I've read all of Austin’s novels and this newest one covers some similar ground while still being distinct. It follows Sigrid and her sister Margit who are in their early twenties. The book examines toxic family dynamics, growing up queer in a small town, suicide, and the opioid crisis. Like Austin’s other works, this book is heavy on interiority with very neurotic/neurodiverse narrators who struggle with anxiety/depression.

Unlike her previous books, this features a much more unreliable narrator which I found made for a somewhat difficult reading experience, though I was sucked in by the reveals as the story went on.

I wasn't as into this one as much as her previous works, maybe because it reads too similar to those that came before. I didn't like the repetition of how much Sigrid liked playing as a child and struggled with growing up, but perhaps I'm just a bit old compared to the target audience. It covers a lot of interesting themes and it's well done so I do think a lot of people will like this one, unfortunately it just failed to resonate for me.

Also recommend: Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors and In Universes by Emet North

I adore the structure of this book. The first half are attempts at a suicide note by our protagonist, Sigrid. We get a sense of her general malaise and small town frustrations. We later switch to the more responsible sister, Magrit, for her perspective on Sigrid and some of the family troubles. The author could have had a stronger differentiation between the two character voices, but overall this was a tender portrait of someone who fears growing up, feels like a misfit, and could benefit from some inner child work.

This one was somehow even more moving than Austin's previous novels. I had to read sections slowly and take breaks so I wouldn't publicly cry in my office (don't tell my boss). It's hard for me to imagine anyone not identifying with this story, at least a little.

Emily Austin, you've done it again. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc.

A triumph. Emily R. Austin has done it again.

This is a much darker story than Austin's previous. Although dark humour is typical in her stories, We Could Be Rats focuses less on humour and more on reflection of how our past affects us in the present, although you may still get a surprise giggle here and there. There's a lot in here for people to relate to when it comes to mental health, familial relationships, and grappling with growing up,

Lots of beautiful discussion of childhood friendship, imagination, and sisterhood.

Only twice in my life has a book made me cry, and they were both Emily Austin books, We Could be Rats was the second.

10/10

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6607165287

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I was teetering on the edge of an emotional breakthrough for a lot of this book but I couldn’t quite tip over far enough to get there. It took me until a little over halfway through to become fully committed to the story but when that happened, I promptly stopped my Lord of the Rings marathon in order to finish it, so that should say something about how good it ended up being.

There’s a relatability to Emily Austin’s writing that you just don’t see when reading books that deal with the content that this one does; relationships, transitioning from childhood to adulthood in what feels like abrupt ways, mental health and reaching out to hands that are coated with Vaseline. Of being human in a space that only accepts robots. It felt poignant without being condescending or pretentious and I loved the writing style with my whole heart.

I didn’t quite get tears coming out of my eyes while reading this but it did feel like my heart was attached to this book with a string that was continuously being tugged. In many ways, I couldn’t fully personally relate to Sigrid’s story, though I did empathize with her. However, in the parts where I did relate, I felt so seen. This was my first foray into Austin’s writing and if the relatability and darkly humoured writing style is a pattern, I’m probably gonna have to go pick up her other works.

4/5

Emily Austin is an autobuy author for me and will continue on as such. This story was so moving and brilliant. I feel seen and understood. I love Austin’s incredible depiction of mental health in all of her characters. She writes queerness and neurodivergence with such candor and life. I can’t wait for more and more from this author

When I read "Interesting facts about space" earlier this year, I knew it was one of my all time favorites. The main character was unique but also relatable, single lines would jump out and punch me in the guts, and at the end I had a greater appreciation for others around me. Having finished "We could be Rats" I know Emily Austin is one of my favorite authors.

Instead of a synopsis I'll tell you how it starts. Sigrid keeps trying to write her suicide note but can't quite get it right. It's darkly comedic and tragic as Sigrid looks back on her life while also writing out to her sister Margit to make edits so it at least sounds a bit better. Ultimately this is a story about 2 sisters who grew up in the same small town and how after drifting apart come back to eachother.

One thing I really appreciated was how often the lead gets buried. You're introduced to something and later it comes back different. The full truth is never told first and it takes both sisters to fully understand what or why something is. Also I appreciated that the initial narrator is unreliable, which makes going into the second half just as engaging as the beginning. I find most books tend to drag around the middle but this time I was hooked all the way through.

Thank you to Atria books for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*We Could Be Rats* by Emily Austin offers a compelling exploration of grief, sisterhood, and the complex emotions tied to loss. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t quite reach the heights of *Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead,* which remains one of my favorites. This novel had a more YA feel, which was a departure from what I expected from Austin.

