- Date Published:
2025 - Length:
448 pages—Listening Time: 13 hrs 44 minutes - Genre:
Fiction, Romance - Setting:
1990s - into the future, a fictionalized version of Montana's Flathead Valley, specifically around Flathead Lake, Montana - Awards:
The Guardian Book of the Day 2025-05-05; Oprah's Book of the Month February 2025 - Language:
English - Sensitive Aspects:
Trauma and loss, dementia and aging, addiction, mental health, infidelity and marital breakdown, climate change, environmental despair - Movie:
A24 has acquired the rights to Eric Puchner's novel "Dream State" for a TV adaptation. The Hollywood Reporter reported that A24 beat out other companies to secure the rights. - Recommend for Book Club:
Yes, classic fiction with romance at it core
Both Oprah and I loved Dream State by Eric Puchner. Typically, I avoid romance novels, yet this one offers so much more than the norm. The portrayal of Montana is exceptional. I haven't visited Montana, yet I feel as though I have after reading this book. The description was so compelling that it seemed as if the fictional Montana Flathead Valley was a character in the narrative.
Everyone I know—family, friends, and acquaintances--enjoys snow skiing, and most have done so in Montana. I am unsure how it happened because I do not particularly have an aversion to it, but I have never actually tried skiing myself. However, after reading this book, I now consider myself a skier. Puchner's descriptions of flying down a snow-covered slope put me right there with the characters. I had to cover up with a blanket as I read the snow skiing parts of this book. Now, that's great writing.
Similarly, my grandparents had a lake house on a small lake set deep in the piney woods of East Texas. As a child, and even into adulthood with my own children, I spent many summers enjoying the pristine beauty of the place. It made me feel happy and settled when I was there. I relived that same cozy, rejuvenating feeling when I was reading this book. Puchner nailed it as far as making the Montana setting, snow as well as gorgeous lakes, real.
This book's characters are depicted every bit as vividly as its setting. Frankly, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about love triangles. Again, romance novels are just not my thing. But the three main characters in Dream State, though not especially likable, are depicted so honestly that readers can't help but become hopelessly engrossed with their lives. It was difficult to pick which one to "root" for. It was also difficult to imagine how it would all resolve. I kept having a gnawing gut feeling as I read that there would not be a fairy tale happy ending to this book. I was right, kind of. But then, life generally doesn't have happy endings, so again, Puchner brilliantly nailed it.
If you just "have" to read a romance novel this year, let this one be it. It is an excellent book.
Dream State is a sweeping, multigenerational novel set primarily in Montana, spanning fifty years and centering on the intertwined lives of three main characters: Cece, Charlie, and Garrett. The story begins in 2004, as Cece prepares for her wedding to Charlie at his family’s Montana lake house, with Charlie’s best friend Garrett—brooding and guilt-ridden—tasked with helping her in Charlie’s absence.
Cece is a medical school dropout searching for meaning and fulfillment, whose impulsive nature and emotional journey anchor much of the narrative. Charlie is a successful cardiac anesthesiologist whose outward achievements mask inner confusion and sorrow. Garrett is haunted by the accidental death of a friend. He is blunt, depressive, and skeptical of institutions like marriage, yet forms a deep, complicated bond with Cece.
The three's relationships are marked by love, heartbreak, betrayal, and finally, forgiveness, with a pivotal moment occurring when Cece, after a norovirus outbreak disrupts the wedding, chooses to stay in Montana with Garrett, leaving Charlie behind. This act sets the trajectory for all their lives, and the narrative follows them—and later, their children—through decades of change, aging, and loss.
Puchner employs a non-linear, vignette-driven structure, leaping across time and offering glimpses into the characters’ evolving lives. The prose is noted for its lyricism and emotional precision, with the Montana landscape serving as both a vivid setting and a metaphor for the characters’ internal states—serene yet threatened by wildfires and climate change.
Themed with the cyclical nature of love and mistakes, the novel explores whether people are doomed to repeat the failures of their parents or can break free from cycles of heartbreak and deception. Split-second decisions alter the course of lives, and the characters are continually confronted by the consequences of their actions.
The devastation caused by climate change in Montana is a constant backdrop, paralleling the characters’ personal upheavals and underscoring the fragility of both relationships and the natural world.
The story traces the characters from their twenties into old age, reflecting on how personal evolution continues beyond youth and how memories—and even lives—fade, “like it never even happened.”
The children of the original trio—Lana, Jasper, and Téa—inherit the complexities of their parents’ choices. Their relationships mirror the same patterns of passion, regret, and existential anxiety, particularly as they face a world increasingly shaped by climate crisis and societal instability.
The title, "Dream State," refers both to the dreamlike, sometimes surreal quality of the characters’ experiences and to the transience of human life and memory. Puchner suggests that, amid love, betrayal, environmental destruction, and the inexorable march of time, life itself is ephemeral—a “dream state” where, ultimately, nothing lasts forever.
Dream State is a poignant, beautifully written meditation on love, loss, and the search for meaning in a world—and a landscape—under threat, distinguished by its deep psychological insight and its elegiac depiction of time’s passage.
You should read Dream State if you are drawn to ambitious literary fiction that blends beautiful prose, complex characters, and big questions about love, memory, and the fate of both families and the world they inhabit. It is a novel that lingers long after the last page, inviting reflection on the invisible threads that connect us all. Specifically, here are some compelling reasons to read this book.
A Multigenerational, Character-Driven Epic
Dream State is a richly layered, character-driven novel that explores the complexities of friendship, love, marriage, and the passage of time. Puchner’s narrative spans fifty years, following three central characters—Cece, Charlie, and Garrett—from their youthful hopes in Montana through decades marked by personal and environmental upheaval. If you appreciate introspective fiction that dissects the nuances of human relationships, this novel stands out for its depth and emotional resonance.
Poetic Prose and Emotional Precision
Puchner’s writing is widely praised for its poetic yet controlled style, filled with sentences that linger in the mind and demand to be reread. He excels at capturing quiet moments of emotional devastation and everyday interactions, making the ordinary feel profound. Reviewers highlight his ability to render both humor and heartbreak with equal skill, offering a reading experience that is both moving and thought-provoking.
Themes of Impermanence, Memory, and Climate Anxiety
The novel is both a love letter and an elegy to the American West, using the changing Montana landscape—ravaged by wildfires and climate change—as a metaphor for the impermanence of life and relationships. Puchner explores how personal choices ripple across generations, probing whether we are doomed to repeat our parents’ mistakes or can break free from cycles of regret. The book also meditates on memory and memory loss, especially as characters age and confront illnesses like Alzheimer’s, adding another poignant layer to the narrative.
Complex, Flawed, and Relatable Characters
Puchner crafts deeply flawed, endearing characters whose struggles with love, guilt, and identity feel authentic. Their imperfections and the arbitrary reversals of their lives mirror real human experience, making it easy for readers to see themselves in the story. The multigenerational focus allows for a nuanced exploration of how the past shapes the present and future, especially through the eyes of the next generation.
Atmospheric Setting as a Character
Montana’s natural beauty—its lakes, mountains, and forests—serves as more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right. The vivid descriptions of place enhance the novel’s emotional impact and underscore the environmental themes, making the setting integral to the story’s mood and message.
Ambitious Structure and Satisfying Conclusion
While the novel’s pacing is deliberate and its structure sometimes unconventional—favoring character introspection over plot twists—many reviewers find the ending deeply satisfying and emotionally resonant. The book’s final chapter, in particular, has been described as one of the most touching and fulfilling in recent memory.
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A love triangle set against Montana beauty--a masterpiece of imagery and honesty.
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These books should resonate with readers who appreciated the introspection, sweeping scope, and emotional complexity of Dream State by Eric Puchner.
- Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton: This novel centers on a group of idealists running a guerrilla gardening collective in New Zealand whose mission is upended by the arrival of a mysterious billionaire. Like Dream State, it weaves together personal relationships, moral ambiguity, and environmental concerns, all within a suspenseful, character-driven narrative.
- The Bee Sting by Paul Murray: A family saga that delves into the complexities of relationships, secrets, and the passage of time. Murray’s novel, like Puchner’s, is praised for its psychological insight, humor, and the way it captures the ripple effects of individual choices across generations.
- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: Though a classic from a different era, Tolstoy’s masterpiece shares Dream State’s interest in love, marriage, and the consequences of personal decisions, all set against a richly drawn social and historical backdrop.
- All Fours by Miranda July: This novel is recommended for readers who appreciate unconventional narrative structures and introspective character studies, much like Puchner’s approach in Dream State.
- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver: A multigenerational family saga that explores the impact of personal and historical forces on individuals, with a strong sense of place and environmental themes, echoing the broad scope and emotional resonance of Dream State.
More by Eric Puchner
Consider Puchner's early works if his style appeals to you:
- Model Home: A finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, this novel also explores fractured families and the American landscape with humor and pathos.
- Music Through the Floor: Stories: A collection of stories that highlight Puchner’s talent for capturing the nuances of human relationships.
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