The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. The premise is wildly enticing, is it not? A headstrong girl balks at the prospect of arranged marriage and makes a Faustian bargain to secure freedom and immortality.
But when you sell your soul to the devil, you better make sure that you dot your I’s and cross your T’s. Otherwise you might end up like Addie, who doesn’t realize that her newfound liberation comes with strings attached…
I must be the outlier here, because everyone else seems to rant and rave about how smitten they are with this book, while I found it slow and kind of boring. So don’t take my word for it, I’m simply not the right reader for Addie LaRue!
Nevertheless, the writing was enchanting and lyrical and the plot hook was genius- I just felt that it had a lot of unrealized potential. At the end of the day, V.E. Schwab’s inventive novel, wrapped up in mystery and enigma, is ultimately a love story. And that’s great! It’s just not quite what I had in mind. I was craving (and expecting) something darker and deeper that I could really sink my teeth into.
However, one of the greatest strengths of this book was its ability to explore the human experience in an authentic and thoughtful way. For example, what it means to feel truly seen, whether it is worth it to be loved for something you’re not and of course, whether immortality is all that it’s cracked up to be 😉
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is romantic, haunting and emotionally evocative. It pairs well with lemony black tea, raspberry macarons and a brooding autumn day. This is my first book by this author, but it certainly won’t be my last!
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Did you read Addie LaRue yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
