Emily Austin continues to fill the Fleabag-shaped hole in my life! The first half of this book is flawless. Concept, execution, everything was just delicious! And then, we get The Truth! Loved this narrative shake up SO MUCH I almost wish there had been a mic drop finish after Margit's first chapter. Would've kept me up at night for weeks just mulling it all over.

Unfortunately it kinda trailed off for me from there. The rest was good, but I didn't find it nearly as compelling as the first half and I predict it will keep me up but for different reasons. I wanted to go out with a bang, while this felt more like a whimper.

Regardless, I will devour anything Emily Austin writes and I thank her for the privilege.

The book begins with various attempts at writing a suicide note, in which Sigrid tells the story of her life. It’s an interesting glimpse at family dynamics, friendship and growing up. Do the white lies we tell other people help or hinder us and them? Should we fight with family and friends when we disagree or simply slip away from functions? Are we helping or hurting when we stand up for the things we believe?
This book was well written. It was funny and dark and poignant. I reread sentences over and over because they were so perfect. And I have a new appreciation for rats.
4 stars!

Book Review We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

This is my first Austin book but it will not be my last. I loved the structure, style and dark humor of this book. She takes a very dark subject, suicide and makes it relatable and personal.

Two sisters, Sigrid and Margit, grow up in the same home but emerge shaped differently by their experiences “My approach was to disengage while yours was to dial in excessively. I think you’re neurotic and controlling because of it and I was detached and delusional.”

The book is divided into three sections: 21 draft suicide notes from Sigrid, Margit’s journal entries after she finds her sister and then finally Sigrid again.

I loved the unique structure of this book and having their voices expressed in such a different ways. This allowed the story and history to unfold gradually and provided ebbs and flows in the emotional tone providing necessary reprieves for the reader. The irreverent tone of the suicide notes was brilliant.

The family history told from the sisters different perspectives was fascinating. They experienced the same trauma so differently and coped so differently that they had no way of understanding each other and as a result couldn’t support each other. This book depicts a complex, complicated sibling relationship in a no holds barred manner. The origins of the “perfect” child vs “scapegoated”child is depicted so well here that you won’t be able to stop yourself from over identifying with one of the sisters. You’ll know which one you are.

This is a brilliantly written book about childhood trauma, family relationships and the love-hate relationship of siblings. This book looks at mental health and suicide in a straight forward and plain manner with prodigious use of humor. This book will resonate with people who have had dark days, where you couldn’t see a path forward and who have complicated relationships with family. Other people will enjoy it as well!

This is the best Emily Austin yet. She does what she does and she does it so well. I wish I could have read this book in my early 20s as a strange queer woman finding herself but I guess reading it in my early 30s as a strange queer woman still finding herself will have to do.

I loved this book! This book made me laugh, cry, get angry, I felt all of the feelings! It has unreliable narration, which I loved. I fell in love with the characters, they were developed so well. I found this very relatable! I recommend you read the trigger warnings before reading as there are some you should know first.

Unfortunately, I have to DNF this book. While I enjoyed the quality of writing and style of the portion I read (approximately 25%), I didn't realize how much the book dealt with suicide and am not in the space to read that at this time, nor do I expect to be before this title is archived.

This book truly has so much life to it that it was hard to put down at times and even harder to pick up at others—not because I didn't enjoy it but more so because it contended with a lot of emotions that I really think you need to be in the headspace to internalize and empathize with. Equal parts moving and equal parts graceful, We Could Be Rats details the journey between two sisters and their trauma in a unique way.

This was a journey that was worth taking. It hits hard in places but also has a sensitive and mature way to it.

You can connect to it no matter where you are or who you love. I would definitely recommend everyone take time to read this book. You will not regret it.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

We Could Be Rats-Emily Austin-Publishing January 28th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster.

⚡Trigger Warning. This book talks about suicide.

Sigrid and Margit are sisters on two different paths. Sigrid didn’t finish high school, and works at Dollar Pal. Margit finished high school, and is in college, which her parents are proud of. Sigrid is terrified of growing up, terrified of the future, or lack of one and her best friend Greta is caught up with drugs. Told first in the perspective of Sigrid writing her suicide note, then through Margit and the aftermath.

