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lynxpardinus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, and Death
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Sexism, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Violence, and War
Minor: Biphobia, Pregnancy, Cancer, and Child death
sefab764's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I think this was a great concept and overall it was an entertaining read. It did drag in some places but Adeline's passion for art and the cruel realities she experiences gave lots of emotional depth that pulled at my heartstrings. It glossed over some details I felt should've been explored more over what was brought to the forefront but I read it in one day and would revisit it, perhaps for an anniversary ;)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, War, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Grief
lujisa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Suicide, Child death, and Addiction
naomi_k's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Death, Alcohol, Grief, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
froyobaggns's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Abandonment, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: War, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, Violence, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Drug use
marioosa517's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexism, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
Reading this book was an incredible and immersive experience. Each time I opened the book, no matter how many pages I read, I was instantly transported into the world of Addie LaRue, and it was beautiful, intriguing and utterly brilliant.
I am a huge fan of V.E. Schwab's works and this did not disappoint. In fact, I would now say that The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my favourite books of all time. Each time I re-read it, because I will re-read this book multiples times, I wish for it to be just as magical as the first time I read it.
An author has never made me feel so many emotions with one story, until now. Addie LaRue made me smile, laugh, swoon and cry. Some of my favourite elements of this book are how many places and characters we experience, how many historical events are referenced as Addie lives through them and how her character grows with her life experiences. Every single character is intriguing and brings a different element to create this wonderful story. I couldn't imagine the story without each and every one of them.
I am in love with this book.
I am a huge fan of V.E. Schwab's works and this did not disappoint. In fact, I would now say that The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is one of my favourite books of all time. Each time I re-read it, because I will re-read this book multiples times, I wish for it to be just as magical as the first time I read it.
An author has never made me feel so many emotions with one story, until now. Addie LaRue made me smile, laugh, swoon and cry. Some of my favourite elements of this book are how many places and characters we experience, how many historical events are referenced as Addie lives through them and how her character grows with her life experiences. Every single character is intriguing and brings a different element to create this wonderful story. I couldn't imagine the story without each and every one of them.
I am in love with this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, War, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Trafficking, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
anastashamarie's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Edit 3 weeks later: I can't stop thinking about this book in the worst way. And more I think about it, the more disappointed I am about this book. I wish I could give it a half star because 2.5 seems more accurate, but because I'm stewing on it, I decided that 2 is probably more accurate than 3 doe my overall experience
Original review: Major spoilers for the ending in the majority of this review, but the end totally affects my entire perception of the book so...this is the way.
To start, I want to say I liked the writing style of this book. I liked the theming relating to the arts and memory. I liked the mix of fiction and historical reality. I loved the overall concept of Addie's bargain and the potential it held. But overall this book was a major letdown for me. From a literary perspective, I think so much more could have been done with the juxtaposition of past and present, with Addie's character arc, with the themes which were strongly laid.
But more than all that, the reveal that "you're reading a book written by a character (but not the title character)" is what nearly ruined it. And it's not even for the unnecessary meta-ness of it, in a book that really isn't very meta in any other way.
Let me explain.
First, I think Schwab severely limited the story that she could tell by using the format she did. The pacing of the story is odd, too slow at the beginning and too fast toward the end. After the reveal, the reader might be able to deduce that the pacing has to do with how Addie told Henry her story and how Henry's seemingly-limited time with her might have affected how much she could tell him. But without that information (which we don't have until the end of the story) the pacing and spacing of the story just doesn't make much sense to the reader. Instead it just seems like poor storytelling.
Second, and related to the first, I also think that the focus on this format, and making the reveal the "big thing" about about this book, was a cop-out that let the author get away with not making Addie's life very interesting. Fairly early in the book, Luc says something akin to that he expected more/better from Addie's freedom. Addie blames Luc for the "curse" he's given her, saying she can't do anything else, but I couldn't help but feel the same way throughout this story...that she was complaining and wasting so much potential. I was just genuinely bored throughout most of the book. Maybe that's because Addie was bored, so that's the story she told Henry, but that just feels lazy to me. Even the parts that could have been interesting, such as Addie acting as a spy in WWII, were glossed over and vaguely mentioned...as if Addie or Schwab or whoever couldn't be bothered to share the parts that make her more than just a party girl.
Third, whether intentional or not, having Henry tell Addie's story leaves out what arguably more interesting story of Addie and Luc circling each other, feuding, and trying to reconcile for three centuries. It's not even that I like Luc better, necessarily, but rather that there could have been so much more potential to tell a story about two immortals who only have each other for genuine company. Sort of "the only two people on earth" but with the more unique spin of how that looks outside of a post-apocalyptic setting.
Lastly, Addie's goal through the whole book, at least after her bargain, is to be remembered. This may be controversial, but I think having Henry tell her story is a disservice in to that goal. If Henry, who is in love with Addie and really only knew her a short while, is the narrator, is she really being remembered? Or is it just his perceptions of her -- the version she wanted him to see -- that carries on? Maybe you could say that that's all memories are, other people holding us to the present even when we're long a part of the past. But I find it hard to believe that Addie (or anyone) would want to be remembered only as a thief and a prostitute and a party girl...especially when Addie seemingly made contributions to wars and revolutions and possibly other moments of history that she didn't mention to Henry. But as I mentioned above, we don't get to see much growth or creativity or really ANYTHING from Addie, other than her doing morally questionable things to survive and partying with artists in the hope they might preserve a sliver of her essence some how.
