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koplomps's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: War, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death, and Confinement
toxicthunder's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual content
readingduckling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
It's written so beautifully an absolutely amazing book. Definitely recommend. 💗
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
rsugg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Mental illness, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: War and Abandonment
nialiversuch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
What would you wish for in exchange for your soul? Addie desires of life of freedom, a life where she can choose to be and do whatever she wants. And that's exactly what she gets when she makes a deal with the darkness. Only, there's a catch, none can ever remember her.
I read a lot of mix reviews about this book. Personally, I loved it. A lot of people think this book is too long and boring, but I couldn't disagree more. This book is more of a character study, the plot is slow and purposeful. There is actually a lot going on, but it is written in such a subtle way. Don't expect a big and loud storyline, because that's not what this is.
We jump around within the timeline seeing glimpses into Addie's past 300 years and her present. We see how she has grown and learned how to navigate the restrictions of her deal. We watched as she finds a way to become an invisible influence in the world.
Henry has always been very emotional, empathetic, and feels unwanted. He has had enough of not being enough.After his breakup, Henry is at his lowest. The darkness interfers with Henry's sucide attempt and offers him a deal. In exchange for his soul, he will be loved by everyone who meets him for a year. He learns that the admiration is not all it's cracked up to be as he can no longer form true connections.
I loved the shifts in these characters when they meet. They make each other stronger, better, hopeful. Their respective curses are wiped away when it comes to the other. In a way, they find exactly what they wished for In one another.Henry remembers Addie and Addie loves Henry for who he is.
I really loved the ending. Addie agrees to be Luc's lover in exchange for Henry's freedom and him remembering her. The ending is open and leaves room for interpre ation, yet I found it to be a satisfying ending. She has bound herself to Luc, but reveals a secret plan to drive Luc mad and cast her away. It leaves open the possibly of her gaining her freedom again.
I really enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narration was very well done.
I read a lot of mix reviews about this book. Personally, I loved it. A lot of people think this book is too long and boring, but I couldn't disagree more. This book is more of a character study, the plot is slow and purposeful. There is actually a lot going on, but it is written in such a subtle way. Don't expect a big and loud storyline, because that's not what this is.
We jump around within the timeline seeing glimpses into Addie's past 300 years and her present. We see how she has grown and learned how to navigate the restrictions of her deal. We watched as she finds a way to become an invisible influence in the world.
Henry has always been very emotional, empathetic, and feels unwanted. He has had enough of not being enough.
I loved the shifts in these characters when they meet. They make each other stronger, better, hopeful. Their respective curses are wiped away when it comes to the other. In a way, they find exactly what they wished for In one another.
I really loved the ending.
I really enjoyed the audio version of this book. The narration was very well done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
caelfind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Grief
epellicci's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
I'm incredibly grateful to the friend who recommended I read this book. What a story. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is clever and heartbreaking and playful and beautiful. It made me cry, and it reminded me the importance of looking for moments of beauty and wonder every day. An unforgettable masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Drug abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
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."
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
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Grief, Sexual harassment, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Sexism, Addiction, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Blood, and Cancer
armelle's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Grief