Book Review: "The Midnight Train" by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library was a profoundly moving book, and one of my favorite books of 2020. This book is in the same world but isn’t a sequel, so either can be read as a standalone.

“I think the trouble with life is we do things because we should. We act for outside eyes. I’m trying to live it the other way round. To do what feels right deep down even if it shouldn’t be.”

Wilbur is in his eighties when he dies. He was once a business tycoon, with bookstores all over the world. He was an adviser to prime ministers and sought after as a speaker and consultant. It was quite a journey from being raised poor in post-World War II England.

Moments after he dies, the Midnight Train comes to pick up his ghost. The Midnight Train can take you back to your past, giving you the chance to relive the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.

Wilbur knows he was happiest on his honeymoon in Venice with his wife, Maggie, whom he loved since they were children. But as the train takes him through his life, he sees all of the moments he’s squandered, the things that were unsaid to loved ones, and the things that should never have been said or done. Can he help the Wilbur he sees in these memories change course without completely ruining the future?

I loved the concept of this book. I definitely found many moments that spoke to me and made me realize the importance of being a good person, saying the things I want to the people who matter. I didn’t find this book as emotional as The Midnight Library, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the book.

Book Review: "Aftertaste" by Daria Lavelle

The minute I heard about the concept of this book, I knew I needed to read it. It’s a mashup of food writing, magical realism, and a dash of the paranormal, resulting in an emotionally satisfying (and hunger-inducing) read. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy!

When Kostya was 10 years old, his father died. His mother took to her bed for an extended period of time, leaving Kostya to deal with his grief on his own. One day, he gets a strange taste in his mouth, one he can’t quite define until he realizes it was the taste of his father’s favorite dish.

That moment sparked the discovery a special talent in Kostya. He has the ability to taste the favorite dish of a ghost. It isn’t until one night while working behind a bar that he decides to actually make what he’s tasting—in this case, it was a bespoke cocktail—and he is shocked by what happens then.

While he never had any desire to cook, the discovery of his unique ability inspires him. He decides to try and use cooking to reunite a grieving person with someone they’ve lost, by making a dish that was important to the deceased. It doesn’t always work, but Kostya hopes he’ll be able to summon his father’s ghost, as he has never stopped missing him.

Kostya winds up working in the world of NYC restaurants, but of course, he can’t reveal the true reason for pursuing this career track. Yet in his zeal to help others, he doesn’t realize he’s opening the door to trouble in the Afterlife.

This book is emotional, fun, and thought-provoking. It’s also incredibly timely for me, as last week marked the 11th anniversary of my dad’s passing. At times the pace dragged a bit, but I really enjoyed it. And boy, was I hungry afterward!

Book Review: "The Love of My Afterlife" by Kirsty Greenwood

All the stars for this incredible book. It had that perfect combination of romance, emotion, banter, steam, and magical realism, and it made me both laugh and cry.

Even when she realized she was choking on a microwaved hamburger, Delphie never thought she’d actually DIE. But even worse, she can’t believe she’s in the afterlife wearing a nightshirt. And wouldn’t it figure that she meets the handsomest man at that moment…and he seems smitten with her?

Apparently the man, Jonah, isn’t supposed to be dead yet and is sent back to life, leaving Delphie bereft. Could she have already lost her soulmate? But the romance-loving afterlife counselor wants to see Delphie get her happily ever after, so she makes her a deal. Delphie will get sent back, but she has 10 days to find Jonah (whose memory will be wiped) and get him to kiss her. If she can, she can have her life back.

Ten days isn’t a lot of time when you don’t know someone’s last name or how to find him. But as she starts asking for help, suddenly she realizes how empty her life has been, and how being kind to people leads to possibilities she never would have imagined.

Along the way, Delphie must deal with some unresolved issues from her childhood and keep caring for her elderly neighbor. At the same time, she makes friends in unexpected places and realizes all she was missing before she died. Can she find her soulmate before her time runs out again?

This was such an amazing story, with a really terrific cast of supporting characters. I’ll definitely be thinking of this for a while! Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the free copy!