Definitely not the life-changing book that other reviews made me think it might be. Do I think this is a bad book? No. The concept was interesting, even if the execution was flat at times. And even when the story itself was boring, the prose was pleasant. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded, and I wanted to finish the book even when I was bored, if only because I wanted to know what more there might be to the story. The ending portions that gave more insight to Addie and Luc's dynamic were also incredibly interesting; it was that relationship that really made me enjoy the book in general. I'm glad I read it, but it isn't a book that I'm likely to read again. If anything, I think the idea of Addie is a better take away for me than her story itself...and as the book itself says, ideas are wilder than memories, so maybe that's for the better.
Original review: Major spoilers for the ending in the majority of this review, but the end totally affects my entire perception of the book so...this is the way.
To start, I want to say I liked the writing style of this book. I liked the theming relating to the arts and memory. I liked the mix of fiction and historical reality. I loved the overall concept of Addie's bargain and the potential it held. But overall this book was a major letdown for me. From a literary perspective, I think so much more could have been done with the juxtaposition of past and present, with Addie's character arc, with the themes which were strongly laid.
But more than all that, the reveal that "you're reading a book written by a character (but not the title character)" is what nearly ruined it. And it's not even for the unnecessary meta-ness of it, in a book that really isn't very meta in any other way.
Let me explain.
First, I think Schwab severely limited the story that she could tell by using the format she did. The pacing of the story is odd, too slow at the beginning and too fast toward the end. After the reveal, the reader might be able to deduce that the pacing has to do with how Addie told Henry her story and how Henry's seemingly-limited time with her might have affected how much she could tell him. But without that information (which we don't have until the end of the story) the pacing and spacing of the story just doesn't make much sense to the reader. Instead it just seems like poor storytelling.
Second, and related to the first, I also think that the focus on this format, and making the reveal the "big thing" about about this book, was a cop-out that let the author get away with not making Addie's life very interesting. Fairly early in the book, Luc says something akin to that he expected more/better from Addie's freedom. Addie blames Luc for the "curse" he's given her, saying she can't do anything else, but I couldn't help but feel the same way throughout this story...that she was complaining and wasting so much potential. I was just genuinely bored throughout most of the book. Maybe that's because Addie was bored, so that's the story she told Henry, but that just feels lazy to me. Even the parts that could have been interesting, such as Addie acting as a spy in WWII, were glossed over and vaguely mentioned...as if Addie or Schwab or whoever couldn't be bothered to share the parts that make her more than just a party girl.
Third, whether intentional or not, having Henry tell Addie's story leaves out what arguably more interesting story of Addie and Luc circling each other, feuding, and trying to reconcile for three centuries. It's not even that I like Luc better, necessarily, but rather that there could have been so much more potential to tell a story about two immortals who only have each other for genuine company. Sort of "the only two people on earth" but with the more unique spin of how that looks outside of a post-apocalyptic setting.
Lastly, Addie's goal through the whole book, at least after her bargain, is to be remembered. This may be controversial, but I think having Henry tell her story is a disservice in to that goal. If Henry, who is in love with Addie and really only knew her a short while, is the narrator, is she really being remembered? Or is it just his perceptions of her -- the version she wanted him to see -- that carries on? Maybe you could say that that's all memories are, other people holding us to the present even when we're long a part of the past. But I find it hard to believe that Addie (or anyone) would want to be remembered only as a thief and a prostitute and a party girl...especially when Addie seemingly made contributions to wars and revolutions and possibly other moments of history that she didn't mention to Henry. But as I mentioned above, we don't get to see much growth or creativity or really ANYTHING from Addie, other than her doing morally questionable things to survive and partying with artists in the hope they might preserve a sliver of her essence some how.
Definitely not the life-changing book that other reviews made me think it might be. Do I think this is a bad book? No. The concept was interesting, even if the execution was flat at times. And even when the story itself was boring, the prose was pleasant. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded, and I wanted to finish the book even when I was bored, if only because I wanted to know what more there might be to the story. The ending portions that gave more insight to Addie and Luc's dynamic were also incredibly interesting; it was that relationship that really made me enjoy the book in general. I'm glad I read it, but it isn't a book that I'm likely to read again. If anything, I think the idea of Addie is a better take away for me than her story itself...and as the book itself says, ideas are wilder than memories, so maybe that's for the better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Violence, and War
caitlinjadams's review against another edition
dark
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
3.0
On some level, this just isn't my book. I'm not really interested in the entire "deal with a devil" side of the story and desperation and the deals people would be willing to make is a major major theme of this book. But it's also a book about what people do with time when it's short and when it's long and that I found compelling, but underdeveloped. Also underdeveloped but inherently more interesting to me than anything devilish--how a woman survives over time. In the end, I think I want this to have been two parallel stories--Addie's and Henry's side by side as foils by chance--with more on how the two people lived their circumstances rather than how they lived in spite of or because of the devil. Can't say I recommend it. Can't say the hours reading it were a waste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
Minor: Blood, War, Cancer, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Fire/Fire injury
odeiu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Classism, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt