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.

“I used to joke, "I wish we were rats" because, 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. We would roll around in garbage and suck on sour keys.“- Emily Austin


Emily Austin has done it again. I was such a fan of ‘Interesting Facts About Space’, and ‘we could be Rats’ joins that title and others of Emily’s that deeply resonate.

This story took a bit for me to connect with fully. The structure in the first half of the book with the ‘letters’ were a bit of a slog for me. However, once we jumped perspectives and the book took on a more narrative quality, I really Immersed myself and was focused in until the book’s end.

This book captured what it means to be queer in a small town - how navigating shifting identities and increased knowledge can change your understanding of your home and its players. this book took on a lot of themes - suicide, substance use, navigating political ideologies, depression, sexual assault, and how people can become disenfranchised on both ends of the extremist spectrum. Finishing this work on Election Day, with my own complicated feelings surrounding loved ones voting for a swamp monster “Kevin”, felt particularly poignant.

Another cannot miss title! I will read anything Emily Austin writes.

I truly think Emily Austin is my favorite author. Her writing style is beautiful, but at the same time it doesn’t feel like she’s trying to add all these fluffy descriptive words to have good prose. She just is able to tell so much in her writing style. I’ve read both everyone in this room will someday be dead and interesting facts about space and rates both 5 stars so I was so excited to get this arc. I will say that the beginning portion of the book was a little bit repetitive/ very much based on vibes and did not seem like there was a plot. Which was fine because I liked the vibes but I was slightly disappointed - however then the plot twist occurs and I totally understood why she wrote it that way. This book is perfect for anyone who doesn’t feel like they fit in and is struggling to like themselves. Or for anyone who has a sister

I LOVED this book. the writing style felt like I truly was reading journal entries. the heavy subject material combined with the MC's humor made the read sooo much easier to get through. I will 100% be picking this up again when it comes out next year!

As a huge fan of Emily Austin, I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of her newest novel, We Could Be Rats, through NetGalley. Having read her first two novels multiple times—especially Interesting Facts About Space, which is among my all-time favourites—my expectations were high.

We Could Be Rats offers a realistic depiction of sisterhood, exploring the complexities of relationships influenced by toxic family dynamics. Austin captures the intricacies of growing up with siblings, showcasing how love and conflict coexist. The nostalgic immersion into Sigrid’s childhood imagination was a delight, and I appreciated the portrayal of queer identity in a small, conservative town.

The creative structure of the novel, told through letters and journal entries, added a unique flair to the storytelling. However, I found myself wishing for more depth. At times, the narrative felt a bit short to fully explore its complex themes, especially through the lens of an unreliable narrator. Some plot points could have used additional nuance and connection.

While my high expectations may have influenced my feelings, I found this to be my least favourite of Austin’s works so far—though that’s a testament to the excellence of her previous novels. Despite its shortcomings, We Could Be Rats is still worth a read for its heartfelt exploration of sisterhood, difficult family dynamics, childhood trauma, and community.

If you know me you know that Emily Austin has quickly become one of my all-time favorite authors, and We Could Be Rats only reinforces why. Austin’s shift in prose and writing style to be a more character-driven story works wonderfully here. She still masterfully reveals only what’s necessary until those final chapters, a style I’ve come to love in her books.

Once again, I found myself deeply relating to her main characters, which is both comforting and a little unsettling in the best way—it’s rare to feel so seen and understood. Sigrid and Margit felt so real, and as a queer person living in a small town in Alberta Canada who has a sibling who struggled with drug addiction this novel felt like I was looking into a mirror.

I highlighted this book endlessly and can’t wait to add those notes to my physical copy once it’s released. The writing is loaded with impactful lines and stellar metaphors—some that had me laughing out loud and others that were intensely moving.

This book was truly a reflection on childhood and how painful and excruciating its loss can be as one transitions into adulthood. Austin doesn’t shy away from depicting how dark and isolating this transition can be. Her honest, raw approach offered me a sense of comfort amidst these uncomfortable emotions.

It’s hard to compare this book to anything else because Emily Austin has such a distinct style—her works truly stand apart. If you’re a fan of her previous novels, this one will feel like another familiar yet unique experience.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I will treasure this journey for a long time.

I feel completely sucker-punched by this novel, as well as unsure of where to start in reviewing it.

I’ve been a fan of Emily Austin’s novels since the first one released. Every book she’s written has felt like it’s come at a time when I needed it.

We Could Be Rats is undoubtedly her best yet. Though the book contains her signature style of blending sentimental insights and bursts of sharp humor, this is the first time we see her play with form and narration—and it completely pays off.

So many versions of myself felt seen in this novel. The child, the young adult…the person reading on the train ride home. The last chapter caused me to burst into tears.

This book is a gift.

(Social media review link to come)

I have read both of Emily Austin's books since I read her "everyone in this room will one day be dead,' and while I have liked them both I have to say this was probably my least favorite, so that means I have liked every book less than the last.

I think the authorial voice that I liked so much in EITRWSBD was quite a bit less distinct in this one, which is why it only got 3 stars from me. This wasn't a perfect book, but it was readable, and I think the writing was decent, very middle of the road, tho nothing particularly impressive.

I do think the cover was a poor choice, it feels very middle grade or young YA to me when I think the aim was to appeal to adults, or NA as some people use nowadays.

Overall the book was decent enough to keep me picking up her books in hopes of replicating the tone & quality we got in EITRWSBD.

When I got the approval for the ARC of Emily Austin's latest book, We Could Be Rats, I was absolutely over the moon. After giving Interesting Facts About Space a 5-star review earlier this year, I quickly became a big fan of Austin's work. I approached this new release with high hopes, and I'm beyond thrilled to say that We Could Be Rats met every single one of them.

Summing this book up isn't easy—it's really a story meant to be enjoyed without too much context. We Could Be Rats delves into some heavy themes like grief, loneliness, anxiety, nostalgia, and the bittersweet experience of growing up. The structure is unique and layered, keeping me engaged and ultimately rewarding me in ways I hadn't expected. I'll admit, halfway through, I worried that the unusual format might drag on, but honestly? Just keep reading; it's totally worth it.

Austin's humour and knack for witty dialogue are on full display here, although the tone is more serious than in Interesting Facts About Space. She has a gift for capturing those cringeworthy moments that make you laugh while you're squirming. Despite the humour threaded throughout, this book hit a deeper note—there's a certain ache in the narration that sticks with you. It felt strikingly personal, with emotions and reflections that resonated with my own experiences, which made it almost painfully real. Yet, as with all of Austin's writing, there's a cathartic release and a glimmer of hope that runs through it, reminding us that even in darker times, there's always a reason to keep pushing forward.

Sigrid, the protagonist, is imaginative and creative, but this book feels like Austin's most grounded work yet. If you've enjoyed her earlier books or love queer literary fiction that explores the "women vs. the void" or "sad girl" vibes, then you absolutely need to read We Could Be Rats. Austin has a talent for bringing a unique depth to these genres, blending humour and lightness with a sense of healing that makes her stories unforgettable.

Emily Austin is truly a gem of a writer—witty, insightful, and incredibly skilled. With well-rounded characters and a fast-paced plot, this book is yet another testament to her remarkable talent.

Many thanks to Emily Austin, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of "We Could Be Rats."
The book will be available for purchase on January 28th, 2025.

I ran to request an early copy of We Could Be Rats as soon as I heard Emily Austin wrote a new book as I thoroughly enjoyed her previous two novels. This book also highlights mental health challenges as well as having a queer main character. She plays with form/narration in this novel in a way she has not in the past and it is a bit more challenging to describe. Ultimately this book is about two sisters- Sigrid and her older sister Margit. It takes an unflinching look into suicidal thoughts and depression. I was not really sure where this book was going at times, and not to spoil the reader, I'll leave out why, but I had some challenges following Sigrid's train of thoughts at times. I did appreciate Austin's take on growing up in a small conservative town considering Sigrid's way of interacting with the world. As always, Austin has written a thought provoking book with continued memorable characters.

Thank you Atria Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

Emily Austin is a true talent and gem of a writer. She is witty, creative and has so much talent. I love her writing and this book was no different. The characters are well developed, the story is fast and has the classic Emily Austin wit and humor in it.

EMILY AUSTIN YOU NEVER MISSSSS i was caught off guard bc i dont love the title so i got scared... but you know what i apologize to emily for ever doubting her incredible ability to write incredible novels about neurodivergent and weird and offputting and depressed lesbians. im auto-buying anything emily austin.

Emily Austin's books really know how to rip my heart out. This really gets into the mind of a suicidal individual, in a way that could be both triggering and cathartic. I don't know if I recommend sending it to IndieNext due to the potentially triggering nature of the book, but I do recommend you stock it in shelves. I will also include the IndieNext review if you'd like to send it in.

A tour de force of what it means to be alive, and sometimes, a little bit dead. Emily Austin does not disappoint.