Emily Austin has a great way of writing about mental illness. Anxiety, depression, and suicide. She makes it relatable, and uses it to craft fantastic stories. There is honesty here.
I loved the sense of humor in this book, even though one of the main topics is suicide. The wit was spot on. If you have read any of Austin’s previous books, this is a must read.

Publishes in only three weeks!

#books #bookreview #bookstgram #booksaredeadly #simonandshuster #simonandschustercanada #wecouldberats #wecouldberatsemilyaustin

I was quite excited for this release and while it wasn’t necessarily disappointing, it was just a LOT heavier than I typically associate with Austin’s writing. That’s not a critique on her or the book, just a case of my own mismanaged expectations going in. From the premise it’s clear the book deals heavily with suicide, but as a heads up it also touches on addiction, rape, homophobia, and domestic violence. The book includes Austin’s quintessential wit and humour, but doesn’t shy away from some explicit heavier topics that her previous releases only touch on briefly.

The novel is structured in an epistolary format where Sigrid recounts her life in drafts of her suicide letter, which grew repetitive. By design, she rewrites a lot of the same themes or ideas and so you get several similar anecdotes about her child, relationship with her best friend and sister, and her increasing disenchantment with her small town. I liked the themes, but reading so many similar stories about her childhood and fear of growing up got a bit grating. Hearing everything retrospectively creates a detachment between Sigrid and the reader, and I never quite warmed up to her.

Around halfway through there’s a big narrative shift, and the second part of the book worked much better for me. It felt more personal and less detached, which makes sense given the context as to which it arises. I liked the secondary characters more than Sigrid and appreciated the roles they played in the narrative of her life. It feels like a very timely book in the political and social commentary it makes.

We Could Be Rats is not a bad book by any means; if you’ve enjoyed Emily Austin before, I think you’ll enjoy this! The writing is solid and the narrative is well executed. With that said, it was heavier than expected for me and I think I just read this at the wrong time. Someday I’ll re-read this with fresh eyes, and I think I’ll appreciate it even more.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the cute little PR package which included this gem!

Emily Austin has done it again!

Another charming, hilarious, heartbreaking and imaginative release from Austin, I could not put the lives of Sigrid and Margit down.

The story follows sisters, Margit and Sigrid, who have grown up in a small, drabby town under the roof of parents going through a volatile relationship.

The beginning of the book follows letters from Sigrid, addressed to an anonymous source, her sister, parents and her friend Greta. Throughout the letters, Sigrids life, shortcomings and thoughts about her relationships, career, family life and losing her relationship with her best friend are uncovered. Readers then move to the viewpoint of Margit.

This story was outstanding and dealt with sexual identity, family ties, religion and childhood.

To me, it was a love letter to our childhood and childlike innocence.

A quick read about two sisters and how they are navigating early adulthood. I like Emily Austin’s writing style but I found this one read more as a YA. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I read the physical ARC but wanted to review on NG too!

I am a huge Emily Austin fan. I read Interesting Facts About Space at the beginning of 2024 and it has remained one of my favourite books of the year, and We Could Be Rats is no different.

the method of storytelling was great in this and has Austin has such a distinct and funny voice. She approaches serious topics such as mental illness, family dynamics, and interpersonal relationships with intention and humour. She knows her audience so well (depressed lesbians/sapphics with complicated families). We thrive.

I loved everything about this and the ending!!!!!! I was gagged!

I just loved it so much. How Austin finished up the story made me so emotional. I love these sisters so much.

For fans of literary fiction with serious issues (check trigger warnings or DM for them), We Could Be Rats is about sisters and growing up in a household where their parents fought, living in a small town struggling with the opioid epidemic, coming of age, regrets, and expectations.

The book begins with an author’s note about the sensitive topic depicted in this book. The publisher has chosen not to include the topic in the synopsis so I won’t here either. It is difficult to say much else about the basis of this book without spoilers. The POV changes (sort of) at one point and the story, which up to this point has been a series of attempts to formulate a letter, turns into something more concrete. It was at this point and for the remainder of the book in particular that I found myself really engaged. There were many times I reread sentences that caught my attention and that I connected with. Were this not an ARC, I would share them here. Just know that I adored the writing style and the way the author communicated feeling.

The author is Canadian and perhaps in part due to the content of this novel, I was reminded at times of the writing of another Canadian novelist, Miriam Toews. Austin is well known for her previous books Interesting Facts About Space and Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead. I’ll be looking for those!

Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. We Could Be Rats publishes January 28, 2025 and I expect it will be a favourite of many.

Austin's writing is witty and manic, touching and profound. She has brought to life some incredible and unconventional characters that are simply unforgettable.

Emily Austin has the market cornered on books about depressed and/or anxious lesbians who also make you laugh out loud every other page. I've read her other two novels and really enjoyed the writing style and how you feel instantly connected to her characters. Her characters will do/say/think the most unhinged things and you, the reader, are like "I get it, pal."
This is her best yet, and definitely didn't go in the direction I was expecting. A top read of the year for me!

This book is perfect for:
-Oldest daughters/perfectionists/Type A people
-Youngest daughters
-People with sisters

As well, I wasn't sure if Drysdale was a fictional small town, but when I googled it, there is one in Ontario (where the author is from), an hour outside of a "bigger city with a university" (London - where the author went to school, and where I grew up). Emily, please confirm if Margit lives in London, ty!!

TW: suicide (this is a major plot point), substance abuse, homophobia, SA mentioned

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Emily Austin for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

4.5
We Could be Rats is vastly different from Austin’s other books and tackles themes that feel a lot heavier. Our two main characters, Sigrid and Margit, try to navigate growing up in a world that is increasingly hostile and pessimistic.
While the mental health and suicide themes are difficult (rightfully so), Austin maintains her wit and humour throughout the novel.
As with her other characters, I related so heavily to both Sigrid and Margit. Austin’s novels remain deeply rooted in growing pains, queerness, and trying to find a place in the world. I will continue read anything she writes while relating a little too much to her characters.

If you’re a literary fiction lover like me then I’d recommend adding WE COULD BE RATS by Emily Austin to your list! I was excited to read my first book by this author and I found this novel very compelling and intense. I really appreciated the author’s note at the beginning because of the subject matter. Please DM me if you’d like to discuss. I couldn’t put this book down because I loved the writing style that featured two sister’s perspectives and their relationship. I loved the focus on friendship, coming of age, family dynamics, queer love and all the dark humour. My 2025 reads are already so good!

We could be rats at a fair eating a hotdog, but we're not. We're kids who grew into confused teenagers, who stumbled blindly into adulthood, questioning what the point of anything is, wondering if this is all there is to life.

We're adults whose best friend drifted apart from us; whose sister we barely have a relationship with; whose parents fought and punched walls growing up; whose family is dysfunctional, refuses to educate themselves on social issues, and is stuck in their ways.

We're just like everyone else, even though we grew up believing that we were special and unique, but we also don't know where we fit into the world at all.

This is Sigrid's life, but it sounds a lot like it can be applied to almost anybody, because although we might not be unique and it sounds like a bad thing, it's also a strangely comforting thing too, because we can find solace in shared experiences - especially in the context of a book where you are getting to know the main character and feel like you are having a one-on-one conversation with them.

The book is told through diary entries and there's a bit of an unreliable narrator thing going on. At some points I was very invested, and at others, it felt repetitive and lost me. Because of the unreliable narration, I was surprised to find out the truthful elements of the story - and just as equally worried I would be deceived again!

If you are looking for a book with a happy ending, this isn't it, but it's not a sad one either. It's hopeful, relatable, funny, dark, and will give you some introspective moments to reflect on long after you turn the page.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC!

the first two sections were 3 stars, but the final section was 5 stars all the way. so meeting in the middle!

• adrift & alone, sigrid, a queer high school dropout who works at dollar pal, attempts many times to write her own suicide note to little success
• through sigrid & her sister margit’s perspectives, the reader has to piece together the events that got us to the present, and the implications it has on them both
• i found this darkly comical, and very easy to read. austin’s writing style really shines in the 3 distinct sections to this book, but it was the final section that really stood out