Een boek dat raakt, maar niet blijft

Let me start by saying: this is a hard book to review. It’s such a unique and specific story — one you really have to experience to understand. So instead of a full review, here are just a few thoughts.

First of all, what a story. I’m glad I finally read it, because it truly contains some beautiful moments, emotions, and reflections on life, memory, and love. It was moving and emotional. In the beginning, I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of book I was reading, but after a few chapters, I was hooked. The ending really hit me: it was emotional, though I couldn’t help but feel it was also a bit unfair.

I especially enjoyed the scenes between Addie and Luc. As possessive as Luc may be, I found him fascinating. He brought tension, mystery, and even charm to the story. I did expect a bit more development between them, though.

That said, the book could have been shorter. It often felt a bit boring, definitely repetitive, while at the same time, it also never stayed long enough in one moment or setting to let it fully sink in. I also wish Addie herself had evolved more over the centuries. By the end, she still felt like the same person she was at the beginning, which left me slightly underwhelmed.

Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely. Do I think it fully deserves all the hype? Not quite. But it's definitely worth reading, if only to ask yourself: If you could live forever, what would you do? Where would you go? And what would you live for?