"By expanding representation, we give space to queers to be - as characters, as real people - human beings. They don't have to be metaphors for wickedness and depravity and docility. They can be what they are."
In the Dream House is a profoundly inventive memoir that traverses the line between love and abuse. Machado explores this delineation through an intimate chronicle of her abusive relationship with “the woman in the dream house” and expounding queer domestic violence throughout history and media (or lack thereof). She emphasizes the importance of queer representation; in the portrayal of intimacy, in the mundane, and in the realities of domestic abuse. If you’ve experienced a toxic relationship, this memoir may be a trigger for you. The emotional gaslighting is palpable, so this recommendation comes with a content warning. That being said, we unequivocally recommend this book and worship at the feet of Machado. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