4.5 ⭐️! I spent about the first 1/4 of this book asking myself what the heck I was reading, but was so intrigued by its quirky nature and compelling writing that I ended up finishing it in less than 24 hours.

Interesting Facts About Space is one of those stories that has very minimal plot but such well-written characters. It centers around a neurodivergent person and focuses heavily on mental health and self-discovery/acceptance while told through a humorous lens. I also appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation!

The way IFAS is told makes me think of “Juno meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Idk a better way to describe it 😂

(Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Emily R. Austin for a free e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!)

Emily Austin is proving to be one of my favorite authors of whom I will read anything they write. I adored this book and its neurodivergence. I found myself relating to so many passages as an autistic person, and although everyone's autism presents differently, I think this book will be incredibly relatable to neurodivergent readers, especially those who question their own "goodness" often like Enid. The story almost felt like it was filled with autistic easter eggs, and every time I felt seen by an autistic trait that I share with Enid, I got a little excited. I appreciated that although Enid has a special interest in true crime that she is also self-critical of this and acknowledges the issues with the consumption and popularization of true crime that has affected real people's lives, while also highlighting that neurodivergent people often do not have a choice in their special interests, which doesn't make them bad people. I found myself laughing out loud so often while reading this, and one of my favorite scenes was the inner monologue as Enid prepared a "transphobic" gender reveal cake for her half-sister's baby shower.
In terms of critiques, I found some of Polly's dialogue to sound a little unnatural. I also wished Polly had taken more accountability for outing Enid to her step-mom, but her not properly apologizing in that situation that could just be a part of her character. I felt that a lot of the dates that Enid went on were not necessary to the story or moving along the plot, so I feel that some of those scenes could have been left out without compromising the book.
Overall, I adored this book and am so grateful to the publisher for allowing me early access to read it. I felt so seen as an autistic lesbian by this story, and I will be recommending it to all of my neurodivergent queer friends.

~ARC provided through NetGalley~

The amount of relief I felt knowing I'd end 2023 reading at least one truly great novel. Emily Austin really wowed me with her debut, "Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead." Her out-of-sync, odd female protagonist Gilda struck a chord with me and I recommended that book to everyone. It was so refreshing to get a new Austin book and find it had the weirdness and curiosity that I was hoping for.

The main character, Enid, is born from the boygenius lyric: "When you cut a hole into my skull. Do you hate what you see like I do?" from "Souvenir." She is strange, self-loathing, and knows so many interesting facts about space. I love how the story meandered between the different relationships in Enid's orbit. They each felt so separate, but ended up weaving together in the most satisfying way. I also loved the representation of deafness. As someone who works with adolescents with hearing loss, many of whom have unilateral hearing loss, like Enid, I appreciated the ways in which Enid's hearing loss impacts her and adds to the story in a meaningful way.

This book should be on everyone's most anticipated list for 2024.

I think I’ll be reading anything Emily Austin writes now. Just like Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, this book is dark yet funny and has a very anxious lesbian protagonist with a distinct voice and inner thoughts. I found some parts of this almost painful to read but I also couldn’t put it down. I also think it’s a book that’s best read without knowing too much in advance. Highly recommend, with the content note that this deals with pretty severe mental health struggles and complicated family dynamics.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Follows a twenty-something queer, hearing impaired woman as she navigates complicated family and romantic relationships, all while attempting to manage her intense paranoia with true crime podcasts and talking about outer space. If you deal with mental illness in any capacity, you will feel incredibly seen by this main character. It’s both hilarious and heartfelt, a really stunning look at the intricacies of an anxious mind and how it affects all aspects of your life.

Last December I read and LOVED Everyone in this Room Will Someday be Dead by @emilyraustinauthor . I am happy to report that Austin’s new book, Interesting Facts About Space, is even better!

Emily Austin does such a great job of writing mentally ill and neurodivergent queer characters. I found myself highlighting line after line—she was able to put into words so many familiar feelings and experiences. The cast of supporting characters also really shine in this novel! I loved seeing Enid grow with the support of her family and friends.

If you liked Emily Austin’s first novel (which if you haven’t read, you should!) I can’t recommend her new novel enough! Interesting Facts About Spaced releases on January 30th, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Lots of mental health issues in this story and if you're not a fan of main characters that can't seem to get out of their own way, you'd better skip this one. I'm usually not bothered by such, but even I could feel my frustration with Enid start to build. Maybe things hit a little too close to home? I'm glad I stuck with her though because the payoff was worth it. There's so much packed into this novel and everything is so difficult, but it's also pretty darn beautiful. Fans of Emily Austin will not be disappointed.
#NetGalley

Interesting Facts About Space is the simultaneously hilarious, perplexing, and devastating story of 20-something Enid, a queer woman who’s navigating a career, challenging family and romantic relations, and the nuances of neurodivergence, mental illness, and hearing loss. She also uses true crime media as her primary coping mechanism, knows a lot about space, and has a severe phobia of bald men.

I can’t fully explain how much Emily Austin’s main characters - Enid here and Gilda in Everyone in This Room Will Someday be Dead - mean to me, or how her writing communicates so many things I’ve thought and felt with such insight and precision. With Interesting Facts About Space, Austin has established herself as one of my all-time favorite, must-read authors, and I can’t wait for whatever’s next.

Thanks to netgalley and atria for an early copy of this incredible book.

Honestly through a good chunk of this book I kept thinking wtf?? It all comes together in the end however.

Enid comes across as a very mentally unwell person. She’s trying to protect her depressive mother, still healing from her father abandoning them to have a whole new family, figuring out how to have a relationship with her half sisters, paranoia, fear of bald men and a whole lot of relationship drama.

It all comes together when she FINALLY goes to therapy (thank God) cause yeah that was a lot.

Tbh this was such heavy lifting and Enid comes across as so unlikable I’m not sure I’d recommend this one unless you enjoy the mess of someone in the midst of a healing journey.

This was fantastic. This book just pulled me out of a three-month reading slump. I absolutely devoured it.

The story follows a 20-something queer woman named Enid as she navigates her relationships, career, mental health, and an irrational fear of bald men. It's at once hilarious, devastating, and deeply relatable. Austin is a literary genius.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Austin's first novel, Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, as well as fans of authors such as Sally Rooney, Elif Batuman, and Melissa Broder.

I am so grateful to have read this book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this title.

I can’t say enough good things about this book!!! I loved Emily R Austin’s last book and, now that I’ve read this one as well, I can confirm that she is my favorite author.

Enid is all of us, trying to hide and wanting to be seen. Doing good person things and still believing you might be terrible.

I’m so thankful I was able to get an ARC of this book and I can’t wait to buy a hard copy when it releases in January!

I really enjoyed this book. I was sort of misled with the title (I was hoping for the facts about space to direct the narrative), I still loved all of the facts about space. I think this book is what I'm beginning to label "explorations of self", and these are not books I typically gravitate towards, but am finding myself pick up more often.

I think this is a really well-written book about trauma, grief, anxiety, and life in general. I related a lot to Enid and how she processes things. Though I was sort of confused on where we were going and what journey she was taking me on, I was happy to let go of the reins.

The way Emily Austin can embed you deeply into her MC's brain is so impressive. I enjoyed Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, but this novel is even better.

Emily R. Austin's sophomore novel packs just as mighty of a punch as her debut, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD. Austin's protagonist is another anxious lesbian just trying to get through the day; queen of relatability! INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE is a slow-burning fire that completely envelops you by its end. Austin explores love in a multitude of ways that are almost certain to make you cry. You definitely shouldn't miss this one.

It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters that contain reflections on self-harm, attempted suicide, parental neglect, grief, parental abandonment, mental illness, & others.

There is a particular aspect of fanaticism that renders the make-believe frightful. There is no looming monster under our bed, nor any perched ghoul on the roof. The part of our brain that engages with the imagery of these tales utilizes its power to remind us that the scales & oozing secretions could be present; they could become real threats, if, at any point, the brain decides upon a narrative shift. In a world where there are no fantastic beasts, we rely on the sharpened edges of stories, crafted from the sedentary troubles of terrible humans to rivulet the dark of night & send us tormented under folded sheets.

The experiences of those around us shape the world in which we live, without our realizing that the craftsman’s hands are ailed. When the reader is introduced to Enid she is painted with crusted colours. The main character of this book is insecure; she has no fixture; she is on the precipice of snapping; she is uncertain. Like in many of the books I have enjoyed reading, the author has offered a morsel of time for the reader to masticate. Enid’s insecurity is an Everest, making her person fragile porcelain where once she was a stone.

