Reviews with content warning for Cursing - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

I feel like this novel is a modern classic. The writing is absolutely spectacular and the details are immense. The story is so unique, following the highs and lows of Addie's life. I felt a million emotions at once, especially at the climax of the story. My heart broke and was repaired all at once!

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grayvie's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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midwifereading's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall, it's beautifully written, descriptive, intriguing, and fascinating story. I had a hard time putting it down, and probably could have read it in one sitting had I had the opportunity.

I loved the characters, except Luc. We hate Luc. And I love a good bad guy that lets me hate him. It feels good to hate evil.

As for Addie, I love her. Her flawed, insecure, born-in-the-wrong-century, creative, and stubborn personality resonates with me in some ways. She and I are in no way truly alike, but her desire to be like a tree, planted firmly, and making a mark on the landscape, resonates profoundly. She's frustrating at times, but that's okay -- even that ignites compassion.

And Henry? Poor kiddo! (Yes, he's 28, but still...) What a beautiful soul, who needed some good therapy, and found love instead. Love him, and the way he enables Addie to make a mark through more than just her seven freckles. He's a good guy with some deep struggles, and he and Addie belong together.

That said...

**taps mic**
THIS BOOK GAVE ME FEELINGS!

Very, very mixed feelings. The premise is intriguing, and I found myself waiting for Addie to claim victory over the darkness, but that never happens, and I just...😭😳☹️😡

As soon as Henry says, "I remember you," and everything changes, I got so excited, eager to see how they would work together to find salvation from their respective deals and live happily ever after. But that's not what happens.

The ending is rather poetic and romantic, and is neither fully happy, nor fully sad. It's hopeful and depressing at the same time. It's not even an ending, per se. It's open, and up for debate, but the implications seem to point in one direction that makes me a bit furious at the darkness. I'm not entirely satisfied with the ending. I don't think I'm supposed to be. So, Schwab accomplished her goal, I suppose.

One weird note: Schwab really likes the word "tangled." It's all over the place. Everywhere. Hands, limbs, sheets, clothes... it's all "tangled." Not a complaint, but also not NOT a complaint. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Content notes: There is some mild spice. Nothing graphic, explicit, or gratuitous. But I tend to skim those passages for personal reasons. There's also some swearing, but it's scattered, and totally appropriate when it's used. There is also a suicide attempt, and addiction is dealt with.

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letters_from_gabriella's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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hdoomk's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

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inkysplodge's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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kelly_e's review

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 6, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Imaginative • Quiet • Tragic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

💭 T H O U G H T S

It's quite possible I am the last person to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, as this book took Bookstagram by storm upon release. Personally, I was glad some of the hype had receded, as it afforded me the opportunity to go at my own pace and develop my own thoughts and feelings free of being bombarded with reviews and hype. And to be quite honest, the whole experience was rather dizzying and don't exactly know how I ended up feeling.

On the one hand, V.E. Schwab's writing was mesmerizing, atmospheric, and haunting. Although I didn't always know what was going on, I was transported into the story so vividly. Addie, herself, is a fairly unlikeable character, yet I could find myself empathizing with the why. There's such a strength in what this unique and clever story attempted to do.

Yet on the other hand, because of the structurally necessary repetitive descriptions I was never compelled to keep reading. I never found myself thinking about the narrative or characters when I wasn't reading. It lacked a depth I craved so badly. This sense of detachment made it feel longer than it actually is.

And finally, I found myself completely satisfied with the ending, meaning I finished on a high note and that's kind of what I focus on when I think back to my time with Addie. Taken in pieces, there are a lot of mixed feelings, yet it is a real testament to making the most of the time we have.

I do certainly understand why The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is beloved by so many. It's such a unique and fascinating idea, yet for me the reading experience was tedious. I am not sure I have been convinced to explore more of V.E. Schwab's work, but you just never know.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife
• readers who like unique stories

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

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

"Live long enough, and you learn how to read a person. To ease them open like a book, some passages underlined and others hidden between the lines."

"And perhaps it is just that happiness is frightening."

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