This book wrecked me in a way I didn't expect. It's one of those rare novels that manages to consume you from start to end, swallowing you up into the raw, yet tender world of Yale, Fiona and their friends. I found myself so emotionally drained once I finished reading this.
The novel focuses on how the AIDS epidemic ravages a group of friends in Chicago in the 1980s while also delving into the lasting impacts in 2015 Paris. The story switches between timelines effortlessly. Given history, you know it's going to end poorly from the start, but you still find yourself hoping they'll all somehow find happiness in the end.
"The Great Believers" is a meandering epic reminiscent of [b:The Heart's Invisible Furies|33253215|The Heart's Invisible Furies|John Boyne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490803456l/33253215._SY75_.jpg|51438471], but it still manages to set itself apart. Makkai's writing is tidy and precise. The story is vivid without being too blown out. It truly is a beautiful, gripping and absolutely heartwrenching read.