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.

“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.