The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

This is a great story, full of intrigue and imagination. Time loops and spirals, so if you like linear, chronological stories, it isn’t for you. But if you like time travel stories or dual time lines, you’ll like it. People given three wishes often ask for immortality, with their youth and health intact. But the devil (or is he?) always wins in the end. Addie just wants time, independence, and love. Make a deal with the devil (or is he?), the devil always wins in the end (or does he?) I really enjoyed this book. Fascinating story line and interesting characters, very well written. Lots of heart, too. No bad language, violence, or sex scenes. Suitable for mature teens and adults. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I rarely rate 5 stars for books, but this one is worth it.

I will say that Addie LaRue did not live a happy life. This was beautifully written. I thought it was beautiful to recount her life throughout the years. You see and feel her struggle. You feel her pain each time someone forgets her. I wanted to cry each time Addie meets someone and does not want the night to end. How lonely her immortality was for everyone to forget her name. She had no one for years. NO ONE! I did feel that Addie’s character did not learn anything from her mistakes. She had 300 years and she continues to make this deal with Luc. Like did you not learn from your first deal? The story was very repetitive, each time she meets with Luc they spend time together, she reminds herself she hates him, they dance around each other, and they repeat each year. I honestly don’t know if I like Luc or not. I felt their relationship was rushed. One minute he didn’t like her and then the next he tells her he loves her? When did that happen? Henry is like many of us, a lost soul still trying to figure out life. I felt so connected to him when reading his POV chapters. I wished there was more to his story. Overall, this really made me think about life and death. To enjoy life and live in the moment.

• This is a fantastic book that I highly enjoyed, despite the author’s love affair with commas. So many commas. Seriously. (If you're missing a comma, it's probably in this book.) Unless the author was getting paid by the comma, she could remove many of the unnecessary ones (e.g., the ones mid-clause) and no one would notice. But that’s about the only bad thing I can say about this book (and yes, I recognize it’s petty). It is a great read the first time through, and I suspect it will be even better on subsequent reads. • The rhythm of the author’s prose might take a little while to get into, but I found it hypnotic and suggestive of a time long past. Although it’s not written in first person, this hypnotic style of repeated phrases, long sentences with lots of parallelism, and just spot-on descriptions made it FEEL like Addie LaRue was talking to me directly about her incredible life. The prose is so well written that it's almost poetry. • The story puts a unique twist on the old theme of a Faustian bargain. Reminiscent of the phrase “Be careful what you ask for,” Addie is forced to deal with the aftershocks of an agreement made in haste. Her anguish is palpable, her decline gut-wrenching, her desire to be remembered, insatiable. You will ACHE and FEEL so much for this character by the time the story is over. The tension between Addie and the antagonist (Luc) is so exquisite, that you’ll find yourself holding your breath when he shows up, wondering what torture is in store for our heroine. Luc’s barbs are sharp, but the retorts and sarcasm Addie throws back at him eventually become just as keen and cutting. You will plead for her to get back up off the mat, and cheer for her successes, the limited few she scores. I can’t say enough good things about the plot and the author’s captivating writing style. • Some reviews have complained about the scenes being too brief. I respectfully disagree and found that plot device necessary to move through the many years of Addie’s life. Otherwise, the book would have been 1000 pages long. The author gives us just enough color and substance to fill out the scene, makes her point (which is typically about the conflict between Addie and Luc), and then moves on. At times, it was a breathless read for me, the style allowing me to devour many chapters before I looked up and realized I was late for an appointment! • From a historical aspect, I also enjoyed the book very much. I personally enjoy historical novels, alternative history dramas, and time travel stories. This book was a little light on the historical details for my tastes, but what the author provided makes perfect sense when you think about it. After all, would you necessarily KNOW a person would become famous or which art piece would become worth millions of dollars if you were living as a CONTEMPORARY with that person or artist? No, you would not. Thus, it is so for Addie LaRue. • This is not a time-travel story with knowledge brought into the present from some time in the future. Instead, it is a wonderful story that explores the psychological weight of living much longer than others around you, and in Addie’s particular curse, how she maneuvers through many societies that will only ever interact with her on a purely superficial level. Like the classical character Sisyphus, Addie LaRue bears the weight of trying again and again, only to fail repeatedly… until she doesn’t. • Since my reading time is limited, there are very few books I would go back and re-read. This is one such book.

This book absolutely blew my mind! I wish I hadn't put off reading it as long as I did. 5 stars- I would give 6 if I could. It's giving Age of Adeline but without Blake Lively's annoying voice and with much more magical elements. Without giving too much away, this story will make you contemplate life, legacy, love, and sacrifice. The ending had me crying... then screaming... then bawling... and then finally laughing hysterically because of how much it threw me for a loop. If you love history, character development and just the right amount of romance without being mushy- this is for you! Really though everyone should just read it for the sheer intrigue it brought to my brain. Do read the trigger warnings as there is mention of violence, sex, demons (or something like it), and other adult topics.

When the highly talented V. E. Schwab writes a standalone novel like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, it garners instant attention. I read the 442 page physical book, wanting to get lost in this novel. Unfortunately, it is a mixed bag. On the plus side, the premise is wonderful and the theme Schwab pairs with it is delightful. Some have criticized Schwab’s style as she departs from more conventional prose to a lyrical way of relating the story. For me, it works and puts the reader in Addie’s head. The historical fiction element of the story is well-researched. Many readers will likely get lost in Schwab’s voice as they live life through Addie’s eyes. However, I found the plot dragging with too much back story, not advancing to the back jacket’s description for over 100 pages. And then, the author decides to delve into the past of a secondary character halfway through the book, repeating the issue at the start. And a twist of Addie’s character at the end didn’t ring true to this reviewer. I believe many will find The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue a delightful read. My rating reflects the creative idea, the beautiful style, and the solid ending.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a favorite of my more recent reads. Its premise has an original aspect, the protagonist Addie Larue is sympathetic, there are intriguing twists to the story, and the prose is excellent. The basic premise of this magical realism book is an old one. Addie Larue sells her soul to the Devil, or a devil, or an old god, or maybe simply a magical being. It never is clear. From this initial start, the story is all original. Addie is a uniquely independent French girl, born 1691 in the provincial town of Villon-sur-Sarthe. She yearns for more than a life of bearing children and married subservience. She eludes that fate for some years, until it is decided she must be wed. On the wedding day she runs. About to be caught she meets a man, or an old god. She pleads with him, “I want a chance to live. I want to be free…I want more time.” He asks “How long?” She doesn’t know. He becomes frustrated, and explains that he deals in souls. He will wait for her soul, but not forever. She tells him, “…take my life when I am done with it. You can have my soul when I don’t want it anymore.” This is a deal the old god will do. Addie accepts, not realizing the old god has rigged the game in his favor. No one will ever remember Addie. She can knock on a door and have a conversation, but when the door closes and reopens, the person has no recollection of her. Even her mother and father don’t remember her being their daughter. This would make life impossible for most people, but Addie persists and finds a way to manage over the years without going insane. She seems to be immortal. I found it fascinating how she forges a life for herself. Periodically the old god visits her, hoping to take her soul. Their changing relationship over the centuries is an interesting subplot of the book. Finally, in New York in the present, she meets a man who remembers her. That leads to the climax of the book, although not necessarily the end of Addie’s story. Or maybe it is the end of her story. I don’t want to spoil the finale for you. Once I always finished a book once I started it. Now, I finish a minority of the books I start. I am a tough grader of books, but on a scale of one to five, I give this book a six.

Interesting story line with engaging characters. Loved the blips of history and mentions of different fashions throughout the years. Kept me reading the whole time and would recommend

V.E. Schwab’s *The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue* is a poignant and haunting exploration of immortality, identity, and the need to be remembered. This intricately woven narrative transports readers across centuries and continents, following the life of Adeline “Addie” LaRue, a young woman who makes a fateful deal with a dark God. With breathtaking prose and a story that lingers long after the final page, Schwab delivers a masterpiece that is as heartfelt as it is heart-wrenching. Set in 18th century France, Addie LaRue is a dreamer trapped in a world that offers little freedom for women. In a moment of desperation, faced with a marriage of convenience that threatens to snuff out her spirit, she prays to the gods for escape. But as warned by her mentor, Estele, one must never pray to the gods after dark. Ignoring this advice, Addie strikes a deal with a shadowy figure, granting her immortality but cursing her to a life where no one remembers her. She leaves no mark on the world—no written words, no artistic creations, no lasting connections. She is forgotten the moment she slips from a person’s sight. What follows is a journey of resilience and determination as Addie navigates the centuries, finding ways to leave an imprint on the world despite her curse. Her story takes an intriguing turn when, after 300 years of anonymity, she meets Henry Strauss, a man who, to her astonishment, remembers her. Their connection becomes a cornerstone of the novel, unraveling layers of emotion, mystery, and existential inquiry. The enigmatic antagonist, referred to as Luc or “the darkness,” is both Addie’s tormentor and her reluctant companion. He grants her wish with a sardonic cruelty, reveling in her struggles as he waits for her to surrender. Yet, there is a strange intimacy between the two. Luc is not a one-dimensional villain; he is charming, seductive, and occasionally vulnerable. He challenges Addie, pushing her to confront her fears and desires, making their dynamic one of the most compelling aspects of the novel. Henry is a character whose presence turns Addie’s world upside down. The first person to remember her in centuries, Henry carries his own burdens and secrets. His story interweaves with Addie’s, delving into themes of self-worth and the longing to be loved. Their relationship is tender and bittersweet, offering moments of solace and heartbreak as they navigate the complexities of their intertwined fates. The story is told in a multiple timeline narrative alternating between Addie and Henry’s pasts and the present. Schwab’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the nuances of emotion and the passage of time with elegance. The descriptions of Addie’s experiences, from the bustling streets of 18th century Paris to the modern-day cafes of New York, are immersive and atmospheric. Schwab has a gift for crafting sentences that resonate, lingering in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed. This is a novel that will stay with you, its echoes reverberating in your thoughts long after the final page. It is heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and, above all, unforgettable. Schwab has crafted a story that is as timeless as Addie herself, a testament to the enduring power of love, art, and the human desire to be seen. "I remember you" Addie LaRue.