aquakirst's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Mental illness, Murder, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Homophobia
cloudnineteen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
I can’t even fully describe just how much I LOVED this book. There was the perfect split of talking from the perspective of the author’s past self, the present, and the interludes that discuss the taboo and ignored topic of abuse within queer relationships. I don’t often reread books, but when I do, I know it’s a favourite, and I would reread this 100 more times. 5/5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
claing's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
daethule's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
3.75
I really enjoyed the formatting of this book. Felt like I flew through it, and it kept things fresh and moving.
I don't even know what to say about the content itself. Stunning. The last two lines in the acknowledgements gut-punched me.
I don't even know what to say about the content itself. Stunning. The last two lines in the acknowledgements gut-punched me.
anna_near's review against another edition
4.0
In the Dream House was a haunting, addictive, raw, and vulnerable memoir that explored abuse in a queer relationship, which is a fairly undeveloped niche in literature and unique in itself. However, Machado could honestly write about the most cliche and mundane scenarios ever, and still stand out. Her writing is sharp and vulnerable and the structure of this book? Amazing. The narrative subverted almost every expectation I had throughout reading it.
The entire book was essentially a metaphor that I think all women, regardless of sexual identity, can connect and learn from.
The entire book was essentially a metaphor that I think all women, regardless of sexual identity, can connect and learn from.
amyyyyma's review against another edition
5.0
Ugly cried my way through this in one weekend. So honest and hard to read at times but very glad I read it.
minooboh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
billie_visible's review against another edition
4.0
In heart-rending prose and roiling verses Machado spells her story, reminding us of the experiences untold in the LGBTQIA+ community and recalling how it all went wrong for her. It’s a harrowing and remarkably awful tale, one that will reek of painful remembrance to survivors, and speaks to a deep and pervasive secret lurking in the LGBTQIA community: queer partner abuse, which encompasses physical, emotional, sexual, and verbal assault at rates often ignored by mainstream media.
The Dream House itself represents both a metaphorical place and an emotional state of being. Within its confines, Machado finds herself uneasily trapped in a daze, a clusterfuck of corridors forever rearranged like an MC Escher print. Gaslighting, sobering apologies, lamentable self-esteem, and isolation from her friends and family – it's the hallmark compositional maze of abusive ruin. The flow of the book is structured to mirror the rampaging emotions and thoughts that encompass such a foreboding tale, sometimes spiraling off into wistful thoughts, sometimes thumping forward into horrific anger as the claustrophobic walls of The Dream House close in. It's an oppressive and nightmarish read as painful as it is important.
More than that it's a stunning recollection that managed to both break me apart, then pull me back together again as I cried for Machado in solidarity, in knowing, in disbelief, in anger, in frustration, and happiness: the very epitome of what queer communion and sharing our stories is about.
The Dream House itself represents both a metaphorical place and an emotional state of being. Within its confines, Machado finds herself uneasily trapped in a daze, a clusterfuck of corridors forever rearranged like an MC Escher print. Gaslighting, sobering apologies, lamentable self-esteem, and isolation from her friends and family – it's the hallmark compositional maze of abusive ruin. The flow of the book is structured to mirror the rampaging emotions and thoughts that encompass such a foreboding tale, sometimes spiraling off into wistful thoughts, sometimes thumping forward into horrific anger as the claustrophobic walls of The Dream House close in. It's an oppressive and nightmarish read as painful as it is important.
More than that it's a stunning recollection that managed to both break me apart, then pull me back together again as I cried for Machado in solidarity, in knowing, in disbelief, in anger, in frustration, and happiness: the very epitome of what queer communion and sharing our stories is about.