Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

200 reviews

alisonburnis's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-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

3.75

We Could Be Rats is a tricky, layered novel, exploring mental illness and sibling relationships. Sigrid and Margit are very, very different - and yet they try. When Sigrid needs a next of kin, she lists Margit. And when Margit falls to pieces, it’s because of Sigrid’s suicide attempt. 

I really liked how Austin wrote this. Without saying too much, the different parts told a great story and the framing was both unexpressed and unreliable, and it made a beautiful, complicated story. 

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for this print copy. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

julalbert56's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

This read like a well-organized and reflective stream of consciousness. I could relate to so many of the scenarios related in this book. I also loved how it was segmented— the halfway point plot twist threw me for a loop.

I really enjoyed that we first got to see Marg’s point of view on Sigrid’s psyche, then a look into Marg’s psyche itself, and finally the “truth” with Sigrid’s POV finishing the novel. It highlighted how intertwined the sisters are and how our loved ones deal with mental illness

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

laurenannreads's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

5.0

I love Emily Austin so much. I will read anything she writes. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, 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

deviouslyliza's review

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

mals_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide attempt

mdahg's review

challenging emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.25

A tender story about sisters reconciling their shared difficult childhood and how that made them who they are. 

I really enjoyed the two characters’ perspectives and narratives. They felt very distinct but also like two people who grew up together and knew each other well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Rape, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

christinaanna's review

dark 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Homophobia

Minor: Drug abuse and Rape

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

emmacate34's review

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt