Emily R. Austen has quickly become one of my favorite authors, with Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space being standout reads for me. So, when I received an advanced copy of her upcoming release, We Could Be Rats, I was thrilled. While this book ended up being my least favorite of the three, it still captivated me in the way that Austen's signature writing style always does.

The introspective and raw thought processes of her characters continue to resonate with me deeply. However, the central theme of this book—suicide—hit much closer to home. This might be why I found it more challenging to enjoy fully.

Interestingly, despite the heavier subject matter, the book also feels like it's geared toward a younger audience compared to her previous works. This shift in tone was a bit unexpected and may be another reason why it didn’t land as strongly for me.

That said, if you’re a fan of Emily R. Austen, there’s no doubt you’ll appreciate We Could Be Rats. It carries the same poignant voice and reflective style that defines her work. For me, though, this one falls at the bottom of the list—still good, but not quite at the level of her other novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced readers copy so that I may give my honest feedback and review.

This has been posted to my Goodreads and will be shared on my IG account closer to its release dage of publication.

just... so breathtakingly real and poignant and stunning. i'm so, so grateful to have been given this opportunity to review this book - it simply spoke to me in a way not many books have, with the sisterly relationship at its core but having so many other themes that shone out to me and made me fall in love with this book. PLEASE READ IT.

I always find myself in a daze when I finish one of Emily Austin’s stories. This was no different. I finished it feeling grateful to have read it. This is a beautiful story of “figuring it out” in a world that doesn’t make it easy. I’ve never felt more safe and understood than I did after reading We Could Be Rats

"Everyone in My Family Has Teeth" is a fascinating novel about the complicated relationship between two sisters, Sigrid and Margit. Sigrid, who hates her job and never finished high school, prefers to wander her small town with her best friend Greta. Her older sister Margit doesn't understand why Sigrid can't just fit in. The story dives into Sigrid's struggles with her past, including her parents' fights and losing Greta to the opioid crisis. As Margit tries to understand Sigrid better, both sisters realize that reconnecting with their childhood imagination is key to moving forward. Emily Austin's writing is engaging and relatable, making this book a touching exploration of family and growing up.

Emily Austin has a very distinct writing voice: if you’’ve read any of her previous work, you would know immediately what I’m talking about. This is very much in the same vein: an very closed first person, neurodivergence galore, desperate attempts (and failures) to connect. To me, they are a mixture of highly relatable and highly aggravating things at the same time, and I find it very hard to put her books down.

“If I could have picked what I was born to be, I would be a fat little rat at a fair. I would ride the Ferris wheel all night. All the carnival lights would reflect in my happy, beady eyes. I would feast on candy apple cores, discarded peanuts, and melon rinds. I would spook ladies and carnival workers for kicks.”

I was initially interested in this book purely from the title. It led me to read something I don’t know that I would’ve organically picked otherwise, though, and I’m so glad I did read it. It was nothing like I was expecting. What I thought would be this heartwarming tale about the power is sisterhood amid trauma was actually much more of a look at growing up and adulthood from varied viewpoints and how we maybe don’t always know what’s going on in a person’s head.
It was beautifully written in a way that was hard to put down with its multiple jumps to different side stories and memories.

This book was super interesting and engaging. I love Emily Austin's writing style and how her books are so deeply in her characters' heads. I relate so much to the way they think and act even if I don't relate to exactly what they're going through.

This book had twists I didn't expect that kept it fascinating the whole way through. I also am convinced Sigrid is autistic lmao.

If you like Emily Austin's other books then absolutely read this!!! I think I like the other two better but this was still 100% a five star read for me. I want to read everything she ever writes forever.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

I really admire what Austin has done here—this unique approach to a very emotional topic. The strongest part for me is the examination of the two sisters, the way that they perceive each other, and how at odds it is with how they perceive themselves.

Despite this appreciation, I struggled to connect with the character and the story in the way I feel I should’ve. I *wanted* to feel this grief intensely and instead. felt like I was at an arm’s distance—perhaps because of the form (told mostly in notes and diary entries). I’m not usually a fan of epistolary stories in general but this was among the stronger, in my opinion.

I do also commend Austin on the inventive twists in this book: playing with the “truth” and the perception of the reader.

I would recommend this but I’m very particular instances

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin is a beautifully written exploration of sisterhood, identity, and family. Austin’s sharp prose brings to life the complex bonds between women, highlighting the joy, tension, and deep love found in these relationships. The portrayal of sisterhood, both biological and chosen, is tender and authentic, making the characters feel raw and real.

While the novel centers around suicide, Austin handles the topic with remarkable sensitivity and care. The heavy theme is treated with tact, allowing the story to focus on healing, connection, and the unbreakable ties that bind us to those we love. It’s a heartfelt and thought-provoking read that will resonate long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

We Could Be Rats is about sisters, Margit and Sigrid, the impact their childhood continues to have on them as they transition into adults, and suicide. The structure of the book makes me think that I’d get more out of a re-read. The majority of it is framed through multiple suicide note attempts that work through Sigrid’s past to try to explain why she was happy, why she was sad, and how she ended up where she is now. The book is heavy on reflection. Some bits felt repetitive and I couldn’t quite connect to the characters. Both sisters were fleshed out, but since most of the story takes place through letters or rumination, it felt like being told, instead of being part of a story. The ideas presented were relatable, but they lacked depth. The “twist” makes the letters more interesting and comparing how the two sisters view events was curious, but because both of their versions were understandable, the conflict didn’t feel genuine. The separation of the sisters from each other and most of the main people in their lives made the book feel detached. Overall, this book felt unique and Austin’s writing is easy to read, but it didn’t quite work for me.

I am a big fan of Emily Austin and still think she is a talented writer but I think this book was almost too dark and too one dimensional - I understand the reveal of the characters mindset through the notes and then the change of view point from the sister but I think it was just maybe too heavy and didn't necessarily feel like it had movement. I think the book is talented in depicting the struggle of mental health but it just felt incomplete and didn't give me a feeling of accomplishment after reading through the pain.

“We Could Be Rats” by Emily Austin is such a beautiful book. It’s a love letter to childhood, friendship, and sisterhood. I felt so moved while reading about Sigrid, her sister Margit, and her best friend Greta that I cried throughout 50% of the story.

This book is short but ambitious; it explores themes of being queer in a small town, the devastation of the opioid epidemic, suicidal ideation, alienation from family, and the playful nature of childhood that adults often lose sight of as they grow older. Austin weaves all of these topics into the story while also maintaining a tight focus on the lives of Sigrid and Margit. This is a character-driven story with so much depth – it never feels too overwhelming or too unfocused. It’s emotional, complex, and extremely well written.

Sigrid and Margit are characters that will stick with me for a very long time in the future. I know I won’t be able to stop thinking about this book anytime soon.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review posted to Goodreads on 9/15/24.
Review to be posted on Instagram the week of 9/15/24.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I may or may not have squealed when I saw that I got approved for We Could Be Rats! Earlier this year, I read Interesting Facts About Space and it has lived in my brain ever since. Not only does Emily Austin have a gift for writing, she has some magic way of transporting her readers into a fictional story and making it feel real. The relatable characters, real-life struggles, and big themes paired with weird, dark humor made this novel completely engrossing.

I loved the format of this novel - How the first half followed Sigrid through her several attempts at writing a suicide note, then we got Margit's perspective on her sister (Sigrid). I felt like I got a true sense of their struggles, differences, and shared experiences -- a sister bond. Sigrid's sections especially spoke to me - Her raw, blunt way of speaking was such a breath of fresh air. I felt her pain and regrets as if they were my own. Recognizing the loss of magic that is childhood/youth and coming to terms with what it means to be an adult is not easy, and this novel looks at what it means to live in the past and try to move forward.

I can't wait for We Could Be Rats to come out in January - I will definitely be purchasing my own copy!

Trigger warnings: suicide, addiction, sexual assault, homophobic and racist remarks, and domestic abuse

'We Could Be Rats' channels childlike imagination to explore darkly complex themes in a way that's both accessible and relatable. The characters need a way to frame traumas in their minds so that they can still function as they attempt to navigate healing. I don't necessarily think that this style of writing is for me, but the themes, exploration of depression and traumas, and sisterhood were all interesting to delve into with these characters.

I really wish that this book had trigger warnings with it. I'd read the synopsis before starting and had no idea that this format/topic was what I'd be reading. It was really jarring and it'd be appropriate and thoughtful for this to be tagged so as not to trigger others in such a big way.

This book ticked all the right boxes for me. Emily Austin has done it again! This book, while being entirely character driven, has my heart. We Could Be Rats has managed to make me cry, laugh, and truly feel for these characters that I got to spend so little time with. I will be collecting this book for my shelf once it publishes!

Emily Austin does not disappoint!!! This was so touching and moving and tender. I loved the dynamics we get between the two sisters. I saw myself in the way Sigrid wrestles with the idea of goodness and badness and how we determine who is which. I loved the perspective switch mid book, it works really well and kept me on my toes. I thought the ending was really nicely done and left me feeling satisfied, but with much to think about, which is my sweet spot for lit fic.

I just finished "We Could Be Rats" by Emily Austin. This is her 3rd novel and I loved the first two so much that I was a bit nervous. There was no reason to be, though, because it was yet another masterpiece! I related to Sigrid who is the black sheep of her family and falls into a deep depression after losing her best friend to the opioid crisis. However, I also related to her older sister, Margit, who was overwhelmed by the need to be perfect and had to anticipate all the needs of her family to the point she was an anxious mess. That hypervigilance we learn as kids growing up in an abusive home never seems to leave and Austin did such a remarkable job of describing it. I love when I find a book that makes me feel like less of a "weirdo" and Austin's books always do that for me. The family dynamics are relatable and the characters are flawed in all the right ways. Thank you for allowing me to review this book earlyl

going into this, i already knew that anything emily austin writes is pure gold, but wow i wasn’t expecting this. i'm currently at a loss for words of how much this book made me feel but i’ll give it a go..

as someone who lives in her own pool of existential dread on a daily basis, this hit deep. the hopeless feeling of knowing what’s right and good and the exhaustion that comes with the world not meeting our expectations when we grow up, the intricacies of a tumultuous family dynamic and siblings trying their best to get each other through it in their own way.. austin did such a fantastic job of telling this story.

i think if we could all just be rats, the world would be a better place. but after reading this, i plan to hold the rats in my life close 🤍 thank you SO much to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

thank you netgalley for the ARC! i don't think emily austin's writing is for me and that's OKAY! the story didnt intrigue me as much as i thought it would sadly. the characters fell flat and i was a little bored

Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC. This book didn’t really work for me. I felt the plot was all over the place and dragged out a bit.