Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free eARC of this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review!

It’s official - I love Emily Austin! She has a gift of writing these quirky lovable characters in such a way that you are rooting for them from the beginning. This book was no exception. I loved this more than Interesting Facts About Space! I whipped through this in one day and enjoyed every moment.

I laughed out loud at times, and found myself teary in others. I also didn’t expect the twist halfway through, which I really think added another layer to the story. I absolutely loved the ending and I think this book serves up some really important reminders about life and what’s important - my favorite type of book!

I will so happily read whatever Austin decides to write next and I think this novel will be quite popular this winter, and for good reason!

1 Sentence Summary: Sisters Margit and Sigrid have never really understood each other, and now Sigrid is trying to write her own suicide note while Margit tries to figure out what went wrong; however, maybe confronting the past is the only way the two of them can move on and find their way back to each other.

My Thoughts: I just love Emily Austin’s writing style. I don’t even know how to describe it—striking? choppy? It’s kind of stream-of-consciousness, as if the narrator is just saying whatever is in their mind. It’s almost like she writes short, disjointed segments that maybe don’t seem like they make sense together, but then they somehow all create the most beautiful and emotional picture when they’re put together.
Also, the way she describes things feels so realistic. And dialogue?? The dialogue in this was incredibly written; it felt (for lack of a better word) very realistic.

The character development of Sigrid and Margit was amazing. I could totally relate to both of them, and they were both very three-dimensional, deeply flawed and yet human characters. They were characters that I could root for, and I was completely invested in their stories and what happened to them.

There were so many emotions in this book. At one point I was giggling and at another point I was on the verge of tears. I just think that Emily Austin captured the human experience so well here.

Also, I love books that focus on relationships between sisters, so this was right up my alley. Margit & Sigrid’s relationship was so complex and fascinating and well-written.

I loved reading this! It was really sad at times, but also hopeful and heartwarming. And the ending—wow. It really tied everything together while also leaving things open-ended.

Recommend to: People who enjoy stories about sisters, complicated families, and finding your way in the world.

(Warnings: swearing; mentions of rape; drug use/addiction; suicidal ideation & attempted suicide; death)

2.5 maybe?

This typically isn’t a book I would reach for, but im challenging myself to branch out and try new things. This book definitely resonated with me in the sense that not everyone is ready to grow up yet, and that sometimes there are real life consequences for that.

The dual POV is where it fell flat for me. I think the idea that Margit was talking through Sigrid makes it feel like the run time for them were very unequal. That being said, I didn’t feel like I truly got to know Margit other than hearing a little about her own struggles with mental health. I would’ve loved to hear more about her “after” and for the sisters to have a better reconnection at the end. There’s a lot unsaid, but I don’t think thats necessarily bad.

Regardless, I thought this was a great quick read that makes you think. It definitely hits home in some aspects of Sigrids story, as well as Margits.

we could be rats is a story about two sisters dealing with the trauma they endured both as children and adults. one is chaotic and distances herself from "normalcy", aggressively trying not to fit in, and the other is proper and overly attentive, desperate to do the "right thing." the topic is a dark one. one sister wants to kill herself as a result of everything she's been through, including watching her best friend struggle with an opiate addiction. however, emily austin manages to handle this with a tactful dark humor and an incredible amount of grace. it felt emotional without ever hitting you over the head with the message and the relationship between the sisters was honest and incredibly moving.

this takes different points of view depending where you're at in the book, whether it is letters, journal entries, or general narration, and i enjoyed the way that each flip of the narrative added another layer to the dynamics of the relationships portrayed. i do feel like this took a little while to get to the point and the "twist" following the first part of the book was a good shock but distanced me from the characters after already feeling invested.

however, i really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy read with a wlw main character and complex family dynamic. somehow this is my first emily austin and i can't wait to read the rest of her work!

Emily Austin Writes weird, meandering, triggering prose where the most mundane words in the world seem prophetic. She writes relatable, morose lesbians better than anyone out there, The story of two sisters - one trying to escape life and the other trying to force herself into if - goes nowhere. Well, that’s not entirely true. Written (kinda) in dual POVs, the book explores Sigrid’s desire to kill herself and what she would leave behind and then Magrit’s response, The interplay of everyday life, trauma and growing up is engrossing, While I am sure some would say this book is unremarkable with no plot, those people would be missing the true beauty of both Austin’s writing and the realism of these sisters. Could not recommend more.

