Finding Light in the Dark: A Review of Reasons to Stay Alive

Matt Haig’s Reasons to Stay Alive is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I finished it this week, and while it’s taken me quite a while to get through, that’s more down to my reading habits than the book itself. I tend to have more than one book on the go at a time, usually just reading a few pages a day, but this is the kind of book that doesn’t need to be rushed.
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It’s part memoir, part reflection, and part guide to navigating life with depression and anxiety. Haig writes with an honesty that makes the book feel deeply personal, yet incredibly relatable. His descriptions of mental illness—how it feels, how it isolates, how it distorts everything—are written in a way that makes you stop and really take them in. At the same time, there’s an underlying message of hope woven throughout.

As someone who also struggles with mental health, a lot of what Haig writes resonated with me. There were moments in the book where I found myself nodding along, recognising those feelings and thought patterns all too well. But what I really appreciated is that Reasons to Stay Alive doesn’t try to offer an easy solution or a “fix.” It doesn’t claim there’s a single way to overcome mental illness. Instead, it’s a raw and thoughtful account of Haig’s own experiences, filled with moments of light and humour alongside the darker times.

Even though I’ve read it gradually, I’ve found myself reflecting on a lot of what he says. It’s not just about survival—it’s about learning to live again, to find joy in the small things, and to recognise that even in the worst moments, life is still worth holding onto. Whether you’ve struggled with your mental health or not, it’s a book that offers perspective, empathy, and an important reminder that no matter how tough things get, they can get better.

Would definitely recommend this one.