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The Midnight World #2

The Midnight Train

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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.

11 pages, Audiobook

First published May 26, 2026

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About the author

Matt Haig

81 books51k followers
Matt 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 931 reviews
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
3,218 reviews62.9k followers
May 28, 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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Profile Image for Shelley's Book Nook.
579 reviews2,292 followers
May 26, 2026
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The Midnight Train (The Midnight World, #2) by Matt Haig
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Midnight Train (The Midnight World #2)
Matt Haig
Publication Date: May 26th, 2026
HarperCollins Canada | HarperCollins Publishers
304 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction

The first book in the series is about what could have been; this second installment is about what was. What's best about Haig's Midnight World Series is the way he writes about the "what-ifs" of life.

This one is about Wilbur, who is an 81-year-old man who has died. Wilbur thinks the best days of his life were the ones spent with his (ex)wife, Maggie...especially their honeymoon in Venice. He is given the chance to live those moments over and maybe change his past. BUT nothing is ever free of consequence, and trying to rewrite history, even if it is your own, comes with a cost.

I love the way Haig writes about that "your life is flashing before your eyes" moment. Changing the library to a steam train is very nostalgic and reminded me of old noir films I watched with my grandma. (The railway metaphor was not lost on me.) We don't have a multiverse in this one; it's about one single, messy life.

Wilbur was a very relatable character. He was very flawed, and reading about him dealing with his younger self was so sad but very touching. I read one review that said this book is a balm for the soul, and it is so true. While it feels a bit familiar and sentimental, the message Haig is trying to put across is very heartwarming. Value your memories, even the hard ones, and don't focus too much on your regrets as long as you have a life that was well lived. I enjoyed this second book much more than the first, and I can't recommend it enough. All. The. Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Profile Image for ꧁ ༺Minne༻ ꧂.
422 reviews510 followers
May 28, 2026
I’m really sad. Where's the magic? This was grossly underwhelming and nowhere near as emotionally engaging as I thought it would be.

I’ve always believed that some books find you exactly when you need them most, and that was the case with The Midnight Library. That book changed my life. I read it during a very uncertain and emotionally difficult period, and it felt like food for my soul. It helped me see life differently, and I’ll always be grateful not only that it exists, but that it found me when it did.

Sadly, I can’t say the same for this book.

The level of disconnect I felt from this story is unreal, and it kills me because this is the kind of story I usually enjoy. I was looking forward to it with what I can only describe as feverish delight? Desperate anticipation? I don’t even know.

The book makes reference to Ebenezer Scrooge and I was constantly reminded of A Christmas Carol while reading because they share a similar premise: a man revisiting moments from his life and being forced to confront himself and his choices.

What made A Christmas Carol work so well for me is that I immediately understood the urgency behind Scrooge’s journey. Before we’re shown his past we’re given the chance to know and feel something for his character. Whether it’s disgust, pity, sympathy or empathy. He makes you feel something. He’s despicable and mean, and some might even argue that he’s beyond redemption. So you’d ask yourself why a man like this even deserves a second chance? And maybe he doesn’t. The point is there’s a clear emotional and moral problem driving the narrative forward. And the story gives you a chance to not only root for him, but also learn from him by the time we reach the end of his journey.

That kind of emotional complexity is what I was looking for and what this story is missing for me.

81 year old Wilbur’s story begins with him dying and becoming trapped in a kind of purgatory that exists between death and eternity. He has to board the Midnight Train, which carries him through scenes from his life. He can get off and linger in certain memories, while others pass by in a blur, kind of like landscapes rushing past a train window. I really adore this concept. In many ways, The Midnight Train is meant to represent the idea of your life flashing before your eyes in the moments before you die. Was it a good life? Was it worth it in the end? Which memories stay with you? Which regrets haunt you still? And when you look back on it all, can you find it? The moment it all went wrong?

One of my issues with the way the story pans out is that we never really get to know Wilbur or his love interest, Maggie at the start of the story, and of course, that’s something the novel could’ve resolved over the course of its 300 pages. But for me, it never did because the characterisation felt flat. Both Maggie and Wilbur are so bland, and Maggie in particular was really underdeveloped. So by the time we start jumping in and out of scenes from Wilbur’s life, I was still struggling to find a reason to care about his plight. And that’s not to say he didn’t suffer or that he never made mistakes worth regretting. I simply never felt the urgency of his situation. And for me, a story like this needs all the emotional urgency it can fit between its pages.

