Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

143 reviews

abmochapman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

In the Dream House might be one of those books to which I return again and again. Although Carmen Maria Machado’s writing is at times difficult and frustrating or simply gauche, it is also at times full of beauty and release. And what’s more is how much her words speak to experiences resemble my own despite the world of difference between them. 

Abuse in queer relationships is unique and deserving of the time and attention she pays to it in this book, and yet, the pain I experienced in abusive heterosexual relationships seems almost the same. I do not know the specific pain of being betrayed by a same-sex partner, someone who is so similar to me, but I do know what it’s like to doubt my own experiences and even wish there had been physical scars to which I could point as evidence. I understand that sick desire to be hurt enough to be heard.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Infidelity

alex_mabel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Painful but beautiful. Definitely check trigger warnings.

The audio book was so great.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

zoinkie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

scifi_rat's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Homophobia

Minor: Death, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Biphobia, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Grief, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, and Torture

yrpalal's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Confinement

Minor: Infidelity

tinyjude's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

A memoir filled with beautiful metaphors, analogies and cross-boundaries genres and experimentation. Despite being a brief read, the contents of the book makes it harder to consume it in one sitting. The book mainly deals and details an abusive relationship between two queer women, how it starts, develops, how it destroys her but is unable to bolt, and the long-lasting effects of trauma due to said abuse. It is horrifying but highly important as, stated by the author in the book, there aren't many sources that discuss this topic and show light in how, no matter which type of relationship you are (poly, monogamous, same-sex, opposite-sex, etc), abuse is abuse and can happen and has happened. I am glad we are at a time in which we can discuss these topics among the community.

The gaslighting, the jealousy, controlling behaviour, abusive patterns, "happy" moments to overcompensate, the physicial, emotional and sexual harrassment, the consequences... they are all difficult themes to tackle and read, but Carmen María Machado does a marvelous job.

My only complaint is that i'm not the biggest fan of the second person pov in books. Nonetheless, a harrowing, necessary read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Biphobia, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

juliarenae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

i loved how the book was written, how raw, and exemplified her truth. it’s also incredibly brave to talk about your relationship and the abuse she survived. I think it’s powerful that she was able to be so raw and vulnerable with her audience. It was truly captivating and is a game changer for LGBTQ relationships. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

southernselkie08's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Biphobia, and Infidelity

lizziaha's review against another edition

4.5

damn i really wish i paid more attention in my literary theory class. I feel like it would’ve heightened the experience for me. the style of writing in this book is so compelling, I found myself framing my own memories in it: “dream house as” and second person pov. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Infidelity, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Minor: Biphobia

maess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Outing, Sexism, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit