Reviews with content warning for Trafficking - Une vie comme les autres

A Little Life is a deeply haunting novel, filled with wounded characters, stunning prose and an unforgiving story that digs into your heart like a weight you can't shake. It mirrors the relentless battle of living with PTSD, depression, dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation, the feeling of carrying a pain so profound that each day is a fight to simply exist. While my own struggles seem small compared to Jude’s, I connected with the way this novel portrays a life marked by what feels like constant suffering.

The story follows Jude and his friends, focusing on his unbearable trauma and the deep wounds left behind by his past. Jude’s life is filled with horrors that feel insurmountable, and yet, there are moments of friendship and love that remind us of the fleeting happiness that can make the pain worth enduring. Still, like in life, the fight to overcome your demons isn’t always a battle that can be won.

What moved me the most was the perspective of parental figures near the end, an exquisitely painful reminder of the weight of care and loss. It was both devastating and beautiful, leaving me emotionally drained but appreciative of the journey. I cried—oh how I cried for nearly everyone through out this nearly impossible to read story. I had to continuously remind myself that it was fictional.

I am happy to have finished this book, but its impact will stay with me. Some stories imprint themselves onto your soul, and this one is unforgettable, much like the shadows we all carry.

Content Warnings

jennyreadssometimes's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective 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

4.75

Uncomfortable read (I was warned!), but I'd say 100% worth it IMO.

Quickly developed into a page turner for me; I don't agree with the people who say it's tough to get into but maybe because I was anticipating for things to get dark, I kinda stormed ahead. I loved getting to know the characters, fell in love with Jude and Willem, then quickly had my heart ripped out. :)

I had a weird cathartic feeling while reading that felt like ripping a big plaster off all the things in my own life that have been painful. It definitely implored me to think about my own life, and I've found myself wanting to make better choices with the bigger picture in mind after reading. I feel like no books that I've read before have really done that.

I didn't get as physically sad as I thought I might, welled up a few times but no sobbing or bawling like some people experience. But the entire thing provokes a very visceral reaction and I literally could not stop thinking about the characters as though they were my real life long friends. I'd prepare yourself if you wanna read this book, and go in with an open mind. It. Gets. DARK. And there are lots of things that could be triggering to people in lots of different ways. But I am glad I read it and will probably reread one day.

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rachel_emily22's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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cturn's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

Characters - 9
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 9
Plot - 9
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 8
Enjoyment - 7
CAWPILE score - 7.9

Sad is an understatement for this book. Its hard to rate such a sad book for enjoyment lol. I see what people mean when they call it trauma porn but I don't see it as quite that. However I found that as a reader, the effect of each revelation of Jude's past was less and less each reveal, as if I was desensitised to it as more was revealed. I particularly enjoyed when characters were introspective and reflecting on their actions and both positives and negatives of their own personality, when they knew they were being irrational, etc - I think those were my favourite parts to read about. I didn't sob over this book like you see a lot of people on tiktok doing, but I did cry at the end and I will think about this story, these characters that we got to know so well, for a long time.

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ojmoores's review against another edition

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The story seemed to really harp on Jude’s pain. It got to a point where so many horrible awful things were happening to him, and I just didn’t want to read about it anymore. I actually got kind of mad at the author for making me read such horrific things.

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ammonsmp's review against another edition

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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

5.0

NOT for the faint of heart, but powerful and beautifully written. This shit is so tough and real, like life is.

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team_worm's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad 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

I was warned. Beautifully written, couldn’t put it down. I don’t regret reading it per se but I will not be recommending it to anyone. I found the characters intensely real, however I feel the author breaks the covenant between reader and writer.

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karkei's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Where does one start with this book?

I can hardly conceive that life can be so harsh to one person. My heart goes out to Jude. He’s a character that you constantly want to protect. How privileged we are that most of us may never truly understand the full depths of what Jude has gone through.

I will not pretend to be an angel though. There were many points that I got frustrated at Jude, like “Can’t you see how you are hurting the people you love? Can’t you see how much they are doing for you?” But then, I come back to myself and I feel guilty - I’m no better than JB, all self centered and discounting Jude in his entirety. Or maybe worse, because JB doesn’t actually know what happened to Jude and I do 🥲

I like to think that just with the people who love him though, loving someone is taking all of them. I love Jude and I care for him and hence, I wanted him to see himself as worthy and I wanted him to survive and be happy.

What I originally thought was a story about Jude, however, ends up being a story about Willem. And where do I start with this?

Willem, you are the most patient, kind, loving character.

I did not see that accident coming and I truly mourned for you.

You gave Jude so much love and were so understanding. Most people couldn’t have done what you did.

To Harold and Andy, you also have a special place in my heart.

A Little Life was a book I was scared to pick up because all I heard about it was that it was highly traumatic. While there was trauma, however, this book went way beyond that for me. It is a reminder of how unforgiving but beautiful life can be and how fortunate we should all be for our little lives ❤️

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