Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live forever? Bestselling author, V.E. Schwab portrays a whimsical and elaborate tale that takes you into a whole different universe in her book, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue.

The story starts off in the year 1714, with Addie, who is unlike anyone in the small town and an artist, trying to escape an unwanted wedding. Running through the woods to get away from her life, Addie strikes a deal with the devil, Luc, and exchanges her soul for immortality. What she doesn’t realize is that the deal came with consequences. Addie can not leave her mark on the world, and anyone she comes across will forget her, and her name. After 300 years of trying to survive and impending darkness, Addie finally meets what she thought was impossible, Henry, the first person to remember her name. As the two grow closer together in an adventure-filled journey, each trying to leave pieces of each other in the world, Addie learns more about Henry only to realize that he has made a deal with the devil as well. With limited time on their hands, Addie eventually has to make the hardest decision of them all, and it leads to a heartbreaking ending. 

This novel is incredibly well written, and leaves you intrigued with every page that is turned. Although this book takes a different turn from her bestselling series A Darker Shade of Magic, it shouldn’t be overlooked and is definitely worth reading. Addie and Henry’s relationship throughout the story has an incredible sense of realism to it, and the bond between them leads to a groundbreaking romance and adventure. Other characters like the devil, Luc, add a mysterious and compelling storyline also. This book leaves you to dig deeper behind the true meaning of time, and how each moment that we spend on this earth is a moment that should be valued. Addie’s longing to be remembered throughout the book is something that we can all relate to, and creates a beautiful and realistic perspective on life. The pieces of artwork entwined within the book give you a visual sense of what Addie’s artwork looked like, and the struggle to make her mark upon the world in different ways. 

This book is perfect for any readers that have a love for romance novels with hints of fantasy tied into the pages. It takes you right into the busy and loud streets of New York City, and makes you feel like you’re standing right beside Addie as she goes through the hardships of trying to figure out her place in the world. Despite the fact that I thought the book started off a bit slow, showing the early days of Addie’s life, it quickly gains speed afterward and makes you want to stay up all night reading it. The novel does a wonderful job of showing explorations of identity, and what it’s like grappling between the familiarity of comfort and the lure of the unknown. 

Overall, I recommend this book to any young adult readers, who love to escape reality and fall into the joys of viewing life through someone else’s eyes. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a captivating and breathtaking novel, and is one that will stick with me for a long time.