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floralfox's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mathman329's review against another edition
4.0
2023 Book Review - Book No. 18: “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” written by V.E. Schwab
Date started: 5/10/23
Date finished: 6/5/23
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (would recommend reading if you like dark fairy tales, historical epochs, and a desire to be remembered)
Spoiler free review: I’m not sure that there was a more highly anticipated book sitting on my TBR pile than “Addie LaRue”. Though it didn’t quite make it to 5 stars, it still lived up to the hype (for the most part). The premise here is that Adeline LaRue is a young girl in 18th century France who’s been promised to be wed. The only problem is Adeline just wants to be free and not beholden to any other person. Luckily for her, her prayers are answered by a mysterious being in the woods after dark. Despite warnings from an older woman in the village to “beware the gods who answer after dark”, Adeline agrees to a deal with this stranger. The catch? As Adeline soon learns, no one remembers her - not her parents, not new acquaintances, no one. Oh, and she can’t die.
The story then follows Adeline through the next couple centuries. The big surprise comes in 21st century New York when a bookseller finally DOES remember Addie. The question, of course, is why? As Addie pursues answers from this anomalous character, the story hops back and forth through time, from the present to previous interactions between Addie and the mystery deity that saved her so long ago.
While it was a bit predictable, the story also provides some excellent turns and a striking balance in the events that take place. I didn’t love the ending, but it was acceptable given how things had played out along the way. One of my favorite parts of the story is the growing legend of Adeline that is further revealed with each chapter. Ultimately, I’m glad to have finally crossed this one off of my TBR list and would certainly recommend it to others.
Date started: 5/10/23
Date finished: 6/5/23
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (would recommend reading if you like dark fairy tales, historical epochs, and a desire to be remembered)
Spoiler free review: I’m not sure that there was a more highly anticipated book sitting on my TBR pile than “Addie LaRue”. Though it didn’t quite make it to 5 stars, it still lived up to the hype (for the most part). The premise here is that Adeline LaRue is a young girl in 18th century France who’s been promised to be wed. The only problem is Adeline just wants to be free and not beholden to any other person. Luckily for her, her prayers are answered by a mysterious being in the woods after dark. Despite warnings from an older woman in the village to “beware the gods who answer after dark”, Adeline agrees to a deal with this stranger. The catch? As Adeline soon learns, no one remembers her - not her parents, not new acquaintances, no one. Oh, and she can’t die.
The story then follows Adeline through the next couple centuries. The big surprise comes in 21st century New York when a bookseller finally DOES remember Addie. The question, of course, is why? As Addie pursues answers from this anomalous character, the story hops back and forth through time, from the present to previous interactions between Addie and the mystery deity that saved her so long ago.
While it was a bit predictable, the story also provides some excellent turns and a striking balance in the events that take place. I didn’t love the ending, but it was acceptable given how things had played out along the way. One of my favorite parts of the story is the growing legend of Adeline that is further revealed with each chapter. Ultimately, I’m glad to have finally crossed this one off of my TBR list and would certainly recommend it to others.
vintageclaire_'s review against another edition
4.0
This book had such a whimsical feel to it and I truly felt myself lost throughout the pages of the book. I wished that the book had more of a bittersweet ending instead of the one that we had gotten. And I’ll be an addieluc stan til I die.
“
“
laharris's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
livkarsch's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katiemdeist17's review against another edition
5.0
okay...
wow.
i've been thinking about this book nonstop since i finished it.
TILOAL (my personal abbreviation lol) is unlike any book I've ever had the honor of reading. The entire vibe is such a London, rainy, cozy, tea-drinking, reading, adventurous, black cat, star girl feeling that the perfection overwhelms me. The entire concept, of being able to do anything and be forgotten, is so entrancing, and the time travel/different locations aspect just enhanced the wonder. There were enough new sights and people to keep the storyline bouncing and the pages interesting, however, there weren't so many new locations and dates and people that it was confusing. It's a hard component to get right without crossing over one of the lines, but imo, Schwab absolutely nailed it!!
I adored every page of this book. The ONLY complaint that arose in my mind, while pondering these glorious 400 something pages, was that Addie LITERALLY MAKES A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL...
I...
it...
the DEVIL??? He couldn't just have been some ancient god or spirit or something? BUT THE FREAKING DEVIL???
ANYWAYYYY....
This read was truly magical. I believe it's the best book I've read this year. And while it's not my favorite book, from an objective standpoint, it's the best, in writing, and plot, and general bookieness. (I prefer TFIOS because of a sentimental reason and slight attachment issues lmaooo)
So... yeah. I adore this book. I'd HIGHLYYYY recommend to all my reading besties (non-readers would probably find it slightly hard to get through).
(And, NOT that this actually matters, but the cover and page designs are GORGEOUS!! It's one of those books you put on display on the bookshelf...)
It was the making-a-themed-playlist-for-the-vibe kind of book (which yes, i did in fact do >:))
<3333333
wow.
i've been thinking about this book nonstop since i finished it.
TILOAL (my personal abbreviation lol) is unlike any book I've ever had the honor of reading. The entire vibe is such a London, rainy, cozy, tea-drinking, reading, adventurous, black cat, star girl feeling that the perfection overwhelms me. The entire concept, of being able to do anything and be forgotten, is so entrancing, and the time travel/different locations aspect just enhanced the wonder. There were enough new sights and people to keep the storyline bouncing and the pages interesting, however, there weren't so many new locations and dates and people that it was confusing. It's a hard component to get right without crossing over one of the lines, but imo, Schwab absolutely nailed it!!
I adored every page of this book. The ONLY complaint that arose in my mind, while pondering these glorious 400 something pages, was that Addie LITERALLY MAKES A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL...
I...
it...
the DEVIL??? He couldn't just have been some ancient god or spirit or something? BUT THE FREAKING DEVIL???
ANYWAYYYY....
This read was truly magical. I believe it's the best book I've read this year. And while it's not my favorite book, from an objective standpoint, it's the best, in writing, and plot, and general bookieness. (I prefer TFIOS because of a sentimental reason and slight attachment issues lmaooo)
So... yeah. I adore this book. I'd HIGHLYYYY recommend to all my reading besties (non-readers would probably find it slightly hard to get through).
(And, NOT that this actually matters, but the cover and page designs are GORGEOUS!! It's one of those books you put on display on the bookshelf...)
It was the making-a-themed-playlist-for-the-vibe kind of book (which yes, i did in fact do >:))
<3333333
imcalledcarina's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cyoachim's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
celey's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Beautifully written, epic in scope, horrifically tragic and hopeful all at once. V. E. Schwab has a perfect mix of magic and mundane in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content