According to the author this book took 10 years to write, and the payoff is worth it. Addie LaRue is a book to sink into, to savour. Already a master at fantasy, this book has knocked it out of the park and is a masterpiece from Schwab. The story unfolds across two timelines, the present and Addie's past. It will break your heart and put it together again. I will definitely recommend it to customers and plan on staff picking it- if I don't have to fight my coworkers for it that is.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will be very forthcoming in that I was excited for this book but wary: I've really enjoyed Schwab's books, but the hype for this one was huge. I was worried it would be overblown and I would not enjoy it as much as everyone else. But oh my gosh.

This book hits deep. (The exact text I sent my friends after I finished it.)

It's a little slow to begin, which I think the author's longer books can be. But that just means she takes a good running leap. When the book hits you, it's with a 2x4 to the face and it just keeps hitting. I'm writing this in the immediate aftermath of finishing and my throat is tight and I have tears in my eyes.

Addie is stunning and spectacular. I've heard another review calling this the book Schwab was meant to write all along and I think that's right - but I think it's more the book she needed to write her way to and now that it's out there, the possibilities of where to go from here are endless.

I remember Addie, and I hope after October you will too.

V. E. Schwab's latest is a beautiful meditation on time and human connection. Highly recommended for readers of Erin Morgenstern.

Addie La Rue makes a deal with darkness to escape the confines of her small life in exchange for her soul. But he can only have her soul when she no longer wants it. She thinks she is making a deal to be able to live her life on her terms, no longer to answer to anyone but herself, and to be able to explore the world. The catch is that no one will remember her. She will meet new people every day for 300 years and once she is out of their sight it is like she never existed. Until one day she meets someone, and he says "I remember you."
This was a really good book. I always love the twisted tales of V. E. Schwab. However, I think there could have been a little more to the story. More history. More character development for the Devil she calls Luc. More development of their relationship. Overall though, I enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something new to read.

Parts of Addie’s story captivated me, as she learns to be independent and sufficient over time. However, the love story seemed predictable and I didn’t enjoy the last half of the book as much. The book was okay but didn’t wow.

Every time I picked this book up, I was brought to tears. I genuinely think this is my new favourite book of all time.

The prose is magnificent, with thoughtful metaphors peppered throughout, bringing you closer to understanding the atmosphere of every scene and setting. Though the novel takes place predominantly in France and New York City, places many know very well, V.E. Schwab does an astounding job at taking us on an adventure to the hidden gems of each city. She highlights, in the right amount of detail, what these places look and feel like, while also incorporating the way these impact each of her characters differently based on their life experiences. Speaking of, I think the most magnificent part of this book lies in Addie and Henry. I cannot begin to express my complete adoration for these characters. While in many novels, having three timelines interspersed between chapters may cause confusion, this story does it effortlessly, with the switches in timelines falling perfectly in line with the journey of the characters and our learning of who they are. I also think this greatly influenced how close I felt to Addie and Henry, as I was able to understand exactly where they were coming from and empathize with them to a greater degree than if I had simply been told (rather than shown) how their past came to drive their present. Through this book, I have smiled and cried and laughed and suffered and loved with my whole heart right alongside these two. They are the characters that I have been waiting to find myself in for so long and I honestly think I will carry them with me for the rest of my life.

To V.E. Schwab, thank you for this story about a lonely boy who discovers a passion for life and a forgotten girl that will never be forgotten.

I'm struggling with how to review this book. I adore VE Schwab, and her writing is beautiful and lyrical. It invites you to invest your time and your attention. However, this fell flat for me. I found the story predictable and repetitive, and I couldn't connect to her characters like I usually do. I wasn't invested in the story because it felt like so much build up for very little pay off. I tore through the first half, excited to get to the story but it never came. Addie does the same thing in each flashback and remains her same stubborn self for the entirety of the book. I stopped caring. Schwab has created far more interesting characters with the same motives and done more with their stories in other novels. There have been more interesting villains, more interesting plots, more interesting twists. Schwab's writing is always stunning and I'm excited to see what she does next, but it was a struggle to finish this book.

It’s 2 am and I can’t sleep because I can’t stop thinking about this book. Addie will stay with me for years to come, I know that for sure.

A round of applause for V.E. Schwab! Whenever I pick up one of her books I experience a rollercoaster of emotions! One of my favorite books by this author, and definitely a contender for my best reads of 2020. I cannot wait for the rest of the world to pick this book up.

One of my favorite books so far this year. The pacing was perfect-- the author does a phenomenal job of trickling out information at just the right speed.

This is not a fantasy novel-- it isn't even a paranormal. Like [book:The Time Traveler's Wife|18619684] or [book:Outlander|10964] or [book:How to Stop Time|35411685], there is one fantastical element the reader needs to believe; the rest of the story is just about people.

Romantic without being a romance, with historical elements because of the setting, this could easily be a book for every book club. If it had an earlier pub date, I would put it up as a contender for this summer's "It" book.

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. I got this book as an advanced readers copy and right away it grabbed my attention. I am so used to reading romcoms and this book seemed like the breath of fresh air I needed. Little did I know this book was going to be my new favourite. Absolutely extraordinary writing. I can’t wait to put this in the hands of book lovers everywhere in October!

Enthralling and gorgeously-written from start to finish. Addie LaRue is a character in the style of Hob Gadling from Neil Gaiman's Sandman, an immortal by choice, by just refusing to give in and die, because there's so very much to live for, no matter how bleak things get for her. And they get very bleak indeed. The bargain she made with the devil(?) ensures that no one can ever remember her -- so much as leave the room, and they forget she ever existed. This means she never really gets above scraping for survival, as there's no way to *own* anything if no one remembers you from one moment to the next. Over the course of 300 years, she comes to make the most of this condition, but it's still a sad and lonely existence -- until she meets Henry, the first person since 1714 who can remember her. Henry has a story and a tragedy of his own; watching them unfold around each other is heart-rending and powerful.

There are ways in which this feels like a tragic deconstruction of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope, since that's what Addie is to so many of the artists she inspires, but the story explores and values her, not the artists whose lives she flits briefly through. Rarely do we see that sort of dynamic from the viewpoint of the muse and what she suffers.

I do wish the latter half of her relationship with Luc had gotten a bit more "screen time", though -- we spend most of the book hearing about Something Dramatic and Paradigm-Altering that happens in New Orleans in the late 20th century, there are so many hints and so much emotional wreckage, but then when we get there, it goes by quite fast. The flashbacks to Addie's life are heavily weighted toward the 18th century, and I could have done with a little more balance.

'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' a few world-building holes and missed opportunities, and Schwab also sets off one of my personal pet peeves regarding historical clothing, but on the whole, those issues melt away under the sheer force of Schwab's emotional writing.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue follows Addie through many years after she makes a deal that changes her life and existence forever. With many books, specifically Schwab’s books, I think that it is best to go in not knowing much about the story and that idea really stands with this book. With that being said, there are still a few things worth mentioning that may help draw you in.
With Addie being born in 1714 France I was worried that we may not get to see that time of her life but boy was I wrong. I loved being able to see Addie live through all different times up until our present day. The history that was intertwined with her story was unexpected, but definitely interesting and entertaining.
I also love that Schwab writes characters who are not perfect and that’s what makes the story so wonderful. She writes characters who are relatable and are going through real life issues. While we may not all be able to relate to making deals with the devil, most of us can relate to trying to find our place in life and wanting to be seen by others.
All in all if you are a fan of Schwab and her work you will without a doubt love this book. If you are new to Schwab, there is no wrong book or series to start with. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will show you Schwab's breathtaking storytelling abilities and her passion for her characters. This is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read (and I do not say that lightly) and I recommend that everyone does themselves a favor and picks up this book.

I’d love to thank NetGalley and Tor for allowing me a chance to read this galley! It was a serious honor to be approved. I’ve been very curious about this book for some time. See, I love immortal characters. The more tragic, the more lives lived, the better. I eat ‘em up.

This novel had so much potential. Schwab has a fantastic spin on the trope, where every person Addie interacts with forgets her as soon as they leave a room. She also cannot leave a mark, say her real name or her truths, be accurately rendered in photograph or illustration, and she’s occasionally visited by the demon god of the night/devil who cursed her in the first place.

The narrative is told from the present and the past and in two different POVs (though Addie’s dominates). For most of the book, you see Addie’s life up to and after she’s cursed as a 23-year-old on the eve of a marriage she wants out of, and you see her in New York City in 2014.

You also see some backstory and current POV of her modern love interest, Henry, who looks uncannily like the devil (black curls, but different eye color).

Henry is the only person in three hundred years who can remember Addie, and there’s a reason for it (and you might assume what that is pretty quickly). He has also made a deal with the devil for his soul, but the curse and the terms are very different.

Putting aside the holes you’d find once you go down the road of what constitutes leaving a mark (Addie can’t break things or write or draw, but she can eat and steal), I had four real issues:

1. New York (where I live) feels a bit touristy, twee, and superficial, as do the people inhabiting it.
2. Addie feels very one-dimensional and incurious despite her age. (She actually doesn’t seem old at all.)
3. The historical portions are too generic to be immersive, and are meant to serve as a backdrop for her slow burn "romance" (you can’t really call it that) with the devil.
4. The devil character wasn’t a very effective villain. He was more smarmy and attractive, the mysterious bad boy trope, than anything else.

In summation, the concept here is incredible, but not explored as fully as it could be. The characters are all a bit thin, and the settings are often just as thin. I found the writing to be a little overwrought, though anyone who knows the word palimpsest gets extra points (it’s one of my favorite words/concepts).

This definitely has an audience who will love it, but unfortunately it just didn’t work well for me.

“If a persona cannot leave a mark, do they exist?”
“After all, how can a thing be real if it cannot be remembered?”

V.E. Schwab said she put her heart and soul into this book and I think it shows.

I absolutely loved this one. It's magical realism, so it reads like a historical fiction that alternates between Addie's early life and the present day. We meet Addie as her life begins in 18th century France and follow her through significant moments in time, both historical and personal. Addie is discontent with the future laid out for her, so she makes a deal with the devil and soon finds that it comes with consequences. Addie moves through life unable to make a lasting impression on anyone until the day she meets Henry. She thinks nothing of it until she meets him again. This time Henry remembers her.

I loved Schwab’s writing. It draws you in until suddenly you look up, it’s dark outside, and the story is finished. My kindle is filled with highlighted quotes and favorited passages. The characters are multidimensional, and even the devil is charming in a way you know you’re not supposed to like. You can’t help but fall in love with Addie and Henry and wish the best for them. The story wrapped up perfectly and I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s thoughts when the book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for providing me with an advanced copy to review.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I love the works of VE Schwab and she does not disappoint. The technicalities of the rules of Addie's curse is what intrigued me the most and it is written so it's explained like a mystery rather than just stating what was going on. My favorite character was Luc. He reminded me of the Darkling in Shadow and Bone. I would definitely recommend this book.

TL;DR REVIEW:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my new favorite books of all time. It’s an incredible story that’s so well written and will leave you as a puddle on the floor (in the best way).

For you if: You are a human. Particularly, though, if you like or want to start reading magical realism or fantasy.

FULL REVIEW:

A ZILLION thanks to Tor Books for granting my NetGalley request to read an early electronic copy of this book for review. I cannot wait to own a physical copy and will absolutely be buying the first print hardcover. If there’s a collector’s edition, I WILL buy it.

So first let me tell you about this story’s incredible premise. It’s about a girl named Addie who was born in the late 1600s. She desperately doesn’t want to get married and settle into the life everyone in her small French village leads — she wants to be free to see the world and really live. So on the eve of her wedding, she makes a deal with a god of darkness, who makes it so. But there’s a catch, a curse: Nobody remembers her. As soon as they leave a room, they forget everything about her. We flash through her long life and to the present day, 300 years later, when everything — finally, impossibly — changes.

I’m not sure that I can even do this book justice; even just a third of the way through, I already knew I had to own it. Finishing it, it instantly became a new all-time favorite. When it comes out in October, I’m going to read it again.

This book just feels like the book Schwab has been meant to write for her entire life. Her heart bleeds out of every word, placed with incredible care and precision. The commas slayed me. It’s all so moving, and I felt like I was in a constant state of deep exhale, the emotion on my chest was so great. There are moments of joy, sadness, passion, grief, and everything in between.

And the story — the plot is perfect, in my opinion. Everything that happens is just as it truly must be. It pulls you through the story and keeps you turning pages, but I also found myself intentionally slowing down to savor every little bit. I read it over two weeks and never ever wanted it to end.

I think you should consider reading this even if you don’t usually read fantasy books. I might even call this one magical realism. I think it’s the perfect blend of literary language, magic, and historical fiction. And it’s all just so beautiful and resonant.

Give your future self a gift and preorder this book from your favorite independent bookstore or Bookshop.org … right now!



Trigger warning: Suicidal thoughts

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Have you ever read a book where, even before you finished it, you knew it would stick with you for a long time? Before I even got a quarter of the way through this book, I knew it would be one of those.

For me, it’s difficult to describe why or what exactly makes Addie LaRue one of those books. It’s more of a feeling than anything I can put into words, so this review might not actually tell you anything at all about the book itself.

I have to admit, this is the first book I’ve read by Victoria/V.E. Schwab. I’ve been aware of her for a few years, and tried to listen to an audiobook of a previous work (the narrator didn’t do it for me, so I abandoned it), but this is the first I read all the way through. I think the highest praise I can give this book is that it now makes me want to read everything else she’s written

I was immediately drawn into Addie’s world. She longed for a bigger life than the one she would have in a tiny village in 17th century France. She didn’t want to be tied to a man, raising children who were not her own and having nothing to show for it when she died. She wanted nothing more than to leave her mark on the world.

I relate to Addie in many ways: the desire to see beyond the confines of her village and to have a life of her own, not one dictated by the man she marries and the children she bears. But, of course, her willingness to give up her life as she knows it is one of the ways we definitely differ.

Addie makes a deal with the darkness; she makes a deal, in exchange for her soul, for the freedom to live as she wishes. She makes this deal to escape the life set out before her, but in exchange for that freedom, Addie is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Addie lives almost three hundred years this way, living on the edges of the world, never leaving a mark; living through wars and innovation, turmoil and peace before she meets Henry. Henry, who works in a bookshop and remembers Addie. Three words, and her whole world is turned upside down: “I remember you.”

____________________________________________________________________________

Possibly my favorite thing about this book, although it is hard to narrow it down, is Addie’s relationship with the darkness, whom she christens Luc. Luc is her only constant across the centuries, the only one who remembers her. She struggles with that because to be remembered is one of her greatest wishes, but to be remembered only by the one who cursed her is almost another curse on its own. The way their relationship changes over the years, and how they are both slightly different every time they meet is one of the best parts of the book for me. The darkness claims he is not human and doesn’t love the way humans do, but there are times where he falters, and he isn’t quite as sure of himself. The push and pull between Addie and Luc ties the whole story together and makes for one of the most interesting relationships I have ever seen on the page.

One of the things that touched me most about this book is how it’s tinged in sadness. You might guess from the title that an invisible life is necessarily a sad one, and while that isn’t entirely true all the time, the sadness and melancholy is woven throughout the book, almost like a character itself.

But there is also hope, happiness, love, desire, and so many other things. Which makes sense, for a life lived across three centuries.

This book broke my heart, in the best way. I just finished it, and I already want to read it again. I want to be immersed in Addie’s world and live her three hundred years with her, over and over again.

I'll always read anything by V.E. Schwab, but this is the work she will likely be known for. It's sad, haunting, and beautiful and exceeding all expectations.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Absolutely LOVE this new book. In fact, I have added it to my top ten favorite books of all time list. I have always loved Ms. Schwab's writing and this is her best yet! A dark, twisty modern take on the Faust tale, this story grips readers from the start. Tugs at the heart strings! Cannot wait to purchase a copy to add to my book collection!