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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
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
devlaluna2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
emily austin, the author you are!!!!
I am beyond proud to say that this is my first 5-star read of the year, and am still in awe that I was able to receive an Advanced Copy of one of my most anticipated releases for this year!! Thank you so so much to Simon & Schuster and Atria, I am exceptionally grateful.
Emily Austin writes about everyday life and mundanity in such a profound way. She writes about specific, microscopic experiences that I have thought were singular, and deftly shows how these seemingly insignificant experiences tether our lives to one another. Reading an Austin book is turning the first page to find a mirror, and also a sucker punch to the gut.
Sigrid and Margit felt so tangible and fully formed that I half-expected them to crawl off the page into my living room. we could be rats is a love letter to sisterhood, growing up, childhood, lesbianism, and the depths of imagination, while also discussing the nuance of mental health, mental illness, conformity to societal expectations, coping, loss, grief, and addiction.
I honestly believe this is a book that is best to enter into without knowing much about the plot. With that said, please make sure to check content warnings if you have anything that could trigger you because this book discusses a wide variety of heavy and potentially upsetting topics, and centers on the main character attempting. Take care of yourselves and prioritize your needs and wellness<3
the magic of emily austin: absolutely stunning, beyond moving, and unexpectedly funny
I am beyond proud to say that this is my first 5-star read of the year, and am still in awe that I was able to receive an Advanced Copy of one of my most anticipated releases for this year!! Thank you so so much to Simon & Schuster and Atria, I am exceptionally grateful.
Emily Austin writes about everyday life and mundanity in such a profound way. She writes about specific, microscopic experiences that I have thought were singular, and deftly shows how these seemingly insignificant experiences tether our lives to one another. Reading an Austin book is turning the first page to find a mirror, and also a sucker punch to the gut.
Sigrid and Margit felt so tangible and fully formed that I half-expected them to crawl off the page into my living room. we could be rats is a love letter to sisterhood, growing up, childhood, lesbianism, and the depths of imagination, while also discussing the nuance of mental health, mental illness, conformity to societal expectations, coping, loss, grief, and addiction.
I honestly believe this is a book that is best to enter into without knowing much about the plot. With that said, please make sure to check content warnings if you have anything that could trigger you because this book discusses a wide variety of heavy and potentially upsetting topics, and centers on the main character attempting. Take care of yourselves and prioritize your needs and wellness<3
the magic of emily austin: absolutely stunning, beyond moving, and unexpectedly funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Lesbophobia
kelly_e's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.0
Title: We Could Be Rats
Author: Emily R. Austin
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: January 28, 2025
I received a complimentary eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Peculiar • Complex • Nostalgic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society.
But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Interesting Facts About Space was one of my most unexpected and surprising reads in 2024, so I could not help but add Emily Austin's 2025 release, We Could Be Rats, to my list of most anticipated tiles.
With humour and great care, Emily Austin delivers another deeply raw and emotional story featuring two sisters who have lost touch, and which explores the power of imagination, childhood trauma, regret, and reconciliation. She manages to capture the vast realm of human emotion in such a haunting fashion. The social commentary sprinkled throughout adds an extra layer, yet it never overtakes the underlying story.
There's an entirely unique structure and point-of-view to this story, while Austin's writing style itself is so distinctive. It's one of those books that I wasn't sure what I had just read when I finished, yet I knew it affected me on a deeper level. Somehow she takes rats and manages to incorporate the metaphor flawlessly within the narrative. The book itself is on the shorter side, yet the characters are complex and highly relatable.
We Could Be Rats wasn't what I was expecting, yet it was so much more. The way in which Austin handles mental illness really speaks to me. A story of anyone who has ever felt unseen, alone in the world, and that life is a constant battle. There are certainly days, I, too wish I could be that rat gouging on sugary food at the fair without a care in the world. I definitely need to go back and read Everyone in the Room Will Someday Be Dead now.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• stream of consciousness
• sister stories
• up and coming Canadian authors
⚠️ CW: mental illness, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, suicide, depression, medical trauma, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, sexual violence, sexual assault, rape, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, homophobia, lesobophobia, biphobia, death, death of parent, grief, cursing, alcohol, cancer, terminal illness
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There are only so many days in a year, and a lifetime. There aren't enough carefree days like the ones I had with Greta, I guess. I think of those times as scarce and precious now. I didn't appreciate them then. I do today."
