What would you be willing to risk in order to sleep well?

In the near future, the American government creates the Crime Prevention Act in order to prevent future crimes and murders. The Risk Assessment Administration has been monitoring citizens for twenty years, determining if they are at risk to cause harm to others. With the help of the new Dreamsaver device, not only will people be able to be well rested in a short period of time, but the government will track their dreams.

When new mom of twins Sara Hussein is returning home from a work trip abroad, she is flagged at the airport as a risk by government agents. Her risk assessment score has risen above 500 and therefore deemed a threat. She learns that her new Dreamsaver device has elevated her score due to her violent behavior in her dreams and is considered a high risk to kill her own husband! She purchased a Dreamsaver because she wanted to be able to sleep less and be more productive during the day as a working new mom. She is retained at Madison, a forensic observation facility for 21 days.

When 21 days turns into almost a year, Sara must figure out how to break free from a system that is stacked against her.

The premise of this book reminds me of Minority Report…only minus Tom Cruise and ALL of the action! It is labeled as a thriller on Goodreads, but is definitely lacking all thrills! The theme of the human cost of technical surveillance is explored as well as racism and immigration. I found the book to be repetitive, extremely slow, and better suited to the literary fiction genre.

The plot is very intriguing, but I was expecting way more from the ending. I feel like I’ve been duped by this Pulitzer Prize finalist and am very disappointed.

2.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 3/4/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Pantheon publishing for the ARC of The Dream Hotel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, such a fascinating premise. The best dystopian books take things that are happening in our real world, and just push things that little bit further. The way we can actually imagine how we get from our world to the one inhabited by the book. Happily, this book was that. It reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale in that way. However, unfortunately for me, the writing wasn't that compelling. I struggled to get through the book, and it was all a bit repetitive. I absolutely love the idea of it, but I'm sad I didn't enjoy the actual story more.

A well-told nightmare about potential effects of invasive technology on real people
When Sara lands at the Los Angeles airport returning from a business conference, she expects to be greeted by her husband and her twin son and daughter. Instead, an agent from the federal Risk Assessment Administration (RAA) takes her aside and tells her they are going to take her into custody for twenty-one days (and maybe longer) while they weigh evidence that she is likely to commit a violent crime.
Although the RAA uses a lot of data about Sara’s past, the big source that has led to the creation of the RAA is the Dreamsaver, a neural implant to help people sleep. It has been improved to the point that it can actually interpret people’s dreams, and this information is used to tag potential criminals.
Although the basis for the story stems from the dual threats from government authorities that invade personal privacy to a degree beyond anything in place today and the technology that allows them to collect and analyze everyone’s data, The Dream Hotel tells the personal stories of Sara and the women she meets as they struggle to regain their freedom.
This is first and foremost a story about people, and Laila Lalami’s prizewinning writing skills make it an enthralling read. My Kindle is full of paragraphs I highlighted simply for the quality of the writing, such as Sara’s interaction with her little daughter who visits her while she is confined. There are believable portrayals of Sara and her family and of the other women who are confined with her; it made me wonder how I would cope in such a situation. In addition to the the overall theme of the confinements, there are some good plot details that kept me interested along the way.
I keep seeing the book described as “science fiction”, however, and I want to warn that this is likely to raise the wrong expectations. The setting is obviously near future, and technology that can read and interpret our dreams is NOT likely any time in the near future. This lack of credibility rather spoiled my pleasure in the book until I became immersed in the story. Then I remembered Wells’s Law, formulated by science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells, which says that a science fiction or fantasy story should contain at most one impossible assumption. If Wells allows it, I guess I will go along!
If you keep Wells’ Law in mind, there is a lot of reading pleasure and also a lot of food for thought in The Dream Hotel.
I received an advance review copy of this book from Net Galley and Pantheon Books.

The Dream Hotel is a dystopian novel about a woman who is detained by a new government agency because she had a dream in which she is responsible for her husband's death and has been deemed a risk. How do they know about the content of her dreams? Because Sara, a new mom, had a device implanted in her head that was supposed to help her sleep more efficiently and feel refreshed upon waking.

Once at the facility her every action is scrutinized and the slightest misstep is used as an excuse to keep her longer. Part-Phillip K. Dick, part-Kafka, and all Lalami. The writing feels real and urgent, and the characters acutely drawn.

This was a well-written and extremely thought provoking book. It invites the reader to explore themes of oppression, discomfort, surveillance state, and abuse of power. There is the obvious call to consider the moral applications and limits of tech as we bound into the future, but also distinct echos from past systematic abuses - particularly towards women (locking up "hysterical" women, lobotomizing, etc). Perhaps the most immediately relevant (unfortunately) question posed to the audience is: how much control over a person/woman's autonomy and body is acceptable and to what end? Laila Lalami does a good job forcing you to feel the unsettling consequences of allowing liberties to be exchanged for a hypothetical greater good in the hands of nebulous groups with questionable aims - or even truly well-meaning groups for that matter! Recommend. It's not always fast paced or fun exactly, but its a great read, especially in this climate.

This book was a trip! One that I took slow at first, and then fast when I was about 60% through. At times, especially towards the end, the story felt so hopeless! It was a bleak, very well written, miserable novel. But the ending...it was everything an ending should be. I loved it! However one small complaint, I couldn't keep track of the dates and times and that bothered me. But it didn't keep me from enjoying the story. It was obviously written by a very talented author. I keep thinking about one passage from the book, it's towards the end and I can't quote it but the author expressed Sara's feelings in such a way that I feel that they're my feelings as well. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!

This book was disturbing, uncomfortable, challenging, and brilliant. It reminded me, in a way, of how I felt when I read THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD MOTHERS. But this novel is so much more than a dystopian thriller. Lalami presents a terrifying meditation on personal autonomy and what the world might look like in a world with too much technological surveillance and limited privacy. This was a book I wanted to come back to, time and time again, and a story that could very easily become a haunting reality. I will be thinking about this book for quite some time. What a masterful blend of psychological thriller and social commentary. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.

I really enjoyed this book! I reminded me of A School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan, it feels like they could be set in the same not-so-distant future where Big Brother is definitely watching your every move. I was really impressed with the writing style, I felt like it sucked me and I was in the same setting with our main character. It feels like a timely book for every reader and not only is it enjoyable but it will make you think about how society is moving forward…or backward.
I did feel that the ending fell a bit flat for me and I don’t feel I can say much more than that without spoilers, but overall I did REALLY enjoy this book!

Wow. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. Literary Fiction and Speculative Dystopian fiction, this book speaks to our deepest fears about our changing society. In a future not so far away, you can buy a dreamsaver, a device that saves and records your dreams, but also shares this data with the government. In fact, the algorithm can apparently detect when you are about to commit a crime. You are assessed with a "risk score" by which the government can retain you at a retention center. Idea being, you stay for 21 days until the risk of you committing a crime goes down. However, most of the women there have been there much, much longer, Sara Hussein has been retained over 300 days. She misses her husband and her young twins terribly. Sara was an archivist, and now spends her meager commissary account on shampoo, snacks and internet time to read the news and email back home.

How was we reconcile the freedoms we hold most dear with changing technology and culture? What does "freedom of speech" mean when millions can be at risk if someone shares viral misinformation? Do I have the same freedom of speech as celebrities and influencers with millions of followers? What does the second amendment really mean when we have guns that can shoot 700 rounds per minute? What responsibility does the government have to keep its citizens safe?

This book extends that to our fear about our privacy and data collection. What can be done with the collection of our data? Over time, our habits, our searches, our DNA are all collected in an effort to sell us more things and to keep increasing the wealth of a handful of citizens. Many people, myself included, would like to see common sense gun laws to keep dangerous guns away from those that shouldn't have them. And what if we had even more data? Could we save lives by eliminating the crimes in the first place?

This book is a 1984 for our time. While the people of 1948 feared dictators when that classic was published, we fear our freedom being lost in the name of safety. Our privacy being taken and misinterpreted.

It reminds me of a friend of mine who kept seeing ads for diabetes medicine in her social media feeds. For months she saw this and couldn't understand it. At her blood draw at her annual physical she found out... you guessed it... she has diabetes. I have 1600 books read and reviewed on Goodreads, and I have entered COUNTLESS giveaways. I am happy to disclose that I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. And now I am sure that I won because the algorithm knew I would rate this 5 stars.

It comes out March 4, 2025. I can't wait to talk to other people about it, it's going to drive me nuts. I LOVED THE ENDING. Based on that pub date, I just know it will be picked for one of the celebrity book clubs. Tons of people are going to read this, although many will hate it, it's not a feel good book. But it will inspire great discussions at your book club!

I only made it to 12% before the book expired. It hasn't been archived yet but I can't figure out how to renew it. Which is a bummer because I was enjoying it so far.

The Dream Hotel delivers a captivating narrative about the intertwining lives of individuals at a Moroccan hotel, each with their own desires, secrets, and histories. Lalami’s keen storytelling weaves together themes of displacement, identity, and the pursuit of personal freedom, all set against the backdrop of a country caught between tradition and modernity.

The novel excels in its exploration of the characters’ inner worlds, offering rich, multidimensional portraits of people on the margins, each navigating their own path toward self-discovery. Lalami’s prose is both lyrical and precise, capturing the emotional complexity of her characters. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy character-driven stories that examine the intersections of personal and political histories.

Summary: If you could prevent violence before it is even a possibility of occurring, would you? The future is here. Every action is analyzed. Dreams are monitored. AI promises that this is for the protection of the people. But who is benefiting from this system? "Retention" is meant to reform potential offenders, but what crime have they committed? These are the questions that Sara poses as she encounters this new institution firsthand.

Review: This is a terrifyingly real book set in what seems to be a too-soon future. I enjoyed Sara's inner dialogue and self-discovery, but it did seem like the story could have been shorter. However, the writing is great and the commentary was clear and direct. The transactional nature of the system that Lalami built perfectly demonstrates the current Western social, political, and economic state. Overall, I think this is a timely novel that all should peruse as they contemplate what the future holds.

Themes: dystopian, incarceration and prisons, AI

I was so intrigued by the premise of this book, and it really did not disappoint! The book is set in the near future (probably a future closer than we think!) where a sleep deprived mom utilizes the latest technology on the market, called a Dreamcatcher. The device promises restful sleep in a fraction of the time it would usually take to feel well rested, all by storing your dreams for you. However, those dreams are actually being monitored, and the main character's dreams are flagged by the government and they deem her as a threat because of it. Her life is turned upside down and she lands in a retention center all because of her dreams.

For me the book brought up a lot of thoughts about societal monitoring, and, as someone who wears an Apple Watch and Oura Ring, it really makes me rethink it all. It's great to capture data about yourself until it is used against you! I'm gonna be thinking about this book for a long time.

Reading The Dream Hotel whilst entering a new age of technology and AI infiltrating our everyday lives felt very harrowing, timely, and thought-provoking.

Protagonist Sara is detained by the government because they’ve analyzed her dreams to mean that she’s at risk of harming her husband. Not only has she been betrayed by a technological algorithm stealing data from her subconscious, she has been betrayed by her fellow humans who force her to treated guilty for *potential* crimes that have not even been committed.

This book raises incredibly important questions about the assimilation of advanced technology into civilization and the influence it can have on us. Reading this novel made me question whether we are succeeding in striving to make AI more humanistic, or if AI is actually stripping us of our warmth and humanity. Why do we trust fault-ridden technology over our fellow people? What further harm can this technology do if we allow it? And at what point does it go too far?

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the advanced copy.

While reading this book, I was completely on edge.. This novel of the near future seemed unbearably possible. Technology in all its forms has become intrinsic to our lives. However, its unbridled use by business and government, could have devastating consequences. In the hands of the brilliant Laila Lalami, Dream Hotel imagines an extremely realistic but alarming future.

Sara Hussein is a woman whose life, like most of us, requires juggling multiple balls. She is an archivist, a mother of toddler twins, and is for the most part happily married. She had been having trouble sleeping and decided to have a device implanted promoted to improve sleep. Dreamscape, a tech company, marketed this as a sleep aid but is, in fact, sharing its data.

Upon returning home to California from a conference in London, she is detained at LAX. A Risk Assessment Administrator informs her that using data from her dreams, they have determined her to be a risk to her husband, Elias. It is from this misguided assumption that she is sent for 21 days to Madison, a detention center for dreamers.

Although those in charge insist it is not a prison, it functions that way. Dreamers are accused of minor infractions, rules are fluid and keep changing, and staff cruelty can lengthen the stay. Dreams from the past are parsed in a way that doesn't reflect truth. As the months pass, Sara is no closer to being released. When she is most desperate, she rebels and takes on the system that has deprived her of her freedom.

Norovirus. California wildfires, the intrusion of artificial intelligence all ground the book in reality. It shows us how even the most convenient use of technology accessed to improve our lives can do the most to restrict our freedom and violate our privacy.

This novel is prescient warning of what the future could hold. Will technology assist us or restrict our freedom? The central question raised in this book: can we prevent technology from seeping into our thoughts?

Beautifully written. I was riveted from page one.

Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pantheon for the opportunity to honestly review this advanced reading copy.

3 / 5 stars: Good, with flaws.

I found the first 75% of this near-future speculative fiction novel very compelling. We follow a fairly ordinary woman, Sara, who winds up "retained" in a facility due to having a high score predicting risk of future violence. This risk score is generated from the wealth of data collected from her social media, phone use, public surveillance, smart home integrated objects, and, most recently, brain implant intended to regulate her sleep. The company that made the implant has sold her dream data to the company generating risk scores and she has just met the threshold to be determined high-risk.

The narrative centers around her incarceration and the impossibility of lowering her score in a facility that constantly surveills her dreams, conversations, moods, and facial expressions and staffed by individuals incentivized to keep her there. The baked-in bias of predictive algorithms, capitalist corruption of public services including public safety, unquenchable data greed of AI, and the inescapability of modern surveillance are well-explored themes in the novel. The epistolary elements also work well. So do the dreams.

While I had a great time most of the way through, the plot lost focus and the ending was unsatisfying. Maybe that's the point - there is no good ending here - but there were some narrative threads that I felt were left hanging. A major character reveal about halfway through, Sara's marital tension, and the enduring consequences of rentention all could have used more attention in the end. Also, as a person in science, I cringed very hard when characters discussed linear regressions and "p-levels"; at this level of big data analysis, I doubt sincerely they'd be using a linear regression model and also we call them p-values.

Thanks NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is a chilling and thought-provoking novel that explores the dangers of unchecked surveillance in a future where AI dictates our lives. In this dystopian world, Sara Hussein finds herself trapped in a nightmarish system that misinterprets her words and dreams as threats. Lalami masterfully crafts a believable and terrifying vision of a future where privacy is eroded and individual freedoms are crushed. This is a must-read for fans of speculative fiction and anyone concerned about the potential misuse of technology.

Impressive. I’ve read this author before. She’s always interesting and this novel seemed timely and chilling. Surveillance capitalism has arrived and the novel does a good job of considering it, and contextualizing it. The privatization of prisons, the exploitation of prisoners - and the general public - and our vulnerability to algorithms and private enterprise are depicted clearly and powerfully.
I’m not sure I accept the ending. Would Sara really be rewarded for disruption? But I could see a conclusion was required. That’s a quibble, however.
Another good job by a sensitive and perceptive writer.

I really liked the idea behind this book but couldn’t get into it! I DNF’d after ~45%. I really tried, but I couldn’t connect with the characters and it felt like it was dragging on and on and on… it really felt like after hours of reading, nothing actually happened.

I devoured this book in less than 48 hours! 😱 It was absolutely addictive. The story follows a new mother who gets detained due to AI, with what was supposed to be a 21-day stay turning into over 200.

I’ve been diving into AI-related topics lately, so the whole AI vs government and privacy angle had me hooked from the start! While it was a bit predictable at times, the writing was brilliant. Major props to the author for showcasing just how reliant we are on technology and how quickly it can turn on us.