Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

We Could Be Rats was a heartbreakingly human story about family, friends. love, loss, community (or lack thereof), and what it means to be alive. Emily Austin has a wonderful way of writing about the human condition in a relatable yet thought-provoking way. I really enjoyed this.

God. This book broke me. Ive been both those sisters. I dont wanna get too much into it, but it was quick and witty and heartfelt and relatable.

This book was amazing! It is unlike anything I’ve ever read such unique and well written perspective. With a twist that I absolutely did not see coming. Also the cover is spectacular!

Honestly the format of this book made it hard to stay in engaged. I understood what the author was trying to do but it fell flat in my opinion. Perhaps I have personal bias because as someone who has chronic suicidal ideations, this just doesn't seem like it was written with an understanding of those types of emotions. it felt like someone guessing what a suicidal person would say. Overall, I enjoyed the theme and was happy when I finally finished it so I could immediately forget about it.

This book delivers an emotional gut punch that lingers long after the last page.

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that this is a difficult read, particularly for those who have lost someone to suicide or have personal experience with mental illness. Please take note of the content and trigger warnings before diving in.

As someone who falls into that category, I found this novel both painful and powerful. It’s not an easy or conventional contemporary read, so if you're looking for something light, this may not be for you. However, it’s deeply poignant, filled with beautifully written passages that I found myself underlining—phrases that truly resonated.

The story follows two sisters, Sigrid and Magrit, who grew up in a tumultuous and often hostile household. Sigrid escaped into her imagination, creating intricate fantasy worlds in the basement with her toys, while Magrit coped by staying grounded, focusing on school, and trying to maintain peace in their volatile home.

The novel begins with Sigrid attempting to write her suicide note. As she drafts different versions, we gain insight into her past, her struggles, and her present-day life working at the Dollar Mart. Then, the perspective shifts to Magrit, offering an even deeper understanding of their shared history and the emotional scars they carry—not just because of Sigrid’s mental illness, but due to the trauma they endured as children.

Although the sisters never considered themselves particularly close, their bond is undeniable. This story masterfully explores themes of repression, small-town claustrophobia, and the emotional toll of not being able to live as your authentic self. It also highlights the dangers of ignoring or suppressing emotions, making it feel especially relevant in today’s often harsh and unforgiving world.

This is a challenging read, both in subject matter and format, and there were moments when I struggled with it. But ultimately, it’s a moving, thought-provoking novel that left a lasting impact.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything quite like this and could not put it down for that reason. The book begins with a diary with a series of suicide notes that become progressively more immersive as Sigrid really begins to elaborate on her life as it is now and from her childhood experience. The diary is resumed by her sister Margrit and the past is expounded on by her point of view of what she went through in their shared childhood experience. There is so much minutiae from so many different captured moments that makes this so unique, but so relatable at the same time. I felt the subject matter was definitely grim, however this author really derived something so fresh and captivating out of the rubble. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. I would definitely like to read more from this author.

I loved Austin's book, Everyone in this room will someday be dead. I knew I would like this book just as well. I thought this was fantastically well done and really made me think about myself and my life. Loved it!

I felt like I was reading letters between my cousin and I, or my sister and I. Our awful childhood, how I escaped but neither of them did. I felt ashamed and seen and sad. But most of all I felt grateful and hopeful.

It was a work of art that should be read by everyone.

If you have read Emily Austin before, then you will know her books will make you think a lot, and We Could be Rats is no exception. This epistolatory novel tells the story of Sigrid in three sections. The first section tells the story of a girl who hates working at her local dollar store but does not want to be a standard-size adult. The second section is penned by her sister Margit, who visits Sigrid one day and finds a card on her front door that reads “Don’t come in—I’m dead.” The third tells the story of two sisters finding their way back to each other through childhood imagination and shared experiences.

I will say that We Could Be Rats is not a light read. If you are sensitive to stories containing suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, rape, domestic abuse and violence, drug use, and homophobia, find another story. With that said, I think We Could Be Rats is one of the most important stories one could read nowadays. This book pays tribute to the many versions of ourselves: to the adult trying to figure out what we are meant to be doing, to the child reaching out to our loved ones, and to the reader holding the book. I think this will be a great pick for fans of John Green and of the movie Lady Bird.

This is a horrible thing to admit, but whenever I'm feeling bad about myself and then I read an Emily Austin book, I remember that I could be feeling worse right now. Emily's third book is, in a way, very different from her previous books, but in another way, extremely similar, and I'm glad I finally got a chance to read it. Sigrid and Margit are fascinating characters, and teasing apart the way they feel about the world, their families, and each other was a great way to spend a long morning.

