A Little Life

A little life follows the lives of four college friends—Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm—as they build their lives in New York City, chasing careers, connection, and meaning. Over the decades, their incredibly strong bond is tested by ambition, addiction, and personal demons, and at the center of it all is Jude; brilliant, enigmatic, and scarred-by-a-past-he-refuses-to-speak-of Jude. As Jude’s secrets begin to surface, the others are drawn into the depths of his suffering, each changed by the love they feel for him—and the limits of what that love can endure.

Hanya Yanagihara’s shattering and luminous novel is a profound exploration of trauma, resilience, and the quiet, enduring power of friendship as well as the forms of love that hold us together. A Little Life asks: how much can one person survive—and how far will others go to protect them?

A New York Times Bestseller – National Book Award Finalist – Man Booker Prize Finalist – Winner of the Kirkus Prize.