This is a difficult book to rate. First I will say, I am definitely glad that I read it. The story is obviously disturbing and watching the long term effects Vanessa suffers as a result of her abuse is intentionally a very discomfiting experience. Others have pointed out, and correctly, that secondary characters lack depth to them and this is certainly the case. On the other hand, being trapped within the tunnel vision of the first person narration allows for a focus on the subtle horrors that echo through Vanessa’s life. I certainly agree it was too long- the last half could have been condensed significantly to similar effect. I also would have appreciated more exploration of her one other relationship that comes up only in the past tense, as those dynamics seemed complex but ultimately weren’t explored. The thing that sticks with me from this book is how Vanessa was made to fall in love with and therefore defend her abuser - and the extent to which she believed her abuse to be her fault and something that reflected her own flaws. A good and worthwhile read overall, that perhaps would have benefited from additional edits.