Maggie and Wilbur’s relationship was clearly meant to be the emotional core of the story, the central thing the narrative was trying to heal, revisit, and resolve. But I couldn’t connect to either of them as characters, and because of that, I couldn’t connect to their relationship either. Naturally, that meant I never rooted for them. Frankly, at first Wilbur just seemed like a greedy punk who wanted to eat his cake and have it. A part of me kept thinking: everyone has it hard, Wilbur, so why exactly should I care about you getting a do-over? Why should I care about this one story? And I want to care enough to get to the point where I’m asking the hard questions.

Another thing I didn't enjoy is the writing style. I really can’t place my finger on why it didn’t work for me. The dialogues didn’t help either, and the narrative felt weirdly fragmented. Maybe that’s intentional because we’re rapidly moving through different periods of Wilbur’s life, jumping from memory to memory the same way thoughts flash through someone’s mind. I really don’t know.

The ending was also pretty predictable, though I usually don’t really mind predictability as long as I’m emotionally engaged and satisfied by the end. Which was not the case here.

But then I'd be lying if I said it was all bad. The book is still very faithful to the blueprint established by The Midnight Library in the sense that it celebrates life, human connection, and second chances. I gave it 3 stars because in spite of all my gripes with it, in the end it did make me ponder a bit over what it means to live and what moments make one’s existence meaningful.

Also, love the cover to bits.
Profile Image for Court Zierk.
Author 1 book457 followers
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.
Profile Image for Matt Lillywhite.
201 reviews98 followers
Want to Read
October 17, 2025
Matt 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!
Profile Image for Dee (in the Desert).
736 reviews216 followers
May 29, 2026
4.25 stars maybe?? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Seems I've read several good new books about the human condition in the last few weeks, and this one wasn't quite the stand-out, which is a shame as it's a good magic-realism novel. That's not the author's fault, the publisher could have moved up or delayed the release to differentiate it. I also wish I remembered "Magic Library" better, but as the author says in his note, this is not a sequel but more the same universe. And I liked using the train as a metaphor & setting to travel through a life with stops to see important events - that part worked quite well. I also enjoyed all the book love on display here. Wilbur (the ghost & past both) got a bit tiresome at times and also the metaphysics were a bit heavy handed in places. But what remained to me was LOVE in all its forms - the romantic, filial, platonic, occupational - they ARE the meaning of it all.
Profile Image for Meagan (Meagansbookclub).
858 reviews7,906 followers
May 19, 2026
I wanted to love it, but sadly I never connected with the main character or the story. It didn’t feel as magical as maybe I had hoped. I do think it’s impossible for me to go into a book of Matt Haig’s with low expectations after loving The Midnight Library years ago.
Profile Image for Kerrie.
22 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Teresa.
781 reviews221 followers
May 26, 2026
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said other than I LOVED it!!! I read it over the weekend. I had thoroughly enjoyed the Midnight Library but this tops that one for me.
Wilbur was a great character. Starting at the end with him and travelling back over his life was a wonderful way to tell a story. Which of us wouldn't like to go back and change things? I know I definitely would.
All the way through I was wondering how it was going to end and I'm glad to say it was very satisfactory. Agnes, his guide on the train, was a hoot.
There are many emotions in this book and I went through each and everyone of them with Wilbur.
A fantastic read and I'd highly recommend it!!!
Profile Image for Mandy White (mandylovestoread).
2,899 reviews904 followers
May 16, 2026
Another beautiful and magical book from Matt Haig. I loved The Midnight Library and jumped at the chance to read another book set in this universe. This isn’t a sequel, it is a story that makes the reader stop and think about what moments in their own lives would important enough to visit again after your death.

All aboard the Midnight Train. Wilbur Budd is 81 years old when his life suddenly ends, and he is alone. Some might think he had a fabulous life, he is rich beyond his wildest dreams but he is alone and has regrets, so many regrets. Before he can pass to his afterlife he is taken on a journey through his own life where he can see it with a fresh perspective, as much as it is going to hurt.

I loved this reflection on what is important in this life. Wilbur grew up poor and had so much tragedy in his life. He wanted a better life for himself and his bride Maggie. But money and a chain of bookshops are not the be all and end all in life. It is about the little things, the people that you love and who love you.

Wilbur was a tough character to warm to at times, he really did make some bad decisions. He is a book seller and loved nothing more than to recommend books to people and see them love it too. But as he gets older his focus changes and he loses what made him the man he was.

A story of loss and love, of life and death, or what matters the most, and of books. What’s not to love.

Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for my early copy to read and the amazing box of goodies to open as I went, so fun and so appreciative

Get on board the midnight train on May 26th,
Profile Image for ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣.
2,591 reviews19.3k followers
Want to Read
February 8, 2026
07 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!
Profile Image for Wendy.
2,025 reviews704 followers
Currently Reading
May 26, 2026
Currently Reading
Profile Image for Susan's Reviews.
1,265 reviews796 followers
Want to Read
December 12, 2025
I 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!!!
Profile Image for Lavinia Reads.
352 reviews319 followers
April 27, 2026
Am primit un exemplar în avanpremiera și m-am bucurat tare mult să mă întorc în acest univers.
“Trenul de la miezul nopții”, de Matt Haig a fost un reminder să trăiești în prezent, să nu te lași copleșit de nefericire și să accepți greutățile vieții, nu să fugi de ele.
Cu același ton blând cu care ne-a obișnuit Haig, trenul îl duce pe personajul nostru principal într-o călătorie a vieții sale - să o înțeleagă și să o accepte pentru a păși ulterior spre eternitate.
Profundă, caldă și realistă, povestea aceasta te va alina și te va îndurera deopotrivă.

“E sfâșietor. Dar uneori trebuie să-ți lași inima să se frângă ca să poți ramane in viață”

“Nu știu unde se ascunde trecutul, dar te voi întâlni acolo.”

“Cărțile sunt oglinzi pentru suflet. Așa că, dacă surprinzi o frântură din sufletul cuiva, vei ști care e oglinda potrivită pentru el.”

“Există zile în viață care trec și la care nu te mai gândești niciodată. Și există și zile care îți sunt atât de dragi sau importante, încât conțin în ele tot ce urmează. Zile-matrioşka, mereu cuibărite în viitorul care se tot lărgește.”

“Cụ cât fugi mai tare de ceva, cu atât acel ceva te găsește mai repede.”

“Că ai nevoie de întuneric uneori ca să faci celelalte lucruri mai luminoase.”

“Nimic nu e la intâmplare, și-a dat seama Fantoma. Chiar și cea mai nechibzuită acțiune era doar rezultatul a ceva anterior.
Totul era o consecință a ceea ce se întâmplase înainte, așa cum fiecare greșeală zgomotoasă din lume era produsul unei dureri tăcute și ascunse.”

“Lumea asta e plină de oameni care privesc, dar nu văd”

“O viață fără durere nu e în meniu, băiete. O viață în care eviți durerea devine o viață definită de durere. De durere și regret. Şi tu ai trăit deja durere. Ai supraviețuit după moartea lui Dougie....
Vei supraviețui tuturor greutăților pe care ți le aruncă viața. Trebuie doar să scapi de mentalitatea asta prăpăstioasă.”
Profile Image for Patrick Casebeer.
163 reviews3 followers
April 18, 2026
Thank you Matt Haig, Net Galley, and Viking for this ARC - 4.5 Stars.

‘A train through life after death’. What a great concept, executed with heart, sadness, and wisdom to chew on as well.

As stated, this isn’t a true sequel to Midnight Library but the author’s ability to ‘take you on a ride’ on this train with one poignant line after another lets you know it’s still a part of that world.

“Life can only be understood backward; but it must be lived forward”. That’s the gist of this, after having a massive heart attack Wilbur takes the train to view how he lived his life. Most of the time spent on the bad days, as good days didn’t leave much to learn.

The story of how he views his life, tries to disrupt his past to change the way it ended up, and live like his true self is probably one we can all learn from, or at least one we should sit and reflect on.

Loved this and I hope for more as Matt Haig is an amazing author, and person it seems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Liza (LitLifewithLiza) Armstrong.
302 reviews27 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 28, 2026
"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
Profile Image for Allie.
31 reviews
April 23, 2026
I'm a big fan of Matt Haig and an avid follower on social media. I think fans of The Midnight Library will really enjoy The Midnight Train. The book was a little on the nose for my taste but I appreciated how it was succinct and didn't drag on. I definitely enjoyed the book the further I got into the story. I think my favourite Matt Haig book will always be The Humans.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and HarperCollins for an advanced eARC of this book.
Profile Image for William de_Rham.
Author 0 books89 followers
May 26, 2026
A very creative and interesting way to look at death, the afterlife, and what has come before.
Profile Image for 2raccoonsinacoat.
118 reviews7 followers
Did Not Finish
May 8, 2026
This is another unique story from Haig, but unfortunately it just didn’t bring the intrigue like the first one did. Haig has a strong, effortless writing style that made the first 50% a fast read for me but (as with its prequel) I was fairly certain where it was going once I got to the middle and I just didn’t feel invested.

This explores similar themes of loss, regret, choice, as “The Midnight Library” in a similar package. I think fans of Matt Haig and “The Midnight Library” will enjoy this, I just would have liked to see something new.

Thanks to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Robin (Bridge Four).
1,992 reviews1,684 followers
May 25, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

At the end of life, hindsight really is 20/20. That’s the central premise of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Train. Wilbur has lived what looks like a successful life, but as he boards the Midnight Train in his eighties, he’s forced to confront a harder question. Did he live a full life?
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” And this train offers a solution. Life relived forwards.’

I’m new to Matt Haig, and I really enjoyed the style he chose here. The opening chapter drops us into what was probably the happiest day of Wilbur’s life: his honeymoon in Venice with Maggie. We meet the very best version of him before we watch how the choices that follow slowly strip away almost everything that should have mattered.

The story carried echoes of It’s a Wonderful Life and Scrooged for me.  Wilbur's life review, the weight of regret, and the possibility of change but, without any Christmas themes. We see the childhood wounds and early events that shaped Wilbur, then travel back with the hope that his honeymoon self might still be reached in time to alter the road ahead.

Some readers may find the journey through the past moves slowly at times, but that slower rhythm feels intentional. It mirrors the era and lets us sit with how post-war poverty and loss can forge a man so driven that he forgets the people who matter most. It also reminded me of how the longer I live the faster time seems to move.  I found myself quietly pondering Wilbur’s life both with Maggie and without her.

The Midnight Train is the second book of The Midnight World, following The Midnight Library, but it works beautifully as a standalone.  You won’t feel lost if you haven’t read the first book. I’d especially recommend it to anyone who loves stories about second chances, quiet hope, and the courage to risk everything for love.  Even, or especially, when it feels too late.
But Agnes was a bookseller and also currently a universe, which made her quite hard to argue with.
Profile Image for Colleen.
78 reviews2 followers
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
Profile Image for Cindy Huskey.
748 reviews55 followers
May 16, 2026
This felt like someone took A Christmas Carol, removed the ghosts, the urgency, and most of the personality, then stretched it across an emotionally delayed train schedule.

The premise sounded incredible: a magical midnight train that lets you revisit the moments that shaped your life? Amazing. Existential. Potentially devastating in the best way. Instead, I got a slow-moving ride through regret with all the excitement of waiting at the DMV.

Wilbur spends the book reflecting on his past, his marriage, and the choices he made, except the execution felt like being trapped in a very long therapy session I didn’t agree to pay for.

I kept waiting for some emotional gut punch or mind-bending revelation, but the story just kind of politely wandered around the tracks.

There were moments where Matt Haig’s signature warmth and introspection peeked through, and I can absolutely see this working for readers who love quiet, reflective stories. Unfortunately, I needed more plot and less “sad man thinks about things for 300 pages.”

And listen, I love an emotional story. I voluntarily read books designed to emotionally ruin me for fun. But this one somehow managed to be both sentimental and painfully dull at the same time. That’s honestly kind of impressive.

Also, if you mention Venice enough times, I start expecting something dramatic to happen. A scandal. A murder. Someone falling into a canal. Anything.

In the end, this wasn’t a terrible book. It just felt like a very long inspirational quote riding public transportation.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for this review copy.
Profile Image for Caitlin.
459 reviews15 followers
May 29, 2026
The best book I’ve read this year. This was wonderful. 6 stars ⭐️ I cried sooo much. Everyone should read this beautiful story about just living your life to the fullest ❤️❤️
Profile Image for Lisa Cook.
342 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2026
This is The Midnight Library’s poor cousin … who is dull .. and may as well not exist. I was so looking forward to this release. Gutted!
Profile Image for Lucy.
205 reviews12 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
January 17, 2026
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!
Profile Image for Maggie Siler.
188 reviews11 followers
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!]
Profile Image for Judy Collins.
3,427 reviews458 followers
May 26, 2026
A sensational, deeply comforting, magical novel. "A poignant, time-bending journey where a dying man is given one last chance to step into the quiet, pivotal moments of his past selves."

In THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN, international bestselling author Matt Haig returns to the beloved universe of The Midnight Library to deliver a deeply atmospheric, emotionally raw contemporary speculative novel.

