Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.72k reviews by:
purplepenning
A modern, bookish version of "It's a Wonderful Life" (the main setting is even a town called Bedford), The Midnight Library is a surprisingly grounded philosophical tale.
Nora Seed decides that she wants to die and tries to make that happen. It's a little more complicated than she thought, however, because she's presented, in the in-between, with an infinite library of books that represent the infinite lives she is living in parallel universes. One book, one life, for every course change that every decision, big or small, has made. Choosing a book from the shelves puts her into that life. It's a chance to undo huge regrets (could she have been an Olympian?), travel roads not taken (to Norway's must northern town and beyond?), try on careers (lead singer?) or husbands (art-loving pub owner?) previously rejected. Is there a perfect life for her out there in the multiverse? Is there one that will make her want to live again?
As you might guess, this is a book about choices and outcomes. But it's also about the seeds of human potential, the ways of seeing and experiencing life, the things that make a life worth living, and more. It's nearly perfectly balanced between light and dark, sweet and bitter, offering a fulfilling story for readers who like their books driven by resonate characters as well as for those who prefer their worlds to be a little weirded and speculative. I found it somewhat predictable but compelling and enjoyable.
Content notes: *Suicide* (and unfortunately no content note or resources given in the book), mental health issues, death from drug overdose, death of a parent from cancer and from heart attack, death of a pet, anxiety/panic attacks (mentioned, not described), estranged family
Nora Seed decides that she wants to die and tries to make that happen. It's a little more complicated than she thought, however, because she's presented, in the in-between, with an infinite library of books that represent the infinite lives she is living in parallel universes. One book, one life, for every course change that every decision, big or small, has made. Choosing a book from the shelves puts her into that life. It's a chance to undo huge regrets (could she have been an Olympian?), travel roads not taken (to Norway's must northern town and beyond?), try on careers (lead singer?) or husbands (art-loving pub owner?) previously rejected. Is there a perfect life for her out there in the multiverse? Is there one that will make her want to live again?
As you might guess, this is a book about choices and outcomes. But it's also about the seeds of human potential, the ways of seeing and experiencing life, the things that make a life worth living, and more. It's nearly perfectly balanced between light and dark, sweet and bitter, offering a fulfilling story for readers who like their books driven by resonate characters as well as for those who prefer their worlds to be a little weirded and speculative. I found it somewhat predictable but compelling and enjoyable.
Content notes: *Suicide* (and unfortunately no content note or resources given in the book), mental health issues, death from drug overdose, death of a parent from cancer and from heart attack, death of a pet, anxiety/panic attacks (mentioned, not described), estranged family
A young woman pleads with a dark god to save her from a forced marriage and the small, hard life of a French villager in the early 1700s. Her wish is, cruelly, granted. She gets a vast but lonely eternal life of being continually forgotten, not just day after day, but moment after moment — and there's not a moment of it that she can forget. As she struggles to find meaning, identity, and purpose in that existence, the dark god returns, time and again, reminding her that she can end the struggle by surrendering her soul. And so it goes for 300 years. Until a young man working in a Brooklyn bookstore inexplicably, impossibly remembers her.
This is a sweeping, lyrical, historical, literary fantasy that makes me think of the writing of Erin Morgenstern and Madeline Miller. It's somehow deeply fulfilling yet completely unsettling. And I can't get that ending and all of its implications out of my head. That's pretty good for an invisible, forgettable girl.
Content notes: death, desperate prostitution, violence, depression, attempted suicide, excessive drinking, self-medicating, emotional manipulation
This is a sweeping, lyrical, historical, literary fantasy that makes me think of the writing of Erin Morgenstern and Madeline Miller. It's somehow deeply fulfilling yet completely unsettling. And I can't get that ending and all of its implications out of my head. That's pretty good for an invisible, forgettable girl.
Content notes: death, desperate prostitution, violence, depression, attempted suicide, excessive drinking, self-medicating, emotional manipulation
4.5 probably — Legends and legacies come alive when King Arthur's court crosses paths with a Southern Black girl whose personal grief, historical trauma, hidden talents, strength, and intelligence lead her to an iconic Southern college where a significant chapter of the court just happens to reside. There's mystery, magic, romance, humor, drama, culture, and more — and if some elements seemed a little weaker than others (the mystery and the romance both develop quickly, but at least the insta-love has Reasons), I was quick to forgive them as I was swept up in the skillful representation and the sheer joy of magical discovery.
Content notes: death of a parent, grief, mourning, racism, sexism, bigotry, trauma, oppressor violence, combat violence, traitors, death of friends, manipulation, mention of off-screen rape
Content notes: death of a parent, grief, mourning, racism, sexism, bigotry, trauma, oppressor violence, combat violence, traitors, death of friends, manipulation, mention of off-screen rape
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Cute idea, good setting, travels, and love interest. I just didn't find the main character or many of the other characters or the writing to be particularly funny or sharp or endearing.
Probably a 2.5 but I always round up — writing books is hard, and I appreciate the effort. So ... I was definitely #TeamNotATwilightFan but I was never as opposed to the paranormal, sparkly YA angst of it all as I was to the truly terrible and repetitive writing. And, yes, the unhealthy, obsessive, controlling relationship. I think it was one of my few 1-star ratings. So I'm an odd candidate for reading Midnight Sun. But when I heard it was "Twilight, but from Edward's perspective" I immediately thought "Huh. I wonder if that's what I always wanted it to be?" And then I wondered if the author's writing had improved in the last decade or so. And then I promised a fellow bookseller that I'd read Meyer's return to angsty Edward if she'd take Collins's return to the villainous Snow. So here I am.
I'm happy to report that the writing IS less terrible and repetitive, though the pacing has some of the same issues as the original, it's 200 pages too long, and anyone who isn't a super fan but still remembers more than just the basic plot of the original may find this very tedious. Because even the structure is pretty much "Twilight, but from Edward's perspective." That perspective does open up some interesting avenues to explore, however. Not just for revealing more about Edward and the motivations behind his actions (more on that in a second) but also for fleshing out (and maybe doing a little retcon on) Bella's friends and acquaintances, and, more interestingly, the whole Cullen clan. If you recall, Edward hears people's thoughts (except for the ever-intriguing Bella), so even though that aspect is not written particularly convincingly (everyone thinks very linearly and in very complete sentences, for example) it does add a whole dimension of revelation to the book. Getting that very inside perspective on the Cullens was probably one of my favorite parts. And it considerably enhanced the scenes with the tracker — the most expanded section with the most original material added to the narrative. You'll only have to read through 500 pages before you get to it.
My other favorite part was seeing how not-human Edward really is. There's an obvious attempt to better show his character and motivations, to reclaim him from the creepy-controlling, sparkling-stalker category. The attempt is only partially successful, but I appreciated it nevertheless. The attempt to illuminate Bella's character isn't as successful. Edward puzzles through a number of her actions and responses, determining that she is brave and smart and deeply kind and selfless, but we're pretty much left to take his word for it. I'm still not particularly impressed with Bella Swan. Or with their relationship, which still seems so ill-formed for the depths of their commitment. They can barely talk to each other, but, sure — soul mates or whatever it is when one of you doesn't have a soul.
So. I wouldn't not recommend this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. This is probably a must-read for diehard Twilight fans (especially if you're #TeamEdward), a miss if you hated it the first time around or if you're just over it and on to other things and fandoms now, and a maybe if you'd like a more palatable version of the original or you're intrigued by the whole exercise of writing dual-perspective books. If you're just mildly curious and wouldn't mind visiting this world and story again, I'd recommend reading the first 100 pages, skimming the next 400, and then reading the last 150.
Content notes: I forgot to pay attention to content notes but there's definitely lying and ableist language and attitudes.
I'm happy to report that the writing IS less terrible and repetitive, though the pacing has some of the same issues as the original, it's 200 pages too long, and anyone who isn't a super fan but still remembers more than just the basic plot of the original may find this very tedious. Because even the structure is pretty much "Twilight, but from Edward's perspective." That perspective does open up some interesting avenues to explore, however. Not just for revealing more about Edward and the motivations behind his actions (more on that in a second) but also for fleshing out (and maybe doing a little retcon on) Bella's friends and acquaintances, and, more interestingly, the whole Cullen clan. If you recall, Edward hears people's thoughts (except for the ever-intriguing Bella), so even though that aspect is not written particularly convincingly (everyone thinks very linearly and in very complete sentences, for example) it does add a whole dimension of revelation to the book. Getting that very inside perspective on the Cullens was probably one of my favorite parts. And it considerably enhanced the scenes with the tracker — the most expanded section with the most original material added to the narrative. You'll only have to read through 500 pages before you get to it.
My other favorite part was seeing how not-human Edward really is. There's an obvious attempt to better show his character and motivations, to reclaim him from the creepy-controlling, sparkling-stalker category. The attempt is only partially successful, but I appreciated it nevertheless. The attempt to illuminate Bella's character isn't as successful. Edward puzzles through a number of her actions and responses, determining that she is brave and smart and deeply kind and selfless, but we're pretty much left to take his word for it. I'm still not particularly impressed with Bella Swan. Or with their relationship, which still seems so ill-formed for the depths of their commitment. They can barely talk to each other, but, sure — soul mates or whatever it is when one of you doesn't have a soul.
So. I wouldn't not recommend this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. This is probably a must-read for diehard Twilight fans (especially if you're #TeamEdward), a miss if you hated it the first time around or if you're just over it and on to other things and fandoms now, and a maybe if you'd like a more palatable version of the original or you're intrigued by the whole exercise of writing dual-perspective books. If you're just mildly curious and wouldn't mind visiting this world and story again, I'd recommend reading the first 100 pages, skimming the next 400, and then reading the last 150.
Content notes: I forgot to pay attention to content notes but there's definitely lying and ableist language and attitudes.
A temp worker is ill-used by the small-time villain she works for and badly injured by a reckless superhero. Turns out they picked the wrong hench to mess with — one who is tired of the grind of the gig economy, deeply cynical about superheroes, really freaking good at data research and analysis, and now enduring a long convalescence on a friend's couch. With nothing better to do, she begins to obsessively analyze the life and property damage that supers cause, showing that the whole superhero system is a sham and a menace. When she's offered a job with a real villain, working for a real salary with excellent benefits, the job comes with the opportunity to crunch more than just the numbers when it comes to the whole messy superhero situation. She takes that opportunity —carefully but gleefully, and with a vengeance that reminds us that we're, uh, kinda rooting for the bad guys here.
Or maybe there's no "kinda" about it.
Either way, prepare yourself to sit with some moral ambiguity and some outright? borderline? quasi? unquestionable? evil in a story that refuses to ignore the complexities of life for the convenience of a morality tale. There's no simple good and evil in a world where supervillains can be fair and thoughtful employers and superheroes can be egotistical vigilantes who cause more harm than they prevent. But that doesn't mean there isn't a morality tale hiding in here somewhere — you'll find it between the horror and the humor and the humanity.
Content notes: strong language, job insecurity, kidnapping, superpowered battles, death, murder, lies, infidelity, open-skull surgery, off-screen torture/interrogation, body horror
Or maybe there's no "kinda" about it.
Either way, prepare yourself to sit with some moral ambiguity and some outright? borderline? quasi? unquestionable? evil in a story that refuses to ignore the complexities of life for the convenience of a morality tale. There's no simple good and evil in a world where supervillains can be fair and thoughtful employers and superheroes can be egotistical vigilantes who cause more harm than they prevent. But that doesn't mean there isn't a morality tale hiding in here somewhere — you'll find it between the horror and the humor and the humanity.
Content notes: strong language, job insecurity, kidnapping, superpowered battles, death, murder, lies, infidelity, open-skull surgery, off-screen torture/interrogation, body horror
A cute, fairly light and funny YA rom-com with Jewish main characters in a story set in an indie bookstore in a mall in Georgia during the holiday season. It has exceptional diversity rep (race, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic, disability, fashion, lifestyle), a fun enemies-to-lovers trope, and a save-indie-bookstores theme. So, that's an awful lot to like!
Shoshanna Greenberg is concerned about the increasing tension between her moms, the need to repair her broken car, and the struggles of her best friends. Seems like a little more cash flow would help everything, so she throws herself — with even more enthusiasm than normal and that's, like, a lot of enthusiasm — into selling books at her beloved Once Upon bookstore so she can win the holiday bonus. And show Jake Kaplan, that smug flannel-wearing, super hot, I mean annoying, new guy, that she is the once and always queen of books.
The story feels a bit frantic (it's supposed to have taken place in a week), and some of the characters feel more like props than people. BUT it is from a teen pov and it does take place during the most intense retail week of the year, AND enthusiastic teen booksellers who have family and friends and finances on their minds are certainly allowed to be a bit frantic. And young women are allowed to be loud and take up space and act impulsively and make mistakes. So I think the pacing can get a pass and I'll take a pass on critiques of the main character being too impulsive — she's a passionate 16-year-old who takes action to make things better and is feeling out the boundaries of how to do that responsibly and well. I thought her development arc was really nice. If it's somewhat conveniently compressed and wrapped up with a bow at the end, well, it is Christmas after all.
Content notes: parents arguing and the specter of divorce looming, strained finances for several characters, absentee father
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.
Shoshanna Greenberg is concerned about the increasing tension between her moms, the need to repair her broken car, and the struggles of her best friends. Seems like a little more cash flow would help everything, so she throws herself — with even more enthusiasm than normal and that's, like, a lot of enthusiasm — into selling books at her beloved Once Upon bookstore so she can win the holiday bonus. And show Jake Kaplan, that smug flannel-wearing, super hot, I mean annoying, new guy, that she is the once and always queen of books.
The story feels a bit frantic (it's supposed to have taken place in a week), and some of the characters feel more like props than people. BUT it is from a teen pov and it does take place during the most intense retail week of the year, AND enthusiastic teen booksellers who have family and friends and finances on their minds are certainly allowed to be a bit frantic. And young women are allowed to be loud and take up space and act impulsively and make mistakes. So I think the pacing can get a pass and I'll take a pass on critiques of the main character being too impulsive — she's a passionate 16-year-old who takes action to make things better and is feeling out the boundaries of how to do that responsibly and well. I thought her development arc was really nice. If it's somewhat conveniently compressed and wrapped up with a bow at the end, well, it is Christmas after all.
Content notes: parents arguing and the specter of divorce looming, strained finances for several characters, absentee father
My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.