A review by poltoreveur
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I love the idea of having the readers go through with the different genres and analogies but still within the narrative so we could still understand the story.

You are sitting through an abusive “Love Story“ Which I don’t necessarily feel even calling it that. After reading everything about their relationship it is anything but loving. 

The dynamic of both people in the story it’s what an abusive relationship is but these are things that are overlooked only by the fact that it is a queer relationship though they are also a lot of other abusive relationships that are left unresolved. With the victim having to succumb to their abusers' behaviour, it is still sick to know that some abusive acts are still legal in states and countries around the world.

This is a story that sadly, A lot of us are familiar with. Though this did take the lead through the lens of a queer relationship, It still doesn’t change the fact that abuse can come up however and whoever the abuser may be. 

An abuser is still an abuser, no matter how you try to turn it into pretty words.

The ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ was the most interesting to me. It relies on the readers deciding to go on with the story but it gets you into their (the victim’s) head. Because yes, you do have the ability to go off on your own but still within the book’s terms; making you question and doubt as to if we were in the writer's position. 

I felt the story was left a little bit unresolved but I do feel that is how the author wanted the story to be as much as it is, without closure.
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