The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue in The Rebellious Readers

Dec 03, 2020 :) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“what is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?”

if i had to describe this book in one word, it would be heartbreaking.

this story was everything.

my only complaint, is that last chapter. i found it to be weak and... inconclusive? i’m pretty sure that was the point, but i wasn’t a fan.

i can totally see this novel becoming a classic.

~~~

i am either going to love this book or hate it

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Jun 27, 2021 Sara L. rated it really liked it

|Trigger Warning|

~“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives--or to find strength in a very long one.” ~

Plot
Set in 1700s France, Addie is cursed by a mysterious being shaped from her own mind. We follow Addie as she makes her way through life as an immortal, seeing her struggles and pain. We bear witness as she grows into and gets used to being forgotten by everyone she meets. After 300 years of everyone forgetting her, she finds a man called Henry who unbelievably remembers ...more

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Nov 14, 2020 rania rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was a seven-foot-tall wave of heart-wrenching pain, drowning me in the sea of sorrow, giving me no way to come back up.

(Excuse my dramatic metaphors.)

In simple words, it broke my heart. And I’m still trying to process what just happened.

Although this book didn’t make me CRY cry, I was doing so internally, mind you. The plot was so interesting and different.

Wait. Who am I kidding?

Victoria Schwab’s writing is out of this world. It’s so unique and captivates all y ...more

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Jan 26, 2021 rayna williams rated it it was ok

my favorite quote from the book :
" i do not want to belong to anyone but myself. i want to be free. free to live, and to find my own way, to love, or to be alone, but at least it is my choice, and i am so tired of not having choices, so scared of the years rushing past beneath my feet. i do not want to die as i've lived, which is no life at all"

addie larue wasn't happy with the life she was living so she decided to do something she was told never to do. she prayed to the gods after dark, whic my favorite quote from the book :
" i do not want to belong to anyone but myself. i want to be free. free to live, and to find my own way, to love, or to be alone, but at least it is my choice, and i am so tired of not having choices, so scared of the years rushing past beneath my feet. i do not want to die as i've lived, which is no life at all"

addie larue wasn't happy with the life she was living so she decided to do something she was told never to do. she prayed to the gods after dark, which of course didn't go well. now she cannot be remembered, and everyone she meets will forget her when they turn away from her.

the description of this book really made me interested in it, and all the great reviews i saw on it. i really thought i would like this book but soon after i started reading it i realized i wouldn't. i personally think it is a boring book. i was so bored reading up until about page 350. it reminds me of a diary but in third person. i believe when i was buying this book i saw that it was historical fiction ( which is why i bought it ) but it seems more like romance to me. i wish it would've shown more of how addie connected with history, and how she changed with it. i didn't get much of a history feel except for the occasional mentioning of historical figures such as voltaire, joan of arc, and beethoven. so i would've easily given this book 2 stars except for the fact that the ending was good. ( or maybe i was just so ready for this book to end )but if by any chance this book was made into a series i would consider reading the second book ( i believe it's a standalone though ).

i will say the writing in this book was good , it was very VERY descriptive. for example the fact that i was constantly reminded that addie has seven freckles that form a constellation on her face or that luc has black curls and green eyes.

as far as characters go i couldn't connect to addie. she was just a boring character. we got to hear of her life experiences from over the span of 300 years and it's almost like she didn't do anything. she had the chance to travel anywhere, explore, truly connect with history ( further than just being the subject of a piece of art ) do whatever for 300 years and all she did was travel to france, germany, england, italy, and maybe a few other places i can't remember. i did feel like this book ( or addie's life ) was very whitewashed. if nobody remembered you it would probably be sad as i can imagine but addie is still focused on that 300 years later. i just don't think she really changed at all over the span of the book. ( also one thing i don't understand is how none of the people she slept with would remember her all night as if they never went to the bathroom or left the room for a few seconds ). anyways, as far as henry goes i didn't dislike him but i didn't really find myself liking him either. i feel like i would've enjoyed him as a character a lot more if he had got a better ending then just publishing a book of addie's life story, it's almost of he had no purpose of being in the story. he's just a pretty dull character. i did really like luc though. i don't know why addie spent the majority of the book hating him when she was the one that prayed after dark and made the deal. i think the whole time luc just wanted to be loved by addie and i don't think he was necessarily a bad person ( not even person i guess since he isn't human ).

