Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

841 reviews

koriw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

This book was graphic, tragic, & deeply triggering. I’m not sure it paid off enough in the end to make the first 75% worth enduring. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Rape, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Suicide, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Misogyny

dahliacove's review against another edition

Graphic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

laurellen_h's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book evoked such strong emotions in me. It was dark and hard to read (for the content) and I spent a fair bit of it holding my breath and crying. I can’t count the amount of times I had to put the book down, have a breather and then jump back in because I had to know she’d be alright. It was such a powerful story and showed how complex human emotion is. Tough subject matter, but a must read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Stalking

neopet's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Animal death

joeyleigh14's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

incredible account of grooming, shows how much this shit sticks with you and messes you up

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Rape, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Toxic relationship

wasabiapple's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

clairiewairie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I’ve never had to take so many breaks from reading a book before. 

Utterly disturbing, upsetting, and very well written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicide

rchulin1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such an amazing book very dark not for the faint of heart. So many triggers be mindful of them before reading but nonetheless my favorite book as of now.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Body shaming, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Suicide, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Stalking, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Violence, Drug abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse

sambo_0103's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders

jenna_ld's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Such an important book to me. Really tough subject, but it's really well written. You can clearly see the manipulation in the book (I hope) and the way Strane made Vanessa think she was the one to blame. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, Death, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia