Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Francesca Lia Block puts her powerful prose to work in this stunningly simple, yet amazingly complex book. We follow a teenaged girl, known as Psyche, throughout her life, which mirrors the stories in several Greek myths.

An actress in her father's odd, violent movies, Psyche considers herself her father's muse, who took over when her mother left. At night, she is visited by Love himself, who tells her that she is Soul. Her lover brings the sound of the ocean with him, the taste of citrus spray on her lips, and tales of long ago to her ears. She loves this man, but has no idea what he looks like, for he has forbid her to turn on the light when he is with her. Cajoled by her sisters, Psyche's doubts begin to grow, and she breaks the rules by lighting a candle. Only then does she discover that she is in love with a god, and she does not deserve him.

After he leaves, Psyche's life spirals into the pits of hell as she tries to win Love back. Throughout random affairs, abusive relationships, and a reunion with her mother, Psyche realizes how she is playing out the tales that Love told her long ago. She probably will never find Love again, but perhaps she can be worthy of him, someday.

A quick read with mature themes, this book will leave the reader begging for more, tempted by the satisfying banquet of words this story presents. ( )

Francesca Lia Block has provided us with a romantically dark look at sensuality and sexuality with the book Psyche in a Dress and uses characters from Greek mythology to do it. It is a very erotic book even though there is no gratutious sex, and as one reads it they cannot help but feel the love and heartbreak that the main character feels as the story progresses. Someone unfamiliar with Greek mythology might be confused by this story and the style is not for everyone, but all in all it is an amazing book that most any female would enjoy reading. ( )

This book follows Psyche as she grows up under the abusive thumb of her film producer father (Zeus). She has a brief affair with a mysterious stranger (Eros). Then she becomes Echo as she dates the self-absorbed film star (Narcissus). Afterward she morphs into Eurydice to be with artistic Orpheus. As she leaves home to find herself, she lands in the dark underworld of society as Persephone, the consort to Hades. After her mother (Demeter) finds her... she starts to alternate living in depravity with Hades and living with in a sea-side cottage with her mother. Eventually Psyche returns to home and works for her father’s girlfriend (Aphrodite). She rediscovers Eros who turns out to be Aphrodite’s son. Psyche then gives birth to Joy and learns to live without “Love as a man,” thus becoming Demeter.
This book is better suited for high school or adult readers. It helps to have some background in Greek mythology before reading the book or the “story” may become “lost in translation.” The free verse/prose format and frank sexual language may not be suited for younger audiences. However, it could promote interesting discussions in a mythology classroom. ( )

Francesca Lia Block has weaved a beautiful prose using the gods and goddesses of ancient Greek myths. This book should be sung.

Psyche in a Dress is a sexy, emotionally raw novella written in verse form using classical mythology against the backdrop of hollywood. Our heroine is a young actress, used by her father in films, missing her mother who left when she was younger, and connecting to her through the dresses she left behind. When her first lover, Eros, leaves her upon seeing his face, Psyche embarks on a journey to achieve the same happiness she felt with him, always hoping she might win him back. She takes on the roles of other mythological heroines - Eurydice, Echo, Persephone - as she meets each new lover, who, inevitably, cannot replace Eros. While the verse form doesn't seem to lend itself to this story any better or worse than straight prose, it doesn't detract from it either, and the book is gripping from the first page, enticing you to peek into the life of the young girl as she struggles with her identity and relationships. The book does suffer slightly from the confusing nature of renaming the character periodically, Block does a decent job of disambiguating through recollection of past experiences as the story moves on. And while maybe a bit too erotic for some, Psyche in a Dress is a more than refreshing read for anyone willing to explore teenage sexuality. ( )