Full review will be on my blog October 5th.

Trigger Warnings: grief, suicidal thoughts, misogyny.

This was actually my first Schwab book! Sounds impossible, I know, and I admit I actually have seven of her books on my physical TBR – they all sound so good and were so hyped, I couldn’t resist! After reading The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, I’m really excited to read more from Schwab, because there was a lot that I really loved about this book.

The way that the narrative split between timelines was really well done, it fed me pieces of the story without having to do a huge time skip in the middle of the book and more importantly, in my opinion, it showed me two Addie’s. There was Addie of 2014 and the Addie of the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. They’re very different characters, and I liked that a lot. It showed the development of her character and the ways that she’d had to become tougher and hardened to the world. Addie’s character is one of my favourite parts of this book, honestly. She’s pretty ‘dislikeable’, though I don’t really like to use that word this way. She’s disenfranchised with the world and selfish, but that’s because she’s been forced to survive in a world where she barely exists. I loved that. It felt like she’d wrapped her heart in broken glass to keep people away, and that choosing freedom meant she was free from consequences and free from the things the world expected of young women in the 1700s. It definitely gave Addie a feeling of etherealness, like her curse made her inherently powerful. Don’t get me wrong, I’d hate to have Addie’s curse, but I think she’s made it her own.

Addie develops even further when she meets a boy who remembers, and I don’t want to talk too much about that part of the story because I had absolutely no idea what was happening as it unfolded and I found that viscerally satisfying. I wanted to know so badly – so I’m going to make y’all suffer through the desire to read it faster too. To me, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue was hugely character driven. There is plot happening, and I really enjoyed the conflict and the resolution (yes, I’m being intentionally vague), but this felt like it was more about Addie herself and her life than it is about any daring plot. The book built up to an ending that I adored, and I genuinely had to stop before reading the final chapter because I could not see the page through my tears. And what an ending it is. I loved the openness of the ending, the way that we got a final glimpse at the power that Addie has gained over 300 years and most of all I adored that this wasn’t really a love story at all. This story was about Addie getting closure, getting peace and learning to come to terms with what her choice really means and I think that I will be gleefully imagining what comes next for a long time now. And I definitely won’t be making deals with any mysterious devils in the woods without reading the contract very, very carefully.

I first heard V.E Schwab talk about Addie at a UK event for A Gathering of Shadows. I've since heard her talk about Addie many times. I began to feel like I knew Addie, I knew her story, I knew the journey she would go on. Finally getting to sit down and read Addie was an incredible feeling.

Despite feeling like i would know the book, V suprised me. Everything felt brand new, like I had forgotten Addie and had started over, just like in the bookI knew within about five chapters that the book would sit among my favourites. There is a magnetic quality to the book, V's writing is relatable and it draws you further and further in with every page. The characters are fully realised, probably because author V spent so long with this book, and they are loveable.V said that she feels most like Henry, and I too related to Henry in a visceral way.

I am trying not to write any spoilers in this piece as I know how much this book is anticipated but I will assure you that I loved it with my whole heart and I started reading it again immediately. Most importantly, I remember Addie.

Addie Larue makes a deal with devil but ends up getting cursed. She will essentially be immortal but she will not be able to leave a mark on this world. Basically she will not be remembered and will be leading an invisible life. But what happens when she meets a boy who remembers?
The Invisible life of Addie Larue in one word is underwhelming. I know this is going to be a hugely unpopular opinion but there it is.
When I read the blurb, I was fascinated by the concept of a girl getting to lead an immortal life but completely forgotten by everyone she meets. I was drawn in by the mystery of the boy who will remember her and the story that will unfold thereafter. How she gets out of the curse, what makes the boy special, all of that.
The book starts off well, with a non linear narration showing Addie in the present and past life. The writing was beautiful and it gives a certain atmospheric mood to the story.
But, there’s always a but, it soon becomes monotonous. About 60-70% of the book is just Addie’s backstory. It doesn’t really do anything for the plot and Addie as such barely leaves an impression even with her elaborately detailed back story. Just as in the story, once I closed the book, she was barely memorable.
The plot moves forward at a snail’s pace and I had almost decided to give up when I was given the teeniest little spark to continue, in the form of Henry’s PoV. It was in fact Henry’s story that pushed me to complete the book. He has very few PoV’s to his name but in those few chapters he definitely left an impression.
The final 10% of the book finally gave me something to be excited about but to be honest it was too little too late. I wish the author had started from the 70% mark and explored that ending in more detail instead of going on and on about the various lives Addie Larue lives just to say she lived through all that.
All in all, the hype failed me with this one and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for something with a plot. But if you like VE Schwab’s writing and don’t mind reading the day to day life of a single character for almost 80% of the book, then this is the book for you.
Rating : 2.5 stars

This is the first book in a long time that I am finding hard to put into words how much I enjoyed this book. The Invisible life of Addie LaRue is the first book from V. E. Schwab that I have read, and I can’t wait to read more.
Addie LaRue Lives in a small village of Villon France in 1714. She is expected to get married, have kids and respect her peers. But she wants more to life that the life she currently lives in the small town. So, she makes a call to the gods but instead makes a deal to the devil for freedom and break free from Villon and get more out of life. When she made the deal, she didn’t expect to receive mortality and roam the world for 300 years. But no one to remember who she is or ever existed. Except for Luc the devil that she gave herself too and that keeps reaching for her soul but Addie refuses to give it. Then one day she meets Henry Strauss that remembers her, and which turns her life upside down. All she wanted was for someone to remember her and now she has found someone.
This Invisible life Of Addie Larue is a beautifully written, poignant book. Different to what I have ever read before. It is also a love story of how far will go for the one you love. I loved every minute of this magical tale. The author has exceptional talent. I highly recommend.

Adeline LaRue wants more than the small French village she grew up in, and makes a deal with one of the gods who answer after dark. She receives her freedom, but in return no-one remembers her. Until in a New York bookshop, someone does.

Jumping between modern day New York and Addie's past life, it's a story of how her relationship with the Luc/the darkness/possibly the devil grows over 300 years, but also of how she makes a life for herself and the society she drifts through. I liked how she learned how to use her curse and the impact she could have, the lives she touched were interesting and her ways of looking after herself were clever. It's a very clever book, and a great concept. Henry and his friends were all good characters as well, my only downside is that I'd have liked to see a bit more of them.

I feel it's quite different from the Darker Shades of Magic books, which I loved, but I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley

SPOILERS AHEAD

I will be a great minority in this one... because I did not like this book.

Before I write down my thoughts, two disclaimers. The first, is that I have a difficult relationship with Schwab's books. Some I enjoy, and others I just like the concept of, but not the execution. The second, is that this book was so hyped that it just didn't live up to the expectations.

I did not enjoy this book for many reasons. First, it is not what it is marketed as. It is not a love story between a girl who sells her soul and the devil. This is because Luc's nature is never defined in the first place: is he a devil? THE devil? Darkness? I was very confused by this. Moreover, it is not a love story. They lust for each other, but nothing more. Plus, when Henry comes in, it is more of a love triangle. The encounters between Addie and Luc were repetitive, and all blurred together.

Let's talk about Henry. Even though he was the character I liked best, I still don't understand what his role in the story was. His relationship with Addie was rendered in a superficial manner that made it impossible for me to believe in it. Even though we get a glimpse of his internal struggles, I still found their storyline muddy, not well defined and with no real purpose.

The storytelling is choppy. Jumping back in time, all the episodes mesh into one another, and they are so, so repetitive. I also found the encounter with famous artists and composers very forced (Beethoven was almost totally def when he died, but he can hear Luc?) or one of the 'Italian' paintings' name was misspelled (I am Italian, and this was an easy mistake to fix). I don't know, these sloppy elements made the narrative pretentious and a bit forced.

I would have loved to like Addie. To feel with her. But because of the narrative style that was distant, never in the present, always mentioning the past or the future, I just couldn't (many sentences read like this: 'Addie would have learnt this fifty years from now, but not today...' which always projected the reader into the future, thus avoiding creating a connection to the character in the now).

I also found the ending very anticlimactic. And this is because, to me, Addie has not had any character development for the 290 years out of the 323 she has lived. After the Paris period, she just got stuck into herself, her hidden cleverness, and her desire to trick Luc. And that is how the book ends. So not only is it not satisfying for the reader, who for 400 pages roots for Addie to trick Luc, but there is not even the character development we hoped for.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, but I will still recommend it because I know I am a minority. I know many people are loving it, which makes me happy because I know how important this novel is for Victoria.

