Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

361 reviews

everythingeatsandiseaten's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

such a powerful, twisted read.

if you think this book is romanticizing any of its content i’m afraid you didn’t get it. it frustrated me so badly at times but the journey and narration is so integral to the overall message. i totally understand how uncomfortable it is to read, but i think that’s what gives it its power and driving force. 

after reading i’m thinking about jenny— what her place was in the story, why we’re never explicitly told what went down between her and vanessa. i’m also wondering about vanessa’s parents as individual characters; i found it interesting when we had a glimpse of her dad’s life at the hospital and wanted to understand them as more complex, real people than simply the main character’s parents.

i would say this book didn’t add much diversity / add much new to the overarching topic or genre (if you could call it that?), but did provide a very provocative perspective on the matter, which was very interesting and refreshing to read. 

please check trigger warnings!! i believe my list is extensive but correct me if i‘m mistaken. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide and Vomit

Minor: Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

sofieishere's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Suicide, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Rape

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Vomit, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexism and Stalking

mafer1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

goodyeargoodbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Drug use

lemonsyellow's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This book. THIS. BOOK. I imagine that each person who reads it will have a different perspective. Kate Elizabeth Russell takes extremely difficult subject matter and does a really job taking the reader through what goes through a young victim’s mind. Vanessa doesn’t see her illicit affair with her high school teacher as abuse. But all of the signs are there. The manipulation is there. The gaslighting is there. Her own disgust is there but she simply ignores it and why? Because she never got to see what love is supposed to be like. So this is love for her. 

This book is a slippery slope for Vanessa and the entire time I wanted to help her up, protect her, yell at her for not seeing how horrible it was. It’s tragic at every turn but I could not stop reading. 

Take care of yourself first before reading this book. If you are triggered by sexual assault, grooming, or anything having to do with this subject matter have some support to help you through if you choose to read on. 

The narrator (Grace Gummer) was the heart and soul of this story for me. She brought this character to life for me in such vivid ways. I would listen to anything else she narrates. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide, Bullying, and Drug use

flapjackzs_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Suicide

Minor: Drug use, Self harm, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, and Alcohol

rchulin1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such an amazing book very dark not for the faint of heart. So many triggers be mindful of them before reading but nonetheless my favorite book as of now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Body shaming, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Stalking, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

kirstencholewa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

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

4.75

A very complex and poignant, but very difficult read. This book does a great job of making you look at our society and adult minor relationships. It serves as a reminder to allow survivors to tell their stories as they see fit and to not make assumptions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Dysphoria, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

shaleen64's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Animal death

suz44's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

This book is an absolute masterpiece. It’s dark, it’s disturbing, but it’s so exquisitely written that you still can’t put it down. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use

Minor: Suicide