The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

“Blink, and the years fall away like leaves.”

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a historical fantasy, standalone fiction by V. E. Schwab about Addie, who basically strikes a deal with the devil in exchange for her freedom. The catch: no one remembers her until a boy named Henry comes along.

This story was released by V.E. Schwab last 2020 and continues to be hyped at the present.

Addie is a young woman who wanted to explore the world beyond the town she lives in. Starting with her story, it could come off real slow to some readers, especially those who prefer fast-paced reads or those who are plainly impatient, and could feel bored with the first few chapters. However, with enough patience, one could actually get through page by page. True enough, the book IS slow-paced, but it is not draggy either. It does feel like reading someone’s history with flashbacks in between the past and present, which the dates and places per chapter do help in keeping track. What’s good about its slow pacing is that even if it’s not that emotionally engaging in the beginning, it definitely is a page turner, pulling in readers for more.

 

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

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This book was written in a poetic prose with a touch of flowery, while being straight to the point, POVs in the 2nd person. The lines might take time to register to some readers, but what makes it even better is that it was as if it was written for people to read between the lines and speculate from it. The way V. E. Schwab wrote this book may not be about the engagement or the inducing of emotions from the reader, but more on giving her readers or audiences some room to think about the story rather than feel with it.

Aside from the way it was written, the book is more about different themes being explored without centralizing on love alone. Despite it being on the fantasy genre, it wasn’t heavily inclined with that and most themes actually hit the spot of reality. Such would be the want/need to be loved and the thin line in between want and need; how far one can go just to leave a mark in the world; how one wants to be remembered; establishing connections, and even queerness. Though romantics out there have to lower their expectations on this, history, art and travel are given more emphasis through Addie.

The details were also drawn out in good taste, with immersive world/character building. Though there might be a push and pull feeling with various characters, some descriptions might come off similar to readers as if they were made for them to connect. Some characters might not have been given so much focus or closure (which some readers actually commented on), like if you talk about a movie, someone who got lesser screen time. However, if we talk about real life, no one really gets a full screen time in one’s life, right? They were nonetheless represented well, and are not really far away from reality.

Some reviews found in the internet mentioned some loopholes in the story (not in particular), yet upon reading the book, a personal take on these so-called loopholes might’ve  meant as parts to be speculated on, and as the story progresses these speculations might turn out right or wrong on the reader’s end, where out of 5, I had two speculations right in the long run (won’t be spoiling which ones though).

“Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget.”

Given that it already is an overhyped book, V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is actually a first read for Nichole and I from the author’s stories, and we were simply both drawn to read it rather than its popularity. And true to what I always say, there were similar and different takes on the book.

Some readers who love poetic proses like Nichole, would totally fall in love with the book and gush over it. Some readers might relate with me on the other hand, where I’m not totally crazy about the book. What I actually mean with that is the not over-the-moon-kind-of-feeling. To elaborate, not that I didn’t love the book, it’s the kind where there is a lingering feeling the book leaves after reading, and I can’t help but just simply love it, without really gushing over it, nor the separation anxiety kind of feeling.

The story is actually a cliffhanger and could leave readers a lot of questions thinking there could’ve been more, but at the same time it rather felt like a resolution. The story might not be emotion inducing but people would really feel or think differently after reading especially with how it resonates to each reader, which might’ve been how Schwab wanted her writing to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the book does leave a feeling of satisfaction, one that could make readers talk about for a long time.

Addie’s story is a reminder of how one’s time on Earth is limited, yet filled with so many opportunities to make and what it means to be human, showing us how we can’t have it all. This book is definitely a 5/5-star rating. Highly recommended because this is a good read, not of its hype. Absolutely worth rereading, and just a heads up to those who want to read it, its thickness is not a drill lol.

 

“What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind? She has learned to step between the thorny weeds, but there are some cuts that cannot be avoided - a memory, a photograph, a name.”

Writer, 

Thin Girl