Naomi with a Novel

V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has a way of making you feel like you, too, have lived 300 years.

From the moment I embarked on Addie’s journey, I was captivated. I found myself reading this book somewhat slowly, not because it dragged—it didn’t—but because I felt the need to savor and process each and every sentence.

I was drawn to the concept of a life lived invisibly, with the world unable to remember you. I fell in love with the idea that ideas themselves can endure, even when memories fade or disappear. Although I am not cursed to be forgotten by everyone I ever meet, this will stay with me.

Spoilers ahead.

Character-wise, I loved Addie LaRue. There was something about her struggles, her resilience, and her yearning for a life of significance that resonated with me on multiple levels.

On the other hand, Henry—while an integral part of the story—didn’t elicit the same depth of emotional connection from me. I didn’t mind his character, and I recognized the importance of his role in Addie’s life, but I didn’t experience that same profound emotional investment in his relationship with Addie. (Luc, on the other hand…)

In fact, I found myself more intrigued by the way the book ultimately ended. The somewhat open ending was brilliant, and I don’t think I would have preferred another ending. Addie LaRue kept me engaged and invested, even after the final page was turned.

This was a 4.75-star read—5 stars, rounded up—that I won’t soon forget.