I’m not even sure what to say about this one. It’s Schwab, so yeah, the writing was absolutely gorgeous and lyrical and delivered some hard-hitting, beautiful one-liners. The game of back and forth and give and take between Addie and the antagonist was *chef’s kiss* by the end. I will say that the story is non-linear and told from multiple perspectives, so I sometimes had trouble following along with who and when we were and what was going on, or I sometimes lost threads because we’d be one place and jump to another for several chapters and then resume back where we were. That’s more my ADHD brain than anything, though. I always struggle with that.

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020. Needless to say V. E. Schwab is one of my favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. I cannot put my finger on why, but Addie LaRue was a let down. No one is more disappointed than me. The premises held so much potential. I think it may have been the need to suspend disbelief too many times while reading and therefore being taken out of the story too much.

What a lush and engrossing book. I knew it would be a favorite partway through, and confirmed that upon finishing. The authors work keeps getting better and I’m here for it.

This was magical and suspenseful, and oh so delightful. I was enraptured with Addie's story, and the mysterious Luc. I loved the new take on the "deal with a devil" trope, and I especially enjoyed the dynamic and flawed personalities that gave so much depth to all of the characters, and the start contrast of the two characters and the nature of their deals. What I enjoyed the most, though, is the descriptions. Schwab always does such a stellar job transporting the reader into the story because she is SO good at depicting the imagery and the feelings she wants you to see and feel.

This book is all vibes and only shallow substance. I think this was probably a very self-indulgent book for the author, which isn't a bad thing and I know a lot of people have connected with it, but to me it felt like a daydream where you linger on the most dramatic id-scratching moments and skip over the "boring parts" because it would take too much work to properly flesh out. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has some interesting story concepts, but they were let down by the boring execution. The writing is pretty but very repetitive, the characters lacked dynamism, the themes were meant to be profound but fell flat. Take for example this quote, which pretty well sums up the intended theme 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 stretched of sorrow?
Were the moments of beauty worth the years of pain?
And she turns her head, and looks at him, and says, "Always."

The problem with this moment in the story is that *I don't believe her*. Nothing that has happened leading up to this point supports Addie's answer here. Instead, much of Addie's perseverance to keep living was due to spite and stubbornness. There's another moment early on when Addie justifies her miserable life devoid of human connection by saying that she "saw an elephant in Paris"-- the point is meant to be that life is beautiful and full of new experiences, etc., etc., but the trouble is that we the reader were not with her when she saw this elephant. What about it was it so magical? Why has it propelled her to continue living instead of surrendering to the Darkness? How is it that Addie could live for 300 years, travel all over the world, experience great historical events, and be the most boring and undimensional person alive??? I found Henry's character more interesting than Addie's, but then his character ended up only existing in service to Addie's story. The book as a whole left me feeling very unsatisfied, and it was way too long and dull.

The more I think about this book the less I like it. And I'm tired of thinking about it.

TW: misogyny, sexual assault, prostitution, emotional manipulation, toxic relationship featuring an unbalanced power dynamic, depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, loss of loved ones, brief mentions of starvation, freezing to death, captivity, and plague

Deals made with a Devil will never go quite as planned. An(other) absolutely brilliant story by V.E. Schwab! This book was particularly magical to experience.

Addie is immortal, but no human knows her. She is utterly charming, witty, and remarkably intelligent. She even dresses in the most up to date fashion fresh off the rack! And yet every time she is out of someone's sight too long, their memories of her are completely gone and it is as they have never met at all. Because of this she spends every day rebuilding her life from the ground up.

While there was some overall lightness within Addie's story, the story of her incredibly long life and the vulnerable state that she exists in will draw you in and keep you glued to the story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the eArc!

Can V.E. Schwab write a bad book? It doesn't seem so. While not my favorite, Addie LaRue was a total pleasure to read from start to finish and I feel lucky to have done so.

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an eARC for review.

The WRITING!! Schwab writes with a pen made of butter...

Audiobook was superb! Julia Whelan is on my list of All Star Narrators

Pleased that I finally gave this book a go and that I had the mind to listen/read it slowly and critically. It is a story I won't forget. I found lots of meaning in it. This is a story I will revisit over and over. I have recommended this book to everyone.

Glimpses of history
Art
Unlikely love story
Weakness
Strength
Never giving in
What is a full life or a life worth living?
How much time is needed in life for a complete one?
What would you barter for what you want?
The lack of self-esteem
What obstacles are placed in the world for the deliberate theft of our souls?
Can there be genuine happiness once you get what you thought would give you ultimate happiness?

