Every now and then a book comes along and you seem to read it exactly when you needed to read it. It speaks to you in your present circumstances. I read 'The Life Impossible' in just such a moment. This book and it's chapters were like poetry for me. The sheer amount of quotes I could share...

'If you want to visit a new world, you don't need a spacecraft. All you need to do is change your mind'

'That is one great thing about having someone by your side. They are a shock absorber to the madness of experience.'

'All reading, in short, is telepathy and all reading is time travel. It connects us to everyone and everywhere and every time and every imagined dream'

Put these into context and they made such a beautiful and uplifting tale, woven with advice, sprinkled with humour and chock full of heart.
I loved the format and how each chapter had a deliberate title that sounded bizarre by itself but became immediately obvious once the chapter was read. My absolute favourite chapter that made me laugh out loud was one entitled 'All the clever ideas presently in Alberto's head'.

It was very refreshing to read a book with a protagonist that was flawed from the outset, in her 70's and loved Mathematics and all that came with it. 'I parked somewhere near the Kerb at an angle that would have interested Pythagoras'. Grace Winters was such an interesting character and she saw the other characters through her special lenses and made each one appeal to me as well. This was not just a book about a hero saving the day but rather finding yourself and the journey of healing. Every chapter made me stop and think and question and wonder. I enjoyed how it was written through a letter or series of letters and how Grace kept coming back to the person in need who she was writing to.

I wasn't expecting such a humourous book that was also touching and extremely thought inspiring. Do yourself a favour and make sure that you read this one with time to savour it. Where else would you find inner peace mixed with runaway lobsters or Goats named Nostradamous? An evil villain mixed with an all night rave in Ibiza and a mystical portal. A book that touches on loss, tragedy, fighting the good fight and reinventing yourself.

A huge thanks to Matt Haig for writing a brilliant story and for the good folks at Canongate Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was looking forward to this book a lot, and saved it to read in the Balearics to fully create the mood, but somehow the book just missed for me somewhere along the lines.
There were a lot of themes to cover and perhaps this was just one too many for me to find the book hung together cohesively. The writing was beautiful and I had a real sense of place as I was reading it, and I didn't mind (too much) the magical realism aspect, however the biggest sticking point for me was the casual approach to safety when scuba diving - as a diver it just was too dangerous and really snapped me out of the book,

Wow. Just wow. I have read a few Matt Haig books before hence requesting to read this. I think if I’d have read the blurb I’m not sure I’d have still chosen it but I’m so glad I did.
All his books have a deeper meaning and this one was beautiful.
The story of Grace. Alberto, Christina and other characters is mainly set in Ibiza, it sounds a wonderful and magical place. I don’t want to say too much but definitely read this book, we have many feelings we pick up through life, guilt being one, it is a hard emotion to deal with but Matt’s writing helps put things into perspective. 5 out of 5!

This, quite incredible story, was an absolute joy to read. Grace Winters, a retired maths teacher living in Lincoln, is an ordinary person whose life is turned upside down when she is bequeathed a house in Ibiza by a colleague, Christina. The adventure that follows takes Grace on a fantastical journey where she discovers what happened to Christina.
A novel that is a mystery and a love story and reminds you of the wonders on this earth and the events which are leading to the extinction of so many creatures and plants. A magical story that I highly recommend.

@currentlyreading__
Book 58 of 2024

Thank you to @NetGalley, the publisher and the author, Matt Haig for the e-copy of ‘The Life Impossible’ which was my final read of August. The start of term is always hectic hence my very tardy review of the book.

Well this one was very Matt Haig in the fact it was feel-good and compulsive reading but it was also very very different. There was the usual suspension of disbelief just as I remember from ‘How to Stop Time’ and ‘The Midnight Library’ but I felt I connected much more to this book (even though I loved the two mentioned).

Our main character is retired maths teacher, Grace Winters who is also a widow who is carrying grief within her after the death of her son in the nineties. At the start of the book she discovers that she has been left a house in Ibiza from an old acquaintance. Baffled by this she visits and finds the house in disrepair and rather ramshackle; miles away from the Balearic visualisation Grace had been harbouring.

Whilst their Grace endeavours to investigate the disappearance of her friend and discover exactly what happened to her. After all, this old acquaintance was only a fleeting presence in her life in the seventies so why has she left this house to her?

The logical Grace who finds comfort in mathematics embarks upon her investigation and is unprepared for the magic and fantastical experience with awaits her.

I loved the characterisation in this book and the vision of Grace entering an Ibizan nightclub in her M&S slacks is a humorous yet very grounding vision for this rather square woman; partying with the wild and riotous revellers. She has an affiliation with these people who she previously would have not entertained in her rather mundane existence.

But this is what Haig is all about; exploring the humanity of how we are all connected to each other. It is an exploration of how joy can coexist alongside grief and how we need to find the pleasure in life for the greater purpose outside of our own selfish desires.



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Not a big fan of Matt Haig's novels but I thought I'd give this a shot. Interesting premise but unfortunately not for me.

So, I was sent an Arc of The Life Impossible in exchange for an honest review (thanks to Netgalley), unfortunately I forgot about it (it got lost in my list to read etc) and when I found it, I had missed the publication date. But this meant I then purchased the Audiobook to allow me to read it quickly and was treated to Joanna Lumley being the voice of Grace. Joanna truly is a National Treasure - she bought this book to life.

Essentially, The Life Impossible is a cautionary tale imploring us to care for our World and fight for the nature within it. It tells us to approach Life with an attitude of gratitude and view it through a lens of positivity, to do this Matt Haig wove a tale full of heart and magic. And, don’t forget Joanna Lumley, she is the absolute icing on the cake. Highly recommended

This was an easy read but heart warming book.

I enjoyed the overall plot, it wasn't especially deep but I can see how it would help people. It is a very quotable book.

I read it on holiday and whilst sad at parts due to dealing with grief it was a great beach read.

Thank you for the arc.

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig is a captivating novel that blends magic, philosophy, and self-discovery. The story follows Grace Winters, a retired math teacher who inherits a house on a Mediterranean island from a long-lost friend. As Grace explores Ibiza, she uncovers mysteries from her past and is given a chance to start anew.
Haig’s writing is mesmerizing, with beautiful descriptions of the island and its people. Grace's journey is both emotional and uplifting, as she moves from loneliness and regret to embracing life with renewed hope. The book touches on themes like time, purpose, and the environment, making it thought-provoking without being heavy. While it didn’t have the same impact on me as The Midnight Library, it’s still an enjoyable read that makes you reflect on life and second chances. A lovely, modern fairy tale that will leave you feeling warm and hopeful. Highly recommended!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

Absolutely loved this new novel by Matt Haig and showed me the power of new beginnings. Devoured it in a day

Sometimes the Universe send you a book that talks to you, that seems to be written for you. Maybe someone will find it too fantasy or too sugary, my answer it who cares as any review is the expression of your personal feeling and the description of a personal experience.
So let's talks about Grace, about her non living and the incapacity to feel happiness. There's a lot of grief and anger in her but something unexpected send her on a new path and she will have to face herself before finding any other answer.
I loved the short chapter, the voice of Grace, and the storytelling that talked to my and made me read this book in two setting.
Poignant, emotionally charged, well written
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have not read all the books this author has written, but I have read a few. It seems to me that each time I read one, I feel as if I have understood it, but it also leaves me wondering if I have missed a much deeper level of his writing. This one is another, but my goodness it is also such a fabulous book to read.

So, this is one of you like, fiction, fantasy, contemporary fiction, philosophy, mystery, family and friendship. Once again a book that tickets a whole load of genres and probably falls into many more!

When Grace Winters was growing up she befriended Christina, a young woman at uni. It was over Christmas and Grace did not want to see her alone, she gave her hope and also a necklace. She never saw either again. Many years later, Grace has loved and lost. She also gets unexpected news, that this young woman who she befriended has left her a cottage in Ibiza. She can do with as she pleases.

On arriving in Ibiza, Grace starts to experience things that she has never come across before. For the first time in many years, she is given the chance to see the world through new eyes, to experience things as if it is the first time and she starts to live. Before this, she existed, but not lived, this is a chance to start anew but with something much bigger and much more important than herself.

