Reflective. A little sad, but never heavy-handed. I love an alternate reality/what would you do different if you could go back book, so naturally, the concept alone grabbed me. We have an in-between place, a library between life and death, filled with books that allow you to experience alternate versions of your own life. If you’ve ever asked yourself “What if?” this story will speak to you.

This book focuses on Nora Seed. Nora is done with life and she wants out. Her life feels like a string of wrong turns and broken promises. But just before she makes a permanent decision, she finds herself in the Midnight Library, where every book holds a different version of her life. A life where she said yes instead of no. A life where she followed through. A life where someone stayed instead of leaving.

The structure works beautifully. Each alternate life is different, sometimes drastically so, but they all teach Nora something about herself. She explores paths she once abandoned: Olympic swimming, rock stardom, academic success, rural marriage. Some versions shine with hope. Others hold quiet disappointment. Each one adds a layer to Nora’s understanding of her own worth, and none of them feel like throwaways. That’s what makes the story resonate. Every life matters, even the ones that seem unremarkable.

I also appreciated how grounded the fantastical elements felt. The book never veers too far into science fiction or magical realism. The Midnight Library isn’t some over-explained construct. It just is. That decision gives the story room to breathe. It keeps the focus on character rather than mechanics. And Nora is a character worth focusing on. She’s not flashy or dramatic. She’s just a woman who feels stuck and tired and invisible. That ordinariness makes her journey feel more powerful. You want her to find peace. You want her to feel like her life has value. And when the emotional moments hit, they really hit.

One of my favorite things about this book is how it made me reflect on my own choices. I found myself thinking about the small, seemingly insignificant decisions I’ve made over the years. The friendships I kept or let go. The jobs I took. The risks I avoided. What would those alternate lives look like? Would they really be better, or just different? The story doesn’t spoon-feed answers. It lets you sit with the questions, and for me, that was the most effective part.

Now, let’s talk about the audiobook. Carey Mulligan narrates, and she’s phenomenal. Her voice is soft but steady, thoughtful without ever sounding overly sentimental. She captures Nora’s melancholy without leaning into melodrama, which is tricky when dealing with existential themes. Her pacing is perfect. Her tone matches each scene beat for beat. She lets the emotional moments breathe without dragging the story down. It’s one of those performances that adds weight and dimension without ever distracting from the words.

There’s a reason this book has stayed on bestseller lists for years. It’s not flashy or twisty. It doesn’t rely on shock value or high drama. It’s a meditation on regret, resilience, and the messy, beautiful business of being alive. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your own life, if you’ve ever wondered what could have been, this story will meet you right where you are. And it just might remind you that the life you’re living now is more valuable than you think. This one will stay with me for a while.