Reviews

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

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mushroom55's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

shaleen64's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-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

4.25

There’s no denying that the content of this book makes for difficult reading. However, the way in which it is written is skilful and tactful. It explores the issues of sexual abuse with no romanticism but raw honesty and forces you to reflect on your own perceptions of both survivors and perpetrators. A thought provoking book that needs to be read by people from all demographics.

Content Warnings

readcharlotte's review against another edition

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5.0

Fantastic! This follows Vanessa as she's groomed by her 40 year old English teacher as a HS sophomore, and then the trauma she experiences as an adult. I usually hate books like this that depict abuse and trauma because the feel so contrived and overly dramatic to make a statement, but this was so real and raw. When you're reading about 15 year old Vanessa, you see how she was susceptible and how it happened. I know sometimes I wonder how something like this, which happens, can really happen, and then watching it with Vannesa it's so believable and tragic to see her nativity. Another thing is I hate the trope of dark, misunderstood girl who sleeps with her English teacher thinking it makes her deep - but this didn't do that, so don't worry!! Easily one of my favorites so far this year, because it really makes you appreciate the side of the story we don't always get to see.

sambo_0103's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

crlopez2013's review against another edition

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5.0

Painful, raw, and gut wrenchingly real. Devoured this in 2 sittings. Vanessa is frustratingly flawed in ways only trauma can create. Very powerful piece of literature.

tonatyuh's review against another edition

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5.0

Truly remarkable.

This novel consumed me as much as I did it. In a way, it was unhealthy to be so invested in this story but so much of me found itself in Vanessa it was hard to not think about it whenever I wasn't flipping through its pages.

What Vanessa goes through in this novel is so much, that it feels like that whenever reading the novel. Like so much. But it's necessary to do so, and for me it was necessary to see what happened to Vanessa at the end of the novel.

Obviously, trigger warnings galore, but I assume everyone knows by now the content of this book. For me, it felt like reliving something familiar yet blocked off, and while this will affect everyone in a different way, for me it just felt necessary.

So so good and the writing is so so good I can't wait to read whatever Russel writes next.