Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

131 reviews

clovetra's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• 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

5.0

i get why people gush about this book. i also get why people say it is incredibly depressing. and theyre all right!
i originally debated over whether i was gonna give this 5-stars or 4-stars but honestly the sheer ability for this book to make me cry 7 different times is enough to make it a 5-star. i barely cry whilst consuming media as my autistic brain is able to differentiate this shit is not real therefore its not sad!!! but i could not with this book. so much crying. even some happy tears which is nuts because ive only done that with one other book (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School). the way i became so attached to all these characters made me so emotional in every aspect. like the fact i was already beginning to cry in part III when the horrors of part IV & part VI were yet to come.... beautiful.
the only reason i was thinking this was a 4-star book was because god... jude sometimes is so annoying. it feels so wrong writing that because hes literally my baby girl but. QUEEN PLEASE LET URSELF BE LOVED!!!! thats the part that was grating. i know its realistic tho, so tbh im not mad at it. jude repeating that he is unloveable, disgusting, etc. is essential to his character, so from purely a reader's perspective i fucking hated it, but as someone who thinks this book will stick with them for the rest of their life, oh it was necessary.
also who tf decides to give a 4-star review for a 737 page book they read in 2-weeks???? thats fucking nuts even for me.
the amount of times i had to resist googling fanart of willem & jude, or just jude in general was so fucking hard. ive never had this deep of a yearning for literal words.
also this book made me feel. tbh im kinda desensitised to gore & horror and general Bad Things in books. like at 9y/o i was on r/5050 and other shit my ass shouldn't have seen. but some scenes made me viscerally nauseous, or genuinely have to put the book down and stare into space for a bit. yet again only one book has achieved this feat (Earthlings), but even then that book just fucked me up for one part. this book fucked me up at every corner. every page turn.
literally i decided to watch a horror movie last night (abigail, 2024, for anyone curious) and usually im good with gore. most of my special interests are all horror-related (danganronpa, fnaf, until dawn, etc.). because of this book i actually was gagging & had to close my eyes at many points WHILST WATCHING A MOVIE.
the fact a book can have that big of an effect on me? my insane ass? oh yeah hanya yanagihara solo'd. 
i actually dont think i can describe how much this book has changed me. was this book enjoyable? sometimes yes. sometimes it was almost a sick perversion i had to finish it. like yeah i would say in 2024 there are books i have 100% "enjoyed" more. but i think this shit has fundamentally changed me. i dont know how, but i feel like a new man. 
i cant believe i dnf'd this in the past (to be fair tho i was 14 years old... yeah this wouldve fucked me up even worse!!!!!)
if you are looking to change ur brain chemistry in the worst yet best way possible this book is for you 👍

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Ableism, Death, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Torture, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Child abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Slavery, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Car accident, Child death, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer

c_seonjyung's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Torture, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Sexual assault, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Trafficking, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Dysphoria, Excrement, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Sexual harassment, and Slavery

Minor: Infidelity

cinn_vida's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Chronic illness, Classism, Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Alcohol, Body horror, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Drug use, Dysphoria, Gore, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Vomit, Addiction, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Medical content, and Mental illness

k_j_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Self harm

Moderate: Infidelity, Eating disorder, Car accident, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Addiction

cari_'s review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

This is a wonderfully written book about terrible things. It's characters are rich and explored deeply enough for readers to develop a strong connection to them, which makes the terrible things worse. There are people who I would never recommend this book to, and I would suggest looking up content warnings before delving in if you are prone to triggers. It is not without flaws, but it affected me deeply (for better or worse).

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Rape, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Body shaming

Minor: Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Kidnapping

ashlynregan's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful novels I have ever read. Treat it with reverence, if not caution. It is not for everyone, but if you’re like me then you will never be able to stop thinking about it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Cursing, Drug use, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Torture, Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Death, Blood, Car accident, Addiction, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Rape, Infidelity, Abandonment, Gore, Medical content, Self harm, and Suicide

violetbentbackwards1036's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Car accident, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Death, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Rape, Blood, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Sexual assault

_hiitsstella's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

3.5

I hate that I like this book, I can't help but look back on this story through rose-tinted glasses. Obviously I refuse to actually re-open the book because I know I would quickly prove myself wrong, forcing me into misery. This book is torture porn in pretty packaging; the writing is lovely, but the content is gruesome and often nauseating. I would not recommend reading this, I know however, that those determined to seek out and consume this type of content will do so despite numerous warnings. Check the trigger warnings, the list is never-ending.

