A review by ccheheche
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

3.0

i want to say that i finished this book because i could say that i read a little life but that would be a lie i was really interested to see what could possibly come next and how much worse things could actually get. i cried like 10 separate times reading this book. overall (i can’t say i enjoyed it…) i was surprised that i liked the book more than i was expecting. although, some parts just dragged on so much with such difficult language and jargon and specificities that it rly just felt like the author was writing these things just to make themself seem smarter and i hateeeee when books do that. overall, a very interesting read, i found myself very invested in jude and willem and harold’s lives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, and Alcohol