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3.5 ⭐️
I loved the characters in this book! You couldn’t help but love (and occasionally dislike) Ayoola. She was so complex yet likeable? It was weird haha! The reason, though, that I gave it a 3.5 star was because I felt the structure of the plot lacked somewhat. The characters were amazing, and they came alive - even the minor ones - but the story wasn’t enough for me. I needed more.
I loved the characters in this book! You couldn’t help but love (and occasionally dislike) Ayoola. She was so complex yet likeable? It was weird haha! The reason, though, that I gave it a 3.5 star was because I felt the structure of the plot lacked somewhat. The characters were amazing, and they came alive - even the minor ones - but the story wasn’t enough for me. I needed more.
This book was not for me.
For one, I found it odd that her experiences weren’t in chronological order. I’ve no idea why she did it that way. Then again this was the first memoir I’ve read...
For one, I found it odd that her experiences weren’t in chronological order. I’ve no idea why she did it that way. Then again this was the first memoir I’ve read...
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I did enjoy the story but I felt it lacked. Or maybe it was because I was spoilt rotten with The Poet X because that book was FRICKING UNBELIEVABLE & I was expecting the same with this one. I love Elizabeth Acevedo’s prose though, it’s always so beautiful. But the story felt short, and the two girls were so similar I had to keep reminding myself who was speaking (two POVs).
I did enjoy the story but I felt it lacked. Or maybe it was because I was spoilt rotten with The Poet X because that book was FRICKING UNBELIEVABLE & I was expecting the same with this one. I love Elizabeth Acevedo’s prose though, it’s always so beautiful. But the story felt short, and the two girls were so similar I had to keep reminding myself who was speaking (two POVs).
This is one heck of a gut-wrenching story. So much so I often found myself thinking if this was a memoir. Because let’s face it, horrific stuff like this happens all the time.
A lot of the reviews I’ve skimmed have mentioned how annoyed they felt towards Vanessa. But I couldn’t be angry at her. She was damaged beyond repair because of that vile, cunning twat, and I could only feel sorry for her. I just wanted to reach into the book, grab her and set her warped and manipulated mind right.
The writing was well truly done magnificently. It was written in a way that, even though you knew it was so, so wrong, and that the impact of manipulation and mental abuse that Vanessa suffered was significant on every page, you couldn’t help but also see Vanessa’s point of view. But that meant that you, as the reader, got sucked into the manipulation as well and you had to shake yourself awake!
Having my fair share of mental abuse in the past, of being led on by carefully constructed words of a c*nt, it really is hard to see any further than what you’ve been groomed to believe. So I couldn’t ever be angry at her. Only relate in some small way. My Dark Vanessa really does highlight the psychological damage it does to a victim. So people should read it just for that.
It was a heartbreaking read, frustrating, compelling and down right infuriating and I recommend reading it to anyone that wants an eye opener.
A lot of the reviews I’ve skimmed have mentioned how annoyed they felt towards Vanessa. But I couldn’t be angry at her. She was damaged beyond repair because of that vile, cunning twat, and I could only feel sorry for her. I just wanted to reach into the book, grab her and set her warped and manipulated mind right.
The writing was well truly done magnificently. It was written in a way that, even though you knew it was so, so wrong, and that the impact of manipulation and mental abuse that Vanessa suffered was significant on every page, you couldn’t help but also see Vanessa’s point of view. But that meant that you, as the reader, got sucked into the manipulation as well and you had to shake yourself awake!
Having my fair share of mental abuse in the past, of being led on by carefully constructed words of a c*nt, it really is hard to see any further than what you’ve been groomed to believe. So I couldn’t ever be angry at her. Only relate in some small way. My Dark Vanessa really does highlight the psychological damage it does to a victim. So people should read it just for that.
It was a heartbreaking read, frustrating, compelling and down right infuriating and I recommend reading it to anyone that wants an eye opener.
I loved loved LOVED this book so much! I wanted to read more novel-in-verse books, and read LGBTQ+ for Pride Month AND read books (fiction & non-fiction) by or about black people and this book DELIVERED!!!
