I usually don’t pick up unfamiliar titles unless they’re thrifted, but My Dark Vanessa made its way to me thanks to BookTok and BookTube, and I’m glad it did. This novel is dark, disturbing, and deeply important. It follows Vanessa, a 15-year-old who is groomed and abused by her teacher, told entirely from her perspective. Russell’s writing is raw and powerful, capturing the confusion, denial, and trauma that comes with being manipulated at such a young age. The way the book explores power dynamics and long-term emotional damage is chilling but nuanced, showing how abusers twist reality to maintain control. It’s a heavy read, but one that sheds much-needed light…