Okay so I know this post was supposed to go live on Friday, but I had a friend visiting from out of town and then I was just to lazy yesterday to get to it. But I am here now and I promise moving forward will be a bit better.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab, is the book for January’s book club. It is a book that I have read before but I have honestly forgotten all of the details that sit between the covers. I remember faint things but no quotes or major details or even really what happens.

All I remember is that it was written beautifully and that story left me feeling something.

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.

Above is the description on GoodReads, just so we are all on the same page on what this book is about. I remember that Addie was a woman that did not like her life in 1714 and made her deal with the devil (Faustian) and everything in her life changes in that moment. The novel follows her through the years and she becomes a sort of myth as a face that pops up throughout the years, always having the same 7 freckles.

I remember that I loved this book and I went on to tell so many people about it. I read it back in 2020 about a month afters it was released and I got it as one of my monthly picks for Book of The Month, back when I was apart of that program. At this time in my life I was taking note about all of the books that I was reading in a hope that I would retain the contents better and maybe start a blog or podcast (spoiler: I did not) and acted as my place of book reviews. So I have upgraded from a notebook to a full on website (Go me!). But I wanted to share with you what I wrote on the first page of my review, there are no spoilers because I also do not want to be spoiled.

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Initial thoughts:

A historical fiction is the overarching theme that I am getting here. So I do not think that I will devour this books like I have others and that is fine. I’m hoping there is intense moments in Addie’s internal dialogue. I hope that man that remembers her and provides witty banter and the like. I am looking at this like a palate cleanser from magic and high societies. I’ll probably be a slow opener but I am read to get through it. Long Live V. E. Schwab.

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So there you have it. Those were 2020 Trevor’s thoughts on the book. So prior to reading this I read a few fantasy novels so I guess I was tired if reading magic systems. I also found out that I read 195 books via physical read, audiobook, and graphic novels in 2020 by the end of November. So no wonder I do not remember anything that happened in this book. When I first read this book I was 24 years old but I am 28 currently. Now I know a lot of people may see that and go Trevor that is young, you still have so much to live and see, and I will agree with you. However November 2020, I was a month into a new job, very single, still had both parents, no clue what I wanted to do in my life, and just a little less mature than I am today (Honestly reader, I just got emotional thinking back to those times) and I was just reading for the fun of it. Now let me tell you I am still reading for fun but I am more thoughtful in the decision I make, most times.

Now in 2025 at 28 I see the world differently, I do not feel as invulnerable as I once did, I have more sadness within me, but also new senses of joy. So much has happened in these 4 years that I hope and feel that this story is going to impact me in such a different way. So I am excited to pick this book up again and revisit the story of Addie LaRue and see what I get out of it this time.

Predictions

Rating: I have a gut feeling I am going to give this book another 5 stars.

Cry Factor: I think this book will make me cry at least twice

Have you ever not seen a friend for a long while and you finally are going to see them and you are a little nervous. Like “OMG what if we have changed too much and we do not like each other anymore” but then you see them and something clicks and everything slides into place and it feels like no time has passed since you last saw them, you friendship returning to its original strength in no time? That is how I feel about this book. I think I am going to crack open the over and I am going to feel welcomed back home.

Note from Trevor

I really hope you like this book, I hope it makes you feel something and re-ignites something within you. But I understand that not every book is for every person so I understand if you don’t enjoy this book.

I ask that you enter this book with an open mind and heart. Also do not forget you can stop reading at anytime. 2025 is the year of stop reading books that we don’t like.

Happy Reading!