We Can Only Save Ourselves

This was pretty good, not great. My Dark Vanessa was a more impressive exploration of an adult man grooming a young woman. For being such an important figure in the story, I didn’t feel like I understood Wesley’s appeal or message. The message especially was so vague. That may have been the weakest part for me. I think it’s somewhat intentional because Wesley is not actually some special genius, but it was so vague that I didn’t get how he could get a following at all.

I did appreciate Alice’s dissatisfaction with her life. I wish we had more of it at the beginning, a build up to her leaving. Because it makes sense to me that someone like her, who has thought all these traditional things were important, would suddenly be disillusioned as high school comes to an end. But many people, like the moms of the neighborhood, don’t ever experience something like that and continue to hold onto traditions as if they are inherently good and right. That pushes Alice away.

I kept wanting more from the book, more of Alice’s thoughts, more of what made Wesley special to her. But I was drawn in enough to keep reading.