The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a stunning literary fantasy that somewhat resembles the film The Age of Adaline. It's a story about the differences between being seen and being known, it's the story of a woman cursed to be forgotten in a world where art does nothing but remember. I thought this book was a beautiful work of genius, but it won't be for everyone, mainly because of the pace, but fans of Erin Morgenstern will likely love this.

Awesome! I highly recommend this book. This is one of those rare books in which you realize after reading a few chapters that there is no way that you can put this book down and will be finishing it in one night. I really enjoyed reading it and could not put it down.

I will recommend that my library buy a copy of this book.

Thanks to Tor Books and Net Galley for providing an early copy for me to review.

When I first read the synopsis of this book I was sold. Sure I had expectations and I thought I knew how the book was going to go but I was wrong. It was SO MUCH BETTER!
I was expecting a love story between a girl and the devil but what I got was so much more. I got a book about life, too. About how it may be fleeting and life can pass so quickly but we must live it for that very reason. I don’t think I have related to story more than I have related to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

*Spoiler free*

I was lucky enough to be approved for an e-ARC of this book. I honestly couldn't believe it and I'm still having a hard time believing it. I've been excited for this book since the deal announcement, which I know isn't as long as some people, but I was still very, very excited! It sounded like something incredible and I knew Schwab would do something amazing with it. Trigger warnings: depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, uncomfortable sexual encounters 

Hi, it's another review where I say it's hard to find words to describe a book like this. But it's true. How do you find the words to describe a book like this? It's a book that seemed to be infused with the light of stars, with a soft glow that follows you even when you've finished the book. It's a book that needs elaborate language to describe it, so a expect a lot of that here haha.

This book is made of moments, moments that trickle until they form something full. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the book, how it was a story made up of stories. I fell in love with the moments before I fell in love with the entire book. These moments are tied up with such a flourish. They are all tied together in a way that makes them even more than they were before. They become something different, but nothing less incredible.

Schwab really knows how to write. Like, really, really knows how to write. It's like she knows the exact right words to put in the exact right positions. The writing is just spectacularly beautiful and I think it shows the full force of her talent.

The way this book implemented darkness was great. It becomes something alive, but nothing less dangerous. It's cunning and it's something to be scared of, but it's also something you can't help but be curious about. In a way, it makes you understand Addie more, to relate to what she's going to. You can understand her actions because you can see and understand what she's dealing with.

The characters were human. And that's the biggest compliment that I can give them. They were messy, they hurt, they wanted to be enough, they felt, they wanted to dream, they wanted to live, and they wanted to be. They're just people who sink into you and make you feel so much. 

The ending surprised me, in the way that I wasn't sure about it at first. It seems like it's something open ended and I wasn't sure how I felt about that. But it ends on a promise. And that's Addie. A promise to deliver, to endure, and to keep being stubborn. It's such an amazing ending to this book and it fits so well.

This book brings out the flowy language in me, but that's how this book is. It's a book that is best described in metaphors and sayings that might be just a bit weird. This book was everything that I hoped it would and it was also nothing like I expected. It's soft, but it's powerful. Schwab seriously wrote something incredible.

This book is breathtaking. Victoria has said it took her ten years to write and I think that shows. There is care in every single line. Filled with gorgeous writing, lovely characters and a plot that leaves you wanting more! I can’t wait to own this one!

This book was pure magic. Oh goodness, I just finished this book. I’m having an emotional crisis. This book wasn’t the way I expected at all. I don’t really know what I had in mind to be completely honest but this was worth every minute. I still don’t have the words to describe how I’m feeling but I loved this book with every fiber of my being. V.E. Schwab you have ruined me once again. There was a slowness but it was one that I wanted to get lost in if that makes sense. I didn’t mind the pace or anything really, I was simply enjoying the story. I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face, and that just proved how amazing it was.

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

I’d like to thank Tor Books and Netgalley for the incredible opportunity to review The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Never before have I read a book that so encompasses my own emotions over longing, the desire to be seen, and the need to experience as much of the world as I can before it gets dark. Schwab uses her unique style of lyrical prose to convey love, hatred, heartbreak, and wanderlust in a way that kept me reading well past when the lights went off. Addie is an immensely likable and relatable character, who answers the question, “What would you give to be free to do as you choose?” in a way I related to on a deeply personal level. This story kept me on the edge of my seat, had my heart racing, and tears streaming down my face until the very last page. This book will leave you totally in love with life and a desire to live each day to its fullest. I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy when the book is released in October.

This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I’ve liked Schwab’s other books but Addie LaRue knocks them all out of the park. This book boasts an original plot, a captivating protagonist, sharp clever dialogue, and immersive descriptions...an undeniably compelling novel.

This book hits you right in the soul.
It was wonderful and beautiful and tragic and everything I hoped it would be.

Addie LaRue made a deal with a devil in 1714: she wanted to live, freely, not marrying a man she didn't love. Her curse, as she comes to find out, is that no one remembers her. Until one time in 2014, someone does.

V.E. Schwab is fast becoming one of my go-to fantasy authors, up there with N.K. Jemisin and Erin Morgenstern for her lush writing, complex storylines and compelling what ifs. She very cleverly explores what it might be like for a young woman to live for 300 years, and every time someone meets her it's as if for a first time, only to be forgotten by a quick walk away or the closing of a door between them. The way Addie manages to leave her mark on the world is inventive, and the story incredibly satisfying.

5 STARS

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.

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First off - this book was MAGICAL.

I have been a fan of fantasy for years. I love reading sweeping epics and being pulled into a fantastical new world. However, I haven't picked up a fantasy/sci-fi read for a few years now (nothing against the genre, I just haven't been in the mood.) But as soon as I read the synopsis of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, I knew that I HAD to read it!

I loved how this book slowly revealed her life over the centuries, flowing back and forth between past and present. Written with the whimsy and detail typical for this genre, explored some interesting ideas about identity, memory and our human need to be remembered long after we're gone. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy, historical fiction or someone looking to be fully immersed in the story of Addie LaRue.

(Also, this cover is PERFECT. You'll understand what I mean when you finish reading!)

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my ARC! You can snag a copy of this amazing novel October 6th.

“This is how you live forever. Here is one day, and here is the next, and the next, and you take what you can, savor every stolen second, cling to every moment, until it’s gone.”

This book cracked my heart open minute by minute, page by page, and poured its story into the fissures it created. It’s been hours since I finished and still I can’t—won’t—extricate the pieces, separate word from self. Once you’ve read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I think it’s impossible not to carry pieces of it with you. To remember it.

On a technical level, this book excels in every parameter. An ambitious story that takes us through three centuries flawlessly, weaving together the story of Addie’s journey in a way both poignantly human and evocative of the most resonant fairy tales. This story is readable in a way that encourages ravenous consumption, rich enough to be savored sentence by sentence, and powerful enough to weave a spell out of syntax and structure that you have no desire to escape from.

It’s clear that this novel is a labor of love and all the messy complications that often come with it. Not only is it a story I needed to read right now, it’s a story I think everyone will take a personal message from; it tackles issues ubiquitous to the human experience—memory, art, love, desire, loss—with characters that compel your attention (and who are queer in a seamless and unapologetic way, which was a delight).

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will be a hard, if not impossible, read to top for me this year. It has easily carved out a place in the most tender part of me where my favourite stories reside. Highly, enthusiastically, and wholeheartedly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

For years, I’ve listened to V.E. Schwab talk about The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer alchemy of what the book turned out to be: words turned to pure gold, unfathomably beautiful and loving enough to break a heart.

Addie LaRue’s story covers three centuries of time, love, and loss as she grapples with her Faustian deal and learns what it means to be a human who lives forever but is forgotten by everyone she meets. But when she meets Henry Strauss in a hidden bookshop, he is the first person in centuries who remembers her, and thus kicks off a relationship unlike any Addie has ever had and her life is thrown into uncharted territory.

At once historical, romantic, and deviously fantastical, Addie LaRue is Schwab’s best writing yet. It is sharply written, intricately plotted, and beautifully honest, but beyond that, it is unfathomably human. The characters in Addie LaRue feel not only real but they felt, many times, like myself. Within these pages were so many of my deepest desires, darkest anxieties, wildest fears, and brightest hopes brought to vibrant, impossible life. Some I’ve spoken aloud, but many I’ve not.

No book I’ve ever read has made me feel as seen as I did with Addie LaRue. Tucked within these pages alongside the story was assurance: I see you, I understand you, you’re not alone. I’m endlessly grateful that this book exists and that I’ve had the opportunity to read it, and for many readers across many demographics, this genre-defying triumph will find a welcome and loving home.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is tragic and beautiful and heartbreaking and wondrous. Perfection.

I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

OMG! 😍 You all must read this book! I was familiar with this author but read only couple books of V.E.Schwab. From the first to the last page this book lived with me. Literally! I loved every page, story development and how it was written.
It took me 48 hrs to read it. Now I wish there was another one so I can spend another day to experience a beautiful paranormal masterpiece such as this one!!! 💖

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE is unlike any novel written by V.E. Schwab that I have read before - and, believe me, I have read them all. Though still filled with the same addictive quality that makes me want to race through all of her books and girls who have vulnerable yet sharp edges at the same time, ADDIE LARUE marks something new for Schwab. It's wistful and sweeping and makes you want to ache. It's as close to "lit fic" as any of her works have come thus far and it is a lovely triumph.

Do you ever start a book and know from the first page that the book will be very important to you? That's how I felt reading this. I loved everything about Addie's story. It made me want to go out and live the life I have to the fullest. I also made me wish that I could live through centuries and see everything the world has to offer.

Addie, Henry, and Luc are some of the most wonderful characters I have ever read. I want to follow them through everything they do.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this gem. I will forever be in awe of the way V.E. Schwab writes, and I will recommend this to everyone I meet.

VE Schwab’s book is about Addie, who made a deal with The Darkness. She’s immortal but she’s nameless and forgotten by everyone as soon as she’s out of their sight. Even her parents and friends don’t remember her. How do you exist in a world where you can leave no mark, not your image, your signature or even the stain of spilled wine. Lovers only remember you until you leave the room or they fall asleep.

The Darkness offers Addie an end to the pain of this loneliness - pay him what she bargained away - her soul.

Addie refuses, engaging in a cat and mouse powerplay spanning centuries. Refusing to surrender her soul, always demanding her freedom.

After three centuries, Addie meets a man who remembers her and it changes her life.

This book was a delicious doorstop of a story. All about what it means to be seen, known, and loved. And what’s important enough to bargain away your soul. The author’s writing is luminously beautiful. Even after 500+ pages, I didn’t want the story to be over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for the DRC.

WOW. Reading this book is like eating 92% dark chocolate, or drinking fine peaty scotch, or watching smoke over a fire. It's something beautiful, dark, delicious, and should absolutely be savored. As always, Schwab completely captured me with her beautiful use of language. In my opinion, this is her best one yet!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Addie LaRue is now one of my top five all-time favorite books.
I hardly have the words to describe how much I loved this book and the characters.
I think that Addie LaRue will resonate in the hearts of anyone, of any age.
VE Schwab truly outdid herself. I've rated every one of her books five stars, but this is the best one yet.
The writing was flawless, the characters were amazing, and the plot itself was simply heartbreaking.

I was hooked from the very beginning. This book grabbed me and held me to the very last word and then I wanted more! Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book before it's release, it was one of my most anticipated books this year and I'm pretty sure it will be my favorite read of 2020!

In Addie there lives a ferocious hope, forever marveling at the good in the world, while enduring a curse that she never dreamed was possible.

V. E. Schwab has written The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in such a way that you will never forget it. The characters, history, nuances, depth, connections, and emotions will float to your mind at random times long after your first read. They will wisp into your thoughts as you leave work, make a new friend, buy groceries or see a long-familiar piece of art as if seeing it for the first time. This book re-defines hope and longing and closure and what it means to get what you ask for even, if it’s not what you need. Well done, V. E. Schwab! Well done.

I give this book 7 stars out of 5!

Can I give this book 7 stars instead? What a bittersweet beauty of a book. Victoria’s prose sparkles and jumps off the page, pulling the reader further and further in with every word. I could not be more honored to have spent time in this story. Addie is a triumph, a cure to any and all reading slumps, and by far one of the most magical I’ve read.

This is an amazing book. I was so enthralled that I couldn't put it down and read it over the course of 2 days.

Addie is a wonderful character and I loved the conflict that she had in her relationship with the dark god. The journey that she took encompassed space, time and exploration of herself, and it was fascinating.

I loved that the author went back and forth between present day and Addie's past, and it was done extremely well. I never felt disappointed at the switch.

I loved everything about this book!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue devastated me in the best possible way. I have never felt so connected to characters in a book, or so seen by an author. This book whispers to you, to the unspoken fears, the stubborn hopes and dreams, the painful heartbreaks, and the hopeful joys we experience in life. It shows us that there is wonder in the moment, and that there are ways forward. It is absolutely stunning, beautifully written, and an instant favorite. This book and these characters captivated me from the very beginning and will stay with me for a very, very long time.

Addie LaRue has certainly been a slow read but one worth savoring. Schwab weaves a lyrical tale of a woman who makes a deal with the dark, offering her soul in exchange for adventure... A life she could never live in her small town in 17th century France. Addie slowly learns that she gave away much more then expected.

This is not the end of Addie. It is a beginning.

I had zero expectations going into this book, as I find my enjoyment of V. E. Schwab books hit or miss, but man I LOVED this book. The writing was absolutely beautiful and draws you into the story. The alternating timelines unfurls the story in a way that leaves the reader wanting more. I loved the way that Henry and Addie's stories intertwined. I loved the complicated relationship between Addie and Luc. I loved the ideas presented in this story about time and memory and forgetting. I loved this book and highly suggest reading it. I will say there were a couple of pretty difficult scenes related to prostitution/sex and a scene relating to attempted suicide, so if those are triggering for you, just beware. However, those scenes are few and far between and the reader experiences 300 years of civilization evolving through the eyes of our narrator.

This book is an exquisite dessert, so delightfully and wonderfully and personally satisfying that at times it felt Schwab wrote it just for me (or for anyone who loves art and trees and stars and history and folklore and literature and speakeasies and used bookstores and the idea of A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE DEVIL as much as I do... in that case, you, too, are the target audience for this book, and it will hit the bullseye). Sinking into the velvet lushness of this story – its ambitious ideas, its confident storytelling and eventual pay-off, its sharp, elegant prose – was the perfect escape and the best surprise; ultimately everything I wanted it to be.

This time: I have no words for this masterpiece. Literally speechless, wordless, expressionless, blinking, sighing, awed, adored, fell hard, truly loved! I may announce you one of top ten best books of the year. I know we’re at the fourth month and during our quarantine if I resume finishing approximately 10 to 14 books weekly, this means I can read nearly 500 more books but when you know, you know, this book is like unconditional love at first sight.
It’s a unique story about a village girl’s true demand of her independence, free will and having choices about her own life. She doesn’t want to be someone’s wife and somebody’s mother. She wanted to die standing tall just like trees. So she prays for the old gods and new gods but nobody answered her prayers but somebody heard her. She grabbed somebody’s true attention! Before her wedding, she knelt down on the soil and made a big mistake to pray after dark because she summoned the darkness. And she made a deal with the devil( green eyed, curly dark haired, a version of Lucifer Morningstar who uses contact lenses) for her freedom, earned her immortality at the expanse of being forgotten.
That’s right. Adeline La Rue became immortal and also expendable, cursed, living like a shadow by giving each person she met a short term memory lost. Anyone she meets turns into Guy Pearce from Memento and forgets her a few seconds later. That was the punishment his charming and cunny evil she called Luc gave her. She cannot even tell her name and write it anywhere. Only devil can call her name.
So Adeline shortens her name as Addie and starts her epic adventure, witnessing the world’s history, mostly spending her time at European countries, seeing the French Revolution, world wars, artistic, political, social economic movements and awakening of the cities.
She loved, she hurt, she suffered, she is neglected, abandoned, abused. She lived like a fugitive in people’s houses, learning to be skilled thief. Mostly at each anniversary she resumed her meeting with Luc who wants her obey and surrender to him completely by giving her soul. But her biggest strength is her endurance and stubbornness because no matter how lonely she is, how she witness the people she fell for treating her like a stranger each time she meet them again, she still love to live fulfilled and learn from experiences. And she is wise enough to become unforgettable by living her thumb prints to the many art masterpieces from the drawings to the songs, books. Even her blurry photos left quite stunning impression on the people. She enjoyed the art and she was talented enough to leave her trace. That’s the real essence of immortality she contributed to the changing world.
But 300 years of solitude and loneliness end when she stops by the bookstore. Henry, the owner of the store, feeling too much, suffering from broken heart and melancholia looking for something but as like the song he still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. Till he sees the girl tries to trick him by stealing books and he remembers her name.
Yes, after 300 freaking years later, somebody remembered Addie. How? Who is this? Just a lonely boy who wants to love and to be loved in return! Addie thinks she tricked Luc, she found her soul mate but everything comes with the price like her free will and immortality. Is she ready pay for the unconditional love? Is there still hope for her future? Or Luc is about to win their duello by pulling out a last deadly trick? Let’s get lost at this incredible journey to find out.
The ending is a little surprising but it was also hopeful and motivational. I don’t want to talk about because I’m afraid of giving too many details and ruin everything but I wish I could read more adventures of Addie. Fingers crossed!
This is the best book tributes to living and enjoying life fulfilled and healing power of the art. Even though Addie is lonely, cursed, abandoned, she has strong willpower, tough and fearless because she never regrets the life she has lived. Here is one of my favorite part of the book:
“And she is tired. Unspeakably tired.
But there is no question she has lived.
“Nothing is all good or all bad”, she says. “Life is so much messier than that.”
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”

So is this book worth to fall in at first sentence? ABSOLUTELY! Five stars won’t be enough!
So much thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor Books for sharing this fantastic ARC and giving me this opportunity to read and review it. I loved it so much! This is not one of the best books I’ve read lately, this also turned into one of my favorite books of V.E. Schwab. I wish it would never end!

I am completely speechless. This novel is a masterpiece. It made me laugh, cry, broke my heart in ways that I didn't know were possible, yet serves as one of the greatest inspirations. V.E. Schwab never disappoints, and this is her masterpiece. I have never read a novel that is so timeless and captivating. I never read a piece that broken by heart while mending it at the same time. I don't know how she does it, but Schwab does IT. She pulls at aspects of your heart and mind that you didn't even know you thought about. She conjures up adventures and sparks something in you that feels so nostalgic. Not a single one of her novels disappoints but this one is on another level. Knowing that she worked so hard, and so long on this beauty makes it even more amazing and her hard work SHOWS. From beautiful prose to characters that you'll fall in love with, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has it all. Sprinkled with romance, history, and darkness, this novel is completely encapsulating. Thank you for sharing Addie with us, Ms. Schwab. Thank you for telling us her story. An instant classic in the making. One day I hope to be able to tell stories as meaningful and as beautifully crafted as yours.

My favorite is still ADSOM (and will forever be) but Addie is something you don’t want to miss out on!

A special thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue! I am forever grateful to have been able to follow Addie along this journey before the rest of the world.

*NOTE: An early ARC of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE was provided by Tor Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one.” This morning, I sat down with my steaming cup of coffee and I read the final chapters of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Reader, I have few words. In a time where the world feels like chaos, where everyday feels unknown, this is a book of savoring the days. Of defiant joy. Of life and living and loving and art and beauty and heartbreak. Addie is a character stubbornly determined to be alive. ⠀
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I won’t give away more than that. I have followed @veschwab for years, and have longed for this story she has slowly teased bites of. Now, with the whole dessert almost prepared for serving, I can safely say it tastes delicious. Dark, bitter, and mouthwateringly sweet.

Thank you Tor Books for the advanced review copy. 🖤

I have know this for a long time, and I will never not say this: Victoria Schwab is a genius. I've heard about this book for a while, and I couldn't wait to read it. To say that I am not disappointed in the hype is an understatement. Schwab is such an interesting writer, as seen in her other books. She's magical in the way she presents anything like villains, anti-villains, magic and fantasy. This book seems simple in its Faustian feel of what is the price of making a deal with the devil--or the darkness? Addie LaRue's tale of immortality--the concept of attaining it, learning to live with it, and living with the price being to not being able to leave a single mark of being a memory, to be forgotten. This is a tale of loneliness, but it also about living a certain way in saying that immortality is not everything it pans out to be. I love the entire plot and the presentation of this book. In going between past and present and the way Schwab presents history but having it not outshine the real center of the book, which is Addie's experiences as she lives her life alone..Addie is a heroine of a kind and I loved her complexities, her wants, her heartache and her fight to live-even her want to spite Luc--the darkness and the dealmaker. Hers is a story of tragedy, and even when she finds love it comes with a price. I loved the whirlwind and the elements of the story beginning to end, and if the ending doesn't show readers just how much of a badass Addie is, then I don't know what will.

V.E. Schwab has done it again. This book... I went into it without knowing more than the basic premise, (girl makes bad deal with dark thing and lives forever but no one remembers her,) and was just blown away. We go between Addie’s life in France in the 17 hundreds, what led her to make her choice and how she dealt with the immediate aftermath, and cut between then and now, almost 300 years later when she is much more savvy about her curse and how to live alone surrounded by others. And then... and then someone *does* remember her. What now? Is the curse changing? Is it a glitch? And will the darkness come back for her, as it always does. I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to give the journey away, but I loved the characters so much. I also loved the settings, France over time and New York City now, and the thread of art throughout. I highly recommend this book!

This is a phenomenal story and it is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I was swept away right from the start. Addie's story is one that spans hundreds of years jumping from the past to the near present. This is a complicated story of a girl who makes a deal with the devil. The complex relationship between Addie and Luc is mesmerizing. Addie is a complicated character with many layers and the way the author writes about her experiences through time take the reader right along with Addie. It is hard to explain this story without saying to much but I will say that I lost myself a bit in this book and it was exactly what I needed. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review. .

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Wow, this book was incredible! I'm already a Schwab fan so there really weren't any doubts going in that I wouldn't love it. This book follows the titular character who's made a deal with the devil in order to live freely, but at the cost that she's forgotten by everyone. After three hundred years of this, Addie finds the one person in the world who remembers her. This book has beautiful prose, gut-wrenching scenes, and wonderful characters. From the first page, I had already decided that it would become one of my all-time favorites.

There are very few books you come across during your lifetime that speak—to who you are, to the things you keep hidden, to the fears you ignore, to the hope you cling to. To the defiant joy and heartbreak and strength and stubbornness and love and need that I—that you—feel.

This is one of them.

I will not say much because we’re still so far away and everyone deserves to go into this book knowing nothing beyond the synopsis and the hints Schwab has given throughout the years she’s taken to write this book, but The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a book that spoke to my soul, forced a flashlight into the hidden corners and spring cleaning of the dust covering the boxes and the sweeping of things out from under the rug. I connected with this book in so many ways, every way, and these two main characters had me feeling everything. Had me hoping. Had me breaking. And I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world and to reread a finished copy.

I will say, however, that this book is classic Schwab—gorgeous writing, a slow-burn story that instantly consumes you, and characters that nestle in and never let go. I was hooked from the very first page and have not yet been let go—even though I’ve sadly finished

Thank you SO MUCH, Tor, for giving me the opportunity to read this beauty early. It’s a book that will stay with me for the rest of my life—no matter how long or short.

This is one of the rare books where I was almost immediately grabbed by the characters and the plot at the same time. I can literally name the moment where I realized that this would be a book I'd be coming back to so that I could more fully appreciate this incredible story.

The particulars of Addie LaRue's invisible life were fascinating, and getting perspectives of and Addie that has mostly figured out the contours of the curse that she lives under and an Addie that is trying to figure it out as she goes along was a great narrative thread to follow, and I always enjoyed these flashbacks which is a rarity for me in most fiction.

A really incredible read and an easy book to recommend to people during a reader's advisory session.

I have read and very much enjoyed other books by V.E. Schwab, both under the name "V.E." and "Victoria," but this is by far the best so far. In a few words: I loved it. It is in some ways different from her other books: a little less dark, considerably less action-packed, but for me that enhanced it. It is like a long, meditative, celebration of life, with all its pain and pleasures, featuring a strong, indomitable heroine whom you won't be able to forget.

And the central conceit of this novel is that Adeline LaRue lives forever, caught like a moment in time, unchanging and never remembered. She is not even able to say her own name. She can meet and talk to someone, turn away, come back ten minutes later, and they won't remember meeting her. This is the consequence of a deal she made with ... the devil? Perhaps. Certainly a powerful dark spirit, who entraps her by granting her wish to experience life. Moving back and forth in time, we see vignettes of her strange but rich life over 300 years, until one day she meets someone who remembers her. To call this a love story is something of a misnomer, except in the sense that it's a love story to life itself: to physical being, to art, to beauty, and, yes, to pain. To say more would be to give away too much; enough to say that this is a rich and thought-provoking book.

I am a huge fan of V. E. Schwab's writing and have heard her talk so much about this book on social media and I couldn't wait to read it! When I saw this as an option on NetGalley I knew I had to request it! I didn't think I would be selected but I was and I am so thankful! I really enjoyed this read and couldn't get enough of it! Huge Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for this opportunity!

I had really been anticipating reading this book, and I want to say right up front, it did not disappoint. If you enjoy reading VE (or Victoria in middle grade format) Schwab, you will love it. If you have never read her imaginative well-written fiction before, this is a great place to start. Her characters drive her books, and Addie, Luc and Henry will stay with you long after you put down the book. All become very real as you read and you can understand and feel what they are each going through, even though one of them may be the devil himself! I could almost describe this book as historical fiction, fantasy, romance, self-help, memoir, and all nearly fit the bill. But it's more than that. The book centers around Addie Larue, who was born in about 1691 (ahead of her time) in France in but is still alive in New York in 2014. Her spirit lively and indelible to the reader, but sadly, due to a curse, no one she meets can remember her, hence her "invisible" life. Dealing with feeling invisible and meaningless are feelings any reader can relate to, but being able to reach for those feelings while wrapped up in 300 years of history and a budding romance with another possibly cursed character in Henry, is just a complete treat for the reader. The copy I received was an e-reader advanced copy, which may have contributed to sometimes having minor difficulty with all the shifts in time (also brought on by my rabid desire to find out what was going to happen next--the pacing in this book really picked up as it went along!). I am guessing the print copy will use various fonts and have less subtle ways to alert the reader to the time shifts. I also can't wait to see the art the e-copy references. October 6, 2020 can't come soon enough!

I loved this book. This was a sumptuous story told by a master. Covering 300 years in time, from the 1700s to current day, in various countries, during various eras in time, was so enjoyable. The characters of Addie, Luc, and Henry were all compelling and connected and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. The role that art and stories played in this novel was my favorite part. It lent such an elegance to the tale. I don't want to give anything away as it will be a luxury to readers to simply let the story unfold. But those who are anxiously awaiting this book's publication will not be disappointed. Sure to be THE READ of Fall 2020. Thank you to Net Galley, Tor Books, and VE Schwab for this ARC.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of those books that's so good, 5 stars is nowhere near enough to reflect how much I love it! I couldn't put it down but I also didn't want it to end - it was that good!

Summary:
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.

Addie didn't want to follow the path her family had in mind for her; she wanted a great big life. So she dared to ask the gods, which resulted in her being doomed to be forgotten by everyone she meets until the day she is ready to surrender to the dark god that granted her wish. But Addie is stubborn and smart and resilient, and she refuses to surrender. She has her big life, and finds ways to leave her mark even though she can't say her own name and no one remembers her face. Until one day, when she walks into a bookstore.

I love this book and I absolutely love Addie! I already know this is going to be one of the best books I'll read in 2020!

This was such a stunning story. Schwab really knows how to weave a beautifully haunting tale. I found some moments predictable but the way Schwab writes those moments still cause them to hit hard. I love Addie so much. She was a phenomenal character who is fierce, intelligent, and cunning.

I’ve always been a fan of Victoria’s writing, and this novel shows her talent so well. She has a way of crafting beautiful sentences that make you hang on every word. I was fully invested in Addie’s story, and I never wanted it to end.
I’ve been waiting for what seems like years for this story to be published – I follow Schwab on multiple social media accounts, and she talked about this general plot line for so long! Just like Addie’s experiences, the wait was so very worth it. I highly recommend.

This book was absolutely incredibly. My heart hurts so much. VE Schwab is already one of my favorite writers but she truly out did herself with this masterpiece. I can’t wait to sell this book to so many people.

I have been eagerly awaiting The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and want to thank Tor Books and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy to read! I absolutely loved this book. Telling the story of Addie LaRue, a girl cursed to be forgotten by all but in exchange is completely free and beholden to no one. Telling her 300 year history until she meets someone who remembers her in modern day New York, This is a story that will easily appeal to all readers. Filled with history, fantasy, art, romance and the desire to be known, every reader will be able to take away something special from this story. The love that V. E Schwab had for these characters and this story is apparent on every page, and made this story a true joy to read. This book will easily join my list of books to recommend to every one I know.

I have to start this review (as I do with any review of a V.E. Schwab book) by stating that this book is by my favorite author. I am subject to bias, and for those who know me I hope you take this review to heart because I always try to review in as unbiased a way as possible. That being said, this is one of the finest pieces of fiction I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is far and away my favorite book from Schwab, and I genuinely cannot wait until its release so I can own several hard copies.

The love, care, and effort that went into writing this book is evident in every word on the page, and I thoroughly believe that this book is worth your time. I was swept away in the storytelling spanning 300 years, spellbound by the characterization of the God who answers after dark, and the push and pull that Addie and the other characters all have with the inevitable fate that binds them together. It's not a light read, but it's one I wish I could forget completely and re-read for the first time again (Ironic, based on the premise of the book). I don't know if you'll cry, but I certainly did. Just do yourself a favor and read this as soon as you have any possible way to read it.

I was sent an advanced reader copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have no words.
Here is a book that everyone should read.
Here is a book with masterful prose that a reader can tear into like a pastry.
Here is a book that made me cry. For Addie, and for Henry, and for myself.
Preorder this book. Read this book. I would not be surprised to find it on a classics shelf in a century.
Here is a book that is more than a book.

It’s been such a chaotic time but reading this book was like falling into a different world. The words drew me in and I fell in love with Addie and Henry. Two people so different and yet so alike too. I loved the almost lyrical nature of the writing in this book and though you can tell this is written by Schwab, it is also different too. The flow of the story feels different than her other novels. I loved this one and cannot wait for others to love it too. 🖤

Addie LaRue is desperate to keep her freedom, so she sells her soul. She's now blessed with eternity, but the cost is apparent immediately: she cannot leave any marks on the world, and people forget her as soon as they leave the room. Addie's life takes her from rural France through war and hunger and strife for three hundred years. She exists in blind spots, looking for loopholes and ways to leave her fingerprints on the awareness of others, having to be content with being a half-remembered dream instead of a person in her own right.

And then in New York, for the first time in many, many lifetimes, she finds someone who remembers her.

Schwab weaves an exquisite tale of memory, love, and longing that keeps you guessing right until the end. Completely wonderful.

"What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?"

Oh, my heart. This was phenomenal.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE is special. It is ambitious and dreamy and painfully, tragically beautiful. It's a book about love taking on many different shapes--from romantic to platonic to self-love. It's about how to survive, about how to fight for what you want in life. It’s about a woman who just wants to live her life fullest and be remembered in some way.

This is the story of Adeline LaRue, a woman approaching her mid-twenties in 1714. Addie has always fantasized of more for her small, humble life in the French countryside cottage where she lives with her parents. Addie wishes to travel wherever her feet wander, to see things she could only dream up, to be free. Because of her age, her parents have become impatient about her marrying and starting a life as a good wife and mother, and make plans to force her into a marriage with a widower with small children of his own. Looking for a way out of this unwelcome, mundane lifestyle, Addie prays to the new gods to interfere with these plans and comes up short. And without realizing it, Addie continues to desperately pray to unknown, more infernal, entities. Except for this time, something answers in the dark.

"The old gods may be great, but they are neither kind nor merciful. They are fickle, unsteady as moonlight on water, or shadows in a storm. If you insist on calling them, take heed: be careful what you ask for, be willing to pay the price...And no matter how desperate or dire, never pray to the gods that answer after dark."

In a moment of hopelessness, Addie makes a bargain with the wrong god, trading her soul for an unlimited amount of time on Earth. Addie declares that she will give up her soul when she has sufficiently lived her life and is ready to leave it behind. But the shadowy devil now shaped like a person can't make it so easy for her. Thus, Addie LaRue is cursed to immortal life, completely free to be responsible for herself and herself only, but in which she can leave no mark, cannot be remembered at all. Addie cannot even speak or write her own name, though she repeats it in her mind as a reminder that she is an existing person who matters. The only being that can say her name is the one who cursed her to this new exhausting life. And she makes it 300 lonely, albeit free, years before someone impossibly remembers her name.

Schwab weaves this tale together with different timelines, going back and forth between the past, set all over the place as Addie travels but starting in France, and the present, set in modern New York City. The book is so carefully constructed and the prose is breathtaking. You can feel the love and care that went into every sentence. Schwab took her time telling this story, and I think a lot of my emotional response to it comes from that slow and steady building of character and history.

The scope of this book is incredible, spanning centuries. We learn about the 300 years in which Addie has had to survive second by second without anyone remembering who she is, even sometimes moments after meeting her, creating all kinds of chaos. Addie has to start over constantly and relentlessly. The story portrays how the mechanics of the curse works and how stressful it is to be a woman during this time period, how gender norms hurt, and especially when no one can remember you or where you belong. Above all, how painful it is when you just want someone to know you as you know them. To feel known at all.

Also, as an aside, we learn about her complicated relationship with the devil who cursed her and their history throughout Addie's long life. It is really, really interesting, to say the least. And as we who read Schwab knows, she is extremely good at writing morally grey, questionable, mysterious type characters. We're all going to have some really fun discussions around this particular part of the book, I can tell you now.

"Don't you remember, she told him then, when you were nothing but shadow and smoke?"

"Darling, he'd said in his soft, rich way, I was the night itself."

Over the centuries, Addie struggles to find her place amongst an ever-changing world, which is heart-wrenching but doesn't let that stop her from trying every single day. This is the kind of book that showcases what we long for, what we desire in the depths of our hearts, sometimes even unbeknownst to us. I think what stands out about this book is the perseverance of the human spirit. How we can fall down a thousand times, get back up and brush the dirt off, and keep going. How humankind as a whole has done this almost constantly, since the very beginning.

V.E. Schwab put her soul into this book, much like Addie found ways to put her soul back into the world bit by bit. Art always prevails and sustains, in spite of what goes on in the world. Though Addie is cursed to a forgotten existence, she does indeed find seemingly small ways to insert herself into history by sleight of hand, by cleverness and inspiration. Though she lives through much heartbreak and tragedy due to her curse, Addie keeps finding the light, keeps discovering joys and adventures. The hopefulness of this book made me emotional because it’s just what I needed right at this moment.

"Nothing is all good or all bad," she says. "Life is so much messier than that."

I want to say more about Addie, about the Darkness that lurks around her, about Henry, the sorrowful boy who remembers her. But, I cannot, because that would mean delving into more detail, and trust me, the mystery surrounding them is worth the wait. One thing I would like to say is how everyone of note in this book is casually queer in a way that I feel like I don't often see in literature. Both protagonists have had boyfriends and girlfriends, and it's refreshing. I really liked all the side characters, too. Everyone was delightful in their own way. I miss them all already.

And I would be remiss to not talk about the ending at all, so I will say that it was very daring and surprising and I loved it. Just. Astonishing. V.E. Schwab keeps finding ways to amaze me with her storytelling. It's one of my favorite kinds of endings, which you will all see what I mean when you read it.

This book resonated deeply. I cannot wait to hold the physical copy in my hands and hug it tight. Thank you to V.E. Schwab for writing such a moving, vulnerable, and compelling story. I feel that this is her most personal book yet, and I'm grateful for it. THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE is an absolutely stunning and sweeping achievement of love, courage, and determination. 5 dazzling stars as memorable as the constellation of freckles dotting Addie's cheeks.

I highly recommend preordering this beauty.

Thank you endlessly to Netgalley and Tor Books for providing an ARC of this beautiful book for an honest review.

Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.

This was a beautiful story that reminded me of The Time Traveller's Wife, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, and Sandman (the comics), while also telling it's own completely new and unique story.

Adaline (Addie) LaRue is born in a small French town in the late 1600s. From childhood she wants more then what her life promises, and this desire comes to a head in 1714 when she is about to be married off to a local widower. Addie can see the rest of her life falling into place before her, and instead of submitting she runs, and as night falls she prays for something to change her life and give her the freedom she desires. The darkness answers her, in a Faustian bargain where he/it promises her life and freedom in exchange for her soul, when she no longer wants it. It's only after the bargain has been struck that Addie discovers the boundaries of her new freedom: she has time, because she will no longer age or change in any way. She has freedom because no one, including people who have known her all her life, will ever remember her. She can't speak her name, she can't write, or draw, or make any physical changes to the world, and as soon as she passes out of a person's sight they will forget she ever existed. It takes three hundred years for that to change, when Addie meets a young man named Henry in a New York bookshop for the second time, and he remembers her.

The book jumps back and forth between Addie's meandering past and the present timeline. Her story is slowly revealed, including her contentious relationship with the Darkness that cursed her (who she later names Luc). The central question of Addie's story is, how can you have a life if you can't leave any mark on the world? V.E. Schwab has done a remarkable job thinking about the details of Addie's curse, and finding solutions that someone in this situation might slowly discover. I was also impressed by the emotional impact many of Addie's interludes contained. Her story continually reminds the reader that even at its darkest, life can still offer you flashes of remarkable beauty.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from the end of the story, but the ending that we are given is perfect. I think that some people will be crying for a sequel when they finish, but I really hope that this book remains a standalone. The story is perfectly contained as is, and I would prefer to leave the ending open, and believe that anything at all could happen next.

This is my favorite V.E. Schwab book so far, and I hope other readers will be just as interested in Addie's story as I was.

As a huge Schwab fan, I had high hopes for this book. It lived up to all my expectations, and even exceeded some. I loved all of the twists and turns, and found it difficult to put down. Loved all of the New York references, and had fun spotting places I knew and had been to. Can't wait to get this book into the hands of my patrons.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

YALL. This book is everything. I always enjoy V.E. Schwab’s novels but this one? The best thing I’ve read in a very long time. I absolutely loved Addie and traveling with her on her 300 year long journey. I would happily read about another 300 years. She is delightful and strong and so relatable. Her story is moving and heartbreaking and inspiring. I will be telling everyone about this book. I can already tell this might be my favorite book of 2020. Read it. Trust me. Do your future self a favor and preorder it now!

I mean, what can you say about perfection, I read it in a day. And I can’t wait to read it again, Having loved her previous works, I had high hopes for this and was not at all disappointed,, in fact this might have nudged it’s way in to the top spot! There is just something so lyrical and compelling about the way she writes, descriptive enough to accentuate the story with out bogging it down in details. Love love love! I will always be excited about her new releases. Can’t wait for the 3rd City of Bones book to come out too. Incredible!

Those looking to fill The Night Circus shaped hole in their hearts need look no further! The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has the perfect mix of supernatural intrigue, love story, and Faustian bargains!

I loved this book so much. V. E. Schwab was already one of my favorite authors so I am not surprised. I love her writing style so much. It is both lyrical but also natural to read. The concept was clever and well executed. I loved all the characters and the time jumps were not difficult to follow at all. The story really stays with you too. And by this I mean I spent the whole day convinced everyone I knew was going to forget about me.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. The plot is unique, the structure lays out the story perfectly, and the characters are worthy rooting for the whole way through. Schwab spins an intricate tale with charm, heartbreak, and humor throughout. I would definite read it again.

This book spent years on my TBR list and was, by far, my most anticipated book coming out in 2020. Before I knew the plot, V.E. Schwab's name was enough to pull my attention as A Darker Shade of Magic and Vicious remain two of my favorite series of all time. I went into this book with incredibly high excitement and expectation, and definitely was not let down.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue takes the reader not only on a journey through time and across the world, but it is also a story of emotional growth and second chances. It is complex and beautifully written, and I flew through it faster than anticipated, finding myself still awake at 5am as I reached the final chapters. As an indie bookseller minoring in history and studying French, who is also obsessed with fantasy novels and imperfect characters, this book felt written specifically to my interests and I loved it all the more for it and found my only wish to be that I could read even more of Addie's story.

I cannot wait for the October release date so that I can share this book with both friends and customers.

Addie LaRue was wonderful. I cannot wait for it to actually exist in the world and not just be words on my tablet screen. It was not what I was expecting but it was lovely.

Unlike some of VE Schwab's other books, Addie LaRue seems to be more a work of literary fiction than fantasy. That being said, it still has some magical/fantastical aspects that helped me ease in to the different storytelling style. The story was very much character driven, and it was done well. There were moments when the character development would lull for one character but then the next character would step in and the reader would be swept up in the story all over again. I fell in love with the two main characters, and they made me feel all of the feelings as they tried to navigate their weirdly screwed up lives. Watching them fall in love was beautiful. The end gave me feels as well- feels that I don't know exactly how to comprehend but they were feels. Ultimately though, I would categorize this book as a modern day fairy tale (like, a real fairy tale, not a Disney-style fairy tale). There is some magic but the story is ultimately about our humanity and what it means to be here on this earth.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves character-driven love stories. I would sell it alongside Erin Morgenstern and Diana Gabaldon. I would pair it with a bright coffee or champagne.

Shout out to Netgalley for the digital ARC.

In a desperate attempt to rescue herself from a life of wife and motherhood to a brood not her own and to break the bonds that hold a young woman of France in the 1600's, Ade!ine Larue makes a deal with the devil. What follows is 300 years of living a marvelously full life, love and laughter, pain and heartbreak, but with the caveat that no one will remember her. The moment she is out of sight, she is forgotten. She cannot make a mark. She cannot say her own full name. So how is one to forge relationships, to make connections? Only when she meets another who has made his own deal with the devil, does it become clear what she has won and lost. Schwab writes a timeless tale that in the reading feels like dropping into another world, dizzying in its time travelling escapades and emotional highs and lows. Where the story ends up might not be a great surprise, but the journey there is one worth taking. Review from e-galley.

An immersive, heartbreaking, yet hopeful story that unfolds in gorgeous writing. It is a love letter to artists and creatives and everyone who yearns to leave their mark on the world.

I am a huge fan of V.E. Schwab (Vicious is one of my favorite books of all time) so when I heard about "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue", I was excited to read it. The premise sounded very promising - a pact with the devil, a cursed life, and someone (300 years later) remembers her. My interest was piqued.

Once I started reading it, I was hooked. I loved everything about it. It's a story about wanting to be seen who you truly are. It's a story about the yearn for leaving your mark on the world. It's a story about love and freedom. It's a story about the grand moments and the quiet moments when no one is looking. It's a story about living your life to its fullest. I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to end, but I think it ended exactly the way it needed to end.

It's only April, but I know this will be one of the best books (if not, the best book) of the year for me. I highly recommend this one.

There is a unique kind of magic to a Victoria Schwab book. She’s the kind of writer who, while reading her work, you just know this is what she was meant to do. While reading Addie LaRue I was absolutely hooked, falling more in love with each page, with a lingering feeling of dread knowing that it had to end eventually. It’s been a day since I finished this book and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. An all-time favorite.

This is the type of book that you think you know what you're reading, know what to expect but it twists and turns to bring you around into this magnificent story of love and loss and ages gone by. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a beautiful story.

I'm thankful to have the chance to read this, completely fallen in love.

#irememberaddie

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is an exploration of life, loss, love, loneliness and what it means to be remembered. The marks we leave in the world and the importance behind all forms of art.

I can't go into detail about why I loved this book, but all I can say is I found it a beautifully told story about a girl who just wants to experience everything the world has to offer, to leave a mark, to be remembered. Probably my new favourite book V.E. Schwab has written to date, cannot recommend it highly enough.

V.E. Schwab is one of those authors that never lets me down. No matter what she writes, I'm all in and ready to fall in love. I knew that I was going to love this one just from the opening line but I wasn't expecting it to take over my life, to where I start dreaming about this beautiful novel.

This one really tugged all of my heartstrings all at once and it hit me hard. The way she writes is mesmerizing and the story that unfolds through these pages will leave you breathless. I'm still at a loss for words about how much I loved this book. There really are no words to describe its beauty, its heartbreak, and its pure emotion. This book truly owns all of my heart.

What does a Librarian have to do to get her hands on a physical arc copy of this beauty?

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Tor in exchange for an honest review.

Welp. Victoria Schwab does it again.

When I started reading this book, I wondered if it was going to water my crops (ADSOM) or absolutely destroy me (Monsters of Verity). Friends, I don't even know how it's possible, but the answer was BOTH.

Schwab has been writing this book for years and has made no secret of how difficult it was for her at times. She took her time, and it paid off. The story is dark and bright and light and so, so heavy. The prose is brilliant as always.

Addie is a girl that made a deal with the devil to live forever, but in exchange no one will remember her. Until, that is, she meets Henry. A boy with storms in his head and a crack in his heart who really doesn't want anything more than to be loved. Their journey together is hope and disappointment and learning and honestly friends, it's so very honest. Addie's relationship with said devil is also one of my favorite parts of this book. I'll not say more than that for fear of spoiling it.

Something else I really appreciated, and which Schwab has acknowledged on twitter, is the 'casual queerness' (I believe this was another reviewer's words) in these books. Henry and Addie are both bi (pan? something else?) and the really great thing about it is that there's no conflict around it. It's not imperative to the story. It just is. Two people who've lived lives and had relationships. There's no big coming out, there's not argument over it. Henry's friends are also gloriously, mundanely queer. It's noteworthy in that it's really un-notable, and I love that about this book.

Bottom line, I definitely recommend. It does start a bit slow admittedly, but picks up around the middle and devastates by the end. Pre-order this

While I've enjoyed Schwab's writing in the past, I could never get fully immersed in the characters and storylines. But there was something about this one that made me give it a try, maybe the cover, the description, I don't know... and it completely rocked my world. I see why this one took the author so many years to write. It's like, you can FEEL the years when you read it. You can feel the dedication that went into this book. Schwab's skill and talent is fully realized in this beautiful, magical masterpiece. At the time I sent this review to Netgalley, there were 97 reviews before mine and every one of them is 5 stars. Incredible. You have to read it.

A million gold stars! This is my new favorite book by this author. Can’t wait to shove it in the hands of everyone I meet!

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE gripped me from the very first page. V.E. Schwab's writing is lush, and she brings to life each city and century Addie finds herself in. I was particularly affected by Addie's struggle to leave her mark, and to find meaning and connection in a world where she cannot be remembered. The ending was powerful and emotional, and my only complaint was that I wanted to live longer in Addie's world.

My quarantine read courtesy of NetGallery and oh my f*****g god it was soooo good. I knew that going into it I would like it ( I mean 300 year old French girl and the devil fall in love, who wouldn’t like it ) but my mind was bewildered by this masterpiece! Please for the love of Luc pick up this book when it come out! You will not be disappointed.

Coming into this having read a decent about of V.E. Schwab’s books I was ready for beautiful prose and fabulous imagery, but I was blown away by the intricate romance in the novel.

Please read this if want to absolutely fall in love with Schwab’s writing for the first time or the 45th time! I promise it will leave you wanting more.

This book is truly a masterpiece. I loved Addie LaRue, she is was such a bold, brave and lovable character. I really loved the chapters about her life in France and how she changed and where she went throughout history. I loved her backstory with her parents and Estelle and how strongly she felt about everything. The chapters from her history definitely had a folktale/enchanting feel to them. Even if there were some sad events. I did feel like New York as a setting took away from the charm of this book, so I really didn't love that. Henry was also... mediocre and I was hoping for more from him. Luc was something else though. A dark incarnate who wisps Addie through time and becomes somewhat of an expectation. I adored their story line, even if it broke my heart. This book was so enchanting yet heartbreaking all at once.

V.E. Schwab continues to amaze me. The premise of a girl selling her soul to the devil, only to realize there is always a price, is perfectly executed. All of the details come together in the best way in this epic story that spans more than 300 years. The writing and descriptions are rich and beautiful. It's the kind of book that you want to savor for it's beauty, but binge for it's story.

A Faustian bargain, a love story, a time travel epic, an ode to the love of the arts...this novel is a bit of each, and more in its telling. The story is sweeping in its scope yet wonderfully intimate, it's dark and sexy yet romantic and heartbreaking. It's lyrical and clearly heartfelt and I think Schwab's best to date. Highly recommend.

There’s a reason(s) that I’ve read every book by V.E. Schwab!

1. Her worldbuilding is phenomenal
2. Every story is uniquely written
3. Her characters come to life right before my eyes

This is just a few of the many reasons and as I read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I added heart-wrenching and hopeful with a lot of poetically written dialogue.

“Palimpsest. She doesn’t know the word just yet, but fifty years from now, in a Paris Salon, she will hear it for the first time, the idea of the past blotted out, written over by the present …”

Addie is a character that I grew to love for her adventurous nature, her quest for knowledge, and her thirst for life but mostly, her ability to keep moving forward in the face of adversity. To be forgotten seconds after leaving one’s sight would be more awful than I originally thought. Never to form a meaningful relationship or settle down anywhere for very long. The implications of this are many. The one constant in her life is Luc, the devil she made a bargain with on that desperate night, until she meets Henry.

“Other people would call him sensitive, but it is more than that. The dial is broken, the volume turned all the way up. Moments of joy register as brief, but ecstatic. Moments of pain stretch long and unbearably loud.”

The story explores not only the pain that Addie experiences over 300 years of being forgotten, of experiencing war, homelessness, trauma, and loneliness but it also explores the many delights that Addie see’s through her journeys, the people she’s met that she hasn’t forgotten who’ve touched her life in both positive and negative ways. Her joy for life rarely falters, even in the most heart-breaking of times.

“…it is sad, of course, to forget. But it is a lonely thing, to be forgotten. To remember when no one else does.”

I’m going to avoid saying anymore about the plot because I don’t want to spoil this amazing story for anyone. I will say that The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue made my top five favorites this year and I’m still thinking about it today, two days after I’ve finished it.

A great big thank you to Macmillan – Tor/Forge, V.E. Schwab, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in exchange for my review.

Spectacular. Devastating but uplifting. Heartbreaking but so romantic. This book was gorgeous from start to finish. Addie will break your heart but then put it all back together.

Schwab’s outdone herself. ILoALR is an excellent book, and I cannot wait to purchase it for my library’s popular reading collection and for myself.

This book is such a work of fine art. The words were so articulate, the story so amazing. The fine details are absolutely genius.. I am blown away. I have so much love for this book. It is one of my favorite books of all time ❤️

You sell your soul to the devil. What does that little contract actually entail? Well we are about to find out..Addie chose the words but the devil chose the terms. He gave her freedom, but is it really freedom? Will she walk this earth for 300 years and leave not a trace of her existence? Everyone she meets has no memory of her...so everyday is a new day...for 300 years, a lonely existence. Until she meets someone who actually can "see" her for who she is. I don't want to give you any more details because I would hate to spoil anything for you.

Anyone who reads my reviews will probably be caught a little off guard. I usually am a little snarky or light in my reviews. This book STOLE MY HEART, so I am very emotional about it.

It had such a profound effect on me that I actually teared up at the end. I was almost distraught that my time with Addie LaRue was coming to an end. I had hung on to every word in an attempt to delay the ending. I love many books, but it is very rare that one is so special and beautiful that it tears you apart. Addie LaRue, you are one of the best books I have ever read. You will perhaps earn the spot of all time favorites in my heart.

This was my first time picking up a book by this author. I am so excited that this means I will have the chance to read her others. I am jealous of anyone that has not read this book yet, because you still have the chance to experience Addie LaRue.

Okay, now that I have poured my heart out-get your hands on this book if and when you can. Even though I have read the ecopy ARC, I will be purchasing this hardcover version when it is released. Addie needs to spot on my bookcase with all my favorites. Be still my heart Addie LaRue....I hope everyone loves her journey as much as I did.

What an amazing book. Easily one of my favorite reads so far this year.

It has been a while since a book has grabbed my attention so thoroughly that I read slowly to prolong it, and this was such a book. The writing was absolutely gorgeous and I loved the incorporation of the art pieces that resonate throughout the story. A true masterpiece on life, being remembered, what it means to be human, as well as the beauty in art and love.

It is my first book by this author but I will definitely pick up others by her.

This had everything I want in a book, including a cat named Book. Absolutely incredible story.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This is the kind of book that will stay with you long after you read the final page.
It was beautifully and intricately wrought, the characters were so very dear to me, and the story punched all the air from my lungs.
Schwab sure knows how to hurt you in a way you'll thank her for.
Read it. You won't regret it.

This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and oh em gee I LOVE IT SO MUCH. This book was not at all what I expected but in the best possible way. I adore Addie as a strong female protagonist and love to hate Luc. I wasn’t sure how this one was going to end but I think it ended up being perfect and I want more.

My only complaint is that I wanted more from the flashbacks of Addie’s life. They were a bit too clumped together around the same time period and I think a lot of interesting things could have been done if they covered more of history. I wanted a bit more of Luc too but I think the balance was actually just right I’m just trash for a dark love interest.

But overall this book absolutely exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to buy a finished copy.

Many thanks to Tor and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

"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!

Absolutely PHENOMENAL read. I LOVED this story so much and couldn’t put it down. I didn’t see the ending coming and while I was a little sad, in some ways, it was unexpected in a really great way and not a traditional happily ever after, which I loved.

There are elements of magic, historical fiction, a love story, art, and friendship- a study on the human condition and the resilience of people.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a phenomenal story. It's such a wonderful concept, and I have been hearing about this book since the Shades of Magic series. I know it took Schwab 10 years to write this book, and it definitely shows with how much love and care she puts into each sentence, each word choice.

This story is about hope and love, two things that we need so much more in the world currently. I fell in love with Addie instantly. She's such an innocent girl when the reader first meets her, and she hardened by time and the human experience. This book is likely going to be my book of the year. I highly recommend you check this out.

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.

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.

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!

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.

“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!

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

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.

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.

5 stars!

Addie LaRue makes a deal in 1714 rural France wanting to live a bigger life than in her village and a life her parents have forced upon her. She gets more life but can’t make a mark in the world or be remembered. The story goes back and forth covering 300 years of Addie’s life and the current world.

The book was so different, truly unique, and just delightful. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for this advanced reader copy.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue By V.E. Schwab

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a beautiful, haunting story about a girl who made a deal with an old god to be free. The bargain is made, but there is always a price, and you must be careful what you wish for; Adeline LaRue is free and now has all the time she needs to live, but no one will remember her, and she cannot make a mark on the world around her. Until one day, a boy says, “I remember you.”

Schwab writes an enchanting tale that makes you think about what it means to truly live and to take advantage of the time you have, no matter how long. The story is engrossing and the prose beautiful. You can feel the love and heart that was put into this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this journey and the pleasure of getting to know this cast of characters. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a story that will continue to live with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for an advanced reading copy of this book.

I loved this book. I will say the beginning was much more interesting than the middle but I think the ending makes up for a slower paced middle. Addie is an incredibly complex character who is flawed and feels real despite being 300 years old. Where this book really shines is the historical flashbacks and I honestly could have read an entire book about the first 50 years of Addie’s life. I will say you kind of pick up the pace in the 1900’s and miss a lot of Addie’s life during that period which was a little disappointing. Overall I loved this book and loved the ending even more.

This is simply the most beautiful book I've ever read. The characterization is exquisite. The plot is breathtaking and the pace is done really well. I couldn't put this down and it's just as heartbreaking and magical as you would expect.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tor Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

This has to be one of the best books I've ever read. I loved V.E. Schwab before this, but dang, she put herself in another league with this book.
Adeline LaRue, a French peasant girl in 1714, makes a deal with the devil to sell her soul for independence and freedom from an arranged marriage. She doesn't want to be beholden to anyone, but of course, deals with the devil never go as planned, so she is cursed to be forgotten and unknown to everyone who she meets. Her curse makes it so that as soon as she's out of someone's line of sight, they forget she exists, so she lives a kind of groundhog day over and over again, traveling throughout the world, soaking up life's adventures, and meeting the same people over and over again to find moments of belonging. Then one day in 2014, she meets a man named Henry in a bookstore, and the next day he remembers her. Nothing good ever stays with Addie, and so she assumes that this too will be taken, unless she finds a way to outsmart the devil and finally be happy.
This book was heartbreaking, complex, and instantly became one of my favorite books. Schwab has said this book took her ten years to write, and this story was definitely worth the wait.

I enjoyed the historical sections of this novel set in 1700s France than I did the flashes forward in history. Nonetheless, the writing is gorgeous here, and the tension increases as the novel goes on. I think fans of V.E. Schwab will definitely enjoy this latest offering, and it has a lightness about it that's a refreshing change from too much grimness, depending on the section. I think it's suitable for adults but also older teen readers. The book is like a fusion of Theodora Goss and Neil Gaiman, and definitely has elements of the adult fairy tale theme.

It isn't that I tried to dislike the book, but I did cultivate my own disinterest. It was taking too long, the small sips I allowed myself were not amassing to anything substantial. It was occasionally more interested in effervescence than substance. It was, in short, quite long. Nevertheless, and despite my inclination, it was actually quite brilliant.

This book... Damn. There is so much to say because of its unique wonderfulness; but, yet, nothing to say so that you can savor it all by yourself. There's everything-- historical fiction (1600-2015), feminism, LGTBQ romance, mental health issues, self discoery of religious devotion, and most importantly is discovering how to live life to the fullest without love. However, it is first and foremost Addie LaRue's coming of age over a coming 300+ year history. As the novel opens she is (like most women in the 1600s) pushed into a marriage that was chosen by her parents; and most definitely not what she wants. So, she makes a deal with the god of darkness (who just happens to look like the man of her literal dreams). She gains immortality and her freedom from ever being controlled by anyone, but loses her identity.... No one will ever remember her once she is out of their sight. Oh, and when she tires of it, the god of darkness owns her soul. He is the only constant she has throughout the book since he visits her almost yearly for their "anniversary". Their relationship goes from hate, to appeasement, to something much more sultry and physical. That premise makes for an interesting modern day vs flashbacks throughout the book. As far as I know this is a one and done.... But, that ending will have you wondering (and really hoping) for Addie's next story.
*I assign 5 stars RARELY... But this book has truly earned it. Still thinking about it days later.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the story of a woman "cursed" to live a long life of anonymity after she makes a deal with a dark entity. She survives a number of lifetimes and we watch her struggle with her immortality as she learns how to manage its advantages and its (often heartbreaking) disadvantages. The story is a skillful examination of what it really means to be alive. At various times in her life, we watch Addie simply exist, we watch her thrive, watch her discover things and ideas to believe in, things and ideas worth fighting for. Taken at face value, it is a fantasy novel about immortality. Looking at it more deeply will prompt self-reflection about the choices we make and what value we place on the time we are given.

Addie LaRue made a desperate bargain with a dark stranger, and now she can't leave a mark on the world, though she's lived on it 300 years. No one can remember her - until she meets someone who can.
This book is an intimate epic, full of charm and tragedy. Its prose is very much like Addie herself; witty, sensitive, and poetic without pretense.
Skipping back and forth through the timeline of Addie's life (and dipping it's tires into other lives), the plot is revealed deliberately, spiraling outwards and pulling together again in ways that feel both unexpected and inevitable.
An easy recommendation to contemporary fantasy readers, with potential to pull in readers from outside the genre with its emotional realism and subtlety.

I have been a fan of V.E. Schwab's books for several years now, and one of the things I love most about her writing is how different all of her novels feel -- and yet, how similar they also are. Each of her worlds are fully realized, with excellent world-building, gripping plotlines, character-driven narrative work, and flawed yet authentic characters. And running through them all is her recognizable writing style -- lovely, lyrical prose that makes reading her stories effortless (and effortlessly inviting).

All of that is true for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I came into the novel with high expectations because I've heard the author talk about this book for several years now. Somehow this novel exceeded my high expectations. It's been described as "a girl makes a deal with the Devil," but this story is SO MUCH more than that -- and that's where my favorite parts of this novel are, in the other lives that entwine with Addie's. In the stories that take place alongside hers. This is more than just a story about Addie LaRue. Schwab continues to surprise me with her work, and I continue to delight in being surprised.

Wow, wow, wow. At this point, I've read everything by V.E. Schwab, I know I love her stories and her characters, I know I'm going to be in a for a good time, so no surprises there. Despite knowing that, she still surprised me with this one.

The story of Addie LaRue begins in a small French village during the 18th century. Addie has always wanted to see the world and to have experiences outside of her village. Being a young woman in the 18th century, her life was not her own. There were expectations on her that she just couldn't force herself to conform to. In a moment of desperation, she prays to her gods to save her from a life she doesn't want, and, unfortunately, the devil answers. She ends up making a deal that will allow her to essentially live forever, with the terrible condition that she can't leave a mark on the world. She can't have meaningful connections with people because they will immediately forget her. She can't write, create art, have possessions, or even say her own name. She has been effectively erased from the world - but she has her freedom. She wanders the world for over 300 years, basically living as a ghost, until the day she meets Henry.

I couldn't put this book down. I was so invested in Addie's beautiful, heartbreaking story - I didn't want it to end! V.E. Schwab's writing was so GORGEOUS. There were countless lines that were so striking that I had to pause in order to read them again or just ruminate on them. I haven't had a reading experience like this since absolutely anything by Laini Taylor.

NetGalley, thank you so much for letting me read this beautiful work of art. I loved every second of it.

I absolutely and completely loved this book. The plot was so interesting, such a good concept and the book was beautifully executed. I found myself longing for Addie LaRue after the book was over. I googled her character to find out more about her, as if she was a real person. This was my first V.E. Schwab, but I am addicted.

You know when you want to slowly read a book and savor because you know it will consume you if you don’t? That’s this book.
It’s so brilliantly written.
Addie was everything I wanted in a character. Her transformation from the beginning of her life to now was epic in every sense of the word.
But also I need books of all the in between times. I need MORE. I want to know about EVERY part of her life. She’s such a badass character and such a survivor.

I just... this book was amazing and I suggest everyone goes and preorders this book!
I want to say more but spoilers and just you need to experience this book for yourself.
10/10 would recommend!!

Wow, what a book! I liked it as much as Where the Crawdads Sing, and The Time Travelers Wife and that’s saying something. With an original premise, beautiful writing, and characters you really know and like, I think this book will be huge. I could easily read it again now. I’m only sorry it doesn’t come out until Fall because I’m excited to share this book and buy copies for everyone to read now, so I’ve contented myself with ordering more than 1 copy for the library.
Adeline LaRue is born in a small village in France in the 1600’s, and at 23 knows she wants more out of life than marrying a local man, living and dying in the same space. She makes a deal with the devil to live a full life, not realizing words are everything, and she will now live forever but no one will remember her anymore. 300 years later she meets someone who does remember who she is the next day, and her life is transformed.

Brilliant, beautiful and so well written. Captivating and poetic and so human in the end. Addie was an incredible character, like none I had ever seen... my only regret is her name that -as a French person- think is not truly French haha.
Full review coming later on!

This was such a beautifully written, magical, tense and heartbreaking story. In true Victoria Schwab form, she builds a gorgeous world full of magic and intrigue with this one and I honestly couldn't put it down! Please pick this up in October!

It is hard to articulate my feelings about this novel, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I am in love with The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue; pure and simple. This book made me cry and broke my heart while also lifting my spirit. Every word that Schwab wrote in this book feels like it serves a purpose; thoughtfully put on the page in such a beautiful manner.

This novel is about Addie, a girl in 1700 France with a free spirit who wishes to be free, but is being forced to marry because of the time period she lives in. She frantically prays to the spirits in the woods, but she prays to the wrong spirit and makes the wrong type of deal- her soul in exchange for freedom, but she does not phrase her wish right and ends up making herself unable to be remembered by anyone once she is out of eyesight. This includes her parents and friends that she has known her entire life. After 300 years without being able to make a home for herself or to be remembered by anyone but the devil she made a deal with, she meets a young man that is somehow able to remember her.

Addie is such a fierce character- she has survived in a world that is unable to remember who she is. She doesn’t turn her back on the world and become bitter- though there are times throughout her invisible life that she comes so close. She ultimately tries to make her mark in any way she can, through other people. Addie’s character is not perfect though- she definitely has her faults, she has to survive somehow in the world. I also really enjoyed the way that even Luc, the devil that Addie made the deal with, can become a gray character throughout the story. He sometimes seems to really care for Addie, while other times he is trying to break her. You so want him to be good, even knowing that he probably won’t be.

I love that the novel switches back and forth in time from the past to the present and then back again. It helps understand some of that characters behaviors and their actions throughout time. It really builds up a climax as to why all of a sudden someone is able to remember Addie and what that means for her exactly.

I can honestly say that this is now one of my favorite books and I am planning on buying a copy to re-read once it is published. I just can’t stop raving about this novel!

ARC provided by Publisher via Netgalley.

This is, by far, one of the most beautiful book I have ever read. It’s pure poetry for 448 pages. I adored every single book Victoria ever wrote, but you can feel the years of work this book took. It’s a masterpiece.

Thank you to Netgalley for the E-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. What a book. I feel like I highlighted at least a quarter of this book because I loved the quotes so much. I absolutely love the way Schwab writes, and this book certainly was no exception. This book was incredible.

The description throughout this book sucked me in right away. I loved seeing the centuries play out, seeing different well-known people sprinkled throughout in their respective times, and the world moving around Addie like water around a rock.

It's a slow burn, for sure. It's not action packed, but the world that Schwab created is absolutely stunning, because it's so simple: I girl living her life as best she can given the circumstances. It was so great to watch Addie grow both through the centuries and as she was at "present" time.

I'm such a sucker for books that jump around in time, as everything comes to fruition and the pieces fall into place. It can either play out beautifully, or fall apart; luckily, this book was the former. I am so glad I got to read this, and absolutely cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands.

Rock bottom. No way out. Those Gethsemane moments, sweating blood, crying out to God for any kind of help. Have you been there? What if, at that very moment, someone actually answered? But it wasn’t God who stepped up.

That’s exactly what happened to young Adeline LaRue at her darkest moment. It is 1714, and she was about to be forced into a loveless marriage with an old widower, so she prayed, and prayed. But she prayed for so long that she didn’t notice that the sun had gone down- even though she had been warned not to make offerings to those that might answer after dark. She felt that her life had been too sheltered, too short- she wasn’t allowed to live the way she desired. All she wanted was more time.

And so it was that she was given her wish. But you and I both know that when you bargain with the devil, it comes with a price- and also with quite a bit of fine print. Of course the price is Addie’s soul, and the fine print is that she will live as long as she likes, but she will never be remembered. And what is a life, if not the traces it leaves behind?

We follow Addie’s story through 300 years of detailed history and art- all beautifully rendered and interspersed with Addie’s present-day life. A life that has been lived in fleeting moments, captured occasionally on canvas or in sculpture, but never in memory. She cannot even speak her real name. Until one day, out of the blue, a young man says the words she has been waiting to hear, “I remember you,” and everything changes….

I loved every second of this book! It felt like an artful blend of historical fiction and fantasy and it seriously surprised me. I did not expect where it ended up, and it was a delightfully dark twist.
I absolutely give this book all the stars!

How do I even put into words how much I loved this book?! A simple this book is great or amazing is just not enough. This book is SPECIAL! This is a book that every time I see it on my shelves I’m going to get all the feels and want to pick it up and reread it all over again.

I want the audiobook and all the editions! I want to wrap this book up and give it to all my friends! It’s that kind of BOOK!

I went into this book only knowing it was written by V.E.Schwab (I mean do you really need anymore reason?) and I’m so glad I did.

From the very start the pages were magic! I slowly savored the beautiful words and felt transported in time while following Addie Larue in one of the most heartfelt, draining and amazing journeys I’ve ever been on!

Trust me! Just read the book!

I’ve been sitting on this review for about a month now because I’ve been having so much trouble processing my thoughts and emotions about the book. It’s such a complicated story so it comes as no surprise that my thoughts and feelings about it are a complicated, tangled mess. As I write this, I’m still unsure of the rating I’m going to give it so I’m hoping writing out the review itself will help me figure it out. I did enjoy the book overall though so we’ll see. Content warnings that I noticed will be at the end of the review. Let’s dive in!

The characters were incredibly well developed, though there were a couple times in the story when I thought, at the time, that something went against a character’s “regular” behavior. However, later in the story I learned things about those characters that would have put those actions solidly within the realm of their “regular” behavior. The character development is artfully done, which pairs perfectly with the story itself. We’re able to get to know each of the characters individually, but also by how they are perceived by others. It’s truly a thing of beauty.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is set in a variety of locations and time periods, all of which seem to have been thoroughly researched and built up meticulously. Whether the story takes place in 1700s Paris or 2010s New York City or anywhere in between, there is almost always the feeling of being fully immersed in the world. Each different location is built up individually as if by magic–without being info dumpy at all–and the rules of the world and how the characters interact with it are laid out beautifully throughout the story parallel to the characters being developed so there is little room for confusion.

The beginning of the story seemed quite chaotic to me, going back and forth between the past and the present while still always moving forward in each of the timelines. It isn’t until around halfway through the book that it begins to become obvious that the chaos was intentional, though at that point of the story the intention itself was entirely unclear to me. However, the chaos is filled in with details that spiked my curiosity. I had a lot of trouble putting the book down so I don’t think even my “if I’m not hooked by chapter 2 I throw the whole book away” friends will have trouble enjoying this one. The story flows in such a way that puts me in mind of a rose–slowly blossoming before it explodes into bloom and leaves you in awe of its magnificence. It is complex and beautifully written.

While The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue works very well as a standalone, I would not be upset if there ends up being a book #2. The ending wrapped up all of the loose ends left from the story while also leaving me wanting to know what happens next. It’s such an amazing story. I went in with quite high expectations and came out having each of them fulfilled and surpassed. This is exactly the high level of quality I’ve come to expect from Victoria Schwab’s writing.

Overall, I rate The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue 4.5 out of 5 bookworms.

AHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! *screams forever because my Netgalley request was approved!!!!!* (psst... thank you Tor Books, I love you <3)
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I finished this book a week ago and I keep thinking today's the day I'm going to write my review for Addie! And then... I don't. Because this book is so emotional, so powerful, so rich, so everything that it feels like nothing I write about it will ever adequately encompass the masterpiece that is Schwab's newest novel!

Today, I finally accepted that I'm never going to feel up to the task of reviewing such an incredible book, so I might as well stop delaying and give it my best shot.

Reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is... an experience. I'm a frequent book binger. Someone who often finishes books in one sitting. I've done so with plenty of Schwab's books -- and it's usually a sign that the book is riveting. It's a good thing!

Yet, with Addie, I found myself wanting to savor the story. I read Addie the way I'd eat a bar of rich, premium dark chocolate: one square a night, letting each morsel dissolve on my tongue, desperate for the beautiful, complex, bittersweet taste to last as long as possible.

And when I speak of savoring the story, it wasn't just a matter of spacing out reading the story over the course of a week, reading a few chapters at a time. It was the act of reading itself. As a natural speed reader, I often subconsciously end up skimming parts of many books. With Addie, I deliberately read every single word, every single line. Let the words soak into my skin.

Okay, enough waxing poetic (fun as it is)! Why should YOU read Addie?

Read it for the emotional beats. For an immortal / long-lived being, the events of Addie's life are surprisingly relatable. We feel the heights of her happy, free explorations, the depths of her deepest despair, and everything in between. We feel her desperation for escape, for freedom at any price. We feel her hopelessness. We feel the fear of being trapped when she's confined in dark, dangerous spaces. We feel the giddy joy of being the only person in the world to be able to experience what she has. We feel the satisfaction of finding a way against all the odds. We feel the grief of immortality. We feel like we're discovering the world anew when Addie finds something she hasn't seen before. Addie is so unlike us, and yet, somehow, she's also every one of us, and she's written to connect so powerfully with the reader.

Read it for the magic. The magic of Addie's world is subtle and it comes with a price. It's nothing entirely new. In fact, it comes from stories we've all heard many times before. A deal with the devil? Classic. But the way the magic is written? I still can't wrap my head around how beautifully it's incorporated into Addie's story.

Read it for the writing. Look, I knew Schwab was an incredible writer before this book. Other than her Steel Prince comic series and work-for-hire books, I've read all of her novels. But this? This blew me out of the water, even knowing how much I love her writing already! This book accomplished a feat I thought virtually impossible: it dethroned the Villains series. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is now my favorite Schwab book of all time, and that, my friends, is something I didn't know could happen. Every turn of phrase in this story is absolutely perfect. And she makes three words -- three words -- such a powerful, soaring, beautiful thing in the story. Read it and you'll know which three I'm talking about.

Read it for the love story. This line might be a surprise, if you know me and my reading preferences. I'm not big on love stories. I often find them boring or, sometimes, just plain unbelievable. I want love stories with complexity and without angst. This is one of those stories. It's a love story, yet it's not. I won't say anything more, lest I spoil something.

Read it for the wanderlust. As it turns out, I really love wanderlust books (case in point: my favorite book of 2019, The Ten Thousand Doors of January). This one will make you simultaneously feel like you've already explored the world... and also wish you could go out, right now, on an adventure.

Read it for the themes. The way Schwab writes Addie's experiences as a woman and the way she's treated throughout the centuries has to be one of the most wonderfully subtle commentaries on being a woman in this world. I am in AWE. Of course, that's not the only theme. Loneliness and ambition and the desire to leave a mark upon the world are major too.

And, of course, read it for Addie. She is one of those characters that would've been much easier to write from afar. Mysterious side characters or villains characters intrigue us. We want to know them better, want to know how they work, what drives them. Yet get too close to a once-mysterious character and they often lose that mystique that drew us in the first place. In that sense (and in many other ways), this book is an incredibly ambitious undertaking. We aren't just getting up close and personal with Addie, getting to know every major moment of her long, long life. We're in her head. We feel her emotions, her shame, her triumph, her desires. We know everything about her and yet she's somehow still mysterious. She's still fascinating, intriguing, surprising, formidable. She's still just as interesting once we get to know her -- maybe more so. And that? THAT is such an incredibly difficult thing to pull off. That is why (if I hadn't already known this from previous books), Addie would have solidified my love for Schwab's storytelling and guaranteed that I will read everything she ever writes.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of the best books I've ever read and a new all-time favorite. Halfway through the book, I was already planning my re-read. I raved about Addie so much that my husband says he'll listen to the audiobook when it's out in October. He'd better listen fast, because I plan to re-read via audiobook then as well!

Thank you so so SO much to Tor Books and Netgalley for a free digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

1714, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain with the devil to live forever but she will leave no trace and no one will remember her. Until 300 years later a young man cannot forget her. A wonderfully sad heartbreaking story about
the choices we make and their consequences.

V.E. Schwab has spoken quite often on social media about the personal dimensions of writing Addie LaRue, and having read the book, I can see how the character of Addie can reflect the greatest fears and desires of an artist. This bittersweet-yet-hopeful story captures the power of art and its ability to grant creators—and muses—a sort of immortality. The love story at the heart of the book is both lovely and sad, but the real love story is between Addie and life itself. I adored this book and its perfect shading of darkness and light.

Thank you, thank you so much, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. Victoria Schwab is one of my favourite author and this book is one of my most anticipated reads!

I remember you

The invisible life of Addie La Rue is an unforgettable (sorry for the pun!) book! It's everything I've never thought I needed in a story.

In 1714 young Adeline La Rue lives in Villon-Sur-Sarthe and she feels trapped in this small city, forced to be a wife, a mother, to live and die in the same place, like so many others like her. Desperate to escape a forced marriage, she makes a Faustian deal. She will live forever, but she's cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. So starts her extraordinary life, than spanned through centuries, across music, art, wars, love, friendship and with the darkness, the devil, the god, as the only one who could remember. Until, in 2014, after almost 300 years, she meets Henry in a bookstore in New York. And he remembers her.

The invisibile life of Addie La Rue is phenomenal, intense and heartbreaking. The story swings between past and present, following Adeline becoming the cursed Addie from 1714 to 2014 and the present Addie and her life in 2014. Through memories and flashbacks, through stories and people met, war seen, art inspired, the reader gets to know the stubborn, defiant and free Addie, the limits of her curse, her deal, her relationship with the god that cursed her, in a battle of wills, traps, deals and love and hate.
At the same time the reader knows Henry Strauss, his restlessness, his secrets, his being bottled lightning, his past and the uncertain future.
Addie and Henry meet, they become friends, lovers, they connect, finding in one other exactly what are they looking for, love, friendship, being seen. Being remembered.

I felt really connected to Henry, because I could totally understand his fear of time, his restlessness, his uncertainty about what to do in life, what the future could and would bring.

I won't say anything more about this book, even though I wanted to ramble about every single page, because it's the kind of book that is able to stay with you for so long. I cried, I laughed, I marvelled reading about love and humanity and the messiness of being human, the need to have more time, to find reason in living, to find one's place and be loved and happy with it.

Wonderful, intense and heartbreaking. Victoria Schwab did it again. This book is unforgettable.

V.E. Schwab’s latest book lives up to the years of hype and waiting from her fans. Addie LaRue is a masterpiece - a love story, a villainess origin story, a tribute to art, a way to try to bottle memory - this story is breathtaking. I know I will come back to this book again and again.

Throughout literature there have been a variety of stories detailing hellish bargains, but Victoria Schwab takes this concept and gives it a modern twist. In The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, main character Adeline makes a deal with an ancient god that while providing her with more time, relieves her of her soul and causes everyone to forget her. It’s over two centuries before she finds someone who can remember her, but before Adeline and Henry completely fall in love, Adeline’s past comes back to haunt her, and difficult choices must be made.
Schwab has mastered her signature prose and crafts a new novel that sends readers on a breakneck adventure where everything changes except Addie. Divided into seven parts, this novel is partitioned out to make reading breaks convient, but the thrilling action and suspense of the novel partnered with a reader’s empathy for the main character makes it nearly impossible to put away. Addie is a vivid character, threaded through with streaks of stubborn independence with the strong self resolve to see things through to the end. Although we see Addie as fiercely self reliant, she remains human in her sense of needing affection, and also completely selfless in her sacrifices. Schwab’s creation of character and relationships prove to be a powerful force through this novel, and are only enhanced by the situations she’s set them in. Quite possibly one of the most moving novels of the year, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a story readers will keep close to their hearts for years to come.

I'll start this review without knowing what to say. This is one of those books that will stay in my mind and in my heart for a long, long time. I've always said that I love V.E. Schwab's books, but this one is by far my favorite. And believe me, I had high expectations and it exceeded them.

This book is about Addie LaRue, a French girl who was born in the 1700s. She was always warned not to pray to the gods who answer when it gets dark. But on a desperate night, she does it and she gets an answer. Addie ends up making a pact with the devil: now she will live forever, but she will be forgotten by everyone. Until one day, 300 years later, a boy says the words that change everything: I remember you.

Isn't the premise brutal? I had the honor of hearing it from the mouth of Victoria Schwab herself on two occasions (one in Argentina and the other in Mexico) and from the first time I was fascinated and intrigued. This was one of my most anticipated books and I was the happiest when I got an advanced copy from the publisher.

And yes, it is very easy to tell you what this book is about, but very difficult to explain everything that it made me feel. Meeting Addie was a privilege. It was wonderful (and painful) to see the world and humanity through her eyes. She has lived 300 years being forgotten by everyone, and she never gives up. She never loses her wonder and her desire to live. And yes, she is tired, how can she not be?

I don't want to tell you much about the other main characters, but I can tell you that one of them is the devil, Addie calls him Luc. He is the night itself. He is evil, but also a character full of layers. I didn't know if I loved him or hated him (I lowkey loved him ok). And on the other hand we have Henry, who I will tell you NOTHING about. You just need to know that he is the one who says those mythical words to Addie: "I remember you." How can he remember her? What makes him different? YOU MUST READ IT TO DISCOVER IT.

Now, the book kept me very entertained at all times, plus it is full of reflections on life and humanity. While reading it I thought I was going to like it a lot, but it was the ending that made me LOVE it with all my heart. I think endings are important. The end of a story can lift it or ruin it, and the end of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue lifted it to the sky and beyond. For me, that ending formed a perfect circle and I ended up crying. The last three chapters were read between tears and sobs (and this is not a spoiler because I am the type of reader who cries of happiness, sadness, courage and, well, I cry with any strong emotion, really).

Now I can only say that Addie LaRue deserves to be read, known and remembered. It is a book so real, but at the same time so full of magic, that you will never forget.

One of the best books I've read all year!

The writing in this book is just beautiful. It's lyrical, poetic, and any other lovely descriptive word you can think of. It's full of imagery and metaphors and is worth all the hype that is sure to come. The characters are delightfully complex and there are several twists to keep you on your toes. It was the perfect amount of bittersweet with a wonderful ending. A book worth all the stars.

A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc!

Many people have contemplated the question: “what would you do if you could live forever?” However, few would have considered the unexpected condition that Addie finds herself facing- a life remembered by no one.

Similar to a modern day interpretation of the Monkey’s Paw, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V. E. Schwab beautifully explores the idea that one doesn’t always get what they wish for, but through surprising twists and turns may find themself exactly where they belong.

V. E. Schwab takes the reader on a truly captivating whirlwind of an adventure through the ages with unforgettable (pun intended) characters and their ability to remain hopeful carry on when all else seems hopeless. V. E. Schwab is back again with a smashing success, and I can’t wait for everyone else to fall deeply in love with Addie and her journey as I have.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was heartbreaking. Full of amazing moments with the perfect main character to take you through the many years of her life. The whole story left me wanting to know more and sad when it ended. I felt like I couldn't get enough of either Addie, Henry or Luc!

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of V.E. Schwab's lush new novel, and it was glorious. Rich as butter prose, feelings as sharp as knives, a riveting story from a fan favorite.

I was in awe of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I could not stop reading it. It was completely original and so well written and thought out. I felt like I lived in this book and knew Addie. I loved this book so much and I know it is one I'll reread every year. Thank you so much to V.E. Schwab for writing such an amazing 5 star book.

A truly unique and devasting story.

Adeline "Addie" LaRue always wanted more from her life than her tiny village and marriage. On the day of her wedding, she runs and makes a deal that comes with a cost she never expected. In return for immortality, she loses the ability to leave a single trace of her existence. People forget about her as soon as she leaves their sight. She can steal things but anything she breaks becomes whole soon after.

It's a bleak story and Addie suffers a lot throughout the story. But while many would despair at the cost of this wish, Addie is determined and stubborn to fight. She tries and succeeds in finding little loopholes. She leaves little traces of her existences in songs and artworks she's inspired as she goes about her life. The book goes back and forth in between the past and present, showing scenes of how she's lived after her ill-fated wish and the places she travels to.

One day while stealing a book, she meets Henry, who is able to remember her and is just as lonely as Addie. Their interactions were sweet, all the more so because you know that their time is limited. And their end comes suddenly. The ending is beautiful, sad yet filled with so much hope. I really adored this book and Addie will remain in my thoughts for a long time. I very much recommended this!

Thank you to Macmillan for providing this ARC.

What a beautiful book. I was lucky to get an early (VERY EARLY) eCopy of this book to enjoy and enjoy I did. It's just so well written, which shouldn't be a surprise coming from V.E Schwab. Every single book of hers that I've read I have loved. She has a way of writing characters that walk down that middle road of being both good and bad, and this book is no different. Addie has an invisible life, a deal with an old god, and now she cannot be remembered. I don't want to spoil anything as this book doesn't release until October 2020, but it is a story of one woman who just wants to live her life, and all the adventures and heartache. Henry is a character that was unexpected, but he had such a beautiful story, and such interesting challenges of his own, and his struggle with his "storms" really hit home as a beautiful idea of mental health and the struggles of so many people. I can't recommend this book enough. I felt happy, sad, nervous, angry, filled with hope, and also an appreciation for the life I have now. The power of memory, and what we leave behind is something that we all feel, but we don't always think about, but we do now, because of this book.

Stunning. Absolutely brilliant. The concept is simple but the story and emotions unfold into an intricate tapestry. Layered with heartache one moment and contentment in the next.

1714. A French girl essentially sells her soul to a devil for an immortal life. The catch being that she can never leave a mark on the world she longs to explore and experience. Never be remembered. 300 years later, in a bookstore, someone remembers.

There’s a type of feeling I get when I read incredible and special fantasy novels but it’s nearly indescribable. I felt it when I read The Night Circus and again when The Starless Sea was all wrapped up. It’s that soft but beautiful build of emotions. You don’t know when the book offically lays it’s roots into you, but you sure recognize it before you’re done. If only because you start to dread the last page.

Quite, honestly, I feel like I’m rambling in an effort just to produce words. This review is hard because I can’t give anything away but also, I kinda want to hold this story close and just let it be me and it for a while. I’m happy to let the book be read by everyone but don’t want to talk it out. I want to pretend that it’s just me and these characters, frozen in a moment.

Perhaps that says it all and more likely it says nothing.

Okay, fine. Here’s some thoughts... the 300 year journey is crazy good. All the little details that are built around this “curse” are brilliant. I thought it might be a little slow to start but by the time you’re wrapped up in it all you realize how perfectly balanced the book is. People upon people and places upon places stacked and shifted into stunning chapters. And the lack of connection between Addie and the world only amplifies what she does achieve and the relationships she has by the last page. It creates the most amazing emotions for the reader.

Loved it and highly recommend.

*I received a free advance ecopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The devil is in the details. And in the case of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, the titular character knows this all too well. Adeline LaRue makes a desperate deal to live forever only to find that she is forgotten by everyone she meets. Even as she finds ways to leave her mark on the world, nothing prepares her for the unexpected moment when someone does remember.

I will remember every bit of Addie LaRue’s life. I felt every bit of Addie’s fears and sorrows, joys and hopes. It wasn’t just Addie, though. I found myself invested with not only main characters, but also the brief glimpses of those along the way. The story weaves between past and present and while I had some initial fears that I would struggle to keep the timelines straight, instead I slipped easily between the two. I was equally eager for both parts of the story.

All of it is a testament to the talents of V.E. Schwab. She is a master of emotions and character, of tension and anticipation. It was, for me, a masterpiece of storytelling—one I plan to return to several times.

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first book by V.E. Schwab and it didn't disappoint!

I loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It was so well written. The history, the context, the feelings that it conjured, were amazing!

I didn't realize I needed this book, until I started reading it. I cried, I laughed, I loved, and I hurt for the characters.

Addie LaRue wanted to be independent during a time when women weren't allowed to be. She wanted to be like the trees. To stand tall and be strong. However, when her choices were taken from her, she tried to save herself, and made the deal with the devil.

Schwabs writing, is one of the best I've seen in years. I will forever be a fan of her work and will be reading them all now.

Thank you again, NetGalley and Tor books for this wonderful book. I loved it!

This was a really GOOD book! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and just found it so impressively well thought out and unique. Her writing in this is lovely, pulling you along effortlessly, and the story feels both epic and intensely personal at the same time. It also had some elements of another of my favorite stories that I really appreciate; the lonely immortal, the magic, the sad love, the hope. Addie is such a wonderful heroine, all spunk and openness and just so hungry for the world. I also thought the overall themes of living life to the fullest were beautifully done and not too heavy handed. I’ll talk about it some more closer to release, but this one will be well worth your time.

Wow! I don’t give out 5 star ratings often, but I just couldn’t find anything I didn’t like about this book!

Addie LaRue is Genre bending dark love story about a 17th century 20-something French girl who make a pact with a “dark spirit”... long life and freedom in exchange for her soul. (Now I know what you’re thinking... Boring! It just another young white girl does big dumb thing and with the help of a few we’ll place friends, finds the perfect life, love and a way to get out of it trope, right?!) Well, you’re wrong!,

The rest of the 400 plus pages is the story of what happens afterwards. And it is a masterpiece of Beautiful sentences, well spaced plot (even with the time jumps throughout), and multidimensional characters that both loved and hated at the same time. Addie starts off much as you would expect for a young woman in her time, albeit a little out of step due to her precocious desire to “want more”. We, as readers, watch her grow to use her feminine power and become comfortable in her own skin is empowering. At times she makes mistakes or gets it right and we get to explore her thoughts and actions of her decisions in a epic tale fashion.

Oh and the love story! It was raw, flawed, grandiose at times, and was genuinely... well, REAL. The author explores how a person can really love someone, and doubt the rightness of the match, question the fall, and possibly walk away from that same person WHILE knowing they are breaking both their hearts with the best intentions. The friendships that central to the main characters are also much less adorable, and more realistic. Everyone has that one friend that is a tad narcissistic but you love them anyway right?!

The take away- Love is messy and Life is made up in moments. You have the power to choose how to use them. Do it wisely and don’t waste it! All great nuggets of wisdom that are sprinkled in through this story which is what makes this story about a 300 year old woman falling in love top notch.

Captivating and well-spun story of a young woman who trades her soul to an old god, in exchange for a life of freedom. The true cost of the deal reveals itself over the course of 300 years. Immediately added Schwab's entire back catalog to my to-read queue.

Finishing this book was like waking up from a dream. I sat down to read it and the story dragged me completely under. I've read and enjoyed other V.E. Schwab books but wow this new world she spins is amazing! This is the kind of book you wish you could forget for the pleasure of reading it fresh for the first time again.

If you like Nicholas Sparks novels, you'll love The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

"Life is the minutes you want minus one."

Adeline LaRue has never left Villon, France. One day, her father takes her to market, and she realizes there is a whole world outside the tiny square mile that everyone she knows will be born and die in.

"Adeline is sixteen now, and everyone speaks of her as if she is a summer bloom, something to be plucked, and propped within a vase, intended only to flower and then to rot."

But she wants more.

So when she is to be married off to a widower, she makes a deal with the only one who will listen. A deal for her soul. And so begins the invisible life of Addie LaRue. Blessed to never be tied down to anything or anyone, and cursed to never be remembered by anything or anyone. And pushed on by the hope that one day, she will get the better of the Thing who owns her soul.

I have to say that this is a major departure from the fantastical style of V.E. Schwab! Not in a bad way, but definitely not what I was expecting after having read the rich fantasy worlds in her other books. This one is much more worldly, much more believable. And so it sucks you in even more.

There's a bit of fantasy, with the magic of her curse and Luc, the thing made of darkness who made the deal for her soul. But other than that, this book follows her through history as she never ages, never dies, but also never leaves a mark on the world. She finds little ways to spite Luc, mostly by being stubborn. She cannot make a mark on anything, nobody can specifically remember her, but she can leave ideas, thoughts, inspiration. She has become a muse to leave her mark on the world. There's a really schmancy metaphor in there somewhere about making a difference in your own small way, and even that tiny thing cause ripples and waves and makes a bigger impact than we realize.

"Stories are a way to preserve one's self. To be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives - or to find strength in a very long one."

Addie is everything I want in a heroin. A deal with the devil, stubbornness and strength, a good heart, but real, she feels and hopes and despairs and loves.

Luc is everything I want in a villain. Morally ambiguous enough to want to read more though you still love to hate him.

And then there's Henry. I won't tell you about Henry, you'll have to read the book to know Henry!

This book took me an age to get through. It's partly the quarantine blues and partly that it's not a suspenseful book. It's a romance without the sex. Something I'd be as happy to recommend to a teenager as I was to recommend to a grandmother. When I read a romance, THIS is what I want.

I'm so impressed with Victoria Schwab. The flexibility of a person to write things that are so vastly different, and yet still have threads of similarity, is what so many people aspire to. Its stunning and amazing and inspirational. I was already a fan of hers, but this book - again SUCH a departure from her normal style - cemented her into my favorite writers club. Wow. Just wow.

5 Stars, anyone who raves about Serpent and Dove will be ROCKED by this book.

*Thank you to NetGalley.com who provided this eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueAddie LaRue, born in 1691, was desperate to escape a provincial life, married to a man she did not care for. Desperate for reprieve, she made a deal with a powerful shadow in the forest. But the deal is not what it seems. Addie gets to live forever, but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. She spends 300 years roaming the world as a virtual ghost, when she finally meets a young man who does remember her. But why is he able to recall her face? What forces are at work in Addie’s immortal life to explain this astounding anomaly?

I absolutely loved this book. It is so well written and cleverly nuanced. Addie is a character with complexity, depth, and authentic emotions. She navigates her new world as if starting life over from birth. She struggles to learn the boundaries of her curse and how to fight for a place in a world that knows nothing of her existence. She is as beautiful as she is tragic. Henry, the impossible boy who finally sees her, is a melancholy book seller with his own intricate motivations and is completely relatable. The Shadow exists to make deals and devour souls, and he is extremely good at his calling. He is delightfully sinister, but is anything but one-dimensional, and is a perfect foil for Addie.

The entire story is utterly enchanting and gut wrenchingly sad. V.E. Schwab’s writing draws out very real emotions from her characters and transfers them directly to the reader. I laughed and I ugly cried. And I loved every moment of it. I wish I could experience the beauty of this unusual novel again for the first time.

I received this e-book ARC of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab through Net Galley from Tor Books in exchange for a truthful review.

What a unique and novel situation Adeline “Addy” LaRue is put in when she makes a deal with the devil that will have her live forever but not leave a mark, always forgotten.
I slowed down the reading of this ARC because I felt each and every word had to be savored.
Seeing how Addie lives within the confines of her curse was remarkable.
After 90% in, I became stingy and kept putting off reading it because I just really didn’t want for Addie’s story to end. And such a meta ending, bravo!

The “SAT” word, palimpsest, is used 6 times. At first, I was a bit put off to see it crop up that many times, but then I realized… it was THE perfect word for this novel, and for Addie’s life.

Addie LaRue is a dreamer. She was born in 1691 in a little village in France and she is sure she will be condemned to live all her life in that place, without really knowing the world.. essentially without living. So when a marriage is arranged, she feels as if life is slipping from her fingers and she cannot breath.. she runs into the forest and prays every god there is, but of course it’s the devil who answers. She sells him her soul in exchange for an eternity of freedom, she will never belong to anyone and when she is ready, she will surrender and give him herself. But every bargain comes with a cost and indeed she soon finds out that no one remembers her, not her family, not her friends.. as soon as people ceases to see her, they forget her. Now she is free to see the world, but she is also damned to a lonely life, made of first impressions and stolen nights... the only staple in her life is the devil that returns to ask if she is tired. And of course she is, but she is not ready to give up because even if her life is full of sorrow, it’s full of art and wonder as well. And then, the unthinkable happens, a boy tells her: I REMEMBER YOU, but is it really a mistake, a slip in her curse, or is there something she is missing?!

I couldn’t put this book down because I felt incredibly attached to Addie. I could feel what she felt and imagine myself in her shoes. The feeling you are living an invisible life.. because if you can’t leave a mark, if you are not remembered, do you really exist? Still, she finds a way to leave her mark, far more than people who live without purpose, that do not try to be happy and to take the best from everything. She is such a remarkable girl, probably born in a wrong period, who can’t give up her dreams just because it’s what society wants. The truth is that in the end she finds herself trapped with the very person who condemned her to a lonely life. But how can you be sure you love someone if he is the only choice you have? If he says he is giving you freedom when he is trapping you in a cage? This book is dark, and Schwab’s style is clearly recognizable even if the story is so much different from everything she has written in the past.. and I’m so happy to follow this path with her.

I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading this book for about two months now, simply because I knew that I didn't want it to end. Each page was pure magic and my heart is a little broken now that it's over.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was everything I have ever wanted. A girl makes a deal with a devil to live and her makes sure that everyone forgets her. Addie was an amazing character. I loved her need to live a life, to see more than her small time. Watching her fight against the chains that trapped her for so long and seeing her rage made her an unforgettable character. Seeing her life spill out across the pages of this book made me hopeful and so angry. Angry at the unfairness of it all.

The words of this book are lyrical. There was never a moment that I wanted to miss. Two months and still I'm not ready for the outcome. This is the type of book that I wanted to start over as soon as I finished the last page. As of this exact moment, I can honestly say, this might be my favorite book of all time.

Addie LaRue is restless and trapped. Facing a marriage bed and a child-bed, tethered to a man and a life in 1714 that she dreads, Addie prays to escape. But she prays to the wrong god, a god that answers after dark. There is a price to pay, her soul for freedom and time to live as she pleases. Addie did not want to belong to anyone, and finds that she is present to no one. She is flesh and bone, but forgotten by all as soon as their eyes leave her. She is unable to speak her own name or leave a mark on the world in any way. She cannot be remembered even in her own village, by her own parents. For the god of darkness, this is a game of promise where he sets the rules and the devil is in the details. Addie will be invisible and alone in the world until she surrenders to him. After more than three hundred years, Addie stumbles across a kindred spirit that has made a similar bargain, but they know that the Darkness will soon come calling, as he does every year, and he is a jealous god and quick to anger.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue asks the reader to imagine what they most long for and what they would give up to obtain it. If no one remembers you, are you real? If people only see in you what they want to see, are you truly loved? V.E. Schwab’s novel offers a new take on our human search for happiness, validation, and meaning wrapped in an ominous Faustian veil. This could be an enjoyable October book club read if you are looking for a title that is spooky, but not frightening. Be careful what you wish for in the dark; the old gods might be listening. (I want to thank NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.)

Wow - that’s the only word that comes to mind as I sit here reeling from finishing this book. What an incredible, unique, and beautiful story. I requested this on NetGalley solely based on the hype and being a fan of V.E. Schwab. I only vaguely knew the premise and I did not read the synopsis ahead of time so I went into it mostly blind.

This book reads completely differently than A Darker Shade of Magic series, which is my only experience reading V.E. Schwab. While I really enjoyed those books, they aren’t on my list of favorites. I would honestly, never know this is the same author. There is so much detail, so much nuance and intrigue, that it’s truly captivating in a way I don’t think I’ve experienced in a book before.

I’m not even sure how to articulate the writing style of this book- it’s simple, yet complicated. Personal yet aloof. Happy and yet very sad. I got the same feeling from this book that I did watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for the first time - it’s something that’s so wonderful and still tinged with an overarching melancholy that you don’t wish to get out of. It left me feeling nostalgic and homesick for things I’ve never experienced and places I’ve never visited.

It’s a book truly filled with lots of juxtaposition. While I usually prefer books solely in chronological order - this one alternates between the (mostly) present and the long-ago past. We see the struggle Addie endured in the earlier years. The sadness, loneliness, and the heart-wrenching desperation that drove her to make a deal with the devil. But most importantly, we see her wildness and her ‘different-ness’. In the present we see how her wildness has turned into resourcefulness and perseverance. We see that while she still experiences sadness and loneliness, it’s broken up by happiness and beauty. There are so many emotions readers will experience in this book and I think having the plot shift from past and present serves to keep the readers from feeling like they were thrown into a pit of despair right along with Addie (thank you for this).

Overall, the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is anything but invisible or forgettable. It’s one of those books that just sticks with you and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. I’m confident it will become a staple in my collection and I see myself re-reading it when I feel reflective of my own life. Thank you for such a special and beautiful book.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This gets five full stars from me, and I'd give it more if I could. It has been a while since I have enjoyed a book this thoroughly.

Addie LaRue is set to be married off to a widower at the age of twenty-three in a small French village in the early 18th century. She cries out to the gods for help, and a dark one answers. He gives her what she asks for - freedom and time - but at a huge cost. Addie is immortal, and the instant one turns away from her, they forget she exists. She is unable to tell people her name, and she cannot leave a tangible mark on the world.

And so, she lives this way for three hundred years, stealing food and clothing and sneaking into places to sleep. She has sprawling relationships with people that, for the other person, is a one night stand that they don't remember bringing home.

All of this changes when she returns to a bookstore where she was caught stealing a book the previous day, and heard three words she never thought she'd hear again: "I remember you."

This novel is a sprawling story of a woman who made a deal with a devil. He wants her soul, so he creates an environment that would wear down the strongest of us. Addie lives through wars and famines and technology booms, all the while accepting her invisibility and refusing to acquiesce and relinquish her soul. They dance around each other for centuries, her relationship with this dark god dancing between love and hate, between lust and loathing.

It is part historical fiction, part fantasy, part romance, and all incredible. The thread that was woven throughout the story was beautiful - this unknown and unknowable girl with a constellation of stars across her face appearing in art throughout centuries and all around the world. The ending was not what I expected, and not what I would have originally hoped for, but it was perfect.

This is the kind of book I would happily recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the advanced e-copy to review.

Wow! As a big fan of V.E. Schwab I expected this to be good, but it exceeded my expectations. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue tells the story of a girl who makes a deal with the devil to be able to live freely. As you'd expect, the devil has his own agenda and doesn't grant the wish without a few unfortunate twists. Addie is forgotten by everyone she meets until one day, someone remembers her. The book alternates between the past and the present to learn more about Addie, Luc, and Henry, and the consequences of their deals.

I enjoyed every aspect of this book. Schwab is an incredibly talented writer and has me invested in every single character she introduces. I especially loved the art references and Addie's interactions with different artists throughout history. I've always recommended Shades of Magic to anyone looking for fantasy, but this one I will be recommending to everyone!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this book and it did not disappoint! I loved the horrible internal logic of Addie's curse and the idea of being cursed to be forgotten. The ways Addie learned to circumvent her curse were nothing short of brilliant. I will be recommending this book to just about everyone in October.

I just finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I have never read a book that hit so close to home. I have never met a character that I saw myself in. But that was Henry for me. Overwhelmingly so. And all I can say is thank you to V.E. Schwab for writing this and sharing it.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a story about overcoming the darkness of life, finding acceptance in circumstance, and making the best of situations that are out of our control. Schwab’s passion for her characters and her story is threaded throughout every page as the narrative reads as a love letter to those who struggle to overcome loneliness, mental illness, differences, and stagnant societal norms. For those that feel as if their voice is slighted, Addie’s story is one that provides hope in the dark and leaves the reader with an ache of longing as they identify with the plights of the characters.
The storyline is rich with metaphor and deep in the manner that you will find yourself thinking and analyzing hours after taking a break from the pages. The narrative is unique in that few books have been written along a similar vein that makes the hero’s journey feel like a slice of reality hidden in fiction.

Fans of V.E. Schwab will recognize her creative voice in the pages of this book with the way she weaves through timelines and settings but be lost in Addie’s narrative as something that is wholly new to the characters introduced within the pages.

Those that are new to Schwab’s writing may find trouble with the skip in timelines but bear with it and pay close attention to the details. It is worth the read.

Glorious, compelling, and beautifully crafted, Addie’s story is one that is meant to join the ranks of the modern classics.

5 stars!

I love when I can rate a book 5 stars! I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed reading a book from V.E. Schwab but I’m so glad I loved it.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the story of a young French woman who makes an imprudent deal with the Dark (or Devil, whichever you like). The consequence of this deal is that she will live forever but no one will ever remember her. Once a person has walked away from her or has a door between them, she is forgotten. This is Addie’s life until one day she walks into a book store for the second time and is remembered by someone.

I won’t tell you any more because it really is such a good premise that most people will want to read it just from that small amount of info. But man there is so much more.

Schwab just really knows how to write characters! They are so real and fleshed out. They are flawed and make mistakes. I love that Addie is not perfect, she has to steal to survive and she makes no excuses for it.

I want to say more but I also really don’t want to give anything away. I knew very little when I started the book and I love it when I’m surprised.

I can’t wait for the book to come out so that I can discuss it with other people!

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for making the quarantine a lot more bearable by providing me with an advance copy of this book.

I’ve been dying to read this book since I heard V.E. Schwab speak about it at the Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors last year, and I was thrilled to get my hands on a galley, because I just couldn’t wait any longer. Fortunately for me, my impatience paid off, because this book is a masterpiece.

In 1714, Adeline LaRue sells her soul to the Darkness in exchange for escape—escape from a life prescribed by her parents and her social standing, from a marriage she didn’t choose—and freedom. This deal grants her immortality, but costs her more than she could ever have imagined. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue follows Addie’s life over three centuries, and through its pages we learn, as Addie does, just what it means to be forgotten, and the incredible power of being remembered. At its heart, this book is a fable that places memory at the center of the human experience and reminds us of the power that we wield through our ability to leave our mark upon the world.

V.E. Schwab has done it again with this one. Addie’s world is our own, recognizable and familiar, and the way that Schwab has deftly woven magic into the fabric of our world makes it easy to believe that Addie’s story is true. For the rest of my days, I’m going to be searching every painting I see for a woman with a pattern of seven freckles across her face, just in case maybe, impossibly, I can find Addie LaRue.

My one critique is actually not related to the book itself, it’s that the blurb revealed to me that she would meet a man who remembers her name. I wish I hadn’t read the blurb, so that the reveal of that twist would have carried more weight.

I truly enjoyed this book! I'm usually not a fan of this genre, but I heard the author talk about this book in a webinar. I enjoyed the split format of the chapters going from one time period to the next and I loved the character, Addie. I will definitely be recommending this one!

It's been a few days and I am still floored by this book. Absolutely masterful. Schwab once again leaves me in awe. This is a book that begs to be re-read.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE broke my heart so many times I lost count. Addie herself is an incredible character, stubbornly choosing life even as the centuries wear on her. Her infuriatingly complicated dynamic with Luc, a primal god of darkness, is equally compelling. The terms of her curse make her forgettable--so much so that people forget her as soon as she leaves their sight. Addie lives through the centuries remembered only by the god who cursed her, unable to form true attachments until she meets Henry, a sad, sensitive bookseller who calls her out for stealing a book. To say anything further would spoil this wonderful novel, and its unraveling is well worth your time. This is not one to miss!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab is an amazing and colorful adventure! I would highly recommend it to young adult and fantasy readers and anyone who is a fan of V.E.!