A Little Life

Average Bufph Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

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A Little Life

A Novel

Hanya Yanagihara

2015-03-10

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century.

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE

A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.

Reviews by public Bufph profiles
  • scifi-nerd profile picture
    scifi-nerd
    April 1, 2026

    Diving into Hanya Yanagihara's 'A Little Life' was an emotional journey. The depth of character development and the intricacies of human relationships were profound. The story is harrowing yet beautifully written, with a rawness that stays with you. It's a testament to the complexities of life and the resilience of the human spirit.

  • zara.nguyen profile picture
    zara.nguyen
    March 9, 2026

    Diving into 'A Little Life' was like walking through a contemporary art installation that strips away every layer until you're left with raw human emotion. Hanya Yanagihara doesn't just write; she crafts experiences. This book hit me like a Melbourne winter—unexpectedly cold and soul-deep. It's an examination of friendship, trauma, and the enduring nature of love that feels both epic and intimately personal. If you're after a book that messes with your head and heart, this is it.

  • anna.sharma profile picture
    anna.sharma
    January 3, 2026

    A Little Life challenged me in ways I didn't expect. Its exploration of friendship, trauma, and the human condition is nothing short of profound. Yanagihara's prose is both immersive and haunting, drawing you into the lives of her characters with a level of intimacy that's rare in contemporary fiction. This book is not for the faint of heart, as it deals with heavy themes, but its impact is undeniable. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to convey complex emotions and experiences, and it has certainly left a lasting impression on me.

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