Izzy Character Analysis in The Midnight Library

Izzy is Nora’s friend who lives in Australia. In her original life, Nora had backed out of her plans to move to Australia with Izzy and live with her, as she was still struggling with anxiety, depression, and the fallout of her breakup with Dan. Nora regrets disappointing her friend, so she tries the version of her life where she had chosen to move to Australia with her. But in that reality, Izzy had died in a car crash while driving to Nora’s birthday party. This serves as one of the first examples of Nora’s choices having unforeseen consequences for the people around her. No matter which version of her life she visits, Nora is always happy to see messages from Izzy with beautiful photos of humpback whales attached: a sign that the two of them are still friends despite their falling out. When she returns to her original life, Nora is overjoyed to see messages and photos from Izzy, and she resolves to keep their friendship alive.

Izzy Character Timeline in The Midnight Library

The timeline below shows where the character Izzy appears in The Midnight Library. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Regret, Depression, and Suicide Theme Icon

Philosophy and the Meaning of Life Theme Icon

With no one else left to talk to, Nora texts her friend Izzy, who now lives in Australia and isn’t in contact with Nora as much as she... (full context)

Nora receives a call on her phone, and she hopes that it’s Izzy or maybe her brother. Instead, it’s Doreen, the mother of a boy named Leo. Nora... (full context)

...feels a bit healthier than before. Nora also discovers she has a closer friendship with Izzy in this version of reality. While she had still declined to move to Australia with... (full context)

...the version of her life where she had moved to Australia with her best friend Izzy. (full context)

...than the previous ones. While she isn’t sure what her job is and can’t find Izzy anywhere, she feels free as she swims in the water. The people around her seem... (full context)

Nora finds her apartment and notices she has a roommate who isn’t Izzy. This roommate—a young woman named Jojo—turns out to be a conspiracy theorist and doesn’t seem... (full context)

...herself again. The two of them discuss how Nora became “stuck” in the life where Izzy had died, depressed and unable to give herself any momentum. Nora remembers hearing about how... (full context)

...hotel, Nora looks through her texts and social media, seeing she has a message from Izzy with similar photos of whales to the ones she had sent before, indicating that they’re... (full context)

...own. Owning a pub was Dan’s dream, the band was her brother’s dream, Australia was Izzy’s dream, and competitive swimming was her father’s dream. She accepts that Mrs. Elm may be... (full context)

...with Ash and Molly. She seems to be on very good terms with Joe and Izzy as well, and she continually finds Ash to be a lovable dork. She occasionally worries... (full context)

...how she knows about this all of a sudden, but he says he loves her. Izzy texts Nora and apologizes for not answering her message before, as she had wanted to... (full context)