However, there were still elements that resonated deeply, particularly the portrayal of grief. The book touches on the profound sense of losing not just a loved one, but also the unconditional love they provided. The dynamics between the sisters were well-drawn, adding a layer of emotional depth. Potential readers should be aware of the trigger warnings for suicide and depression, as these themes are central to the story. Overall, it’s a thoughtful and emotional read, even if it didn’t quite hit the same mark for me as Austin’s previous work.

There are so many books with dynamite plots that fail in the execution - stories that lack depth, real emotion, fleshed out characters. We Could Be Rats is not one of those books.

Emily Austin, who is quickly becoming a must-buy author for me, brings the reader a story of two very different sisters - Sigrid and Margit. The first half of the book is made up of Sigrid’s attempts to write the perfect suicide note. Yup, depressing, right? Weirdly, no. The letters are glimpses of a tired, loving, mentally unstable mind. I felt seen in their honesty - and then more so when a “twist” is revealed.

The second half is Margit’s perspective. Margit, the Smart sister, the Go-Getter, the Perfectionist, who we come to realize has a lot more in common with Sigrid than either sister ever realized.

We Could Be Rats is raw, honest, heartbreaking, yet also heartwarming. With great mental health, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent representation, this is a book I’ll never forget. I literally could not put it down and finished it in a single afternoon.

Thank you to @emilyraustinauthor, @atriabooks, and @netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

First Emily Austin novel- and I immediately need more. Absolutely loved this story and characters. The way it was written made it so easy for me to read and I absolutely loved it. FIVE STARS!

"We Could Be Rats" is a compelling new novel by Emily Austin, the best-selling author of "Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead" and "Interesting Facts About Space." The story is told from the perspective of two sisters who are very close in age, dealing with coming of age and transitioning into adulthood.

It's worth noting that the novel delves into the topic of suicide. However, there are no depictions of this action. Instead, both sisters share their thoughts and reasons for considering such a drastic step, while also revealing a great deal about their shared childhood, adolescence, and the complexities of entering adulthood.

As a reader, I appreciated seeing how each sister perceived one another, their lives, and events. They are unreliable narrators, often trying to present a version of the truth that would be most acceptable to each individual. The result is a very raw and poignant account that captures the struggle of growing up and the mistaken belief that everyone else has life figured out while you feel like an imposter or a failure.

I actually loved this story and found this novel surprisingly relatable. As someone who has struggled with depression, I was initially hesitant to read it, but I felt that Austin handled the topic with sensitivity and insight. It left me with a sense of faith and hope that, despite our struggles, we could find our way through and someday be rats. I want to express my gratitude to Net Galley and Atria for the ARC.

I am a little bit speechless and don't know where to begin.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I've read all of Emily Austin's published novels and would consider myself a fan of her work. We Could Be Rats left me speachless. I feel like I will be in a book hangover for days to come. The story is surprising and moving. I feel like I can't say too much without giving the plot away. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of literary fiction. And as I write in every review of her books, the nostalgia Austin weaves into her stories due to the fact that we are the the same age, really gets me every time. A truly beautiful piece of work.

I have been struggling to get into any books lately but We Could Be Rats instantly changed that. The book is smart, fresh and poignant. It perfectly encapsulated how complicated it can be to grow up and figure out your path. I really appreciated the subtle humor and thoughtful observations. I found each of the three parts to be distinctly engaging. I love Emily Austin’s writing style and I will absolutely continue to read anything she writes. We should all aspire to be a little bit more like rats at a fair.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Austin, you’ve once again gut-punched me with this book. Will I ever learn? Probably not - I’d read your grocery lists, I think.

This story is about two very different sisters; one who is haunted by her past, and another who is just trying to move forward. I don’t want to reveal any more than that, because it’s better to go into this novel without any preconceptions of what it’ll be about.

This novel felt heavier than Everybody In This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space. Admittedly, We Could Be Rats hurt the most to read. Emily Austin writes about the bittersweet feeling of losing your childhood one day at a time, and how the magic of youth slowly fades away as we become more disillusioned by the world. She also writes about how that disillusionment can extend to our families – people we love – and how painful it can be to grapple with the question of whether those we care about most are truly good people.

Emily Austin’s characters always make me feel seen; Sigrid is no exception. She’s also an unreliable narrator, which keeps you on your toes throughout this book. Despite her imperfections, it’s hard not to be smitten with Sigrid and her big heart that feels too much.

Another knockout. 4.5 stars rounded up!

Book trigger warnings:
Suicide and suicidal ideation, addiction and use of drugs, homophobic remarks, racist remarks, sexual assault, domestic abuse

Emily Austin is an auto-read/buy author for me. I'm not a huge contemporary reader, but she writes autistic lesbian characters that transcend the page and speak right to me. We Could Be Rats was no exception to this. I love the title and the meaning behind it, and I felt deeply for Sigrid and Margit. Austin balanced the dark, the funny, and the frustrating really well, and the feeling of being a child trapped within an adult's life and body is articulated in a way I haven't read before. I devoured the book in two short sittings and highlighted numerous passages. Thematically, this book feels like a natural progression in Austin's oeuvre, which makes me certain anyone who loved her previous work will enjoy We Could Be Rats too. I appreciate the opportunity to read one of my anticipated 2025 releases early and I'm looking forward to getting a physical copy in January!

This is @emilyraustinauthor 's third novel and the third one I have rated five stars; this is beautifully written although a lot more sad than funny. Her first two novels (Interesting Facts About Space and Everyone In this room will someday be dead), both with a female main character that is neurodiverse and gay, made me laugh and definitely fall into the narrator's voice. Those novels were both very endearing. I absolutely loved those FMCs, and this novel is just as well written while having a distinct, sentimental tone. It is just much, much more sad.

trigger warning for suicide and suicidal ideation.

Sigrid and Margit have a sacred bond between sisters, they are fiercely protective of each other and understand each other like no one else can. They have experienced the same volatile childhood in differing ways, we get to read both POV and see each sister through the other's eyes. I can relate to having a loved one that is suicidal and you try to make sense of it in any way you can. File this one under "unreliable narrator" times two. Their parents both struggle with anger; and politics have sadly broken this family in two. We all probably know families like this, that have sadly lost the ability to relate to each other. Sentences like "I think my mom didn't understand how I could be gay because she wasn't." and also "God, if you exist and you're mad at me, I'm sorry." The purity and simplicity of Sigrid's voice wrecks me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the ARC. Book to be released Jan 28, 2025.

This was phenomenal. Messy and magical, I really loved this. I appreciated how it is an ode to sisterhood in a way that highlights the way family trauma and disconnect shape sister relationships. I also thought the author did an amazing job at highlighting the very real experience of navigating how to grapple with your identity and your identity within family and friendships. I will say while there are very whimsical moments, this is an emotionally heavy book, and deals with themes that can be triggering for many people. I think the cover and description make this seem a little more light hearted than it is. I wouldn’t say it is depressing, but it is heavy. That being said, I am someone who typically avoids some of these triggers, but I am so glad I read this and found it a really beautiful book.

ARC provided by NetGalley

This book made me feel seen. As a fellow exchristian lesbian who struggles with conservative family, this book touched me in a way very few have. I cried maybe four times while reading and loved every minute of it.

(full review to come closer to pub date per request, but man I loved this)

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Emily Austin and publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}

I can’t necessarily articulate how this book made me feel and how hard it resonated. Or, maybe I could but it would become a therapy assignment diary entry. Anyway, We Could Be Rats deeply affected me, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

This came at a particularly tough time, too. Lamenting the loss of innocence, struggling to reconcile your childhood and adult selves, mourning the terrible loss of a friend, reflecting on your complicated family dynamics, and feeling isolated in a small conservative town while dealing with serious mental health struggles and suicidal ideation. It’s heavy and it’s all too real. There’s still Austin’s signature dark humor, but the specific situations in this one were too resonant for me to really do anything but cry. Sigrid and Margit’s sibling relationship is relatable and moving, and I would’ve loved even more of them actually together, but it’s very touching.

As someone who prefers to hang out with my baby cousin at family events because I’d still much rather be playing with toy cars and dinosaurs, the feeling of having to leave behind your childhood imagination, sense of wonder, and innocence was also something I loved to see. It reminded me of Seven by Taylor Swift in some ways. Where do all our childhood traits go when we’re forced to abandon them and become acceptable adults? “Are there still beautiful things?” I was already crying near the end, but that last page made me SOB. And now the cover makes me cry too.

The book is uniquely structured and I’ll definitely need to re-read. It felt a bit disjointed and repetitive at first, but I’m already recalibrating after finishing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I changed my rating to 5 after a re-read.

Emily Austin continues to See™ me and apparently Sees™ a lot of others, too. There will always be something comforting about that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled the moment I found out about a new Austin book. Her previous two novels are some of my favorite reads of the past few years. This new novel helped cement the fact that Austin is one of my autobuy authors. I may be biased but every book she writes the characters are extremely relatable. That may not be the case with every reader but it definitely is with me. I highly recommend it and all of her books. Can't wait to buy a physical copy to reread in the future.