Thank you, NetGalley for this E ARC!!

I am not sure how it is possible, but I was already crying within the first couple pages. Austin has this way of writing extremely relatable characters. Although the subject matter is nothing to laugh about, there is also a sense of lightness to it as well. It has a perfect balance between enjoying the little things in life and finding connections yet also coming to terms with how horrendous the world can be at times.

The first half of the book follows Sigrid. To be very frank, it opens up with suicide notes (trigger warnings are on the first page). She explains how she never finished high school, she hates her job at the Dollar Pal, and has always hated the idea of growing up. The only person in the world that understands her was her best friend, Greta, who she has grown apart with.

These notes also recount her traumatic childhood past. Her parents were constantly fighting and rather than try and put up with it (like her sister Margit), Sigrid would either a) pretend she was in another world completely or b) lash out.

We start to see the differences between Sigrid and Margit because we also eventually get Margit’s, POV. I liked the aspect of living in both of their heads. You can tell that they are opposite but also the same. I don’t know how to describe it. They both grew up similarly, so they had that aspect in common, but it was interesting to see how different they became. You could argue that this style of multiple POVs might jump around too much but in the end it all made sense to me
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This book explores a lot of dark yet important themes. There was a political aspect that surprised me, but I thought was very poignant for the times we are living in.

This book may not be for everyone however, it completely and utterly worked for me.

Emily Austin remains to be one of my favourite authors. I hope she never stops writing. I don’t think I am allowed to share quotes yet since it is an ARC but I have never highlighted more passages before. NEED the physical copy now.

i don't know what it is about emily austin, but every book that she writes ends up one-upping the last for me.

WE COULD BE RATS is for those of us queerdos living in teeny tiny conservative towns, feeling trapped within the confines of our own circumstances. we work shitty jobs, we can't trust our family to love us because we're gay or we're women, before we realize we need to recover from the various abuses that our parents subjected us to we realize we're trapped by the diminishing possibilities of life that come along with aging.

this book is for people that very clearly see all the ways the world has failed us, the way this world continues to empower and reward violent politicians as long as they're white men and the way it forgets people that use any means of escape necessary, even when those escapes mean living a fake life with our heads in the clouds as we disassociate, a half life fraught with addiction and sadness, or simply opting out of life altogether.

like, i don't know. emily austin, you don't know me - how the hell did you write this book about me?

every book rating system is a failure, this book is 64 million stars out of 5.

Thank you to both NetGalley for the ARC of We Could Be Rats, and Goodreads for winning the giveaway for a physical ARC!

I feel grateful to exist at the same time at Emily Austin so I can consume what she creates, as I always seem to relate to her characters. Sigrid the character I relate to the least, but we relate on her most basic level: I also don’t think I would pick myself up to play with if I were a doll.

I love stories about sisters and this was no different. I share a lot of parallels with Margit and Sigrid’s relationship/childhood with my own sister, and We Could Be Rats made me grateful we both made it out alive.

Another one that meets the mark by Emily Austin!!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me early access to this book in exchange for review.

I really wanted to sit and process this book before leaving a review.
The best advice I can give is to go into this book blindly. If you plan on reading it, try not to look up too much or watch too many videos about it. However, if you are sensitive to content surrounding mental illness, you may possibly want to look up TWs before diving in, though I think going headfirst is the best way to approach this story (if you are able).

I am a big Emily Austin fan. I absolutely love her other novels. This one is very different, but I think this was very needed and shows her range as a writer. I was expecting the classic Emily Austin linear story about a quirky, probably neurodivergent, socially unequipped young woman making questionable decisions. And to be fair, we do get a quirky, funny female main character, but We Could Be Rats is much more lyrical, much more unexpectedly experimental. And there was a twist in there that I truly was not expecting that changed the entire trajectory of the book.

It is also much more heartbreaking than her other novels. It’s a story of sisterhood (which I always love), how our upbringing affects us as adults, and how we are all still just children at the end of the day. Emily so honestly and masterfully taps into the magic of being a child- even a child growing up in a difficult household. Some parts are very playful and whimsical, while other parts are very real and will punch you right in the gut. This book will hit very (maybe even uncomfortably) close to home for a lot of people. However, it did still me with a sense of hope in the end.

