A Little Life

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is a deeply emotional novel that explores themes of friendship, trauma, and resilience. The story follows four college friends—Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm—as they navigate adulthood in New York City.

At the heart of the novel is Jude St. Francis, a brilliant but deeply troubled lawyer whose mysterious past is filled with pain and secrets. As his friendships evolve over the years, Jude struggles with self-harm, childhood trauma, and the search for belonging. His relationships with Willem, his best friend, and Harold, his mentor, offer moments of warmth, but his inner battles remain relentless.