Profoundly beautiful and deeply upsetting. Machado’s memoir covers the beginning, middle, end, and aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship she endured in her twenties with someone she describes simply as “The Woman from the Dream House”. The book is uniquely structured into a series of fanciful vignettes most of which are written in a 2nd person narration: she immerses the reader into the world writing it as if she is describing what is happening to you the reader in real time.

Machado contends with the gravity of not just her own individual relationship but with a sense of internalized obligation she has had as a bisexual woman. She wonders if a relationship that is harmful and unhappy is something that must find a way to persevere solely to make sure oppressors of queerness cannot have their hateful views validated. Machado expresses some sincere sympathy for her ex-girlfriend and makes clear that that woman’s intense mental health issues do not in any way justify or excuse her mistreatment. The book is painful, then hopeful, and altogether inspirational and I hope it is a helpful resource for anyone who might share Machado’s experiences.