The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
"[Narrator Julia] Whelan's performance is unforgettable in this darkly romantic fantasy about one young woman cursed always to be forgotten...Her depiction of the darkness is smooth with a low cadence, capturing listeners' attention and their heart strings." –Booklist In the vein of The Time...
- Pages
- 448
- First published
- October 6, 2020
- Language
- English
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Reviews
Finished January 16, 2025
words simply cannot do this book justice i loved it even as it broke my heart 😭😭😭
Finished January 4, 2024
I am guilty of judging this book by its cover, I had never heard of V.E. Schwab or this book, but I was drawn in by the beautiful cover of the anniversary edition. It turned out that on this occasion, the inside was just as beautiful as the outside. So I certainly am glad that I came across this edition of the book, otherwise I may never have found it. The good: I was intrigued from start to finish, Schwab did a fantastic job of making sure there was twists, turns and excitement throughout. It was full of thought provoking and emotional writing, I laughed and I cried. The plot was fantastic and the ending was good too. Definitely not the ending I wanted nor expected, but this doesn’t change the fact that the ending was a good one. The bad (but not so bad): I gave 4 instead of 5, this is because there were parts where the writing became a little repetitive. There were also some really exciting parts that were broken up a bit, which diminished the anticipation that Schwab had worked so well to create. I highly recommend this book, it is a fantastic read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finished July 31, 2026
The premise was fascinating, and I did enjoy Addie’s story. Unfortunately, the beginning moved incredibly slowly. The constant jumps between different periods made it difficult to settle into the story, and it took until around 50% before everything finally started picking up. Half the book is a LONG time to wait, Addie. I know you have 300 years, but I do not. The writing was undeniably beautiful, but it was also very descriptive. Every moment came with several metaphors and an entire atmospheric weather system. I could appreciate the language while simultaneously wishing the story would please get on with it. Instead of drawing me closer, the elaborate prose occasionally made me feel disconnected from the characters. But then came that ending. UGH. I did see it coming slightly, BUT DARN IT WAS GOOD ANYWAY. Beautiful. Sad. Clever. PERFECT. It gave Addie’s story the emotional payoff I had been waiting for and almost made me forgive how long it took to get there. Almost. Overall, I liked the story and absolutely understand why so many readers adore it. For me, though, the slow first half, time jumps, and overly descriptive writing kept it from becoming something I truly loved. Three stars for a gorgeous idea, a difficult journey, and an ending that deserved every emotion it dragged out of me.
Finished August 19, 2025 · Read 2 times
Finished May 22, 2022
Finished May 17, 2024
This book subverted my expectations at every turn. It was a cozy, yet sad love story for the ages. Addie was charming with her love for the world; its people, cultures, & food. It's hard to capture a character who spans centuries in a graceful way and V. E. Schwab accomplished that I feel. Making Addie someone who observes and listens instead of someone who makes a lot of noise. The plot aligned with Addie's actions. The entire time I was tying to imagine what it would be like to be someone who couldn't be remembered, someone who couldn't leave their mark. It's a beautiful but lonely concept. She found a way to leave her mark, however, through the people she loved. Through their art. I loved the story between her and Henry, and yet I think like everyone else Addie loved, he was just another way to leave her mark on the world. You're expecting this timeless love story, this happily ever after, but really, it's not about that. It's always been about Addie finding her way through the world and being remembered while also fighting a war with this gorgeous God who wanted her for himself. The God who thinks he has finally broken Addie through Henry, but he has done nothing but give her a gift. The gift of being remembered. Chef's kiss.
Finished January 3, 2026
Started May 13, 2024 · Finished May 16, 2024
Addie… will always be my own personal muse. From page one I was into this. This was giving "Age of Adeline" vibes and I really loved the writing style. The back and forth between the years got a little confusing at first, but it was irrelevant as you were pulled into each thread of time, and it flowed so perfectly just making sense along the way. Addie is very clever and resourceful, but she kinda has to be, she can belong to no one or no one thing, everything she tries to will into existence seems to vanish just as she does, which was such an interesting concept. By the end I was inspired, captivated, and in love with this poetic little story. 🌶️: 2.5/5 There is some spice in this, a lot of it is faded - but it is beautiful in its own way. The relationships she goes through trying to experience love, reliving first encounters for months at a time, and the way she's able to achieve being close to different people (in her own way - embedding them with little pieces of her), even though she knows she never can or will be - it was just... so enchanting, yet heart breaking. Highly recommend this lovely story. I not much of a re-reader BUT I will be re-reading this one, one of these days when the mood strikes again.
Finished April 3, 2026
Finished February 28, 2025
I am a changed person after reading this. I’ll never be the same.
Finished April 8, 2025
Finished October 25, 2023
Finished January 16, 2025
I LOVED this! Addie is amazing, funny, sad, lonely, and most definitely cunning!
Started May 24, 2024 · Finished May 24, 2024
Started February 24, 2026 · Finished March 6, 2026
