"Were the instants of joy worth the stretches of sorrow?
Were the moments of beauty worth the years of pain?
And she turns her head, and looks at him, and says, "Always.""

I finished this book late last night and I am still processing it. This was a slow start for me but it got to a point when I could not put it down until I finished. This book had me feeling pretty much every emotion but sadness and melancholy were the ones that stayed with me, even though the ending is hopeful. This is a story about love, time, connection, loss, and most importantly, being remembered. It's about that longing we have to matter to someone, to leave our mark on the world, even if it's just one person, to love and be loved.

This book is so richly descriptive. V.E. Schwab transports the reader through 300 years of time, from little villages in France to modern day New York City. Every aspect of the story is intricately detailed from the clothing to the food to the locations. I could picture Addie's childhood village so perfectly in my head, could smell the woods, could feel the rain, heat and snow. I felt like I'd been transported through time and space while staying warm and comfortable at home. That's really the mark of a fantastic book - when you're truly able to escape into the world and the story because of the author's use of words.

There's so much more I wish I could say here but I don't want to give anything away. There is love and hope in this story but there is also loss and sadness. The ending of the story is not what I expected but it felt exactly right. It broke my heart a little as well. 300 years with Addie were not enough and I didn't want her story to end. Reading the last sentence felt like a loss for me because I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a must read.

Thank you to Tor Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review. Quote is taken from an ARC and is subject to change.

This book is amazing. It is so magical, and I can't find a better word to describe it. The pacing changed drastically about three quarters into the book, but it was done so well and was so necessary that I can't complain.

Firstly, thanks so much Tor and NetGalley for my copy! It was greatly appreciated, and gave me a wonderful moment of joy and exercise when I ran laps around my house in excitement.
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Before I get into my thoughts, something I took note of and was delighted by was the capitalization of Black when referring to Black people. There were a few times when Black wasn't capitalized that I figured was an error and will be corrected, but little things like that mean a lot coming from a Black reader as myself.
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On to my thoughts! While I ended up enjoying the book overall, there were definitely a few moments where I struggled. Many times we are reminded that there is no one on earth like Addie LaRue. She’s special and different and not like other girls and I can’t lie, I rolled my eyes a few times, but I got over it.

I also had a bit of trouble with the pacing, as we are, like Addie, in this for the long haul. We constantly go from past to present and a few times I wondered if we really needed to (we did, in the end, but why so much). Sometimes the hopelessness, the fleeting moments of joy tainted with underlying despair, the two steps forward, nine steps back journey Addie takes is tiring not just to her, but to us readers (at least for me it was), but Schwab has such an amazing way with words and I greatly enjoyed what came from the buildup. For a while, I wondered where this was going, but when we got there?

Ouch.

Actual 0-100.

I do wish we had a bit more time to make the romance more believable, as we got a good chunk of backstory where it could have been further developed. It was a little sudden as the hatred between the two is so intense. This seems like a lot of complaining but please rest assured, I enjoyed it. Addie LaRue is a book I had to be patient with, but when things picked up, THEY PICKED UP. I love a story about a woman who refuses to back down.

Cheers to another good read from Victoria Schwab!

I loved this book. This was such an interesting way to frame the "deal with the devil" idea. I particularly enjoyed the way the author played with timelines and dates to bring pieces of the story together. It didn't feel like I was being told a story but rather like I was uncovering something that already existed, bit by bit. Usually I find it jarring when an author switches settings so frequently but because the characters themselves were so well written, they provided the context and continuity to make the transitions feel natural.

This is the first V.E. Schwab book that I have read and I am so glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone to give this one a try. I will be reading more of V.E. Schwab in the future.
The invisible life of Addie Larue blew me away. I loved all the characters and the historical references as Addie had to navigate through as well as learning how to live with her new “life”. Even though I figured out a few of the twists It did not ruin the book for me. Funny enough I think I enjoyed her relationship with the antagonist than I did with her love interest.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a tough review for me. I went into this book with my expectations lowered, only because it's been a weird year for books and a lot of my favorites have let me down. I'm glad I did though, because this one... wasn't for me.

A lot of what I didn't like about this book essentially boils down to taste. I noticed right away that the writing style was beautiful, But pretty, flowery prose isn't something I enjoy very much of. And this book is absolutely full of it. Every sentence is quotable. For me, that takes away from a story, and instead of a few parts that really stand out as special, it all ends up blending together in my head.

I found myself getting bored, but forced myself to power through. That was probably a mistake on my part. I think this book would benefit greatly from being read slowly, over time. Maybe with gaps in between reading sessions. It's a book that should be savored, and maybe not read to be critical, but instead to just be swept up in the story.

I kept hoping that the ending would really hit me, that it would make me fall in love with Addie's story. But when I finished reading I only felt unsatisfied. I can see logically where this ending is going to hit home for a lot of readers, but it didn't for me. I think maybe I just don't fundamentally agree with the message of the book, legacy and being remembered are things that I never spare a thought for.

So see what I mean? All of the reason's I didn't enjoy this book are reasons that someone else is going to love it. And that's the beauty of stories, there are ones out there for all of us. This book is beautiful, elegant, and one of the most heartfelt stories I've ever read. I hope that so many other readers who need it find it and fall in love with it.

Unfortunately I had to stop reading this book about a quarter of the way through because it triggered my anxiety; I love V.E. Schwab and this is a beautifully written book that I hope to return to eventually. Addie makes what amounts to a deal with the devil in 18th century France - she wants to get out of an arranged marriage and she wants to live forever. The unexpected result is that, while she does achieve immortality, no one can remember her. So if she leaves the room and comes back, the person she was with has no memory of her. I’m not sure why but this made me extremely anxious to the point that I had to put it down. Someday, I hope to be able to finish Addie’s story.

**Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is so magical! From the first page of this book I was drawn into the story, It seriously took me only a few sentences for me to know I would love it. As the synopsis will tell you.. in 1714 France our main character Addie makes a devilish deal in a moment of desperation, and ends up sealing the deal on a bargain that isn't quite what she had intended. To live forever, but be forgotten by everyone.
Addie's story weaves us back and forth through present and past on the many ways she has learned to push the boundaries to leave her mark on a world that forgets her. I loved the how Addie's life unfolds, how she learns to survive, her sheer stubbornness to continue living and not give in to the loneliness of constantly being forgotten. This book was just incredible and easily one f my top reads of 2020.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is hands down one of my favorite books of the year. Matter of fact it is one of my favorite books of all time. This novel is going on my constant reread shelf. Addie is a very well rounded and complex character. As someone who is forgotten and not in the most ideal situations she is a strong female character. I loved all the characters of this novel. Luc is one of my favorite characters of all time. I really enjoy books with short chapters and this books has though. It makes it so easy to keep flipping pages. Even though I say that know that this is a slow burn and a book you want to savor. I really enjoyed the back and forth between timelines. And learning all the parts of Addies life. Remy and Estele are two extremely important people in this novel. As they help shape Addie before and after she has made her deal. And Henry oh Henry! What a sweet man! Though Addie is forgotten her freckles leave marks across history. There are so many things I could say I love about this novel, but just read it! A book this good deserves to bless your eyes (or ears if you listen to audiobooks)! A beautiful and magically well crafted book.

This book was everything and more! The writing was amazing and by the ending I was hooked! I don't know if there will be a second book but I am ready for it if it comes out!
V.E Scwab's writing does not disappoint!

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

The premise promised me everything I’ve ever wanted and more. But the truth is that I didn’t get what I expected or wanted. There are too many flashbacks of Addie’s past and I just found those parts boring. I didn’t get to care about that time of her life or the deals the devil makes with famous people through history. I was more invested in the present time-line that takes place in New York, especially when Henry Samuel, a bookseller who is able to remember her, enters the picture. But then I even lost interest in that when the story begins to focus on the insta-love.

That being said, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue shows what is probably Schwab’s best writing to date. I lost count of how many beautiful quotes I ended up highlighting. But that didn’t compensate how lacking and predictable the story line is.

This is written in third person POV and I must add that I never truly felt well connected to our main characters. This story is quite slow developing, especially in the first 30% of the book. the stakes never felt high enough. No one remembers Addie so she can do whatever she wants, whenever she wants. When you find out Henry’s story, the stakes are perhaps raised a bit but him and Addie fall in love so fast and it’s so soft and sweet which is nice and refreshing but definitely makes things feel a little easy, in my opinion.

Summing up, this book was quite a let-down for me. I was hoping to love it, but unfortunately it didn’t deliver for me.

I loved this one. It's very atmospheric, it spans centuries in a really cool and interesting way. A Faustian deal with all it's unforseen consequences, and the struggle of being marginalized or not truly seen worked out on a magical scale. For fans of Uprooted and Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Holly Black, Diana Wynne Jones, etc.

I absolutely adore this novel! I have never read anything by V.E. Schwab before, but now I want to go back and read the author's entire backlist. I will definitely be buying multiple copies for my library because our patrons are going to love it. Thank you for letting me read it early!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is unlike any of V.E. Schwab's other fantasy novels and despite my love for her previous works, that can only be described as a good thing. This is a love letter to art and the power of imagination and a testament as to how far someone will go to fulfill their own desires, what price they are willing to pay. I loved the characters and I thought the ending (which many authors struggle with) was perfect (but not too perfect- just the right amount of perfect).

I LOVED this book. It was haunting and magical. Addie LaRue is a driven character that is not overt in her rebellion, but quietly fights against fate.
Addie LaRue was given a chance to change her fate by summoning an ancient dark god. He grants her wish, but there is a twist-she can live forever, but no one will remember her. She lives in this lonely existence for over 300 years before she meets a boy who recognizes her from a previous meeting.
This story is full of bittersweet hope and tangled romance and hidden victories. I highly recommend this book!

An absolutely beautifully written story. I loved every moment of it and wanted to savor it forever. Clearly, this was a labor of love and it showed in the gorgeous prose and excellent storytelling.

This was such an incredible book. I really have nothing negative to say about it, and am still riding the wave of emotions it made me feel. The plot is original and unpredictable without going too far to try to surprise its readers, the main characters are likable yet humanly flawed (their flaws may actually be what makes the book so great), there’s representation that feels natural and part of the story, and it has that special fairy tale-like quality of both provoking thought and evoking deep emotion. I could barely put it down and kept shouting to my wife how amazing it was and how much she was going to love it. I hope lots of people read it and feel the same heart pangs i did.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V. E. Schwab is an epic tale about Addie LaRue who is cursed to live forever and be forgotten by everyone she meets. I liked the blend of historical fiction, fantasy and contemporary fiction. The timeline was quite expansive spanning 300 years and this book is on the longer side so I felt the repetition in the writing was detracting. The flow of reading was nice and quick since the chapters were quite short. In the end I felt this book was good but not great.

This is such a beautiful and poignant story that really spoke to me. The characters were amazing and the story was heartbreaking and yet so full of hope. I never wanted it to end, but of course it does.

Addie was such an incredible woman. So tough and stubborn, but kind and thoughtful too. She really goes through a lot in the 300 years that she roams the earth, but she never gives up, and she continues to try to make her mark. I am not sure I could have done what she did without going insane at some point. I really enjoyed hearing about her various adventures and mishaps as she struggled to understand her curse and how to survive. I loved watching her relationship with both Henry and the god/demon develop over the course of the book.

Henry is such a lost little soul, who I fell for the minute he was introduced to us. He really wants to understand his place in the world and goes through so much heartache before he meets Addie. He is just one of those characters that you feel needs a great big hug all of the time. It was great that we got to see some of the story through his point of view as well.

Luc, as Addie comes to call the god/demon, is also a really interesting character. He shows up through out the book to taunt Addie into giving up and surrendering her soul to him. They have quite the relationship that is constantly changing.

I have to put in a little plug for the best bookstore cat ever, Book. He was such a dear and I loved how he stalked Addie and would just show up in different places in the store lounging on a book shelf or looking like an “inconvenienced bread loaf”.

The story itself is told through little moments or vignettes in both Henry’s and Addie’s lives. The story goes back and forth through time, so do pay attention to the chapter headings to know what year you are in. I loved some of the little glimpses we got as Addie experiences history being made and how she influenced it. There is a bit of a story within the story which just made everything perfect. The ending is a little open ended which is something that usually annoys me, but for this book it was the only way it could end.

Overall this is a book that should become a must read for everyone. I think it is probably the best book I have read this year and it is one that I will reread and cherish for a very long time.

This book!! It broke my heart. @veschwab generally does that to you. If there’s one author in current times whose book I can pick up blindly, it’s her.
She takes you through a roller coaster and then suddenly departs. And you are left finding your feet and losing the dizzy spell.
The book is written in the most beautiful lyrical manner. The concept is age old - a young woman trapped, by societal norms, wanting to break free and live on her own terms which leads her down the road to the Devil and making a pact for her soul. Addie Larue is the girl with 7 stars on her face, representing the 7 loves of her life. By the age of 23, she feels suffocated and wants to escape her small town life in France in the 1700s. The story spans 300 years of her life where she is invisible. Due to an ill worded bargain with the Devil, everyone forgets her immediately and she cannot leave a mark in the world. Some might find immortality exhilarating, but when you can’t even buy the clothes on your back or have a place to stay, you start believing that not all the Gods who answer are the ones you should pray to. But she doesn’t let it break her and continuously finds something enchanting in the world!
And then she meets Henry. Who through a stroke of luck (or something else?) remembers her!
I love the entire relatability in the book. The way the relationship between Addie and Luc (the god) is so messy and complicated, Henry’s yearning to be loved, and his complicated mental headspace. Just makes you get up and take notice!
The book deals with serious issues like depression and suicidal tendencies & gives it, its due importance.
I loved how both Addie and Henry were shown as bi/pan leads who love the person before their gender. The different phases of everyone’s life has been treated with so much care and it evokes such emotions in the reader!
I don’t think I will say more as I think I might give out spoilers 😂
But i will say this - READ THIS BOOK!