A review by criminolly
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

4.0

This is a book that is nearly great but somehow manages not to be. It's the story of the abusive relationship between a teenage student and her teacher, a relationship that lasts into her twenties and which she refuses to condemn. It's quite unflinching in its portrayal of abuse, the psychological damage it causes its victims and the fact that they can fail to see it for what it is. The most effective and disturbing parts of the book are those where the central character welcomes her abusers attention. For all that, it lacked something for me. It's not as punchy as it could be, and parts of it drag a little. Still well worth a read if you can stomach the subject matter.