Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I cannot even explain why I loved this book as much as I did, but it somehow just worked for me? The timing of when I read it and everything just seemed to align. I cannot say that if I had read it at a different time or place if I would have loved it as much, but this book was just so good to me.

I found myself laughing out loud at so many moments! I also just loved the writing style. I know it might not be for some because the formatting of the book jumped around a lot, but I liked it and it helped the book to fly by that much faster.

Gilda was just also such a real and honest character. And this might be wild to say, but she might be in a list of my favorite characters of all time?

I can't believe I'm praising this book as much as I am. I didn't think I would hate this book by any means, but I definitely thought I would either really like it or really not like it, and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed it!

I just love the reading year I am having so far, and I am grateful to be reading so many books that just seem to be working so well for me!

“I feel so profoundly inside of myself, I can't stand it.”

This was a difficult read for sure. Very accurate portrayal of disassociation, depression, and anxiety. It tackles big issues well and has a very nice conclusion but as another reviewer said it's the opposite of escapist literature. I had some issues with it that stopped it from being a 5 star for me. Mostly it just overstayed it's welcome. Like depression it lingered and repeated itself often and I think that worked beautifully narrative wise but just made me less inclined to read it. I think that could also be because it was so similar to issues I deal with regularly

Delightfully awkward and odd, Gilda is one delight of a heroine in this book with an equally awkward, odd, and hilarious premise. Maybe I delighted in it so much because I recognized that social awkwardness of Gilda's going along with the situation (job interview vs therapy session) because it was easier that just speaking up. Despite all the awkwardness of our main character and how much familiarity I might have seen and cringed at, the story is also full of heart and kindness.

This book might not be for everyone but for me it was a refreshingly different read.

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
Published: July 6, 2021
Genre: Realistic contemporary Fiction
Trigger warnings: Anxiety, Depression, Suicide, Murder
Rating: 3.5/5 stars – not for every reader
Summary from Amazon: In this “fun, page-turner of a novel” (Sarah Haywood, New York Times bestselling author) that’s perfect for fans of Mostly Dead Things and Goodbye, Vitamin, a morbidly anxious young woman stumbles into a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church and soon finds herself obsessed with her predecessor’s mysterious death.

Gilda, a twenty-something, atheist, animal-loving lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she’s there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist, Grace.

In between trying to memorize the lines to Catholic mass, hiding the fact that she has a new girlfriend, and erecting a dirty dish tower in her crumbling apartment, Gilda strikes up an email correspondence with Grace’s old friend. She can’t bear to ignore the kindly old woman who has been trying to reach her friend through the church inbox, but she also can’t bring herself to break the bad news. Desperate, she begins impersonating Grace via email. But when the police discover suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace’s death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth of her mortifying existence.

With a “kindhearted heroine we all need right now” (Courtney Maum, New York Times bestselling author), Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a crackling and “delightfully weird reminder that we will one day turn to dust and that yes, this is depressing, but it’s also what makes life beautiful” (Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of Pizza Girl).

Review: Based on the reviews, I expected it to be a little more engaging than it was as a story. Yes, it has some moments of dark humor, but overall, it was not as much fun as I thought it would be. It did have some hilarious moments. Perhaps I read this at the wrong time of year. Gilda is very kindhearted to a fault, and her journey through anxiety and depression are vividly described and realistic. Extremely dark humor and satirical – this novel won’t be for everyone. It is a debut and I look forward to reading the author’s next novel. This was not an incredibly easy or fast read, so be prepared to take your time if you do decide to read it. I did not really think it was a page turner for me. Good, darkly humorous read for the right audience.

Enjoyable, fun to read. pretty basic but still a good time. Liked the characters. 3.5 stars rounded down

I read this about a year ago and rated it three stars. I found Gilda getting in my nerves a bit. But I did find the story interesting enough that I finished it.

Did not finish, I just couldn’t get into it and after getting to 50% decided it wasn’t for me. I think the story needed to move along a bit quicker.

I just completed the audiobook of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin (having forgotten that I got a copy from NetGalley). Never related to a character so much. Am I the only one? It felt like I should think Gilda was weird and/or crazy, but I generally understood her perfectly. Listening on Audio was like just sitting with my thoughts. Loved it. Gilda may have felt alone, but her existence proved that I am not alone.

Not to mention it's always nice to have a gay main character who just is. It wasn't about Gilda being a lesbian, but being a lesbian factored into decisions and events. More stories with gay characters who just happen to be gay, please.

Was gifted this one as a digital copy so will not be reviewing but truly one of my most anticipated books ive seen and can't wait to read.

I wanted this to be funnier than it was. The main character was anxiety inducing and uncomfortable. Luckily, I stuck it out and the warm ending made it worthwhile.

Gilda is one of those characters that you will always remember. A lesbian woman who is seeking free therapy at a church somehow ends up obtaining a job at the church. Mental health plays a large role in this book as Gilda struggles with anxiety and depression while trying to keep up the charade that she got dragged into. I really enjoyed this novel and was invested from start to finish.

Thank you Atria for this gifted holiday surprise! I’m so excited to read this one after hearing so many great things.

I loved this book and was so surprised at how i could not stop read. Gilda is so relatable and humorous. this was just so good. i highly recommend and am also kicking myself for taking so long to read

This is a darkly comic novel about the pain of living with anxiety and depression and being gay in a heteronormative family/society. I appreciate the quirkiness of the novel overall. I don't think I've ever read a novel that shows how people can drift into situations when they're struggling with mental health challenges and how hard it is to make changes. Gilda is endearing and a character I would like to revisit.

There is a trend in books now that I've noticed that focuses on young woman experiencing existential dread (or maybe those are just the books I'm drawn to...hm...?). This falls into that category, but it still had a fresh feel. Fresh in terms of story, but absolutely suffocating. The chaotic overthinking is too relatable.

I was looking for a quick easy to read book after being in a slump and this was a phenomenal choice. I related to Gilda in many ways with her anxious tendencies and the questions she posed about simply being alive. I want a physical copy to treasure!

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead follows Gilda, a neurotic, atheist lesbian, recently unemployed. Gilda ends up at a Catholic church for therapy, but instead, is mistaken for someone interviewing for the recently vacated secretary position. Gilda goes along with it, lies about being Catholic, and is offered the job. Haunted by the death of her predecessor, Grace, Gilda searches for answers. Gilda's heart is in the right place, but she finds herself in socially awkward situations, pretending to be someone she is not. Eventually the facade breaks her, and she faces mental collapse. People with depression and anxiety will be able to relate to Gilda. However, she does have some cringe-worthy moments that will leave the reader wincing. Coming to terms with who she is, Gilda's story is a heart-felt one.

I just realized I never reviewed this book.

It's been a year and I don't fully remember it except to say I remember it was weird, funny and had the death positivity I wanted in my life.

I loved this novel so so so much. As a person who deals with illogical anxiety every day, I found the constant inner dialogue to be absolutely hilarious.

Emily Austin brings so much humanity to her characters, and I really loved how well thought out and executed the entire plot was. I haven't read a mystery that has left me so amused and fulfilled in quite a long time.

Darkly funny, but ultimately such a searing and honest portrayal of depression and anxiety and how they manifest for one twenty-something lesbian. Gilda has an unforgettable voice. The balance of slightly absurd and serious life messes is perfect.