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

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: October 6, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Imaginative • Quiet • Tragic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

It's quite possible I am the last person to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, as this book took Bookstagram by storm upon release. Personally, I was glad some of the hype had receded, as it afforded me the opportunity to go at my own pace and develop my own thoughts and feelings free of being bombarded with reviews and hype. And to be quite honest, the whole experience was rather dizzying and don't exactly know how I ended up feeling.

On the one hand, V.E. Schwab's writing was mesmerizing, atmospheric, and haunting. Although I didn't always know what was going on, I was transported into the story so vividly. Addie, herself, is a fairly unlikeable character, yet I could find myself empathizing with the why. There's such a strength in what this unique and clever story attempted to do.

Yet on the other hand, because of the structurally necessary repetitive descriptions I was never compelled to keep reading. I never found myself thinking about the narrative or characters when I wasn't reading. It lacked a depth I craved so badly. This sense of detachment made it feel longer than it actually is.

And finally, I found myself completely satisfied with the ending, meaning I finished on a high note and that's kind of what I focus on when I think back to my time with Addie. Taken in pieces, there are a lot of mixed feelings, yet it is a real testament to making the most of the time we have.

I do certainly understand why The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is beloved by so many. It's such a unique and fascinating idea, yet for me the reading experience was tedious. I am not sure I have been convinced to explore more of V.E. Schwab's work, but you just never know.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife
• readers who like unique stories

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"'Nothing is all good or all bad,' she says. 'Life is so much messier than that.'"

"Live long enough, and you learn how to read a person. To ease them open like a book, some passages underlined and others hidden between the lines."

"And perhaps it is just that happiness is frightening."

Content Warnings

teaand_tomes's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is an absolutely magnificent book. The way V.E. Schwab writes is enchanting, painting an entrancing story that feels like pure poetry. It is easily one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read.

The unexpected mystery surrounding the man who finally remembers Addie adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. It keeps you engaged and wanting to uncover the truth alongside the characters.

The dual timelines in the story are so captivating that I found myself torn between them, never wanting either to end once they've started. The way the author seamlessly weaves together Addie's past and present is masterful.

While reading, I couldn't help but hold my breath, much like Addie herself, waiting for the spell to break. The constant anticipation of the curse creeping back into her life adds a sense of tension and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is truly a masterpiece of literature. Despite having an ending that may not be conventionally happy and is mildly open-ended, I am left utterly speechless by how amazing this story is. It is a testament to the author's skill and storytelling ability.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates beautifully written stories that captivate and leave a lasting impact. It is a remarkable tale that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Content Warnings

helfire124's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

anewton's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

5.0

The most beautifully written book. Complex, flawed characters, complex emotions, deep, reflective storyline. Absolutely beautiful. I wish I could reread this for the first time.

Content Warnings

icarusandthesun's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

3.25

addie larue was okay—honestly just okay.
i like schwab's writing style a lot; i think her ideas are smart, and so are many lines in the book.
however, the book still failed to captivate me in many ways.

the characters were nice and had their fair share of depth... like, objectively, they were good characters, but i still found myself unable to 1) fall in love with them, and 2) relate to them in any way or form. i still don't feel any special attachment to any of these characters, and that, of course, took away most of the impact of the story (since it is a very character-driven one).

the plot didn't especially excite me either, except for the few end-of-chapter cliffhangers and plot-twists. the rest was all just a little meh, you know.

my verdict: a highly readable, low-fantasy book you're surely going to enjoy if you like character-driven books and a slight 'no plot, just vibes' kinda feeling.
sadly, wasn't entirely for me, though.

Content Warnings

rrio's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

sandwiiche's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

this was my first v.e. schwab book, and her writing is exquisite.
however, i predicted the plot twists and the ending was left rather open ended, which i personally didn't like.
this book also felt more like a slo paced literary fiction with a dash of fantasy/historical/romance, so if you're looking for a high stakes edge-of-your-seat kinda book then maybe come back when you're in the mood for this

anyway, looking forward to reading her other books, which i've heard are really good 😩

Content Warnings

saturnpersonified's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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