Name: Joya
Grade: 11th
Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Author: V.E. Schwab
Published in: 2020
Pages: 448
Rating: 5 stars
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a fantasy standalone novel that follows a young French girl named Addie who is forgotten by everyone she meets. Desperate to escape her misery in 1700s France, young Addie makes a deal with a dark, mysterious god, named Luc, for freedom and time. Throughout the story, she is constantly dealing with her 300-year struggle to “be remembered” and to define her legacy. However, the deal consists of the reality that Addie will live forever but in exchange, no one will ever remember her. It’s not until 300 years after the deal was made that Addie meets someone who actually remembers her, a 28-year-old man named Henry.
Without a doubt, this book was truly remarkable. I admire the way the book was written in such a manner that readers got to jump back and forth between the characters’ storylines. It added a sense of curiosity and really got the adrenaline pumping, creating anxiety to uncover what happens next. I like that the book indirectly addresses a common social issue today of not feeling heard or seen. The situations the protagonist is put in show the true emotions and consequences of those who are constantly suppressed by society. My favorite character is Luc, even though he is the creepy character throughout the book. His confusing personality along with his abilities to control others is astonishing and appealing. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has an underlying eerie tone that allows readers, including me, to experience and relate to the doubtful situations characters have to endure.
I would 100% recommend The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue to all teens and adults, specifically those who have an eye for fantasy. It is definitely a page-turner that will keep anybody interested, especially those who appreciate and are open to the rush of adrenaline. If fantasy isn’t attractive to some, this book also offers an inside look into the meaning of trust and friendship. If one has read and enjoyed The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, or The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, surely they will enjoy this book as well.
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