What makes this book a bestseller? Clearly, the sad “if only I had…..” theme of the book resonates with many people during a year when mental health issues are skyrocketing. Perhaps more importantly, the novel is written by someone who has lived the experience he is writing about. The author survived a suicide attempt in much the same way the protagonist in this novel did. Readers can often tell when authors are just “making stuff up” as opposed to being authentic narrators. This book tells the truth about despair; it also shines a light on ways to move forward.
Haig, Matt. The Midnight Library. Viking, 2020, p. 29.