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A review by howlinglibraries
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
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? 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: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicide