A review by ellen_books_brews
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

4.0

4/5 for the exquisite way of writing.
3/5 for the story itself.

Edit (a few hours after finishing): I just cannot grasp how you can think of a life so twisted, so messed up, so horrible and write about it without becoming a wreck. I mean, I know that these things happen, I know that I have a good life and some people don't have a life like that but this is unfathomable to me, a disgrace to humankind.

I feel like I was set up for failure because I really had hoped to bawl my eyes out while reading this, being a bit emotionally constipated nowadays. But I only felt emotional twice, maybe three times, and tears weren't streaming down my face, as TikTok made me expect. I even cringed more than I cried, being quite sensitive to anything blood and wound related (a warning would have been nice, TikTok).
I liked the final chapter and its echo to other parts of the book, narrated by Harold.
I don't know if I will ever reread this novel, as it makes me so angry for all the injustice done to Jude - I really do hate people more and more - but on the other hand, it also made me hopeful because I feel like I too have found my people atm.