The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab

Good evening lovely book readers, Gloomy and cozy season has finally started and provided it's first week of gloomy weather, perfect for book readers.

One of my absolute favourite reads recently has been The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. This beautifully crafted story quickly became a top pick for me, not only because it’s well-written and easy to follow but also due to its captivating plot.

Review:

The book gives us a glimpse into the life of Addie, who makes a life-altering deal in her early twenties. Instead of a straightforward, chronological retelling, the narrative skips between the past and present, adding layers of depth. It’s almost as though Addie herself is choosing not to tell her story in order, which, once you dive into the plot, makes perfect sense.

I read the special 10-year anniversary edition, which includes stunning artwork in the middle. This extra touch made the reading experience even more memorable. I absolutely fell in love with Addie as a character—she’s incredibly complex and has a story that’s hard not to get emotionally invested in. The supporting characters, like Henry Strauss and Luke (the dark figure Adélard refers to), also added so much to the narrative. Everything in the story seems to have a purpose, with each event leading to something meaningful, building toward an incredible conclusion. The final chapter had me completely hooked—I loved it so much that I even read it out loud to my boyfriend. It was that powerful!

Plot: France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

I’m definitely planning to read more from V.E. Schwab because her writing style is not only accessible but also rich with meaning. She masterfully balances simplicity with depth, drawing readers into the world she creates. Next up on my reading list is Babel by R.F. Kuang, which I’ll be reading as part of my book club. If you’re interested in joining, feel free to register using the link below. We’ll be discussing Babel on Monday, the 21st, at 7 p.m. European time, and I’d love to see some of you there!

Looking ahead, I’m excited to dive into more witchy and vampire-themed books, starting with Crave by Tracy Wolff, The Witches of Vardu, and Masters of Dead by Olivie Blake. My goal is to get through these in October before switching gears to crime novels and dark academia themes. I’m even considering tackling The Lord of the Rings before December, right before I switch to cozy Christmas reads. For the winter season, I’ll likely focus on love stories and holiday-themed books, including some that centre around ice hockey—perfect for those cozy winter nights.

Happy reading, and I hope to see you at the book club!