This book feels like a form of trauma-bonding (not in the way social media defines trauma-bonding, but the actual psychological phenomena) the book hurts you, and yet you never want to let it go. It (dare I say) traumatizes you, and you end up bonded with it, seeing aspects of it in your day-to-day life for months after you've put the book away.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Death, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol

lillianareads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Confinement, Trafficking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Child death, Addiction, Grief, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Self harm, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Rape, Drug use, Cursing, Chronic illness, and Body horror

maryroliza28's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

I will start off by saying that this is one of the most well written, thought out, and incredible books I’ve ever read. I understand the criticism with it, some days it felt that the trauma was never ending. I’ve also read that people thought that this wasn’t a story to tell, that it was boring. I agreed at first, it has an incredibly slow start, takes about 300 pages for things to actually pick up. I read and finished 3 other books while reading this one. But, I think it helps with how you grow and develop with the characters

Let me first say, I am so sorry Jude. You were failed time and time again by so many people. You didn’t deserve any of the horrible things that happened to you. I don’t blame you for ending it, you stuck it out for as long as you could. I truly believe he would’ve lived a long and beautiful life if Willem and Malcolm didn’t die. His trauma was intense, Caleb’s scene was so nauseating and infuriating, I felt my heartache for this fictional character. I wished that, in specific, that scene could’ve been told like Dr Traylor and Brother Luke scenes, brief but to the point. I’m so glad that he was able to feel love in his life, even if the one that loved him most and so deeply left before he was ready. Harold and Julia’s storyline with him was so touching, proving that no matter how old you are, you will always need parents. I’m glad that Andy tried as hard as he could to keep him alive and healthy, if Jude didn’t die first I wouldn’t have been surprised if he killed himself after Andy died. So many people loved Jude greatly, I’m sure he knows that. He was doomed from the beginning. I wish I could tell Jude to snap out of it, to get the help he deserves. I feel as if I also never saw him as older than 30, that he stopped aging in my mind since he himself never changed. He was still denying his truth, up until the very end. I know he passed when he was about 55, but in my head he’s basically a child wearing a trench coat pretending to be an adult. And I also think he felt like that too. I wished that his happiness didn’t have a time limit, hopefully in another universe he never got hurt, he just fell in love with Willem and they got married.

Of the other three, Willem is my favorite. He treated Jude with such grace and love, they were soulmates. They needed each other. Willem’s storyline was incredible as well, I didn’t like that he said that he wasn’t gay, just in love with Jude. Like, if you are actively wanting to have sex with a man, I think you’re gay. But, despite that, he tried so hard to make sure Jude knew that he was okay and deserving of good things. My stomach dropped when he and Malcolm died, so horrifically as well. Willem has his own trauma and tried his best. I do agree with the criticism that he pictured Jude as Hemming, which is also heartbreaking. I’m glad that Jude called him out on it, but he was just trying to help the best he could.

I think he was set up to be this way, but JB was a terrible, disgusting human. I don’t care if it was because of his own trauma or because he was an addict, you do not treat your friends who have put up with so much of your shit like that. It was disgusting to see how he developed, having left a bad taste in my mouth when the last time we heard from him he kissed Jude while he was not trying to pass out. Plus, using your friends’ trauma in your own art without permission? Are you kidding!? I am a JB hater, he had the most privileged upbringing of them all and his reasoning for becoming an addict was because he wasn’t traumatized enough to keep up with Willem and Jude? Sinister behavior, genuinely mad that he was left of the four of them. I don’t blame Jude wishing that he died instead of Willem and Malcolm.

Malcolm, my sweet baby angel who just wanted to build structures and have a nice life with his wife. He was a very neutral character for me, never really upset me or made me feel like I shouldn’t like him. He deserved better, he worked so hard to get to where he was and the fact that it was all stripped from him broke me.

Harold and Julia brought out my own parental trauma, the fact that they met this damaged, troubled young boy and brought him, gave him a job and helped me just because they could is so incredible of the two of them. My favorite (and seemingly everybody’s favorite) quote is said by him at the end of the book, matter of fact on the very last page, “It isn’t only that he died, or how he died; it is what he died believing. And so I try to be kind to everything I see, and in everything I see, I see him.” I truly think Harold tried the hardest out of all of them to make sure that he was taken care of. The entire Lispenard Street section was one of the most heartbreaking shows of love I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Harold lost two sons, both by illness and it’s heartbreaking. To love someone so much, to not care about the trauma and to treat them with such grace and gentleness is so inspiring to read. Both he and Julia are beautiful souls.

This book was also beautifully written. I don’t agree with the trauma porn accusations, there were some good parts. Trauma porn is when it’s just mindless pain and suffering with no end in sight. It’s a tragic story, genuinely, but trauma porn is too aggressive of a title. I do think you have to be in the right headspace to read this book, it was incredibly hard to read. It took me a little over two months to read it, but I did consider DNFing it a few times. But, I needed to know what would happen to Jude, poor baby Jude. Would love it if Yanagihara ever wrote an alternate universe book where they all grew old together, living on the same property in houses Malcolm built and just spending their days laughing and making art. 

I’ve grown to love and be attached to these characters. Each of them have different qualities and quirks that I love (other than you, JB). I’m so sad that my daily routine will no longer involve them, being able to know what is coming next in their lives.

I am also choosing to separate art from the artist, but part of me feels that Yanagihara did take inspiration from her own past to write this book, based on interviews. Absolutely horrific, I hope she wakes up from her own trauma soon.

5/5 stars, I would not recommend this to a friend.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Deadnaming, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Grief

Moderate: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Child death, Racism, and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity