A review by editorbrenna
We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-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

5.0

I don't usually read literary fiction, but I will read anything by Emily Austin!

We could Be Rats is a character-driven story about childhood, growing up, imagination, and siblinghood. I don’t want to say too much about what actually happens, but the book delves into the lives and relationships of Sigrid and Margit, two now-adult sisters.

As always with Emily Austin, the narrative has a dark, wry sense of humor that had me snorting at times. While Austin addresses a lot of tough topics in this book—drug abuse, suicide, homophobia, sexual assault, and domestic violence to name a few—I never felt totally hopeless, and the book ends on an ultimately hopeful note. The story has a balance of lightheartedness and depression that really resonated with me.

In conclusion, Austin remains a must-read author!