Like many A Little Life stans, I have a tattoo that pays homage to the book. It sits on the crook of my elbow, inked in Hanya Yanagihara’s own handwriting. She scribbled it onto my skin during a book signing in Sydney, before I hot-footed it straight to a tattoo shop. It’s a permanent tribute to a novel that I love more than any other—my all-time favourite of the thousands I’ve read.
When A Little Life was first published in 2015, few could have predicted the seismic impact it would have on readers. Yanagihara’s second novel – following The People in the Trees, published two years earlier – is an epic, harrowing tale of friendship, trauma, and endurance. It quickly became one of the most talked-about books of the decade, winning the Kirkus Prize and being shortlisted for the National Book Award, the Man Booker Prize, and the Women’s Prize for Fiction. It sparked heated debates, inspired passionate devotion, and left a trail of emotionally wrecked readers in its wake. Now, ten years on, A Little Life has solidified its place as a modern classic – a book that continues to resonate, polarise, and provoke.
I came to it rather later than most (at least, for me) – a full year after publication. I’d heard such mixed reviews that it was only when it was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction that I finally gave in. The moment I picked it up, I was hooked. Despite its heft, it didn’t leave my side for a full week – I read it in the lift at work, in the bathroom on my lunch break, and curled up in the corner of the Roslyn Packer Theatre, moments before Yanagihara’s closing address at the Sydney Writers’ Festival. By the time I finished it, I was a wreck – wailing so loudly that my housemate knocked gingerly on my door, worried someone had died. Through sobs, I told her they had – he just happened to be fictional.
And I’m not alone. The book has inspired everything from dedicated Instagram fan accounts (one with a cool 65,000 followers no less) to a Spotify playlist curated by Yanagihara herself. A new audiobook version was released to mark its ten-year anniversary, narrated by Golden Globe-winning actor Matt Bomer. Celebrities from Dua Lipa to Antoni Porowski have sung its praises. Even Dior has featured the novel in its book club, with ambassador Rosamund Pike calling it “one of the most brilliant, devastating, magnificent novels I have ever read.”
"The moment I picked it up, I was hooked. Despite its heft, it didn’t leave my side for a full week – I read it in the lift at work, in the bathroom on my lunch break, and curled up in the corner of the Roslyn Packer Theatre, moments before Yanagihara’s closing address at the Sydney Writers’ Festival."
At over 700 pages, A Little Life is an unapologetically intense read. It follows four college friends – JB, Willem, Malcolm, and Jude – as they navigate adulthood in New York. While it begins as a story of male friendship, it gradually narrows its focus to Jude St. Francis, a man whose past is so marked by suffering that the novel has been infamously dubbed 'trauma porn'. Yanagihara does not shy away from Jude’s pain; instead, she presents it in unflinching, relentless detail. The novel’s depiction of childhood abuse, self-harm, and psychological torment makes for a devastating reading experience. It is not for the faint of heart.
Some readers found it overwhelming, even exploitative, while others see it as a profoundly moving meditation on suffering, endurance, and the power of love. Few books in recent memory have provoked such visceral reactions – some readers have even filmed themselves crying while reaching the book’s conclusion, and multiple Reddit threads are devoted to dissecting its impact.
Despite (or perhaps because of) its polarising nature, A Little Life has amassed a devoted following. Fans don’t just love it; they obsess over it. The book has inspired themed book clubs, fan art, TikTok discussions, and literary pilgrimages to Lispenard Street in New York, where Jude and Willem’s apartment is set. It is rare for a novel to transcend the page in this way, becoming not just a story but a cultural touchstone.
Its impact extends beyond the literary world. In 2022, a stage adaptation starring James Norton played to sold-out audiences in London and the Netherlands, proving that the story’s emotional weight carries just as much force off the page. The adaptation reignited conversations about the book’s themes and reintroduced it to those who may have missed its initial wave of popularity.
Yet, its place in the literary canon remains contested. While some critics laud its ambition and emotional depth, others argue that its unrelenting depiction of suffering verges on gratuitous, raising questions about whether Yanagihara’s portrayal of Jude’s pain serves a greater purpose or simply pushes readers to their emotional limits. Ten years later, this debate rages on – a testament to the novel’s staying power and the complexity of its reception.
So why, despite its bleakness, do readers continue to be drawn to A Little Life? One reason may be its rare depiction of deep, platonic love between men. In a literary landscape often dominated by romance or traditional family dynamics, the novel’s exploration of non-romantic devotion is both radical and moving. The bond between Jude and Willem, in particular, is a poignant portrayal of chosen family – an idea that resonates with many readers, especially those who have experienced estrangement.
"Ten years later, this debate rages on – a testament to the novel’s staying power and the complexity of its reception."
A Little Life also taps into a universal human fear: the idea that suffering can be arbitrary and unrelenting, that some people do not get happy endings. In an age of curated social media perfection, the novel’s raw, unfiltered pain offers something rare – an unvarnished look at life’s darkest corners. For some, this is unbearable. For others, it is a cathartic release, and a reminder that they are not alone in their struggles.
A decade after it first hit the shelves, it remains one of the most talked-about novels of all-time. Whether loved or loathed, it has left an indelible mark on contemporary literature, establishing itself as a book that cannot be overlooked. Its themes of trauma, endurance, love, and pain ensure that it will continue to be read and debated for years to come.
And for those who have yet to experience it, the question remains: is A Little Life worth the emotional turmoil? The answer, like the novel itself, is deeply personal. But perhaps its greatest power lies in this: the sheer depth of feeling it inspires. In a world where books often fade from memory, where many have a limited shelf life, A Little Life endures – aching, haunting, and utterly unforgettable.
