I am completely enamored with this story. It captured my attention completely and had me neglecting everything I needed to do this weekend in favor of curling up with it. Gorgeous prose and storytelling. Somehow, I've never read anything else by V.E. Schwab and now I can't wait to dive into her other books!

Love the premise and I enjoyed reading about the main character as she moved through time. But the writing didn’t move me, it was just too long and the ending was unsatisfying. I won’t be picking up this author again.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Never pray to the gods that answer after dark.”

A girl strikes a desperate deal with the darkness, binding them together through time, cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets, in the ironically unforgettable THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE.

V.E. Schwab delivers one of my favorite books of the year—a story beautifully poetic, deeply romantic and utterly mesmerizing.

Our story takes shape in 1714 France as Addie LaRue longs to escape her small-town fate. In a moment of desperation, she pleads to the dark for her freedom. And while her plea is answered, it’s not without a cost.

“I am stronger than your god and older than your devil. I am the darkness between stars, and the roots beneath the earth. I am promise, and potential, and when it comes to playing games, I divine the rules, I set the pieces, and I choose when to play.”

Destined to live forever (or until she surrenders her soul), Addie must live her days forgotten the moment anyone looks away.

In an incredible—and invisible—life spanning centuries and continents, we accompany Addie as she struggles to make a living, through days of devastation and war, forgotten by lovers, a muse for the world’s brightest, but inescapably and infinitely alone.

Until 300 years later, in a small New York City book shop, a boy remembers.

And everything changes.

This book is one you can’t help but devour. A spellbinding adventure brimming with joy and heartache all at once. A story about love and loss, desperation and resilience, courage and sacrifice, darkness and light. I was swept away by Addie’s story, by a million magical moments that brought Schwab’s words to life in a way that felt wonderfully visceral.

There was a gossamer, dreamy quality to the narrative and I could have endlessly reveled in its magic. It was just perfect.

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

Well, I had ridiculously high standards for this book as V.E. Schwab has nailed everything she's ever written. And this books has claimed it's place as my favourite of her works. The hype around the book is real and it's so well deserved. I loved Addie Larue and following her life and journey in the way this book was written was so well done. Henry and Luc are also great side characters and it's so interesting to see how the story unfolded especially with that ending! Wow did I cry.
Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc of this book for an honest review. I can't wait to reread it once I have my physical copy!

A breathtaking novel that readers won’t want to put down and likely will not forget. The magic of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is that it so fluidly crosses genre lines and offers something for every reader. V.E Schwab’s writing is lush and cinematic.

This is the type of novel I would encourage patrons to pick up without telling them too much about the plot for fear of spoiling their delight at letting it unfold before them as they read.

"Be careful what you wish for as you just may get it." A young girl asks for freedom from a life in a small medieval village, and her wish is granted by a dark god; with strings attached- she will never be remembered by anyone she meets. After centuries of roaming the earth, witnessing historic events and leaving a mark in the art world, she finally is remembered by another doomed soul and the results are heart-breaking, poignant, and ultimately, clever,

This book is AMAZING!

Addie is a girl who reminds me a lot of Belle from Beauty and the Beast: she's smart, she's strong-willed, and she wants more than this provincial life. Only, she's an artist instead of a reader. She was born in the small village of Villon in 1691, and like all young ladies of the day, she was expected to do nothing more in life than get married and have children. That might be fine for her friend, Isabelle, but it wasn't what she wanted. After praying and praying and praying, she finally got a god to free her from the obligation of having to marry. That obligation came with a cost, however. Although she would be able to live forever, nobody would remember her.

The story beautifully weaves two timelines: one, in 2014, where she finally meets someone that does remember her, and another which starts during her childhood. It withholds details until it's necessary to tell them, leaving you with unanswered questions that makes you want to keep on reading. What is her story? I know I wanted to keep on reading and find out more.

What would it be like to live a life where nobody remembers you? This is a key concept of this lovely book.

I'm not going to spoil the end--there are hints in the book that make me guess the ending, but I wasn't sure until the very last section. I loved it. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is as much of a work of art as Addie is herself. I highly recommend it.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of those rare books that I wanted to reread the instant I turned the final page. This book is one of those books that slowly carves out a place in your heart and settles in. And, quite fittingly, this book is one that is impossible to forget.

