My Dark Vanessa

"I just really need this to be a love story. Do you understand? I really - really need that. Because if it's not a love story, then what is it?"
"My Dark Vanessa" is the debut novel by Kate Elizabeth Russell, a book that is rightly called the "Lolita" of the #MeToo era. Those who have endured the trial of first love without severe consequences are lucky. But what to do if the first love is frightening and dark, if it plowed through and distorted a young soul so much that there is no way out of this darkness?
The book tells the story of a romance between a student and a teacher, a love that is neither imagined nor platonic. It predictably ended badly. The scariest part is not even that what happened is unacceptable, but that the victim, even after years, cannot comprehend the horror she was subjected to and continues to create excuses for the terrifying narrative of her youth.
Stephen King rated this book as follows: "Sometimes it will hurt very much, but you won’t be able to stop."
Kate Elizabeth Russell (born 1984) grew up in Maine, earned a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) from Indiana University and an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) from the University of Kansas. She worked on her debut book "My Dark Vanessa" for 18 years, since she was in school. Released in March 2020, the novel instantly became a global bestseller and was translated into 35 languages. Kate lives in Portland, Oregon.