Okay so we're trying something new today, I recently got back into reading, and thanks to BookTok it's becoming something of an obsession so I'm doing my first book review today and we had to start with something that's was seriously hyped up, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRure
Author: V.E. Schwab
Genre: Fantasy/Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Summary: This is the story of Adeline La Rue, a young girl growing up in a small village in France set to be married to a man she doesn't love and doomed to live a life she deems small, boring and unfulfilled. On the day of her wedding in desperation, she prays to a god after dark to save her, this dark and mysterious character appears and grants her wish for time and freedom however he is devious and uses her own words against her, tricking her into an immortal life in which she can leave no impact upon the world. Anyone who meets Addie or has ever known her instantly forgets who she is as soon as she's out of sight. The story jumps back and forth in time telling the story of Addie and following her journey over 300 years until one seemingly 'normal' day in a bookstore she meets a boy with the ability to remember exactly who she is.
Book Cover: I love the book cover, it's simple, beautiful, and classic and I think it fits with the story perfectly, it was only available in hardback when I purchased the book but I'm not mad about it the dust cover differs nicely from the book within and both options would look great on any bookshelf.
Review: (Before I begin this isn't going to be a super technical review about the writing etc. it's just your average girl's opinion who enjoys reading) This book is beautifully written and dives into a range of topics including immortality, time, love, loneliness, and our desire to leave our mark upon the world. As someone on the brink of entering their thirties and often having an existential crisis and questioning what I'm supposed to be doing with my life this story really resonated with me, it got me thinking, was dark, emotional, and enchanting. (I recommend reading this book in autumn)
I will say that towards the middle of the book it did get a bit slow and repetitive, it's possible this repetitiveness was intentional to mirror Addie's life but either way, I didn't love that element. If I'm being picky I could also say that Addie was at times a little bratty and stubborn and I didn't totally fall in love with the character of Henry. I did however enjoy the character of our devil in disguise Luc, I like how we have no specific definition of what or who he is, is he an ancient god, the devil, or just some kind of monster, we never really get a definitive answer which adds to the mystery, intrigue and fantasy element of the story.
Overall, I really loved this book, the writing was beautiful, it was something a bit different to anything I had read before and I think I will definitely reread this again in the future.
Favourite Quotes:
"It's the kind of day designed for wood fires, and mugs of tea, and well-loved books."
“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives--or to find strength in a very long one.”
“Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.”
“It is just a storm, he tells himself, but he is tired of looking for shelter. It is just a storm, but there is always another waiting in its wake.”
Additional Notes: Henry has in his home a 'mug wall', a wall decorated with different mugs for guests to pick from. When offering guests a hot drink you ask them to choose whichever mug speaks to them. Your first choice is final and if you change your mind then you'll have to wait until your next visit to make another selection. I absolutely love this idea and one day when I buy my own home I fully intend on having my own mug wall!
