The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - Review

Book Review:
Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V.E. Schwab
Publisher: Titan Books

“...it is sad, of course, to forget.
But it is a lonely thing, to be forgotten.
To remember when no one else does.”

When Addie La Rue makes a pact with the devil, she trades her soul for immortality. But there's always a price - the devil takes away her place in the world, cursing her to be forgotten by everyone.
Addie flees her tiny home town in 18th-Century France, beginning a journey that takes her across the world, learning to live a life where no one remembers her and everything she owns is lost and broken. Existing only as a muse for artists throughout history, she learns to fall in love anew every single day.
Her only companion on this journey is her dark devil with hypnotic green eyes, who visits her each year on the anniversary of their deal. Alone in the world, Addie has no choice but to confront him, to understand him, maybe to beat him.
Until one day, in a second hand bookshop in Manhattan, Addie meets someone who remembers her. Suddenly thrust back into a real, normal life, Addie realises she can't escape her fate forever.

V.E. Schwab spent almost 10 years writing and perfecting this book.

I devoured and fell in love with it within 3.5 days.

I’ve found it difficult to review some books I’ve loved in the past, not knowing how to convey everything I felt into words, but that difficulty is on a whole other level for this book.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a heavy book – not in information or the world – in feelings. After reading only the first chapter, I already started feeling this tightness in my chest, because while no one has been in Addie’s position (that we know of…) so many people can resonate with what she goes through in some capacity. Well at least I could. The feeling of not knowing your place in the world. The feeling of being a passer-by in someone else’s story. Feeling alone and forgettable, like you have no impact. I think it’s something that most people will feel at some point in their life.

And for that reason, this book has become quite dear to me.

I definitely don’t think it’s going to be for everyone – It is quite a slow moving book and it’s not something that will keep you on your toes – but if you’re someone who can appreciate a real slow-burner, where the story effortlessly grows, the focal point is on character development and there are constant deep dives into explorations of the meaning of life, I really do recommend this book.

On top of all the feels and thought-provoking commentary, this book just felt fresh and new. The concept sounds simple, a young woman sells her soul to the devil which causes everyone to forget her, but there are so many layers. With each part and each new character, the story grows into something even more extraordinary, and personally, I can’t think of another book I’ve read that gives me similar vibes.

I basically cried my way through this, with each sob getting more intense as I got closer to the end. It’s a chunky book, but even after 500+ pages I wasn’t ready for it to be over.

The ending was also kind of perfect because even though it felt like a good and solid ending, there’s definitely room for the story to grow and carry on. At this point I don’t know if I want the story to end here (because the book’s so wonderful as it is) or whether I want more books in this world (because I loved every minute and would love to see what happens next,) but what I do know is that I trust V.E. Schwab 100% with whatever she decides.

I realise I haven’t delved into the plot or characters at all, but that’s because
1. I believe this is a book best to go into blind, where you know as little as possible about the plot and the different characters (but please do seek out trigger warnings if you need them)
2. There’s too much to talk about and I don’t know if I could adequately describe how wonderful the plot and characters were, so you’ll just have to take my word for it

Overall, this book hit me straight in the feels and is a story that will stay with me forever.
Please read it, if you haven’t already.

5 Stars
Goodreads