Name: Almost Midnight
Author: Rainbow Rowell
ISBN: B072PYCV8B

Almost Midnight

by Rainbow Rowell

What it's about

This collection gathers two short stories centered on New Year's Eve, exploring the messy, magnetic pull between friends who mean more to each other than they admit. Rowell captures the specific tension of waiting for a moment to change your life and the bittersweet reality of growing up while staying tethered to the people who know you best.

Key ideas

The value of effort: Meaningful connection requires the patience to wait in line rather than just buying the ticket.
Constant change: People are like kaleidoscopes who shift and evolve even when they appear to be standing still.
Unnecessary gestures: Grand, impulsive acts are often the most vital parts of building a relationship.
The gravity of friendship: Deep bonds create a baseline where life experiences feel incomplete until they are shared with that one specific person.

You'll love this book if...

You enjoy character-focused contemporary romance that prioritizes emotional intimacy over high-stakes drama.
You're looking for a quick, nostalgic read that captures the anxiety and excitement of New Year's Eve.

Best for

Readers who want a low-stakes, heartfelt story about the transition from teenage years into adulthood.

Books with the same vibe

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

16 popular highlights from this book

Key Insights & Memorable Quotes

The most popular highlights from Almost Midnight, saved by readers on Screvi.

“I'm not going anywhere, Noel''You are,' he said, squeezing her.'And it's okay. Just... I need you to take me with you.”

“Mags laughed. 'You're a kaleidoscope. You change every time I look away.”

“The whole world is dancing with you”

“this is an unnecessary gesture.''All the best ones are,' Troy Said. 'Now open the doors. My bladder is about explode,”

“skipping ahead. If you like someone, you should have to make an effort. You should have to work for that first kiss”

“skipping ahead. If you like someone, you should have to make an effort. You should have to get to know the person-you should have to work for that first kiss.”

“I like to dance in public,' Noel said. 'With other people. It's a communal experience.”

“I like to dance ”

“Mags nodded, and pushed with her shoulders away from the house, then Noel pushed her right back - pinning her as much as he was hugging her as much as he was crowding her against the wall.”

“I'm not going anywhere, Noel.''You are,' he said, squeezing her. 'And it's okay. Just ... I need you to take me with you.”

“I mean, you heard Mark. If you just want to see the new Star Wars movie, you can buy your ticket online and then forget about it until show time. But if you want to wait in line, you wait in line, you know?”

“He was the first person she talked to in the morning, and the last person she texted at night. Not intentionally or methodically. That's just the way it was between them. If she didn't tell Noel about something, it was almost like it didn't happen.”

“She tried to see herself the way Noel would see her, for the first time sine August. Then she tried to pretend she didn't care.”

“You have friends. You have a clique. You walk down the hall like you own the place.""You seem to have mistaken me for the movie Mean Girls”

“Mags didn't have any new tattoos. She hadn't changed at all. She hadn't even left Omaha-- she got a scholarship to study industrial design at one of the schools in town. A full scholarship. It would have been stupid for Mags to leave.”