Le Consentement

This memoir was an absolute bombshell. This story follows the famous French writer Gabriel Matzneffs sexual abuse of 14 year old Vanessa Springora, the author of this memoir. This book made me visibly cringe at points and I was seething when reading about the liberal attitudes to adults relationships with minors in the 70s. It was such a tragic story and it was hard to read about this insidious manipulation and sexual exploitation. It was heartbreaking to read about the detrimental effect of this abuse on Vanessa personally. The only saving grace in this story, is that Vanessa was strong enough to tell her story and exonerate her demons to move forward with life and love. I found the discussions on consent and the legality of minor/ adult relationships and emotional abuse and the grey areas around consent and rape very insightful and powerful in this book. This should be compulsory reading for every human being. Everyone needs to be educated on grooming, rape and abuse and this book tackles this topic with integrity and grace. Beautifully written and as impressive as Know My Name by Chanel Miller.

Thanks to the author Vanessa Springora, 4th Estate and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.