Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Meine dunkle Vanessa: Roman

This was an interesting read. I would agree with many of the other reviews that this book is very dark and therefore I would not recommend for others to read this, especially if they have experience sexual abuse as it might be triggering. But this book was interesting in the sense that you are getting a glimpse into what some people who are abused live through and how they don’t view themselves as victims and believe they were consenting and wanted it. But I’m glad that towards the end Vanessa started to heal. Also how Strane dies is what I imagine to be fairly realistic in the sense that the victims don’t feel any sense of justice as he escaped retribution. Overall this book was well written as it made me feel incredibly sorry for Vanessa and disgusted by Strand and just so confused on how nobody did anything about it and how Vanessa didn’t think it was that bad.

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maybeicanjustbenell's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Horrifying

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everythingeatsandiseaten's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.0

such a powerful, twisted read.

if you think this book is romanticizing any of its content i’m afraid you didn’t get it. it frustrated me so badly at times but the journey and narration is so integral to the overall message. i totally understand how uncomfortable it is to read, but i think that’s what gives it its power and driving force.

after reading i’m thinking about jenny— what her place was in the story, why we’re never explicitly told what went down between her and vanessa. i’m also wondering about vanessa’s parents as individual characters; i found it interesting when we had a glimpse of her dad’s life at the hospital and wanted to understand them as more complex, real people than simply the main character’s parents.

i would say this book didn’t add much diversity / add much new to the overarching topic or genre (if you could call it that?), but did provide a very provocative perspective on the matter, which was very interesting and refreshing to read.

please check trigger warnings!! i believe my list is extensive but correct me if i‘m mistaken.

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zoeflynn's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

This book is dark. There were multiple points when I had to put the book down and just stare at the wall in disgust/shock. I would NOT recommend reading if you have been a victim of grooming or sexual assault, as it deals with these topics in the most raw and intense way imaginable. The author beautifully details how victims of grooming and statutory rape excuse the behaviors of their abusers. This book is so perfect in the me too era to help people understand the full gravity of these issues and work towards a society that tolerated them less.

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