This is a great addition to the Emily Austin collection, and I think we needed this from her. I can’t wait to see what she does next, as reading We Could Be Rats was definitely a unique experience. Just make sure you are in the right headspace before picking it up.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

this was my first emily r. austin and i can see why she is so loved. the beginning of the novel immediately sucks you in and the way the narrative structure unfolds from there is masterful and already has me thinking of details that could be picked up on with a re-read. the examination of the sister dynamic is what made this a real stand-out for me. the empathy that austin evokes for both sigrid and margrit, and the discussion on how we internalize different familial traumas differently and the loss of childhood was especially powerful. at times i wished there was more direct interactions between the sisters, but i do think it was intentional and i still felt really satisfied with the ending (but also heartbroken and melancholy but also kind of weirdly hopeful?)

Devastating and beautiful, aka another banger of an Emily Austin novel. Admittedly I was initially perplexed by the style and structural choices being made… until a certain reveal literally knocked the wind out of me and it all clicked into place. Wowowow. For anyone with a complicated sibling relationship, or who sometimes struggles to get out of bed and go outside, or has lost someone they love to the throes of addiction, or just yearns to be a rat gorging at the carnival - this one’s for you.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria for the advanced copy. Add this one to your February tbr folks! Winter is the perfect time for a cathartic book cry!

3.5 rounded up

I love Emily Austin's writing. I love reading her character's thoughts, their quirks and also enjoy the simplicity she uses to talk about the every day, making it almost philosophical.
I liked learning about Sigrid's life first from what I thought was her perspective, then Margit's and then actually hers. The majority of the story is essentially a set of notes/writing and I felt drawn myself constantly moving to the next pages to finally answer the question of what happened.

Overall, it made me think a lot about the simplicity of children's imaginations, reminisce my pretend games and miss my sister.

4.5 ⭐️. unlike anything I've ever read. I really loved the three sections of this book -- it had me second-guessing what I knew to be true and advanced the plot in such a profound way. definitely some heavy topics around suicide, mental health, substance abuse & sexual abuse present.

ty to Atria books and Netgalley for an Advance Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided an ARC by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is so poignant given the current climate of the world. This book deals entirely with the concept of suicide and is both heart breaking and inspiring. This is a story of Sigrid, a queer woman navigating early adulthood in place where everyone around her hates everything she is. This is a story of navigating your world alone despite being surrounded by people. Finding yourself and understanding that not everyone and everything is good. Finding your people in a cesspool of haters. Incredibly well written and thought provoking. My first book by this author but most definitely not my last.

unfortunately I feel as though Emily R Austin keeps rewriting the same book but none come close her debut. I had that thought with interesting facts about space and I had it again after this. It’s been seeming like the characters are more collection of traits/experiences than people and it’s really hard to connect with books entirely set in their isolation. I will always always hope for more though and this is certainly not hard to get through, it’s really just hard to have had something so excellent and always be compared to it

For a while didn't know the book direction but once the plot unravels, it's a beautiful story about learning to be and two sisters gripping with their mental health. It's quite fun and depressing but so is life.

Another absolute hit by Emily Austin, dare I say her best! This story executed many things well, I will touch on my favorite parts. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

-The complex family dynamics and the role of family dysfunction within the characters lives. We have Margit who walks on eggshells and is always trying to make peace and protect everyone around her, and Sigrid who tunes it out and marches to the beat of her own drum. I thought the lines from Margit about recognizing footsteps to be able to tell what mood her parents were in was so impactful.

-The reality of the political climate in the US and how intertwined politics and identity can be. Sig speaks for so many of us and the frustration we feel. I really loved the exploration of this throughout the novel

-The whimsical brain of Sig contrasted by the overly cautious brain of Margit. Sisters are usually so opposite of one another, and we see this so often. It was so well done and realistic. The sisters don’t end up magically fixing everything.

-The beauty of companionship that was shown between Sig and Greta. I loved hearing about them finding one another and thought it beautifully depicted what it feels like when you find someone who truly matches you inside and out. The execution of this was so well done in my opinion.

-Sig’s resistance to adulthood and Margit’s embracing it was so well done. I loved hearing how Sig’s brain worked and exploring the doomy gloomy world through her eyes. Meanwhile Marg is developing a life of her own and trying to make better than what she came from. Sig is still there, and has never left it. The contrast between these characters wasn’t cliche, it was perfectly written.

The characters weren’t perfect, and I think that made me love this book as much as I did. One of my favorite books of the year FOR SURE.

It took me a little while to get into this because the content is pretty heavy but I’m so glad I did! The author covers so many topics from sibling relationships to mental health to trauma to sexuality to politics… Definitely my favorite Emily Austin book thus far!

TW: SI, SA

Thank you Net Galley & the publisher for this ARC!

i am always up for another Austin book about lesbians finding themselves, and this one was deeeply beautiful in ways that are VERY hard to explain. 5 stars. would recommend. tysm for the arc.

What an amazing fictional read to have as we embark on a second Tr*mp term. Emily Austin, how do you manage to have a direct link to my brain and thoughts? I relate so hard to your characters every time. This is the second book by this author that I've read (the first was Interesting Facts About Space, which I really enjoyed). Emily Austin has a very distinct voice; her writing style and characters in both books I've read are very similar. For me, this really works, though. I've loved her characters and introspective stories both times. This particular book made me laugh a few times, feel seen a million times, and by the very last paragraph, I even had tears. 👏 Brava, Emily. I've always thought that any book that can take you through several emotions while reading it is truly masterful. Austin's books are fantastic gems for anyone who spends a lot of time in their heads. This book focused on a lot of personally relatable topics for me—dealing with the loss of a long-term friendship, coping with the suddenness and heaviness of young adulthood, coming to terms with a destructive upbringing, losing the rose-tinted glasses of youth, and grappling with family members who support literal rapists for public office, among other things. This book also deals with the heavier topic of suicide, so proceed with caution if this is a sensitive topic for you. (The content warning at the start of the book regarding this was fantastic. Kudos to the author and publisher there.) Anyway, I highly recommend this book—and all of Emily Austin's books, really—to anyone who feels a bit (or a lot) on the fringe of society, especially neurodivergent, queer young adults* (*Gen Z'ers and younger millennials). To relate especially hard to this one: extra points if you grew up in a small conservative hometown, have complicated relationships with close family members, have an ex-best friend who you think about daily, and/or feel a deep connection toward Templeton in Charlotte's Web. ❤️🐀

The novel explores the lives of sisters Margit and Sigrid as they navigate the complexities of their lives, uncovering hidden struggles and secrets along the way.

Reading this book during a challenging time in my own life, I found the themes particularly resonant. I was especially moved by the complexities of Sigrid's character, notably her queerness and its implications not only for herself but for her family dynamics as well. This added a profound layer to the story, exploring the nuanced ways personal identity can intersect with familial bonds.

The narrative beautifully captures the complicated and intertwined nature of relationships, showcasing how to manage competing emotions. Overall, this was a lovely read that thoughtfully portrayed human connections and emotional resilience. I truly appreciate Emily Austin's insightful storytelling and look forward to her future works.

Emily Austin can do no wrong. Ever. Never ever. She makes you feel like you are seen through every character she writes. I will recommend this book along with her others to everyone I know.

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin follows two sisters that are just trying to make it through life in their own way. This book is short and to the point but beautifully written and very poignant.

The writing style especially at the beginning takes a little bit to get used to. It’s written as letters so it’s not as direct as a lot of other books but I think it makes sense with this story. I flew through this book because I became quickly attached to the characters and wanted to learn more about them.

This book deals a lot with suicidal ideation so be prepared for that. But it’s also about love and growing up and being confused and wanting something more from life.

I would be a good rat if I had the chance. The best rat. Happy and content. But I’m not a rat. So today I’m grateful for books like this.

*thank you to the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
Emily Austin is back again with a depressed, struggling woman as the main character doing a lot of self reflection. I am a big Emily Austin fan, but this one wasn't my favorite of hers. It could be that books that deal heavily with depression/self harm don't click as much with me because of my own personal and professional history, which is not Emily Austin's fault. I love her so much I requested this e-arc immediately upon finding out she wrote another book. The narrator's voice is fairly captivating, and the flow of the book is wonderful. I will be back for more Emily Austin in the future.

Emily Austin is truly my comfort author, and “We Could Be Rats” is yet another testament to her incredible gift. Her books breathe life into me, touching places I didn’t know needed healing. Austin’s ability to capture deep, raw emotions with such care and tenderness always makes me cry, in the best way possible. There’s a rare beauty in how she explores the messiness of relationships and the ache of growing up while reminding us of the importance of imagination and connection. I hope she keeps writing forever because her stories feel like coming home. This book is a treasure, and I’m grateful for every word she writes.