I laughed and (almost) cried and now I just want to hug my sister. Such a classic Emily Austin book featuring lovable FMCs dealing with mental health and their relationships with the world around them. I can’t recommend her books enough in general and this one is exceptional too. I loved it on audio— definitely a one sitting kind of book or 2 if you’re like me and need sleep.

I am endlessly impressed with Emily Austin’s ability to present the deeper and more emotional issues in life, in such a charming, humorous way. I do, however, think it’s important to go into this book while in a semi-good headspace.

A very thoughtful discourse on the difficulty of navigating young adulthood and the importance of being your authentic self, it is heartbreaking at times, and ultimately very sad, even while being ultimately hopeful and uplifting. One aspect that touched me deeply is the examination of just how profound the nature of friendship is, and the deep grief that accompanies the loss of that friendship.

🎧 I think this story is best told on audio, narrated by Candace Thaxton who so perfectly nails Austin’s juxtaposition between the maudlin and merriment. And at only 5+ hours, you’ll literally fly through it, all the better for having pondered some of life’s hardest-hitting issues.

CW: There are quite a few triggers including cancer, abuse, drug addiction, and attempted suicide. Please check full trigger list before reading if you are sensitive to them.

Read if you like:
▪️family drama
▪️emotional reads
▪️books that make you think
▪️gripping twists
▪️unique writing
▪️epistolary format

Thank you Atria for the gifted copies.

I loved this book! It was a super interesting concept that had me hooked from the beginning. Emily Austin is one of my few auto-buy authors, and this book further cements her place on that list.

Emily Austin, you could rewrite anything and I think you would write it better than anyone else.
This book was absolutely captivating and took my attention anytime I picked it up. A lot of parts hit close to home and normally I would be bothered, but it worked out so well for this read.

3.25 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

There’s 3 distinct parts in this short novel: in the 1st one we follow Sigrid, writing letters detailing her life and her decision to kill herself. In the 2nd one, we follow her older sister Margit as she grapples with the aftermath. In the final part, we follow Sigrid again.

I found myself much more interested in the story when we were following it through Margit’s eyes. Sigrid’s parts kinda bored me.

The pace is really slow, as this is definitely a character driven story with almost no action, mostly reminiscing.

And i found myself really frustrated when we learn that Sigrid’s part are very much unreliable.

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC! I honestly screamed over this approval!

Emily Austin is one of my absolute favorite authors and I will read anything she writes. This was a unique set up compared to her other works, and the beginning was unlike anything she has written before. I appreciate how the character 'flaws' were introduced and honestly it was a bit unhinged and appalling which made it all the more entertaining. I personally think this is Emily's most emotional work yet and will hit heavy for some.

Dark humor is a central theme in this book, which is such a treat. But really, you have to laugh so you don't cry over the truths. I did find this morbid but entirely relatable as far as religious trauma and seeing yourself as 'flawed'.

I also thought I detected some book cross over? If you're a fan of her other work you'll know what i'm referencing!

Ultimately, this felt written for my inner child. I am still unsure if it healed me or gave me more reasons to go to therapy. Grabbed a copy for my shelves and cannot wait to give it a reread!

it’s hard for me to put into words why I love her writing so much, but in this book specifically it was the imagery about childhood that I felt so drawn to. the way she described being young and how everything feels limitless

I absolutely love this book. It had me both laughing out loud and wiping away tears. So much of it was relatable to me - especially in our current time. I was gutted by this book and can’t wait to read more Emily Austin.

I enjoyed this book way more than I was expecting to. Sigrid, a young adult working at a local convenience store, tells this story in a collection of suicide notes. This story was equally emotional and funny, a mixture of style that I’ve come to expect from Emily Austin. She has become a reliable queer/weird girl litfic author for me! Definitely would recommend this to readers who have enjoyed her other work, but also to anyone looking to branch out within in the contemporary fiction genre.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary fiction 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such an interesting and unique read the delves right into the hard and dark topics in a refreshing way.
- make sure you check the trigger warnings before reading
-
𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Dark comedies
Books that tackle mental health in unique ways
Coming of age stories
Complex, layered characters
Dark yet emotional topics
Dual POV
Small town settings

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The unique, quirky nature of the story
How it addressed mental health and dark topics in a raw and honest way

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
It was a little confusing and drawn out at times

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Sometimes, the things that hurt the most are the ones that teach us the most.”
★ “We could be rats, scurrying through life, trying to make sense of the maze we’ve built around ourselves.”
★ “In the darkest moments, there’s a strange kind of clarity that only the brave dare to see.”