I remember Addie, mostly because she was my late birthday present.
My parents purchased OwlCrate’s Addie LaRue box for me back in August as a birthday gift, and I have waited so patiently for the box to arrive. Many wistful days sitting by the front door, longing for my package to grace the porch at last, so ready to begin unboxing Addie LaRue…
And now she’s HERE! Any patience I had is gone, and there’s only joyful unboxing ahead. This post contains spoilers for the entire OwlCrate box, so proceed with caution if you’re not ready to know just yet. Otherwise, join me in all in the Addie-related goodies ahead!
Full Unboxing
Obviously the rabbit isn’t included (my little tiny bean just loves to help with unboxings, that’s all!), but here is the box in all its rose gold glory! When I carried it to my room the first time, I was surprised at how heavy it was. OwlCrate certainly didn’t cut corners with this one, and unpacking each item was a blast!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The crown jewel of the box, the reason behind it all, is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I’m a bit wary of a hardcover without a dust jacket, simply because I like my books protected, but look at that beautiful foil. You can see the lovely front cover in the full unboxing photo above, but I’m entirely enamored with the details on the back! Foil is one of my favorite features on a hardcover, and though I don’t normally love rose gold, it is stunning across the board in this box.
@paperbackbones designed the cover!
Desk Calendar
Easily the heaviest item in the box, but also one of the prettiest, I really like this calendar. It’s going to take some getting used to, remembering which blocks have which numbers and days of the week on them, but I’m excited to keep this friend on my desk once that’s finished! I’m also hoping it’ll make me a little more mindful of the days that go by, since my grasp on time tends to jump around lately. Switching the blocks each day will help me keep track of time much better!
Additionally, the calendar has a nice hidden detail. Behind on the blocks, on the backing, it says “Life can feel very long sometimes, but in the end it goes so fast.”
Daffodils and Ink is the designer behind this item!
A Story is an Idea Pin
I basically never say no to enamel pins. It seems like Queer Person 101 to just hoard these babies, stick them everywhere you can, and I can’t say I’m complaining. I’m here, I’m queer, and I’m running out of room to display my collection. Send help!
Anyways, this pin is so pretty. Again, the rose gold is a surprisingly beautiful touch, and this particular quote (“A story is an idea, wild as a weed”) sits nicely with me. It’s a little reminder to keep writing in a way, that stories can start out so small but grow so quickly. And to cap it off, it’s just such a beautiful design. I especially love the little sprout coming from between the pages!
Forensics and Flowers designed this lovely little pin!
The Last Word Travel Mug
Marked on one side by a logo for The Last Word, the fictional bookstore featured in Addie, and on the other by this lovely quote about books (“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one.”), the travel mug is super nice! It’s sleek, it’s solid, and it has a little infuser on the inside. I think my sister might enjoy it more than I do, since she’s a tea drinker, but I still love the look and size of it.
Plus, it was super satisfying to toss it in the fresh snow for this photo! 😂
@paperbackbones, the same designer for the foil on the book itself, designed this mug!
Once Upon a Time Wooden Bookmark
Okay, so I have to admit I don’t see myself using bookmark/page holder very much. I tried it out already, and in my tiny hands, it just doesn’t seem to fit right. Reading a book with this is more awkward than holding a book open without. That said, I do mean tiny hands. I am very likely the odd one out for this item, and I’m sure it’s a comfortable fit for other folks!
While I figure out what to do with it, though, I can at least admire how it looks. The engraving is so nice and tidy, and it says “once upon a time” on it in both English and French.
Juniper and Ivy Designs created this page holder!
The Darkness Candle
I have to admit, I’m not super into candles, on account of worrying that I’ll forget I’ve left one burning. They just don’t play nice with anxiety. Plus, I’m picky about how things smell. That said, this little candle smells somehow like being in the woods after dark, which I completely approve of. Maybe that’ll finally convince me to start burning candles?
Alchemy and Ink is behind this candle!
Three Year Journal
Besides The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue itself, this might be my next favorite item in the entire box! It’s a three-year journal, which means that it has a space for every day of the year, divided into three sections per day. Sadly, it’s dated for 2021-2023, so it doesn’t leave much wiggle room in terms of when to use it, but I love the idea of journaling for a year, flipping back to the beginning, and doing it all over while also skimming through last year’s entries at the same time!
It’s a compact but beautiful way to journal, and I’m excited to start using it! And since I’m likely to stop using a bullet journal next year, seeing as it takes up more time than I really have to offer, this will be a much more time-effective and satisfying substitute. Now, should I go buy some special pens just for it? Hmm…
The cover of the journal was designed by Unlucky Designs, and the pages were designed by Michelle Gray!
il était une fois // once upon a time
Okay, I have to admit I haven’t actually listened to OwlCrate’s playlist yet, even though I spy a few personal favorites on there. Whoops. 😅 But I think it’s best saved for after I finish the book, so I can best pinpoint which song ties in where. I love doing that, whether it’s with my own writing or someone else’s, so finding this little card in the box was a cute little cherry on top of everything else!
And that’s that on unboxing Addie LaRue! I hope you’ve had as much fun looking through the items in this box as I did. Since I rarely purchase boxes, this was a real treat! 🥰
The book is pretty, but I’m with you on the lack of dust jacket!! That’s at least the second one they have done this year without one.
Like, I get the appeal, but it’s also very much not for me! Good thing I can sew book sleeves, at least