"It occurred to me that everyone needs someone who understand them and believes in them. Having even one person who really gets you, and likes you, feels sort of vital for survival."
"I'm not sure there is a way to be alive without upsetting people. We're all in this web together, aren't we? Everything we do tangles everybody else together."
"I think part of why losing Greta feels so catastrophic is because she was the only person who I felt understood me, and who I understood. I felt alone without her."
Author: Emily R. Austin
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: January 28, 2025
I received a complimentary eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted
T H R E E • W O R D S
Peculiar • Complex • Nostalgic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society.
But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Interesting Facts About Space was one of my most unexpected and surprising reads in 2024, so I could not help but add Emily Austin's 2025 release, We Could Be Rats, to my list of most anticipated tiles.
With humour and great care, Emily Austin delivers another deeply raw and emotional story featuring two sisters who have lost touch, and which explores the power of imagination, childhood trauma, regret, and reconciliation. She manages to capture the vast realm of human emotion in such a haunting fashion. The social commentary sprinkled throughout adds an extra layer, yet it never overtakes the underlying story.
There's an entirely unique structure and point-of-view to this story, while Austin's writing style itself is so distinctive. It's one of those books that I wasn't sure what I had just read when I finished, yet I knew it affected me on a deeper level. Somehow she takes rats and manages to incorporate the metaphor flawlessly within the narrative. The book itself is on the shorter side, yet the characters are complex and highly relatable.
We Could Be Rats wasn't what I was expecting, yet it was so much more. The way in which Austin handles mental illness really speaks to me. A story of anyone who has ever felt unseen, alone in the world, and that life is a constant battle. There are certainly days, I, too wish I could be that rat gouging on sugary food at the fair without a care in the world. I definitely need to go back and read Everyone in the Room Will Someday Be Dead now.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• stream of consciousness
• sister stories
• up and coming Canadian authors
⚠️ CW: mental illness, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempt, suicide, depression, medical trauma, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, sexual violence, sexual assault, rape, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, homophobia, lesobophobia, biphobia, death, death of parent, grief, cursing, alcohol, cancer, terminal illness
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There are only so many days in a year, and a lifetime. There aren't enough carefree days like the ones I had with Greta, I guess. I think of those times as scarce and precious now. I didn't appreciate them then. I do today."
"It occurred to me that everyone needs someone who understand them and believes in them. Having even one person who really gets you, and likes you, feels sort of vital for survival."
"I'm not sure there is a way to be alive without upsetting people. We're all in this web together, aren't we? Everything we do tangles everybody else together."
"I think part of why losing Greta feels so catastrophic is because she was the only person who I felt understood me, and who I understood. I felt alone without her."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
depressiondevynreadsnovels's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, and Abandonment
cadence99's review against another edition
5.0
I would be amiss if I didn’t begin the review by mentioning how much I feel that this books description doesn’t do it justice. I think it’s important to note that this book grapples with suicide and suicidal ideation in a very visceral (though not graphic) way, which is not noted at all in the official description, so I encourage readers to check CW (StoryGraph has been my go to) before approaching this book. But having said that, I am aware that this is more a critique of the publisher than of the author, who did include what I felt to be a very appropriate authors note on the topic before the beginning of the book.
On to the actual book: WOW. I’m entirely disappointed with myself that this is my first read from Emily Austin because that absolutely blew me away. Austin has such a beautiful way of making you feel seen, and encapsulating feelings that often seem so nebulous. I saw myself in some ways in both Sigrid and Margit, and appreciated the exploration of how their diverging personalities and choices often stemmed from very similar desires. I truly can’t wait to read Emily Austin’s other novels, as she clearly has such an immense talent for capturing the human condition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Transphobia
Minor: Ableism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, and Classism