Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

209 reviews

ayladdy's review

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

rozeijn's review

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Suicide attempt

summerlyn's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide, Stalking, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal death and Bullying

edietz22'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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death, Stalking, Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Drug use, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

sierrabowers's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was amazing. It tells a unique and sad story of a girl who is conflicted and broken. As I read it reminded me of Perks of Being a Wallflower and Looking for Alaska. It was melancholic and sad but also hopeful and brought forth a lot of thoughts regarding current society and how we treat victims of abuse, rather than how they need to be treated. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Rape, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Grief, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Stalking

l_prelas's review

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Pedophilia, Rape, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Animal cruelty

danielleisreading's review

I've been thinking about this book a lot (instead of doing my finals I might add) because this book is impossible not to think about once you've read it but probably not in the way Russell wants me to think about this book. Initially I wanted to give this book a solid 4 stars, the writing is good (although nauseating) and even if its dark and sensational perhaps different perspectives on rape culture is probably a good thing. However here is a list of this things that have made me think really hard about if this book is even endorsable.

-The authors favorite book is Lolita. I'm sorry but if that fact alone doesn't make you reconsider so much of this book I would probably be concerned for you.
-The author wrote significant portions of this book at 15. Oh and also she wanted originally to be a love story. With that in mind how much is this book supposed to be an expose on rape culture and not like a glorification of it?? Just thinking about the sex scenes knowing some of them could've been written by a 15 year old who thought this was a love story is just repulsive (not that they weren't already).
-Oh and also can we talk about how many teenagers read this book? Like teenagers her age. I don't even know what to say about that.
-Honestly the whole book in general.

I have a lot more thoughts, but honestly my general thoughts coming out of this book is just disgust which it should be but yeah I'm disgusted. side note: I just put in all the content warnings for this book and I want to throw up all over again, I need to do some serious mediation.

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Content Warnings

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

matildamercury's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Fantastically well written book that captures shame (in the younger years) and low self worth (in current day) in a special way. I listened to the audiobook which was a fantastic way to experience Vanessa. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, Fatphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Violence

bookmark3brodi's review

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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexism, Suicide, Drug use, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

katreena's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual content