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The Midnight World #2
The Midnight Train
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
25 days and 03:23:46
5 copies available
U.S. only
When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop?
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to re-live the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.
For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.
Before he gave it all away.
He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library.
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to re-live the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.
For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.
Before he gave it all away.
He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
101 people are currently reading
67189 people want to read
About the author
Matt Haig
72 books49.7k followersMatt Haig is the author of novels such as The Midnight Library, How to Stop Time, The Humans, The Life Impossible and now The Midnight Train. He has also written books for children, such as A Boy Called Christmas, the memoir Reasons to Stay Alive and also The Comfort Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
February 15, 2026
In the simplest words from my romantic heart: I truly, deeply adored this book.
Even though you can sense where the story is heading, the beauty lies in its simplicity and sincerity. The writing doesn’t try to be clever or complicated—it’s genuine, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Many of the emotional moments resonated with me in a way that felt almost personal, and because of that, I loved this story even more.
This novel is both sensational and quietly inspirational. It gently reminds us of life lessons we already know, but too often forget to actually live by: to slow down, to be present, to forgive, to let go. Life is not a marathon—it is a collection of moments, and sometimes we rush past the very ones that matter the most. Letting go isn’t something any of us ever fully masters, because we’re human. We make mistakes, we hurt each other, and we choose wrong when choosing right would have been harder. Pain is part of loving, and this book understands that deeply.
Maybe if I had read this story twenty years ago, Wilbur Budd’s journey wouldn’t have touched me so strongly. But as we grow older, the truths in this novel feel sharper and more real. We start thinking about time, about regret, about what we would change if we were given another chance. And we also start wondering about death—what comes after, if anything. Is it darkness? Heaven? Another beginning? A second life in another body? This book dares to explore those questions in the most tender and imaginative way.
Wilbur Budd is a wealthy bookstore owner who dies alone in his house, just after losing the love of his life once again. He reads Maggie’s farewell letter, collapses, and suffers a fatal heart attack. It feels final. Devastating. But that’s not where his story ends.
Wilbur becomes a ghost and boards the mysterious Midnight Train, guided by the unforgettable Agnes Deborah Amaryllis Bagsdale—the eccentric, magical owner of the bookshop where Wilbur first fell in love with reading as a child. She was the kind of woman who could place the perfect book into your hands and somehow know exactly what your soul needed. Years later, Wilbur would work in that very same shop and eventually inherit it, carrying on her legacy.
Now, Agnes becomes his guide through eternity, taking him through the most important moments of his life. We witness the tragedies that shaped him, the losses that broke him, and the love that defined him. One of the most beautiful memories is his honeymoon in Venice with Maggie—wandering through the labyrinth of narrow streets, lost together, discovering what happiness truly feels like.
But Wilbur is heartbroken even in death. And a question begins to haunt him: what if he could go back? What if time isn’t as fixed as we think? What if, by risking eternity itself, he could correct his mistakes and save the love he lost? His old friend Charlie believed that time is relative—that the past might still be part of the future. But interfering with time comes with a terrifying cost. Could Wilbur change his fate without erasing himself?
This story is romantic in the purest sense of the word. To me, it is much more a love story than a fantasy—an emotional, inspirational, beautifully tender drama about regret, devotion, and second chances. I loved its simplicity and its directness. It warmed my heart from the very first page to the last, and it earned every one of its five stars.
It was also one of my fastest, most absorbing reads—easy to fall into, impossible not to feel.
Highly recommended. 💫
A million thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for sharing one of the most anticipated books of 2026 with me in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I truly and sincerely appreciate.
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Even though you can sense where the story is heading, the beauty lies in its simplicity and sincerity. The writing doesn’t try to be clever or complicated—it’s genuine, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. Many of the emotional moments resonated with me in a way that felt almost personal, and because of that, I loved this story even more.
This novel is both sensational and quietly inspirational. It gently reminds us of life lessons we already know, but too often forget to actually live by: to slow down, to be present, to forgive, to let go. Life is not a marathon—it is a collection of moments, and sometimes we rush past the very ones that matter the most. Letting go isn’t something any of us ever fully masters, because we’re human. We make mistakes, we hurt each other, and we choose wrong when choosing right would have been harder. Pain is part of loving, and this book understands that deeply.
Maybe if I had read this story twenty years ago, Wilbur Budd’s journey wouldn’t have touched me so strongly. But as we grow older, the truths in this novel feel sharper and more real. We start thinking about time, about regret, about what we would change if we were given another chance. And we also start wondering about death—what comes after, if anything. Is it darkness? Heaven? Another beginning? A second life in another body? This book dares to explore those questions in the most tender and imaginative way.
Wilbur Budd is a wealthy bookstore owner who dies alone in his house, just after losing the love of his life once again. He reads Maggie’s farewell letter, collapses, and suffers a fatal heart attack. It feels final. Devastating. But that’s not where his story ends.
Wilbur becomes a ghost and boards the mysterious Midnight Train, guided by the unforgettable Agnes Deborah Amaryllis Bagsdale—the eccentric, magical owner of the bookshop where Wilbur first fell in love with reading as a child. She was the kind of woman who could place the perfect book into your hands and somehow know exactly what your soul needed. Years later, Wilbur would work in that very same shop and eventually inherit it, carrying on her legacy.
Now, Agnes becomes his guide through eternity, taking him through the most important moments of his life. We witness the tragedies that shaped him, the losses that broke him, and the love that defined him. One of the most beautiful memories is his honeymoon in Venice with Maggie—wandering through the labyrinth of narrow streets, lost together, discovering what happiness truly feels like.
But Wilbur is heartbroken even in death. And a question begins to haunt him: what if he could go back? What if time isn’t as fixed as we think? What if, by risking eternity itself, he could correct his mistakes and save the love he lost? His old friend Charlie believed that time is relative—that the past might still be part of the future. But interfering with time comes with a terrifying cost. Could Wilbur change his fate without erasing himself?
This story is romantic in the purest sense of the word. To me, it is much more a love story than a fantasy—an emotional, inspirational, beautifully tender drama about regret, devotion, and second chances. I loved its simplicity and its directness. It warmed my heart from the very first page to the last, and it earned every one of its five stars.
It was also one of my fastest, most absorbing reads—easy to fall into, impossible not to feel.
Highly recommended. 💫
A million thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for sharing one of the most anticipated books of 2026 with me in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I truly and sincerely appreciate.
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February 9, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
If you could ride a midnight train through your life, how many moments would be worth reliving? How many moments would be too painful to stop for? How many mistakes would you yearn to fix?
It’s an apt time for me to read this, as I reflect on my life and the fraught path I travel. I’d definitely skip over this part of my journey, starting straight forward, hoping against hope I’ll never have to look back.
A tender, heartwarming l novel, it reminds us that these individual moments we live all add up to a life. And in that life, we have regrets, we have things we take for granted, we have magical memories we wish to live in on a loop.
But we ultimately get none of that, and we have to come to terms with the elusiveness of joy to understand the importance of savoring it. I think we can all learn from Wilbur, and by realizing that we are dying in stages as we walk this earth, perhaps we can spend less time grieving the passing of your previous versions, and more time celebrating the current one.
Live life like today is the moment you’d return to if you could change only one day.
If you could ride a midnight train through your life, how many moments would be worth reliving? How many moments would be too painful to stop for? How many mistakes would you yearn to fix?
It’s an apt time for me to read this, as I reflect on my life and the fraught path I travel. I’d definitely skip over this part of my journey, starting straight forward, hoping against hope I’ll never have to look back.
A tender, heartwarming l novel, it reminds us that these individual moments we live all add up to a life. And in that life, we have regrets, we have things we take for granted, we have magical memories we wish to live in on a loop.
But we ultimately get none of that, and we have to come to terms with the elusiveness of joy to understand the importance of savoring it. I think we can all learn from Wilbur, and by realizing that we are dying in stages as we walk this earth, perhaps we can spend less time grieving the passing of your previous versions, and more time celebrating the current one.
Live life like today is the moment you’d return to if you could change only one day.
Want to read
October 17, 2025Matt Haig is one my all-time favorite authors.
I’m really looking forward to The Midnight Train being released and having the opportunity to read it.
Can’t wait!
I’m really looking forward to The Midnight Train being released and having the opportunity to read it.
Can’t wait!
January 11, 2026
If you read and enjoyed the Midnight Library, you will love this book as well. It is poignant, reflective, and fraught with the perils and plights of life. While the storyline feels very much like A Christmas Carol by Dickens, it does also include moments that really make the reader think. There are several quotes in this book that you’ll want to remember in your own life. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Want to read
December 12, 2025I was so happy to see that Matt Haig has written another book.
I love getting lost in Haig's magical world.
I've requested the ARC on NetGalley. Fingers crossed!!!
I love getting lost in Haig's magical world.
I've requested the ARC on NetGalley. Fingers crossed!!!
Want to read
February 8, 202607 Feb 2026. Oh my God! I need it now!
I loved, luvvved, LOVED the Midnight Library, even though it's such a sad story (now that I think of it once again). I expect this one to be equally transformative as well!!
Godspeed to this book's publication!
I loved, luvvved, LOVED the Midnight Library, even though it's such a sad story (now that I think of it once again). I expect this one to be equally transformative as well!!
Godspeed to this book's publication!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"I can’t fix you. I can’t even fix myself." When a Matt Haig book starts you off with tears in chapter 1, you know you're in for an emotional rollercoaster of a book. The Midnight Library focused on the endless directions and possibilities, where The Midnight Train is more reflective on the life we've already lived.
The midnight train takes the reader through all seasons of life: The mundane moments, life-changing seconds, and memories we wish to never revisit. Similar to A Christmas Carol, we follow Wilbur as he witnesses all the core moments that made up his life and created who he was at the end of his journey. But what if you could change what happens along the way?
Thank you NetGalley for this arc. Pub day: May 2026
The midnight train takes the reader through all seasons of life: The mundane moments, life-changing seconds, and memories we wish to never revisit. Similar to A Christmas Carol, we follow Wilbur as he witnesses all the core moments that made up his life and created who he was at the end of his journey. But what if you could change what happens along the way?
Thank you NetGalley for this arc. Pub day: May 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, this book! After the first chapter, I just knew I was going to love it. I’ve been a Matt Haig fan for a long time and was very pleased to receive this advance review copy. I found myself trying to save this book because I didn’t want it to end. I was highlighting the beautiful writing, and when I do that, I just know it’s a book for me. Conceptually linked to The Midnight Library, which I also loved. Perfect pacing, fabulous characters, and I absolutely adored Wilbur Budd. This book brought me to tears, I can't champion it enough!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Just finished this advanced copy, it was such a comforting and insightful read. It really makes you think about life and all its little moments. I felt like I was on a journey with Wilbur, and it was a beautiful one. If you're looking for something that will leave you feeling a bit more hopeful, definitely pick this one up. It's one of those books you don't want to end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5🌟
Thanks to Netgalley, Matt Haig, and Viking Penguin for sending me an Arc to review.
Wow! I knew I would enjoy this book, but I ended up absolutely adoring it. This one will stay with me for awhile. The first half is background story, learning about Wilbur and his life. Why he has made the choices he has made, how he has dealt with traumas and experiences he has survived. The second half I could not put down. I ignored everything I was supposed to do tonight because this took priority. Zero regrets. I won't give spoilers, but I will say, the journey this takes you on is something all people should consider. It's raw emotion and relatable. If only everyone did get a midnight train. I highly recommend this book and personally will probably reread it at some point.
While this is set in the same World as The Midnight Library, it is not necessary to read (or reread) the first book. Although that one is also a great read. I'm hoping there will be more to come in this world!!
Thanks to Netgalley, Matt Haig, and Viking Penguin for sending me an Arc to review.
Wow! I knew I would enjoy this book, but I ended up absolutely adoring it. This one will stay with me for awhile. The first half is background story, learning about Wilbur and his life. Why he has made the choices he has made, how he has dealt with traumas and experiences he has survived. The second half I could not put down. I ignored everything I was supposed to do tonight because this took priority. Zero regrets. I won't give spoilers, but I will say, the journey this takes you on is something all people should consider. It's raw emotion and relatable. If only everyone did get a midnight train. I highly recommend this book and personally will probably reread it at some point.
While this is set in the same World as The Midnight Library, it is not necessary to read (or reread) the first book. Although that one is also a great read. I'm hoping there will be more to come in this world!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy from netgalley to read and review.
The second book in the Midnight series. Not an actual sequel, but it takes place in the same kind of world. I really enjoyed this book. The writing is very pleasant and I really loved the story. This is also a book that makes you stop and think about your own life (choices).
The second book in the Midnight series. Not an actual sequel, but it takes place in the same kind of world. I really enjoyed this book. The writing is very pleasant and I really loved the story. This is also a book that makes you stop and think about your own life (choices).
January 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
“Obviously this isn’t a sequel to The Midnight Library, in any traditional sense. But conceptually, it follows on. The Midnight Library was a library between life and death. This is a train through life after death. “ Matt Haig
I fell in love with the Midnight Library when I read it back in 2023 so when I saw this I knew I had to read it. So let me start off by saying thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this before its release date.
These books are always a great way for me to start my year as they give you a perspective on how to live and look at your life. To appreciate what’s important. It was a nice touch that Nora made a guest appearance in the Midnight Train and had glimpses back into the Midnight Library.
There were more than a few lines that I had to write down as I want to continue to revisit them time and time again to remind myself on the important things in life and I know I will revisit this story again and again.
“Obviously this isn’t a sequel to The Midnight Library, in any traditional sense. But conceptually, it follows on. The Midnight Library was a library between life and death. This is a train through life after death. “ Matt Haig
I fell in love with the Midnight Library when I read it back in 2023 so when I saw this I knew I had to read it. So let me start off by saying thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this before its release date.
These books are always a great way for me to start my year as they give you a perspective on how to live and look at your life. To appreciate what’s important. It was a nice touch that Nora made a guest appearance in the Midnight Train and had glimpses back into the Midnight Library.
There were more than a few lines that I had to write down as I want to continue to revisit them time and time again to remind myself on the important things in life and I know I will revisit this story again and again.
January 19, 2026
Gosh what a great story about how all the moments of life - big and small - make us who we are. Matt Haig took us back to the world of The Midnight Library and did an amazing job imparting nuggets of wisdom about living life well. Great premise, well thought out middle, and a beautiful wrap up.
Hop on the train with Wilbur; you won't regret it!
[Note for the mems: this is my first physical ARC - Thanks to Kerri at Penguin Random House!]
Hop on the train with Wilbur; you won't regret it!
[Note for the mems: this is my first physical ARC - Thanks to Kerri at Penguin Random House!]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the second book in Matt Haig’s Midnight World, and I went into it with very high expectations because I loved The Midnight Library. In that book, the quest felt expansive—like many lives were touched by the choices being explored. (Though I may be romanticizing it and should probably reread.)
The Midnight Train is beautifully written. I highlighted something on almost every page, and there’s no denying how thoughtful and quotable it is. But by the end, I realized I didn’t actually care much about how the story resolved. It felt like everything ultimately narrowed back down to whether he was happy. Maggie, too, sure—but the broader ripple effect didn’t land for me the way it did in The Midnight Library.
I also didn’t realize until I’d finished that I didn’t really like Wilbur, which… explains a lot. It made sense of why I never fully settled into the story, even with how lovely the writing is.
I liked this book. I admired it. I just didn’t feel much once it was over—and after loving the first book so much, that surprised me.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.
#TheMidnightTrain #MattHaig
The Midnight Train is beautifully written. I highlighted something on almost every page, and there’s no denying how thoughtful and quotable it is. But by the end, I realized I didn’t actually care much about how the story resolved. It felt like everything ultimately narrowed back down to whether he was happy. Maggie, too, sure—but the broader ripple effect didn’t land for me the way it did in The Midnight Library.
I also didn’t realize until I’d finished that I didn’t really like Wilbur, which… explains a lot. It made sense of why I never fully settled into the story, even with how lovely the writing is.
I liked this book. I admired it. I just didn’t feel much once it was over—and after loving the first book so much, that surprised me.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC.
#TheMidnightTrain #MattHaig
February 8, 2026
I was lucky enough to read this pre-publication in return for a review. Thanks to the publishers, NetGalley, and MH for the privilege!
If you’re familiar with Matt’s voice and his previous work, you’ll get what you’re expecting with this. It’s his usual reassessment of the mundanity of life, with a reminder that it’s all an experience to cherish. I feel like I have to read something like this every once in a while to remind myself not to take everything for granted.
A heartwarming, gently challenging, quick read. Of course I recommend!
If you’re familiar with Matt’s voice and his previous work, you’ll get what you’re expecting with this. It’s his usual reassessment of the mundanity of life, with a reminder that it’s all an experience to cherish. I feel like I have to read something like this every once in a while to remind myself not to take everything for granted.
