A review by trinityb2021
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

dark emotional tense 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

6 ⭐️
This is a terrifying, horrifying, uncomfortable book. It is supposed to be uncomfortable. The most important discussions often are.
It didn’t have the ending I wanted. But I think that makes the book better.
The prose in this book is probably the most poetic and engaging writing I’ve ever read. The way Vanessa’s trauma, disassociating, and PTSD was written was powerful. Russell put into words feelings that I didn’t think could be described. You have to read the reading to understand what I mean. Everything was so visual that I felt like I was there. It was terrifying.
The pacing is perfect. Just when the segments from 2001 get too hard to stomach. We bounce back to 2017 with a small glimmer of hope on the horizon.
This book made me re-evaluate my entire high school experience. Especially “that incident” that I think a lot of people unfortunately had in their high school. It makes me feel sick.
This book is so incredibly dark and triggering that I imagine a lot of people can’t finish it. I think for the people who can, it is 100% worth it. My requirements for a 6 star book is that it is something that I will never forget and that it changes who I am as person. This book has most definitely changed my life.
My advice is NOT to read it at work because bawling your eyes out at your desk at 11:56 am on a Friday is embarrassing.
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