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.

“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.”

Y’all, I was so stoked when I was approved for the ARC of Emily Austin’s next book. I read Interesting Facts About Space and Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead earlier in the year and gave both of them 5 stars. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. As a fellow lesbian with anxiety and religious trauma, her books are my exact niche. I had extremely high hopes going into this new release and I am very happy to report that We Could Be Rats lived up to my expectations. In a lot of ways, this book has stuck with me much more than her other two novels.

I have a hard time trying to summarize this book because I think it’s best to go into it knowing nothing and just being along for the ride. The themes of this book deal with grief, loneliness, anxiety, nostalgia, and growing up. The structure of the book is so interesting and the payoff for it was masterfully done. About halfway through I was concerned that the unique structure was going to overstay its welcome - but that was not the case at all. Just trust me, keep reading.

Emily Austin is a very funny writer who is a master at witty dialogue and creating moments of painful second-hand embarrassment that you can’t help but cringe and laugh at. There is humor sprinkled throughout this book, but the tone of this one is more serious than her other two books. There was just something about the narration that made my heart ache throughout the entire story. There were so many things that our main characters were feeling that I have also experienced firsthand, and that made the reading experience almost too real in some places. I felt like she was plucking thoughts straight out of my head. But, like in all of Austin’s books, there is still an emotional catharsis and underlying hope that persists despite how dark things sometimes feel. Sigrid is extremely creative and imaginative, but somehow this book ends up feeling like Austin’s most grounded work.

If you like Austin’s previous works or queer literary fiction in general, this one is an absolute must-read. She gives depth and originality to the “women vs the void” or “sad girl” genres that are really popular right now. She is able to not take things too seriously while simultaneously adding a levity and hope that makes each of her books so healing to read.

Thank you SO much to Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

I want to acknowledge that I am a devoted Emily Austin fan. I've read both of her other books several times over, and own multiple editions of each. I've covered the margins of Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead (2022) in ink and sticky tabs. I once drove three hours to secure a signed copy of Interesting Facts About Space (2024). Clearly, I'm committed to inhaling anything she writes - which is unfortunately probably the only reason I made it through the first 60% of this book.

Let me backtrack for a sec and start with what I loved:
- I love the premise. Creative and fresh, as expected of Emily Austin. Not something you're likely to have seen before.
- Very real, very imperfectly human characters whose inner monologues make you want to hug them and root for them (and maybe even befriend them)....even though you also want to hit them over the head with a hammer and send them to a psychiatrist.
- Incredibly astute commentary on difficult experiences, like growing up queer in a small town and living uner the roof of volatile but not-quite-abusive parents. (Check the trigger warnings, though).
- I highlighted so many passages in which Emily Austin made ME feel like book character whose inner anxieties were pressed on a page and being read for filth by an audience.
-Unique twist on <spoiler>the unreliable narrator</spoiler> trope. I've never seen it done this way in a novel before. I hope I see it again in the future!

All of this, in the last 40% or so of the book, was chefs kiss. SO well done. I flew through it. But that first 60% was a struggle. I like that Emily Austin is playing with form, but Sigrid's 21 suicide note drafts were a drag to get through, and they got very repetitive, very fast. I could hardly tell one chapter from the next, and by the time I got to Margit's set of letters, of the only reason I kept going was my aforementioned love for this specific author. I think the slow, very slow, pace will work for some people, and I'm okay with not being one of them. (But, if i were only rating the final third of the novel, it would be an easy 4 stars for me).

Let me preface this with saying what an absolute fan I am of Emily Austin’s previous books, she writes with such heart and a level of quirkiness I adore and this book had both these things and for that I enjoyed it.

The issue I did find was it was not very fluid, the book felt more like short stories than a cohesive novel and without giving anything away I was really let down by the surprise at the end and felt a bit tricked and not at all endeared by it, IYKYK.

This book doesn’t come out for some time yet so I’m hoping there are still some revisions in the works.

Two sisters are close in age, raised in the same house and as different as can be. Sigrid is just so different. She cannot conform to societal or family expectations. Life is filled with imaginary friends. Toys and animals keep her company and she just loves to play. Margit is a high achiever. She studies hard, obeys rules and seems to be success in all she does. The sisters see each other through a skewed lens. As opposites of each other. Once close playmates, their lives drift in different directions. Sigrid is friendless until she meets Greta The two become inseparable best friends until life throws a bombshell and everything changes.

