Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Moja temna Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

2369 reviews

bookishxo's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad medium-paced

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Wow, where to start?

This was a fantastic book that I wish I never read & will never recommend to a stranger. 

Unfortunately much of the story hit too close to home for me, but that’s my fault for not taking the content warnings more seriously. I think I expected that most of the story would be told from Vanessa’s perspective as an adult in therapy, but most of the story was her perspective while the abuse was happening. 

I knocked off a star because I wish the author would have allowed Vanessa to heal more in her adulthood. Possibly a few more chapters of her in therapy, or a ‘10 years later’ style epilogue. The current ending left me with a lot of unresolved feelings and felt rushed. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape

radioregine's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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must read for anyone who's misunderstood lolita, and anyone who's understood lolita a little too well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gaslighting

readingwithmuggy's review against another edition

5.0

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this is a devastating, poignant read, yet so so important. This book details a dark story of Vanessa who was groomed and sexually abused at 15 by her high school English teacher. As she grows into an adult, she alongside a therapist begins to grapple with the reality of what has happened to her. To say this book is good, feels convoluted because the subject matter is so difficult to ingest. It’s hard to read and yet it’s perfect representation of how the grooming process happens over time and the ramifications it can have on a child. As someone who works with kids who have been in similar situations everyday, I applaud the author for her realism. 
Please look up trigger warnings before starting this book if you so choose! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

destiny106's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

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, Pedophilia, Rape

Moderate: Suicide

knittingtipsy's review against another edition

2.0

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

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To be honest, this book felt like trauma porn. I respect that these stories can be powerful, and I enjoyed the way the author wove in literary and cinematic reference. I also did appreciate the MC eventual growth/beginning to recover. But on the whole, this was so dark and rough.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault

rachaelofficially's review against another edition

4.5

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide

woolfinbooks's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment

Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Medical content, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent

Minor: Vomit, Abandonment

There is student/teacher sexual abuse that is challenged in different ways throughout the book. A major part of the plot is seeing the sexual abuse develop, the victim romanticizing what happened, refusing to hold her abuser accountable due to gaslighting, and not wanting to come to turns with what happened.

rama31's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Gaslighting

coniferouscoleoptera's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark emotional 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: Rape, Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia

emarkopo's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape