I bought this book when it was first released in 2020, and because the pandemic was stressing me out and I was not in a great headspace, I put off reading it because I likely would have been unable to focus. And then came all of the rave reviews, which immediately made me decide to put off reading it because I was afraid of being disappointed. I finally decided to add it to my 24 in 2024 reading challenge list, and I am so happy I did. This book deserves every bit of praise it has received and then some.

The book’s main focus (unsurprisingly) is a woman named Adeline “Addie” LaRue. Addie is an adventurous and precocious child who, as a teen, becomes enamored with gods and wishes. She is warned by Estele, a woman in her village, that anything you ask from a god comes with a price, and you should never, under any circumstances, ask for anything from a god that answers after dark because they are extremely dangerous. Addie heeds this warning and does her best to connect with the Gods, but none of them ever seem to hear her prayers, no matter what she offers them.

A few years later, Addie is set to be married, but Addie isn’t a girl who wants to be controlled or be a man’s property. Desperate to escape her fate, she runs away from her wedding, drops to her knees in the forest, and pleads with the gods to listen to her and help her. She agrees to give them anything if they help her escape her fate. What Addie doesn’t realize is that it is after dark when she makes her plea, and a God answers. Addie’s wish is granted, but not as she hoped. In exchange for her soul, she is granted immortality, but the problem is no one will remember Addie. She is cursed to walk the earth forever without the ability to make any real connections. People can see her, speak to her, and even engage with her, but the minute the person leaves the room, they forget who she is.

Three hundred years later, Addie lives in New York. She’s learned to lie just right and steal to maintain an existence, but her existence is incredibly lonely since everyone forgets her soon after meeting her. But then, one day, she meets a man, and when she runs into him a few days later, he shockingly remembers her. How could this be? Naturally, Addie, hungry for connection, clings to the man, but the reason he can remember Addie may be what eventually tears them apart.

This novel is beautifully written and flashes back and forth between Addie’s three hundred years of solitude and New York in 2014 when she meets Henry and develops a relationship with him. The novel effortlessly transports readers to different time periods and locations, all thanks to Schwab’s descriptive prowess.

The character of Addie is a compelling protagonist with a depth and complexity that is captivating and heartbreaking. I can’t imagine living as long as she did with the inability to connect with anyone. I mean, I’m 100% an introvert, but I do cherish the close connections I have with people. Despite the challenges she faces, Addie remains a fiercely independent and tenacious character, determined to carve out a place for herself in a world that constantly erases her existence.

Henry, the young man who remembers Addie, is a mysterious and intriguing presence that adds an element of romance and intrigue to the story. The dynamic between Addie and Henry is beautifully portrayed, and while I enjoyed Addie’s journey, Henry’s story was absolutely heartbreaking. I adored him.

On the one hand, I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book, but on the other hand, I’m so happy that I finally got to experience it. This is a timeless tale of love and sacrifice and a book I will often think of. If you are one of the few who haven’t yet picked this one up, do yourself a favor and snag a copy. You can thank me later.