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Author: VE Schwab
Sub-genre: Kinda feel like this book is in a genre all its own
Not going to lie, I tend to be the kind of reader that looks forward to the ending. I read a lot, and I read quickly, so you know a book is special when I’m deliberately slowing down my process because I don’t want the book to end. I did not want this book to end. It is nothing short of magical.
Addie LaRue is 23 when she makes a deal with the devil. About to be married off to a man she doesn’t love, trapped in a small town life she doesn’t want, Addie makes a bargain: Her soul in exchange for an infinite number of years of freedom. The devil grants her her wish, but of course, there is a caveat. Addie wanted freedom, what she got was a life of invisibility. Not in the true sense of the word, but in the sense that no one remembers Addie once they lose sight of her. Lovers forget her face, waking up in the morning to see a stranger in their bed. Friends forget her when they excuse themselves to use the restroom, coming back to find they don’t know the woman sitting at their table. Her own parents forget her. And Addie is unable to say her name, write anything down, leave any sort of permanent reminder of herself behind. At first, she feels lost and miserable, but Addie learns to adapt. And every year when the devil asks if she’s ready to surrender her soul, end her misery, she says no. Because she will not allow the devil to win. The devil and Addie begin a centuries long relationship, and it isn’t until three hundred years later, when Addie meets Henry that it all comes to a head. Because Henry can remember her. To Henry, Addie can speak her name. And Henry might be the one who changes everything.
Look. I’m not going to spoil too much about this book because I never once figured out the direction the story was going to go in. It was full of twists and turns and the most delightful and heartbreaking surprises. Like I don’t know what else to say other than this book is a complete and total masterpiece. It’s maybe the most beautifully written book I have ever read, with characters who absolutely felt like friends, and honestly if you’re only going to read one book this year, this is the one you should read. It’s basically perfect.
Overall Rating: 5 stars