My Dark Vanessa

This was a pretty heavy read for me, and so worth it. 

This book explores the complexities of victimhood, primarily. Our society really simplifies issues especially with sexual abuse but there's so many layers to it, and this book really brought that out. 
Vanessa is one of the most complex characters I've ever read, such an interesting exploration into the mentality of her, as a young girl but also as an adult. How the abuse absolutely destroyed her life. I mean, I think we all know that abuse is damaging but I was not prepared for the absolute extent of it. 

Another thing that the book focuses on is girlhood. That age of 15, 16, when your worldview changes and you suddenly discover all these new parts of yourself and you discover the sexual power that you now newly hold. And that keeps becoming more and more relavant everyday with the increase in sexualisation of minors. I've never read anything that captured it so perfectly. 

There were just some scenes that blew my mind. Every word felt like it was handpicked. It was so simple yet so heavy. The bare truths laid out and it hit me so hard. 

The author says she's worked 18 years on this book, it really shows. 
Its genuinely one of the best, and most complicated books I've read in my life.