What seems to be a dark story has so many surprise twists and turns that Sigrid and Margit too are constantly being reinvented. Serious themes saturate the story:
Conformity, expectations for others, family relationships, parental discord, the meaning of life, friendship, the search for happiness , life vs death and so much more. Lots to think about an d discuss Each theme is woven into a story filled with the the joys and disappointment of life. Ultimately it’s the tale of two sisters having drifted apart who strove to reconnect under difficult circumstances.

I absolutely loved this book . Austin’s writing is filled with expressive detail so acutely expressed that I was able to see and feel what was happening. This was my first Emily Austin experience and I will have my antenna up for her old and upcoming works. Five glorious stars for a book that had me turning pages from beginning to end. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my review. This book will be published on January 28, 2025. You will want to read it.

I loved this book so, so much. Austin has such a fantastic grip on character writing, bringing you into their heads and their hearts with so much care and love. I found this so engaging and it was so interesting to see her handle the dual narration that we haven't seen from her in the past. This was a hotly anticipated read for me, and so glad to say it lived up to every bit of hope.

I loved the previous two Emily Austin books I read. This one didn't work as well for me. It reads a lot more like YA than her others. And I didn't like the format. It is written completely as letters and diary entries. There is a major unreliable narrator and the way things are revealed more than halfway through the book made it have less impact than it should have for such a serious topic.
This won't be published until January, so there is still hope that there could be some revisions to make it work better. I think that a section in the beginning with both sisters might help to gel the whole thing together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed all of Emily Austin’s books, so I had high expectations for We Could Be Rats and I was not disappointed. We Could Be Rats focuses primarily on mental health and family and sisterhood. This book was equal parts funny and devastating, I can’t recommend it enough!

Emily Austin has some of the most hilarious writing ever! I loved her other two novels, so I knew I needed to read this one as well. I will be revisiting her work for years to come! She writes weird sapphic characters that are also charming. I loved the sisterhood element in this one.

I have loved both of Emily Austin’s previous books and so I had very high hopes for this one. While this one is probably my least favorite it’s still a four star read, which should be testament to how much I enjoy her writing.

We could be rats follows two sisters Margit and Sigrid who could not be more different. Margit goes to college and is getting her degree in English. Sigrid works at the Dollar Pal after failing out of high school for not completing her final English assignment on Hamlet. These two sisters grew up in a Catholic household with parents who probably should have gotten divorced years ago.

This book has three parts with the first being suicide letter drafts Sigrid writes as she is planning to end life. The second part is titled “The Truth” in which the reader learns what the letters are truly about and the last part brings the story and the sisters back together. As much as I liked the two sisters I wish there were more scenes with them together. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be grabbing a physical copy once it comes out.

Emily Austin is my new fav. Actually, she’s been a favourite for a while now but We Could Be Rats just solidified it:)
The relatability of her characters is astonishing. Even though this story revolves around sisterhood and I myself was an only child, I connected with every mood, vibe and emotion portrayed. I loved it!

Social media post to come closer to pub day:)

I fell in like with Emily Austin after reading Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead (4⭐). It was laugh out loud funny and a truly entertaining read.

Her second book I read, Interesting Facts About Space (4⭐), was another good book, so I was ready, set, go when @netgalley and @atriabooks offered me an ARC of her latest release!

The Author's Note lets the reader know this book is about suicide. It's also about mental illness, addiction, sexual assault and represents the queer community.

The first half + of this book (60%) is told from the POV of Sigrid and written in the form of her attempted suicide notes.

The second half is told from the POV of Margrit, her sister, and how she reacted to her sister trying to take her own life.

Although certainly an important topic that should never be taken lightly, the format of this book made it read a little slow for me. I wanted to feel more of a connection between the sisters (as that was one of the premises behind the book).

Austin always writes interesting characters, but these characters didn't jump off the page for me.

So, this was not my favorite Emily Austin book, but I'm still grateful for the ARC and will continue to keep an eye out for what she releases next.

This is my second Emily Austin read, and I did enjoy this more than her debut. I connected with the major sentiments of the book, and found the narrative style unique and interesting. Ultimately, I didn't fully connect with the characters due--whether it be narrative style or the character-driven nature--though I believe others will. I am glad I read it, and would recommend it to those who enjoyed Austin's previous work, or gravitate towards character-driven works.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This book was written so well but it seemed like it could be cut in half. A lot of the things written were written like 3 times.