Although Schwab has long been once of my favorite authors, this book is on an entirely different level. It’s beautiful, lyrical, and absolutely heartbreaking. But it’s also full of hope and love and beauty.

I’d honestly recommend this book to everyone and not just fantasy lovers. There’s something for everyone in there and I dare you not to fall in love with this stunning prose.

Oh. My. God. What an experience it was to read this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for sending me an ARC to review. You may be thinking "Is this book overhyped? Is it really as good as everyone is saying?" And the truth is, that it depends. I know, not helpful. But I really do believe that it is worth reading at least once. It might not be your style but I entreat you to give it a chance because it was an absolute experience for me.

This was my first V. E. Schwab book and I'm not sure it was the right place to start but I'm so happy I did. Her writing here is so very present. Each sentence seems to capture a poignant feeling and memory that is almost artistic. Every word with purpose. Her style of writing lends to a specific, almost mysterious atmosphere. It places you in a setting that is both present and timeless. You are able to move moment to moment with Addie throughout her life. It was strange, but I found myself wanting to cry at some of the most simple passages in this book. They were simple and somehow profound. An epiphany through simplicity.

This book is probably not for everyone, especially if you are looking for a quick, easy read. It is extremely slow and deliberate and made for you to think on and reflect. If you are not patient it will be very hard to get through. I had trouble getting through Henry, one of the main characters, perspective but I got through it because I was invested in Addie.

All in all, what a beautiful book. It is one that holds pages and pages of purposeful writing. Every word, every line, every passage is meaningful. There's no fluff nor filler. It makes you think about life, death, every decision you make, and every connection or relationship you foster. When mortality is taken from you, what facets of humanity do you cling to and what do you live for?

I will need to read this book again, perhaps several times, to grasp all of it and absorb all its lessons and messages again. I highly recommend this book.

I have trouble characterizing this book as either fantasy, historical fiction, or fairy tale. There is a very fairy-tale like quality to the story. Addie makes a deal with a god (or demon?) who grants her the ability to live forever, but forgotten by everyone who meets her. Addie's life is complicated by the mere practicalities of living a life when no one remembers you. She must figure out how to find joy and enjoy the small moments of connection she shares with others even knowing that those moments are ephemeral and cannot be built on sustained relationships - until she meets someone who does remember her. What does it mean to live, to leave a mark on others' lives, and to have a memory that you alone remember.

What an epic journey I just had with Addie LaRue, Henry and Luc. WHAT A JOURNEY! I love that this 448 page novel has a very short synopsis and to be honest.... at first I thought this may be one of those that lulls here and there but I am so happy to have proven myself wrong. Now, we can talk about what an amazing writer this author is and how this book just proves once again that Schwab spins yet another outrageously good tale that you will fall in love with. For me, it wasn't just about that, but more so the fact that humans are complex and we all want to feel loved and have our freedom... but at what price? Always be careful what you wish for.

300 years of Addie LaRue. I thoroughly enjoyed the jumps in time lines as we get to see her through these various journeys. I felt for her so much and couldn't imagine what it would be like to consistently be forgotten... even though at times I've certainly wished I could be invisible in this oh so busy world. She is one tough woman! And then to finally be seen! FINALLY! And then story starts to really soar. I fell in love with all the characters. Even Luc. How could you not? My eyes got a bit misty towards the end and I closed the book fully satisfied but also wanting more. Ahem, Schwab.... do we get to see the next dance? Or has the curtain fallen?

This story will definitely stick with me for a long time. The main storyline is fantastic (as you can probably gleam from this review) but it's really the subtle nuances and the undercurrent of everything else that I truly found fascinating. Like finding that backbeat of a track rather than just paying attention to the loudest one that everyone else is dancing to. Really the perfect story I needed in my life at this moment.

And Addie LaRue, I promise I will always remember you. While I'm obviously rating this 5 stars, I also give it 7 beautifully placed freckles. ❤

I was holding out for the audio of this book because it is narrated by the incredible Julia Whelan. Julia was the perfect narrator to truly bring this beautiful story to life (we stan Julia in this house).

The prose in this book is so achingly beautiful and lyrical that I forgot that I was reading a fantasy at so many points.

Addie is a truly fascinating character. After sealing a deal with devil, Addie is burdened with being forgotten by everyone who encounters her. While this existence is incredibly lonely and isolating, we see Addie fight, manipulate, and steal in order to survive in a world that is oblivious to her existence. We really see the foundation of human need and existence through Addie, which is raw and heartbreaking.

My biggest criticism of the book is that the vast majority is told through Addie lens, so when we randomly get a POV from Henry (the one person who finally doesn’t forget Addie), it felt jarring and unnecessary. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why Henry was integral to Addie’s story, but I would’ve preferred it to be revealed through her lens since all other interactions were.

Overall, this was a solid 4 star read for me, and I look forward to reading more of Schwab in the future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy. Thank you Tor Books for the review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

A book with a unique premise (as far as I know). Addie LaRue is cursed with immortality, but of a particular sort. She wished for freedom, and her devil's bargain interpreted that as an inability to be remembered. She is invisible because she is unable to make any kind of permanent mark on the world. If she walks into a room everyone there thinks they are seeing her for the first time; if someone walks out and comes back in they will have already forgotten her.

This has enormous implications for Addie's everyday life. She can't have a permanent home, so she can have few possessions. She must steal to satisfy most of her needs, and she learns how to use her "invisibility" in creative ways. About half of the story takes place in 2014, when Addie turns 300 years old. The impossible has happened: she met someone (named Henry) who can remember her, which makes a real relationship possible for the first time since she was cursed. Her life started in rural France, and the narrative describes her childhood and life until she runs away from her wedding in 1714. Her desperate desire to escape leads to her deal with the dark, a being she names Luc (possibly short for Lucifer).

From here the story shifts between the 2014 present (and some earlier events) and Addie's life through the ages. Obviously this has to be done in snapshots, each jumping forward twenty years or so into the future. Schwab waits until almost the end to make crucial reveals about Henry's own bargain, and Addie's intimate relationship with Luc. It makes for an exciting conclusion, which is surprisingly satisfying. A very enjoyable read.

3.5 stars, rounded up for sheerly, unforgettably beautiful prose. And also Julia Whelan.

I have an interesting relationship with Schwab books. This is my... 8th. And I'm always enamored by the concept, engrossed by the writing, and then knocked off balance by an unexpected (and often unwelcome) change around the 50% mark in the story. This has happened in every single book. In this book, it's a change in perspective/focus from Addie to Henry, where he barrels in and tells his entire story in a rush, taking up about 10-15% of the plot. I have a really fun analogy for this, which I'll get back to in a bit.

For now, the good: Addie is a fascinating character. The concept of never being able to leave a mark, be remembered, own things... It's executed brilliantly as we flash through her greatest hits, seeing how she has to steal, how she manipulates the rules of her gift/curse, how her heart is broken, how she continues to make a mark, even though no one knows it's her. Then throwing the wrench in with two characters, opposites in all ways except how they orbit around her, who can remember her from one moment to the next. This is a book whose prose has weight, has rhythm. I actually started reading the ebook but stopped because I knew it was a book best heard (for me) so that the lyricism could really shine through.

Okay, so we're going to go back to the analogy mentioned above, because it sums up my thoughts really well. Recently, there was a new video game launched in an insanely popular, award-winning franchise (I'm not going to say which because spoilers). So we start the game with E on a quest for revenge against A. We follow E through hours of grueling decisions and horrible things - all for the sake of finding and killing A. But then, when they meet, we undergo a jarring shift and suddenly, we're flashing back to the beginning of E's hunt... but now playing as A, with none of the weapon mods, a completely different style of gameplay, and a totally unfamiliar character with different goals. And throwing us in after we've spent so long with E, learning to hate A (not exactly applicable here, because we don't hate Henry, we just don't know him), to then try to build a character from the beginning and make us care at this point that is so late in the story and we're already so invested in our other character E (or Addie). We could have seen all of A's story either as cuts between E's sections or through the lens of what E is doing (same with Addie and Henry).

All that to say... we cared about Addie, not about Henry. Henry was a rock in the stream of Addie's story. Enough to completely change the direction of flow, but we don't know him, we don't understand him the way we understand Addie. And to try to force us to really... interrupts the beauty we get from Addie's story. And we could have learned all about Henry from the way Addie sees him rather than telling us Henry's story.

Part-fantasy, part-speculative, part historical, part-metafiction, part-urban fantasy, and a full-on emotional rollercoaster. This immersive novel is a breath of fresh air.

Okay, just a warning: This novel is heavy on the romance. Just a warning for those who aren’t a fan. Romance is a core element in this novel’s narrative. You’ll see.

Does humanity genuinely want immortality or do we crave being remembered for generations long after we die? How is history made?

V. E. Schwab explores these thematic concerns through the character Addie LaRue. Born in 1691, women aren’t allowed to read, write, leave town, and expected to have babies until they die. As a girl, Addie is fascinated with her father’s travels and grew up playing in Estele’s independent, small hut. Addie is powerless as a girl in the 17th and 18th centuries, but she is stubborn. Addie refuses to follow the path laid out in front of her. So she runs away and makes a deal with one of the old gods, trading her soul away for immortality. There’s a catch, of course, because there always is. No one can remember her.

That is until she becomes an idea.

“The first mark she left upon the world, long before she knew the truth, that ideas are so much wilder than memories, that they long and look for ways of taking root.”

Brilliant!

This marks a shift in Addie’s character development when she becomes less interested in survival and more interest in historical impact/creative inspiration. Her character development echoes humanity’s artistic trajectory, hanging around different artists who work in various mediums. She becomes humanity’s muse.

This turns into an opportunity for Schwab to comment on great art, artists, and its impact. After all, what is art but the reimagination/commentary on events? In other words, art is just history that includes humanity’s biases and emotions. Schwab said it best in this novel:

“History is made in retrospect.”

Schwab continues to play with narrative structure in her latest novel. She has mastered multiple POVs and timelines after playing with that structure that she effectively utilized within the 2013 & 2018 Villains series. Schwab elevates this style by including commentary that is metafiction in nature.

I will end my review by writing this: I’ve followed V. E. Schwab since I got twitter. I’ve read her complain about writing new drafts for this novel. Schwab is not shy when talks about working on this novel for 10 years. She’s published so many books within that time. I’ve watched her start and abandon this novel for other projects that without a doubt paid her bills and flights around the globe. Schwab is the rich, successful White woman I can never be. Even with all of her privileges and opportunities, she still experiences the same imposter syndrome, doubts, fatigue, and burnout that I experience. She pulls the veil down on a romanticized career and exposes the nitty-gritty. I respect Schwab for everything she does and how she inspires writers with various experiences. And I’m proud to have seen the small snippets of Schwab’s journey creating The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It’s been an honor and it surpassed all of my expectations.

This book was amazing. It was mesmerizing, bleak in parts, and evocative. The writing was gorgeous. The plot and characters were so well done. I can’t think of anything negative to say about this book. It was so good!

On the day of her wedding in 1714 Addie LaRue makes a deal with the devil (literally and figuratively). Addie wants to be free. She wants to grow out of the small French village in which she was born. She wants to explore the world without constraints. Bartering her soul for her freedom, what Addie doesn’t realize is that every word has power.

Addie will come to know that the Darkness (later known as Luc) takes Addie’s choice of words “freedom without constraints” to make her near invisible to the world. She cannot speak her name or tell her story. If someone leaves a room or turns away from Addie, she is quickly forgotten, but she is free. Erased. Invisible.

Then, Addie meets Henry who works in a book store. While trying to exchange a book she lifted from the store the previous day, she’s shocked at realization that Henry remembers Addie, he sees her. For the first time in nearly three hundred years Addie has a voice.

I’m finding it a bit difficult to truly convey my feelings for this book, this story, without giving too much away. There’s so much I want to talk about. V.E. Schwab has constructed a beautiful story that’s full of heartbreak yet is, oddly, also very hopeful and speaks to the strength of the human spirit.

