⭐⭐⭐.5
300 years, a deal with the Devil gone awry & a romance at its heart, this book is quite atmospheric with beautiful writing but it's over-embellished at times & just feels tedious because of the slow pacing, too leisurely for my tastes. It's a compulsive read no doubt, as I want to know what is going to happen next but at times, I found my interest wavering. It is also an ambitious project, spanning over centuries, travelling over various continents and interweaving instances from history into the plot but in the end, it just falls a bit short.

As a person and an author, I really like Schwab, through her magnetic presence on social media but her books, no doubt beautiful and original, fall a bit short for me, compared to the hype. I believe ADSOM is a cult favourite and even her book Vicious is quite famous but I found them good, enjoyable and yet, overhyped.

Coming to Addie now, a book on my list for the past several months, I was quite excited for it. Addie makes a bargain with the Devil for freedom but is irreversibly cursed to forever roam the earth, forgotten by all, as soon as she fades from their sight.

“Because time is cruel to all, and crueler still to artists. Because visions weakens, and voices wither, and talent fades.... Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end... everyone wants to be remembered”

I liked the characters and would've loved to see more of them, instead of just Addie droning on all the time. I really liked Henry's PoV and would've loved to see his family and his relationship with them.

It is quite a delicious tale about loneliness, the want to be loved which ebbs and flows in its pacing, alternates between the past and the present but ultimately falls short for me. If you are more into character development and more of the feel of the story to spend a lazy afternoon, it might work for you. But if you are looking for something with an explosive plot and several twists and turns along with fast pacing, this might be not the one for you.

This book is a quiet yet expansive story of loss, love and life. It’s intricate in ways you can’t imagine before the experience of actually reading it. Feeling overly intimate at times, but perfectly so, I was tugged along through Addie’s unfortunate existence and I devoured every second.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a thought provoking melancholy read, and Schwab somehow uses her wonderful writing to get you questioning everything you’ve ever known and everything you will ever do. It is very different from anything I’ve ever read and I’m not saying that in a light-hearted way, it is unequivocally so far from anything else. If you have a need to contemplate life itself then this is the perfect book to get you there. My head is spinning with the both devastating and joyous feelings I had while reading this book, it is not something I will get over lightly. If you don’t like slow, long winded stories spanning years this isn’t the kind of book for you. But for me it was perfection in every way and I loved every single part of this weird and beautiful story!

My one request is that you do not go into this book looking for a story about a woman in love with the devil, because this isn’t that.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes it's impossible to write a review for truly unique books, and that's how I feel about Addie. It was such a great premise, with so many intriguing ideas, how would you live your life if no one could remember you?! What kind of problems does that present? If the only person who remembers you is the devil that cursed you, who do you resist forming an attachment? Addie LaRue explores all this and so very much more.

I loved the journey across time and seeing how Addie adjusted to all the advancements that have come in the 300 years her life has spanned. The settings of Paris, New York and a few other places left me with warm happy feelings, as I felt like I was walking those paths too.

Schwab's writing is lyrical and leads you to a sense of comfort, in spite of the difficult subject matters that are often explored. It honestly felt like getting a warm hug to read this book. I really liked the beautiful style she employs to tell her story, and it completely clicked with me. There are so many quotes that will stay with me, each page you come across a new one.

100% give Addie LaRue a chance, she's worth it for sure.

Addie LaRue is a young woman with a free and stubborn spirit. She’s a dreamer and wants to see what’s beyond her little village and her little life, but when she’s forced to marry and leave her freedom behind, she despairs and call on the gods that only answer after dark. This is one of the most interesting premises on fantasy I’ve seen this year, and I was very excited to pick this up! So far I’ve only read Vicious by this author and I loved it, and was curious to see how she fared with this dark, lyrical fantasy.

I will probably be in the minority when I say I was disappointed by this book, although I generally did enjoy it. The romance and the writing style reminded me of Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones, just not as charming or magical, and it’s possible that I had misplaced expectations on The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The writing style did not quite work for me: it tries to be poetic, fairy-tale-like, even timeless, but I just got exhausted by how it did not feel seamless at all. It just felt so overdone. The constant use of long, unnecessary metaphors got me impatient and the author uses repetition so often I found myself skipping a few lines.

