The hardest read I’ve done in years. This is not a kind of book you can ENJOY, but it’s brilliant and surprisingly relatable. Massive thanks to Grace Gummer for the stunning narration.

I wish I could give this book 6 stars. This is one of the most gut wrenching, disgusting tales I've ever read. What makes it pack such a punch is that the author really pulls us into the mind of this young girl and we hear what she wants and needs, versus what she gets from her abuser. I loved it, and it made me want to gag. I went off ranting angrily to myself, and also, I grieved for her. Grieved for all the girls who live through something like this. Five stars, wish I could give it more.

Gets under your skin. One gets a good insight into how someone who is violated, puts the blame, which should be aimed at the perpretator, on to themselves. Also how easy it is to confuse an abusive relationship with a love story. The book, I think, also does a great job showing the reader how diffucult, and sometimes damaging telling your story to the world can be.

Heel mooi boek. Gaat voorbij cliches en legt bloot waarom misbruik tegelijkertijd als romantisch kan worden ervaren. Dat een misbruiker niet alleen een monster is, maar tegelijkertiid ook zorgzaam kan zijn. En welke effecten misbruik en trauma kunnen hebben op de lange termijn. Het boek wordt erg mooi voorgelezen, alsof de conversaties daadwerkelijk plaatsvinden. De combinatie van verhaallijn en vertelstem maken dit mijn favoriete audioboek tot nu toe.

Beautiful writing. Amazing plot. Lolita references. Dark and disturbing. This book follows a bright fifteen year old Vanessa who becomes entangled in an affair with her charming and manipulative English teacher. The book alternates between past and present and spreads over a period of almost 17 years. She believes that she is in love with him and he manipulatively convinces her into doing whatever he wants. You can see her mental confusion. She has been convinced that she hasn't been abused and she willingly did everything. The way the psychological aspect has been explored is amazing. It has references to pop culture, lolita and me too movement.The book felt a bit stretched in the second half. It has a lot of description about abuse. So if you are triggered by it, don't pick it up. This is not a fun read or a book which will help you escape. It is deep rooted in reality and is thought provoking.It is a brilliantly written, emotional and disturbing book with an amazing audiobook.

Helt fantastisk bok!

Difícil de tragar, livro cru sobre abuso, controle e perversão. Mas altamente necessário na sociedade prejudicada em que vivemos. Essencial!

Kanskje litt tidlig å si, men dette er nok den beste boka jeg har lest i 2021! Utrolig velskrevet og beskriver traumer og oppvekst så realistisk at jeg glemmer at det er fiksjon, uten at det føles tvungent eller klisjé. Selv om dette er en livshistorie om en svært unik situasjon, klarer man likevel å se seg selv og de større problemene i samfunnet gjennom de små detaljene. Dette er en bok som alle burde lese.

Wat een bijzonder mooi en aangrijpend boek. Ongemakkelijk op momenten. Maar zeker een aanrader. Dit gaat me bij blijven.

Beautifully written, yet uncomfortable to read.