Reviews with content warning for Body horror - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

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

16 reviews

nightfell's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The storytelling of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is so rich and engrossing, and is the main draw of the book for me. The concept of Addie having immortality but being forgotten is an interesting concept, and I think the author partially developed this idea, however I just wish it had more emotion. There were definitely times when I felt her sadness and joy but it all felt like the author wrote the book, and turned down the emotional intensity. It was referenced multiple times throughout the book that Addie had gone mad during her very long life and I would have loved to see flashback chapters showing that, I would have loved to see her screaming and crying and yelling and breaking stuff and just showing the emotions which I felt warranted the situation, however she didn't have many reactions to anything, which really limited the depth the book could have had. There were times when she reacted, and thought events over ect however it all just felt very detached from the situation. I know this is because in the present day chapters everything happened centuries ago for her, and that may be why, but in the flashback chapters It felt muted where it could have been more emotional. The story really had the potential for that emotional depth but I didn't feel it reading.

A lot of people say that the book is slow paced and the first half is hard to get through, but for me that was the best part of the book. You witness Addie's fear of dying before she has lived and experienced everything, her meeting Luc which is one of the most magical parts of the book. Then her struggles living in Paris, and the flashback chapters in the first half are so turbulent. The angst of her present situation paired with her struggles in the past makes the first half so interesting.

However, once Henry was introduced the book dragged a bit for me. This man is one of the most boring, dull, stale love interests I have ever read. He brought nothing to the table and every chapter I had to read in his pov had me questioning if I even like the book to begin with. During his 'backstory' when you learn more about him and why he can remember Addie, I did relate to him on some level but he was still boring and I just didn't care about him.

Addie and Luc's relationship throughout the book is definitely the main reason I gave this book 4 stars. They had good chemistry, and there is something so deep about their bond that goes beyond romance. The fact that he was the only person who remembers her for 300 years and despite her hatred and resentment of him, she was relieved everytime he showed up gave so much complexity to their relationship beyond the standard 'enemies to lovers' which I don't really see them fitting into that category, as they are so unique. I know they are toxic and some of the stuff he said/did or didn't do was questionable, however I just love the fact that for better or for worse he remembered her, and saw her (mostly) every year.
There is a line that goes something like "perhaps an enemy's company is still better than none" and I just think that perfectly sums up the complexities of their relationship.

Towards the end I kept getting whiplash, because one minute I'd be reading Addie and Luc is some mysterious location saying some dramatic dialogue, then I'd turn the page and see Henry asking Addie if she was to go to the Ice Cream Factory, like??? People who ship Addie and Henry do so in spite of the people who ship Addie and Luc, because there is no other explanation that can justify liking them. Not even in comparison to Addie and Luc. I feel like the Henry stans need to hear that they don't have to ship anyone with Addie, because they were so boring I swear. Or just ship Addie and Sam, they were cute.

I wish Addie had fallen in love with a girl (like Bea) instead of Henry, because then maybe I would have rated this a 4.5/5. Ik everyone was crying over the ending but....it wasn't that sad, if anything it felt like it ended on a cliffhanger and I wish there was a novella.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just wish it had more emotion and depth. Addie and Luc carried this book. Also why was Luc more of a comedic relief in this book than Henry and his friends. I knew the stuff he was saying was hurtful to Addie ect but I was laughing (not at the possessive stuff though that kinda gave me the ick).

Henry, no one likes you. He didn't deserve the paycheck he got from ADDIE'S story. The fact that Addie left Henry for Luc so true.

Content Warnings