The story hinges on an octogenarian facing his final moments and boarding a metaphysical train to re-examine a lifetime of success, grief, and long-festering regrets. A reflective soul vs. the infinite paths of a single human life.

Elevator Pitch
On the brink of his death, a highly successful 81-year-old bookshop owner collapses from a heart attack and boards the mysterious Midnight Train, where he is offered a chance to revisit his past selves at defining moments—including the sunlit days in Venice with the love of his life—forcing him to look directly at his deepest regrets.

Setting
The narrative is split between the liminal space of a quiet, magical train station at one minute past midnight and the vivid, nostalgic English scenes of Wilbur's past, stretching all the way to a beautifully descriptive, sunlit honeymoon in Venice.

Vibe
Poetic, tender, and quietly inspirational. It pairs the reality-bending "what if" wonder of The Midnight Library with the nostalgic, reflective, and redemptive holiday gravity of A Christmas Carol.

Genre
Speculative Fiction / Magical Realism / Contemporary Romance.

Themes
~The Weight of Regret
~Slowing Down and Being Present
~The Complex Nature of Love
~Forgiveness and Letting Go

Wilbur Budd: The Traveler of Time
Turning a lifetime of material success and quiet sorrow into a profound understanding of what it actually means to live.

Standout Characters
~Wilbur Budd: The 81-year-old protagonist, a wealthy bookshop chain owner who must step out of his comfort zone to confront the ghosts of his choices.
~Maggie Shaw: The love of Wilbur's life; the warm, intuitive anchor of his past who understood him like no one else ever could.

Author Writing Standout
Haig’s signature gift for writing life-affirming, deeply human prose shines through in his poetic, evocative world-building. He masterfully delivers profound nuggets of emotional wisdom through a brilliantly structured, time-traveling format, avoiding preachy cliches while packing a heavy emotional punch.

Takeaway
Life is not a marathon to be won by material success; the most precious pieces of ourselves are found in the quiet moments we so easily rush past.

Title Significance
The Midnight Train acts as the literal and metaphorical vehicle for transition. It symbolizes the inevitable journey through our own conscience at the end of life, highlighting that while we cannot technically rewrite history, we can change how we carry the weight of our past.

Metaphor
The train stops, and windows serve as the central metaphor of the novel. They represent a clear, unfiltered mirror to the soul—a tool that forces Wilbur to gaze beyond his constructed legacy and look directly at the raw joys, tragedies, and priorities that truly define a life.

Why You Should Read
Read this if you adored The Midnight Library, or if you love tender, heartwarming speculative tales by authors like Mitch Albom that challenge you to look closely at your own relationships and choices.

My Thoughts
~The Premise: Life’s Ultimate Detour
~The Vibe: Comforting Speculative Magic
~The Verdict: An Instant Heartwarming Classic

"A beautiful, time-bending journey through the quietest spaces of the human heart. Matt Haig has crafted a stunning masterpiece about the heavy burden of regret and the ultimate power of forgiveness. Prepare to cry, reflect, and look at your own life a little differently."

The novel balances the heavy existential dread with a gentle, hopeful lightness. The Venetian and English timelines are gorgeously captured, rooting the magical elements in real, tactile human emotion. Wilbur is an unforgettable lead; his flaws, vulnerability, and eventual growth make his spiritual journey deeply grounding. A masterfully executed, tear-jerking finale.

Verdict: 5 / 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A poignant, masterfully executed magical realist tale that pairs profound life reflections with a genuinely heartwarming, time-bending love story."

Recs
~The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (for the original, blockbuster look at alternate realities and regret).
~The Life Impossible by Matt Haig (for another deeply atmospheric, comforting speculative journey into magic and second chances).

Blog Review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 26, 2026
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Profile Image for Jen.
57 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
December 18, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Victoria.
452 reviews167 followers
May 27, 2026
I absolutely loved The Midnight Library, and it genuinely changed my life, so I was incredibly excited to read Midnight Train. Unfortunately, this one didn’t have the same flavour or pacing for me, and I found myself struggling to stay invested in the story. While it ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me personally, I’m still grateful for the chance to read it and will absolutely continue checking out this author’s future work.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Canada, and Matt Haig for the Arc in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Profile Image for Beth.
739 reviews76 followers
May 29, 2026
4.5 ⭐️

I loved The Midnight Library, and so I was thrilled to return to that universe for The Midnight Train. While it’s hard to replicate that sort of literary magic, Haig did an excellent job of bringing us something new and lovely in this magical and hopeful tale that will leave the reader reflecting on their life and choices right alongside the MC.
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