This was the second book I’ve read by this author, which was very disappointing. I was initially intrigued by the book’s premise, but unfortunately, the story quickly turned into bizarre territory that I couldn’t connect with. It felt like a strange blend of sci-fi movies like Cocoon, The Abyss, and Contact—and not in a good way. The narrative was convoluted, lacking focus, and unsure of what it wanted to be: a grief memoir, a murder mystery, an environmental debate, or a mental health exploration.

The central premise—that a former student battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts writes to a former teacher asking for guidance and gets a 300-page email in response detailing an odd experience on Ibiza—didn’t sit well with me. I feel like the teacher should have suggested seeking professional help instead of getting wrapped up in an inexplicable tale that seemed more suited for a self-help book than a fictional narrative.

There were some thought-provoking messages, but they felt preachy and loaded with New Age truisms, making the story read more like a self-help book than an engaging novel. I couldn’t connect with the characters, and by the 80% mark, I was seriously considering DNF’ing the book. I pushed through, hoping for a compelling turn, but it never came.

The audiobook narrator was a redeeming quality—she did an excellent job with different accents and voices, which was the highlight of my reading experience. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to save the book for me.

I’m not sure I’ll continue with Matt Haig’s work. I didn’t enjoy this book, and I wasn’t a fan of The Midnight Library either. His style just doesn’t seem to be for me. Additionally, there were liberal-leaning messages on climate change and environmental issues that didn’t resonate with me. Overall, this book was a letdown, especially considering its unique setup. I would not recommend it.