Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir of surviving an abusive lesbian relationship pushes boundaries in every direction. From a linguistic standpoint, her wordplay is endlessly creative. From a sociological standpoint, her research into the history of intimate partner violence in the lesbian community sheds light on a neglected but important topic. From a literary standpoint, the book is astonishingly innovative, constantly throwing different genres, structures, and modes of writing at the reader. And from a human standpoint, the book is unflinching in illustrating how to maintain a sense of self under seige.