The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Author: V.E. Schwab

Length: 448 pages 

Age Rating: In my opinion! Mid to late teens and up, given the descriptiveness of some of the intimate scenes. 

Rating: 4.5/5 

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The Non-Spoiler Version! 

This book is great and almost reads like a “be careful what you wish for” myth retelling. Few books invoke an actual response out of me, but this book had me physically jumping out of my chair, as well as setting it down a few times to fully process what just happened. It lived in my head from the time I started it, and even when I thought I had it figured out, I still wanted to read more. This book has some smooth bi-representation from both the main character and the love interest, but in the cool way where its not a big deal or completely overtaking of their identity. As a warning to any future readers, you do have to pay attention to those dates at the beginning of each chapter, and not just the year, I mean the specific date. Otherwise you will get a bit confused in regards to the timeline. The main question that is invoked in this tale is what is identity, and what is it based on. The idea of identity, and being remembered, is central to both the concept of the book and the story itself. If you were doing a book report on the book, that is definitely what you would be focusing on.  If I had one major critique of this book, it's that there is a fairly substantial lull in the middle, where you almost feel like the book could end with no consequences. It really had me questioning why there were so many pages left in the book, and what the possible third act problem could really be. That being said, the lull (and I recognize I'm being a little self contradictory) was still fairly entertaining. Some people may not find that to be a negative, and will enjoy the breather. You may find this book leaves you with alot of questions, but I personally find its a testament to the writer that we have the same questions as the main characters. This has easily taken a spot as one of my favourite books. I originally read it on e-reader, but as a book hoarder of books I genuinely love, and as a fan of the cover art, I may have to purchase the hardcover version for re-reading. 

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The Spoiler Version

Echoing the above sentiments, there are a few more detailed things I wanted to note. This book does really well with connecting you to Addie. In the beginning, I was so anxious with her that Henry was going to forget, and I was further worried that she was going to lean into “it's not worth getting hurt” mentality and not go on their date. Furthermore, although it's pointed out repeatedly, I never really minded a solid amount of her existence is thievery and trespassing. Her immediate impulse after her first night with Henry is to go through his stuff. Although she makes the point that she has to, and sure, not existing on paper would make it very difficult to earn any type of consistent wage, but I still wouldn't love the thought of someone just entering my room when I wasn't there, and taking cash I had laying around. Luc (the darkness) even points out at one point that people are punished for her actions, and she flips the blame on him for making her resort to it. You’d think after 300 years, you would have found a solution to that problem, unless you actually were ok with it. Although I connected with Addie, I almost felt like Henry got set aside in the last portion of the book, to the point that I genuinely wondered if this was less so about the story about Henry and Addie, and more so about the love story between Addie and Luc. Maybe I’ve been reading too much romance lately, but a lot of the tropes are there, just saying. I also find it odd that Addie manages to be in enough art that Bea can recognize the seven-star-freckle pattern enough to not only be convinced that its of the same woman throughout time, but to write a whole thesis on it. I dunno. 

The third act problem that the author brings, by only giving Henry a year, was a really good solution to the lull that I brought up above. I still think it goes on a touch too long, and in retrospect, Addie and Henry’s argument and Addie’s reaction seems a bit immature. At the time, I was under the impression she had never been in a long term relationship, but she had been, with Luc. Then again, I suppose that depends on your definition of relationship. Its made clear that Luc’s love for Addie is based more in possession than anything else. This book feels like a rabbit hole, where I could spiral further and further into my thoughts about it, most of them contradictory. I am left with alot of questions. Luc is often likened to the devil, but not quite. The concept of the old gods being the new god under new branding is interesting, and it feels like the story is almost circular, that in both the beginning and the end, Addie is working towards her freedom. However, it also gives the impression that true freedom is almost impossible to obtain, and Addie may be chasing it forever.