Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Moja mroczna Vanesso by Kate Elizabeth Russell

812 reviews

madkat37's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • 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


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ktmshumway's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • 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

4.75

This book is beautifully written and was a walk through the internal world of a young girls evolution through to adulthood with a trauma and her own relationship with that trauma. I thought it was such a captivating look into the challenge of trauma and the ways it affects Vanessa long term and the ways she copes with it. It really gives insight into the confusion of grooming and emotional abuse and how easy it is to justify those actions in order to survive, especially when so much is asked, how much explanation is needed to be believed by people in power, the public, etc. I read a couple reviews that said it was too long and repetitive, but I actually think the repetitive nature of it puts the reader into the place of people like her parents or Ruby. You care about this character and you have empathy for her, but you also feel frustrated and grow more so as she continues to interact with Strain and justify his behavior or blame herself. I work in the mental health field and this is such a special and challenging piece of being a support to someone. To know they have to reach their truth in their own time, and to watch them hurt as they find their way there. 

I think my only critique was that I wanted more at the end! I think that the way it ended felt intentional and provided closure, but I did find myself wanting something more! Partly because I loved reading Vanessa's character and partly because I wanted to see her experience some of the emotional freedom she so deserved, maybe reclaim writing for herself. I think this would've taken another book or at least a time jump to do and I know trauma is not so cut and dry, so I can't even call my critique a critique haha. Just a want for more of this lovely story and complex character.

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cjgmiranda220's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • 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


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lynnd's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I did not expext this book to overwhelm me with so much bitterness and darkness at times.
Everyone should read a book like this at least once to understand not just how grooming affects a young, searching mind, but also see how everything these kind of abusers tell their victims is reflected in the world and media around us 

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georgiahb's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0


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bridget_magpie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • 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

This book is infuriating, extremely difficult to read. Please look up content warnings!!!

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haileyyfin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

As a soon to be social worker, this book is absolutely amazing. I wanted to give it 5 stars, but due to the nature of the topic, I decided to bump down to a 4.75 as it is very descriptive and a work of fiction. The book portrays Vanessa Wye, from the ages of 14/15 to 33. The reader endures Vanessa's teenage and adult years, struggling throughout an inappropriate relationship with a teacher in her teenage years, and working through the adverse effects that caused trauma to Vanessa during her adult life. The book was extremely disturbing and difficult to read, but that is the entire point. You want to hate the characters, their relationship and feel disturbed, and the book did a fantastic job of making me feel this way. Not only did it do a great job of evoking disgust and fear within me, but it did a wonderful job portraying mental health issues and how badly they can affect oneself. Vanessa definitely struggled with post-traumatic stress issues based on her teenage relationship, and seemed to have a deep trauma-bond with her former teacher, which struggled to allow her to see the criminality of the situation. This book is extremely realistic and touches base on dire issues that are constantly occurring in today's society, but most people are either afraid to talk about, or turn a blind eye too. Even though it is a work of fiction, it did a wonderful job of portraying a current, real issue and the traumatic effects of it. Finally, it also highlights the comorbidity of mental health disorders, and the comorbidity of illness symptoms. It also shows that intimate partner violence/child abuse comes in many forms, and this is not widely talked about! I would highly recommend anyone read this book, especially social workers or those working in the mental health and/or educational field!!! Just be mindful of possible triggers. 

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behindherpages's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0


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inanna_teatime's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • 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


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claranasman02's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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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