Schwab sets her latest in 1714 France. Addie LaRue is fiercely independent and will not follow the dictates of her parents who have arranged a marriage for her. But instead, Addie makes a deal with the devil so she can have her own life and make a mark on the world. As with all such Faustian deals, there is a negative aspect to the contract. Now Addie finds herself totally forgettable – to her family, her neighbors, in fact, to everyone she comes in contact with. Within minutes of meeting her, she will be erased from their memory. She also will live on until she agrees to the end of the contract.

As decades and centuries proceed, Addie travels the world and meets interesting people, only no one remembers she was ever there. While this may not sound terribly frustrating, it does make living accommodations difficult, and almost impossible. But when one person does claim to remember her, things change.

Similar to The Book Thief, the grim reaper or devil, whomever you choose to call him, is an interesting character in this story. He frequently interacts with Addie and they have a fascinating relationship. Instead of the monstrous portrayal of the bringer of death, here he demonstrates an unexpected depth. True to her nature, Addie is determined to make the best of her bargain. She refuses to give up and let death win. The question is, will her iron will be enough to sustain her over the centuries.

Addie LaRue is a character who will leave her mark on readers, even though she can’t make a lasting impression on anyone she encounters in the novel (with one exception). Schwab has another hit on her hands with this new standalone fantasy.

Finished this in one sitting. V.E. Schwab does it again. This book is a tour de force complete with nuanced worldbuilding, multilayered characters, and a heart-aching theme. The plot is both delightful and poignant. I highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

One word for this book: WOW,
V.E. Schwab created a masterpiece.

I found this novel compelling, but sometimes slow. I devoured this novel in a single day because I could not put it down. It is seemingly historical, romantic, and supernatural(?). I hope you all do yourselves a favor and pick up novel when it releases.

Spoilers Below:
In this novel we meet Adeline Larue who wanted exploration, freedom, adventure, but most of all to leave her mark on the world. However she was a young French girl from Villon born in a time that women were not allowed many freedoms. They were expected to marry, have children, and take care of the home.

On her wedding day, she ran. She pleaded to any god that would listen to her for freedom, a life where she could live the way she wanted and not be forced to settle down with a man she did not love or want.

“And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”

But the sun went down while she was praying and the night answered offering her a deal. She was tricked into selling her soul and accepting a bad deal due to her desperation.

300 years later.... She is desperate to be remembered. Playing a game of cat and mouse with the trickster who is the only one who remembers her because she doesn't want him to win. Finally, she meets a bookseller named Henry who uttered the phrase she was desperate to hear, "I remember you"

“Being forgotten … is a bit like going mad. You begin to wonder what is real, if you are real. After all, how can a thing be real if it cannot be remembered?”

Thank you, NetGalley, for this digital ARC.

Addie LaRue, a young woman living in 1714 France who simply wants to change her fate, makes a desperate deal with a dark god. Suddenly, nobody knows who she is, and when she meets people, they forget her the moment they turn away. Her pen strokes disappear. The things she breaks mend themselves whole again. Collected possessions disappear overnight. Addie can leave no mark on this world, for as long as she chooses to live. For 300 years, Addie adventures across the world, soaking in every experience she can while seemingly invisible to everyone around her. Then one day, she revisits a young man's bookstore she had browsed once before...and he remembers her.

THIS. BOOK.

Heartbreak. Grief. Anger. Frustration. Hope. Joy. Peace. This story made me feel so many things. It took me longer than usual to get through this book, because I savored every moment of it. Schwab was so thorough in her execution of Addie's curse; no loopholes that I could see, no "Addie could've just done this." And the way she intertwined Addie's story with the second protagonist is arguably brilliant. The end is crushing and haunting and just perfect for this beautiful adventure.

Saying more would give things away, so I will leave it to you readers to absorb and treasure the invisible life of Addie LaRue.

This book is going to be huge. People will love it. I’m probably going to buy it for my sister, who I think will adore it. I really enjoyed it and read it quickly, though it isn’t perfect—Schwab feels a little bit like she’s trying to prove her literary prowess (there are a lot of sweeping statements and bold proclamations and philosophical musings that are, in my opinion, totally unnecessary), but the story is incredibly compelling, its characters well-crafted and sympathetic, and the ending is close to perfect (rare!).

Adeline lives in a rural village in early 18th century France with her beloved woodworker father and stern mother. She longs for freedom, and on the night of her wedding to a man she doesn’t want or love, she makes a desperate plea to a god, any god, to be liberated from what she views as the tragedy of poor family life. She gets her wish, but she pays a steep price: “freedom,” in the eyes of the cruel god who answers her call, comes in the form of being forgotten by every person she meets as soon as they close a door or go into another room.

Addie lives for 300 years with this curse, “free” but almost entirely alone, until she meets a young man who remembers her name.

I found myself thinking about what I might wish for and what the cost would be. I had an amazing conversation with a friend who also read this book, about the relationships between Addie and the two men in her life—Henry, the young man who remembers her, and Luc, the fascinating god who curses her.

Though I took small issue with some stylistic choices in the prose (I dislike frequent one-sentence paragraphs, which litter this book), overall, this is a wonderful read and I can’t wait to discuss it with everyone once they read it!! Comes out October 6.

A twistingly beautiful Faustian tale that will make you dive deep not into just the story but your soul.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue tells the tale of a girl running away from her stagnant future in her small French town. To gain the life she wants, Addie makes a deal with the dark and this is where her story truly begins.

A story that will span 300 years.

As with V.E. Schwab’s writing, this book includes well thought out character arcs with a great pace that was slow at just the right moments.

It made me feel all the feels and I definitely felt the connection to Addie and her dreams for living a full life and seeing the world past her home. I also feel the heart and soul that V.E. Schwab put into this story, a story that she has been wanting to tell for over a decade!

If you are looking for a beautiful yet tragic tale of deals with devils than this book is for you! It’s just the right amount of darkness, hope, and beauty and I hope anyone who reads this story will remember Addie LaRue!

4.5/5 stars

WOW WOW WOW WOW W O W

I honestly don’t know where to start with this review nor will I likely know where it will go but let’s try !!

first off this is likely going to be quite divisive. I will say that about 40-50% of the people who have this on their radar may be disappointed with it.

this is a very unique story both in its subject matter and the way it’s told. it’s very reminiscent of a “literary” writing style that comes off as “fake deep,” repetitive, and a bit pretentious at times. it’s very much an “ideas” driven story rather than a plot or character driven one. I mention this in one of my updates but it really does remind me of dorian gray, both in that our two MC both sell their souls to the “devil” and that both schwab & wilde both really like to philosophize about life, art, and legacy.

for that, many readers will likely be bored and not connect to the story or the characters.

but because I love those kinds of discussions framed in religious context with hot villains: I am a fan, indeed.

this is told in two time perspectives: on is the early 18th century as addie begins her life of immortality and dance with the devil, the other being present day where she meets someone very interesting. I liked the first perspective MUCH MUCH more but the two were very much needed for the story.

though, just because it’s needed doesn’t mean I loved it.

in fact, my main issue with this book was the aforementioned “interesting character” addie meets in present day. they were so incredibly lack-luster compared to the grandeur of addie and the rest of the story. they got on my nerves at how pathetic and whiny they came off to me. this furthered my annoyance when we had to read chapters in their perspective. I completely see the merit in their character and how they contributed to the story, I just wish schwab gave them more flavor.

I really loved so, so much about this book. the discussions were amazing (albeit repetitive sometimes), addie was FANTASTIC, the “devil” was hot & manipulative, the multiple settings were lush, and the ending was the perfect blend of satisfaction & intrigue.

I cannot wait for more people to read this so I can hear everyone’s thoughts. this is definitely one worth talking about.

‘Never pray to the gods that answer after dark.’

Oh, my goodness, I loved this novel! Such a unique concept that grabbed me from the start, with characters that were easy to relate to and sympathize with. Even Luc. A three hundred year journey that I really did not want to end. I usually don’t always appreciate novels that leave the ending unfinished but in this instance I think it worked perfectly. I’ll probably spend the next few days pondering it. 5 stars.

This is my first book by V.E. Schwab. This book took me awhile to get into, and to be honest, moved fairly slowly. That being said, the story line was such that I wanted to finish to see how it ended. While this may have been a slower book to read, it was so beautifully written! So many times I could vividly picture what Addie was describing.

If I wasn't already a fan of VE Schwab this book would certainly be the one to sercure it. Wowza! An adventure through centuries, Schwab has created a world that readers are lucky to have a glimpse of. This will definitely be a book club recommendation and will more than likely top my best reads of this year list!

I will write a full review closer to the publishing date in October. It is my first book by V.E Scwab and is absolutely incredible. (Original Earc granted through edelweiss. Downloaded here after finished original download, to provide additional review).

Dark. Seductive. Everlasting. I thoroughly loved the way that V. E. Schwab unveiled the story of Addie LaRue, switching back and forth through time and "present day", slowly answering the reader's internal questions and offering new ones for speculation. "Words are everything", and so is this book! I cannot wait to recommend it to everyone.

This was a work of art. One of those books you wish you could read again for the first time. Schwab’s prose is addictive and seeps into every corner of your soul. For me, this is truly her best work and nothing I write could do it justice. This was an achingly beautiful adventure through time with a character who is, strangely enough, totally unforgettable.

I admit to being a little disappointed by this book. I don’t know if I wasn’t in the right mood to read a book like this, if I was expecting too much, was too tired...The beginning was great, as I discovered who Addie is and what she wants from life. She isn’t so sure what she wants and I totally identify with that. Even when faced with having whatever she wants when a demon asks her, Addie still isn’t so sure, beyond not wanting to marry. Wanting to live for herself and no one else.

She loses everything, including herself. Because who are you but what you project onto others? Sometimes, it’s hard to pin down who you are if you can’t measure your impact on the world. We’re very focused on what we can do for other people, as a society, and sometimes we forget that we’re allowed to focus on ourselves for a while.

But who are you if no one remembers you? How human are you if what you do doesn’t impact anyone?

Addie passes through the world, literally unable to leave a mark. She walks through the snow and reverts to a blank canvas. She picks up a pen and all the words disappear. She stabs someone and the blood clears and the wound heals. The same is done to her. She absorbs the world but can’t expel anything back.

Over the course of three hundred years, she becomes more familiar with her curse and the little loopholes in the contract. She can leave a mark if she influences others to do it for her. Draw her picture, use her melody in a song.

Then she meets Henry, who remembers her. But that’s because he has a secret, too.

Addie is so sure of herself, now. She knows who she is and what she can do. She’s not the lost little girl she was in the beginning. Her surety is a little disconcerting. But why wouldn’t she be sure? She is certain of her place in the world and the lack of impact she has. Why not do what she wants? It’s not like it hurts anyone.

Henry is probably my favorite character. We’re the same age. We’re at the same point in our lives. Useless degrees and dead end jobs. Numerous hobbies. Not fitting in anywhere or with anyone. His whole outlook on life is an absolute mood and it’s painful how much I identify with it.

He’s much more real then Addie is, to me. Addie is basically immortal, warped into survival mode and beyond what a normal person should be like. Henry is so down to earth in a way Addie can’t be anymore, and he grounds her, just a little, reintroducing propriety and reminding her that she does leave an impact on the world. A thing she knows, based on the art that is made of her in her wake, or the art she influences because she was present.

They compliment each other well, being exactly what the other needs. It’s almost too perfect, their love. It’s like they’re the only one the other can possibly fall in love with, so of course it happens. The ending that happens is one of the many endings I considered for Addie, Henry, and the Devil. Of course, the perfect ending is not always the ending you didn’t see as a possibility. I liked being able to trace the clues and hints and not be surprised by what happened.

There were some twists that I enjoyed. And I really loved Henry. He was just the type of character I can bond with. Addie was more difficult to get along with, as she changed over the course of 300 years. She became a little wild over that time, working through the loopholes in her curse, distancing herself from what it means to be a person, in a society.

Schwab explores what it even means to be a person, to be alive. What it means to leave a mark on the world and the futility of even trying. But everyone leaves a mark in the end, even if it’s just on close friends or family or even customers you meet at work. It’s uplifting and kind of sad, all at the same time. Because life is just like that. And coming to terms with that can be exceedingly difficult, especially when we are so distanced from the people and things we love.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue falls victim to one of the great curses of literature in the last decade or so--it’s just too long. I don’t know what happened to editors and the art of honing a story, but that’s what we have with Addie LaRue--something good--very good, even--that could have been great. V.E. Schwab gives us another magical story where Adeline LaRue sells her soul to the devil in exchange for freedom and a life of adventure that doesn’t end until she surrenders. The twist? No one remembers her once she is out of sight. Addie, an artist at heart, struggles and eventually learns how to leave her mark in history when she cannot make anything last more than a second or two. We flash back and forth between (nearly) present-day New York and specific moments through Addie’s 300 plus years of life with art as the guiding force. Schwab has crafted a beautiful story about art, time, history, love, and who will remember us that may be a bit too long, but is a very good read nonetheless. Highly recommended for readers of Erin Morgenstern, Leigh Bardugo, and Katherine Arden.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V. E. Schwab
Macmillan-Tor/Forge
Tor Books
Literary Fiction | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 06 Oct 2020

I really enjoyed reading this book and will recommend it to our patrons who like literary fiction and SciFi/Fantasy.
Great book!

5 stars

Wow. Just absolutely wow. I think that this was my favourite of V.E. Schwab's books. The writing was phenomenal and everything about this book just hit me so hard every single time. It's not the book to start with if you want to read Schwab for the first time, but if you're familiar with her writing then you will surely love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

I love books with a Faustian theme, especially when one makes a bargain one should not, so I was thrilled when my request was approved.

The premise is thrilling; a young woman makes a deal with a dark 'god' to be free and unencumbered by marriage. Sadly, she should have been more specific in her wording.

As a result, she is doomed to a life of immortality, her beauty and youth never fading, but her name forgotten the moment she is out of sight.

For 300 years, Addie lives this transient life of one night stands and loneliness, traveling across oceans, bearing witness to some of the world's greatest historical moments.

Until one day, in present day NYC, Addie meets a boy who remembers her.

The story was compelling, no surprise since the author is an accomplished science fiction/fantasy writer.

But, I was not drawn into the story as I had imagined I would be. The writing was good, but at times read almost like YA.

Addie, despite her longevity, is a one note character. I don't know much about her except her appearance and can speak and read multiple languages.

As the author described how Addie has survived 300 years of hardship, events began to sound repetitive, including her brief respites with Luc.

I was looking for something darker, gruesome, frightening, but Addie and Luc's relationship suddenly took a YA turn into a relationship based on their stubbornness and that they've known each other for so long.

I wanted to know more about how Addie survived the worst of what history had to offer; the French Revolution, wars and famine; what terrible things did she do to survive, did she do anything good?

How does one endure life when no one remembers your face or name?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was well-written with a fascinating premise, but I wanted more complexity and depth regarding the main characters.

OMG THIS BOOK.

It’s beautiful and raw and so character driven—utterly refreshing. The story takes its time, really settles into the heartache and drama. It’s diverse, and romantic and HEARTBREAKING but also incredibly hopeful. The entire story recognizes the importance of being fully known, fully seen, and loved for who they are. It’s beautiful.

And then the ending slayed me. I’m just going to imagine a different last paragraph.

Highly recommend!

This book is wonderful! I was looking for something new and exciting to read and this was just that! I love the combination of modern and historical mixed together. The time periods feel real and well researched. Henry's point of view threw me off a bit but only because as a reader I had been in Addie's head so long. The dark aspects are intriguing but not over the top. I am incredibly happy with the story that lives up to Schwab's reputaion.