Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

137 reviews

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

zoopalsfanaccount's review

emotional funny reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

reeeeeally enjoyed this one

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Lesbophobia

sskibicki's review

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Lesbophobia

cottagequeer's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, and Rape

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

rattiesmelliott's review

dark emotional funny reflective 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

Ugh. Such a portrait of life in the most beautiful, awful way. Loved the format 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Sexual assault

karina_dreamsinwords's review

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

What seemed to be a very surface level book at first actually turned out to be a pretty heavy multilayered story about identity and the complexities of growing up. 

The first chunk of the story features an epistolary format of many suicide notes written by one of the sisters this book follows, Sigrid. We get to understand the chaos within her brain, her story of self and why she decides to follow through. 

Then we switch perspectives and get personal with her sister, Margit. She grapples with the aftermath of Sigrid’s choice and how that affects someone’s everyday life. 

I don’t want to say too much because it’s a shorter read but the twist in here caught me off guard and shocked me more than recent thrillers I’ve read. 

Overall I thought this quirky and dark (but light in tone) novel was a pleasant surprise that had me relating to some of the things discussed. I had a few existential moments as a result but that speaks to the authors talents. I will definitely be picking up more from Austin in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Drug abuse and Lesbophobia

mckaytopotato's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

wrathfulrecs's review

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

The only reason this isn’t a five is that I wanted more. I wanted more interactions, more learning, more recovery. And it’s very slice-of-life to not show those things because things in real life are messy and incomplete, i understand that, I just. Didn’t enjoy it this time. 
Aside from that, it’s a wonderfully heartbreaking read. One of my main gripes with lgbt stories is when authors ignore/erase homophobia/transphobia in an attempt to be more inclusive and end up making characters with no depth or realism. This book doesn’t pull its punches and I love it. I’ve rarely found a character I connected to as much as I did Sigrid. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Rape, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Animal death and Racism

chelsbels's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

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

5.0

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

Is Rat-tling good! 

The first time I read Austin was because their debut novel had a rabbit on the cover. I read that in nearly 1 sitting! Then I read their work of poetry and now I'm just hooked. Austin may in fact be my favourite author! 

In their latest novel, we follow two sisters as we creep closer to the truth and understanding of their lives, relationship, and family. Austin is a master of foreshadowing, and this take on the epistolary/ diary entry style they have created for We Could Be Rats is prodigious! 

There’s almost nothing I could write that would not in turn give this novel’s incredible journey away. Except to say it reminded me very much of Catcher in the Rye with the teenage angst or dislike of being an adult and no longer having the innocence of a child. And it’s about suicide. The majority of the book is a suicide note. 

It’s not a dreary novel, instead it’s almost like (excuse the comparison) a murder-mystery novel. You want to know what the truth is, why is this minor character even written, why are there lies, who’s voice is it, are we waiting for it all to make sense, is it supposed to… It’s also hilariously gripping and oddly satisfying.  As you try to solve it all. 

This novel is for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. Read with care as much deals with death and abuse. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Lesbophobia