This book was an excellent read! The first part about Addie was relatable. Her dreams of more than what she has in front of her reminded me of Lila from Shades of Magic. I can relate to wanting more time to experience and see more of the world like Addie. It's amazing to experience so much history in that amount of time. It's definitely true that it seems like we blink and then 20 years have passed by. The years in winter Paris sounds less glam than I thought. I love the meaning of life in this story and so I read it slowly and devour every word. The rules to men vs women in Paris of 1724 was fascinating to read.
"Blink, and you're halfway through school, paralyzed by the idea that whatever you choose to do, it means choosing not to do a hundred other things." p225
This book started in France, 1714 where Addie was running away from home without looking back. Then the story began, in current year, 2014 in NYC, told in the third person point of view following Adeline aka Addie, 23. She has been 23 for around 300 years. She had a one night stand with a guy named Toby but in the morning he didn't remember anything about her or how they met. She said it's been like that every time even though she had been getting to know Toby for weeks. Same thing happened when she went shopping and the sales clerk forget who she was as soon as she's out of her sight. Then alternating back to before, in France starting in summer of 1698, when Adeline was 7 hanging out with her dad while he did woodworking. The story then jumped to Adeline at age 12 then later at 16 and on. She dreamed of places far away from the edge of her small village and even conjured up an ideal boyfriend. An old woman in town told her about praying to the old gods, but beware of the ones who answered after dark. She has been praying to keep herself free from the boys in town. Until one day when she's 23 and time is running out and she has to turn to the gods after dark for help, but she didn't expect THAT to happened. The second view was Henry, 29, NYC 2014. Henry was different from all of the other people. He gave Addie something she seeks. The story also went back to the past to give Henry's background. This book was divided into 7 parts.
"Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end, everyone wants to be remembered." p351.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was very well written and thought provoking. Every chapter was an ache to wait because the story continued after the next chapter. These secret places in NYC amazes me. I wish I can go to one. There were pros and cons to Addie's life. I liked that she can redo to make a better first impression. I also liked that she got to experience many things. The book exposed to me how Addie experience - she stayed active and often on the move. Reading Henry's story with his family reminded me to be positive with mine and to be less critical and to offer more compliments. I like how Addie likes to explore new places even though she doesn't have a companion. I'm nervous to go anywhere alone especially exploring a new place because I'm afraid to get lost. Not only that but I don't go to the movie theater alone either. The ending was great and the mind games against the god after dark seems exhausting to me. I like how Addie figure out how to leave a mark of herself for others to remember her by. This story is unlike anything I have read and I highly recommend everyone to read it.

*I received an ebook copy through Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. A huge thank you to them and to Tor Publishing for putting up with my endless requests for this book giving me this opportunity to read it!

It’s been a week since I’ve finished reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. (Victoria) Schwab and so far I’ve spent each day wondering how the hell I could possibly manage to put together the words I need to properly express everything I felt upon turning the final page.

This book was the most anticipated book of this year for me. Seriously. I have four different editions coming in the mail and I’m still worried I missed out on one (beautiful Forbidden Planet edition, I regret not buying thee). If you’ve been following my Instagram feed, you’ll likely have seen all my posts about how much I adore Victoria Schwab’s writing, down to the point where I have an As Travars tattoo done in Schwab’s handwriting on my arm.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a beautifully written book about Adeline LaRue, a young woman living in a small village in 17th century France. While the people in her village spend their entire lives there, living and dying within village limits, Adeline longs for more. As the years fly by, she starts to feel more and more trapped due to gender constraints, before an arranged marriage becomes a tipping point for her. She flees into the forest on her wedding day and meets a god of darkness and shadows. With him she makes a bargain, immortality and freedom in exchange for giving up her soul when she is done experiencing what the world has to offer. However, the bargain quickly becomes a curse as she soon finds out that while she is immortal, people are not able to remember who she is, nor is she able to tell anyone her name, or leave any sort of lasting mark on the world. The story follows Addie as she spends 300 years being forgotten by everyone she meets, until she comes across a young man in New York who remembers her the next time they meet.

