Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

59 reviews

ayladdy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Self harm, Stalking, Suicide, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

plainjanethebookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual assault

ziggypop's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Animal death and Vomit

matildaesandell's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This book is so fucked up, which is the whole point. Definitely read with caution and a lot of trigger warnings. This book had me feeling actually sick and making facial expressions of pure disgust in public. Please proceed with caution, this is a story of grooming, manipulation and trauma. This book honestly deserves 5 stars but I never want to read it again or recommend it to anyone because it is deeply traumatic, maybe an important one to read if you haven’t experienced these things, to help you better understand the lifelong damage and how hard it is for a victim to even grapple with the truth

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Stalking and Suicide

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism

joaura's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Vomit, Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Grief

Minor: Animal death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

cecilialau_'s review against another edition

5.0

I am in awe.
This book was frustrating to no end with how human and inhuman it was. Such brilliant storytelling that keeps you turning page after page until the very end. I’ve just put it down, and I honestly feel it was a masterpiece. Heartbreakingly raw and with incredibly crafted ambivalence in the feelings of guilt on Vanessa’s part. I could go on in praising this book. It really is a tough read while a read that I think, if you can, it offers a unique insight to sth that we as a society simply cannot ignore. It’s so nuanced and insightful and all-encompassing and, yeah, wow.

It goes without saying that Strane is a manipulative pos. To put it mildly. I was also horrified by Mrs. Giles, a truly terrible person who lack any and all sense of empathy and care and compassion and integrity. I could go on. Absolutely disgusted with her as well. Again, speaks to the great writing bc we all know that her behaviour is fully unacceptable. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Rape

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Dysphoria, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia

laurathebookhermit's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Grief, Bullying, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

anonymous_traveller's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Physical abuse, Sexism, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Sexual violence, Stalking, Ableism, Abandonment, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

sharlapeggy's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

autumngore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

must read for anyone who's misunderstood lolita, and anyone who's understood lolita a little too well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Self harm