Scan barcode
limiwh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, and War
bbbeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Drug abuse
bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and War
anastashamarie's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and War
emilyf333's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
plainromance's review against another edition
2.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
maritareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts
jojo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment
Minor: Biphobia, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War
adellama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and War