The Midnight Readers discussion

Starting 6/17

so excited!!!

should we have a reading plan or are we just going to all read and update as we go?

We can do a set amount of pages or chapters. Are you reading digitally or physically?

im gonna read digitally

With my font size I have 468 pages

ok, with my physical copy I have 442.
Since the chapters are pretty short I can do 10 chapters. That's 52 pages for me, so on that pace it would take about 7 days to finish.

What works for your pace?

Dasani wrote: "ok, with my physical copy I have 442.
Since the chapters are pretty short I can do 10 chapters. That's 52 pages for me, so on that pace it would take about 7 days to finish.

What works for your pace?"

that sounds good! i read pretty fast and a lot so really anything works for me!

I’m so excited!! I’m also reading digitally & im good with any schedule!

Great!

Hey, I've finished the first 10 chapters! My thoughts:

(view spoiler)[ I really like the premise of this book! I usually don't care for fantastical books, but this one is really interesting. I will say there are some beautiful, desired, not-like-other-girls elements peeking through, but it's ya so I'm not too bothered by it. There's some really pretty prose too! The line about Addie wanting to be a tree and be left to flourish instead of pruned and cut to burn in someone else's hearth, was stunning in my opinion (hide spoiler)]

okay first 10 chapters done

(view spoiler)[ I LOVE the writing so so much, I’ve highlighted so many beautiful quotes and I love all the analogies used. because of this I’ve been trying to really take my time reading but even so, I read these chapters pretty quickly. I think it’s partly due to the short chapters. I also really like the time line and how we were jumping around. It’s rlly sad how her wish was twisted around and I’m really curious to see how the rest of this books is going g to be! (hide spoiler)]

Same! I've been trying not to tab every page lol..I'm also curious how she's been spending the years and if she finished seeing all she's wanted to see, because spending the days on romance seems tortuous in this scenario

yes im so curious too! im also wondering if anything is going to develop with her parents and stuff like that

The 2nd set of chapters have been a whirlwind!
(view spoiler)[ I didn't realize Addie *had* to steal to use any worldly possessions. The moment where she couldn't use the lighter even with permission was kind of sad.
I really liked where Henry said he didn't feel like he had anything to add to the books on the shelves, he just felt like a keeper of them. I feel like that was really relatable. I feel like there's some energy between him and Robbie too.
I'm enjoying the book a lot but revolving door of side characters and their families & friends is a bit overwhelming to keep track of. I also unfortunately feel like the character 'Bea' is falling into the gay, snarky black best friend trope. Hopefully these side characters can become more relevant in future chapters. (hide spoiler)]

hey i'm so sorry i'm late but i finished the first 10 chapters!!

(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure how I feel about the writing style yet; it's pretty but kind of seems like it's trying too hard to be pretty? idk, but i'm definitely getting lots of fairytale vibes which I like. i'm still a little confused about the curse, but it seems like any time a door closes, people forget who she is? i'm very intrigued so far! (hide spoiler)]

No worries! And I can definitely see where you're coming from with the trying too hard point. I was starting to feel things were a bit overwritten when new characters were being introduced in the 2nd set of 10.

finished 2nd set of chapters!

(view spoiler)[ I agree with you about the side characters, Dasani. Also, I didn't realize there were going to be other pov's! It makes me think Henry at least is going to be important.

I'm still slightly confused about how the curse works, with all the rules and when exactly people forget her but it will probably be explained more.

Maybe it's just me, but during the France chapters I'm not really getting 18th century France vibes? Maybe it's bc the book started in modern day NYC and my brain doesn't like going back and forth 😂

Also, that cart scene with the corpses was so disturbing :o

Excited to continue! (hide spoiler)]

Just finished the 3rd set of chapters.

(view spoiler)[ Every time I get tired of one aspect, something new switches it up! I really liked the introduction of multi POVs in the last set of chapters and the new break in the curse got a physical reaction out of me! I am looking forward to an explanation on how this break came about because I'm not a fan of the just random Chosen One trope. I think maybe it's The Darkness/Luc lifting the curse temporarily to torture her. Similar to how she can hold onto worldly possessions for a while until something tragic happens to pull the rug from under her. I was also thinking if I'd seen even the smallest break in the curse like that I would immediately test everything else and try to go shopping...or at least get an apartment lol.
I also think it's interesting that in 1720 she's still in Paris...I know she has forever to see the world but I thought we'd be seeing her explore more in this amount of time. (hide spoiler)]

Rebekah wrote: "finished 2nd set of chapters!

I agree with you about the side characters, Dasani. Also, I didn't realize there were going to be other pov's! It makes me think Henry at least is going to be import..."

Yeah, I think the main onus of the curse is anonymity...like she wanted to not attract male attention in her youth, then when she agreed to the curse she said she didn't want to belong to anyone but herself. So the curse seems to just make it so that when she's out of sight, she's out of mind. I'm guessing the idea is she can't have identification, bc she doesn't belong to a government, then can't have possessions without stealing bc that would be the opposite of anonymity...its definitely confusing, especially when she can't accept things as a gift/loan

hey im on part 3 now (sorry for not updating yesterday)so i've finished the third set of chapters
my thoughts:
(view spoiler)[i honestly still really love the writing, even if there's too many details or whatever, i think it's really beautiful and adds to the whole mood and tone of the book

i still really like the timeline and seeing how shes learned to get through life and how she's had to adapt over time, but now that we've met henry and he remembers her, i find my self looking forward more to the 2014 or 'present day' chapters beacuse im really curious if and how they're going to 'lift the curse' or why henry can even remember her in the first place

its really sad how long shes had to deal with being constantly forgotten and having to repeat conversations and interactions, but then at the same time, its pretty inspiring how resillient she is and not giving up her soul to luc despite all the heartbreak she endured

lol rant ended (hide spoiler)]

3rd set of chapters:

(view spoiler)[ WAIT, WHY CAN HENRY REMEMBER HER??? I feel like there's something weird going on with Henry, besides the fact that he can remember her. Like, why does everyone act different around him, like that coffee shop owner who stopped being annoyed when they saw him & how everyone likes him, is it just bc he's good looking? maybe he's also cursed so their curses cancel each other out?

@ally, the writing is growing on me. it really gives fairy-tale vibes.

@dasani, i totally agree with trying to test other aspects of the curse! I feel like she didn't have as big a reaction as I thought she would've after the first person to remember her after hundreds of years, but maybe she's in shock still or thinks it's too good to be true and doesn't want to test it for fear of ruining it. (hide spoiler)]

That’s such a good point Rebekah! I hadn’t even thought about how everyone seems to act around Henry

bekah, i was kinda thinking the same thing about henry and that something similar must be going on with him as well.

(view spoiler)[okay i just finished chapter 3 and there's definitely something going on with henry. maybe like the opposite of addie because he got really worked up of running out of time whereas addie has almost endless time (hide spoiler)]

finished 4th set of chapters:

(view spoiler)[ yeah something is definitely up with henry. I wonder what it is?? I'm super intrigued by how this book is going to end. will addie somehow break the curse? also henry is definitely going to find out if every time she meets his friends they don't remember her. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished the fourth set.
(view spoiler)[ I don't think Henry will assume it's a curse unless he's cursed too. I can't tell if he's also cursed or just has really debilitating anxiety. These chapters read easier than the other sets, but I think the fact that we're halfway through and the flashbacks are still in Paris is kind of boring. The slight nods to the future (it would be 50 years before she realized ___) are getting repetitive in my opinion (hide spoiler)]

I also wish we got more flashbacks to different places and time periods, Dasani!

Okay, caught up with the 5th set.

(view spoiler)[ I'm glad we finally know why it seems like the curse doesn't work on Henry and why he 'can't" love Robbie back.
So, firstly that "hey look at me" scene in the store with Robbie and Henry was so cringeworthy lol. Secondly I think it's interesting how taken he is with Addie considering his proposal got rejected less than a year ago.
As for his curse it must feel terrible knowing people aren't genuinely attracted to you and have no control over liking you. I wonder if people feel confused about why they lusted after him after they do it, or if his spell lingers on them. I'm also wondering if he'll start overthinking how to please Addie since he feels like she's seen everything. (hide spoiler)]

Finished the 6th set

(view spoiler)[ I don't really have many thoughts on the chapters from Henry's POV. I do like that he started being the friend he should've been to Bea. He could've missed the dinner party that day, but he chose to make sure he made it. (hide spoiler)]

sorry guys, im gonna catch up today 😂😂

Hey sorry i'm behind, just finished the 5th set!

(view spoiler)[Henry made a deal with the same god as Addie?!?! Now it makes so much sense why he can remember her. I am confused about his heart problem thing though?

I am also not sure yet if I ship them romantically. (hide spoiler)]

6th set:

(view spoiler)[I like getting more background on Henry, though I don’t know how much of a fan I am of all the time switches. Also for me the chapters where Addie and Henry were at that museum seemed a little unnecessary and boring.

Henry’s curse is sad but I feel like Addie’s is way worse. I want to know if they’re gonna break their curses? I can’t predict at all how this book is going to end! (hide spoiler)]

Rebekah wrote: "Hey sorry i'm behind, just finished the 5th set!

