Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Moja temna Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

433 reviews

kjm_x's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcohol

ayearinbookswithzoe's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I wrote so much in this book. My copy is covered in underlines and notes. I think I really needed to read this book. My experience is different from Vanessa’s but I think there is some value, some closure in reading a book from the perspective of the survivor, especially one who keeps her agency. This book looks at the complexity of coming to terms with an abusive relationship. It tackles the self blame, the negligence of others, and the manipulation of the abuser. It also demonstrates how easy it is to be stuck with the person who hurts you. This book is definitely not for everyone, the descriptions are traumatic and horrific at times. I advise people to be aware before reading. However, I’m glad I took the time to read this book.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Classism

Minor: Animal death, Vomit

hayleyvharrington's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting

Moderate: Death, Drug use

Minor: Animal death, Alcohol

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Very intense subject matter but so well done. This book really shows us some of the ways that survivors of abuse process what has happened to them, especially when these things happened in their childhood. Their stories can be complicated, messy, and processed through a lens of trauma and manipulation without even knowing that's what's happening. This was just so we'll done and showed the complexities of survivors. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Vomit, Death of parent, Alcohol

shimikonde's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Incredible novel, very well-written and thoughtful. It is very clear that it was written for survivors of sexual abuse and/or grooming, and I would recommend to anyone who has experienced or knows someone who has experienced this sort of thing, as it plays out very much like an emotional handbook and can be very helpful for understanding and processing your own.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Gaslighting

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Classism

Although the author does not shy away from the harder-to-look-at parts of grooming and sexual abuse, the focus is much more on the psychological effect of the actions, and the abuse itself is written realistically rather than erotically. It's a book by a survivor for survivors.

faygof9's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol

puhlowmuh's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Cursing, Drug use, Alcohol

420mariam's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol

cyan_altaria's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book is very good overall, but some of the sections in the latter half of the book felt like they didn't really have a purpose.  Still, the main character, Vanessa, was excellently done.  This is a very powerful narrative, and something that people should read.  Just make sure to check the trigger warnings first, because My Dark Vanessa is about pedophilia and grooming, and it can be hard to get through.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol

Minor: Grief, Death of parent

mangochiller's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape