A review by laurenleigh
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

A very delightful piece that I feel lived up to the hype! It really makes you consider what it means to be alive, to be human, to be happy. If you leave no mark and no one remembers you, were you even there? Addie exists fully and exclusively in the present when with other people (they forget her the moment they turn away or fall asleep or close the door), which is a fascinating way to be. I can see how at times this became lonely and depressing for Addie, but it was heartening to see what kept her going. Even being totally alone and basically homeless, experiencing (and influencing) art made her get up in the morning. A beautiful testament to the power of stories, in all mediums. Addie’s character is an example of dealing with depression, while her foil Henry battles with his stormy anxiety. I really appreciated Schwab’s portrayal of these modes of being, as almost everyone goes through them. But while Addie and Henry were great and all, TBH my favorite character was the Darkness. (AKA Luke but I found this naming too pedestrian for him.) I loved this “dancing with the devil” storyline, and Addie’s relationship with him was deeply intriguing. The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star is its length. I think a bit of editing could have helped tighten it up. The action felt dragged out at times. Still, I definitely think this was one of my favorite reads this year so far!
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