Books by Matt Haig

Book SynopsisOrder THE COMFORT BOOK. Available now!THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe world is messing with our minds. What if there was something we could do about it?Looking at sleep, news, social media, addiction, work and play, Matt Haig invites us to feel calmer, happier and to question the habits of the digital age. This book might even change the way you spend your precious time on earth.Trade ReviewWitty, honest and engaging . . . A worthy successor to Reasons to Stay Alive * * Sunday Times * *An honest and human guide to coping with the modern world . . . Notes on a Nervous Planet is generous, sensible and timely. Reading it will probably be good for your mental health. Especially if you leave your smartphone in another room . . . Thought-provoking * * Guardian * *Thought-provoking . . . [Haig's] hard-won wisdom asks us to think about how we can live in the present - and in so doing, he creates a wonderfully perceptive chronicle of life in the always-on social media age. A real-world guide to mindfulness * * Observer * *Beautiful, honest and wise -- FEARNE COTTONNotes on a Nervous Planet is a fascinating look at the link between anxiety and the world we live in . . . [Haig is] one of our warmest, wittiest and wisest writers * * Mail on Sunday * *Genius -- RUBY WAXHaig's bestseller Reasons to Stay Alive was an engaging self-help memoir which mined personal trauma for valuable life lessons. This follow-up is a rag-bag of personal experience, thoughts and feelings . . . some thought-provoking, some pertinent and important . . . He's a smart operator who knows his readership and genuinely wants to help them . . . I reached the last page admiring the author's inventive energy and insight -- Bel Mooney * * Daily Mail * *Take Notes on a Nervous Planet twice daily, with or without food. The book is crammed with wisdom, insight, love and wit -- STEPHEN FRYHaig tackles everything from internet anxieties, phone fears to life overload, putting the chaos into beautiful words * * Sunday Post * *A primer for how to live in the present moment. This book will find grateful readers everywhere -- NIGELLA LAWSON

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Book SynopsisTHERE'S NO PLANET LIKE HOMEAfter an 'incident' one wet Friday night where he was found walking naked through the streets of Cambridge, Professor Andrew Martin is not feeling quite himself. Food sickens him. Clothes confound him. Even his loving wife and teenage son are repulsive to him. He feels lost amongst an alien species and hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton, (and he's a dog).Who is he really? And what could make someone change their mind about the human race?Trade ReviewMatt Haig's hilarious novel puts our species on the spot * * Guardian * *A wonderfully funny, gripping and inventive novel. Like Kurt Vonnegut and Audrey Niffenegger, Haig uses the tropes of science fiction to explore and satirise concepts of free will, love, marriage, logic, immortality and mercy with elegance and poignancy * * The Times * *Great idea, great plot and superb comedy, especially from the alien's puzzled analyses of primitive human ways * * Daily Mail * *Matt Haig is a supreme talent and a writer to cherish, and The Humans is undoubtedly his magnum opus * * Guardian * *A novel with an enormous heart, infused with a sense of gratitude for everything that makes us who we are -- Charlotte Heathcote * * Daily Express * *Haig's unexpectedly raw tale of love, belonging, and peanut butter . . . Funny, clever and quite, quite lovely -- Sam Baker * * Sunday Times * *Excellent . . . very human and touching indeed -- PATRICK NESSThe Humans is tremendous; a kind of Curious Incident meets The Man Who Fell to Earth. It's funny, touching and written in a highly appealing voice -- JOANNE HARRISThe Humans is a laugh-and-cry book. Troubling, thrilling, puzzling, believable and impossible. Matt Haig uses words like a tin-opener. We are the tin -- JEANETTE WINTERSONA brilliant exploration of what it is to love, and to be human, The Humans is both heartwarming and hilarious, weird, and utterly wonderful. One of the best books I've read in a very long time -- S.J. WATSON

