Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2448 reviews

veritybel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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 honestly don’t know whether to give this book 1 or 5 stars, so I’ll go for a mid rating. 
I can’t deny that this book of beautifully written, I had to highlight so many sections of the book I wanted to re read and remember. 
The first half of the book I really enjoyed, I enjoyed learning about the characters and how they all came together and what they went through. Willam was a favourite for me, and his rocky relationship with Jude was another favourite part. 
But the second half of the book, when you learn about Jude’s past was too much for me. I saw someone describe it as “trauma porn,” and I think that’s a good description. So many things happen to Jude over and over again it gets so unrealistic and looses its impact. I would be VERY wary reading this book if you struggle with trauma or mental illness, it’s very detailed and the author does not dull down descriptions. 
The end of the book was heartbreaking, I was crying but the last chapter was so beautifully written. 
I will never read this book again and I try and not think about it…

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death of parent

tessakooijmans's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

What did I just read?

Jude deserves so much better, rest in peace<3

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

sineadlgull's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Made me weep many times. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

kayarosee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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 have never had to stop reading a book because I had so many tears in my eyes that I physically could not read the page. While some people say that it could be shorter, I think that is what makes the story that much more powerful. You truly go on a journey of these characters entire life and the cruelty along with it. This book will stick with me for a very long time. Truly a masterpiece.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse

Minor: Child death and Car accident

tylivreformed's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

danamarielanuti's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

okay so this book was beautifully written, but i’m wondering if i would’ve liked it more if people weren’t so “your gonna be sobbing” about it. i didn’t cry once which is fine i don’t need that from a book but i was honestly excited for a good cry. it’s very sad very dark, there’s like a million trigger warnings that could be put on this book. but i did love it a lot. it’s long but it NEEDS to be long. i would love like a three hour long movie adaptation of this. overall great read, but also super predictable endings. glad i finally got this off my tbr!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

renlolaren's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

Get ready for a long rollercoaster of trauma, abuse, love, friendship, what it means to try and survive in this dystopian world

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Rape

domh90's review against another edition

emotional inspiring 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

This is the saddest book I have ever read in my whole life. It is doom and gloom the entire book. But it is so very well written. You'll fall in love with the characters. You'll hate them at times. It's a very tense ride most of the time, but it is well worth it. I highly recommend this book. Be warned though, if you suffer from mental illness this may not be for you. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, and Suicide attempt

jen_sanford's review against another edition

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

5.0

This book is beautiful and heartbreaking. I had to stop several times.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, and Drug use

clarahatch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Suicide attempt