overall i liked the idea of this book just not necessarily the execution.

edit : just watched a youtube video that made me dislike this book even more oops - i think i was being too generous the other day just because i enjoyed the ending of the book. ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Caitlan 🌺 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, top-20, historical-fiction, magical-realism, contemporary, 2022

2nd read: remains five stars. This book has a place in my heart always.

(Note: I KNOW this book has been reviewed to death. But I couldn't help myself. So here is the review absolutely no one needs or has asked for- there is also slight spoilers).

Review in 10 words: Whimsical, beautiful and magical. A book that lets you escape. 5/5

SYNOPSIS:

'What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?'

Addie makes a bargain the night of her would be wedding that will change her life forever. She is gran

2nd read: remains five stars. This book has a place in my heart always.

(Note: I KNOW this book has been reviewed to death. But I couldn't help myself. So here is the review absolutely no one needs or has asked for- there is also slight spoilers).

Review in 10 words: Whimsical, beautiful and magical. A book that lets you escape. 5/5

SYNOPSIS:

'What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?'

Addie makes a bargain the night of her would be wedding that will change her life forever. She is granted her wish of living free and belonging to no one, but at what cost?

The book follows Addie's extraordinary life whilst showing us the importance of a name, and the extraordinary power of being remembered.

My Thoughts:

This was my first experience of reading V.E Schwab and I now plan to devour several more of her works! At some points in the story I felt warm and gooey on the inside, at others I had goosebumps or needed to take a minute before reading more of the story. In one particular part I felt my mouth flail open like I was a fish.
What stuck out for me was how real and raw Addie's relationship with Luc felt. I understood how even a strong woman like Addie could fall prey to the darkness of others. That feeling of embarrassment when you realise someone has played you and the white hot anger that produces. The dynamic contrasted so well to her relationship with Henry.

It is rare I reread lines of books, let alone full paragraphs. But some pieces of The invisible life of Addie LaRue needed to be devoured twice. Who knew three words, "I remember you," would warrant being read over and over?

The beginning of the story immediately drew me in. I wanted to know Addie. I wanted to meet her (even though I would never remember it). The exploration of Henry's battle with depression was also unique and was written in a way I had not seen before. It felt authentic and added a depth to his character.

This book occupied my thoughts for days. When I wasn't reading it I would find myself thinking about it- on the bus, before going to sleep, drinking coffee in the morning. Did I envy Addie? Was her life terrifying or exciting to me? Would I make the same decision? Haven't we all wanted a better life than the one laid out for us? Was making the deal for Henry worth it? How would he spend his new found life? AND I WANT TO SEE HOW SHE GETS REVENGE ON LUC DAMMIT!

Schwab seamlessly transitioned between past and present. Never at any point did it feel unclear or messy in the writing and I was captivated throughout. The story was subtle and then it hit all at once. Heck I may even reread this one.

Devour if you need to reignite your love for historical and contemporary fiction. ...more

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Aug 12, 2021 Jessica rated it it was amazing

Beautifully written. Amazing. Read it

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Nov 25, 2020 Gabi Justice rated it it was amazing

I have a new favorite villain, Luc, a new favorite book boyfriend, Henry, and a new favorite hero crush, Addie. V.E. Schwab has always been one of my favorite authors. Her books stay with me and awe me, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was no exception. It's a story that I can't stop thinking about and want to read again, and would, if not for the hundreds of other books I want to read. As a writer, I'm impressed with the truth of her characters. They stay true to their nature throughout. T ...more

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Jan 13, 2021 alexza ♤ rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, we-love-to-see-it, 4stars, we-love-to-hate-it, ebook, 2021

disclaimer [29.11.2022]: uploading my half-written review i wrote nearly two years ago for archival purposes. needs a reread. also why did i take writing reviews so seriously. starts to fall apart near the end lol.

a review; the invisible life of addie larue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a 300 year story of love, loss, and life. It is a beautifully written, poignant, and heart breaking story of a desperate young woman who becomes forgotten by the world in order to live a life of freedom.

Thi ...more

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Dec 03, 2022 Books 'n' Baes rated it it was amazing

I felt for Henry. I truly did.
In a way I get what Addie had to face.
I even understand Luc and his absurd deals.
But the ending had me crying For Henry and then Addie.
The way he yearned for more time with Addie.
Time she had and he didn't.

And I'm absolutely floored by the way she played with Luc and beat him at his own game and he doesn't even know it yet.

PS:- if only Luc and Henry learned to share I'd have been the happiest person in the whole world.

I can see them all 3 together.
So yeah this hit ...more

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