A review by ellagrady
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.5

I put off reading this book, leaving it on my shelf for years, terrified to start because of what everyone says. It completely lived up to my expectations. I couldn’t put it down, forcing myself to stop at night and spending hours thinking about what could happen in the next chapter. Following the lives of these men was devastating and endearing. Every high and low they went through I felt with them, so engrossed in their lives. Following their friendships, their relationships, their love, and care truly had me enraptured in the pages. I cried my way through the second half of the book, feeling their pain and loss so deeply. It was by no means an easy read, or one I’d recommend freely but it was incredible. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Vomit, Medical content, and Abandonment

death of a loved one