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue was dark and haunting, and so so beautiful. V.E. Schwab has a writing style that can only be described as heart-wrenchingly wonderful. Addie ripped at my heartstrings and had me by the throat and I absolutely adored every second of it.

This has officially made the list of my all time favorite books - I cried hysterically, both good tears and bad - one of the most heart wrenching, emotional, bittersweet love stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. This one has a little something for everyone, and Addie is the hero and beloved character we never knew we needed. This one is so, so, so life changingly good.

The premise is intriguing, and Schwab's writing is lovely, but the book felt a little slow in the middle,

Absolutely fascinating. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about this prior to reading it and I'm happy to say that I really thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I can safely say that this is one of my favorite VE Schwab books simply because of the writing. It was stunning. I also cared more for the characters and the plot versus her other books.

My only qualm was Addie and how she made the wish because she wanted to see the world yet stayed in Paris for over a hundred years without even considering going to a different country especially in Europe when it's incredibly easy to just go to the next country. There's no large body of water to cross so there is very little excuse. I also saw readers mentioning that it was very white-washed and this situation definitely seemed like that was the case.

Despite that, I still enjoyed the book and am excited to read the next V.E. Schwab book.

A haunting and magical tale about love, power, and what it means to be remembered. With lush descriptions and flawed (but likable) characters, this will be a book that I pick up again and again.

I’m a sucker for books with time travel, and while this doesn’t necessarily fit that description, Addie’s story is told across centuries. Little steps back in time give life to her character as she searches for meaning. And while she can’t seem to be remembered, she certainly remembers those who cross her path, especially the man who cursed her.

Schwab’s writing is lyrical and gorgeous, carrying me through the book, unable to put it down. Mesmerizing storytelling had me tearing up as the Addie went through heartbreak and wandered lonely and a little broken through 300 years.

I have a hard time saying something is my “favorite” but this was definitely one of my favorite reads of 2021 and a new favorite of all time.

This was so brilliant, Schwab will forever be an author I adore. Her writing style is so fresh and beautiful, her prose is lush and deep with verbs. Though none of the characters were perfect, they were all so compelling. Very strong work.

Schwab sure knows how to write interesting books. The writing in this drew me in from the very first page – it’s magical, haunting, quotable and simply beautiful. It makes you want to soak up the words, to crawl into the pages and live there. And the concept is refreshingly unique!

'Time always ends a second before you’re ready. Life is the minutes you want minus one.'

Wow, that is poignant.

However, it wasn’t memorable for me. I enjoyed it quite a bit while reading, but it didn’t stick with me. I do remember being sad for Addie and the hand she’s dealt – never being remembered by anyone would really suck. She can never own anything – no home, no possessions – and has no friends or family. Unable to leave any kind of mark on the world at all. Small cost for freedom for a bargain with the devil, I suppose. Ah, the consequences of our own actions. Good little moral in there, though – be careful what you wish for, eh?

I felt disappointed in the ending, somehow. [spoilers removed] I don’t exactly know how I wanted it to go, just that I was underwhelmed by it. Also, despite being a supposed standalone, the ending is left quite open, which I wasn’t sure I cared for either.

Side note: I love that the bookstore’s resident cat was named Book!

Original review posted at Novel Heartbeat

V. E. Schwab has done so many different kinds of books, that at this point i don't think she can give me a bad book. This one was a masterpiece. I loved the premise, I loved the carry through. It was just a magical time from start to finish.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a stunning literary fantasy novel with breathtaking prose and an unforgettable plot. I was aching to read this book the moment it was announced and lucky enough to receive an ARC. The story itself is not rushed. Schwab takes her time exploring Addie's life, from the 1700s to present day, and each time we journey through time, it feels as though we lived Addie's life too. Evoking emotion, from tears to laughter to love to pain, is not an easy feat for an author, but Schwab makes it look easy. Without a doubt, V.E. Schwab's literary scope and talent is the envy of the publishing industry. I can't recommend this one enough!

WOW. I’m not usually at a loss for words but all I’ve got is… WOW! I absolutely adored ADDIE LARUE! It shimmered with magic and dark romance. And the final plot twist left me reeling. I went out and bought the special edition. How glorious!

This was okay! Schwab's writing is always strong, but I wasn't too into the execution of this one. Wish some characters were explored more in-depth so readers could feel better connected to them, and that some things in history had been paid respect to, but *shrugs*, overall an okay read.

This book very much lived up to expectations and I understand why this has been the hit that it has been. We'll have a wait list on Addie for a while yet.