The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a fantastical novel by V.E. Schwab that is based around the life of a young woman who goes by the name of Adeline in France during the 1700s. The story starts as we find out about her desire to get out of her marriage in order to live more freely and on her own. In order to make this longing of hers become reality, she makes a deal with a dark and mysterious entity known as "The Darkness," who gives her the power of immortality. A major drawback of Addie’s compliance with this deal is that she will no longer be recognized by anybody she goes on to meet. As she struggles to grasp this concept, she navigates through the immense loneliness that accompanies this curse. To cope, she picks up the hobbies of reading all types of literature, painting, and appreciating music.

Throughout different sections of the novel, the story switches back and forth between the past and earlier parts of her life and the present, now 300 years later. When she meets a man named Henry, who deals with similar pain, trauma, and loneliness, she comes to discover that he is the only person to have ever remembered her after crossing paths and meeting again. The two form a strong connection and bond over the fact that they are anomalies in society, and both yearn for closeness, making life more worth living.

The book delves into the themes of struggling with identity, attaining freedom from others and from within, as well as the importance of connections with other people. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book, for I was engaged at every turn of the page and found it to be a book, unlike the many others I have read in the past. I would recommend this novel to those into fantasy and magical realism and generally looking for a really interesting read.

Review by: Holly Childs

Holly is a senior at Santa Monica High School.

—Danielle Fox, Young Adult Librarian, West Los Angeles Branch Library