“A dreamer,” scorns her mother.
“A dreamer,” mourns her father.
“A dreamer,” warns Estele.

I also did not connect with any of the characters except Addie – they all seemed so flat and a collection of stereotypes: Estele is a wise older woman who’s considered odd and eccentric and the only one who understands Addie; her father the gentle giant who teaches her things she shouldn’t know as a woman; her strict mother who disapproves of anything Addie does; and so on and so on. Addie also took a while for me to warm to, she felt so modern in the way she thinks and acts, and so dismissive of her friend’s love for family and motherhood.

However, the story is actually very interesting and it kept me turning pages – I read this book in one sitting, despite it being a hefty 450 pages. That, too, was a mixed experience for me because a lot of the story did not really go anywhere, it was just… things happening. But not necessarily driving the plot forward or bringing any sort of emotional impact for me. The ending, however, had me holding my breath – it was just really good. This is definitely one of V. E. Schwab’s strength, finishing the book with such a high note that you think “wow, this was an amazing read!”.

I also enjoyed the difficult and toxic relationship Addie developed with Luc, the dark entity who cursed her and the only one who remembers her. I am a bit biased here because I love a good story with dark, powerful entities and their difficult relationships with humans, so I was always going to enjoy that part of the story.

This was a mixed experience for me: the writing and characters mostly didn’t work for me but I eventually warmed up to Addie and even to Henry, a bit. The strongest part of this book for me was the plot and the ending, and V. E. Schwab’s imagination really impressed me! From what I’ve seen from other reviewers, I think if you’re a V. E. Schwab fan, you’ll love this, and for non-fans I’d say if you love character-centered stories and love the premise, you’ll probably like it. My issues seem to stem from my personal expectations and taste in books, and I’ve seen that most people really adored this book. However, if you’re nitty-picky about writing and generally tend towards literary fiction or emotionally devastating books, I don’t think it will work very well for you.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue tells Adeline's story, a young woman born in the 1700s in a small village in France. The night before her forced marriage, Addie flees in search of a new life. To achieve it, she forges a deal with a dark entity who gives her eternal life. But, in return, no one will ever remember who she is. This means Adeline can't form any meaningful and lasting relationships or own anything since she has nowhere to keep it safe.

The beginning is slow, and the ending is heartwrenching. Which is expected in a book that feels like literary fiction. However, the middle section is a disappointment. You alternate between present and past, with flashbacks to Addie's life. But while the present drags, the past seems too inconsequential and boring.

The best part about this story is the writing. I can't explain precisely why or how, but it's beautiful to read and savor. The chapters are short, which also helps by moving the story in a more dynamic way.

Speaking of the ending, it's perfect. It's bittersweet, but a happy ending was never on the cards. It was also the only time I felt hyped to continue to read, and when Addie finally becomes interesting. But, unfortunately, it was the end.

The author tries to go deep into who these characters are, but they don't resonate with me. Maybe it's because it took me a long time to read this book, which affected my overall experience.

🔸 Addie lives through wars, plagues, and technological advancements, but she's stuck almost as the same girl she was initially. She learned how to read and different languages, but with 300 years, her personality barely evolved. It's hard to describe her because there are no preeminent personality traits.

Although there are so many beautiful things to see in the world, Addie lives a life of pain. She falls in love, only to be forgotten the next day. But she never forgets anything. And seeing the lack of recognition in her parent's and friend's eyes is a wound that never heals.

🔸 Henry is annoying at times, but I relate with his journey through depression, feeling unworthy, and needing escapism from life.

🔸 Luc reminds me of the Darkling from Shadow & Bone. The aesthetic is super similar. He's a force of darkness that gives, but also takes when it's due. And you're set to hate him for going against Addie, but he's right. All of his contracts know from the start what their deal entails, and its consequences.

Look, I could detail what I liked or not in all the relationships in this book. However, I saw some alleged spoilers free book reviews that mentioned details about the relationships, and they destroyed some plot twists for me. So I'm going to very vaguely give my opinion

🔹 Addie and Henry come together out of necessity and lack of human connection elsewhere. But can it truly be considered affection if you're stuck with only one person in the world? This tainted everything I could have felt for their connection.

🔹 Addie and Luc have been fighting a silent war for centuries. Their relationship is messy and complicated, but it was not explored deeply enough. Again, it got exciting right at the end, but it was too late.

There are some unpopular opinions on this The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue book review, I know. And I'm sure a lot of people will pick up this book and love it. After all, it has an interesting premise, and it's beautifully written. But the characters and their relationships felt lacking to me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

What an exquisite book this was. Surprisingly for such an avid fantasy reader, this was my first V.E. Schwab book (though I do own The Near Witch, and it has been patiently waiting on my shelf for the moment in which the stars align and I decree that its time has come), and I was not disappointed. The concept is so fresh, yet so achingly familiar, like something you were told as a child.

The Plot

Adeline LaRue lives in a small village in France in the 1700s, and for the first 23 years of her life she is happy, and wishes to become like Estele, the old woman who has managed to live a life free of marriage, free to be wild. But her parents have other ideas, and on the night of her wedding, Adeline runs into the forest, pleading to whatever god can hear her to help, and it is the darkness itself that responds. She trades an eternity of freedom for her soul, whenever she is ready to give it up, and the darkness agrees. What she doesn’t realise until later are the terms he has set, the main one being that she has been erased from the memories of all who knew her, and anyone who meets her will forget her the moment she is out of their sight. The book then follows Addie through the three hundred years of her time on earth, jumping between the present (2014 New York City) and the past, starting in 1714 and moving forward to eventually collide with the present. Luc, the name she has given the darkness, haunts her on the anniversary of their deal, and their relationship plays out over the centuries, as Luc tries to push Addie to surrender her soul, and Addie tries to get Luc to release her. When Henry comes into the picture about halfway through the story, and he sees Addie and remembers, she is suddenly thrown into a semblance of normal life, and thinks that maybe, after all this time, she has found a flaw in Luc’s magic.

Thoughts

I don’t think any review I write could do justice to this book, because the way it is written shows such skill in storytelling and word use. Every sentence has a sort of poetry to it, and invokes clear images. I can clearly see the village Addie was born in, can see the long path that leads into the wider world, can see Paris in the days before the Revolution, Venice in sunlight, New York in its hundred’s of streets, corners, hidden shops, constant thrumming. V.E. Schwab really has a gift for words. And though the story itself, especially when the characters are in New York, feels very modern and has elements of urban fantasy, the book still has a fairytale quality, like it has been around a long time. As I said, achingly familiar.

There was a moment, about three quarters of the way through, where it felt like the book was dragging, since there was a lull in the action, but this may partly be due to the fact that I was reading it as an ebook and I couldn’t gage how far into the story I was, because soon after that things truly picked up and the tension – the growing threat of Luc’s presence – came crashing in and I could not put the book down until it was finished. The tension build up is done exquisitely through the use of short chapters, the shift between past and present, and the hints throughout Addie’s story that something happened between her and Luc that may still need to play out fully. This is the kind of book, though, that needs to be read without knowing too much of the plot to truly enjoy the unfolding of it, so I urge you to pick up the book, read it, and remember.

I don’t think I can express quite how happy I was to receive an eBook of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue back in August, and I devoured it as soon as I was approved. This book leapt high above my expectations, and this review is going to be more of an ode to V. E. Schwab and her writing.

This book is a masterclass in timing and world-building. The story moves back and forth through timelines weaving its way, but I never found myself lost or confused. The transitions in the book feel effortless, and the world-building is so sumptuous you’ll feel like you’re stood in Paris or New York side by side with Addie. The pace is admittedly slow but never drags, I’m usually all for fast paced action, but it moved along at exactly the right pace for the story being told. The book is, honestly, unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I cannot wait to read it again in hardback.

Addie herself is an incredibly compelling character, a girl born in the wrong time, so desperate to be free she makes a deal with the devil.

“I want a chance to live. I want to be free…I want more time.”

She’s left to live the life of someone unseen and is unable to have an impact on the world around her, I could physically feel her loneliness on the page. Addie has to learn to adjust her life around people forgetting her as soon as she disappears from their eye-line, it leads to so many challenges and its heart-breaking watching Addie learn to cope with this new world. The book is so, so, character driven, and Addie LaRue is the perfect protagonist, she’s intriguing and vulnerable only when she chooses to be, and I loved her.

The two male main characters, one a normal human man and the other a nameless entity of darkness, were also fantastic. Henry, our normal guy, is a lovable writer with his own fleshed out story-line that twists and turns with Addie’s. Luc, our initially nameless entity, is charming and intriguing pulling you in with his mystery, but the power dynamic is what’s truly interesting about them. The balance of power is very obviously tilted in Luc’s favour and Schwab never lets the reader forget it, just as you think Addie has the upper hand Luc will show his true power. It’s a darkly fascinating dynamic, and I found myself waiting for him to make an appearance in the story again.

There is honestly so much more I could say here; the book is so cleverly executed, and I don’t think I’ll ever read anything like it again. I am passionately in love with this prose, and V. E. Schwab has written an unforgettable book about a girl who’s always forgotten.

Recommend: If you’re a lover of a slow-burn character driven romance that spans three hundred years, then this is the book for you!

I am obviously in the minority here, as every single one of my bookish friends has adored this – but I did not. I found it perfectly alright, but never compulsive enough for me to neccessitate the book’s length. It took me a lot longer to read it than I had anticipated (I usually find Schwab’s books fast-paced and unputdownable).

Schwab tells her story of a girl who made a pact with a devil and got something in return she did not anticipate (as is usually the case with deals with devils): she becomes immortal and able to see more of the world than her birth town but at the same time she loses the ability to be remembered. Told in two time lines (past and present), Schwab chose a languid, description heavy approach that worked beautifully for other readers – I, however, vastly prefered the present time line without much direct interference of the devil, who was, ad nauseum, described in the past. I enjoyed the gradual unveiling of the limits of Addie’s pact and the way it influenced her over the centuries.

Addie is a typical Schwab heroine – and as such I often found her a bit difficult to root for. Especially in the past, she is incredibly dismissive of women who choose other paths in life – she seems to grow out of this tendency over the span of her long (long) life, but her air of “not like other girls” never lets up. Henry, on the other hand, I adored. I found his backstory incredibly moving and effective – I wish the book had focussed more on him and the present day timeline. Schwab’s obvious favourite character is Luc (the devil) who is vividly described and always the focus of the chapters he appears him. I found him neither convincing as a otherwordly character nor believable as a love interest. I often adore stories featuring gods, but I do like them to be more other and thought this was a missed opportunity for Schwab to use her imagination.

Content warnings: dubious consent, death of loved ones, assault, prostitution (half involuntary)

Addie, Addie, Addie where do I begin. It's no surprise to my regular readers that I have been excited for this book, it featured in my most anticipated books of the year. I'm a big Schwab fan and I think seeing how excited and nervous she was to release this only made me love it more. So you can imagine I squealed when I received an ARC.

I fell in love with Addie quickly, she's smart and wants to see the world, she wants more than to be a man she doesn't love's wife. While her decision to trade her soul in exchange for freedom to a god might not have been the smartest I understand it.

We follow Addie back and forth in her life. I was wondering how it would work, she'd be forgotten by everyone, how would she survive? What would it mean? How far did it go? All of my questions were answered and in a way I could believe.

I thought I loved Addie and then we met Henry. Can I just say that he's probably the closest I've come to wanting a 'book boyfriend'. He seems like a genuinely wonderful guy who has his own hang ups, his own issues but he's very real.

You can tell while reading this is a personal book, Scwab has recently written about coming out (you can read it here - I got emotional), there is LGBTQ rep that just naturally falls into the story. There's discussions of loneliness, depression, dreams, joy - it's all there.

The thing is that you don't read this book, you fall into it and live alongside the characters. You love and root for them. You care deeply about their happiness and what's going to happen to them. Also, while I won't say much about him the God that gives Addie the deal is a truly excellent character. I'm not usually drawn to bad guys but...well.

This is probably my favourite Schwab novel and ever since I read my ARC I've told everyone to pre-order a copy because it is absolutely incredible. I love it so much I've bought myself the USA cover and the Forbidden Planet signed edition - if I can get my hands on the Waterstones exclusive edition too.

It's not going to be a surprise that I gave this 5 stars. It's intelligent, beautiful and breathtaking. Victoria has spoken about this book for years and it was worth the wait. I cannot thank her, Tor and Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for review.

I am a huge fan of V.E.Schwab and genuinely feel this is her best book to date. I loved everything about it, the writing, the characters, the timelines, the supernatural element. My only quibble was with the ending. I didn't like that Addie ended up as such a cold and calculating person. I can't understand why it wasn't possible to give it a happy ending. An individual is perfectly capable of loving two people passionately and this would have been a good way to highlight that in much the same way as AG Howard writes her Splintered series. But all that aside, this was a fantastic book that will delight all of Victoria's fans.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was one of my most anticipated reads for 2020 and it did not disappoint. This book was so beautifully written, and I found myself sucked into the world that Schwab has created. This book just blew me away and it has become one of my all-time favourites. I cannot stop thinking about how brilliant it was and how attached I’ve become to these characters.

The character development in this book is amazing and I honestly loved watching Addie grow as a character and her journey along the way. Addie goes through so much within those 300 years but it has made her stronger and she has learnt to adapt to a life where no one remembers who she is. Henry was such an amazing character who stole my heart. I loved reading about his journey even if it did break my heart. Luc was such an intriguing character and I loved his role in the story. His relationship with Addie is so deep and so mysterious that I found myself needing more interaction between the two.

The premise of this book is simply amazing and magical. I haven’t read a book like this before and I honestly adored it. I loved reading the book from the perspective of both Addie and Henry as I felt this helped us connect more with the two characters. I also loved reading about Addie’s past and the struggles she faced.

This review will never be able to express the way I truly feel about this book. I feel like everyone needs to go read this book and go with Addie on this journey to making a mark on the world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

5 🌟 (or should I say seven?)

“...it is sad, of course, to forget.
But it is a lonely thing, to be forgotten.
To remember when no one else does.”

I always find myself at a loss for words when it comes to reviewing books I adore - how can I begin to explain (or justify) the amount of love I have for them? The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is no exception, in fact it's even harder. Such a masterpiece V.E. Schwab's written! I felt entirely removed from reality while reading it, the writing transporting me to another dimension.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is actually very different from Schwab's other books - where ADSOM made me dream of parallel Londons bathed in rich magic, and dark sorcery, this one is more of a "see the world through my eyes" experience. As Addie makes her way through the streets of a Paris I know, as she discovers New York and Italy, and other places I've been to —I felt nostalgia and melancholy, all the while yearning to go back and re-discover these places. V.E. Schwab describes with lyrical prose the terrible beauty of our world while adding subtle elements of magic into it. And more than world building - the magic of this book lies in Addie herself. I don't think I can explain how incredible her character is - Be prepared for 400 pages of beautifully written descriptions and thoughts and phrases that will resonate with your soul. I think I highlighted more than 50% of the book. It was that good.

I can only recommend you pick this one up - really, you won't regret it.

In a rural French village on a dank desperate night in 1714, a young woman makes a deal with darkness. She will live forever in freedom but be forgotten by everyone she meets. Across the centuries, Addie lives multiples lives across several cities and lovers but she just can’t find a way to make her mark on the world. Then in 2014, she meets Henry in a New York bookshop and somehow, he remembers her. In Schwab’s first stand-alone novel since her debut The Near Witch, she has somehow crammed an entire immortal life into one beautifully written book. It’s an epic, heartbreaking romance with a focus on the sadness of immortality and the curse of living between worlds. With Addie being bisexual and Henry being pansexual as well as plenty of gay side characters, it’s wonderfully inclusive and it comes complete with a dangerously beguiling villain. It quite possibly is a fantasy masterpiece.

V. E. Schwab is one of my favourite authors and while I haven’t read all of her back catalogue yet, I’ve loved every single one that I’ve read. Going into Addie LaRue I had the highest expectations and I already thought this was going to be a five star read. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue isn’t just a five star read though, it’s without a doubt my favourite book of 2020 and possibly my favourite book of all time. If you take one book recommendation from me it would be to pick this one up.

The story follows Adeline LaRue a young woman desperate to escape life planned out for her – a small village, marriage and children. In a desperate attempt to gain her freedom she sells her soul to be made immortal, however there’s a catch – Addie will live forever but she will be forgotten by everyone she meets. We follow Addie through her lifetime until almost three hundred years later when she meets a boy named Henry in a used bookshop, who remembers her name.

I’m not sure I have the words to convey how much I loved this book. V. E. Schwab has such a beautiful lyrical writing style and it shines in this story. I loved the two timelines of Addie in the present and Addie in the past. It’s quite a slow paced story, but it absolutely fits the tone and the atmosphere.

This truly is a brilliant story and part of the reason I think I loved it so much is because of the terrific protagonist Schwab has created. As you follow Addie you become so attached to her, it was fascinating seeing her grow as a character and adapt to her life as an immortal. She’s a clever and determined character and even when she thinks of giving up she still picks herself up and continues.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a compelling tale, full of love and heartbreak. It’s the perfect story to get lost in. There’s already been quite a lot of hype about this one but it is absolutely deserved. A magical tale from start to finish, I did not want this one to end and I cannot wait to see what V. E. Schwab does next.

This book was the best read of the year. The story and the writing style just made me fall in love with the characters.
There the “I am not like the other girl trope at the start of the book. I am not huge fan of that trope, but still read the book because the synopsis just was so different. And so i read the whole book and just couldn’t with the ending. The book is great so are the characters with their flaws and all.. The writing style of moving through the time period to get to know the story was so beautiful. This is one of the stories that i will always remember!!!!! Also we are getting movie for it soon so yay!!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue follows Adeline, ‘Addie’, Larue, born in 17th century France, who when faced with the prospect of marriage, prays to the Old Gods to help her find a way out.

The Old Gods don’t answer, but the Darkness does and it takes the form of a man who offers her a deal. Time and freedom in exchange for her soul. Addie renegotiates the deal, saying “you can have my soul when I don’t want it any more” and the Darkness accepts.

It’s only afterwards that Addie comes to realise the high price she paid. She doesn’t age and doesn’t ail, but no-one remembers her.

She can leave a room and when she re-enters everyone has forgotten her. She can meet with someone every day for a month, and although she gets to know them, they don’t get to know her because every day they meet her for the first time.

Until 300 years later, one person says “I remember you.”

Never have three words held more power in a story. There’s something timeless and incredibly poignant about the moment someone remembers Addie LaRue.

“I love you” are some of the most powerful words we can say, but in this moment, for Addie, “I remember you” holds more power.

In fact, this book really showcases the power words can hold. Not only in the sense of dialogue between characters, but also in Victoria’s writing style itself.

Schwab varies her narrative style depending on the genre and type of book she’s writing, but this is definitely some of the most masterful writing she’s produced. It’s beautiful, lyrical, and it feels like so much thought, gravitas, and care have gone into every sentence.

The plot and pacing start off slowly, but if you’ve read a lot of Victoria’s books, you’ll know that quite a few of them do. She’s said in interviews that most of her books begin slowly and then expand outwards, and the same is true here.

The slow pace comes from the one timeline and single POV. But because we know from the synopsis that she’ll make a deal and then meet someone who remembers her, the anticipation for these two scenes is huge.

It spurred me through the initial chapters, despite their slow start, and when these moments came around my heart was hammering in my chest.

Even though I knew what was going to happen (from the blurb), these scenes were tense and dramatic, and I couldn’t wait to see how they would play out. It’s a testament to the quality of an author’s writing if they can tell you about specific scenes in the plot, but still make you excited to read them.

Once we begin to get multiple timelines and another POV, the pacing increases and as the story begins to move more fluidly between past and present it fills the gaps in Addie’s story.

Addie is a dreamer and a survivor. She dreams of seeing more of the world than her small town, Villon, and fears spending the rest of her life living there as a housewife. She knows there’s nothing wrong with this path and sees her friend Isabelle find happiness and contentment doing this, but it’s not the path for Addie.

Fear of a living and dying in the same village and the desire to see more of the world push her to make the deal. And once the deal is done she becomes a survivor as well as a dreamer. She learns how to lie, steal, and act in the name of survival. She begins to lose her naivety, but she doesn’t lose her inherent goodness and she never stops marveling at the world.

Unlike Addie, Henry is not a dreamer. Or, he doesn’t seem that way at first. He’s a wandering soul, struggling to find his calling in life and he feels like he’s never enough for other people.

Never a good enough friend, never a good enough partner, never a good enough brother or son. He has depressive periods, which he describes as ‘storms’ rolling in, and he doesn’t quite know what he wants to for a job or a career.

Henry’s emotions really lift off the page and bleed into us. I found some of his scenes the most heart-breaking and I longed for him to find light in his dark moments.

Addie reminds Henry that there’s so much beauty and wonder in the world. He sees her, still finding wonder at new things after 300 years of living, and understands that he doesn’t have to carry the burden of his family’s high standards or society’s expectations any more. He simple has to be.

I loved Addie and Henry’s relationship because they form such a strong bond. They understand each other in the way no-one else does and their scenes at their fair and in the bookstore were enchanting.

Victoria Schwab one again illustrates the importance of names in her stories. Adeline becomes Addie when she leaves her old life behind, signalling a new beginning and a new name to match who she truly is.

But she can never say her own name because of the curse, so she calls herself a thousand different names. Until 300 years later, someone remembers her and calls her by her real name. Addie.

Something else that really struck me about this book is that all the main and secondary characters are queer. Addie says she’s attracted to people of any gender, Henry is bi, Bea is a lesbian, Robbie is gay, and Luc is likely pan (this is implied but not confirmed on page).

Queerness has a real presence in this story, which is wonderful. Even though it’s not the main theme of the book, it’s foregrounded in so many scenes that you couldn’t possibly ignore it.

I loved the way Addie is filled with layers. Layers of time and history. Layers of stories within stories. The structure of having a narrative within a narrative is incredibly clever and makes Addie seem even more real.

This story is a celebration of art and literature. It reminds us that books hold entire worlds and lives in them. Books can immortalise people and make us remember them in ways we otherwise might not have done. Addie is certainly immortalised in this novel, in more ways than one.

This novel is filled with existential questions. It asks us, is time more important than memory? Is one worth having without the other? If history will forget us, how do we make sure our lives counted for something?

Addie is destined to be forgotten by everyone, but she doesn’t let it stop her from trying to make mark. And Victoria promotes that idea throughout the narrative, that doing something good or important is still worthwhile, even if no-one will remember you for it.

I’ve never read a book like this. A book with so much emotion and magic folded into each page. A book that’s so beautifully written that my heart physically ached in certain scenes.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to call this a masterpiece because it’s unique in so many ways and transcends the boundaries of genre fiction. I rated this book 5 stars and I will always remember Addie.

Addie LaRue is story spanning over three hundred years, following a woman who makes a bargain with the devil to live forever--but at the cost of being forgotten by everyone whose path she crosses.

There are some themes I loved in this: the idea of unconscious influences on ideas and art; how literature and paintings and plays can outlast the lives of their creators; how humans are bound by the need to be acknowledged, if nothing else. V.E. Schwab's writing is deceptively simple, packing a punch and doing a lot of the heavy lifting in few words.

What got to me most was the depiction of Henry's mental health and his complicated relationship with his family. This really hit close for me, and was painful to read at times.

I'm sold. V.E. Schwab is a master of the written word.

Eloquent and masterful, she brings her imperfect characters to life with weavings of magic and beautiful metaphors. Each person (or being) is believable, with life experiences and attitudes that justify their actions and decisions. Their gradual development is captivating, and their journeys just as addictive.

I found myself rooting for stubborn, defiant Addie as soon as she tired of 18th century small-town life and began to dream of forging her own path. I empathised with Henry (the only human who remembers Addie) and his desperate, forced attempts to be enough for his peers. And I both loathed and longed for scenes involving Luc, the personified darkness with a trickster's mind and a jealous possessiveness over Addie.

Hope and wonder abound throughout this book, as you witness 300 years of history and art through the eyes of an awestruck adventurer. Through Addie's unforgettable tale, you are forced to consider the power of a name, the very human desire to create, and the myriad ways in which we leave marks on the world and the hearts of others.

My favourite release of 2020, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, is an enchanting and heartbreaking tale of one woman’s quest to be remembered in a world bound to forget her. Addie embarks a on a war of wits and will against the devil, fought across the battlefield of time.

The scope of the story is equal parts epic and intimate. Schwab masterfully glides through centuries of history, offering enough detail to ground each part of Addie’s story in time and place without bogging the story down in unnecessary exposition.

The prose is staggeringly beautiful. Entrancing, haunting and evocative. Schwab at her absolute best, bearing her soul through themes of love, loss, identity, time and memory.

The characterisation is rich and nuanced. Addie, Henry and Luc all spark off the page, as do all of the secondary characters. There’s plenty of queerness and representation in the cast that made me love this story all the more.

A sweeping epic of art and history, time and memory, love and war. Addie LaRue was everything I expected it to be and so much more. It’s a tale I will cherish forever and return to again and again over the years to come. I could give a book no higher compliment than that.

My thoughts: I was intrigued by this book from the moment I heard Victoria Schwab speak about it at a signing I attended at the beginning of last year. Once the book had been announced then later on, and I had read the blurb, I immediately wanted to read it. It sounds right up my street! I love books that span over a few years (or 300 in this case), and I wanted to know more.

The Characters: Let’s start with Adeline (Addie) LaRue. I liked Addie’s character and I did feel for her. She is made to be forgotten by everyone she meets, including her family, due to making a deal with the devil, which was heartbreaking. There was one moment when she returned to her home village (no spoilers) that was quite emotional. Addie was a likeable character to read about and I enjoyed her story. I loved the bond she formed with Henry, and how much she loved discovering new things after being around for 300 years! Henry was so lovely to read about. I loved the descriptions of the little bookshop that he worked in, it reminded me of one of my favourite bookshops so much. I loved Henry’s story too, how we saw bits and pieces of his life and didn’t fully know why he could remember Addie until the end. Again there were moments with Henry that were heartbreaking, but this review is 100% spoiler free! I found the Luc was an interesting character and I actually wish we had seen more of him at the beginning of the book. However I did like how we got more information about him by the end, and that it wasn’t all thrown at us at the start.

The Story: I really enjoyed the way this story played out. Initially I wasn’t sure about the jumping between the past and the present but I think this was done really well. This story was beautifully written. I loved the writing in this book so much, I think I highlighted quite a few lines when I was reading. The premise of the book was what drew me to it and I adored it. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, and one I won’t forget in a hurry. It’s the kind of book that you can curl up with on a dreary autumn day and get lost in.

Final thoughts: This book took me a month to finish but that was nothing to do with my enjoyment of it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn’t think that it was too slow at any point, I was just in a bit of a reading slump last month! I was worried that I wouldn’t actually finish it because of the slump, but I did and I still really enjoyed it. I’m definitely going to reread it, I probably next year now, as it was gorgeous. It’s a book you won’t forget in a hurry, you will, like Henry, remember Addie.

I gave this book 4.5/5 stars