My Dark Vanessa – Kate Elizabeth Russell

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell is a powerful and provocative novel that explores the complexities of memory, manipulation, and consent.
The story follows Vanessa Wye, who recounts her relationship with her high school teacher decades later, grappling with the blurred lines between abuse and romance, and confronting how her past has shaped her present.
Russell examines the psychological and emotional aftermath of grooming and trauma, while challenging readers to consider the nuanced realities of power, coercion, and self-perception.
The novel is a haunting, empathetic, and unflinching exploration of identity, trauma, and the ways society frames relationships between young women and authority figures.