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Where To Start Reading Matt Haig
Whether exploring the possibilities of a life unlived or the courage of starting over, author of The Midnight Library, Haig writes with warmth and wonder.
Matt Haig is one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. Born in Sheffield, England, he has written novels – including the phenomenon The Midnight Library – that have been translated into 56 languages and touched readers across generations. Whether exploring the infinite possibilities of a life unlived, the quiet courage of starting over, or the magic hiding at the North Pole, Haig writes with rare warmth and wonder. His memoirs, Reasons to Stay Alive and The Comfort Book, have offered a lifeline to millions. From spellbinding fiction to children’s classics to honest reflections on mental health, there’s a Matt Haig book for everyone.
Which Matt Haig book should I read first?
Start with the Midnight Library. Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe, there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life.
We all wonder how our lives might have been. But what if you had the chance to find out?
That’s the question at the heart of Haig’s most beloved novel. Nora Seed finds herself with the chance to change her life fir a new one. As she travels through the Midnight Library, she has to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.
Which Matt Haig book is the most uplifting?
The Comfort Book is Haig’s life raft: it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.
What Matt Haig book is good for someone dealing with anxiety or depression?
Aged 24, Matt Haig’s world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through a crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him, and learned to live again. It has helped millions of people do the same. Moving, funny, and even joyous, these are the lessons Matt learned. His reasons to stay alive.
Is there a Matt Haig book for teens or young adults?
Yes, this edition is the perfect place to start.
If you’re looking to introduce a teen or young adult to Matt Haig, the graphic novel adaptation of The Midnight Library is the ideal entry point.
Haig’s beloved, internationally celebrated story is reborn here as a stunning graphic novel, with vivid colors and immersive illustrations for younger readers who connect more easily with visual storytelling. It’s a way into Haig’s most powerful themes — regret, hope, and the quiet courage it takes to choose your own life — without losing a single beat of the original. A gorgeous read for teens. An irresistible re-read for everyone else.
The best Haig books to read next
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. Discover this magical, time-travelling love story.
When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook, and no plan. Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past. Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.
How many lifetimes does it take to learn how to live? Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher, but he’s been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz-Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen it all. As long as he keeps changing his identity, he can keep one step ahead of his past – and stay alive. The only thing he must not do is fall in love.
The world is messing with our minds. What if there was something we could do about it? Looking at sleep, news, social media, addiction, work and play, Matt Haig invites us to feel calmer, happier and to question the habits of the digital age. This book might even change the way you spend your precious time on earth.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Midnight Library movie or TV adaptation in the works?
Yes, the long-awaited film adaptation will star Florence Pugh and will begin shooting in 2027. Read more about the film’s details here.
Does Matt Haig write children’s books?
Yes, and they’re just as magical as his adult novels. Matt Haig has written a beloved series of holiday children’s novels, led by A Boy Called Christmas, that follows Nikolas on an adventure to the North Pole that changes his world forever. You can stream the adaptation on Netflix. The series continues with A Girl Who Saved Christmas and A Mouse Called Miika. Check out the boxed set that bundles the whole series and makes a great Christmas gift here!
He also wrote Samuel Blink and the Forbidden Forest and Samuel Blink and the Runaway Troll, full of humor, heart, and just the right amount of risky shenanigans; they’re ideal for young readers ready for a long and immersive story.
Are Matt Haig’s books connected, or can I read them in any order?
While most of Matt Haig’s adult novels stand alone, The Midnight Library and The Midnight Train are companion novels that are a part of The Midnight World series. The entry point is wherever the story finds you, including his earlier, lesser-known novels The Dead Fathers Club and The Possession of Mr.Cave, two darker, psychologically rich stories that show a different side of Haig’s range. They stand alone too, and for readers who want to go deeper into his back catalog, they’re well worth the detour.
See Matt Haig’s entire catalog here.
