My Dark Vanessa A Novel

"It's a page-turner studded with speed bumps that force readers to pause and reckon with two opposing narratives: Vanessa falling in love and Vanessa being exploited by a pedophile. It's a powerful juxtaposition to be submerged into a romance and jolted back to the reality of abuse, knowing both versions of the story have truth." - Huffpost

"A gripping, chilling and thought-provoking tale . . . Kate Elizabeth Russell's work here is era-defining in a post-#MeToo movement world." - E!, Curl Up With the 20 Best and Buzziest Books of 2020

"Gripping and unsettling . . . a bracingly uncompromising book. It will doubtless be devoured with an ache of recognition by large numbers of women. But it really ought to be read by men." - The Economist

"As powerful as it is painful, and deserves its reputation as one of the defining books of the #MeToo era." - Vogue

"Uncanny and chilling . . . That there is no perfect victim, no perfect response to sexual abuse, is the crux of Russell's remarkable work of fiction." - Elle

"Explosive . . . a significant addition to the necessary reassessments and conversations sparked by the #MeToo movement." - NPR

"Exquisite . . . My Dark Vanessa stands on its own as simultaneously specific and universal-about a young woman who believes she's in a love story when she's actually in a psychological horror film." - Los Angeles Times

"A brilliant and stunning debut, My Dark Vanessa is utterly truth-rattling, humane in its clarity and chilling in its resonance. An absolute must read." - Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

"My Dark Vanessa is a total masterpiece of tone and point of view, even more impressive for how uninvested it seems in impressing us. It's fascinating and devastating and brilliant. I loved it." - Kristen Roupenian, bestselling author of You Know You Want This: "Cat Person" and Other Stories

"My Dark Vanessa is a harrowing triumph. Complex, smart, and utterly riveting from start to finish, Kate Elizabeth Russell's debut novel cracks open assumptions and clichés, and delivers a layered, nuanced narrative that is vital for a more thorough understanding of the extent and longevity of the damage wrought by sexual abuse. Be prepared for a pit in your stomach, a lump in your throat, and reading late into the night." - Lily King, bestselling author of Euphoria

"This timely, riveting debut illuminates the interplay between a child's heartbreaking confusion and the deepest perversions of power." - People, Book of the Week

"My Dark Vanessa is a singular achievement-a masterpiece of tension and tone that will simultaneously grip you, horrify you, and move you. . . . With utmost sensitivity and vivid, gut-churning detail, Russell illuminates Vanessa's struggle to see the story of her life for the tragedy it truly is. Before you start My Dark Vanessa, clear your schedule for the next few days-this . . . will utterly consume you." - Esquire, The Best Books Coming Out This Winter

"My Dark Vanessa destroyed me. This moving, ferocious story of an all-consuming relationship between a teenager and her teacher traces not just a stolen girlhood, but the aftershocks that haunt trauma survivors years into the future. Gripping, stunningly written, and important . . . I've been waiting for this book." - Julie Buntin, author of Marlena

"My Dark Vanessa is a hard story to read and a harder one to put down . . . a well-constructed package of dynamite." - Stephen King