Centering on Addie as she recounts her past and current present, V.E. Schwab fully conveys this suffocating feeling of not being able to speak ones truth. Of being overlooked, or quite literally forgotten. Of any formed relationship being relegated to one-sided and having to be rebuilt day after day after day. It seems so exhausting and there were plenty of times when Addie echoes this sentiment.

The really shining thing about this book is Addie’s perseverance. Visited by Luc on nearly every anniversary of their deal, he repeatedly tries to get her to give over her soul to him, to call it quits. Ever stubborn, Addie will not give him the satisfaction and what begins as a battle of wills between the two, devolves into Addie learning that maybe she doesn’t need her voice, she just needs an idea and she needs time—which she has in abundance.

Seeing Addie thwart the Darkness’s rules in seemingly minute ways, witnessing those small instances having a larger overall impact was absolutely brilliant and beautiful. When Addie meets Henry, the only other being—besides Luc—who remembers her, I had tears of joy for Addie. But I couldn’t in good conscience call their relationship romantic. I think they were each other’s saving graces and while true love could possibly form from that, I don’t think we see such a thing within the pages of this book. Only deep regard and affection.

This contrasts nicely with her relationship with Luc—the only constant in her life for all these years. I think V.E. Schwab played his ambiguity quite nicely. He remains a mystery throughout, one that I really want to crack, but this is Addie’s story and she’s playing her own game where they’re concerned, and honestly I’m 100% Team Addie.

If you’ve read V.E. (Victoria) Schwab, you know to expect wonderful settings, writing, characters, etc. This doesn’t change with Addie LaRue. But having finished I can say with real honesty that Addie is no longer invisible to me. I see her. I hope you will too.

France, 1714: Desperate to escape the fate of becoming a wife and mother, Adeline LaRue does the one thing she has been warned never to do – she calls out to the gods who listen after dark. The dark god hears her and grants what she desires – more time and the freedom to live as she pleases, but there’s a twist she didn’t see coming: everyone who meets her will forget her. Destitute but free, Adeline sets off to make a life for herself but her new reality is full of perils and problems, one of which is that she unable to leave a mark on the world, unable to write or draw or create. The story shifts from 1714 to 2014 in New York City, where Addie LaRue will meet the one person who is able to remember her, and it will change both of their lives.

The Invisible life of Addie LaRue is a decadent literary feast, one to be savored over long evenings and featuring such a range of delights that every reader will find something to enjoy. I was captivated by Addie LaRue and her incredible, unforgettable life. Her tale of going from an ordinary young woman from a small town in France to the accomplished, well-traveled, and always forgotten muse of artists and musicians is extraordinary. Between chapters of her new life in New York are flashbacks to turning points in her storied life, whether meeting influential people or finding the freedom of dressing as a man or her anniversary encounters with the entity that made her immortal and forgettable. I fell in love with Addie and Henry – the mysterious and unhappy young man she meets in a bookshop – and their intertwining story. I fell in love with the writing and the vibrant descriptions of cities, food, people, and art. I also enjoyed the LGBTQ representation!

I would recommend this book to fans of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley.

This was a great book. It's slower paced, but definitely one that I look forward to recommending to others.

Deserveth of the hype, for sure.

Perfect tone and writing style? Check.
Schwab has this certain cadence to her writing where it reads like a beautiful lulling poetry. You can fall into this story so easily.

Incorporation of many fascinating places and points in time? Check.
This book takes you from France, to Italy, Germany, England, and a few different parts of the US, at various points between the 1700s and 2010s. It touches on different historical moments, including the French Revolution, World War I and II, and US Prohibition Era, and a few famous figures pop up throughout the story, which was fun.

Hitting all the Schwab points, which is why you're probably reading it in the first place? Check.
There are a lot of similar elements to Schwab's other books: Slytherin girls, Hufflepuff boys, shadows, dark deals, violins, love of the sea, not quite happy endings.
It's like if all of Schwab's previous books had one unforgettable night together, birthed a super baby with all of the best parts of their respective DNA, and that super baby grew up to a become the mature adult that is Addie LaRue.

V.E. Schwab's best book to date? Check, check, check.