Best-Selling Author’s Novel Ranked ‘Best Book of the Decade’ on Goodreads

Nina DerwinSun, March 29, 2026 at 3:46 AM UTC

0

(Photo by Eric Fougere/Corbis via Getty Images)

Best-selling author V. E. Schwab has achieved a feat that few writers do with one of her most beloved novels.

Her book, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, has been ranked the best book of the decade on Goodreads, based entirely on reader votes. The ranking reflects a combination of factors, including how many users voted for the book and how highly they ranked it, making it a strong indicator of lasting reader impact.

Originally published in 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the novel quickly became a favorite among fans for its unique premise and emotional depth. "I hope if anything that this weird little hopeful story can help people escape for just a little while and find a little bit of solace," Schwab told Entertainment Weekly shortly before the novel's release.

The story follows Addie LaRue, a young woman in 18th-century France who makes a desperate bargain to live forever only to be cursed so that no one remembers her. As Addie moves through centuries, she experiences a life marked by freedom, loneliness and fleeting connections until everything changes when someone finally remembers her name. The novel blends elements of fantasy, romance and historical fiction, creating a story that resonates across genres.

"I was inspired by Peter Pan and the loss of memory, by my own grandmother’s dementia and the way my mother watched herself being erased from her memory, by the classic depictions of Faustian bargains and the idea that men and women move through the world differently, and are afforded different space, by the promise of forever, and what it means to leave a mark," Schwab said in an interview with the Los Angeles Public Library.

Advertisement

Schwab, known for her imaginative storytelling and richly developed characters, has built a devoted following with works like Vicious and the Shades of Magic series. But The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue stands out as one of her most emotionally resonant and widely celebrated books.

Since its release, the novel has continued to gain momentum through word-of-mouth and online communities, particularly among readers who connect with its themes of identity, memory and what it means to leave a mark on the world.

With its top ranking on Goodreads, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue has solidified its place as a modern classic, one that continues to captivate readers years after its debut.

Related: Award-Winning Author’s Novel Ranked as No. 1 ‘Most Anticipated Fiction’ on Goodreads

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”