A review by bhavya_reads
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

 
“Somehow I sensed what was coming for me even then. Really, though, what girl doesn’t? It looms over you, that threat of violence. They drill the danger into your head until it starts to feel inevitable. You grow up wondering when it’s finally going to happen.”


~ Rating- 4 stars ~

(Content/ Trigger Warnings)

Please check the content warnings before reading this book, as it is a very heavy read.

-Mention of Most of these in the review-

My Dark Vanessa is about a 15 year old girl Vanessa, who has a seven-year affair with her 42-year-old Literature teacher, Jacob Strane. The novel is about Vanessa's relationship with Strane, which began in the year 2000, and it ended in the year 2017. At the height of the #MeToo movement, Vanessa is forced to rethink the romance in the light of several charges of abuse by Strane. She has no choice but to reconsider Strane's responsibility as well as her own efforts. She has to question everything, because if Strane abused others, did he abuse her too?

“Because if it isn’t a love story, then what is it”? I look to her glassy eyes, her face of wide open empathy. “It’s my life,” I say. “This has been my whole life.”


My Dark Vanessa was a dark, repulsive and powerful story. I want to say I liked it, but that feels wrong, as this book is heartbreaking. The purpose of this book was to make its readers uncomfortable, and to make them doubt, examine and scrutinize every belief they held, and it succeed. It was wonderful and frightening all at once.

“I don’t say it, but sometimes I feel like that’s exactly what he’s doing to me—breaking me apart, putting me back together as someone new.”


Overall, My Dark Vanessa was a read I will never forget. It was not easy to sit through, but it was important and I would highly recommend it.

“I was an obvious target. He chose me not because I was special, but because he was hungry and I was easy.”


Review written on 4th February, 2022.

Buddy read with Nashita and Ishika!

DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/was average/Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/new favourite

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I'm not sure how I feel about this one, but it was an impactful read. BR with Nash and Ishika. Review to come. 
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