REVIEW: My Dark Vanessa (Kate Elizabeth Russell)

Book: My Dark Vanessa

Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell

My rating: 3.5/5.

Premise: Vanessa Wye was fifteen years old when she first had sex with her English teacher. Now the teacher, Jacob Strange, has been accused of sexual abuse by another former student, and a journalist has asked Vanessa to contribute to a story about him. But no one seems to understand that what Vanessa and Strane had together wasn't abuse. It was live....wasn't it?

[⚠️CW: child abuse, rape, mental health]

This book is heavy and at times uncomfortable, covering rape, manipulation and mental health. We follow Vanessa's story mostly as a series of flashbacks to the time of her relationship with Strane. As a teen, Vanessa's very relatable - awkward, just wanting to blend in - which makes the point that this sort of thing could happen to anyone. The other half of the book follows her as a grown woman, coming to terms with her experience. You can't help but feel for Vanessa, not just for what happened to her, but how she thinks about herself and how she's been made to feel about everything. Throughout, it is shown how important it is to talk about things, even if just to a friend. I liked the contrast between Taylor and Vanessa - one speaking out and receiving backlash on social media, the other struggling to even talk about it in the first place. This in itself shows how difficult it can be for victims to talk and how we should listen those who are able to tell their stories. A very powerful read.