Matt Haig’s The Life Impossible is an invitation to reimagine what it means to live with joy, hope, and curiosity, even amid life’s inevitable struggles. Known for his slight skews of reality (see The Midnight Library), Haig dives into the ways that we can find meaning and resilience even in the face of disappointment.
The story starts with retired math teacher Grace Winters inheriting a house on a Ibiza that was owned by her long-forgotten colleague Christina. At least Grace had long forgotten, but it turns out that Grace’s impromptu invitation to Christina to join her for a holiday dinner was just the boost that Christina needed. Grace unknowingly set her friend’s life on a path of adventure and, in her death, Christina wanted to do the same for Grace.
Grace is widowed, and her young son was killed by a lorry on a dark, rainy day. Grace is retired and basically mops around, unhappy with the cards she has been dealt. A spur of the moment decision takes her to Ibiza, where her life turns upside down (and eventually around).
Christina’s death is a bit mysterious, but she has left Grace at lot of clues about who to befriend, where to visit on the island, and how to take part in living life to the fullest. There’s a bunch of quiet magic here and island lore. But the sentiment of the novel is based in reality. Visit gorgeous places, make friends, do fun things, and get over yourself. Guilt and fear is what kills you, not lorry accidents, love affairs, jobs you hate, or even cancer.
The Life Impossible is a quiet, philosophical look at why seeking perfection is never a perfect solution. To live with wonder, to question, to try–knowing sometimes we’ll fail–is where the real magic of being alive lies.