Emily Austin is the reigning queen of sad lesbian stories. Her books are quick reads—perfect for a long flight or weekend in the woods—but they are packed with raw emotion. The irony of WCBR is that this book is about two sisters who feel so alone, but so many of Austin's readers can see themselves in one or both of these characters. Through attempts at writing a suicide note and classic narration, Sigrid comes to terms with the devastation that the world is not always the beautiful, magical land of gumdrops and success that we dream up as children. I know, personally, that the 2024 election brought on similar feelings of disappointment and devastation. I related heavily to this book and personally think it is Austin's best yet.

So I have been a fan of Austin since their first novel Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead due to the content of their novels being the most relatable things I have probably ever read which meant that naturally I was going to pick this one up ASAP. While I recognize that the themes between Austin’s novels are somewhat repetitive, it works for me everytime and this time was no different. I will admit that I think the first section involving the note was a little repetitive, but I appreciated the unreliable narrator aspect of it. By the second section I did appreciate the flipping of perspective, but by the end I wish we could have heard a little more from Sigrid. That being said, I love a nice quick read and this one I devoured within a day. While I think I preferred Austin’s previous novel Interesting Facts About Space, I think this is purely due to the content being nearly identical to my own life. I really enjoyed this one like I always do and I am going to continue to read whatever Emily Austin gifts us in the future!

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

This told such a relatable story, it was written in such a way that it takes us all back to our childhood , this book painted vivid memories and I loved this. It was a trip down memory lane for me.

Emily Austin never fails to move me. She is a wonderful addition to my roster of queer lit fic authors. I would say I liked this just as much as her previous 2 novels I’ve had the pleasure of reading. We Could Be Rats is a short, powerful read with a unique epistolary first half that I loved every second of. This is very heavy but Austin’s signature dark humor does well to keep the reader invested without feeling the depression of a suicidal main character. The twist made my jaw drop. I loved the slow reveal of Sigrid’s story about her childhood and relationships. I love, love, loved her sister Margit and how she enters the story.

Overall, an incredible read that other fans of humorous lit fic will love. Be kind to yourself and make sure to check out the trigger warnings.

As always, Emily Austin leaves me without words and trying to piece together my thoughts on another literary masterpiece. This moved me in a way I struggle to describe. I see so many versions of myself reflected in this book: the hopeful child, the sometimes depressed lesbian, the young adult longing for a piece of childhood; the hotheaded sister; the person trying to keep afloat in the scary world in which we live. Wowza.

This is the third book I’ve read by Emily Austin. All three have been strong five star reads, but this one is easily my favorite. I absolutely adored both Margit and Sigrid, and I loved getting to watch them grow up throughout the story. The element of viewing the story as a draft of a suicide note is so unique and I think it adds a lot of depth to the story. There were also quite a few twists that I did not expect!

This is one of those books that just reminds me why I love reading. I hope someday there’s a special edition of this released so it can be buried with me when I die.

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this arc, it was an absolute pleasure to read.

I didn’t like this one as much as Emily’s previous books, but it’s still good nonetheless. This book is more plotless, thoughts-driven. I resonate and find comfort in this book and I think it’d be important for the right readers

Thank you for the eARC!

I’m having a really difficult time trying to figure out my thoughts about this book. I read it in two sittings (only interrupted by sleep). At the beginning, I was fully seated and ready for this to be a 5 star. I think Emily Austin’s writing is so For Me.

The first couple chapters, I was hooked. It was so relatable. Maybe almost too relatable, as by “chapter” 13, I had to go find the table of contents to make sure the “chapters” would eventually change into something else. I couldn’t keep reading in that voice, in that way.

Margit ultimately felt so frustrating to me. I was so pleased to get back to Sigrid. I feel like an amalgamation of these two women, to the point where I can see how, in certain time periods of my life, I could love or loathe or be indifferent or feel relatable or feel better than either one of them.

The book has themes. Big themes. I think if I were a teen, or in my early 20s, I would be throwing this book at everyone I love, begging them to read it, shouting SIX STARS!! from the rooftops. Maybe, being older and wiser and desperate to move on from a place where they feel relatable, that’s where the disconnect comes in for me, and I’m struggling with coherent thoughts and giving it a four based on my idea of objectivity.

Please be sure to check content warnings and read the authors note before picking this book up. In a wonderful Emily Austin fashion it is an extraordinarily depressing topic written from the perspective of a character who treats the topic trivial. It isn’t. Read with caution.

We Could Be Rats tells the incredible story of sisterhood and the power of imagination. We explore the lives of Sigrid and Margit. Sigrid, who constantly has her head in cotton candy pink clouds, refuses to conform to societal norms. She didn’t graduate high school and works a job she finds meaningless. She’s much rather be roaming the streets with her best friend Greta. Margit is frustrated with her sister’s inability to be a functional adult.

We quickly see the veil removed from Sigrid’s world and learn the sensitivity and pain her memories house. When she was younger she put dissociative filters on to cope with her parents fighting and growing older. From imagining her parents as swamp monsters to being a fairy roaming a field Sigrid did what she had to do to protect herself. Margit starts to unravel the mechanics of Sigrid’s mind and discovers their shared childhood memories and imaginative dreams might be the only path forward.

First and foremost, I am Emily Austin’s biggest fan. She has this wondrous way of putting exactly how I’m feeling into words. Reading this I saw myself in Sigrid and my older brother, Greg, who is my best friend in Margit. We had a playroom in our basement and we’d have movie nights and put on magic shows. He’d play Barbie’s with me and make the storyline dramatic sending me into a frenzy. Growing up changes everything though, I moved out of state and he stayed in our hometown. But our connection never faltered, there is a passage in the book about the two sisters stating no matter what their social standing there is never a time they’d hesitate helping the other. Greg has been that rock for me several times, I even turned him into an Emily fan as well! Interesting Facts About Space is his favorite! The magical bond that older siblings hold for their younger siblings is something so beautiful. I can’t even begin to describe how it feels, but Emily did a damn good job with this book. We Could Be Rats is out January 28th 2025 please preorder it today!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books | Simon & Schuster for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy of this book!

I discovered reading can be magic when I first encountered a character with anxiety. I saw myself in the character, and it was the first time I realized maybe I’m not alone. Emily Austin is able to do the same thing in We Could Be Rats, and so powerfully articulates the struggle of disconnection, loneliness, alienation, and feeling like we just aren’t enough.

The standout for me in this novel is the way Austin writes about the female friendship between Sigrid and Greta. If we are lucky, we have gotten to experience the type of friendship where you see and love your unique weirdness in another. The type of bond that is so special, it will probably never happen again. I loved reading some of these sentences, and look forward to revisiting them.

The structure of this novel was also very unique. Once I realized this is less of a plot driven story and more of a character study, I really sank into it.

Emily Austin is now an auto read author for me. Thank you Emily for making me feel like I’m not alone.

I was such a fan of Austin’s previous books and she’s become a favorite author for me! This one starts out following Sigrid; her story unfolds through a series of suicide note drafts. It’s a quick read with Austin’s signature emotional humor and this one really packs a punch. I don’t think I LOVED this one as much as her last two books (I do wish it was a little longer) but still a high recommendation.

I’m having conflicting thoughts and feelings on this one. Don’t have any critiques regarding the writing itself, and I understand (I think) the message and the overall point of the story. The things I did not completely like are a matter of personal taste, and are not necessarily flaws. I do wish there was more of present day conversation between the sisters. I wished there had been a tiny bit more discussion about Marg, and her struggles, hopefully standing up to their parents, but since the book is mostly about the aftermath of Sigrid’s incident, I felt like Marg was reduced to the Oldest Sister, and her felt rushed a bit to me. And I of course was hoping for closure and maybe justice for Sigrid’s friend, but I understand this isn’t that type of story with a climax and then a neat and tidy resolution where everyone’s troubles are solved and everybody gets what they deserve. Still, I wish the specific plot point that is revealed on the later part of the book had a more satisfactory ending. If the “bad guy” succeeded, at least Greta being on a road to recovery would have been nice, or if her story ended with her on that same track, then there being some sort of punishment for the guy. Again, I know this isn’t a fairytale (which is something Sigrid talks about in relation to real life) but that’s just me wishing things were looking better. The ending was sort of abrupt and a little anticlimactic because of the reason I just mentioned, but it was not a straight up tragedy, it was quite bittersweet and ended in a hopeful note.

Emily Austin’s We Could Be Rats is a lyrical exploration of familial ties, trauma, and the struggle for identity, told through an unconventional narrative structure. It's a little darker than her previous novels, but just as worth reading. The emphasis on mental health will resonate with many readers.

Sigrid, barely out of her teens and working at a small-town dollar store, is penning her suicide note. She writes that she is not depressed—in fact, she’s quite happy—but there is a deeper reason underlying her decision. And to reveal it, she’ll first have to talk about her childhood and her relationships with her girlfriend, family, and best friend.

I loved this book. The writing was both literary and laugh-out-loud funny, so I wasn’t expecting much in the way of plot. But there is in fact a big twist that made my jaw drop. Sigrid and another prominent character, her sister Margit, could not be more different and yet each one of them is so relatable and likeable. This was my first Emily Austin and now, a week later, I’ve already read another of her books because I am addicted to her writing! And as a Canadian, I honestly feel like she is the best thing to happen to CanLit since Margaret Atwood. Instant “I will read anything she writes” status!

