I recently read The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue by V. E. Schwab for The Late Night Book Club December book of the month. Despite this book’s 4.5 star rating on GoodReads, I was on the fence about whether I wanted to read past the free sample. By the time I reached the end of the book, I honestly regretted my decision to invest in the full book.
Story Introduction
The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue is a 450 page tome which tells the story of the titular protagonist. She is granted immortality by the evil god of night and darkness, Lucien “Luc” Dubois ( Lucifer???). The downside to her immortality is that she is also cursed to be forgotten as soon as she gets out of eyesight. During her 300-year-long battle for her soul with Luc, she meets Henry Strauss, a newly-dumped bookstore clerk with a dark history, and an inexplicable ability to remember her.
My Critique
Pros
I can see how the contemporary aspects of the book would strike a chord with modern readers. This book is brimming with trendy vibes, including freckles (Addie conspicuously sports a constellation of seven), a witchy mentor named Estele, and appearances during notable moments in history. The book also puts on a masterclass for character motivations and psychology, especially for Henry’s character.
Cons
But the downside is that the book does not provide enough suspense or antagonists to to support such a long story. I found my attention flagging on multiple occasions throughout the book. I would ultimately not recommend The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, because I felt bored while reading it.
Video Critique
I filmed a short blog discussing what I liked and didn’t like about the book–check it out!
My Rating
⭐
Have you read The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue? What did you think of this book? Please let me know if you have any feedback for my ideas by commenting below–I’d love to hear what you think!