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lindseyhall44's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ever since reading Everyone in this Room Will Soon be Dead, I’ve known that Emily Austin is something special. The characters that she wrote connected with me on such a personal level, and I was expecting the same for this novel. I’m so happy to say that Interesting Facts about Space was even more wonderful than I could have ever predicted. As a socially awkward, anxious, lesbian who often wonders if she is a bad person, this felt tailor made for me. There is so much light in these pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Mental illness, and Self harm
softboiledegg's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I want to hold peoples beating hearts in my hands. I want to see all their arteries... I want to trick them into loving me. I want to test whether I can be loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Homophobia
ehwhateverest's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book feels personal. The rambling of a paranoid lesbian that somehow felt relatable despite not having all that much in common with this character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual content
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Ableism, Bullying, Stalking, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Minor: Self harm, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Suicide attempt
leontyna's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
4.0
I really liked the book at the beginning, but in the middle I got a bit bored/annoyed at the MC. The ending though fit quite neatly with the story, so I would say it's still worth a read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, Suicide attempt, Death, and Homophobia
savshelfinger's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I like Enid’s character, this book just became kind of a slog after we get the opening premise. I wish the plot were thicker.
Therapy veterans might be a little bored with this one
Therapy veterans might be a little bored with this one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism
bugle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I laughed, I cried (several times), I didn’t want it to end. I found Enid extremely relatable and the story engaging. The ending was neat and meaningful in a really satisfying way, especially against the (familiar) chaos of Enid’s thought clouds. I’m really grateful I found this book and can’t wait to share it with friends.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Homophobia
Minor: Pregnancy and Death of parent
elderwoodreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I related to Enid more than I would like to admit. This was spectacularly written and I really enjoyed the pace and writing style. I will definitely be coming back to this one again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
Moderate: Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Ableism
Minor: Toxic friendship, Rape, Lesbophobia, Violence, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
calicat42's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Gore, Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Ableism, Blood, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Title: Interesting Facts about Space
Author: Emily R. Austin
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: January 30, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Shuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Charming • Relatable • Hopeful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Enid is obsessed with space. She can tell you all about black holes and their ability to spaghettify you without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps. At the same time, she’s trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unwittingly plunges into her first serious romantic entanglement, Enid starts to believe that someone is following her.
As her paranoia spirals out of control, Enid must contend with her mounting suspicion that something is seriously wrong with her. Because at the end of the day there’s only one person she can’t outrun—herself.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked up Interesting Facts about Space on whim, not knowing what to expect. I had been intrigued by Emily R. Austin's novel Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, but I hadn't gotten a chance to read it yet. With that said, I am so glad to have taken a chance on this one - it was one of those books that just spoke to me on so many different levels.
Told from the first person perspective, the meandering writing style follows Enid's stream of consciousness, allowing for an in-depth glimpse into her inner thoughts, insecurities, and motivations. As a result of this, the pacing is quite slow through the first half, with the plot taking a backseat, and a lot packed into the final third. For most of the narrative, I really had no idea where it was going - and that is exactly why I ended up loving it.
Enid is unique, yet so relatable. I loved being inside her brain and trying to figure out why she is the way she is. Although it tackles some serious topics, there is an underlying comical tone that really set the stage. There were so many 'me too' moments sprinkled throughout. I saw myself in how she notices her mother's struggles when the little things start disappearing. Additionally, when Enid describes needing 5-minutes to rehearse what she will say to the waitress, I just felt so seen.
Interesting Facts about Space is one of those books that is incredibly hard to describe, yet so deeply human. It was a little weird, a lot messy, and in all honesty, not a whole lot happens, but somehow it worked. I was left with a quiet satisfaction and I would definitely read another book like it. I didn't realize Emily R. Austin is a Canadian author and I look forward to reading Everyone in This Room will Someday Be Dead sooner rather than later.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the character study
• anyone who has felt weird and misunderstood
• readers who like neurodivergent MCs
⚠️ CW: mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, anxiety, depression, paranoia, PTSD, self-harm, eating disorder, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, stalking, abandonment, murder, death, death of parent, grief, fire/fire injury, ableism, homophobia, lesbophobia, outing, bullying, infidelity, vomit, pregnancy, sexual content, gaslighting, toxic relationship
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wish I could have one nice interaction with everyone and then disappear."
"I wonder why some people are like her, and some people are like me… I can’t tell people things like, ‘It’s always so nice to see you’, let alone say something like, ‘I love you’, without feeling my insides curdle. I have to tell them about sunsets on Mars or bake them offensive cakes. I bet she tells Gina she loves her. I bet she doesn’t know anything about stars."
"I will never understand how my dad could stand in the glow of my mom, as if an inch from a star, and be unmoved by her formidable light. It has been devastating to watch her fade in response to him."
Author: Emily R. Austin
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: January 30, 2024
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Shuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Charming • Relatable • Hopeful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Enid is obsessed with space. She can tell you all about black holes and their ability to spaghettify you without batting an eye in fear. Her one major phobia? Bald men. But she tries to keep that one under wraps. When she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts on a loop, she’s serially dating a rotation of women from dating apps. At the same time, she’s trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unwittingly plunges into her first serious romantic entanglement, Enid starts to believe that someone is following her.
As her paranoia spirals out of control, Enid must contend with her mounting suspicion that something is seriously wrong with her. Because at the end of the day there’s only one person she can’t outrun—herself.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I picked up Interesting Facts about Space on whim, not knowing what to expect. I had been intrigued by Emily R. Austin's novel Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, but I hadn't gotten a chance to read it yet. With that said, I am so glad to have taken a chance on this one - it was one of those books that just spoke to me on so many different levels.
Told from the first person perspective, the meandering writing style follows Enid's stream of consciousness, allowing for an in-depth glimpse into her inner thoughts, insecurities, and motivations. As a result of this, the pacing is quite slow through the first half, with the plot taking a backseat, and a lot packed into the final third. For most of the narrative, I really had no idea where it was going - and that is exactly why I ended up loving it.
Enid is unique, yet so relatable. I loved being inside her brain and trying to figure out why she is the way she is. Although it tackles some serious topics, there is an underlying comical tone that really set the stage. There were so many 'me too' moments sprinkled throughout. I saw myself in how she notices her mother's struggles when the little things start disappearing. Additionally, when Enid describes needing 5-minutes to rehearse what she will say to the waitress, I just felt so seen.
Interesting Facts about Space is one of those books that is incredibly hard to describe, yet so deeply human. It was a little weird, a lot messy, and in all honesty, not a whole lot happens, but somehow it worked. I was left with a quiet satisfaction and I would definitely read another book like it. I didn't realize Emily R. Austin is a Canadian author and I look forward to reading Everyone in This Room will Someday Be Dead sooner rather than later.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the character study
• anyone who has felt weird and misunderstood
• readers who like neurodivergent MCs
⚠️ CW: mental illness, panic attacks/disorders, anxiety, depression, paranoia, PTSD, self-harm, eating disorder, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, stalking, abandonment, murder, death, death of parent, grief, fire/fire injury, ableism, homophobia, lesbophobia, outing, bullying, infidelity, vomit, pregnancy, sexual content, gaslighting, toxic relationship
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I wish I could have one nice interaction with everyone and then disappear."
"I wonder why some people are like her, and some people are like me… I can’t tell people things like, ‘It’s always so nice to see you’, let alone say something like, ‘I love you’, without feeling my insides curdle. I have to tell them about sunsets on Mars or bake them offensive cakes. I bet she tells Gina she loves her. I bet she doesn’t know anything about stars."
"I will never understand how my dad could stand in the glow of my mom, as if an inch from a star, and be unmoved by her formidable light. It has been devastating to watch her fade in response to him."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Self harm, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Outing, Stalking, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, and Homophobia
Minor: Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Eating disorder, Vomit, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death, and Infidelity
anxiety, depression, paranoia, PTSD