Updated review: The last time you will see this book on my feed. 

I read A little Alice with Molly from @twoliterateladies as a buddy read (hence the post it’s). When we finished I wrote a review which will be very different from this one, after some reflection and research, in re-doing it. 

First of all, thank goodness for Molly, I don’t think either of us realise how lucky we were to be reading this with someone else. 

I didn’t like this book, in fact I hated it and I don’t say that lightly. The few redeeming qualities weren’t nearly enough to bring it around. If I knew the utter devastation I would feel after reading each part, I wouldn’t have picked it up. 

A few graphic scenes in this book made me physically sick and I think it went way too far. After some research into the author I can see that I am not the only one who feels that Yanagihara went too far when it came to the treatment of her gay characters, it was almost torturous. 

I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t recommend this book. I think my brain has started blocking it out and has decided that I won’t be retaining any of this book as I am already forgetting it. 

Jude, Willem and Harold- you have my heart but I’m sorry, you weren’t enough to redeem this book for me. 

I saw this book everywhere so I can’t help but think that I might be in the minority here but my last review, is just wrong now. 













What can I say about this book? 

This won’t be a long reviews because I am emotionally drained but I wanted to write it while it was still fresh. 

The way this book is written is honestly phenomenal, the love I had for these characters was so real, I laughed, I cried and hurt with them. 

Please before reading be aware of your triggers, this has been on my TBR for years but I wasn’t brave enough to start it, luckily Molly @twoliterateladies felt the same so we started a buddy read. Though I raced ahead at one point because I needed it to be over. I couldn’t focus on any other book, I had a pit of anticipation and dread it my stomach and I just needed it be over. I 100% recommended reading at the same time as a friend because by the end I was very emotionally unstable. 

My history of grief from losing my dad a couple of years ago played a huge part in my reaction to A Little Life so I would recommend reading triggers warning and tread carefully because crying to the point of having a panic attack and throwing up is not it (learn from my mistake). 

Overall, I’m glad I read it and  I’m glad I didn’t miss out on these stories. Multiple times I had to remind myself that it was not real, it is a work of fiction and a work of art at that. 

Possible spoiler below!!!!! 

Bad news- this book is devastating. 

Good news- I am content with the ending and after I actually stopped reading the book I was able to calm down and stop thinking about it. 

I know there have been talks of a TV series/movie and there is a stage show but I can never revisit this book again.