Read an excerpt from "My Dark Vanessa"

Kate Elizabeth Russell’s much-anticipated and -discussed debut novel, My Dark Vanessa, came out today.

Those curious about the book and/or on hold at the library for it will be glad to see an excerpt of it available through the New York Times.

My Dark Vanessa features a main character who had an inappropriate relationship with one of her teachers during her teen years and must confront it as an adult, when that teacher faces public consequence for another such affair.

Russell has acknowledged, after some pressure, that the book was inspired by her own experiences as a teenager.

She did so after another author, who admitted she hadn't even read My Dark Vanessa, complained about the similarities between it and her memoir, which received little to no interest from big-name publishers.

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