Wow! Just wow! This was an amazing read! It started out slow, the style of writing took a while to catch my interest, jumping from far in the past to the present day. I grew to love Addie, to fear for her life and feel her many changing emotions. It's a book unlike any I have read before with a welcome twist near the middle that made me glad I had kept reading. I came to a point where I wanted to set it down, but only because I did not want it to end and then near the end I couldn't read fast enough to see what would happen! Would I want to live Addie's life? No, but I can understand the choice she made in the beginning. This was a truly interesting book! I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of their favorite genre. It's just that good!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much. I don't read many adult novels (I spend most of my time in the land of MG and YA), so I was slightly hesitant to take on something that was a bit heftier. But my goodness was this worth it. I SAVORED every minute of this. The writing was beyond words, and Addie is now one of my new favorite heroines in all of literature. Fans of fantasy and magical-realism will no doubt enjoy this one and it has me definitely looking up all of Schwab's other works.

Adeline LaRue was born in a small village in France in the 1600s. She grows up and hopes that she has managed to escape the fact that she is a woman, meant to be wed and bred. As time passes, it seems to be OK, until one day it isn't. She is to be married and on her wedding day, she flees. As she runs, the darkness of night approaching, she prays to every god she has heard of, old or new. And she forgets the most important lesson: never pray to the ones that answer after dark.

When she meets him, the darkness himself, he agrees to a trade: her soul, when she chooses to give it up to him, in return for a life of freedom without being tied to anyone. Of course, as all deals go, there are unintended consequences: no one remembers Adeline as soon as she leaves them and she is unable to leave her mark on anything. For 300 years she has been living like this, until she meets Henry. And now nothing will be ever be the same.

Because he remembers.

Highly recommend this one folks. Do yourself a favor and get a copy.

5/5 Stars

I will never truly be able to find the right words to encapsulate and explain the transformative power of V.E. Schwab's writing and the brilliance of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue but nevertheless I am here to try. The scope of this novel is extraordinary as it spans over 300 years and delves deep into a long list of emotionally heavy topics.

The premise of girl makes a Faustian bargain drew me in but it was the atmospheric and lush storytelling that kept me turning the pages. V.E. Schwab excels at writing characters that will resonate and I think this is her finest work to date. Some readers might struggle with the early pacing or how the story ends but honestly it was perfection.

Addie is a dreamer with the crushing weight of forever now strapped to her back while many readers will connect with Henry's lost and lonely persona. Luc, on the other hand, is powerful and controlling; a god that should never be prayed to after dark. Watching their stories wind and unwind was fascinating and left me reeling.

This is a book about leaving a mark on the world and being remembered. It's about yearning for more; seeking and pursuing. An exploration of art and storytelling and the importance of creating and inspiring others. It's also about mental health and I'm sure it will resonate with many because wow did it hit hard for me.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will take you on a journey. An emotional and beautiful story spanning years and continents. It's personal and will leave an indelible mark on your heart. While I recommend anything and everything V.E. Schwab writes, as a standalone this book seems like the perfect starting point for those new to her work.

What I liked...
» I'm a huge V.E. Schwab fan.  I've loved both adult book series shes written - Darker Shade of Magic series & her Villians series.  Addie LaRue felt very different from her previous adult books.  While her previous books felt more plot heavy, this one is definitely a more character driven story.

» Spanning 300 years, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue takes us on Addie's journey from 1714 France to 2015 New York City.   I love a good fantasy book with a historical setting, so I really enjoyed watching Addie's adventures, and misadventures, over the course of her life.  HOWEVER if historical fiction is not your thing, do not let that deter you from reading Addie LaRue - the bulk of the story takes place in 2015, with flashbacks of Addie's past life in alternating chapters.

» I'm a big fan of Schwab's descriptive & lush writing style.  Schwab's writing style, paired with the atmospheric tone, made for a hauntingly beautiful reading experience.  This is the perfect book to pick up in the fall or during the colder months.

» Addie LaRue is a slow burn type of story, so if you are looking for action packed and quick paced, you are not going to find it here.  However, if you are in the mood for a beautiful story of resilience, love, and sacrifice, give Addie LaRue a try.

» Typical for a V.E. Schwab book, the characters are morally grey - not completely good nor completely bad.  These characters are complex and multifaceted.

» I could see some people not being fans of the ending, but I felt like it suited the story perfectly.  Schwab loves to leave things a little messy at the end of her stories, and she also likes to leave some things up to the reader's imagination.

» I loved all the representation here - many different characters on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.  The best part is that the fact these characters are queer is simply matter-of-fact, and not any type of plot point.

» This book has great YA to adult crossover appeal.  I feel like this book will appeal to those YA readers that are starting to branch into adult books.

What I didn't like...
» I found Luc to be a particularly fascinating character and would have liked to see more from him... Possibly some chapters told from his perspective?

› Recommended to ⇒ fans of darker & atmospheric reads

› If you liked this book, try ⇒ The Night Circus by Erin Morgernstern

*Big thanks to Tor Books for providing me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Reading this book felt like a warm blanket, a comforting hug, and falling into the familiar. I love V.E. Schwab's writing, it is lyrical and magical. This book was beautiful. Schwab manages to capture our heart and hold it in her hands. She nurtures it and cares for it, and then she sends you back out into the world. You are left looking out at the world and it feeling different then how you remembered it to be. But the world has not changed, you have. For your heart is a little heavy and you are curious as to how the world could create such wonder. There are tears in your eyes and you cannot decide if you are happy or sad, but you know that can never go back to how you once were. V.E. Schwab has said that this book was a labor of love, that it took years for her to write this story she held close to her heart. Now it has touched the hearts of all its readers.

(Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)

This was probably my most-anticipated book of the year! Victoria Schwab is my favourite author, and I preordered this book as soon as I possibly could. I was therefore beyond thrilled to receive an e-ARC from Raincoast (thank you!!), and I couldn’t wait to settle in and read.

This is such an intriguing story, and from what Victoria has revealed about it over the years, I had really high expectations that I’m happy to say were exceeded!! This is a beautifully written and moving story about Addie, who wants a bigger life than what everyone else could see for her, and in a difficult moment, makes a bargain that she can’t take back.

While it was heartbreaking to read about Addie’s family no longer remembering her, and her inability to form relationships and friendships with people because of the deal she made, I loved reading about her journey through the centuries, the things she saw and the people she met, the experiences she had, and the way she learned to leave a mark through others.

I took my time reading this book because I wanted to really luxuriate in the writing, and because it was such a slow burn that I didn’t want to rush through it.

I’ve been thinking about Addie’s story since I finished reading, and I don’t have the words to adequately describe my love for this book and what I felt when I finished reading. I enjoyed it all, from start to finish (I particularly loved the ending), and learning that the book will be adapted as a film (written by Victoria!) was some of the best news I’ve heard all year!

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is absolutely one of my favourite reads of the year, and I cannot recommend this amazing book enough!

Born in 1691, Addie LaRue knew she wanted something different from the typical womanly expectations of her time period. In an effort to escape what she never wanted for herself, she makes a deal with the devil without thinking of the possible risk. From that moment forward, she embarks on a 300 year journey of a lifetime where no one will remember who she is in exchange for her freedom.

Told in alternate timelines, Addie’s past and Addie’s present, the reader is revealing how Addie came to be this way at the same time that the reader is trying to decipher the current situation. This is a very slow, character-driven story, but I only made it to 54% before I finally called it quits. I knew going into this that it would be a slower read and I was okay with that. I even got to the “twist”, or at least what I thought would be the twist, and it picked up for a bit there. I immediately thought I had finally reached the part where I became interested. Sadly, it lost my interest not long after the plot twist and I was back wondering where this would go and how much time it would take to get there. I had already devoted a week to a book that just felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. Finally, I decided to call it quits and devote my energy to a story that would hold my interest. Not every book is for every reader, even if it is a favorite author, and that has to be okay sometimes.

I loved Addie LaRue with my whole heart, its easily one of the best books of the year. Maybe even ever. The story of it all was so emotional, reading it felt this way too. It felt very personal, like I could tell it meant a lot to the author. I really enjoyed the time jumps from the different time periods of Addie's life, it was really cool to see how she had adapted to each one.

Honestly this book made me sob cry and I love it, I love it so much. It is devastatingly beautiful, the way it is written and I loved every wicked moment of it.

Addie LaRue feels as though time is running out. On the night of her wedding, she makes a deal with the devil which changes her life drastically. She will live forever, until she tires of her time on Earth and surrenders her soul. The catch: Everyone she interacts with, whether it be her mother and father, who have known her all her life, or the barista at the coffee shop... will not remember her. She spends 300 years wandering the world, feeling forgotten and unloved, until she meets a boy named Henry, and he remembers her.

I really enjoyed this story and the way it unfolded. The concept of being able to make a deal with a god, to change the course of your life is not a new one... but the execution of this tale was so well done. Its told in alternating timelines between 1714 to 2014, which I really liked! I loved Addie as the main character, and it was interesting to see younger Addie grow into the wiser, older Addie as time went on. I also loved how we got some chapters from Henry's perspective as well. The way V. E. Schwab wrote about his depression and feelings was exquisite. Luc was the most intriguing character to me and I wish that we were given more about him and his story. I also think the representation in this book was incredible. I believe that almost all of the characters in the book are queer in some way. I'm pretty sure both Addie and Henry are pan, which made my heart so happy to see on page. I loved the complex relationships in this not only between Henry and Addie, but also Addie and Luc. There was such a difficult power dynamic between the two, that had me so invested in their struggle.

Overall, a truly beautiful book, I highly recommend it.

V.E. Schwab is the artist of a generation; with each new novel, I am lured into the dark realms of her imagination and so splendidly enraptured. Her writing will be commemorated by readers and critics for generations to come, I'm quite certain.
Her first stand-alone novel, as I understand it, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is shocking, whimsical, full of yearning, and quintessential reading, in my opinion.
While the prose is equally lyrical and striking, it must be noted that Schwab's gift for metaphor is beyond comparison. I've just not read anything like her work in ages.

Addie must be remembered; all our ghosts must be remembered, and their stories must be cataloged.
Synopsis: 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.

What I love so much about Schwab's writing is not only the elegance (or gruesomeness when the occasion calls for it) is her world-building. In each of her novels, and particularly in Addie with the non-linear timeline, setting and exposition are critical to later character and plot development, and Schwab executes these minute details with such precision. Truly a marvel. This novel is not to be missed.

The anticipation for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab was so high this year that you might think there is no way it could possibly live up to those expectations. Then you read it. And you realize that it blows those expectations out of the water.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the very definition of pathos because there is nothing particularly happy or joyful about Addie's life. Yet, it matters not because her story is so imaginative, so thoughtful, so evocative that you read it with your heart in your throat. Emotions, like dread and sadness, threaten to overwhelm you after every page.

There is beauty in Addie's world though. Strangely, you find beauty in her suffering, her resilience, and her longing. Even though you don't think you want to continue her story after her first night in Paris -- because it is just too much -- you do because Addie haunts you, unlike any other character. You want her to find happiness in any form, and you want to ease that longing that is so visceral and difficult to read.

The ending of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is flawless. There is no other way the story could end. Even though it may not be the ending you want for Addie's story, it is perfect and completely worth the heartache and tears that fall on Addie's behalf.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is unlike any story you have previously read. It is also a story that is going to haunt your waking moments as well as your dreams. You will find yourself thinking of Addie's curse at the strangest times, and you will notice all the ways in which you leave an imprint of yourself now that you know all the ways Addie could not. Without a doubt, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will be the best book you read all year and maybe for years to come.

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down. LaRue is, hands down, Schwab’s best book today. What a lyrical, captivating fairytale that I will never be able to forget. I can’t recommend this one enough.

I have read most of Schwab's books and...I think this is by far her best. Her magnum opus. Her crowning achievement. I know she's been working on this for YEARS and honestly...it shows. This story took me by surprise in that I did not expect to relate to it so much. I'm reading this as a 25 year old in the middle of a pandemic, and the whole crux of this book is LIVE and LIVE WELL. However, as with all Schwab stories, it's the writing that really pulls you in. The language is BREATH-TAKING. Every sentence felt like a rich piece of cake, dripping with honey and sweetness. I wanted to live between the lines. And the characters were relatable, breath-taking, unique. I loved the storytelling elements - the little details before each part, the flashbacks and flash-forward writing, the foreshadowing and the pop culture (ish?) references. I loved the ending, the way she captivated me for the entire book. More than anything, I was amazed at how human I felt after living 300 years with one French woman. UGH I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT MAYBE THIS IS IN MY TOP 20 BOOKS OF ALL TIME...

When Addie makes a bargain to live forever, she does not expect to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Forced to live a lonely life, Addie attempts to leave her mark on a world that does not even know she exists. That is until she walks into a bookstore and hears three fateful words, "I remember you." The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a profound novel, one that will leave you at a loss for words, but I promise you, Addie will live in your thoughts long after you turn the final page.

I will never be able to articulate the beauty, the brilliance that is this book. I can throw out words like beautiful and haunting, unique and surreal and yet never be able to properly explain the levels of genius Addie Larue is. Schwab has proven time and time again her ability to write an outstanding novel regardless of genre but THIS.... Addie Larue is unlike anything I could’ve ever imagined.

Beautiful and poetic prose that feels like peacefully drifting through a tranquil sea, characters with layers upon layers of depth who will tastefully break your heart, and an astounding story unlike anything I’ve ever read— that is Addie Larue in the simplest of descriptions. What this novel explores, and does so well, and what it implies of loneliness and the yearning to be seen is one I, as I’m sure many others can relate to. Addie’s story is one that spans 300 years and yet one I have also experienced in my 20 odd years of living. It is despondence in its cruelest form and a concept of loneliness that would drive even the sanest mad and yet Addie’s ability to see and authentically register the world around her despite her circumstances is awe inspiring. Schwab delivers outstanding and strong characters time after time but Addie is marvelously superior.

I have been sitting on this review for a couple of days now thinking about all I want to say and praise about Addie Larue and yet I still cannot even begin to accurately convey the greatness that is this book. All I can say reader is regardless of your reading tastes, regardless of your preferred genre, Addie Larue is sure to blow your mind. It’s lyrical prose and heartening story will without a doubt consume and enchant you from the very first page.

An absolute must read! This book is beyond amazing. Magical and beautiful and emotional. Everything you could want in a time travel book....and more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the the publisher for the copy of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in exchange for my honest review.

This story was absolutely amazing!!! I am not even sure where to start. Addie is a very strong, vibrant and fun character. This story is good, bad, ugly, beautiful, right, wrong and every other opposites you can think of. An exceptional fantasy, do not miss it!!

Oh my gosh, y'all. This book. I don't even have the words yet for how much I loved it. I'm still processing. Swooning. I didn't want it to end. I'm sad that it's over. I'm happy that it turned out the way I wanted it to. I literally have so many emotions about this book I can't even express them all. I NEED A MOVIE YOU GUYS.

I don't want to say too much because, well, I don't want to spoil it for you. But I will encourage you to go and order a copy and thank me later because this book is everything you didn't know you needed.

This was my first book by Schwab and her writing is just absolutely beautiful. The character of Addie was written so poetically, her story will stick with me for a long time. Luc, Henry, all of the supporting characters were well written and developed as well. I am totally going to go back and read a bunch of her books now.

Sincere thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

When you imagine an immortal life - what does it look like?

For Addie LaRue, she has spent the last three hundred years passing through the lives of those she comes into contact with. She has been witness to history unfolding around her, the rise and fall of empires, the changing world. She remembers everything, and yet, she herself is unknown to all. Except one. That's because one night, in a moment of desperation, Addie prayed to the dark - and the dark answered. Now, in a foolishly made deal with the devil, Addie must pass through life free, but forgotten. Eventually when she grows tired of this evanescent existence, the devil will be there to reap her soul. To add to her torment, the dark visits her each year on the night of her deal to celebrate their macabre anniversary. This is the cycle of Addie's life, that is, until she meets a strange boy in a bookshop who inexplicably remembers her.

'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' was my first V.E. Schwab reading experience and I can understand why she has such a devoted fanbase. Her writing is luminous and her characters are heartfelt. Her exploration of the emotional range of her subjects is captivating. Some of the passages are so emotionally draining to read that I just have to give credit to Schwab's ability to wreck her reader's hearts. There are not too many stories that have driven me to actually tear up and sob, but 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' is one of the most cathartic books I have read this year. Much like the titular character, the book is sorrowful but there is also something so stubbornly hopeful about it that I couldn't help but fall in love with Addie's story.

Schwab lingers over the first half of the book, feeling out the peculiars of Addie's deal. We experience every ache and new joy of her transformation. Her first sip of coffee, when she teaches herself how to read, the first time she falls in love only to be forgotten in the morning. The pain of not being able to leave any mark or memory on the world. We see her come into her role as heroine and sharpen her acts of resistance against the dark. Addie is a force that will not be easily tricked again and this resolve pitches the final chapters of 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' to a satisfying and dramatic conclusion.

There is something to be said about Schwab's exploration of the role of women in history. Women who were no less sparkling but were nonetheless overshadowed by their male contemporaries. Women who lived full lives in the midst of history, but are now relegated to marginalia, a beautiful face in a painting, or glimpsed in the characters of a book. May this component of the story inspire us to continue to uncover the biographies of women.

I have only minor complaints about this book - I was disappointed that Schwab based part of her "reveal" on an art historical argument and she incorrectly referenced a painting - Vermeer painted 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' - not Rembrandt. Also, the first time she used 'Palimpsest' it was poetic and highly appropriate. However, by the eighth or ninth use it became redundant. Considering Schwab was working on this story off and on for the better part of a decade, I feel like a copyeditor should have called her on this one. I could have also done without the historical cameos of Beethoven and Sinatra. Again, these were character interjections that distracted from the narrative in the moment instead of enhanced it. Despite this, 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue' receives a positive rating from me and I recommend it.

Addie LaRue is the story of a woman’s curse to be forgotten, and what happens when she finally meets a boy who remembers. The story is told through multiple timelines and tells the story of Addie as she struggles to adapt to her curse and try to overcome it, as well as deal with the devil who cursed her, and the only person who remembers her. It’s a unique perspective on history, love, and the value of memory. If you love history or romance you will fall in love with Addie and her curse and always want to remember her name.