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ankita1996's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Vomit
madkat37's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
cjgmiranda220's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Grief, Rape, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
bridget_magpie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Minor: Death of parent and Suicide
inanna_teatime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
emlunaml's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Abandonment
katebond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Pedophilia
skye_c's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Animal death, Death of parent, Drug use, Addiction, and Alcohol
errie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Stalking, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Alcohol, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship
amberreadsgood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Tangentially (concerning the afterword again), I found it really odd that Russell's early readers encouraged her to write from Strane's perspective instead of Vanessa's, given her unlikability and the inability to relate to her; were they suggesting we should relate/want to relate to the predator instead?? That's a troubling thought. I've never read it before, but if you want something like that, may as well read Lolita or any other number of book that I'm sure exists with this perspective. I applaud Russell for unapologetically sticking to Vanessa's perspective for her book.
I'm not sure I can say I really enjoyed this book, given that I didn't like any of the characters, it felt like reading a 17 year long train wreck get worse and worse, and the outcome at the end of it all was disappointing. But honestly, this is what roots the book in uncomfortable reality.
I think the author achieved what she set out to do. It might not have 100% been my cup of tea, but I admire the approach she took. It was different, difficult, and full of uncomfortable feelings in a way I thought felt realistic. Vanessa is complicated, she has a wealth of complex and painful emotions towards everyone in her life including herself, which I think reflects very well how terribly the abuse really affected her. She's not necessarily incomprehensible, she's fucking traumatised, and she's built a narrative around the abuse that she can accept so she can cope with the scale of it.
Special shoutout to Ruby the therapist, doing the hard yards trying to dig Vanessa out of the emotional hellscape she was buried in, and attempting to get her to understand what she experienced. Saving lives out there.
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Emotional abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Gaslighting, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide