Matt Haig is back with a cracker of a tale. Grace, a retired teacher who has suffered much bereavement, is sent on a mystery trip to Ibiza thanks to a long lost friend.
What happens to Grace on Ibiza is a life changing and affirming experience.
Grace starts on a detective mission, believing someone has harmed her friend, she finishes with a fantastic science fiction conclusion, a story that even Stephen King would be proud of.
Thank you very much to Canongate and Netgallery for the opportunity to read and review.

I don’t know quite what I expected but it wasn’t this. This is a fantastical story, quite a slow burn and a deep read with a lot of scientific and mathematical content. The story centres around widow Grace Winters a retired mathematics teacher. It opens with an email from a former pupil and Grace replying that she was going to tell him a story… What follows is a strange story, a very strange story indeed. Beautiful description encompasses you into the midst of island life and a compelling narrative hold you there.

Briefly, Grace helped a colleague many years ago and is shocked to find that she has died and left her a property in Ibiza. On the spur of the moment she buys a plane ticket and packs her bags. Arriving at her property she finds it run down and unattractive but she is an inquisitive woman and she wants to know what happened to her friend. A letter that was left for her adds to the intrigue. Her investigation leads her to an elderly diver and after tracking him down she agrees to go diving one evening with him as he tells her this will explain everything.

Although you need to suspend belief at the magical sci-fi elements of the story I believe this book is more about self-forgiveness and the power of friendship and doing what you believe is right. The ‘gifts’ from La Presencia are just a conduit for those it chooses. I really liked the crime element of the book albeit it was a relatively minor part of the whole. If nothing else this will make you think not just about yourself and living for the now, but the world around us and the harm us humans are doing to our environment. A deep and meaningful read.

It’s not going to be easy for me to articulate my feelings on this book. While I haven’t had any encounters with aliens (as far as I know) the fundamentals that are woven through it are very familiar to me. Being neurodiverse, with few edges, though I have been quite closed down in recent times, the experiences described I know and live. I don’t know everything about everyone, and I can’t smash lobster tanks or make people stick forks in their legs with my mind. But I am constantly part of the whole. I am nowhere and everywhere. The cacophony of others thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming. Quite possibly anyone who is reading this is now thinking me insane. But I am not, I’m just different. I am that whale. Though not lonely, because everything is always there. So I loved this book and all it stands for, because it speaks to my core, and I needed that to remind me it’s time to come back to life.
It’s well written and engaging. I’m giving it 5 stars for all the above. However, I do take issue with one aspect of it. Obviously Matt Haig has never been an older woman. But it shows, because while Grace evolves and reveals her complexities and depths, her apparent obsession with the disadvantages of being older, the endless mention of her age and her self imposed limitations detracted from the power of the book for me. She is described as a cliché, and that may have been the intention, but it jarred with me. I would have liked to have seen more nuance, less assumption, less focus on her age. It may be part of all of us, how many times we’ve been slung around the Sun, but it certainly doesn’t have to define or limit us. As of course the book proves.

Matt Haig writes books that I either adore or cannot finish. This one I finished and found delightful. The setup is a person at their wits end writing to their old maths teacher for guidance, and the teacher writing back. Though it's easy to forget whilst reading as the body of the book is the teacher's story, it only comes back to being a letter at the end.
There's a lot of mysticism in the book and looking at other reviews this aspect either attracts or repels readers. Personally I found the way it was written charming and engaging, though the Christina character frequently made me internally roll my eyes.

A delightful book which may make you think, or may have you rolling your eyes and putting it down, possibly both. Do give it a try.

A weird but wonderful read that takes it’s reader on what can only be described as a magical journey, as it follows the unbelievable life of it’s protagonist Grace, whose life is changed in the most unexpected of ways when she inherits a house in Ibiza. Unlike any book I’ve read before, The Life Impossible is wild, other-worldly yet intelligent and thought provoking, it’s a book best approached with an open mind and knowing very little - embrace the strange and enjoy the adventure, knowing you’re in good hands with Matt Haig. I really enjoyed it! 🏝️✨

Unfortunately I don’t think Haig’s books are for me! I really enjoyed this one at the beginning, and there were glimmers of enjoyment as it progressed, but overall I found the entire thing to be underwhelming and overwritten. The chapters were too short for me to fully get invested in the story and I found the whimsical elements too much for the novel.

I think this is a good book. It's quite trippy, which is not normally my cup of tea. However, I liked aspects of it and I'm intrigued by the author's other works now.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Matt Haig for this ARC. I just love Matt Haig’s books- each one is a treasure box ready to be opened and this one is no different. Magical, enthralling and sentimental all in the best ways. I loved this book and it will leave an imprint on me for years to come.

Published 29 August 2024. Having read and enjoyed The Midnight Library, I accepted this arc, the premise of which sounded fascinating and included a hint of magical realism. I wasn't disappointed. 72 year old Grace is a retired Maths teacher receives a letter from an ex-student who is struggling and she replies to him. but she doesn't just reply, she sends him her story. Grace's young son was killed in an accident many years ago and her husband has now died. Alone and eaten up with guilt, she wanders around her little bungalow in Lincoln aimlessly until one day she receives notification that she has been left a house in Ibiza by an ex-colleague, Christina - a woman that she barely knew but to whom she had once shown a kindness. Grace decides to go to Ibiza and once there, she encounters Alberto, a close friend of Christina's and he introduces her to a magical, other-worldly phenomenon which changes Graces perception of everything. Part magical realism, we are taken on Grace's journey to defeat a developer whose plans will have huge ecological impact. This a such an engaging read and at times there is real humour here as Grace finds her feet in Ibiza. It is also a novel that encourages us to take care of our world and others - to take joy in the little things that are around us everyday. Lovely read.

Maurice writes to his old maths teacher Grace as he is at a crossroads in his life. She writes back with her manuscript of a book she has written about her life after receiving an inheritance of a house in Ibiza. It follows the change in her life after her son died at a young age in an accident and she is now a widow aged 72 and decides to move to Ibiza and see what life brings.

Grace can’t understand why she has inherited the house as the owner, Christina, had not seen her for many years and they had not kept in touch. Over the course of the book we discover why and Grace has a life changing experience after a late night scuba dive, her first.

It’s a science fiction style book and not the sort of genre I normally read.

"The Life Impossible" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking read. Haig does not shy away from the harsh realities of life, yet he always finds a way to highlight the beauty and joy that coexist alongside pain. His writing is infused with a sense of optimism and a belief in the power of human connection and kindness. His ability to weave a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable is a testament to his skill as a storyteller.

Having loved ‘The Midnight Library’, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of ‘The Life Impossible’, and it certainly lived up to expectations.
Grace, a 71 year old woman, inherits a house in Ibiza from someone she met years before. She decides to visit the island, taking along her own grief and woes, but soon begins a journey which leads her to magical places and wondrous events.
A truly beautiful story which I thoroughly enjoyed. Congratulations to Matt Haig on another magnificent read.

Matt Haig's books exude a sense of cosiness and wholesomeness that are akin to friendly hugs and soothing hot chocolate on a cold day, and The Life Impossible is no exception. Haig's writing is refreshingly honest, infused with quirky humour that makes for a delightful read.

We are introduced to Grace, a 72-year-old retired math teacher feeling adrift in the solitude of her retirement years, grappling with grief and loneliness. However, Grace's life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a house on a Mediterranean island from Christina, an old colleague who she hasn’t seen in a very long time. This act of unexpected kindness sets Grace on a new adventure in Ibiza, the island where Haig himself resided in the '90s.

The novel is narrated from Grace's perspective as she writes it in response to an email received by Maurice, one of her ex Math students, who is also grieving and drowning in life struggles. Grace replies with her story, a sob story as she calls it, nevertheless a story filled with philosophical musings and profound insights. Much like in The Midnight Library, Haig infuses the narrative with magical realism, exploring themes of growing old, life, death, destiny, and choice, highlighting the inherent mysteries within each of us.

The book leaves a lasting impact, provoking introspection and stirring emotions while emphasising the importance of daily acts of compassion (towards oneself, nature and others). The Life Impossible is a beautifully crafted novel that radiates hope and positivity, urging readers to embrace love, forgiveness, and transformation. A reminder of the profound impact of simple acts of kindness.

The Life Impossible is a gorgeous feel good, hope-filled novel. Read it!

Many thanks to Netgaley and Cannongate for the ARC.

‘The Life Impossible’ by Matt Haig features Grace Winter a retired Maths teacher,who feels as if her life is over and she is trapped in a meaningless weekly routine.With the deaths of those she loved,she is existing alone with no relationships that really matter.Following the death of a friend Christina that she barely knew well and only briefly she is left a property on the Spanish island of Ibiza.Acting very much against her usual patterns of behaviour ,she takes a one way flight to Ibiza for ‘a change of scene’!
Initially Grace opts to take in all the tourist activities suggested for those visiting the island ,and then rather reluctantly decides she has to dig deeper into the unexplained background to her friend’s death.
There follows an interesting and unusual journey of an elderly lady who has given up on a worthwhile existence and takes a bold step into the unknown,where hope in the present remains possible.

I don't know what to make of this book. On the one hand, I found it very moving and at times inspiring, but on the other hand, I did have to question all the weird alien stuff. The story starts with Maurice writing to his former teacher. She responds with a manuscript that forms the basis of the novel. Her manuscript tells of her miserable life in Lincoln and how she moved to Ibiza and made a new start. So far so good. I enjoyed the first half of the book. The evolution of Grace's character is engaging. I loved the descriptions of Ibiza, it made me want to see the places mentioned.
The second half of the book was not so good. It became a bit farcical and the "baddie" was too much of a cliche. I wasn't sure whether I should be taking the story literally or whether I should view the events as symbolic or metaphorical.
It was an easy read with very short chapters and has certainly given me food for thought.

A lovely book ideal beech read
This book is a strange story of a woman who unexpectedly inherits a house in Ibiza when she gets there she discovers mystical happenings linked to a strange light under the sea .My mother and grandmother lived in Ibiza in the 1990s and reading this book bought up emotions I haven’t had in awhile this continued when the house the main character go inherit was in St Eulalia which is the town where they lived . There are lots of myths and legends surrounding Ibiza and the island is known as the last hippie hangout so it made sense to set The novel here
The mixture of magic and reality is managed and the magical elements wind gently through the story. Making them feel more believable.
The setting in Ibiza immediately brings back feelings of summer holidays and I think this will be an ideal book to read on the beach
The author has a clear easily read prose style making the novel a relaxing, enjoyable read

I love the science and the pseudoscience. It seem to make sense in the context of the story. Particularly love the description of how infinity is not infinite. L
There are quite a few parallels between this book and The Space Between us by Doug Johnstone if you enjoyed that book, I’m sure you’ll love this one
I originally copy of the Non NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 29th of August 2024 by Canongate
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.WordPress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.

A beautiful and heart warming story from Matt Haig. Set in Ibiza, we follow Grace as she is left a surprise house and has to decide which direction her life will go next.

Matt’s books are a feeling and I felt every one going with this book. It felt like a lot of soul searching for the main character. Making peace with life and living the best life you can with no guilt or regrets. Love, loss and living. Beautiful setting too, makes me want to go to Ibiza!

Wow - I loved this book! I finished it in two sittings, because I was so keen to find out what happened. I felt it was a perfect mixture of realism, magic, and mystery. Perhaps the ending with the 'bad guy' was a bit rushed and seemed to come a little out of nowhere, but apart from that I loved it so much - definitely my top summer read so far. Also, it really made me want to go to Ibiza!

Remembering all the hype about "The Midnight Library" I decided to read "The Life Impossible" by Matt Haig, having not read any of his previous books. The blurb makes it sound as though it is about an elderly woman discovering adventures and a new way of life in Ibiza. However, that is not really the case as this book deals with other modern issues such as social media and the environment. It is difficult to review this novel without giving away too much of the plot. There are some lovely characters and the locations are real places which can be found and viewed on map apps, but the reader will need to suspend belief.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.