When Enid was young her life became a secret. It is never very pleasant to speak on things that hurt us & for Enid, her quotidian was filled with gelatinous beasts salivating in every corner. Her father, a man she hardly knew, had a short stint relationship with her mother; they became pregnant; Enid’s existence in the world knew him only as a shadow.

Her father chose to invest his time with a woman who became a mother to two (2) daughters. As the story goes, what was first is now last & by the time it mattered, Enid’s father was dead in the ground & the cacophony of women left behind, responsible for healing the wounds he inflicted.

While reading this book, I was reminded of what it promised me; a story that would comfort readers—the worst thing they had ever done wasn’t so bad. Perhaps it was pessimistic to believe that this story couldn’t achieve what it set out to do. I have been in the world too long to fall prey to the eagerness of what is promised; we are not always so lucky as to see our hopes transform into concrete reality. Rather than take my apprehension personally, this story continued on its course. I am glad that I was allowed along for the ride.

Enid’s life is a strange one & that is not because it is unusual. Rather, Enid’s life is strange because it is palpably tangible. In Enid, I found much of myself & if readers allow for the discomfort of personal recognition, they might too. I can imagine that for Enid, living life in a house that was never a home was difficult, especially because her mother attempted to make it into a place of safety. Yet, both became enshrined by despair; her mother was no match for her mania & Enid, was left alone in the hallways awaiting the latch of the lock holding the bedroom door separating them, in place.

This story deals primarily with mental illness & disorders. Nearly each of the characters is plagued by some form of torment. In this way, Austin has allowed her story to be real. The reality is that many people experience the repercussions of intergenerational trauma; what the reader is faced with in this book is the beginning of what might surely become a long series of pains.

It was admirable to see each woman within this mangled family tree attempt to prevent what they felt could happen. The daughters brought into the world by loving mothers & an angry absent father, offered to each other the promise of comradely. Their efforts were wrought with distress but, most of all, hope.

I was perhaps enamoured with Enid because she experienced much of what I have. Her paranoia & distressing anxiety were home to me in my childhood body & as I grew I became aware that the world was perhaps filled with colours in a palette I could not see with my eyes.

How the author incorporates horrible things into her characters is earnest & I applaud her for that. I am hopeful that that Austin did not live these experiences firsthand hand though, the delicate nature of her storytelling slithers with the possibility that she sees in the dark too. Regardless, her ability to present eager or apprehensive readers will Enid & her life make her an author I will revisit until she decides to write no more; with shelves settled from the stories she held inside.

The exploration of trauma & the denigration of brain matter as a consequence of illness is no easy feat to present. Readers might find themselves utterly upset by the story. It would be entirely acceptable for them to place the book aside, never to weave their hands across its back, ever again.

That is to say; this story is upsetting. Enid is suffering & unable to find her way but, at the same time, she is strong & dangerously forceful in keeping her place in this world. The fact that she climbs through her window to avoid someone, or that she refuses to speak frankly with her mother about her feelings does not dismiss her essence; Enid is a force.

I have written some points relating to Enid’s experiences & the story itself circles these in ways that feel rather trite to recount in a review. I have sat with my thoughts as they relate to this story for some time; what do I think, how do I feel, what is there to say? There are few stories among the thousands that I would simply pass on to others, wanting them rather to read what is written than hear what I have to say.

Austin has a strangely melodramatic way of writing. Her characters are unlikeable & mean; sometimes altogether annoying. Yet, page after page, I could not loosen my grip, because they were human beings too.

The romantic entanglements that took place as a backdrop to the main plot added a layer of dimension that felt authentic. One might relinquish their fear that Austin has simply added lettering for the sake of checking boxes or shades of blue to confuse the sky. Every aspect of this story made sense in that it was relevant.

When Enid sent templated text messages; when she sat in the shower with the person who turned out to be the love of her life; when her mother wore lipstick; & when she thought about space & time; she was Enid & the reader grew to know her as one might any other important person in their life.

Though I have added many sentences of praise, I would not advocate for this book for all readers. I will not shy away from saying that a handful of readers will miss the beauty in this book entirely. I admit that it is not my place to decide for them what is worth their time & what moral they should take away from careful writing. However, it is my place to state that this is a beautiful book. The facet that renders it lovely is the innate & intricate care that the author has brought forth. Readers are lucky to grasp the bind that holds love; the likes of which never disappear for it is in ink & stone.

Where does this leave me & how might I conclude a review that is certainly lacking? While reading this book, I knew that I would not be able to compile all that is of value from this book into a single review. I found Enid’s earnest & tender recollections about special & interesting facts about space familiar & nostalgic.

I wanted to whisper through the pages that life would not be unkind to her forever; tomorrow she would meet the reprieve she surely needed, as I saw it coming down the lines of chapters formatted just for me. Somehow, this experience has left a part of me within the pages.

Humanity is a harsh critic, I will never lie & say that all of my reviews are kind; I have been harsh—nearly cruel in my comparisons & analogies. Words are very important to me. In the silence of hours, the twinkle of the eyes or the breath of a syllable can bring me back to the life I am leading. I have always found books to be among my most precious possessions; the discoveries I cherish like gemstones. When a reader meets a character like Enid whose life is torn apart by what she cannot describe & she is faced with people who cannot see her, the days of existence are very long; I say this from experience.

Austin’s talent for truth & terrible honesty will have readers giggling & gruesomely sad. Enid is an innocent child; an innocent adult; she is an innocent person who placates herself by behaving as a phantom in her life. I cannot fault her for this. She is intelligent & hopeful; she is thoughtful & eager; she tries her best & sometimes, she doesn’t even do that. But above all the mistakes & her horrible incomprehension of existence, Enid remembers the stars & the galaxies & she thinks of them when she wants the people she loves to know that, she is thinking of them too.

The most beautiful thing we have while alive is the knowledge that the entire universe is of its own; we are within it like a beating heart. Enid’s social claustrophobia & transferred revulsion stemming from the shadows in her memory are not cancer to her cells; she has healed in the only way she knows how.

Therefore, I must ask; Who is this story for? Which reader will read the tale of a woman sick from the dark confines inside? Who among us will be eager to know Enid & her flaws? Me.

Ultimately, this is a story about a woman who was once a child in a home where she was scared. Her fear manifested itself into paranoia & a demented sense of self. The loathing murmur of certainty has eaten her alive; no one is seated at the table to witness her cannibalistic demise.

The reader has arrived at what is possibly the most ideal time. The reader will walk through the halls of a silent home, where behind the doors people are crying; terror brooding; rouge wasting; babies growing; the sky darkening; laundry sagging; dishes moulding; & a clock ticking the time passing as though counting down to the final moment when Enid remembers who she is.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, & Emily Austin for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I struggled with how to rate this but ultimately, I enjoyed this more than I thought! While some of the inner monologue felt a bit chaotic, the main character really grew on me and I didn’t want to put this down! Bingeable, tender and often funny. The writing was superb. I was rooting for our quirky protagonist from the beginning, even when she was on the verge of a menty B for the entirety of the book.

Another amazing book by Emily Austin !! I feel like Emily Austin books are great for people who get a little bored with the no-plot aspect of lit fic. They have everything I love about lit fic with some added appeal, drama & humour that makes you want to keep reading. I flew through this and I know I’ll be reading everything Emily Austin writes going forward. I highly recommend picking this up

Emily Austin returns with a wonderful second novel, Interesting Facts About Space. In a similar vein to Everyone In This Room will Someday be Dead, Austin tackles a serial dater and listener of true crime podcasts. Who is thrown into confronting her fears that someone is following her, her fears of bald men, and her fears about herself.

It is a novel of self-discovery told from the perspective of Enid, who works for the Space Agency and spouts off facts about space to self-soothe. Worried about her mother, her neighbor, and who might have broken into her house, Enid must grapple with her fears.

Told through true crime podcast snippets, facts about space, rewatching your teenage YouTube channel, and confronting yourself. Austin writes a beautiful, thought-provoking novel.

This is not a coming-of-age novel. It is not an unreliable narrator. It is a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. It is filled with a love of family despite the fear Enid has toward connections. It is insightful and touching.

Thank you Atria Books for the arc!!


4.5 🌟— emily austin is proving to be an amazing writer with her second novel!! this book, similar to “everyone in this room will someday be dead” is about a severely anxious woman whose mental state begins to affect her life to the point where she needs to make a change. this one has less of a structured plot but it’s so funny and fast paced you don’t even notice. austin’s writing is so addictive i can’t wait for her next one!!

Emily Austin has done it again. Run to request this from Netgalley and then run to your local book store to get a physical copy when it's released next month.