A review by _hiitsstella
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

dark emotional 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

3.5

I hate that I like this book, I can't help but look back on this story through rose-tinted glasses. Obviously I refuse to actually re-open the book because I know I would quickly prove myself wrong, forcing me into misery. This book is torture porn in pretty packaging; the writing is lovely, but the content is gruesome and often nauseating. I would not recommend reading this, I know however, that those determined to seek out and consume this type of content will do so despite numerous warnings. Check the trigger warnings, the list is never-ending.

This book feels like a form of trauma-bonding (not in the way social media defines trauma-bonding, but the actual psychological phenomena) the book hurts you, and yet you never want to let it go. It (dare I say) traumatizes you, and you end up bonded with it, seeing aspects of it in your day-to-day life for months after you've put the book away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Violence, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Torture, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Death, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol