This book was wonderful. It was fantastic, fanciful, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. The descriptions were lush and inviting. The characters were sharply rendered. The plot kept me turning page after page. And the end had me in tears. Highly recommend this book to everyone.

This is by far the best Schwab book I've read, and yet I've still come away from the experience in much the same way I've come away from reading all her other books, which is to say: I think that, on a technical level, this is an absolutely brilliant book and I can't fathom giving it less than five stars, but I still have several criticisms. And I just know there's going to be so, so many effusive and glowing five-star reviews of this book (they're coming out already), which are well-deserved, but I'd still like to discuss some of the issues I had.

My experience of Schwab's work can be summarized thusly: incredible concept, ...unusual execution. Not bad, mind you, just...so anathema to what I might have gone for that it becomes a sort of glaring omission. Personal taste, mind you.

So, okay, enough waffling, a little about the book: everyone already knows this is about a French girl who makes a deal with the devil to live forever, only he curses her to be forgotten by everyone she meets, except for him. One day in present-day New York City, she meets a young man who remembers her. And we go from there.

The story is told in alternating timelines: we begin in New York City and flit back to 18th-century France, where were are slowly introduced to Addie's humdrum existence. We continue in this manner: as Addie's relationship with Henry - the boy who remembers her - unfolds in the present, we witness the past 300 years of her life, as she comes to fall in love with the creature who cursed her in the first place. But we are also privy to Addie's indomitable will, as she refuses to give in to darkness and despair, as she does her best to find the little joys in life, and as she struggles to find ways to carve her mark in history.

On a technical level, Schwab has outdone herself here. From the moment I began reading, I knew I was in love; Schwab's prose has always had a sort of effortless feel, a kind of lilting cadence that lulls you into the pages, but she's leveled up here; the writing is absolutely gorgeous, dense and rich and evocative without becoming heavy or purple, and still maintaining that effortless quality that makes all of Schwab's books so compulsively readable. There's such a distinct elegance to the way Schwab crafts her tales; The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue certainly feels like a modern classic in the making.

The toxic relationship between Addie and Luc - this is the name she has given the primordial creature who has given her immortal life - is one of the best aspects of the book. All of Addie and Luc's scenes together are electric. Their relationship is almost parasitic, and yet it makes perfect sense - Luc is all Addie has, the only constant in her life, and it is almost as though she has no choice but to come to feel some sort of attachment to him, even if it is not precisely love. This is the villain romance of my dreams, and nearly all of their scenes together had me on the edge of my seat.

The crux of my criticisms revolve around Henry, the young man who remembers Addie. Henry is not only given a POV, but he is given an entire section of Addie's story, a whole book part devoted entirely to him. The problem with Henry is that the narrative desperately wants you to care about him almost as much as you care about Addie, but he is just so bland and generic. He seemed less like a character and more like a concept. He's this generic white dude who's unhappy and doesn't have a great relationship with his family but he has friends and a good job and a nice apartment, and I know that sounds so uncharitable and cold, but listen: of course I fully believe that even conventionally attractive upper middle-class white dudes have every right to be unhappy, and that they can succumb to depression, but must I read about such basic white dudes in my fiction? Henry's part of the book was the only part where I felt my reading slowing down because I was so uninterested.

I'm sure there's a deliberate point to be made about how ordinary Henry's unhappiness is, but if it were up to me, I would have slashed his story to make more room for Addie's, which brings us to my other point of contention: I wanted to see more of Addie's 300 years. I was told that her life spanned continents, but I only saw Western Europe and the United States. There's a brief mention that she went to Istanbul; I would have loved to see that! There's also a chapter that hints at Addie's activities as a spy for the Allied powers during WWII, and how would that have worked! I wanted more of that rather than pages and pages about Henry complaining about not being good enough for his parents or whatever.

I will say, however, that the way Henry's arc concluded, and the way it neatly dovetailed with Addie's, was extremely clever, and brought the book to a lovely close that made sense, narratively, for Addie, Henry, and Luc, and left the way open for future shenanigans, which is exactly how I prefer my books to end.

Thematically, this is a powerful book. It's about people's desire to be remembered. It's about how one can leave a mark on the world. It's about finding joy and wonder in all the little new discoveries you make in life. It's about joy overpowering despair.

"And there in the dark, he asks if it was really worth it.
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.'"

It feels like a love letter to life itself, a celebration of all the tiny wonders that make life worth living. And oh, does this book leave a mark. In a testament to the indomitable will of its heroine (and its author), The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue feels like the kind of book that will never be forgotten, that will be talked about for years to come, and will carve out a mark for itself within its genre's literary canon.

This book is special. Schwab tells Addie's story beautifully and completely. I'm left wanting more but also knowing that I got just the right amount. I cannot say enough good things about this book. I will not soon forget it, and I'm excited for the rest of the world to get their hands on it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
It was a walk through history from the perspective of a forgotten person.
What a beautiful story!

thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy.

It has been so long since a book made me sob. Like SOB, sob. This book had such raw moments. It’s always astounding to me when humans can make such detached observations about human nature and the way life is fleeting.

I have awful death anxiety. This book burned that candle at both ends. What if you have unlimited time? What if you have no time at all? What mark are you leaving on the world when your one life is up? Are you able to leave a mark? If you’ve left your mark on one person, is that a legacy? There are a lot of subtleties in this story, not told as a fable, but just as a narrative, that really strike that nerve.

The writing manages to be both sophisticated and accessible. Each sentence had a point, but was welcoming and easy to understand. Just the ease of connecting to Addie, over 300+ years of her story, is something to celebrate about this book.

Addie is such an interesting character. She honestly has a positive enough attitude to be living through (and through and through) a literal curse. Her resilience comes from unwillingness to let someone else be the one to get credit for breaking her, even when she’s already broken.

Then, the boy who can remember her, the way his layers are unwrapped throughout the book are really great. Even if he hasn’t been alive as long as Addie, his past is a journey too, as short as it may be.

This book is very character and inner focused, so if you need action or plot, be wary trying it, but maybe try it. There are a few timelines, one spanning years and one spanning a year, and one spanning the previous year. None of them are urgently rushing towards an ending, but the ending was still a tense and emotional ride. It was really hard to picture an ending that made sense but I think it ended perfectly.

I. Am. Deceased.

This book was so many things to me. It was poetic, beautiful, dark, edgy, funny, and most definitely brilliant. I've read many books by VE Schwab and all of them were great, but this book really takes the cake. I'm just so speechless. <b>I don't think I can write a decent review for this.</b>

The story starts off pretty straightforward. With alternating timelines between the present (2014) and Addie's past (starting in Villon, France in 1714 up to New York City, current day), you go on this journey with Addie as she's met with the challenges of the deal she made with the darkness (aka the devil) and how she adapts to it all even if it means she needs to lie, cheat, steal, sell her body, dress like a man, make fast friends, or commit numerous crimes. And every year, the devil comes to her in the form of a boy she once drew asking if this is the year she will surrender. While she's lived through so many horrible things, she refuses and keeps refusing.

Through the 300 years she's lived, she's seen wars and invention, life and death, young and old, love, hatred, contempt, sadness, so much sadness, and so much history. One day in 2014, she walks into a bookstore and steals a book only to be caught by Henry; a young man who works there. The next day, she goes back to the bookstore in hopes of scoring another book only to be stopped by three little words: I remember you. This is where the story gets really interesting.

I think the biggest aspect of the story I loved was the writing. VE Schwab has really matured and it's so obvious in her writing. While I can be stubborn about the repetitiveness of the language, it really doesn't get in the way. If anything, it's more a lyrical reminder of Addie's world. Schwab also includes subtle lines about the beauty of life. It was almost reading her philosophical thoughts on human existence and the reason why we're all here and they're peppered throughout the novel. Let's not even talk about the subtle nods to finding yourself, understanding the nature of humans, and so many existential questions. I mean, she triggered some anxiety in me towards the end and it wasn't anything to do with the story. It was all her writing.

I also love that she plays around with the idea of the muse. This entity that triggers and inspires art and beauty. Of course, it has a very special meaning in this book, but I loved Addie was such an inspiration for many people even though she couldn't be fully remembered. People think of her as a dream; an entity that flits between this world and another and the beauty of this idea is carried throughout the story. I'm so impressed.

Addie's life and the chapters of her journey were stunning. Subtle and beautiful filled with so many sadnesses. ALL THE FEELS! I just want to live in this book, drink in its words, and die happy. I wish I can give you more details to the story, but I feel like it will spoil it. I will say that there are several different twists and turns of the story moving it in a direction I didn't even see coming. But it is brilliantly done to a point where I cried. Yes, I cried at the end because of how beautiful this damn book is!

I can't wait until October so I can buy myself a physical copy of this book. I'm going to buy multiple copies and share them with friends because it's that good and it needs to be shared. I'm so close to getting her freckles tattooed to my body. I want Addie LaRue to be a part of my life and I most definitely will always remember her.

I received a copy of this book from Tor.com for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

Words cannot even begin to describe how wonderfully written this book is!
I immediately fell in love with this book and its been my favorite read of 2020 so far hands down!
You get all the feels in this book, that I could almost feel the emotions being described.
V.E Schwab has written yet another master piece

I have only read V.E. Schwab's middle grade series (which she writes under Victoria Schwab), so this was my first adult book of hers to read. I am pleased to say that it made me want to read more of her books. Schwab's writing style is beautiful and creates real pictures of places and time periods. Her characters are imperfect, and even selfish, but also refreshingly human. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is great for fans of The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch and writers such as Anne Rice.

V.E. Schwab is a word smith and she proves it once more with this ambitious story that takes place over the course of three hundred years. Addie starts her story in a small village in France and takes you to present day New York City in a fantastic ride of human emotions and the driving question: What does it mean to be alive? Schwab explores love, death, and more importantly life in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

I had such high hopes for this book, having long been a fan of Schwab's other work, but Addie blew every last expectation out of the water. This book is so poignantly Schwab, from the elegant and beautifully quotable prose to the truly memorable characters and masterful storytelling, this book is one for the ages. I didn't know it was so possible to feel so seen by a novel.

When Adeline makes a deal with the devil to avoid the inevitable lull of a sleepy life in a small village in 18th century France, he curses her so that she may live forever but is forgotten by everyone she meets. Until one day...a boy remembers her. Told through two distinct timelines, progressing from the 1700s to meet the present 2014 timeline, both narratives are compulsively readable. I found myself reluctant to leave either.

As usual, Schwab's characters were devastatingly complex and real. After a few centuries, it's inevitable that one would meet a number of interesting rogues and quirky characters, and each one feels so vivid and distinct. When one has so little time to make an impression, every second counts, and these ones especially did. I also appreciated the inclusion of multiple queer characters.

At its heart, Addie is a novel about beginnings, a slew of beginnings. But it's also about hope. And love. And persistence. Addie is a flame that refuses to die out. Schwab said this would be the closest she would get to writing a love story, and the attempt is devastating. As dark and twisted as would be expected and a hundred times more bittersweet. In the last ten years, I can count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry -- and after finishing Addie, it's at the top of the list.

I remember Addie, and I think this book will not be one soon forgotten. It will be a book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone for years and decades to come. It's so very difficult to put into words just how perfect this book was, so I cannot wait for y'all to read this beauty for yourselves when she hits shelves in October. I'm already reserving a new space on my Schwab shelf in preparation.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of those books you pick up once in a life time. The main characters as well as the prose had me hooked instantly and the way Ms. Schwab spins her tale of love and loss through years of Addie's life is intensely beautiful and at times incredibly depressing. Addie is a character you can empathize with and root for while Henry is someone I just want to give the largest hug to. I have nothing but great things to say about this book but the simplest is, just pick it up and read it! You won't regret the choice.

In these challenging times of a pandemic, imagine my utter joy at discovering a haunting new novel by the amazing V. E. Schwab that quickly whisks you away from quarantines, masks, daily briefings. I am so grateful to NetGalley and Tor Books fro providing me with an ARC of Schwab's "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue," in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that I loved this book and will be recommending it to all my reader and non-reader friends (and probably strangers). It is THAT good.

What is the price of your soul? Great wealth? Fame? A whirlwind romance? For Addie LaRue, this is not a hypothetical question. Set in a small French village in 1714, Addie is facing a loveless marriage to someone she detests.; a future of demanding children, crushed spirits, and the quick death of her dream to see and experience the world. Running away from the wedding party, she meets a dark stranger and makes an impulsive Faustian bargain to live forever. She does not foresee one of the unexpected consequences - she is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets the moment she is out of their sight. This begins a picaresque 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.. She wants out, but that comes at the cost of her soul for eternity.

Schwab's thrilling and tension-filled romantic fantasy spans revolutions and wars, depressions, the industrial revolution, and a handful of lovers with some delightfully surprising twists when she is caught shoplifting by a a young man a hidden bookstore who remembers her name.

Schwab has written some terrific novel in the past including the New York Times bestselling Shades of Magic trilogy. Her new book is perhaps her greatest literary achievement.

This book is filled with magic, characters you will never forget, and a story that pulls you in from the first page and never lets. HIGHLY recommend for fans of Starless Sea, Darker Shade of Magic, and historical fiction.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue - where do I even begin. Let me start with telling you what I did love:
I loved how Schwab incorporated queer characters into her story. (She’s done this before and I love it). There is no big coming out story, there’s simply just an understanding that a certain character is not “straight”. I love that she doesn’t brush it off either. Like “I have a queer character but I won’t give you any details” (a habit I’ve seen from other major authors).

Now, as for the story itself, I felt disconnected from it. Every time the story switched back into the past life of Addie, I found I was bored to tears and just didn’t care. The present chapters were much more my style. Even then, the twist never felt like a twist.

Schwab’s writing style is still wonderful and I believe others will love this book, it just wasn’t quite to my taste. There was one chapter that was super dark and I was hoping there would be more but I was vastly disappointed.

I’m giving this book three stars because while it wasn’t for me, I do think that a lot of people will enjoy it thoroughly. There is a good message throughout.

"A girl is running for her life." And so begins THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab. Some of Schwab's finest work, and characters I will -never- forget. You are all in for a treat this October. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful book!

“If a person cannot leave a mark, do they exist?”

Addie LaRue is immortal. In the 1700s, she trades her soul for “freedom” from the strict constraints of 18th-century life. What she doesn’t realize is her “freedom” becomes a curse, as everyone she meets forgets about her. She is forced to live forever but as an invisible person. She cannot leave a wine stain on a carpet, as any wine she spills disappears. She cannot write anything down, as her writing disappears before she can complete her thoughts. She comes and goes, stealing what she can to survive, without leaving a trace of her existence. It is in this way that she lives until one fateful day, 300 years later, when a bookstore worker does the unthinkable: He remembers Addie LaRue.

About 20 pages into this book, I realized what I was reading was special. I’ve always enjoyed Schwab’s writing, but this book shows an entirely new level of skill from Schwab. Schwab’s writing vividly portrays Addie’s life and I found myself constantly wanting to return to Addie’s world. In addition, Schwab masterfully switches between multiple timelines and I never found myself struggling to understand the timing of a chapter in this book.

At times, I did feel the pacing slowed, but I found the characters and the overall ideas Schwab presented to be compelling enough to continue to read. While I found some of the plot points predictable, there were enough surprises to keep me coming back for more. Ultimately, it was almost like Schwab was playing a game of cat and mouse with me. She got me to think I knew what was coming, only to throw something new at me, enticing me to keep reading.

Ultimately, Schwab explores what it means to be mortal, as well as what it means to love. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is special. You should read it and you should savor it.

Recommended: THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab

I was interested in reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue because I’ve loved everything I’ve read V.E./Victoria Schwab (9 books ranging from middle grade to adult), and this one does not disappoint.

It’s the story of a teenage girl in 18th century France who makes a deal with a dark god to get out of an unwanted marriage and instead live a life of freedom.

Her wish is granted but it comes with an unexpected and troubling cost: “freedom” from personal entanglements—no one remembers her once she walks out of their site.

The story follows Addie for over 300 years, as well as a second point-of-view character whose life becomes intertwined with Addie’s. The story is thought-provoking, twisty, and so well described that you’ll feel you’re experiencing the span of time and settings all over the globe along with Addie.

Themes include the question of how a person leaves a mark on the world, what one would give for artistic excellence, and what is the meaning of a full life.

Since Schwab’s Darker Shade of Magic was marketed as a crossover to the young adult market, I hoped to recommend this to my YA-reading audience. Though I recommend the book enthusiastically, I can’t say I’d push it as a teen read because of the sex and casual use of serious drugs. Of course, teens have their own opinions about what books are appropriate for them.

Also notable, Schwab does a great job of portraying diverse characters. Henry, the book’s second main character, has bipolar disorder. Also, Schwab tweeted at the time I was writing this review: “For the record, there are no straight characters in THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. There are straight-passing pairs, but none of the people in those pairs are straight. And it's on page, canon. Addie has relationships with women.

Henry's ex is a man.” Props to Schwab giving characters of diverse backgrounds their fantasy/adventure story.
Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the eArc of the book.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will be released on October 6th

Note: because of adult content, I can't put this on Thewingedpen.com. I'll post on Rebeccajallen.com as well as goodreads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I have to give this book all of the stars for its rating.. and that definitely includes extra stars that come from Addie's constellation freckles.
There are those few books that come into your life that leave their mark. It's as if they are left tattooed on the readers heart, soul, brain etc.
The longer I read, the less I experience this phenomenon.
And I'm certainly euphoric in saying that The Invisible Life Addie LaRue has officially taken a moment to tattoo herself on me. I'm stunned. I'm crazed. I'm tearful.
Thank you V. E. Schwab.
I've told people numerous times that this novel felt different to me even before reading. Something about its synopsis and tone just stole my breath, and I think many would call me crazy to place all these expectations on a book. Well- I didn't have to worry about disappointment because she does not dwell here.
For hours I could describe the poetic writing that only Schwab can finesse; Schwab's emotional rollercoaster of time, and love, and power; and, of course, the pure beauty that is Addie LaRue... but I think... I know that I cannot write a review like I usually do.
I'm thankful to Tor for allowing me to learn her story early. I feel very blessed.
Now-I'm sitting in my bed, blissful and content, wondering how in all this quarantine mess I was able to read this gem. It has been a beacon of light in such a troubling time. I cannot express how lucky I feel to have found this story in a period of my life that feels as lonely as Addie details to us from page one. In my opinion, Addie teaches remembrance, patience, and strength, and I think her story will be a nice one for people to read once (or even during if it doesn't end) quarantine subsides.
Hope is what I'm left with. Thank you Addie LaRue.
The best book so far in 2020.

Schwab has written the perfect book to break my heart over and over again and I loved every single moment. Addie is everything I want and love in a protagonist. That combined with Schwab's amazing storytelling there are not words for my feelings. My favorite book of the year!

I was very excited to get my hands on this book: first, bc it comes out on my birthday and second, bc I really love keeping up with Schwab's writing process on social media. I was nervous, however, because it was partially set in Paris (which is almost always a no-go for me, having lived there) and also because it's the middle of a pandemic and I would LOVE to be in Paris/travelling/planning travel right now, but of course that's the exact opposite of what I can be doing. The good news is that I was not turned off by the Paris part.
A few things genuinely impressed me about this book. While Schwab is taking inspiration from Faust (and, I think, the show "Lucifer," but that might just be because I know she has seen it and I am watching it now?) this is a very original story. It has the air of a myth without telling you a story you already know. I thought I had guessed the ending, and I was very wrong. This is not a retelling of Faust, and that is all for the good. I also really enjoyed the character of Henry, and liked the parts from his point of view best.
That said, the pacing was a bit off. Which is to say, I thought it dwelled more on parts that I didn't care much about (i.e. Addie's life before Henry or without Luc--which I don't feel great about, since why should I only care abt her life when she is with one of the two leading men?) and less on parts I wanted to hear more about.
What I absolutely loved about the end, though, was that Addie was not defined by either of the men in her life. That is hard to pull off, esp in this particular story, and yet the ending makes it crystal clear that Addie's life is defined by neither.