51.9k reviews for:

A Little Life

Hanya Yanagihara

4.32 AVERAGE

sophie_jean601's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

serotavirus's review against another edition

5.0

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This book is a beast.

Update: five months since I finished it and I still think about it all the time. Nostalgically. The audiobook read by Oliver wyman was wonderful but apparently has been replaced by a different reader.

lksnh's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 0%

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Too much trauma

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use

brennacrosby's review against another edition

5.0

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One sentence synopsis... ‘A Little Life’ begins as a conventional postgrad New York ensemble but it quickly becomes evident Yanagihara has something much darker and unsettling in mind for her four unforgettable friends. .

Read it if you like... crying. Screaming at books. Simultaneously hating the author for putting her characters through this while also loving her for creating such an all-consuming story. Don’t read it if you like happy endings. .

Dream casting... Robert Pattinson, Armie Hammer, or Garrett Hedlund as Willem Ragnarsson. John Boyega is the only JB. If anyone’s read the book and has people in mind I’d love to know what you pictured.

sarahreadsbooks123's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad 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

hannahfp's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

fi0na99's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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favourite book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Car accident

Minor: Addiction, Car accident

dnietoperafan's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sambern13's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad 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

elihonour's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated