The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

When I started reading this, I loved it, I thought it would definitely live up to the hype and it'd be an easy 5-stars. The idea of old gods making deals in the woods with desperate souls is simply intriguing. However, I felt like a story about a woman living 300 years should include a little less about her one-night stands and a little more about how she spent her days.

As I got to the middle of the book, I felt like my review would be closer to the 2-star range. Henry is downright boring, I didn't care for his character at all and I wasn't at all surprised to find out why he can remember Addie. As I reflected on their relationship a bit, I also decided Addie is boring. Her entire personality rides on her stubbornness against Luc. Addie LaRue is not that short of a book, there was plenty of time to develop these characters and show an arc of growth, and yet, as I finish this book I think it's forgettable.

By the end of the story, I felt like the whole thing was less of the adventure and reflective novel I expected, and more like a predictable love story. I think if I went into this book knowing nothing about it and not knowing how popular it was, I would've enjoyed it much more. but unfortunately, it was just okay. I'm giving this one a solid 3.75

Things I loved:

- The concept of planting an idea instead of real memories. I think this so accurately reflects how art and great works are created, because most of the time art is not based solely on true fact, but rather our interpretations of an idea.
- Luc takes on the image that Addie creates. It's creepy and sinister in subtle ways and I loved it.
- The writing. The author is obviously incredible, I've heard her other books are as well and I want to keep reading them because her descriptions were simply beautiful.
- Little bits of how Addie influenced art and history - although I would have liked more of it.

Things I disliked:

- Plot holes galore. She can spend entire days with a guy and somehow he never has to use the bathroom, or notice that everyone else forgets her when they order food, drinks, etc? Seems unlikely.
- Henry and his friends. What a boring bunch of jerks. It felt like the author just ticked off a bunch of boxes during character writing that should have produced an interesting guy, and somehow just missed the mark.






SPOILER








- Luc is truly in love with Addie. This god has been alive for, presumably, thousands and thousands of years (if not longer) and for some reason falls for this one human with literally no personality? I'm sorry, it's just ridiculous. I kept waiting for him to turn on her, or show his true evil. And the fact that Addie doesn't love him but he loves her, just yikes.