Reviews with content warning for Rape - Meine dunkle Vanessa

TW: grooming, SA, child abuse

This book was incredibly dark and hard to listen to at times. I think it was important to hear grooming through Vanessa, and listen to her PTSD process and how someone completely broken can go through life. It pains me that some women don’t have the confidence to end Straine’s abuse, but it provided me with a story of how women without confidence may feel.

I’m glad I got another perspective on grooming, but, you will need a lighter read after this.

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maddiet425's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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katerinatroyanovich's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad 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

My Dark Vanessa absolutely destroyed me. Russell does a fantastic job of writing a teenage girl with all of the typical naivety, obsession, and hope that accompanies that age. It was so relatable that I felt like I was Vanessa. That could be me. Russell skillfully tells this story of manipulation and abuse from the perspective of a young girl who wants it to be love. How can you know the difference if it’s nuanced, there are good moments among the bad, and you want so desperately to be seen; to be understood and touched, special and cherished. From this perspective it’s easy to see how a young girl could find herself teetering on the knife’s edge of right and wrong, self-blame and victimhood, love and disgust, morality and depravity. I wish I read this with a book club because I am currently reeling. There’s so much pain and tumult and truth to dissect here. I absolutely recommend this book but check trigger warnings first. This one is going to punch you in the gut and the feeling will linger.

Content Warnings