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A review by fulltimefiction
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
1.0
1.5 stars
0.5 is for that great idea behind the book.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was one of the most anticipated and popular books of 2020. The premise? Very promising. Imagine this. An immortal girl no one remembers, turn around and in no time she’ll be slipping out of your mind. Imagine what historical events she would’ve been able to witness. What role she could’ve played. The ways she could’ve helped. Or. The three centuries-old romance with the devil with whom she made her Faustian deal.
But no.
It’s mostly about Addie sleeping around and whining. And then meeting a guy (who is not the devil) and “loving” him. Don’t let that false advertising fool you.
I originally gave this book 2 stars but I couldn’t name a single thing that I liked about it. What’s an imaginative idea without a solid plot to bring it to life? Nothing.
The Characters
Addie, our main character, made a deal with the devil to escape a marriage she didn’t want. Then she spent the whole book complaining about how unfair Luc was. Girl, what did you expect? A perfect life? An easy life? HE’S THE DAMNED DEVIL. Of course, it’s not what you’d expect! I found all this whining very tiring honestly. With the attitude of a modern girl even in the 1700s, Addie’s character did not develop an inch. She sounded the same all those years. Her personality was also invisible (ha).
In case you don’t know yet, Addie has 7 freckles ok? In case you haven’t noticed them on the cover, Schwab will remind you of this constellation (*eye roll*) every few chapters. They should add it to GR trivia because the only two things I know about this book before starting it is the vague premise and those “pretty” 7 freckles.
Also, why is she a muse? A timeless beautiful muse that all artists are drawing and painting? Why is it her so many times? Like many, I also found the fact that she can grow but not destroy, illogical. She could’ve grown so many trees!! Earth is dying! But not let’s spent idle days in the gorgeous New York (of course, she will live in New York).
It took her 10 years to learn writing and reading! 10 damn years! She knew the basic letters so how?!! But hey she’s super-genius mind you. She speaks Swiss. Even Swiss people don’t speak this nonexistent language. But Addie oh *acts nonchalant* speaks Latin, Greek, English, French, SWISS, Italian, etc.
(ref:
Honestly, this pisses me off. It’s very American self-centered. Barely know about the outside world but hey let’s throw names around.
Other than being a completely bland character, Addie spends time telling us about her sex life rather than how she went to Iceland or more than this couple of pages about “helping” in the war. But nah, these things take research which Schwab barely bothered with.
Henry, the other dreadfully dull main character, is one of the least interesting love interests I have yet to come across. All the Henries in the world excuse me but the name is so boring. Not that his personality was any interesting. I really can’t find the words to express how unimpressive I found this guy. I would’ve found him more intriguing if his mental health was more highlighted instead of casual mention of drugs and alcohol and then don’t worry love will make everything better. The deal he also made was another level of stupid . He sounded like a teen seriously and not someone in their late 20s.
Furthermore, I DO NOT APPRECIATE WHAT HE DID. Regardless of the other person’s willingness. It is still rape because it is not actual consent.
Luc now was better than both characterization wise. We were promised a romance between the two but what we got was a barely explored love-hate relationship. AND A DAMN LOVE-TRIANGLE. Also, why is he so fascinated by Addie? Why is so sssssspecccciial? More special than all the legendary names who made a deal with him? Luc was constantly throwing such names around. Her personality? The FRECKLE STARS maybe? I certainly hope not. Also, the devil doesn’t like wars. Ok sure.
Nonexistant Plot
The plot was very repetitive. Actually, there almost no action whatsoever. I’m confident I would’ve dnf this book if it wasn’t for the audiobook. I recently discovered that I’m enjoying slow-paced books much more when I listen to the book instead of reading it. But I do have limits. Sometimes I just wanted to shout at the narrator SHUT UP I DON’T CARE. This book gave me a headache. I wish I was joking. I don’t listen to audiobooks while sitting idle. I had this work I needed to do that allows me to multitask and listen to audiobooks. 17 hours listening to this. Eventually sped it up to 1.5x and I wish I did so way earlier.
The pace was painfully slow and nothing was happening except for Addie Walking. And nagging. And remembering the coffee she drank in Paris. Or was it Berlin? I really don’t give a shit. And bragging about the languages she can allegedly speak (did she know there’s Ancient and Modern Greek and they are different?? But no Greece is very far from the US, I doubt it).
Also it would’ve been much better if the book was cut in half since there’s very little going on. Surprisingly so for someone who lived very long.
The Writing
If the lack of action didn’t make me DNF this book, the writing definitely would’ve. It’s very repetitive and a very similar pattern all the time. I’m not into lyrical writing and proses. And this book is all about it. Luckily, these weren’t very obvious in the audiobook. EXCEPT FOR THE AND YET. I can still hear it in my ears I swear. Additionally, we have lots of dark curls mentions *eye roll* I was reading some experts from several reviews, and damn it is so overdramatic to read.
Minor spoiler Also didn’t Addie love him for just being the first person to remember her and not because of his personality? It felt that way to me. And they thought they outsmarted Luc. Aha ok.
Ok enough of me now complaining about this book. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will be slipping out of my memory in no time because it left absolutely nothing with me. The Night Circus fans would probably enjoy this book since that one was also boring. I might be unfair because I didn’t like the narration of that one but they gave me similar vibes. The narration here was good, honestly.
I have no idea why people are loving this book, I didn’t expect to be one of them but I surely did not imagine such a mess. People felt so much reading this book while I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. Makes me wonder if I read a different book featuring the same characters.
0.5 is for that great idea behind the book.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was one of the most anticipated and popular books of 2020. The premise? Very promising. Imagine this. An immortal girl no one remembers, turn around and in no time she’ll be slipping out of your mind. Imagine what historical events she would’ve been able to witness. What role she could’ve played. The ways she could’ve helped. Or. The three centuries-old romance with the devil with whom she made her Faustian deal.
But no.
It’s mostly about Addie sleeping around and whining. And then meeting a guy (who is not the devil) and “loving” him. Don’t let that false advertising fool you.
I originally gave this book 2 stars but I couldn’t name a single thing that I liked about it. What’s an imaginative idea without a solid plot to bring it to life? Nothing.
The Characters
Addie, our main character, made a deal with the devil to escape a marriage she didn’t want. Then she spent the whole book complaining about how unfair Luc was. Girl, what did you expect? A perfect life? An easy life? HE’S THE DAMNED DEVIL. Of course, it’s not what you’d expect! I found all this whining very tiring honestly. With the attitude of a modern girl even in the 1700s, Addie’s character did not develop an inch. She sounded the same all those years. Her personality was also invisible (ha).
In case you don’t know yet, Addie has 7 freckles ok? In case you haven’t noticed them on the cover, Schwab will remind you of this constellation (*eye roll*) every few chapters. They should add it to GR trivia because the only two things I know about this book before starting it is the vague premise and those “pretty” 7 freckles.
Also, why is she a muse? A timeless beautiful muse that all artists are drawing and painting? Why is it her so many times? Like many, I also found the fact that she can grow but not destroy, illogical. She could’ve grown so many trees!! Earth is dying! But not let’s spent idle days in the gorgeous New York (of course, she will live in New York).
It took her 10 years to learn writing and reading! 10 damn years! She knew the basic letters so how?!! But hey she’s super-genius mind you. She speaks Swiss. Even Swiss people don’t speak this nonexistent language. But Addie oh *acts nonchalant* speaks Latin, Greek, English, French, SWISS, Italian, etc.
(ref:
“She can speak German, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, but French is different, French is bread baking in her mother’s oven, French is her father’s hands carving wood, French is Estele murmuring to her garden.” Part 3 Chapter VIII
“Henry stares at her, marveling. “How many languages do you know?”
“Enough,” she says, but he clearly wants to know, so she ticks them off on her fingers. “French, of course. And English. Greek and Latin. German, Italian, Spanish, Swiss, some Portuguese, though it’s not perfect.” Part 5 Chapter VI
Honestly, this pisses me off. It’s very American self-centered. Barely know about the outside world but hey let’s throw names around.
Other than being a completely bland character, Addie spends time telling us about her sex life rather than how she went to Iceland or more than this couple of pages about “helping” in the war. But nah, these things take research which Schwab barely bothered with.
Henry, the other dreadfully dull main character, is one of the least interesting love interests I have yet to come across. All the Henries in the world excuse me but the name is so boring. Not that his personality was any interesting. I really can’t find the words to express how unimpressive I found this guy. I would’ve found him more intriguing if his mental health was more highlighted
Furthermore, I DO NOT APPRECIATE WHAT HE DID. Regardless of the other person’s willingness. It is still rape because it is not actual consent.
Luc now was better than both characterization wise. We were promised a romance between the two but what we got was a barely explored love-hate relationship. AND A DAMN LOVE-TRIANGLE. Also, why is he so fascinated by Addie? Why is so sssssspecccciial? More special than all the legendary names who made a deal with him? Luc was constantly throwing such names around. Her personality? The FRECKLE STARS maybe? I certainly hope not. Also, the devil doesn’t like wars. Ok sure.
The plot was very repetitive. Actually, there almost no action whatsoever. I’m confident I would’ve dnf this book if it wasn’t for the audiobook. I recently discovered that I’m enjoying slow-paced books much more when I listen to the book instead of reading it. But I do have limits. Sometimes I just wanted to shout at the narrator SHUT UP I DON’T CARE. This book gave me a headache. I wish I was joking. I don’t listen to audiobooks while sitting idle. I had this work I needed to do that allows me to multitask and listen to audiobooks. 17 hours listening to this. Eventually sped it up to 1.5x and I wish I did so way earlier.
The pace was painfully slow and nothing was happening except for Addie Walking. And nagging. And remembering the coffee she drank in Paris. Or was it Berlin? I really don’t give a shit. And bragging about the languages she can allegedly speak (did she know there’s Ancient and Modern Greek and they are different?? But no Greece is very far from the US, I doubt it).
Also it would’ve been much better if the book was cut in half since there’s very little going on. Surprisingly so for someone who lived very long.
The Writing
If the lack of action didn’t make me DNF this book, the writing definitely would’ve. It’s very repetitive and a very similar pattern all the time. I’m not into lyrical writing and proses. And this book is all about it. Luckily, these weren’t very obvious in the audiobook. EXCEPT FOR THE AND YET. I can still hear it in my ears I swear. Additionally, we have lots of dark curls mentions *eye roll* I was reading some experts from several reviews, and damn it is so overdramatic to read.
Minor spoiler
Ok enough of me now complaining about this book. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue will be slipping out of my memory in no time because it left absolutely nothing with me. The Night Circus fans would probably enjoy this book since that one was also boring. I might be unfair because I didn’t like the narration of that one but they gave me similar vibes. The narration here was good, honestly.
I have no idea why people are loving this book, I didn’t expect to be one of them but I surely did not imagine such a mess. People felt so much reading this book while I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. Makes me wonder if I read a different book featuring the same characters.