Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

9 reviews

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

lila134340's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Suicide attempt

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Vomit

hannah2896's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

This audiobook was positively suprising. The writing was engaging throughout with some dark themes portrayed by both Sigrid and Margit's characters. I was a bit confused during the first chapters as it was quite repetitive and I couldn't understand what the point of the letters were. The ending of the book tied all the lose ends together. Eventhough the protagonist's were pretty negative, the second half of the book had a positive twist, and I related to a lot of their thoughts and feelings. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria

cas_reads_anything's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

julestx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

getlitwithamy_'s review

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Emily Austin does not fail to amaze me!

WE COULD BE RATS is a love letter to suburbia, a tale of siblings meeting in the middle, and an example of how unsafe upbringings can result in suppressing mental health issues. This also involves the crippling reality of drug addiction and suicidal ideations/attempts. 

While she incorporates these deeply serious topics, Austin still manages to add a light, comedic writing style that adds a dark humor aspect to the story. She presents Sigrid as a complex character whose mental health issues get worse, mainly undiagnosed schizophrenia or psychosis. Her continued desire to reflect on her childhood is relatable, especially as a fellow neurodivergent person.

The sibling dynamic was also powerful. While I am only child, I felt touched reading Sigrid and Margit's separate POVs about the past and present. It makes me think of Jandy Nelson's I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN, which is one of my favorite books of all time. Their shared childhood traumas and miscommunications of how they interacted before the events of the book were executed very well.

Thank you to Atria Books for letting me read this in advance! This was such a journey

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Minor: Infidelity and Alcohol

kestrel_of_the_pages's review

dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape and Sexual content

crispynugget's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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

The only thing I’m mad about is that I was too tired to finish this book in one sitting. When I wasn’t reading this I was thinking about reading it. How can she keep creating characters that sound so similar, but are so compelling it doesn’t matter?

As stated above, our character perspectives feel identical to their predecessors, and I could not have been happier. I always feel seen by the neurospicy narrators. Although, Emily does introduce us to a new character voice and darker themes.  for the third time in a row, I related to this book on a scary level. Please get out of my head Emily Austin. The older sisters arc is one I am deeply familiar with, but both sisters keep me up past my bedtime. I was left frustrated on back to back nights when I was too tired to continue. I was at social events and with family thinking I’d rather be reading this. I laughed, cried, and quoted countless passages from the novel to my partner. I am so, so grateful to have gotten my hands on an arc. 

Please read the content warnings if you are interested in picking this up. Your mental health and well being come first (and she’s got two other phenomenal books you could take a look at too!) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Car accident