📚 Book Club Discussion Guide

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Opening & Overall Thoughts

1. Overall Impression
   • What is your rating for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? What led to your rating?

Part 1: Freedom, Memory & Isolation

2. The Mechanics of the Curse
   • What are the best and worst aspects of Addie’s invisible life?
   • What is the emotional toll of being unable to imprint herself on the heart and mind of another person?
   • In what specific moments does this curse actually work to her advantage?
3. Power Dynamics with Luc
   • Discuss the intense power struggle between Addie and Luc. What makes him such a master of seduction?
   • How does Addie gradually reclaim her power and agency over the course of the centuries?
4. Borrowed Lives & Personal Icebreaker
   • Addie regularly slips into the homes (and closets) of people from all walks of life. Which abode was your favorite?
   • Icebreaker: If Addie borrowed your home, what would she enjoy most from your cupboards and closets?
5. Romance & Disguise
   • Among Addie’s many lovers, Remy stands out as the first to match her girlhood fantasies. On the magical night they met, Addie wore trousers, a buttoned coat, and a tricorne hat. How did her disguise as “Thomas” fuel their passion?

Part 2: Survival, Time & Literature

6. Survival vs. Living
   • Living without a bank account, phone, or address, Addie is forced to steal just to quell her physical suffering. Is it a blessing or a curse that she only worries about momentary suffering, never true survival?
   • What new appreciation do you have for the everyday things you rely on during difficult times?
7. The Passage of Time
   • In Part Three, Chapter II, the author writes:

“The time between Thursday night and Saturday afternoon is merciless, every second doled out with the care of an old woman counting pennies to pay for bread…”

• How does the prospect of an infinite lifespan change the way Addie views time and life itself?
6. The Written Word & Identity
   • Addie’s situation shifts dramatically when she steps into The Last Word. What role does literature play throughout her life, and what does her taste in books say about her character?
   • What does it mean for someone to be deprived of a lasting, written version of their own life story?

Part 3: Faith, Curses & Legacy

9. Faith & Belief Systems
   • Belief shapes identity across the novel—from the LaRue family’s rigid Christianity, to Estele’s faith in the old gods, to Addie’s belief in a fantasy that manifests Luc, to Henry’s loss of faith.
   • How does Estele’s immersion in the spirit world compare to Henry’s studious theology?
   • Open Question: Do you believe in the existence of “gods that answer after dark”?
10. Two Sides of the Same Coin
    • How do Addie’s and Henry’s deals with Luc complement each other?
      • Addie: Eternal youth paired with perpetual impermanence.
      • Henry: Constant acceptance paired with the obliteration of his true self.
    • Group Poll: If you had to choose one of these curses for just 24 hours, which would you pick? Have you ever felt pushed far enough to consider making a deal with Luc?
11. History & Human Nature
    • As the narrative spans centuries—moving between rural villages and major global cities—what timeless aspects of human nature stand out?
    • Through war, revolution, and liberation, how much actual progress does Addie witness versus history simply repeating itself?
12. Art as Immortality
    • As the full intention behind Bea’s project is revealed, what did you discover about the power of art to preserve hidden truths?
    • In what way is Addie’s identity ultimately “written in the stars”?
13. The Ending
    • How did you react to the novel’s conclusion? Did it match what you predicted for Addie, or did it surprise you?