Member Review

Title & Author: The Midnight Train by Matt Haig
Rating: 4.75 stars
Publication Date: 21st May
Publisher: Canongate Books

From the author:
“We are either on the right track or off the rails. We follow a train of thought and go full-steam ahead with our one-track mind until we reach the end of the line.”

“‘The only way to learn is to live.’”
This book invites us aboard a quietly magical journey where time bends and memories take centre stage. Set in the same reflective world as The Midnight Library (which I loved) the story follows 81-year-old Wilbur Budd, a bookseller, as he steps onto a train at one minute to midnight, travelling back through moments of his life. Each stop opens a window into love, regret, friendship, and loss.
What I absolutely loved was the nod to A Christmas Carol and how contemplative this felt without ever losing its warmth. Haig has such a gift for capturing what it means to be human, creating a truly special character. The book is also full of lines that make you pause and reflect on your own life.
It’s the kind of story that gradually pulls you in, quiet at first, and then suddenly you’re completely immersed. I definitely reached that “can’t put it down” stage, and I appreciated how the slow build suits the reflective tone.
I’d recommend this to readers who love introspective, emotional stories that linger long after the final page. (Do check content warnings for themes around ageing, grief, and loss.)
A heartfelt, thought provoking read that reminds you to savour the small moments because maybe they’re the ones that matter most of all.
Thanks to Matt Haig, Canongate Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.