Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

50 reviews

noble_editorial's review

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia

randeerebecca's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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

4.0

This touches on a lot of hard things, especially about being a lesbian in a small conservative community and the significant impact that has on a person’s well-being. I related to some of it and the stuff I didn’t relate to directly was written so that it was easy to empathize.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia

nerdgirlonfire's review

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

slimejules's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

absolutely LOVED this one. the storytelling felt original, the characters were fleshed out perfectly. i think emily austin's character studies are meant to feel like punches to the gut, and this one got me even moreso than her last two. sigrid spoke to me so deeply and i will carry her with me for a long time. i wish we could be rats.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Cancer and Medical content

disguisedposer's review

dark funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

rylaneli's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this - I’ve enjoyed Emily Austin’s previous two novels but this is a clear favourite. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Ableism, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

gracemark's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this book was raw, real, and moving. a very accurate depiction of depression and how depression can convince someone to leave this world. the relationship between the main character and her sister was also very telling of how growing up in a complicated household shapes you and your relationship with your sibling - especially when you are so different from your sibling/family! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

nburkk's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Alcohol

dogoodwithbooks's review

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

Unconventional in form and structure, We Could Be Rats takes awhile to fully understand, but once you do, this might be her best work yet. Mixing the angst that comes with coming-of-age, grieving for the loss of childhood, and reuniting sisterhood bonds, We Could Be Rats is the kind of book that will stay with you after closing the last page. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Toxic relationship

pearicareads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, and Sexual assault