The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
By V. E. Schwab
Reviewed by Rachel - Grade 9
Rating: 5/5
13/08/21
Oh, where to start with V. E. Schwab’s “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue!” The story begins in the 1700s. Addie is a young girl in a small village, and she wants more out of life. She understands that there’s far too little time in one lifetime to do everything she wants to do. So she makes a deal with the devil- she is immortal. But she is remembered by no one. And she can’t leave a mark. As the story progresses, we learn about Addie’s life in France and Italy, through the Renaissance period and destructive wars. The chapters switch between this timeline of events that Addie endured over the centuries, and 2014, where a new mystery is unfolding on every page. Because then Addie meets Henry. And Henry remembers her.
How can he remember her? Why can Addie say her name in front of him? Why is he able to understand her story? As I read, I was engulfed by a thousand questions like these, totally and utterly unsure of what was coming next. This storyline is like nothing I’ve ever read before.
And I must add that the character development throughout the story is incredible! I can distinctly tell the difference between 20-year-old Addie and three-hundred-year-old Addie, and it is evident that she becomes much wiser and cleverer throughout the story. Not to mention Henry, who, with the help of his friends, manages to push aside all his anxious thoughts and live life to the fullest- even for a brief time.
- VE Schwab’s “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” is definitely going up on my list of favourites. Every page surprised me, and each chapter unravelled unpredictably, always choosing right where I would’ve guessed left. I recommend this book to high schoolers of all ages, as it has something for everybody hidden inside. Overall, “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” was a fantastic read, and if ever there was a sequel, I’d be all over it in seconds.