» READ IF YOU «
🐀 are captivated by stories of sisterhood
🎨 enjoy whimsical, imaginative litfic
💔 want to marinate in the complexities of loss and healing

» SYNOPSIS «
Sigrid and Margit are sisters navigating the challenges of adulthood in their small town. Sigrid, unwilling to conform to society’s expectations, finds solace in her friendship with Greta and their shared imaginative escapades. Margit, the more conventional sister, struggles to understand Sigrid’s choices. As they confront past traumas—including their parents’ tumultuous relationship and the impact of the opioid crisis—the sisters embark on a journey to rekindle their bond through the power of imagination.

» REVIEW «
Wow, this book was a rollercoaster of emotions! I was completely engrossed in Sigrid and Margit’s story. The way Emily Austin portrays the complexities of sisterhood and personal growth is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. The imaginative elements woven into the narrative added a whimsical touch that I absolutely adored. I couldn’t put it down and found myself reflecting on the story long after I finished reading. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was phenomenally written, a beautiful look into the mental health impacts of young queer people in the current political landscape. It was relatable, heartfelt, funny, and deeply moving. This was my first Emily Austin novel, and it certainly won't be my last.

You can find more thoughts on my full review on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DElcQBvyXda/?img_index=1

Emily Austin writes weird, thoughtful, meandering books that really work for me. We Could Be Rats features two very different sisters, one of who attempts suicide. It is heavy but so funny at times with relatable family dynamics. The book has an interesting structure that worked well for the story and kept me guessing.

Sigrid and Margit are two very different sisters. Through letters and diary entries we hear about Sigrid's thoughts of suicide, struggles, relationships family dynamics, etc. It was a heavy book; however, I am not sure how to even pinpoint what really happened.

Positives:
Quick read as the book is rather short and told through letters and diary entries.
Sensitive issues such self-harm, suicidal thoughts, drug abuse, sexual abuse, small town life are tackled
There is a bit of wit and childhood imagination and play throughout


A somber read. This was not one of my favorites. I am sure it will appeal to someone but I am not the audience.

What I loved the most about We Could Be Rats is how the author played with formatting. I'm a huge sucker for epistolary novels, so I was immediately on board for the suicide notes, but when the narrative shifted halfway through, my mind was blown. This is such an interesting take on depression and a complicated sister relationship, and it demonstrates so well how perceptions can be skewed even of someone you should know better than anyone since you grew up together in the same dysfunctional household. Emily Austin characters feel so real to me, so I never have any trouble immersing myself in one of her stories and this new novel was no exception. My literal only complaint is how abrupt the end felt after finally getting into Sigrid's head... I needed more time there! But I can forgive it because it did clarify the situations with Greta and the politician. I will recommend this book cautiously because I do worry the content can be a little dark for some readers, but I loved my brief time with it.

"...if I could choose how the world worked, we would all be rats at a fair. We would all live well, sampling every possible ounce of happiness."

A single-sitting read. Prepare to cry.
The book begins with a series of drafts of suicide notes of Sigrid, our protagonist; notes that go into detail of Sigrid's friendships, families, inner thoughts and life experiences. Most of these notes are seemingly written to no one in particular, though they occasionally shift and speak directly to her sister Margit. Sigrid views her sister as the polar opposite of herself. Margit succeeded in school, matured early and conformed to societal norms, thriving to keep the peace at all times, while Sigrid has a wild imagination and wishes she could continue to play with toys and live life through the positive light of an innocent child. What we see throughout this novel is the different way in which people cope and survive in unsteady environments.

This book will make you laugh, cry, and keep you on your toes as you try to unravel the truth of what has driven Sigrid to her suicide attempt. In the latter half of the novel we are able to see things from Margit's perspective, who of course isn't as perfect as Sigrid imagines her to be. A beautiful novel about the unbreakable bond of sisters that transported me back into the memories of my childhood with my older sister; my Margit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the first book I have read by Emily R. Austin, and after finishing it, I immediately added her previous books to my TBR. I’m not sure I can put into words how much I loved this book, but I will try.

I found this book to be incredibly moving, introspective, and profound. For me, Austin really captured the inner struggles of dealing with the complexities of the world we live in today.

By the end of the story, I was in tears. While the story explores some pretty difficult topics, I somehow finished the book with feelings of inner peace and hope.

‼️ Before reading, be aware that suicide is a major premise in this book. Read with care.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*We Could Be Rats* by Emily Austin explores the relationship between sisters Sigrid, a high school dropout haunted by loss, and Margit, who struggles to understand her. Through shared childhood memories, they seek healing and connection amidst grief and societal pressures.

This was my first Emily Austin book, and I thought it was really well written! The story was heavier than I expected—it hit me harder than I’m used to—but everything came together so well in the second half.

𝗪𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗦 was not for me. I can't remember the last time it took me 5 days to read a book that's only 250 pages but I was so unmotivated to go back to this one. I found the writing frustratingly repetitive and there was no character development. I considered DNFing a few times but it has a 4.3 rating on Goodreads so I figured maybe the end would redeem it. It did not.

2.75 stars.

Thanks to Atria Books for the copy to review.

oh i loved this!!! emily austin does it AGAIN. this will be a book i go back to once a year, maybe more often than that honestly, just to experience it all over again and find something new i can take away.

WE COULD BE RATS

Contemporary fic — 4.5⭐️

@emilyraustinauthor — I love your mind and your heart.

RATS is an introspective and poignant exploration of sisterhood, highlighting the emotional distance between two sisters and their journey to reconnect. As with all of Austin’s work, this book hugged my heart. It’s a deeply moving look at the complexities of family, loneliness, and the struggle of not quite fitting in.

I really loved the sharp critique of small-town mentalities and the narrow worldviews that resonate in today’s political and social climate.

There are several trigger warnings, particularly around suic*de ideation. While I always appreciate Austin’s dark humor, the portrayal of suic*de hit close to home for me as my family was affected by it this past August. That made humors parts land a little more flat and the only reason I didn’t give the book five stars. Nonetheless, another win by Austin.

Dysfunctional family, observant, nuanced.

Emily Austin is now an auto-buy author for me. We Could Be Rats took me a little bit to get into, but once I was in I was fully committed. I loved these sisters so much and was rooting for them the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Now, I was not in the best place when I started reading this book. Mentally, I was unwell and dealing with a lot of changes and in a huge reading slump. I am so glad I went back to this book because it was exactly what I needed.

We Could Be Rats is definitely not a book you want to read when you are mentally unwell, unless you are a person who likes to feel like you aren’t alone in mental unwellness. Fortunately, I am sometimes the latter, and I found Sigrid’s and Margit’s struggles familiar and oddly cathartic. This is usually the case for me with Emily Austin’s writing.

I loved the way this book was laid out. I felt my sanity slipping a little in the beginning, basically a perfect parallel to the characters on page. It was so creative and I appreciated the effect it had on reading the story.

It was a solid book with solid characters and phenomenal writing. Emily Austin has done it again!

I’m a little rat at a fair and this book was a juicy, discarded candy apple.

Rounded up from 4.5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Emily R. Austin for the ARC!

Growing up is hard. When you're a child, your imagination is limitless. You can build entire cities and stories from the toys and items in your basement. And then you grow up, and you realize the world isn't that magical, and in fact life can be very, very hard.

We Could Be Rats explores these themes through two sisters who could not be more different. Sigrid dropped out of high school and is stuck working at the Dollar Pal in her small town. Margit is continuously frustrated by her sister's inability to strive for more, and she is working towards her college degree. This book isn't long, but it really packs an emotional punch. Through Austin's writing, we can really see Sigrid and Margit as whole people with a complex and difficult family dynamic. When reading this book I do wish that Sigrid and Margit had more of a unique voice to each of their characters, I think that would have made this book hit even harder for me! If you like deep explorations of personal relationships, I think you'll like this book.

BIG content warning for suicide - I am surprised this is not mentioned in the book summary on Goodreads (there is a note in the beginning of the book), but suicide is a large theme throughout this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for a review!