This might possibly be my favourite book of 2020.
A story of a 300 girl sentenced to immortality at the expense of having everyone in her life forget her. Until she meets someone who remembers.

The way this book is written is beautiful. The prose, the pacing, the characters, it is all perfect and gives me the same feeling as The Binding did (also a favourite of mine). I am usually not a fan of historical fiction or books which jump to various time periods (as I always preference certain times and find myself getting bored with others). However, this book is the exception. I found myself being just as excited for the parts set in the 1700s as I was for the parts set in current day.

I dare anyone who reads this book not to fall in love with the main character Addie. She grows so much over the course of the book (as you'd hope, her being 300 years old and all). But from the start Addie knows what she wants but despite everything she goes through in her lifetime, she is still pure, stands up for what she believes in, and has great morals.
In addition, the relationship between Addie and Henry throughout the book is both magical and heartwarming, if only for the LGBTQ rep. Both character identify as bisexual (or have dated the opposite sex) and as a fellow bi boy, I love that both of these characters are like me. At no point is their bisexuality questioned, it is great rep.

This book is truely one in a million and is certainly up there with one of my favourite books of 2020 and maybe of all time.
I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book so I can marvel at the illustrations which start each new part.

This book destroyed me and guys, I’m not even mad about it, not even a little bit.

I was so eager to read this book, but I was not expecting to love it so much, but oh it was such a beauty! This is the story of a girl who’s been constantly forgotten for three hundred years. Until one day someone remembers her.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue takes the readers on a journey that starts in 1714, in Villon, a very little French village where our protagonist lives. She’s twenty-three and her parents think it’s time for her to marry. Addie’s parents, her mother who’s a constant presence in their little home, and her father who tells Addie stories and who’s an artisan that can create beauty from simple pieces of wood. Even though she clearly loves them dearly, she wants more than this small life, she wants to be free and truly live and she cannot do that by marrying a man she doesn’t love and staying in Villon. In a moment of uttermost despair she flees before her wedding and prays to the gods asking them to please help her.

“And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”

The one who answers her plea is the night himself, the darkness, the one who asks for a price in return for a favor. And what higher price is there than Addie’s soul? But everything can be given when you’re desperate for a way out and that’s how Addie finds herself making a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. The only one who remembers her is the one who put this curse on her.

"Don't you remember, she told him then, when you were nothing but shadow and smoke?"

"Darling,” he'd said in his soft, rich way, “I was the night itself."

And so Addie adjusts to this new life she has been given. The hardships are many and the taste of this newfound freedom is sometimes bittersweet, but nevertheless she persists. She gets to know her intricate curse which is freeing as much as it is cruel. You can do what you want when you know nobody’s going to remember it, but you can never put down roots and have attachments that go beyond a single day. Addie finds some loopholes in the curse, she can never leave a mark on anything, but she realizes that there’s something more powerful than simple marks: ideas.

Ideas are wilder than memories.

This realization leads her to become the fil rouge that spans centuries and the girl who can be found in lots of works of art. Art is definitely a Leitmotif which is present throughout the whole story and it was so fascinating to read how many people were fascinated, impressed and inspired by Addie's presence and wanted to replicate it in some form for the future to behold.

“Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end,” he says, “everyone wants to be remembered.”

And that’s really how her life unfolds for basically three-hundred years, with her always on the go and a witness to some of the most important historical moments in Western history. She’s also always trying to discover new things she hasn’t experienced yet. Seeing her joy trying something for the first time was like watching a child in awe, it was one of the purest feelings ever.

All of a sudden everything changes. It’s something small for the average person, but for Addie, the girl with the seven freckles dotting her cheeks, it’s like the world has stopped spinning. A boy working in a NYC bookstore tells her three words that she hasn’t heard in three hundred years.

“I remember you.”

That’s all it takes to completely shift the narrative and Addie’s life. Henry Strauss remembers her. But why? And how? There are so many questions that need to be answered, but isn’t it beautiful to be remembered for once and after all this time? And doesn’t Addie deserve that?

Through multiple timelines Schwab tells the story of Addie LaRue’s past and also of her present, of her meeting with Henry and the consequences that originate from it.

“Nothing is all good or bad,” she says. “ Life is so much messier than that.”

This novel focuses on the good and also the bad, it shows life though the eyes of someone who’s had a lot to live, definitely more than a normal lifetime. It shows what it takes to be Addie LaRue and what challenges lie in front of her, even when she’s tired and all she would like is to be allowed a reprieve.
I won’t talk about the ending because I feel like it would be a nice topic of discussion once we have all read the book. There would be tons to say about it.

V.E. Schwab exceeded my wildest expectations with this novel. She managed to write a main character so full of yearning for everything in life. Her prose in this book was refined and also lyrical, you can see how much work was put into it. The story takes its time, but it’s definitely worth it and it pulled at my heartstrings like few others.

I wish I could tell you so much more, but because of spoilers I unfortunately cannot.
After this novel I just have a need deep in my bones to go back to France as soon as I can. I don’t know what it was, but maybe the descriptions of the French way of life just transported me back to last Summer when I was watching the sunset and eating at an exquisite crêperie in the heart of my favorite Paris quarter. Oh, how long to be back, to enjoy the stillness of life amidst the complete and exciting whirlwind of the city life. Blame it on the pandemic, but I never missed the freedom of European cities like I did while reading this novel. I’m so looking forward to infinite afternoons spent strolling through the National Gallery in London or to taking a walk through the magnificent Parisian parks that have always instilled such a sense of calm within me. This book brought back such tender memories. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted novel and it offers the readers a story that is both intriguing and infinitely delicate, all they have to do is be willing to take on this journey.

One thing is for sure, Addie LaRue left not only an idea, but also a mark on me and I will remember her.

Would you make a deal with the devil in your most desperate moments? That's exactly what Adeline LaRue begs for. A tale set in the 1700s and through the centuries to the present day. Addie is set free to live the life she always yearned for, but at the cost of everyone forgetting her the moment she leaves their sight. For 300 years she has lived in complete loneliness where only the devil knows her name, until one day she steps back into a bookstore and is told, 'I remember you.'

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a tale hauntingly woven with heart wrenching despair, pain, lonliness, love and hate. It is poetic, bittersweet and raw.

I had goosebumps whilst reading through Addie's life and the irony is I won't forget her as I can't stop thinking about this book!

My full review will be posted on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hklovesbooks/

Goodreads: https://www.instagram.com/hklovesbooks/

On 1st October and retail sites Amazon ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AGJ2FOW52TXH36SXEPHENWXFC4BA?preview=true )and Waterstones on 6th October.

This was an interesting twist on "deal with the devil" trope. In almost every culture there is a similar story in folklore and this "remake" was so refreshing.

I love the direction of the story. The story is told alternatively between 2014 and the past following Addie's story/life. I loved how during every time Addie would write about something int he past and mention how "she didn't know, but in time she would learn the different languages/stage/moods" etc. Adding the future into the past made me want to read more.

All the twists and turns were unexpected apart from the ones hinted at n the past text as mentioned. But the ending really took me by surprise. I loved it!

I like Addie. She is clever and with all the time in the world she is patience (even though she might have learned that from Luc), and she has a massive space in her heart for art!

I liked Henry and I liked how he is with Addie and how he treats her curse.

Luc.... well what can I say about the devil, the darkness, the god of promises? I enjoyed his presence in the book. He adds not just conflict but in some spaces makes the story go forward. Then there is his dark side which is a bit scary when you think about it.

It's a book with three characters, but it still feels so full. It's difficult to explain but it's lovely :)

As expected the writing is excellent! I had no issues with the writing, spelling, or layout of sentences.

I loved this book! It's such a good standalone that I didn't even hope for a sequel. I don't think a sequel could add anything to it. It's just so good on its own. I bet Addie wins anyway ;)

Loved it!

Esta es la historia de Adeline LaRue una joven que lo único que siempre quiso fue vivir su vida libremente y poder tomar decisiones sobre su futuro. Pero en 1714 y con sus 23 años ya cumplidos, sus padres deciden que es momento que deje de soñar despierta y siente cabeza, y en medio de su desesperación hace un trato con el diablo: su alma a cambio de su libertad. Pero toda magia tiene un precio que hay que pagar, y el de Addie será que nadie podrá recordarla nunca más… A partir de ese momento Addie será dueña de si misma, no envejecerá ni morirá y nadie podrá tomar decisiones por ella hasta el momento en que decida que ha tenido suficiente y que es hora de entregar su alma.