Henry made a deal with the same god as Addie?!?! Now it makes so much sense why he can remember her. I am confused about his heart problem thing th..."

IKRRR i really like reading about henry's side of the story and i also don't really see the romance between them or ship it, but i love the relationship between them// friendship/not loneliness lol

Rebekah wrote: "6th set:

I like getting more background on Henry, though I don’t know how much of a fan I am of all the time switches. Also for me the chapters where Addie and Henry were at that museum seemed a l..."

i actually haven't gotten to the museum part haha but i wonder if it relates to the beginning of each part and how there is an art piece and museum caption thingy

Rebekah wrote: "6th set:

I like getting more background on Henry, though I don’t know how much of a fan I am of all the time switches. Also for me the chapters where Addie and Henry were at that museum seemed a l..."

okay yeah i feel like the museum was pretty dragged out. the fact that the time periods keep switching and the museum goes on for multiple 2014 chapters, i couldve been condensed to one slightly longer chapter?

Rebekah wrote: "6th set:

I like getting more background on Henry, though I don’t know how much of a fan I am of all the time switches. Also for me the chapters where Addie and Henry were at that museum seemed a l..."

I think I'd rather be genuinely loved/appreciated for a short period of time like Addie than never at all. And I think Addie's curse is more a nuisance than it is miserable, she just chooses to spend it focused on being sad about men so its seemed more awful than it needs to be

Finished the 7th set!

(view spoiler)[ I didn't realize romance was such a big part of the plot. I usually find romances boring and I'm definitely getting bored with these chapters. I suspected Henry would be to eager to please and dependent and he definitely is.
I wonder what happens if Addie gives her soul over because I don’t see a point in holding on to it bc we're 75% through and she's only been to Western Europe & the Americas... (hide spoiler)]

I'm so behind again sorry😅 I have time to catch up today though!

Catching up too lol. Done with the 8th set.

(view spoiler)[ I still have the same thoughts. It's been 200 years in the flash backs and she's only been to France, Italy, Germany, England, and America. So boring. However, there was a line in chapter 14 of part 5 that said "There is an order to the story. She will tell him when she gets there.” And it made me think about the order we’re hearing the story. It’s definitely annoying to keep getting these foreshadows of Addie’s story but maybe it's meant to be? I still don't get the limited parts of the world she's seen but I think that the drawing out of the story can be intentional. (hide spoiler)]

finished the ninth set. There's only 10 chapters left so I'll probably just finish those today

(view spoiler)[ I figured Henry made a deal for a short amount of time because of how much he hated doing things twice. Spending the night with Luc is so stupid. It brings me back to the “don’t pray to the Gods who answer after dark” line. I don't think Henry would even want his soul in exchange for someone else's, Addie is just going to have to let him go I think. I was also thinking this whole time that if she put on the ring, that was her submitting her soul to Luc. This whole time all it did was summon him. Do you guys think Luc is actually capable of loving Addie? (hide spoiler)]

7th set:

(view spoiler)[Why do I feel like even though tons of stuff has happened, it seems like nothing has really happened this whole book?

Not many thoughts for this section. Addie & Henry’s fight was a bit random and too easily/quickly resolved. (hide spoiler)]

8th set:

(view spoiler)[I feel like it’s getting a little repetitive: she does stuff with Henry in the present, there’s a flashback to her meeting Luc somewhere in Europe in the past, back to whatever she’s doing with Henry, etc.

Also I can’t believe in 300 years she never went anywhere in the world besides Europe and America? I can understand at the beginning staying near France since there wasn’t great transportation back then, but once trains and cars and planes were invented? (hide spoiler)]

Dasani wrote: "Catching up too lol. Done with the 8th set.

[spoilers removed]"

totally agree with you here, dasani.

ive finished the book and i think im going to rate it 4 stars

despite how much i loved the beautiful writing and messages, characters, and the ending. something was just off for me, like the pacing and a bit of disconnect i felt due to underexplanation? i wish more things about the magic/gods was explained, but maybe that was intentional to leave it up to the reader?
i really really loved the themes of loneliness, art, and the mark we leave behind (+how we cant choose)

friends im SO SORRY my wifi went down for like 5 days so I haven't been able to update goodreads until now 😭

I did finish the book though!

here were my thoughts on the 9th set:

(view spoiler)[I don’t know how I feel about whatever thing Addie and luc have going on…given that luc is not human but some sort of god/demon of darkness… (hide spoiler)]

what did you think of the ending??

i think i actually really liked it!!!

kinda wish henry just died though