This is one of those stories that absolutely captured my attention, the author has such a mesmerising way of writing and for me, he is someone who just seems to go with the flow as far as his writing and ideas are concerned. I did snigger at the mentions he added at the end of the book thanking people for helping with his weird ideas and stories, and weird does seem to be an apt word for this one. It is also very wonderful as well.

As Grace tries to discover what happened to Christina, she also finds herself looking at the bigger picture. Rather than being insignificant, in her 70s, feeling old and past it, she is given the chance to be part of something important. It does mean accepting things from her past and this is going to be hard. Never mind changing her view but also the views of others around her.

As much as this book is about Grace and her journey, it is also about the delicate ecosystems, the way climate change and human impact are creating havoc and how developments are ripping through habitats. The author blends both the story lines seamlessly together and also adds other things as well.

This is one of those books where I think many people will read it and take similar things from it, but I also think they will pick up things that appear to resonate with them on a more personal level.

I adored this book and the things the author brings into his story. A wonderful, quirky, addictive and captivating story and one I would definitely recommend.

Found this book to be a bit repetitive in some places. I didn’t love or like any of the characters, I wanted to like the main character but she just didn’t do anything for me. Some concepts of the story was good and thought provoking but that’s about it.

When 70+ year old Grace is left a hous ein Spain by a former coworker she was once kind to, it seems too good to be true. However, given Grace doesn't have anyone to stay in the UK for, she packs a suitcase and heads to the airport for an adventure. What she finds is a brush with the supernatural and an opportunity to start again. I found the pace of The Life Impossible moved a little slower than I'd like but the imagery was brilliantly vivid and the otherworldly element gave me real Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist vibes. I'm definitely a fan of Grace!

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. I found it to be a very moving story, as Grace moves to Ibiza to put up for sale a property she has been left. Grace is not a very happy lady who is living a very reclusive life. So much changes for her in Ibiza. The descriptions of the island, the floral and fauna, the oeople and the mathematical links are excellent. This story surprised me in many ways. I found it enjoyable and read it easily.
I can recommend this to those who like books that provoke them to think about life and all its facets.

A lovely modern fairy story with all the ingredients for a feel good life affirming tale. Grace Winters inherits a house in Ibiza. She is lonely and depressed and decides to go and have a look at the house she has been bequeathed. Slowly she opens up and embraces the magical island. It could be a bit predictable and cliched, but written by Matt Haig, it is a lovely book, that by the end will have you feeling warm and happy and recommending the book to everyone you know.

Hmmm, I'm still trying to work this book out. A new Matt Haig will attract attention but this book just did not get out of third gear for me. I was on board with the story's expansive ideas but didn't gel with the characters. I loved the descriptions of the locations, the island and sea are characters in their own right but the people - hmmm not so much. Maybe it needs a second read.

Matt Haig makes you think like no other author I have ever read. His books linger with you long after you have finished reading them and this is no exception. This book is full of questions about time, purpose, regret and fulfillment. Some marine magic too. I was transported to Ibiza with its heat, beauty, nature and vibrant clubbing lifestyle. The Midnight Library will always take some beating for me and I didn’t feel this book had the same impact on me as that did but this was an enjoyable read that raises lots of questions in your mind.

I loved the Midnight Library and eagerly accepted the chance to read the next new book by Matt Haig.

The Life Impossible is an enjoyable, easy-to-read book about a retired maths teacher called Grace who unexpectedly inherits a small house in Ibiza from a former colleague who shared Christmas with her many years before. Grace is sad and lonely at the beginning of the book because she is recently widowed and lost her only son in an accident many years before. Moving to Ibiza might be her chance to find her life again.

The book was good fun, but I found the supernatural/otherworldly aspects a bit silly. Ultimately though, it was an uplifting book and I think it would be an ideal holiday read, particularly if you're travelling to Ibiza,

This is a wonderful book. For everyone who's feeling lost or feeling down. For everyone who feels that their life hasn't amounted to much. This isn't just magic realism. It's magic. You can change your world by changing your narrative.