In the Dream House is Carmen Maria Machado's candid and innovative memoir chronicling her abusive same-sex relationship. The book takes an unconventional approach, with each chapter employing a distinct narrative trope, such as the haunted house or erotica, to examine the relationship from various angles. Machado delves into the complexities of psychological abuse, unpacking stereotypes about queer relationships and exploring the history and reality of abuse within the LGBTQ+ community.
Throughout the memoir, Machado reflects on her religious upbringing, dissects the tropes and cultural representations of domestic violence, and draws from various sources, including fairy tales, Star Trek, and Disney villains. Her harrowing account is told through a second-person narrative, with Machado referring to her victimized self as "you" and her abusive partner as only as "the woman in the dream house."
In the Dream House is a poignant work that challenges traditional memoir conventions. Machado's wit, candor, and willingness to explore difficult subject matter have earned the book critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Bisexual Book Award, Lambda Literary Award, and Folio Prize. It has been hailed as a groundbreaking and necessary contribution to the canon of LGBTQ+ literature and the discourse surrounding domestic abuse.
More like this
About the author
Carmen Maria Machado
Carmen Maria Machado is an American writer recognized as a pioneering voice in queer and feminist literature. Her works, including the short story collection Her Body and Other Parties (2017) and the memoir In the Dream House (2019), explore themes of identity, sexuality, and the complexities of human relationships.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in 1986, Machado comes from a Cuban-Austrian background and grew up in a religious household, which initially caused her to feel guilt about her queer sexuality. She received her MFA from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop and has been awarded numerous fellowships and residencies, including from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Michener-Copernicus Foundation. Her writing has been widely anthologized and featured in esteemed literary publications such as The New Yorker, Granta, and The Paris Review.
Her Body and Other Parties was a finalist for the National Book Award and won several honors, including the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize and the Bard Fiction Prize. The collection has been optioned for a television adaptation by FX. In the Dream House won the 2021 Folio Prize. Currently, Machado is the Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Philadelphia with her wife.
Members get even more
Pick 1 audiobook a month
Choose any title you want from our unmatched collection—including bestsellers and new releases. This is yours to keep.
Thousands of included titles
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks and Originals with celebs you love and emerging talent.
Deals & discounts
Get in on exclusive sales and deals, and when you can't wait for your next credit, use your member discount on any title.