300 años más tarde, Addie ha conocido muchísimas personas, ha vivido las guerras y sus miserias, así como también las épocas doradas de distintos países. Pero las personas que conoce se olvidan automáticamente de ella en el momento en el que se alejan de su vista, así que se ve obligada a vagar de lugar en lugar incluso para hacer la mínima cosa como conseguir un lugar para dormir… Se ha arriesgado a descubrir nuevos lugares, pero por más que lo intente no puede dejar una marca. No puede poseer cosas, no puede escribir, ni dibujar, ni dejar ningún tipo de prueba que ella existe porque todo automáticamente desaparece… La única constante en su vida es el diablo que vuelve para confirmar si ya es momento de rendirse.

Esto es hasta que un día sucede lo inesperado, un joven llamado Henry la recuerda y esto puede hacer que la historia de Addie cambie para siempre.

Mi opinión:

Este libro debe haber sido todo un desafío a la hora de escribirlo porque abarca muchísimos periodos históricos muy diferentes entre sí. Además de la complejidad extra de incluir saltos de tiempo entre pasado y futuro y que la historia fluyera sin problemas ni confusiones. La autora tiene la capacidad de transportarnos por distintos lugares y épocas mientras vamos conociendo el pasado de Addie, y como siempre, la ambientación dio en el clavo. Me encanta que se haya puesto atención hasta en los pequeños detalles porque eso pudo transmitir el sufrimiento por el que pasaba y la soledad de saber que por más que conociera a alguien, toda relación era tan efímera como un suspiro, y bastaba darse vuelta para olvidarse de cualquier cosa que hubiesen sentido por ella.

Es un libro que consigue adentrar a nuestra protagonista en la vida de artistas renombrados del pasado, y verla reflejada en sus obras. A pesar de que Addie no puede ser retratada ya que no puede haber pruebas de su existencia, el concepto de la inspiración y de que una idea es más fuerte y valiosa que un hecho me pareció increíble. A medida que va pasando el tiempo, Addie mejora el arte de dejar su marca a través de las creaciones de otros convirtiéndose en su inspiración, un sueño que tuvieron una noche y que por la mañana los llevó a crear algo que duraría para siempre. Esta misma conexión con el arte la tuvo el papel de Luc, los toques en donde el diablo aparecía eran mis preferidos porque estaban increíblemente bien ambientados… él es la explicación por ejemplo de famosos que fallecieron jóvenes, que dieron su alma a cambio de tener su momento de fama.

Ok, los personajes me parecieron increíbles y sufrí con ellos, la trama me dio sorpresas y me mantuvo entretenida toda la historia, pero lo que definitivamente se llevo mi corazón fue el final. Creo que este es de esos finales que la mitad va a amar y la otra mitad odiar, pero yo definitivamente soy de las que aman las vueltas y que sucedan cosas no esperadas.

El estilo de romance de esta historia es 100% mi favorito, está presente pero no es el punto focal, la historia va más allá, hacia las necesidades de uno como persona y como parte de una sociedad, el amor a uno mismo, a la libertad, y también de esos amores que a veces se vuelven obsesiones y dejan de ser sanos, pero son muy difíciles de evitar. Yo creí que la narración contaría el romance entre el diablo y Addie y en realidad no es así, es más sobre el camino de nuestra protagonista viviendo, con días buenos, días malos, días donde desearía ser recordada y otros días donde se alegra de no poder serlo. La historia habla de la importancia de nuestro nombre y de todas las cosas que tenemos (con cosas me refiero tanto a materiales como no) y que no valoramos hasta el momento en que las perdemos, y principalmente habla de que al final del día todos queremos ser recordados por algo, y no hablo de fama, sino de ser recordados por nuestros seres queridos, ser parte de sus vidas y de sus memorias…

El único pero que le puedo poner a la historia es que mi lado racional no llega a comprender como todos automáticamente se ven atraídos hacia Addie. El hecho de que fuese parte de la vida de tantas personas (por más que fuesen días y días para ella) para los otros era solo una tarde compartida, en algunos casos solo una noche, sin embargo, todo extraño se sentía atraído por ella.

A modo de resumen puedo decirles que este es un libro que tiene que leerse despacio para poder aprovechar TODOS los detalles que tiene. Realmente creo que es una historia que tiene mucho trabajo detrás y vale la pena apreciarlo. Sin duda me espera pronto una relectura porque creo que en mi afán de saber que sucedería con los personajes no vi pequeñas pistas que nos iba dando la narración y espero que sea como redescubrir la historia nuevamente.

¿Lo recomiendo? ¡Claro que si! Si les gusta la fantasía, las historias oscuras, el arte y los finales distintos que te rompen un poco el corazón sea cual sea la decisión que tomen los personajes, esta historia les va a encantar.

Don't think I have any words for the absolute masterpiece this is. It was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Have I decided that this is one one of my favourite books of 2020? HELL YES. Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil and she trades her soul for immortality and to be free - but twisting her words, the devil makes is so everyone that Addie meets forgets her soon after. She can't say her name, everything she writes gets washed away. Until one day a boy says... I remember you. My heart by this point. Not ok.

I've always been in awe of V.E Schwab's imagination and storytelling and I thought she peaked at Vicious - which is genius by the way. BOY I WAS WRONG. I could not put this down, even though the pacing is much much slower than her other books. The powerful, lyrical writing is like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

I loved all the characters so much - I even loved Luc. There's so much I could say about HIM. But I think this book is best to go into it without knowing much. Just do it.

I think one thing is for certain - I won't be forgetting Addie LaRue. Pre-ordered as I need this physically in my hands so I can read again.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and team Titan for this ARC.

4.5

To follow 300 years of a person's life in the span of 500 pages with the perfect amount of detail is impossible, right?

Wrong.

First off, Addie LaRue is not like other Schwab books. It's not this intense, action-packed historical/futuristic dystopian fantasy with hot, magical characters. It's slow in the best way. It takes its time to unravel a complex, tightly wound story of fate and free will. It's the intricacies in the relationships, the minute details of Addie's deal and her bond with Henry that keep you craving more. Schwab dangles hope in front of you and snatches it away whenever your heart is almost full with it.

There were moments where the book began to feel monotonous. Seeing Addie constantly visit different people and feel the pure devastation of being forgotten multiple times over felt a little too repetitive, hence not being able to give the book a full 5 stars. Yet, it has all the makings of the perfect novel. A geeky, bookish boy whose existence screams comfy sweaters, warm coffee and old, crisp book pages. A daring, self-assured girl who would do anything to survive. An antagonist who you love to hate, who dares to impose on the perfect relationship.

This book is definitely not for everyone -- I honestly didn't think it would be for me as I much prefer fast-paced action over slow-paced character studies. Still, Addie LaRue had me crying several times. There were so many avenues to explore: Addie's relationships with her father, Estelle, Henry and Luc. Each one was different, perfectly written in their entirety, the most prominent being her relationships with Henry and Luc and the ways in which they intertwined.

Luc is a character you truly love to hate. He's someone who you never truly root for, but whose presence in the story is so completely necessary. His devil-ness is what really shines a light on Henry's ability to love and see Addie. I'd be tempted to say the two are foils for one another. There are complexities in the relationships that Addie has with both characters, particularly in that you have to constantly question if you hate Luc -- do you hate him for doing exactly what was asked of him, for giving her exactly what she wanted? You absolutely do hate him... but part of you warms to him as a character, almost as if his non-existence would ruin the book. Without Luc, we wouldn't see the perfection that is Henry Strauss, surely?

I will say that I'm not bisexual, so I may have a very skewered idea of this. Nonetheless, I did genuinely think the representation of bisexuality and sexual fluidity in Addie LaRue was top tier. Schwab is very open in this book with bisexuality, not holding back from the social fear of presenting a bisexual character who has more than one romantic and/or sexual partner. She allows the characters to engage freely in relationships, regardless of the number, gender, or sexuality. She doesn't shy away from this idea that sex is a fluid thing that can evolve into so many different things -- pure desire, transactions, or your typical romance novel sex scene of love and emotion.

The first half of the book is a lot slower (in this already slow book) than the rest. When the book picks up around the halfway point, you start to feel this sense of dread. There's a sinking feeling in your chest when you learn the truth about certain characters, an 'oh no, I didn't see that coming' moment where you wish you could flick back through and find traces left behind that could have prepared you. I had to really sit there and prepare myself for the heartbreak that was inevitable... only for a completely different heartbreak to happen. Completely different, yet so much better than anything I could have conjured up as a writer. The second half is undoubtedly tenser, full of high stakes situations where the characters are ready to gamble in an all-or-nothing situation. These were the moments where I was speeding through, craving so much more information than I could possibly take in at any one moment.

I could go on and on about this book, but I won't. I will say that you shouldn't go into this expecting a Lila-Kell-esque relationship. In fact, don't go into this expecting anything. Just... experience it as it happens. Fall in love the way Addie falls in love. Experience her life the way she experiences it. Don't expect anything of or for her. It's not your typical adventure, but an adventure it absolutely is.

Content warnings: death, rape, attempted assault, abuse, loss of loved ones, substance abuse, depression, attempted suicide, mentions of cancer.

Thank you to Netgalley, V E Schwab and Titan Books for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Reading this book was a whole Experience™. An experience that was so beautifully crafted and written in a way that leaves readers in awe and budding writers questioning why they even bother.
Schwab truly has a talent for words and after reading this I'm not entirely sure she didn't sell her soul to the devil.
And if after reading this I have a crush on the devil (while also recognising he's a terrible and manipulative creature) then that's my business ...

Exquisite. I took my time reading this, as I often do with book that I adore, simply to absorb every letter in my blood. I can be quite short when it comes to this novel: superbly written, well fleshed-out characters, and a plotline to die for.

This is, by far, one of the most beautiful book I have ever read. It’s pure poetry for 448 pages. I adored every single book Victoria ever wrote, but you can feel the years of work this book took. It’s a masterpiece.

Everything is perfect: from the characters to their back stories, from the story itself and how everything evolves, from the writing style... Ah, the writing style. Every line is a quotable. If I could have highlighted the whole book, I would have.

I HIGHLY recommend it. It's for lovers and dreamers, those who make a wish on a star and those who sometimes want to be more than they already are.

Please read it. It's one of my new favourite books ever.

I had such high expectations for this book, and I’m so thrilled to now say that the book was just as incredible, even better, than I had hoped.

This book is about a girl who makes a deal to be free from her restricted life and live for as long as she wishes in exchange for her soul. The catch? She is forgotten by everyone she meets. The book charts her 300 year life, where you jump between her past narrative and her current life where, inexplicably, she meets someone who remembers her.

There are so few words to describe how wonderful a book like this is. I know I’ll carry it with me for a long time, and I loved it so much that I’ve already preordered a finished copy. Two of them, in fact.

Schwab’s writing is lyrical and so engaging that you’ll forget you’re reading a book, utterly enchanted by the world and characters she’s weaved. Unlike the other characters in this book, there is no chance that I’ll be forgetting Addie La Rue any time soon.

I absolutely adored this book, to the point that I'm considering getting a tattoo related to a quote from Henry (booksellers unite!).
I'd love to be involved in more promo for this book.
A full review is up on my website which I'll post to Amazon, goodreads, and Waterstones.

Thanks so much for letting me read this wonderful story! I've pre-ordered two copies of the book.

Imagine making a pact with the devil where in exchange for immortality, you will be cursed with always being forgotten. It sounds rather lonely to live forever with no one remembering you. This is what happens to Addie LaRue in the early 1700's. She travels throughout the world living like a ghost, touching so many people's lives only for them to not remember why or who impacted them so deeply. Her one companion in life is the devil she made the deal with who visits her every single year on the anniversary of their pact. And then, of course, everything changes when, one day, Addie meets someone who actually remembers her. This novel blends genres in such a brilliant way. You have literary fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, magical realism, and maybe even more. Schwab's writing is incredible and the world-building is detailed and creative. If you're looking for an original novel with excellent writing, this is the book for you! Highly recommended!

The first thing that is immediately evident about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is that V. E. Schwab has raised the bar on her writing. I am a huge fan of Schwab's books and I've read the majority of the 800 books she has published; some of them more than once and some I've attempted to read in different languages despite only being able to read English fluently. I have always enjoyed her writing style especially in her more speculative works like the Villains series and Monsters of Verity series. Schwab is a conceptual creative, in that I imagine a lot of her stories start out with her sitting down with a notebook and asking a 'what if?' question and then building characters and plot around that concept. This is probably the reason that some reviewers often say that they enjoy her ideas more than the execution of those ideas; the idea might be enough to draw a reader in but it's not going to carry them through the story if they don't get along with her writing style. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is very clearly a Schwab book, but elevated in all aspects.

The premise of Addie LaRue is grand in scale, we're following 300 years of a person's life and the blurb promises a 'dazzling adventure' whereas what we actually get is a lot of quiet and slow introspection about the nature of time and legacy. The reason I call out the blurb is because for the first third of this book I was a little bit bored. I was expecting a 'dazzling adventure' and I absolutely did not feel like I was getting that at all. Unless 'dazzling adventure' was supposed to be referring to the significant moments in Addie's long life being defined by the people that she had sexual relationships with (more on this later) or having the same conversation over and over with the "devil" that cursed her? If so, dazzled I was not. For the first third of this book I was hovering between 2 and 3 stars, and I was quite disappointed because this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. It was not until the second third that I felt my preconceived expectations start to dissolve and I began to adapt to the story I was actually getting. Addie's life was monotonous and repetitive for a big chunk of the book because she is experiencing the ennui of living forever, being forgotten by everyone she meets and being unable to leave her mark on the world... until she meets bookseller Henry and he says the words 'I remember you.'

From there the pacing does pick up, but it is unlikely that anyone will ever describe this as a fast paced book. It is still extremely slow paced even after the main plot kicks in, yet it is the intrigue of Addie's curse and her relationship with both Henry and the "devil" that keep you reading. In addition to that, Schwab's prose, as she unpacked the concepts of time and legacy, were particularly engaging; so much so that I was very eager to get to the 'conclusion' of her 'hypothesis.'

This book is not for the cynics. If you tend to sneer at character led stories where the focus is upon emotion, you will not enjoy this book. You'll likely view Addie and Henry's relationship as a montage of manic-pixie-dream-people doing random hipster cool things in New York whilst woeing-is-me their life choices. And, I say that as someone who thought this more than once because I can be a bit cynical but I also enjoy character led stories based upon emotion, what a dilemma! Despite the fact that I did have these thoughts, I also think it's a an unfair critique; it completely disregards the nuance of the story and misinterprets what the manic-pixie-dream archetype actually is. I had to forcibly disregard the cynical part of my brain whilst reading, which got easier as the story went on.

There were also many occasions where I felt like I was being overly analytical, especially when it came to the mechanics of the curse itself. I loved that we were slowly given more details about how the curse worked throughout the course of the story. Schwab is excellent at world building as if there are actual building blocks; you don't get the full picture until you reach the end. However, there were times when I found myself asking things like 'does she follow them to the bathroom so they don't forget her whilst they pee?' and 'what happens if they step through a threshold just before she steps through?' and 'do they only interact with her because they can see her? What if someone is visually impaired?' and 'what happens if someone looks away from her for a period of time does proximity cancel out sight?' and the list goes on. Some of the questions that I had were answered but oftentimes these answers raised more questions, or the questions themselves were throwing me out of the story. So I got to the point where I just decided that it didn't matter and went with it and I'm so glad I did because I got so much more enjoyment out of the story that way.

The final third of this book most resembles the story that I was expecting to get before I started reading. The atmosphere becomes more fraught and heady, the tension becomes more acute, and the stakes become unstoppable. By this point I had thrown out all of my earlier criticisms and I was fully invested. Where prior to the final act I would have said it was a bit of a slog to get there I now look at it like a journey. The desperation of the situation was palpable and thrilling. I cried a lot. Would I have preferred this kind of intensity throughout the whole book? Maybe. But, I think that would detract away from the impact of the final act and also force the book to be something that it is not.

One thing that I'll be thinking about a lot when it comes to this book is the exploration of sexuality, both sexual fluidity and the act of sex itself. Schwab's representation of cis allo bisexuality was really well done. I think there is sometimes a bit of trepidation with showing bisexual people having a lot of sex with multiple different people through fear of playing into the bisexual greed stereotype, but Schwab is extremely respectful and truthful about bisexuality, whilst also not shying away from how sometimes sex can just be sex or it can be a transaction where one party consents to the act in order to receive something in return or it can be about emotion and love. Addie uses her sexuality in various ways throughout the book, to the point where you could probably write a full dissertation about it - especially when it comes to the way in which sexual experiences have defined certain parts of her life.

This seems like a really negative five star review but I'm hoping it will be helpful to people who might be tempted to DNF this book early on. My advice is to try and rid yourself of any expectations relating to 'dazzling adventures' or 'a girl in love with the devil that cursed her.' Read this book when you're feeling a bit decadent, read this book when you're feeling like you want to get lost in the woods and think about life, read this book when you're panicking about getting older, read this book when you need creative motivation. Whatever you do, read this book to the end.