Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

325 reviews

platypusinrainboots's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book is incredibly heavy, but it's beautifully written, and it's deeply important. I was nervous it would be twee, or just "of the #MeToo moment" in some shallow, hollow way, but it's not. I listened to the audiobook which was incredible, though if you're sensitive to graphic content, the print edition might be better so you can see what's coming a little bit. Content warnings for graphic descriptions of statutory rape, child abuse, and emotional abuse and manipulation of a minor. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Toxic friendship

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

georgina_young's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Gaslighting

Minor: Mental illness

reechiebun'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent

as a clear response to lolita this book deals with complicated, layered issues that involve the main character's mental health and her being abused since she's 15 by a trusted teacher. some of the depicted sex scenes are midly graphic and/or statutory rape. there's an instance of a moderately graphic explicit rape scene.

xnedra2084's review

dark medium-paced

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

4.0

 

Emotional Impact: 8.2 

• I was really invested in the story
• It was unsettling because of the pedophilia and rape
• The graphic sex between a 15 years old and a 42 years old was really gross. I had difficulty reading this part.
• I love that we can see the impact of trauma and the coping mechanism that Vanessa uses
• We saw how predator groom little girl into thinking that they are in love with them
• It made me feel emotion

Characters: 7.4
 

• The characters are really deep and creepy
• Vanessa has a complex personality
• Strane has a two-faced personality

Plot: 6
 

• The story is well structured and interesting
• The plot is not the focus of the story

Dialogue/Prose: 8.6
 

• I would have like to have the POV of Strane. It would have been good because we could have a better understanding of his version of the story.
• It’s really good written

Worldbuilding/Magic: —
 
Rating on 10: 7.55
 
Rating on five: 3.78
 

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Alcoholism

dslade14's review

dark sad slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism

reallbee'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a tough read but it is a window into the pain and confusion of experiencing trauma and it's after effects. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

sierrajadereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

This book left me empty, angry, hurt. I went through a full range of emotion and reaction from start to finish, and I know this one will linger for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Minor: Alcoholism

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

coffee_some_more's review

dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse