A Little Life

“A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara is an emotional, deeply moving novel that follows the lives of four college friends—Jude, Willem, Malcolm, and JB—as they navigate adulthood in New York City. While the story starts as a portrait of friendship, it quickly centers on Jude St. Francis, a brilliant lawyer with a traumatic past. Jude’s childhood abuse and its lasting scars are revealed through heartbreaking flashbacks, exposing themes of pain, survival, and the pursuit of love and acceptance.

The novel explores the complexities of relationships, mental health, and the effects of trauma over time. Despite moments of warmth and hope, it is an intense, harrowing read that delves into the darkest aspects of human experience, leaving readers emotionally devastated yet profoundly impacted.