A heartwarming, gently challenging, quick read. Of course I recommend!
February 21, 2026
Wilbur is an old man. At the hour of his death he is picked up by a train and starts seeing significant events in his life. He realizes there are mistakes he made in life that he wishes he could redo.
After really loving The Midnight library I was so excited for this book! I didn’t like it as much but it was still really good. Wilbur is an easy character to like, most of the time.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Viking Penguin Press for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date May 26, 1026.
After really loving The Midnight library I was so excited for this book! I didn’t like it as much but it was still really good. Wilbur is an easy character to like, most of the time.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Viking Penguin Press for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date May 26, 1026.
February 1, 2026
ARC review
4.5 ⭐️
“But what if there are things that I did wrong?’…’That, Old Bean, means you have lived.”
I think Matt Haig books are best entered in to blind, so I won’t share what this one’s about, just that if you loved The Midnight Library, you’ll adore this too!
This was deeply moving, heartbreaking and introspective. Much like the Midnight Library, I’m left with an appreciation for life’s small moments and a view on what’s really important in life (though I doubt I’ll find myself with the life that Wilber has!).
I also loved the call backs to The Midnight Library, while this is not a sequel, it was fun to see the two connected.
I found this slightly more predictable than TML, but loved it nonetheless.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Canongate Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐️
“But what if there are things that I did wrong?’…’That, Old Bean, means you have lived.”
I think Matt Haig books are best entered in to blind, so I won’t share what this one’s about, just that if you loved The Midnight Library, you’ll adore this too!
This was deeply moving, heartbreaking and introspective. Much like the Midnight Library, I’m left with an appreciation for life’s small moments and a view on what’s really important in life (though I doubt I’ll find myself with the life that Wilber has!).
I also loved the call backs to The Midnight Library, while this is not a sequel, it was fun to see the two connected.
I found this slightly more predictable than TML, but loved it nonetheless.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Canongate Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 25, 2026
I loved The Midnight Library and wanted to enjoy this but it was not the same at all. It dragged on and I found myself falling asleep/being uninterested in picking it up. What a disappointment.
February 21, 2026
I was absolutely delighted to be offered a proof review copy of this book. I've read and loved several books by Matt Haig but hadn't read the Midnight Library so thought I would read them back to back. You can read both separately and this isn't necessary. In fact I would probably not recommend it as inevitably it encourages too many comparisons, and these are very different books. Midnight Train focuses on Wilbur who has just died and is taken on a train ride through moments of his life, guided by a lady who ran the bookshop where Wilbur worked. As he revisits his past, Wilbur reflects on choices, crossroads and alternative paths that he might have taken. But how can he change what has already happened?
This felt somehow quieter than The Library, more mindful and reflective. Many have compared this to A Christmas Carol, but Wilbur is less a Scrooge than a man who let tragedy shape him and misread where happiness lay. Whilst The Library is full of dramatic moments and Nora being whisked around the world, in this novel Wilbur visits moments big and small; moments that have made up his journey through life. I felt drawn into the story, alongside Wilbur, watching the playback and wondering what he might have done differently. And because I had just read Library, I kept thinking, but where’s the agency in this? How can he do anything other than watch the playback? And what lies at the end of the journey? In Library Nora is helped to move on from regrets. In Midnight Train those regrets felt more significant and final.
I don’t think I appreciated the effect of this book until after I had read it. In fact, I revised this up to 5 stars from 4. When you are in the story you don’t realise how big it is and how it has affected you. Only stepping back, like a camera panning out from its subject, did I really appreciate the bigger picture. I don’t think that there is another writer who makes me think as much as Matt Haig does. His writing is infused with a love of life and a genuine curiosity about the way we live it. This book made me think about my own life, decisions and choices and I have imagined what my train journey would look like. Matt Haig has such a powerful imagination and never fails to suprise me. He does some particularly clever stuff in here!
I think that this would be a wonderful book for book club discussions and perfect for those of you who love books which feature books and bookshops.
This felt somehow quieter than The Library, more mindful and reflective. Many have compared this to A Christmas Carol, but Wilbur is less a Scrooge than a man who let tragedy shape him and misread where happiness lay. Whilst The Library is full of dramatic moments and Nora being whisked around the world, in this novel Wilbur visits moments big and small; moments that have made up his journey through life. I felt drawn into the story, alongside Wilbur, watching the playback and wondering what he might have done differently. And because I had just read Library, I kept thinking, but where’s the agency in this? How can he do anything other than watch the playback? And what lies at the end of the journey? In Library Nora is helped to move on from regrets. In Midnight Train those regrets felt more significant and final.
I don’t think I appreciated the effect of this book until after I had read it. In fact, I revised this up to 5 stars from 4. When you are in the story you don’t realise how big it is and how it has affected you. Only stepping back, like a camera panning out from its subject, did I really appreciate the bigger picture. I don’t think that there is another writer who makes me think as much as Matt Haig does. His writing is infused with a love of life and a genuine curiosity about the way we live it. This book made me think about my own life, decisions and choices and I have imagined what my train journey would look like. Matt Haig has such a powerful imagination and never fails to suprise me. He does some particularly clever stuff in here!
I think that this would be a wonderful book for book club discussions and perfect for those of you who love books which feature books and bookshops.
February 13, 2026
Incredibly corny and predictable. A few good lines and sentiments here and there but basically a more magical/modern version of A Christmas Carol. I read the Midnight Library years ago and gave it 5 stars but now I’m suspicious of my own review. All characters are completely one dimensional, I felt no emotional depth in this story. Sorry but Matt Haig should not be near any historical fiction.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
February 12, 2026
Where “The Midnight Library” was everything I hoped it would be, this one was not…
This book felt entirely too reminiscent of ‘A Christmas Carol.” Additionally, it did not accomplish what the first book did in terms of emotional impact for me. I did not feel connected to our main character whatsoever.
Overall, I am disappointed in this book as compared to the first one.
This book felt entirely too reminiscent of ‘A Christmas Carol.” Additionally, it did not accomplish what the first book did in terms of emotional impact for me. I did not feel connected to our main character whatsoever.
Overall, I am disappointed in this book as compared to the first one.
Want to read
November 21, 2025Snälla låt den vara well executed för midnight library kunde verkligen har varit så så så bra. Kommer definitivt läsa den här!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Could a bookseller change your life?..
..... Well, an author @mattzhaig and a publisher @canongatebooks can... ✨
I have finished The Midnight Train today. This incredibly profound work of art that had me having an existential crisis after the last page in all the best and painful ways. A book that will cleave you in two, and then reheal you - if you are willing and able to let it.
I cannot think of the right words to describe this book to give it the justice that it needs.
It feels layered like inception, if you can see through all the layers to get to the messages.
To be a fly on the wall, looking into Wilburs life, while he himself is a fly on the wall, looking into his own life.. To realise that there are so many things that would do differently or could have done differently, if you had the opportunity to view/visit your own life after death, but not being able to do anything to change it. And yet here we are with this book, a book that can give you the opportunity to reflect on your own life whilst still living - and although we might be without the means to change the past, the messages in this book can hand you the opportunity to change your perspective on your life right now, and to shape your future.
I really feel this is a book that needs to be read by everyone, and if everyone only takes away 1 of the many messages that are in it, then Matt has achieved something invaluable.
..... Well, an author @mattzhaig and a publisher @canongatebooks can... ✨
I have finished The Midnight Train today. This incredibly profound work of art that had me having an existential crisis after the last page in all the best and painful ways. A book that will cleave you in two, and then reheal you - if you are willing and able to let it.
I cannot think of the right words to describe this book to give it the justice that it needs.
It feels layered like inception, if you can see through all the layers to get to the messages.
To be a fly on the wall, looking into Wilburs life, while he himself is a fly on the wall, looking into his own life.. To realise that there are so many things that would do differently or could have done differently, if you had the opportunity to view/visit your own life after death, but not being able to do anything to change it. And yet here we are with this book, a book that can give you the opportunity to reflect on your own life whilst still living - and although we might be without the means to change the past, the messages in this book can hand you the opportunity to change your perspective on your life right now, and to shape your future.
I really feel this is a book that needs to be read by everyone, and if everyone only takes away 1 of the many messages that are in it, then Matt has achieved something invaluable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 16, 2026Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC for review. All opinions are my own.
The Midnight Train is not a sequel to The Midnight Library but it has the same hopeful and reflective quality that made me fall in love with The Midnight Library.
After 81-year-old Wilbur dies he boards the Midnight Train, where he takes a journey through his life to see what kind of person he was with the life he had. The train stops at certain junctures in time along the way, centering on his relationships with his mom, brother, best friend, and wife Maggie. He is able to see where things went astray in his life with this new perspective and desperately wants to get a message to his younger self in the event that his destiny can be changed.
This book is a delightful and fast read and I enjoyed it very much.
The Midnight Train is not a sequel to The Midnight Library but it has the same hopeful and reflective quality that made me fall in love with The Midnight Library.
After 81-year-old Wilbur dies he boards the Midnight Train, where he takes a journey through his life to see what kind of person he was with the life he had. The train stops at certain junctures in time along the way, centering on his relationships with his mom, brother, best friend, and wife Maggie. He is able to see where things went astray in his life with this new perspective and desperately wants to get a message to his younger self in the event that his destiny can be changed.
This book is a delightful and fast read and I enjoyed it very much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Midnight Train follows the main character Wilbur Budd, looking back at his past life as a passenger on the midnight train, stopping at significant moments. It has echoes of A Christmas Carol and of course Haig's earlier novel, The Midnight Library, even bringing back characters from that book. This is an emotional story about choices, regret and love lost.
I have read several of Matt Haig's novels and usually rate then either 3 or 4 stars. This was a 3 star read for me, so not my favourite, in comparison to the Midnight Library which I gave 4 stars. That's not to say it wasn't a good read, it was, but it didn't have the wow factor for me this time. Having said that I flew though it. Haig's writing style feels effortless and the story moves quickly, although I felt once I got to the mid point I was fairly sure where it was going.
This novel will appeal to Haig's many fans, lovers of The Midnight Library and anyone interested in emotional stories with a light supernatural/time-travel element. It should also appeal to anyone looking for a satisfying but not too challenging read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate books for the ARC.
I have read several of Matt Haig's novels and usually rate then either 3 or 4 stars. This was a 3 star read for me, so not my favourite, in comparison to the Midnight Library which I gave 4 stars. That's not to say it wasn't a good read, it was, but it didn't have the wow factor for me this time. Having said that I flew though it. Haig's writing style feels effortless and the story moves quickly, although I felt once I got to the mid point I was fairly sure where it was going.
This novel will appeal to Haig's many fans, lovers of The Midnight Library and anyone interested in emotional stories with a light supernatural/time-travel element. It should also appeal to anyone looking for a satisfying but not too challenging read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canongate books for the ARC.
February 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for the ARC of Midnight Train. Midnight Train is one of those rare novels that doesn’t just tell a story — it quietly rearranges something inside you while you read. I loved Matt Haig’s last book, Midnight Library, and this has the same vibe.
This novel wrestles with time, memory, and the way we make meaning out of our lives. The characters move through uncertainty the way we all do, hoping the next choice will make sense someday, even if it doesn’t now.
It feels like the core of the book is the idea that our past is never truly gone, only waiting for us to understand it differently. Haig treats regret and longing not as failures, but as evidence that we cared in the first place.
This is not a loud or flashy novel. It’s gentle and quietly profound. If you enjoy stories that leave you reflecting after the final page, this one is worth the ride. It feels less like finishing a book and more like stepping off a train- changed, thoughtful, and looking at the world with softer eyes.
This novel wrestles with time, memory, and the way we make meaning out of our lives. The characters move through uncertainty the way we all do, hoping the next choice will make sense someday, even if it doesn’t now.
It feels like the core of the book is the idea that our past is never truly gone, only waiting for us to understand it differently. Haig treats regret and longing not as failures, but as evidence that we cared in the first place.
This is not a loud or flashy novel. It’s gentle and quietly profound. If you enjoy stories that leave you reflecting after the final page, this one is worth the ride. It feels less like finishing a book and more like stepping off a train- changed, thoughtful, and looking at the world with softer eyes.
February 14, 2026
**Thanks so much for NetGalley and Viking Publishing for the Arc of this title!**
I’m giving this four stars because, while it was slow and took a while for me to read, it was full of significance and an important message. The Midnight Train is similar but different from the Midnight Library. It takes the reader on a journey of a man reviewing his life after death, able to see with full clarity of hindsight how his actions have impacted the trajectory of his life. It brings up the question - if you could do your life over again, knowing how it ends, would you change anything? It reminds you to slow down, to remember what (or who) is really important, to not take things for granted, and to feel.
