Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

158 reviews

peachyykenn's review

dark emotional 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Addiction, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Medical content, Cancer, and Bullying

thatswhatkatread's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Pedophilia

This is a deeply uncomfortable book, addressing some very serious issues. I felt like the author does not hold back in bringing the reader into the mind of the girl and the woman who is desperately trying to cope the abuse that was done to her. This book is very well written, but the content is extremely difficult. This book needs to be read with care to your own mental health.

weirdgirlcoded's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

this book rocked me to my core — moved me in a way that i haven’t felt in a long time. i poured over it for days, and wept, and felt vanessa’s rollercoaster of emotions with her.  i am forever changed from this. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism

Minor: Animal death and Death of parent

arloisgross's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Sexual assault

rebekka's review

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pedophilia, Misogyny, Vomit, Mental illness, Grief, Death, and Cursing

timedothwasteme's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Mental illness, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Grief, Addiction, and Vomit

Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Cursing

unabashedlynat's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Vomit

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

britrcup's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Addiction, and Sexual violence

lilacwhisker's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

pretty much every review talking about this book says it’s a “conversation-starter", and after reading this thing i understand why. my dark vanessa is a story about a girl who gets groomed by her teacher, but won't admit she was sexually abused. the whole thing (especially the start) is horrifying because of the events that occur but also because of vanessa's insistence that she wanted the whole thing to happen to her. this extra layer of denial is what makes this whole book so much more sad— seeing her call what they have "love" made me want to vomit, but i do think this can be accurate to how a lot of victims can feel. it's clear that russell did her research on this kind of abuse and trauma, and throughout we come to see how complicated both vanessa and her abuser are. it did get a little repetitive near the end, but this makes sense considering how such abuse works in cycles, and the length of their relationship. it really was a crazy book, and somewhat reminds me of notes on an execution by danya kukafka

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol and Stalking

Minor: Classism, Death of parent, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Addiction, and Animal death