Before anything else, I just want to pat myself in the shoulder for conquering this book in just 6 days. On the average, without audiobook, I think I would have finished this two to three days from now. For the review, I'm not gonna say anything that hasn't been already said since this book came out 5 years ago.

In my opinion, this is a good character study, an excellent coming-of-age story, and a devastating tale of friendship, family, and life (as what the title says). I must commend Hanya Yanigahara's ability to tell the character's backstories, especially Jude (despite the torture porn) in the most reflective and poignant ways possible.

I was kinda numb with the torture shit that had happened. For me, what struck my dead cold heart the most are the things that happened in the present. On how Jude viewed his and other people's lives. It made me ponder on my life, too because somehow I have experienced some of Jude's traumas (not gonna disclose which but two of those I am yet to get through).

The writing was a bit tedious and hard to get into at times, but there were also a lot of beautiful proses to digest. They made me pause and take it down in my notebook, for future references.

I didn't cry. I don't know why. Should I be proud of myself or should I be worried?

PS: this book doesn't have a good representation of gays and bisexuals. You may disagree with me but I don't think this is the paragon of gay literature.