I’m giving this four stars because, while it was slow and took a while for me to read, it was full of significance and an important message. The Midnight Train is similar but different from the Midnight Library. It takes the reader on a journey of a man reviewing his life after death, able to see with full clarity of hindsight how his actions have impacted the trajectory of his life. It brings up the question - if you could do your life over again, knowing how it ends, would you change anything? It reminds you to slow down, to remember what (or who) is really important, to not take things for granted, and to feel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 ⭐️
Thank you Netgally for this ARC of The Midnight Train by Matt Haig which is a tender, magical story about love, regret, and second chances. Set in the same universe as The Midnight Library, it explores what it means to revisit the moments that shaped us, and to truly see who we were.
Wilbur’s journey back to Venice and his time with Maggie is heartfelt and bittersweet. I especially loved the many literary references woven throughout the story, they added depth and made the reading experience even more enjoyable.
A reflective, heartwarming novel that lingers after the final page.
Thank you Netgally for this ARC of The Midnight Train by Matt Haig which is a tender, magical story about love, regret, and second chances. Set in the same universe as The Midnight Library, it explores what it means to revisit the moments that shaped us, and to truly see who we were.
Wilbur’s journey back to Venice and his time with Maggie is heartfelt and bittersweet. I especially loved the many literary references woven throughout the story, they added depth and made the reading experience even more enjoyable.
A reflective, heartwarming novel that lingers after the final page.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest thoughts.
This book is heavy!! Up till this moment, I'm still trying to process my feelings!! When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? What will you change, what will you do differently?
The Midnight Train follows Wilbur and Maggie. Wilbur has everything, but he doesn't have everything – he's lost sight of people who really cared about him; he's taken them for granted and pushed them aside. Now he's dead at eighty-one, and he hears a train chugging and sees his name as the train station's name... but what does this really mean for Wilbur?!
This novel taught me what life is... live in the moment!!! Yes, it's great and amazing to rigorously plan for the future, to work towards goals with all vigor, but it's good to slow down, it's good to soak it all in, it's great not to lose yourself and lose sight of the people around you, all because you have a future goal you're working towards!
Is it really Deja Vu, or are we seeing ourselves in an alternate reality? Is that why we feel as though we've lived/seen an event before? 😊
This book left me wanting more, and I do hope we get a third Midnight World book 😉. Thank you for the e-ARC.
This book is heavy!! Up till this moment, I'm still trying to process my feelings!! When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? What will you change, what will you do differently?
The Midnight Train follows Wilbur and Maggie. Wilbur has everything, but he doesn't have everything – he's lost sight of people who really cared about him; he's taken them for granted and pushed them aside. Now he's dead at eighty-one, and he hears a train chugging and sees his name as the train station's name... but what does this really mean for Wilbur?!
This novel taught me what life is... live in the moment!!! Yes, it's great and amazing to rigorously plan for the future, to work towards goals with all vigor, but it's good to slow down, it's good to soak it all in, it's great not to lose yourself and lose sight of the people around you, all because you have a future goal you're working towards!
Is it really Deja Vu, or are we seeing ourselves in an alternate reality? Is that why we feel as though we've lived/seen an event before? 😊
This book left me wanting more, and I do hope we get a third Midnight World book 😉. Thank you for the e-ARC.
February 22, 2026
4 stars
While not truly a sequel to The Midnight Library, The Midnight Train exists in the same “world” but instead tackles looking back on your life after death. Finding the moments that shaped you, reliving the moments of joy and hurt and many in between. Showing how you went from the person you were to the person you became which may fuel the desire to try and change the path you took, but if you do you risk it all and your eternity.
I did very much enjoy this book but it didn’t hold the same weight and reverence that The Midnight Library was for me. Those who enjoyed the Midnight Library will definitely enjoy this book and find some of the same life lessons, quotes and themes to live by.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
While not truly a sequel to The Midnight Library, The Midnight Train exists in the same “world” but instead tackles looking back on your life after death. Finding the moments that shaped you, reliving the moments of joy and hurt and many in between. Showing how you went from the person you were to the person you became which may fuel the desire to try and change the path you took, but if you do you risk it all and your eternity.
I did very much enjoy this book but it didn’t hold the same weight and reverence that The Midnight Library was for me. Those who enjoyed the Midnight Library will definitely enjoy this book and find some of the same life lessons, quotes and themes to live by.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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