I need to read every book Emily R. Austin writes. This was so moving, so heartbreaking, so relatable, and so unexpected. Austin really knows how to write about a modern journey with depression and self-discovery in a way I haven't seen from many authors. I loved the structure of this book and the way it unfolded in ways I didn't see coming without making me lose trust in the narrators. We could be rats!! and maybe someday we will be.

my younger sister heart is crying a little after the end of this one.

this story follows two sisters, sigrid and margit, reconnecting after the suicide attempt of the younger one. the narrative is structured in the form of suicide notes/diary entries from each sister to the other. and that's really the entire plot. we explore their town, relationships, families, childhood, but all through the eyes of sisters. i loved the conversational nature of each entry and how both sisters' voices came through so clearly, but were also comforting similar.

such a great depiction of sisterhood and the constant flux that relationship has. you have someone to cross reference your childhood with, but you also have a person-- specifically another girl, bonded to you for life who is also experiencing closely similar moments. that's a really heavy thing to carry. before this book i've never seen it so articulately put into writing before.

i related sooooooOO much to both sisters' feelings of desperately yearning for childhood and feeling as if that part of themselves is now unreachable. that grown up them is a 'swamp monster'. i've just always felt i was supposed to be a kid and only a kid. not sure that even make sense. but this book was so validating. i've felt that way but didn't know others understood that sentiment. there is truly no unique experience! i think i really needed this book for that reason.

this book does a great job at describing the oftentimes tumultuous relationship between family members that don't believe (politically or otherwise) the same things you do and go so far as to vote against your own beliefs. the common sentiment is to immediately cut off anyone that thinks differently and move on, but how much fragile are these relationships when its your own family? the people that raised you? navigating that treacherous line is never discussed at length or empathetically understood. i appreciated the story's take on zooming out a little to see the wider picture and the many nuances surrounding that situation. a good read before going back to your hometown for the holidays.

definitely check trigger warnings about suicide, family trauma, homophobia, etc.!!! special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

this is a story i'll be thinking about for a long time after and one desperately worth the time you devote to it. this book is special to me because i too love pink skies.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of We Could Be Rats in exchange for review.

5 stars

I’m going to be honest with the fact that I did not read the synopsis before requesting this book. The title alone was enough for me to be fully invested and I was definitely in for a surprise. While I thought initially this would be a comedy or dark satire — which in some ways it is, the overall mood of this book has SOME lighthearted and sardonic aspects… it hit me harder than any other book I’ve read this year.

I’ll share one quote “Did you know it’s abnormal to be able to identify a person by their footsteps? Or by how they open doors? We were too aware of the sounds in our house because we were on edge. Our parents were volatile. We had to pay attention to whether Mom and Dad were slamming doors or stomping down the stairs. We were tuned in to their behavior, listening for warning signs that their tempers were rising. We were living in that house like frightened rabbits, twitching our ears to the sounds around us like prey in constant danger. Did you recognize how my steps sounded? I knew you by yours. I’d know it was you walking with my eyes closed.”

This quote took me back to a dark moment in time, the whole book did really, having a younger sister to endure swamp monsters on our own made me connect so deeply with both Margit and Sigrid (our two main characters).

I love the POV switches and the sort of fun reveal (I say sort of fun because it was unexpected but the reasoning behind it is quite bleak). And while I’ve just made this book sound like a traumatic trigger warning nightmare I absolutely loved it. It’s not over the top in any way and feels incredibly authentic.

I laughed, I cried, and I had intense feelings that will leave me thinking about this book for a long time which is always my goal when starting a new read. If you’re looking for something heavy and thought provoking that is also easy to ingest I highly recommend this. It reminded me of my youth in so many ways and feel grateful for how far I’ve come.

It’s hard not to delve deeper but I want to leave this review spoiler free so that anyone who stumbles across it and decides to read this book can experience it fully.

Thanks again for sending me We Could Be Rats, it was lovely.

I read my first Emily Austin book this year + now here I am 3 books later wondering how I can make someone write faster so I can escape into their brain more and more and more.

This was different than the rest but the overarching themes are the same and 😮‍💨 my heart hurts - in a good way and a bad way?!

As someone who comes from a conservative small town with a swiftly growing drug problem I could relate. As someone who is neurodivergent I could relate. As someone who is a sister I could relate. I love feeling seen!🥲

There are <b>strong</b> trigger warnings for suicide in this one!!⚠️So please take care of yourself + be mindful of you choose to read!

At times this one was confusing (what was true? what was a lie? who wrote what?) and it is left a bit open-ended which I never love but it made me feel and think a lot in a short amount of time so for that I appreciate it!!🫶

This book is scarred me for life. Really, this is the best thing I ever read and so achingly human it’s hurt.
Thank you Emily Austin for writing such a powerful book. And thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Emily Austen, I forever both love and am scared of how your mind works. Truly a one of a kind book, in the best kind of way.