A review by hotties4literacy
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

Haunting storyline filled with a lot of ache for the main character Vanessa. The author very clearly understood her characters and what grooming and abuse looks like (arguably too well). Vanessa’s inner monologue and growth in understanding her own abuse and her part in it is truly compelling. It truly asks audiences to consider what we allow young women to bare and how even the strongest of supports can fail them. It highlighted perfectly how exhausting dealing with institutional power and men can be (I’m looking at you Henry). A classic All Men are Bad book in the best of ways. 

Let’s also note that the author dedicated this novel to the “self-described nymphets of the world”. Period.