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katreena's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
butlerebecca's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
I’ve picked this up and put it down many times over the past three years and I’m so glad I finished it
Such a nuanced and brutal and compassionately written depiction of abuse — the author did an excellent job of writing Vanessa’s inner monologue in a way that communicated both the reality and the distorted reality you believe when you’re traumatized
and such stunning prose throughout — like had to pause the audiobook and sit with descriptions
Also shoutout to Meryl Streep’s daughter on the narration, great job queen
P.S. the best part was when she got mad at him for not listening to Fiona Apple
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Stalking
amsswim's review against another edition
- 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
As a someone who has experienced different kinds of abuse and trauma, I very much related with many themes. I would recommend looking through warnings and triggers contained here if you'd like to read, some themes may be upsetting for other survivors of similar experiences. I recommend to all however.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, and Classism
batcaves's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
tesz's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
“‘He’ll never meet you,’ I say. It’s a hard truth, carrying within it grief and joy. Jo opens her eyes, doesn’t lift her head as she watches me. She’s constantly taking in my face and tone, noticing everything about me. When I start to drift away, her tail thumps against the couch cushion, like a drumbeat, a heartbeat, a rhythm of grounding. You’re here, she says. You’re here. You’re here.”
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide
ecravens's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
lakea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
Minor: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Fire/Fire injury
bethsbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
howlinglibraries's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
“I wonder how much victimhood they’d be willing to grant a girl like me.”
What a lovely, mesmerizing, infuriating book.
“It’s strange to know that whenever I remember myself at fifteen, I’ll think of this.”
My Dark Vanessa is a tough book to rate and review, and I'm not sure I can do it or myself justice, honestly. I usually try to review every book I read, but I'm granting myself some grace on this one and I'll just say that it was a gorgeous book that I'm very happy to have read, even if it made me immensely uncomfortable, heartbroken, and angry more often than not.
I suppose some books are meant to do that, though.
Buddy read with my wonderful friend Misty 🖤
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
chaser's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide