A review by lil_owl_reads
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

challenging dark sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

“It’s funny to think how wrong Mom was about all that. Because there’s another option for those brave enough to take it: bypass boys altogether, go straight to men. Men who will never make you wait; men who are starved and grateful for scraps of attention, who fall in love so hard they throw themselves at your feet.”

This book is like acid. It cuts so deep and burns so hard that there are points where it’s hard to keep reading without throwing the book across a room or screaming at the top of your lungs. And yet it’s the most complex portrayal of abuse, consent, gaslighting, victimization, confession, and acceptance I’ve ever read. Vanessa is not the perfect victim, but the more important question should be why is that our goal? Perfection is not attainable; why should we demand that from those abused? 

“With the sun on my face and a dog at my side, I have so much capacity for good.”

*Note: heavy on the trigger warnings. make sure you’re familiar before starting this.
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