I read this book for a book club in July 2022. It was a mediocre experience, and I would have probably DNFed it if not for the book club and also if I actively hated it. As it happens, the premise and ideas behind the novel were interesting, but the execution left quite a lot wanting. The main character, Nora Seed, is dull and uninspired; moreover, I could not understand or relate to her struggles in any way, so it made her a hard (near impossible, really) character to root for. The plot was extremely predictable. However, most egregious was the messaging and the themes behind the book—they were about as subtle as a brick to the face.

Well, I am not the target audience for this book. I have studied philosophy and while I’m not that knowledgeable about quantum mechanics, I know enough to know when it is misused. I’m not easily swayed by appearances or place much value in externals, like having a lot of money or having certain luxuries, etc. I don’t have a self-absorbed vision of myself as Nora does, thinking that she is somehow responsible for or affects everyone she comes into contact with. I have regrets, as does anyone, but I view them as a means to learn and grow from my past self. So I don’t get the hype and ‘life-changing’ remarks about this book. Particularly towards the end, Haig starts rambling like it’s his blog we are reading and not a novel.

Finally, the structure of the novel qua novel is under-cooked; the plot is wafer thin, the worldbuilding (or shall we say the justification for the novel’s premise) is nonexistent or too convenient, and the characters are forgettable if not downright annoying. I’d pass on this one, unless you are of the social media generation or somehow believe that ‘dating the right guy’ or ‘having a cool job’ will somehow magically provide happiness and cure your depression (without a lot of hard introspection). Or if you believe the world revolves around you. Or maybe if you have zero exposure to philosophy at all. I don’t know. Either way, this novel assumes its readers are clueless bats waiting to be passively impressed by Matt Haig’s ‘original’ ideas about mental health which are lukewarm at best and borderline insensitive at worst.