WeaveReads

Okay I have to start by saying this is such an interesting concept. I’ve definitely read or watched stories before with the “immortal main character” trope, but the way this one alternates between 1700s France and 2010s New York really worked for me. It slowly fills in the context of who Addie is and how she’s survived centuries with this curse hanging over her. It made the story feel layered instead of just “girl lives forever.”

And the rules of the curse are honestly what hooked me the most. Addie can’t say her name, and anyone she interacts with forgets her almost instantly after she’s gone. The idea that you can exist in the world but leave absolutely no trace? Horrifying, but fascinating. Watching how she navigates life around those limitations was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Around the first hundred pages I noticed I didn’t have a ton of notes, but that’s honestly because the pacing just worked for me. The back-and-forth timeline helped emphasize just how long Addie has been wandering the world alone. That being said, I struggled with Henry’s chapters at first. His perspective felt very artsy and theatrical and I just couldn’t quite figure out what his role in the story was supposed to be yet. It took me a while to settle into his POV.

Also: meeting a cute boy in a bookstore immediately gave me Joe Goldberg vibes, which maybe says more about my watch habits than the book itself, but I was definitely side-eyeing that situation at first.

So when Henry actually remembered Addie, I was SHOCKED. Truly agape. After 300 years of no one remembering her, that moment hit hard.

At the same time, some of the relationship stuff is where my romance-reader brain struggles a bit. Henry thinks Addie is a literal book thief and still immediately agrees to go get coffee with her? That felt… optimistic. This might just be a me thing, but sometimes the romance elements felt a little unrealistic. Like the first date where they play pinball, see a movie, and Henry suddenly spirals into a full existential confession. I know some people do open up to strangers because they feel less judged, but it still felt fast for people who barely know each other.

Some conversations also felt a little exposition-heavy, like Bea giving Henry a pep talk that seemed more like it existed so readers could learn more about him. And that underground subway club? Absolute nightmare scenario for me personally. Some of the more “experience-based” scenes — like the color/feelings museum date — were honestly confusing to me, but that’s probably because those types of immersive art experiences just aren’t really my thing.

Then we get the reveal that Henry’s deal only lasts a year.

Only. A. Year.

Bro.

Once that detail dropped, I could pretty much see where the story was eventually heading. It felt inevitable that everything would lead back to that ticking clock.

But honestly? Not the worst fate in the world to end up tangled up with Luc, that’s all I’m saying.

Overall though, I ended up enjoying this book much more than I expected to. The concept is strong, the emotional stakes build beautifully over time, and Addie herself is such a compelling character to follow through centuries of loneliness.

⭐ 4 stars — honestly closer to 4.5.
I really, really enjoyed it.