Most chapters are focused on Addie’s encounters, switching between 2014 and the years leading up to it. About halfway through, Henry’s story is added into the mix and the story splits between Addie’s quest to leave a mark on the world and Henry’s search for happiness. I really felt that each character was perfectly written and the relationships between them felt so real because they weren’t completely perfect. It was especially fascinating for me to see how the relationship between Addie and the being (who Addie calls Luc) evolves over the years. Luc is the only constant in her life, as well as the only being who remembers her and knows her story. As the years progress and Addie better understands her curse and her curse giver, Luc, the power dynamic between them starts to shift.

This book took me on a tour of every single emotion and definitely left me a sobbing mess by the end. I’m not the most attentive reader (I’m guilty of reading too quickly and unintentionally missing things), but with Addie, I clung to every single sentence, giving myself time to properly absorb the impact of each sentence. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue re-ignited my love of travel and helped make my 2020 a little easier by living vicariously through Addie’s travels. This is a book is a stunning homage to art and travel and will definitely be keep in a special part in my heart!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is available at all major book retailers. I definitely think you need to drop what you’re reading and grab yourself a copy if you haven’t already! I’m so excited to receive my copies and will definitely be posting a quick blog post with them once they all arrive.

"I remember you."

I have never sobbed so much at those 3 small words. Schwab has -again- created a masterpiece of brilliance.

Heartbreaking, hopeful, twisty, and manipulative.

Addie LaRue is the girl we all need. Henry is the boy we all overlook. Luc is the wish we never dare say. These three characters weave a story that enraptures you from start to finish.

While the beginning is slow, it layers Addie onto us, bit by bit, allowing us to experience the pain she feels, the desperation, the desire. Enjoy that slow meandering pace, as Schwab throws us into a world of nothingness - and everything.

Schwab uses her words, and Addie's wish, to show us how women have influenced and shaped history, though they never get the acknowledgement they deserve.

"Never pray to the gods that answer after dark."

While I sit and think about the aftermath of Addie's wish, I can only smile, and fondly remember the girl who shaped history.

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy of this book, all options are my own.

Sadly, this one wasn't for me. 🥺
Let me start by saying that the writing style is absolutely beautiful, lush, exquisite and I love it, I've highlighted so many quotes! Words flow so naturally on the page, and every sentence makes you think about life, meaning of life, meaning of the relationship.
I thought the mythology behind the story was very interesting and I loved that the main character is such a feminist and didn't want to be just someone's wife. She knew what she wanted and she wanted to be free. Same like a lot of us, we want to do what we want and don't be judged for it! And Addie did just that, she lived her life the way she wanted or so she thought ...
It was interesting to see how she coped with her new life and how she found the ways to survive.
But unfortunately after a while it got boring... The jumping between the timelines didn't help that either. I just felt like it could have been a bit more fast paced. It's just my own personal preference but I like more action. And it was just like reading about her life that was interesting but also very uneventful?
And then of course, there is romance and it was very odd and not for me.
Overall, it's a beautifully written story that just was a bit too boring for me. At one point I forgot I was reading this book and that's not a good sign.

This is one of those books that I think will stay with me long after I read it — just like the readers of the book within the book, Addie feels like someone I knew and I want to remember her. I have to commend Schwab for writing this book as that in itself seems like a task — how do you write a book about someone who everyone immediately forgets the moment she leaves a room? How do you make a character like that create an impact? And the biggest challenge of all would be to give her a life without plot holes — I think it was pure genius not allowing Addie to put down any roots, because the technicalities of that would have been hard to maneuver. The only thing I didn’t love about this one is the flat characters — while I realize Addie would be unable to be a well-rounded person given her situation, it’s astonishing to me that after over 300 years, she doesn’t seem to have picked up any hobbies or dominant personality traits. She essentially is just a girl with freckles who likes to explore her sexuality. The same goes for Henry; he runs a bookstore because it’s the easy route, he mourns his ex-fiancé and then immediately starts mourning his old life. For someone passionate enough to kill himself over love, you’d think that he would have a very strong personality. Furthermore, it would have been lovely to see the impact that his curse has on his anxiety and depression. This would have been a five star read for me if the characters had more depth, but I’m still giving it 4 stars because I think the premise was extremely original. The writing was lovely and I was really drawn into the story, regardless of the characters. I was a little bored in the past timelines but I can understand it was less about the time period and more about Addie’s constant struggle. The bottom line is that regardless of it’s faults, Addie made an impact large enough to make her feel real.

I had a hard time getting into it at first. It is not the book's fault but my own; I am not the biggest fan of romance stories. I started really getting into it once the supernatural elements started trickling in, which hooked me. The writing is very beautiful and the book is so complex and layered with great character building. I loved the intertwining time periods and storylines. Ultimately it was heartbreaking and wonderful and hard to put down.

Deja vu. Deja su. Deja vecu.
Already seen. Already known. Already lived.


I first got the ARC of this months ago at the beginning of lockdown and while I love (LOVE LOVE) everything that Schwab writes, I had trouble speaking to it because I was feeling isolated and this story is a heartbreakingly deep look at a woman who goes through life seeing it through a film of complete isolation. Across centuries. Now, the world is not so scary, I have adjusted to isolation and the lockdown (not as severe ) as we battle our second wave is matched with gorgeous autumn colours and candlelight and atmosphere and I was ready to visit Addie again. One thing that always strikes me about VE Schwab is her endless, relentless passionate and engaging imagination. I wonder what it must be like to live in her brain where all of these dimensional worlds and marvelous characters must speak to her again and again.


There are many brush strokes here that recall my favourite work of hers ( The Shades of Magic trilogy) but also a joyful hope that spins through Addie's singular existence: doom to wander unremembered in exchange for a Faustian bargain to maintain her independence. It is a more mature work in ways and a more gut-wrenching one.


This is a love story and there are shadowy moments that recall the wonderful Keturah and Lord Death.


The imagery and thematic resonance make this a perfect bookclub pick and for those who are not accustomed to trying fantasy, think of this as without genre: a darkly, intricately woven historical with a fantastical twist more in the Shakespearian vein than, say, the Tolkien.


I sensed tenets of one of the book's major spoilers before it happened but it was the journey that got me there that made it worth while....

"Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives-- or to find strength in a very long one."


The book ends with a torturously sly wink and we are left in Addie's palm as she conquers knew worlds and remembers her life independent of connection except in moments fleeing and finite and fine.


And then of course, there are Henry and Luc...


And Addie's eventual recognition that even an unremembered life can leave an indelible print on history.


Thank you to Netgalley for the copy

This is more than a book. It is an experience and the less you know about it in many ways, the better.


(also shared on twitter, insta and fb)

Addie LaRue was born in late 17th century France, and at the age of 23, she makes a deal with an old god: she will live forever, untied to any human, and in return will give her soul to the god. Her terms were not specific enough, however, and she finds out that the god has taken some liberties to give her complete freedom, ensuring that nobody will remember meeting her, and nobody will hear her name or her story. She spends 300 years on Earth, determined to live as fully as she can and refusing to surrender to the old god's demands for her soul, leading her to 2014, when she meets Henry Strauss--the first person to remember her, the first person who hears her name, in three centuries.

The writing is absolutely stunning, as I've come to expect from V.E. Schwab. It's lyrical and descriptive and so emotional, and this book is beautiful to read. The plot is amazing, intricately and lovingly constructed, and it felt incredibly fresh and original. Addie and Henry are so lovable, and deeply human and flawed and generous. The story builds, slowly but surely, and by the time I was a third of the way in I couldn't stop thinking about Addie's story.

I saw marketing for this book that calls it a "romance" - I have to strongly disagree. There is a romance plot that is a major storyline, but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue doesn't have a happily-ever-after (the major criteria of the genre). It's a gorgeous read, but it's not a romance.

Wow! Just wow! This was an amazing read! It started out slow, the style of writing took a while to catch my interest, jumping from far in the past to the present day. I grew to love Addie, to fear for her life and feel her many changing emotions. It's a book unlike any I have read before with a welcome twist near the middle that made me glad I had kept reading. I came to a point where I wanted to set it down, but only because I did not want it to end and then near the end I couldn't read fast enough to see what would happen! Would I want to live Addie's life? No, but I can understand the choice she made in the beginning. This was a truly interesting book! I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of their favorite genre. It's just that good!

A deal is a deal. Three hundred years ago, Adaline LaRue has been walking the earth leaving no mark and no memory of her existence. She comes across people who only remember her for a moment in time until someone remembers her. Filled with fantasy and romance, V.E. Schwab writes a story about a female who fears about living an unlived life and makes a deal that has its drawbacks. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue opens the reader to the idea that it is important to experience life, not fear it. Perfect for fans of Life After Life and The Time Traveler’s Wife.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much. I don't read many adult novels (I spend most of my time in the land of MG and YA), so I was slightly hesitant to take on something that was a bit heftier. But my goodness was this worth it. I SAVORED every minute of this. The writing was beyond words, and Addie is now one of my new favorite heroines in all of literature. Fans of fantasy and magical-realism will no doubt enjoy this one and it has me definitely looking up all of Schwab's other works.

Adeline LaRue was born in a small village in France in the 1600s. She grows up and hopes that she has managed to escape the fact that she is a woman, meant to be wed and bred. As time passes, it seems to be OK, until one day it isn't. She is to be married and on her wedding day, she flees. As she runs, the darkness of night approaching, she prays to every god she has heard of, old or new. And she forgets the most important lesson: never pray to the ones that answer after dark.

When she meets him, the darkness himself, he agrees to a trade: her soul, when she chooses to give it up to him, in return for a life of freedom without being tied to anyone. Of course, as all deals go, there are unintended consequences: no one remembers Adeline as soon as she leaves them and she is unable to leave her mark on anything. For 300 years she has been living like this, until she meets Henry. And now nothing will be ever be the same.

Because he remembers.

Highly recommend this one folks. Do yourself a favor and get a copy.

5/5 Stars

I will never truly be able to find the right words to encapsulate and explain the transformative power of V.E. Schwab's writing and the brilliance of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue but nevertheless I am here to try. The scope of this novel is extraordinary as it spans over 300 years and delves deep into a long list of emotionally heavy topics.

The premise of girl makes a Faustian bargain drew me in but it was the atmospheric and lush storytelling that kept me turning the pages. V.E. Schwab excels at writing characters that will resonate and I think this is her finest work to date. Some readers might struggle with the early pacing or how the story ends but honestly it was perfection.

Addie is a dreamer with the crushing weight of forever now strapped to her back while many readers will connect with Henry's lost and lonely persona. Luc, on the other hand, is powerful and controlling; a god that should never be prayed to after dark. Watching their stories wind and unwind was fascinating and left me reeling.

This is a book about leaving a mark on the world and being remembered. It's about yearning for more; seeking and pursuing. An exploration of art and storytelling and the importance of creating and inspiring others. It's also about mental health and I'm sure it will resonate with many because wow did it hit hard for me.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will take you on a journey. An emotional and beautiful story spanning years and continents. It's personal and will leave an indelible mark on your heart. While I recommend anything and everything V.E. Schwab writes, as a standalone this book seems like the perfect starting point for those new to her work.

What I liked...
» I'm a huge V.E. Schwab fan.  I've loved both adult book series shes written - Darker Shade of Magic series & her Villians series.  Addie LaRue felt very different from her previous adult books.  While her previous books felt more plot heavy, this one is definitely a more character driven story.

» Spanning 300 years, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue takes us on Addie's journey from 1714 France to 2015 New York City.   I love a good fantasy book with a historical setting, so I really enjoyed watching Addie's adventures, and misadventures, over the course of her life.  HOWEVER if historical fiction is not your thing, do not let that deter you from reading Addie LaRue - the bulk of the story takes place in 2015, with flashbacks of Addie's past life in alternating chapters.

» I'm a big fan of Schwab's descriptive & lush writing style.  Schwab's writing style, paired with the atmospheric tone, made for a hauntingly beautiful reading experience.  This is the perfect book to pick up in the fall or during the colder months.

» Addie LaRue is a slow burn type of story, so if you are looking for action packed and quick paced, you are not going to find it here.  However, if you are in the mood for a beautiful story of resilience, love, and sacrifice, give Addie LaRue a try.

» Typical for a V.E. Schwab book, the characters are morally grey - not completely good nor completely bad.  These characters are complex and multifaceted.

» I could see some people not being fans of the ending, but I felt like it suited the story perfectly.  Schwab loves to leave things a little messy at the end of her stories, and she also likes to leave some things up to the reader's imagination.

» I loved all the representation here - many different characters on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.  The best part is that the fact these characters are queer is simply matter-of-fact, and not any type of plot point.

» This book has great YA to adult crossover appeal.  I feel like this book will appeal to those YA readers that are starting to branch into adult books.

What I didn't like...
» I found Luc to be a particularly fascinating character and would have liked to see more from him... Possibly some chapters told from his perspective?

› Recommended to ⇒ fans of darker & atmospheric reads

› If you liked this book, try ⇒ The Night Circus by Erin Morgernstern

*Big thanks to Tor Books for providing me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Reading this book felt like a warm blanket, a comforting hug, and falling into the familiar. I love V.E. Schwab's writing, it is lyrical and magical. This book was beautiful. Schwab manages to capture our heart and hold it in her hands. She nurtures it and cares for it, and then she sends you back out into the world. You are left looking out at the world and it feeling different then how you remembered it to be. But the world has not changed, you have. For your heart is a little heavy and you are curious as to how the world could create such wonder. There are tears in your eyes and you cannot decide if you are happy or sad, but you know that can never go back to how you once were. V.E. Schwab has said that this book was a labor of love, that it took years for her to write this story she held close to her heart. Now it has touched the hearts of all its readers.

(Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

This was probably my most-anticipated book of the year! Victoria Schwab is my favourite author, and I preordered this book as soon as I possibly could. I was therefore beyond thrilled to receive an e-ARC from Raincoast (thank you!!), and I couldn’t wait to settle in and read.

This is such an intriguing story, and from what Victoria has revealed about it over the years, I had really high expectations that I’m happy to say were exceeded!! This is a beautifully written and moving story about Addie, who wants a bigger life than what everyone else could see for her, and in a difficult moment, makes a bargain that she can’t take back.

While it was heartbreaking to read about Addie’s family no longer remembering her, and her inability to form relationships and friendships with people because of the deal she made, I loved reading about her journey through the centuries, the things she saw and the people she met, the experiences she had, and the way she learned to leave a mark through others.

I took my time reading this book because I wanted to really luxuriate in the writing, and because it was such a slow burn that I didn’t want to rush through it.

I’ve been thinking about Addie’s story since I finished reading, and I don’t have the words to adequately describe my love for this book and what I felt when I finished reading. I enjoyed it all, from start to finish (I particularly loved the ending), and learning that the book will be adapted as a film (written by Victoria!) was some of the best news I’ve heard all year!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is absolutely one of my favourite reads of the year, and I cannot recommend this amazing book enough!

Born in 1691, Addie LaRue knew she wanted something different from the typical womanly expectations of her time period. In an effort to escape what she never wanted for herself, she makes a deal with the devil without thinking of the possible risk. From that moment forward, she embarks on a 300 year journey of a lifetime where no one will remember who she is in exchange for her freedom.

Told in alternate timelines, Addie’s past and Addie’s present, the reader is revealing how Addie came to be this way at the same time that the reader is trying to decipher the current situation. This is a very slow, character-driven story, but I only made it to 54% before I finally called it quits. I knew going into this that it would be a slower read and I was okay with that. I even got to the “twist”, or at least what I thought would be the twist, and it picked up for a bit there. I immediately thought I had finally reached the part where I became interested. Sadly, it lost my interest not long after the plot twist and I was back wondering where this would go and how much time it would take to get there. I had already devoted a week to a book that just felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Finally, I decided to call it quits and devote my energy to a story that would hold my interest. Not every book is for every reader, even if it is a favorite author, and that has to be okay sometimes.

I loved Addie LaRue with my whole heart, its easily one of the best books of the year. Maybe even ever. The story of it all was so emotional, reading it felt this way too. It felt very personal, like I could tell it meant a lot to the author. I really enjoyed the time jumps from the different time periods of Addie's life, it was really cool to see how she had adapted to each one.

Honestly this book made me sob cry and I love it, I love it so much. It is devastatingly beautiful, the way it is written and I loved every wicked moment of it.

Addie LaRue feels as though time is running out. On the night of her wedding, she makes a deal with the devil which changes her life drastically. She will live forever, until she tires of her time on Earth and surrenders her soul. The catch: Everyone she interacts with, whether it be her mother and father, who have known her all her life, or the barista at the coffee shop... will not remember her. She spends 300 years wandering the world, feeling forgotten and unloved, until she meets a boy named Henry, and he remembers her.

I really enjoyed this story and the way it unfolded. The concept of being able to make a deal with a god, to change the course of your life is not a new one... but the execution of this tale was so well done. Its told in alternating timelines between 1714 to 2014, which I really liked! I loved Addie as the main character, and it was interesting to see younger Addie grow into the wiser, older Addie as time went on. I also loved how we got some chapters from Henry's perspective as well. The way V. E. Schwab wrote about his depression and feelings was exquisite. Luc was the most intriguing character to me and I wish that we were given more about him and his story. I also think the representation in this book was incredible. I believe that almost all of the characters in the book are queer in some way. I'm pretty sure both Addie and Henry are pan, which made my heart so happy to see on page. I loved the complex relationships in this not only between Henry and Addie, but also Addie and Luc. There was such a difficult power dynamic between the two, that had me so invested in their struggle.

Overall, a truly beautiful book, I highly recommend it.

To find a way, or make your own.”
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Magical. That’s the first word that comes to mind when thinking about The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. History, Art, Fantasy this story has a little bit of everything.
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The writing was brilliantly done and I hung on every word. The settings were just as much a part of the story as the main characters for me, each described with such detail. It created a perfect escape.

V.E. Schwab is the artist of a generation; with each new novel, I am lured into the dark realms of her imagination and so splendidly enraptured. Her writing will be commemorated by readers and critics for generations to come, I'm quite certain.
Her first stand-alone novel, as I understand it, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is shocking, whimsical, full of yearning, and quintessential reading, in my opinion.
While the prose is equally lyrical and striking, it must be noted that Schwab's gift for metaphor is beyond comparison. I've just not read anything like her work in ages.

Addie must be remembered; all our ghosts must be remembered, and their stories must be cataloged.
Synopsis: 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.

What I love so much about Schwab's writing is not only the elegance (or gruesomeness when the occasion calls for it) is her world-building. In each of her novels, and particularly in Addie with the non-linear timeline, setting and exposition are critical to later character and plot development, and Schwab executes these minute details with such precision. Truly a marvel. This novel is not to be missed.