Scan barcode
katykate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
bookish2024's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
appalachianaltuntas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
poofymoi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I am left floored but the sheer levels of human atrocities that one author could think of, not to mention the visceral gore, pain, and bodily horror that came from these pages. But they were also showered in the most dedicated, gut wrenching, purest forms of love as well. To love someone so unconditionally that you know may continue to harm you, frighten you, and lead you down life’s darkest paths. No character in this novel runs from these melancholic, sadistic truths of life, which makes it all the more painful and challenging to read. I don’t know if I come away from the book thinking “it’s all worth it in the end,” but then again, how can I not? To love someone with such intensity and fervor and dedication and devotion, to me, is one of the few purest treasures in life. No one who ever loved Jude (really loved Jude) ever left him, even when they knew he would ultimately wreck them. If only he had one ounce of that love and forgiveness for himself. But I guess that’s the point, isn’t it? Sometimes, even loving someone with such intensity cannot make up for those who have harmed them worse. Trust is a fragile, tenuous thing. May we all be lucky enough to find it and recognize it and hold it and believe it. What a fucking horror story.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
miri_ktz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
sfkeavy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
shellsob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
The entire book is a trigger warning for… possibly everything. Not sure what the best method of reading this book is, quickly so it’s done faster? Slowly so you’re not horribly emotionally wrecked everyday? Or… hear me out… not reading it at all. I read this book as a challenge to myself (LOL) because everyone was saying “it’s so good”, “you need a therapist to read this”, “whole thing is a trigger warning”…. They weren’t lying (besides the “it’s so good” part).
I will give it to Hanya Yanagihara, she is phenomenal writer. I just felt like the book had WAY too much trauma happening for one person. Everytime I thought to myself “surely, this is it”…. IT WASN’T. Maybe I wasn’t the audience for this book (surely, I wasn’t the audience for this book). Would I recommend it? Maybe BUT not without fully warning the person and making sure they are in an emotionally stable position in their life.
It’s been nearly a week since I finished the book and I still think about it. I fear that I won’t be the same after having read this. Is there an emotional support group for A Little Life readers?
I’m not even sure how to rate this book…. The writing, great! The words written, I’m at a standstill.
Do what you will with me review, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
misheto_pet96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
battlefieldpoet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I don't recommend this book, especially for anyone with a history of mental health struggles.
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
freadsy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail