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.

What a fantastic story! It took me a moment to get fully into, but I was hooked. This truly is a dazzling and incredibly thought-provoking story. I spent the majority of the book wondering what it would be like to live through multiple centuries, and if I would have made the same decisions. I can’t wait until it is released in October so all my friends can read it too!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. I was super excited to read a new Schwab book and super grateful for the ARC because I could NOT wait until October. She's one of my favorite writers. I have even instilled that love unto my non-reader younger brother. Now it's time to take a deep breath and clear the emotions from my throat and write a review at 4 am.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is an incredible story spanning the ages about, you guessed it, the invisible life of a girl named Addie LaRue. She sells her soul to a creature who may be a demon, a devil, an old god, a djinn, or some combination of them all, in exchange for immortality, and the catch comes with that she is forgotten by everyone she meets and can never leave her own mark on the world. She is forgotten, invisible, a ghost. The waiting game starts for her to get tired of life and relinquish her soul to her devil, but she's stubborn and persistent and loves life, all its ups and downs, and refuses to give in. He visits her on their anniversary, and appears at other moments, to help, hinder, and talk her into ending the game. She does this for 300+ years, but everything changes when she stumbles into a man who remembers her, and his name is Henry Strauss.
The story is told during the present day, from her perspective, sometimes from Henry's, but also throughout the previous years of Addie's life. We see her grow as a woman, see her in Paris, Florence, New Orleans, New York, and countless other places. We see quite a bit of Henry's adult life and his perspective even before meeting Addie, but I can't divulge more without spoilers.
I was absolutely enthralled and enchanted by the story spun about Addie and her devil (Luc). Their meetings throughout the ages. Their banter. The antagonizing remarks. His help. His manipulations. Both of them circling each other like wolves. The way their relationship and understanding of each other grew over time. I found that story to be the most compelling, personally. I was always wanting more and more of Addie's life before her present, always wanting to see more of Luc.
Henry's story was the counterpart, and while I can notice and appreciate all the emotions and secrets wrenched out of Schwab's soul with the change of his perspective, I didn't necessarily relate to it as much as other's have and will. I appreciate who he is as a character and his relationship with Addie, but I simply didn't like his story as much as I liked Addie's and Luc's.
I also could tell from the very beginning, that while he was sweet, it didn't seem like he and Addie were fated to be together. It didn't fit with the narrative. The signs were clear. Addie was compelled towards Luc because he remembers her, has been a solid figure throughout the wide span of her life, and she always fought against it. Addie was desperate to be remembered by someone human, and threw herself into him with reckless abandon, without even knowing him. I don't fault her for that. I understand. But it had me wondering where their relationship, and the book itself, was leading.
But this isn't a story about true love conquering all. It's a story about life and about living and being remembered and all the pain that comes with it. The climax was altogether unexpected, emotions crept into my throat, fluid might have even pooled in my eyes. It ended in a way very different from what I expected. The book was wonderfully refreshing to read and will be tucked in a special place in my heart, next to my fantasies of Luc.

4.5/5

If you could make a deal to live forever but never be remembered, would you do it?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was a wonderful story. Beautifully written with interesting characters and a unique storyline. This book was different from what I expected, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and made myself read it slowly to savor it all. I enjoyed Addie, Luc, and Henry so much and am sad it’s over.

I love that V.E. Schwab has such strong lead females. Each book of hers that I read becomes my new favorite. I cannot wait until this comes officially.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alexis at Tor for this ARC.

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.

I am in love with this book! I had no idea what to expect, I requested an ARC because I like the author. From the moment I started it I couldn't put it down because Addie is a fantastic character and I loved following her story. There were several moments where I thought I had things figured out but this book continued to buck my expectations and in the best way possible. The story is told through dual-timelines that jump around a bit but eventually meet and that worked really well. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes historical or dual-timeline books with a little bit of romance.

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

What happen when the devil grants a wish for eternity to a young French woman in the 1700''s? Must read for those who love time traveler books. The ending was perfect, no other way it could have ended without being a disappointment.

Schwab has said that she put more of herself into this book than in any other book, and it shows. Addie LaRue feels very personal, almost like reading Schwab's own journal. It is written beautifully, with every word and sentence carrying weight. I had a really good sense of the characters and how they were feeling, to the point that my own emotions were involved as well. I was also impressed by the ending. I thought I knew where Schwab was taking the story, but then she gave it a little twist that made me love it even more. I thought this book was nearly perfect, but I do have a few critiques. There are a lot of flashback-type sections in this book that, for the most part, are relevant to the story and. help flesh out the main characters. However, I found that these sections were too long and monotonous, to the point of becoming boring. Especially for Addie, there's a lot of flashbacks to her life immediately after making her deal for immortality, and even though there's some important information about how her deal works, most of it was repetitive examples of how difficult and lonely her new life is. It just felt like a bit much for me, and I ended up skimming some of those sections. In general, there's a lot of repetitiveness in this book. It's intentional, and a lot of the time the repetition works for the storytelling, but again, there was a little too much. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading this book, but there was a point in the story that I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. Somewhere in the middle I was starting to lose interest, but there's a turning point in Addie's relationships (both past and present) that brought be back in.

This review is based on an uncorrected e-book galley provided by the publisher.

4.5/5 stars

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is part historical fiction, part fictional memoir, and part love story. We are introduced to Addie in the year 2014, almost exactly 300 years since she made a deal with the devil: her soul for a life of freedom and lack of restrictions. As these deals always do, this one comes with a catch. Addie is doomed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Her life is spent navigating the contours of this curse, until she meets a boy who can remember her.

VE Schwab has written a heartfelt, emotionally wrenching story that will touch every reader differently. Her characters are vivid and urgent in their desires and fears and dreams. Anyone who has ever felt confined to their situation, be that their town, their career, or their life, will find themselves reflected in Addie. She is, as Schwab has described in her social media postings, full of stubborn hope and defiant joy.

This book shines most in its depictions of Addie in "present day," which is actually 2014. Her interactions with Henry, his friends, and a world that is inhospitable to those who slip through the cracks are the true heart of this story. Much of what Addie encounters in the modern timeline is informed and made more emotionally resonant by the events of her past, but I felt most connected to her in the present. By the 300-year mark, Addie is both weary of her curse and viciously eager to find ways around it. Each time Addie encountered someone, I felt her need to connect and hoped, perhaps futilely, that this would be the person who remembered her.

Schwab excels in conferring the desires of her characters onto the reader. While making my way through this book, I longed, ached, hated, and loved right along with Addie and Henry. Their thirst for life, not in spite of but because of its hardships and surprises, was inspiring and gave the novel a thread of hope even when you thought all was lost.

My only complaint with the book was the occasional slow chapter, most of which were about Addie's past. I was so invested in the current timeline that it often felt like I was racing to get back to present day. I do believe that this book requires at least one more read to get the full sense of its beauty and cohesion. I can only imagine that the finished copies of this book will enhance the reading experience, as the e-galley was missing some illustrations. I am also looking forward to being able to flip back and forth easily to compare previous chapters.

Verdict: A wonderful, heartfelt novel that will leave your chest aching and your feet itching to travel. Perfect for anyone looking for a book that is transportive while also shedding light on their own hearts. (Contains themes that may be unsettling for some readers: sex, drug use, and suicidal thoughts)