The narrator of the audiobook speaks unbearably slow.
This review isn’t going to be spoiler free.
I understand what Russell was trying to do with this book. I do. However, this book felt weirdly voyeuristic and shamey to read.

We know as readers, what Vanessa is going through is wrong and traumatic, but what’s presented is this fluffy picture wrapped in poetic language. Then, with adult Vanessa resisting sharing her story, refusing to be a victim. It feels gross.

My Dark Vanessa is a novel of the #metoo era but it feels decades behind. If Vanessa’s story had been told differently, or arranged chronologically, Vanessa might have emerged as the hero.

I don’t know. Let’s discuss this book, what did you think?


Content warnings: pedophilia, rape, grooming, public shaming, masturbation, drug use, on page sex, school shooting mention, child pornorgrapy, violence towards animals, victim blaming, suicide ,sexual abuse/ harassment, shoplifting