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Book SynopsisWHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC?It is Christmas Eve and all is not well. Amelia Wishart is trapped in Mr Creeper's workhouse and Christmas is in jeopardy. Magic is fading. If Christmas is to happen, Father Christmas knows he must find her.With the help of some elves, eight reindeer, the Queen and a man called Charles Dickens, the search for Amelia - and the secret of Christmas - begins . . .Trade ReviewThe traditional search 'n' rescue adventure, done with charm, energy and enough wit to keep even the adults who will be reading this aloud as a festive bedtime story alert . . . A lovely, warm, enveloping seasonal read * * Guardian * *Tells us the origins of Christmas as we know it . . . Haig gently infuses his charming book with lessons on caring for each other and the power of hope * * Mail on Sunday * *If somewhere in the afterlife Roald Dahl met Charles Dickens and they cooked up a new Christmas tale, it couldn't have much on this fleet, verbally rambunctious, heart-stealing follow-up to A Boy Called Christmas * * New York Times * *The Girl Who Saved Christmas will melt your Grinch-frozen heart -- SIMON MAYOA plucky adventure tale in which Haig reminds us of and reworks the meaning of Christmas, pinning it onto a message of hope . . . Heartwarming * * The Herald * *The sequel to last year's A Boy Called Christmas . . . will enchant children and melt the hearts of even the most cynical adults. Beautifully illustrated, and full of sly jokes and heartfelt wisdom, this is another Christmas cracker * * Sunday Mirror * *Oh what fun it is to READ! . . . It's funny, sad and . . . full of wonderful characters. (We all need a Truth Pixie in our lives...) * * Daily Mail * *An evocative, inventive and lively tale full of heart and humour * * Daily Express * *Funny, heartfelt, pacey and with brilliant illustrations . . . A homage to Charles Dickens that may well endure as long as the work of that great man himself * * Associated Press * *Haig's understanding of grief, cruelty and the need for hope turns a comedy about threatened elves and malfunctioning magic into a classic. A hanky for every eye and a copy in every stocking for eight plus readers, please * * New Statesman * *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORMeet the Hunter family: Adam, Kate, and their children Hal and Charlotte. And Prince, their Labrador.Prince is an earnest young dog, striving hard to live up to the tenets of the Labrador Pact (Remain Loyal to Your Human Masters, Serve and Protect Your Family at Any Cost). Other dogs, led by the Springer Spaniels, have revolted. As things in the Hunter family begin to go badly awry - marital breakdown, rowdy teenage parties, attempted suicide - Prince's responsibilities threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to break the Labrador Pact and take desperate action to save his Family.Trade ReviewA comic tour de force * * The Times * *I love this book. It's fabulous and moving and funny and strange. It will go down among the great animal books -- JEANETTE WINTERSONA winner from page one . . . A subtle, dog's-eye view of the frailty of human relationships * * Mail on Sunday * *This enchanting debut novel is quite unlike any book you'll have encountered before. The result is a treat - both moving and unexpectedly thought-provoking * * Daily Mail * *Dark, comic and quite brilliant * * New York Times * *An enchanting, albeit at times disturbing, journey into the heart of family . . . A remarkable book, and a brilliantly entertaining read * * Big Issue * *It sounds kooky, but Haig pulls it off stylishly and unsentimentally * * Observer * *Haig writes exquisitely from the perspective of the heart-sore outsider, but at their most moving his novels reveal the unbearable beauty of ordinary life * * Guardian * *Matt Haig is a writer for children and adults who is adept at digging into the human heart * * Sunday Times * *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Profound, witty and uplifting' Observer'Full of eloquent, cogent and positive reminders of the beauty of life' IndependentThe Comfort Book is a collection of consolations learned in hard times and suggestions for making the bad days better. Drawing on maxims, memoir and the inspirational lives of others, these meditations offer new ways of seeing ourselves and the world.This is the book to pick up when you need the wisdom of a friend, the comfort of a hug or a reminder that hope comes from unexpected places.Trade ReviewFull of eloquent, cogent and positive reminders of the beauty of life . . . Will prove enormously sustaining and valuable to a lot of people . . . Genuinely uplifting . . . Haig is a sensitive, introspective and thoughtful guide to the human dilemmas that affect us all * * Independent * *The Comfort Book, a collection of aphorisms and inspirational stories of survival against the odds, is a guide to living and finding hope in these disjointed times * * Guardian * *The literary equivalent of a steaming hot chocolate on a chilly day . . . The ideal read for dipping into whenever you need a pick-me-up or change of perspective * * Metro * *Profound, witty and uplifting, and a stirring testament to hope and the imagination * * Observer * *Pick up this book any time you're in need of a boost of positivity, calm and - as it says on the cover - comfort * * ELLE * *Promises two things I can't get enough of: hugs and lists . . . After a year starved of hope and hugs to the extreme, I can't think of a greater comfort read than that * * Evening Standard, Best Summer Reads * *Bite-sized advice and aphorisms . . . Full of solid good sense and hard-won wisdom * * Scotsman * *Every page of Haig's smooth prose will inspire you to think. Whether it is about fitting in, facing one's demons or happiness itself, each short anecdote, quote or simple sentence does just what the book aims to do: give comfort * * Herald * *The Comfort Book . . . is brilliant, full of nuggets of profundity to consume when you're feeling low. And [Haig] has a way of discussing mental health that rises above the general confessional noise * * Irish Independent * *[A] thought-provoking, affirming collection that is both personal and universal . . . With Haig's trademark empathy and celebration of the resilience of the human heart, this is a book we all need and deserve * * Booklist * *

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe world is messing with our minds.Rates of stress and anxiety are rising. A fast, nervous planet is creating fast and nervous lives. We are more connected, yet feel more alone. And we are encouraged to worry about everything from world politics to our body mass index.- How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad? - How do we stay human in a technological world?- How do we feel happy when we are encouraged to be anxious? After experiencing years of anxiety and panic attacks, these questions became urgent matters of life and death for Matt Haig. And he began to look for the link between what he felt and the world around him. Notes on a Nervous Planet is a personal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the twenty-first century.Trade ReviewWitty, honest and engaging . . . A worthy successor to Reasons to Stay Alive * * Sunday Times * *An honest and human guide to coping with the modern world . . . Notes on a Nervous Planet is generous, sensible and timely. Reading it will probably be good for your mental health. Especially if you leave your smartphone in another room . . . Thought-provoking * * Guardian * *Thought-provoking . . . [Haig's] hard-won wisdom asks us to think about how we can live in the present - and in so doing, he creates a wonderfully perceptive chronicle of life in the always-on social media age. A real-world guide to mindfulness * * Observer * *Beautiful, honest and wise -- FEARNE COTTONNotes on a Nervous Planet is a fascinating look at the link between anxiety and the world we live in . . . [Haig is] one of our warmest, wittiest and wisest writers * * Mail on Sunday * *Genius -- RUBY WAXHaig's bestseller Reasons to Stay Alive was an engaging self-help memoir which mined personal trauma for valuable life lessons. This follow-up is a rag-bag of personal experience, thoughts and feelings . . . some thought-provoking, some pertinent and important . . . He's a smart operator who knows his readership and genuinely wants to help them . . . I reached the last page admiring the author's inventive energy and insight -- Bel Mooney * * Daily Mail * *Take Notes on a Nervous Planet twice daily, with or without food. The book is crammed with wisdom, insight, love and wit -- STEPHEN FRYA primer for how to live in the present moment. This book will find grateful readers everywhere -- NIGELLA LAWSONMatt Haig has written really something rather special here - the definitive user manual for your own head. It's a self-help book that - unusually for the genre - talks in sensible, practical terms not in vague aphorisms and allegories. Recommended for anyone who's ever wobbled, and that's all of us -- ADAM KAY

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING WORLDWIDE PHENOMENON READERS' MOST LOVED BOOK OF 2021WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR FICTION'BEAUTIFUL' Jodi Picoult, 'UPLIFTING' i, 'BRILLIANT' Daily Mail, 'AMAZING' Joanna Cannon, 'ABSORBING' New York Times, 'THOUGHT-PROVOKING' IndependentNora's life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might have lived. Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?Trade ReviewA beguiling read, filled with warmth and humour, and a vibrant celebration of the power of books to change lives * * Sunday Times * *A beautiful fable, an It's a Wonderful Life for the modern age - impossibly timely when we are all stuck in a world we wish could be different -- JODI PICOULTA celebration of life's possibilities . . . A beautiful concept . . . Charming * * Guardian * *A rare and welcome light of hope and wisdom in the darkness -- JOANNE HARRISA wonderful story . . . Such a beautiful book to get lost in -- Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2I can't describe how much his work means to me. So necessary . . . The king of empathy -- JAMEELA JAMILWarm and humorous * * The Times * *A brilliant premise and great fun to have so many stories within one book * * Daily Mail * *Amazing and utterly beautiful, The Midnight Library is everything you'd expect from the genius storyteller who is Matt Haig -- JOANNA CANNONAbsorbing . . . A vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, might be exactly what's wanted in these troubled and troubling times * * New York Times * *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORPhilip Noble is an eleven-year-old in crisis. His pub landlord father has died in a road accident, and his mother is succumbing to the greasy charms of her dead husband's brother, Uncle Alan. The remaining certainties of Philip's life crumble away when his father's ghost appears in the pub and declares Uncle Alan murdered him. Arming himself with weapons from the school chemistry cupboard, Philip vows to carry out the ghost's relentless demands for revenge. But can the words of a ghost be trusted any more than the lies of the living?Trade ReviewHumorous and original * * Daily Mail * *A story . . . so surprising and strange that it vaults into a realm of its own * * Guardian * *Both funny, surreal and at times full of very black humour * * Sunday Express * *Totally engrossing * * Observer * *Touching, quirky and macabre * * S Magazine, Sunday Express * *Matt Haig is a writer for children and adults who is adept at digging into the human heart * * Sunday Times * *Haig writes exquisitely from the perspective of the heart-sore outsider, but at their most moving his novels reveal the unbearable beauty of ordinary life * * Guardian * *

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERReflections on hope, survival and the messy miracle of being aliveIt is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learned while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.The Comfort Book is a collection of consolations learned in hard times and suggestions for making the bad days better. Drawing on maxims, memoir and the inspirational lives of others, these meditations celebrate the ever-changing wonder of living. This is for when we need the wisdom of a friend or a reminder we can always nurture inner strength and hope, even in our busy world.A book of timeless comfort for modern minds.Trade ReviewFull of eloquent, cogent and positive reminders of the beauty of life . . . Will prove enormously sustaining and valuable to a lot of people . . . Genuinely uplifting . . . Haig is a sensitive, introspective and thoughtful guide to the human dilemmas that affect us all * * Independent * *The Comfort Book, a collection of aphorisms and inspirational stories of survival against the odds, is a guide to living and finding hope in these disjointed times * * Guardian * *The literary equivalent of a steaming hot chocolate on a chilly day . . . The ideal read for dipping into whenever you need a pick-me-up or change of perspective * * Metro * *Profound, witty and uplifting, and a stirring testament to hope and the imagination * * Observer * *Pick up this book any time you're in need of a boost of positivity, calm and - as it says on the cover - comfort * * ELLE * *Promises two things I can't get enough of: hugs and lists . . . After a year starved of hope and hugs to the extreme, I can't think of a greater comfort read than that * * Evening Standard, Best Summer Reads * *Bite-sized advice and aphorisms . . . Full of solid good sense and hard-won wisdom * * Scotsman * *Every page of Haig's smooth prose will inspire you to think. Whether it is about fitting in, facing one's demons or happiness itself, each short anecdote, quote or simple sentence does just what the book aims to do: give comfort * * Herald * *[A] thought-provoking, affirming collection that is both personal and universal . . . With Haig's trademark empathy and celebration of the resilience of the human heart, this is a book we all need and deserve * * Booklist * *A charming tonic, fitting for these troubled times. The Comfort Book is a mix of short, hopeful anecdotes and reflections on life to dip into when in need of consolation, and help in seeing hard situations in a softer light -- BBC

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Book SynopsisIf you loved The Midnight Library, read How to Stop Time next!HOW MANY LIFETIMES DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE?Tom Hazard has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old history teacher, but he's been alive for centuries. From Elizabethan England to Jazz-Age Paris, from New York to the South Seas, Tom has seen it all. As long as he keeps changing his identity, he can stay one step ahead of his past - and stay alive. The only thing he must not do is fall in love.But what if the one thing he can't have just happens to be the one thing that might save him?Trade ReviewA rollicking time-hopping fantasy . . . How to Stop Time will provoke wonder and delight * * Observer * *Hugely entertaining -- JOHN BOYNE * * Irish Times * *Outlandish . . . heartwarming, perceptive prose -- ANITA SETHI * * Daily Telegraph * *An imaginative, ambitious novel by an author with an infectious passion for history and the human condition * * Sunday Express * *Haig writes exquisitely from the perspective of the heart-sore outsider, but at their most moving his novels reveal the unbearable beauty of ordinary life * * Guardian * *Let Matt Haig take you on a journey . . . Brings every era to vibrant life . . . original and fascinating * * Stylist * *Tear-jerking, time-hopping romance * * Mail on Sunday * *A fabulous book -- STEPHEN FRYHow to Stop Time is a beautiful, and necessary book. I feel very lucky to have read it. It is magical, intriguing and at times, very sad. A triumph -- MARIAN KEYESMatt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories -- NEIL GAIMAN

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Book SynopsisDO YOU A) Know a human? B) Love a human? C) Have trouble dealing with humans?IF YOU'VE ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOUWhether you are planning a high level of human interaction or just a casual visit to the planet, this user-guide to the human race will help you translate their sayings, understand exotic concepts such as 'democracy' and 'sofas', and make sense of their habits and bizarre customs.A phrase book, a dictionary and a survival guide, this book unravels all the oddness, idiosyncrasies and wonder of the species, allowing everyone to make the most of their time on Earth.Trade ReviewMatt Haig is astounding -- STEPHEN FRYPRAISE FOR THE HUMANS: Matt Haig's hilarious novel puts our species on the spot * * Guardian * *Wonderfully funny, gripping and inventive novel * * The Times * *The Humans is tremendous; a kind of Curious Incident meets The Man Who Fell to Earth -- JOANNE HARRISA novel with an enormous heart, infused with a sense of gratitude for everything that makes us who we are * * Daily Express * *

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Book SynopsisFAMILIES. SOMETIMES THEY'RE A BLOODY NIGHTMARE . . . Life with the Radleys: Radio 4, dinner parties with the Bishopthorpe neighbours and self-denial. Loads of self-denial. But all hell is about to break loose. When teenage daughter Clara gets attacked on the way home from a party, she and her brother Rowan finally discover why they can't sleep, can't eat a Thai salad without fear of asphyxiation and can't go outside unless they're smothered in Factor 50.With a visit from their lethally louche Uncle Will and an increasingly suspicious police force, life in Bishopthorpe is about to change. Drastically.Trade ReviewAddictive * * Daily Mail * *Highly recommended * * Observer * *Great fun * * Vogue * *Red-blooded fiction at its most seductive * * Sunday Telegraph * *Haig's very original spin on the [vampire] myth is insightful, frightening and uplifting * * Guardian * *Delightfully eccentric . . . a strangely moving portrait of a marriage * * Financial Times * *Delightfully new and, unusually, rather English . . . An enjoyably twisty and self-aware tale * * Metro * *Haig writes in addictive, bitesize chapters that pump the action along . . . All vampire fiction has a strong sexual element, but in this book, the passion's not just for the pale-faced teens * * Daily Mail * *Beautifully written . . . I just loved The Radleys -- JO BRANDA sharp, bloody tale of abstinence and indulgence (and trying not to eat the neighbours) -- STEVEN HALL

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING WORLDWIDE PHENOMENONREADERS' MOST LOVED BOOK OF 2021WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR FICTIONBetween life and death there is a library.When Nora Seed finds herself in the Midnight Library, she has a chance to make things right. Up until now, her life has been full of misery and regret. She feels she has let everyone down, including herself. But things are about to change.The books in the Midnight Library enable Nora to live as if she had done things differently. With the help of an old friend, she can now undo every one of her regrets as she tries to work out her perfect life. But things aren't always what she imagined they'd be, and soon her choices place the library and herself in extreme danger.Before time runs out, she must answer the ultimate question: what is the best way to live?Trade ReviewA beguiling read, filled with warmth and humour, and a vibrant celebration of the power of books to change lives * * Sunday Times * *A beautiful fable, an It's a Wonderful Life for the modern age - impossibly timely when we are all stuck in a world we wish could be different -- JODI PICOULTA celebration of life's possibilities . . . A beautiful concept . . . Charming * * Guardian * *A rare and welcome light of hope and wisdom in the darkness -- JOANNE HARRISA wonderful story . . . Such a beautiful book to get lost in -- Zoe Ball, BBC Radio 2I can't describe how much his work means to me. So necessary . . . The king of empathy -- JAMEELA JAMILWarm and humorous * * The Times * *A brilliant premise and great fun to have so many stories within one book * * Daily Mail * *Amazing and utterly beautiful, The Midnight Library is everything you'd expect from the genius storyteller who is Matt Haig -- JOANNA CANNONAbsorbing . . . A vision of limitless possibility, of new roads taken, of new lives lived, of a whole different world available to us somehow, somewhere, might be exactly what's wanted in these troubled and troubling times * * New York Times * *

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR FILM STARRING DAMIAN LEWIS AND KELLY MACDONALD FAMILIES. SOMETIMES THEY''RE A BLOODY NIGHTMARE . . . Life with the Radleys: Radio 4, dinner parties with the Bishopthorpe neighbours and self-denial. Loads of self-denial. But all hell is about to break loose. When teenage daughter Clara gets attacked on the way home from a party, she and her brother Rowan finally discover why they can''t sleep, can''t eat a Thai salad without fear of asphyxiation and can''t go outside unless they''re smothered in Factor 50.With a visit from their lethally louche Uncle Will and an increasingly suspicious police force, life in Bishopthorpe is about to change. Drastically.

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - FEATURING A NEW CHAPTER ON WINTER COMFORTSReflections on hope, survival and the messy miracle of being aliveThe Comfort Book is a collection of consolations learned in hard times and suggestions for making the bad days better. Drawing on maxims, memoir and the inspirational lives of others, these meditations celebrate the ever-changing wonder of living. This is for when we need the wisdom of a friend or a reminder we can always nurture inner strength and hope, even in our busy world.A book of timeless comfort for modern minds.This edition includes a new chapter from the author on finding the light side of the darkest days of the year.Trade ReviewFull of eloquent, cogent and positive reminders of the beauty of life . . . Will prove enormously sustaining and valuable to a lot of people . . . Genuinely uplifting . . . Haig is a sensitive, introspective and thoughtful guide to the human dilemmas that affect us all * * Independent * *The Comfort Book, a collection of aphorisms and inspirational stories of survival against the odds, is a guide to living and finding hope in these disjointed times * * Guardian * *The literary equivalent of a steaming hot chocolate on a chilly day . . . The ideal read for dipping into whenever you need a pick-me-up or change of perspective * * Metro * *Profound, witty and uplifting, and a stirring testament to hope and the imagination * * Observer * *Pick up this book any time you're in need of a boost of positivity, calm and - as it says on the cover - comfort * * ELLE * *Promises two things I can't get enough of: hugs and lists . . . After a year starved of hope and hugs to the extreme, I can't think of a greater comfort read than that * * Evening Standard, Best Summer Reads * *[A] thought-provoking, affirming collection that is both personal and universal . . . With Haig's trademark empathy and celebration of the resilience of the human heart, this is a book we all need and deserve * * Booklist * *Praise for Matt Haig: Haig is one of the most important writers of our time -- DOLLY ALDERTONI can't describe how much his work means to me . . . The king of empathy -- JAMEELA JAMILLove this man's books -- JODI PICOULT

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL TRULY ALIVE?Aged 24, Matt Haig's world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again.A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how to live better, love better and feel more alive, Reasons to Stay Alive is more than a memoir. It is a book about making the most of your time on earth.'I wrote this book because the oldest clichés remain the truest. Time heals. The bottom of the valley never provides the clearest view. The tunnel does have light at the end of it, even if we haven't been able to see it . . . Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.'Trade ReviewMaybe the most important book I've read this year -- SIMON MAYOA life-saving book -- AMANDA CRAIGBrings a difficult and sensitive subject out of the darkness and into the light -- MICHAEL PALINFull of wisdoms and warmth -- NATHAN FILERMatt Haig is a marvellous writer: limpid; tender; passionate. In this memoir (and it's short, barely 200 pages long), he manages to articulate, both the bleakness of depression and the means of dealing with it, little by little, day by day, without ever sounding maudlin, or self-indulgent, or preachy. For everyone who has ever felt the snap of the black dog's teeth, this book is wise, funny, affirming and redemptive. Sometimes depression can be like falling into a wordless pit. Matt Haig finds the words. And he says them for all of us -- JOANNE HARRISReasons to Stay Alive is wonderful. I read it in one sitting. Touching, funny, thought-provoking, with a huge heart. It should be read by anyone who has suffered, or known someone who has suffered (i.e.. everyone) -- S J WATSONFascinating and beautifully written -- IAN RANKINMatt Haig uses words like a tin-opener. We are the tin -- JEANETTE WINTERSONThoughtful, honest and incredibly insightful -- JENNY COLGANBrilliant and salutary . . . should be on prescription -- REV. RICHARD COLES

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Book Synopsis10th anniversary edition, revised and updated with a new introduction from the authorTHE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL TRULY ALIVE?Aged 24, Matt Haig''s world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again. It has helped millions of people do the same. Moving, funny and even joyous, these are the lessons Matt learned. His reasons to stay alive.

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Book SynopsisAudrey’s father taught her that to stay human in the modern world, she had to build a moat around herself; A moat that makes Audrey different from the echoes: sophisticated, emotionless machines, built to resemble humans and to work for human masters.Trade ReviewMatt Haig is astounding -- Stephen FryA highly original page-turner * Independent on Sunday *A brilliant story that you'll want to read in one sitting * The Sun on Sunday *An exciting SF thriller but also a rich and deeply felt exploration of the line that separates humans – creatures of love, passion, fear and hate – from mere organic simulations -- Anthony McGowan * Guardian *It’s a treat to read such a satisfying, complex work * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisFROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHORTerence Cave, owner of Cave Antiques, has already experienced the tragedies of his mother's suicide and his wife's murder when his teenage son, Reuben, is killed in a grotesque accident. His remaining child, Bryony, has always been the family's golden girl and Terence comes to realise that his one duty in life is to protect her from the world's malign forces, whatever that may take.But as he starts to follow his grieving daughter's movements and enforce a draconian set of rules, his love for Bryony becomes a possessive force that leads to destruction.Trade ReviewA compelling book; a page-turner in the best sense of the word -- John Burnside * * Guardian * *Chilling, riveting, heart-breaking * * New York Times * *A devastating portrait of one man's relentless self-destruction * * The Times * *Cave's grotesque zeal commands the reader's almost voyeuristic attention, and delivers an enthralling addition to the literature of demented protagonists * * Independent * *A sleek, enthralling novel that tries to wrestle with the human condition * * Literary Review * *Matt Haig is a writer for children and adults who is adept at digging into the human heart * * Sunday Times * *Haig writes exquisitely from the perspective of the heart-sore outsider, but at their most moving his novels reveal the unbearable beauty of ordinary life * * Guardian * *

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable new novel from the author of the multimillion-selling international sensation The Midnight Library''A beautiful novel full of life-affirming wonder and imagination'' BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH''What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don''t understand yet . . .''When retired Maths teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the Balearics Grace searches for answers about her friend''s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace must first come to terms with her past.Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of A Boy Called Christmas, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, Father Christmas and Me and The Truth Pixie.Samuel''s not allowed to enter Shadow Forest. But what''s to stop the forest from coming to him? There''s one thing every troll child dreads more than anything - and that''s the Betterer, the evil troll in Shadow Forest who loves to punish his fellow trolls for their grubby and stupid habits in lots of horrible ways. When one troll boy escapes the forest to be with his favourite human, Samuel Blink, the Betterer isn''t happy. Until he realizes that the most useful thing to have in his Bettering Tower would be a real life human child. So he sets out on a quest into the human world to kidnap Samuel and the troll friend he''s been hiding in his wardrobe . . .Trade ReviewChildren with a taste for magic and fantasy will find both - and a dollop of humour - in this second tale of Samuel Blink . . . this entertaining thriller oozes comedy and suspense in equal measure * Daily Mail *Fast, fun and furious action with a cast of humorous characters and creatures. A runaway hit * TBK *It is so good to have a children's book, full of fun and adventure . . . a well-judged adventure for young readers, told in a proper story-teller's voice. Hurrah! * Carousel *. . . thoroughly engaging and readable * www.thebookbag.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of A Boy Called Christmas, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, Father Christmas and Me and The Truth Pixie.*'A clawed masterpiece' - Guardian*Barney Willow's life couldn't get any worse.Trade ReviewA clawed masterpiece . . . A book about being comfortable in your own skin rather than someone else's fur -- Philip Ardagh * Guardian *Darkly comic and richly rewarding . . . Shines with originality * Telegraph *I loved To Be A Cat . . . Very funny and surprising -- John BoyneHere is the black comedy that made Matt Haig's Shadow Forest so irresistible * The Times *A terrific yarn * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisRatatouille meets Roald Dahl in the funny and fantastical story of a determined mouse on a mission to procure the world's tastiest cheese. From the author of A Boy Called Christmas–now a Netflix movie starring Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith and Henry Lawfull!When Nikolas left the only home he had ever known, it was a mouse named Miika who kept him company, and it was Miika who accompanied him on his journey to the Far North, in search of his father. But before the events of A Boy Called Christmas, this little mouse was the hero of his own story.A Mouse Called Miika is an epic adventure story on a miniature scale. It's a tale of mice and men (and more mice). It is about one independent mouse who gets fed up with the other mice, and sets out on a quest of his own to prove that cheese exists, and learns to appreciate other creatures. It is also a tale of great love (of cheese) and great danger. And learning the lesson that, with cheese,

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Book SynopsisA collection of New York Times bestselling author, Matt Haig's heartwarming, Christmas adventures--A Boy Called Christmas, The Girl Who Saved Christmas, and A Mouse Called Miika.This collection includes three hilarious classics in the making from New York Times bestselling author Matt Haig. A Boy Called Christmas: Nikolas–nicknamed Christmas must travel to the North Pole to save his father. Along the way, he befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in Elfhelm, where Christmas spirit is at an all-time low. Can Nikolas save his father and rouse Christmas spirit? Now a Netflix movie starring Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith and Henry Lawfull! The Girl Who Saved Christmas: Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make h

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times Bestseller“An odyssey of action and awe.” —The New York Times“A wry and tender love-letter to the best of being human.” —Benedict CumberbatchThe remarkable next novel from Matt Haig, the author of #1 New York Times bestseller The Midnight Library, with more than nine million copies sold worldwide“What looks like magic is simply a part of life we don’t understand yet…”When retired math teacher Grace Winters is left a run-down house on a Mediterranean island by a long-lost friend, curiosity gets the better of her. She arrives in Ibiza with a one-way ticket, no guidebook and no plan.Among the rugged hills and golden beaches of the island, Grace searches for answers about her friend’s life, and how it ended. What she uncovers is stranger than she could have dreamed. But to dive into this impossible truth, Grace mu

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Book SynopsisMatt Haig is an acclaimed writer and journalist. He is the author of the the best-selling Brand Failures, (published by Kogan Page) and also several best-selling novels, including The Radleys, The Dead Fathers Club and The Last Family in England (Vintage).Trade Review"Ideal for executives or PR pros who wish to learn about successful brands through practical examples." * PR Week *"A comprehensive collection of brand success stories that will enable the reader to identify the factors behind these successes." * Publishing News *Table of Contents Chapter - 00: Introduction; Chapter - 01: Innovation brands; Chapter - 02: Pioneer brands; Chapter - 03: Distraction brands; Chapter - 04: Streamlined brands; Chapter - 05: Muscle brands; Chapter - 06: Distinction brands; Chapter - 07: Status brands; Chapter - 08: People brands; Chapter - 09: Responsibility brands; Chapter - 10: Broad brands; Chapter - 11: Emotion brands; Chapter - 12: Design brands; Chapter - 13: Consistent brands; Chapter - 14: Advertiser brands; Chapter - 15: Distribution brands; Chapter - 16: Speed brands; Chapter - 17: Evolution brands; Chapter - 18: The BRIC brands

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Book SynopsisMatt Haig is an acclaimed writer and journalist. He is the author of the best-selling Brand Success, (previously published as Brand Royalty by Kogan Page) and also several best-selling novels, including The Radleys, The Dead Fathers Club and The Last Family in England (Vintage).Trade Review"An entertaining and useful read. As a ready crib for the most famous brand foul-ups, this book is hard to beat." * The Financial Times *"This book is a lot of fun. Haig wants to educate as well as to entertain, and at this he succeeds." * Journal of Consumer Marketing *Table of Contents Chapter - 01: Introduction; Chapter - 02: Classic failures; Chapter - 03: Idea failures; Chapter - 04: Extension failures; Chapter - 05: PR failures; Chapter - 06: Culture failures; Chapter - 07: People failures; Chapter - 08: Business cycle failures; Chapter - 09: Rebranding failures; Chapter - 10: Internet and new technology failures; Chapter - 11: Tired brands

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Book SynopsisYou are about to read the true story of Father Christmas.It's a story that proves nothing is impossible.A Boy Called Christmas is a tale of adventure, snow, kidnapping, elves, more snow and a boy called Nikolas, who isn't afraid to believe in magic. From the winner of The Smarties Book Prize and the Blue Peter Book Award. With enchanting illustrations by Chris Mould.Trade ReviewMatt Haig has written the most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades. Future generations will receive the same comfort and joy from A Boy Called Christmas that they derive from mince pies, snowmen and creamy liqueurs -- STEPHEN FRYA new festive classic. Funny, sad and brilliant. It turns out we only knew half the story -- SIMON MAYOTerrific . . . An instant classic * * GUARDIAN * *Like enjoying the warmth of a good fire on a cold day . . . perfect for Christmas is every way * * INDEPENDENT * *The Christmas book of the year * * THE SUN * *Matt Haig puts the Happy back into Christmas -- JEANETTE WINTERSONEvery bit as funny and poignant as a mouse that has never seen cheese but still believes in it! -- FRANK COTTRELL BOYCEThe funny (and heartbreaking) history of Ho, ho, ho! My children loved it too -- YANN MARTELWill do for Father Christmas what Christopher Nolan did for Batman * * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY * *Read it! * * SUNDAY TIMES * *A glorious mix of fairytale, folklore and fun -- FRANCESCA SIMONIt will delight adults and children alike and has future classic written all over it * * THE BOOKSELLER * *

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Book SynopsisBELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLEYou are about to read the TRUE STORY of FATHER CHRISTMAS. If you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. (Because this book is FULL of impossible things.)Are you still reading?Good. Then let us begin...Trade ReviewThe most evergreen, immortal Christmas story for decades -- STEPHEN FRYA Christmas classic for a new generation, Haig's gentle, enthralling tale tells the story of Father Christmas as a boy. It's touching, funny and packed with memorable characters * * SUNDAY MAIL * *Read it! * * SUNDAY TIMES * *Terrific . . . an instant classic * * GUARDIAN * *A new festive classic -- SIMON MAYOPerfect for Christmas in every way * * INDEPENDENT * *A glorious mix of fairytale, folklore and fun -- FRANCESCA SIMONThe Christmas book of the year * * THE SUN * *Matt Haig puts the Happy back into Christmas -- JEANETTE WINTERSONEvery bit as funny and poignant as a mouse that has never seen cheese but still believes in it! -- FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE

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Book SynopsisBELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLEYou are about to read THE TRUE STORY OF FATHER CHRISTMASIf you are one of those people who believe that some things are impossible, you should put this book down right away. (Because this book is FULL of impossible things.)Are you still reading? Good. Then let us begin...

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Book SynopsisLET THE BATTLE FOR CHRISTMAS BEGINIt isn't always easy, growing up as a human in Elfhelm, even if your adoptive parents are the newly married Father Christmas and Mary Christmas. For one thing, Elf School can be annoying when you have to sing Christmas songs every day - even in July - and when you fail all your toy-making tests. Also it can get very, very cold.But when the jealous Easter Bunny and his rabbit army launch an attack to stop Christmas, it's up to Amelia, her new family and the elves to keep Christmas alive. Before it's too late . . .Trade ReviewA subtle contemporary message about outsiders and hate underpins this energetic, funny adventure that has charm, warmth, and a sprinkle of Christmas magic * * Daily Mail * *Funny, exciting and full of Christmas charm, this makes perfect reading for the festive season * * The Week * *Absolutely brilliant * * CBBC on THE GIRL WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS * *Full of heart and humour * * Daily Express on THE GIRL WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS * *Will melt your Grinch-frozen heart -- SIMON MAYOA lovely, warm, enveloping seasonal read * * Guardian on THE GIRL WHO SAVED CHRISTMAS * *A Christmas classic for a new generation . . . touching, funny and packed with memorable characters * * Sunday Mail on A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS * *A glorious mix of fairytale, folklore and fun * * FRANCESCA SIMON on A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS * *The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades * * STEPHEN FRY on A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS * *Terrific . . . An instant classic * * GUARDIAN on A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS * *

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