enid is a lesbian (who has never been in an exclusive relationship), true crime obsessed (like to an unhealthy amount), and a space loving something year old. other fun facts about enid:

- she’s deaf in one ear
- she has a phobia of bald men
- she has two half sisters

when enid is convinced that her bald neighbor has been breaking into her home, her paranoia spirals out of control. another fun fact:

- enid feels like she’s a bad person

enid can’t shake off the feeling like she has a parasite in her head, controlling her and spreading her ‘badness’ to other people. and i don’t know about you guys but that’s a hell of a relatable experience. i just wanted to give enid a big hug!!!!

interesting facts about space is a charming thing, it’s a book with a lot of heart and you will absolutely love enid (even the many ways she mirrors you) and you will laugh and cry. many times. and usually at the same time.

I loved this book. Like all of Emily Austin’s books, it’s a wonderful blend of humor and mental illness representation, though I would say this is the lightest of the three.

My favorite part of this book has to be the character work. All of the characters have depth and I enjoyed getting to know them all. I also greatly enjoyed the relationship dynamics between said characters. The relationship between Enid and her sisters was really interesting to read, and I really appreciated the depth added to her sisters as the novel went on. Enid and Polly’s relationship was interesting too. At the beginning of the book, I did not expect Polly to stick around so long, but I really liked what she brought to the book. She ended up being a nice balance for Enid and a good voice in her life. Of course the relationship between Enid and her mother was beautiful, even if difficult at times. I love how much Enid loves her mom. And my favorite relationship in the book is Enid and Vin’s friendship. I love reading about strong platonic love, and this was an excellent example.

My only critique is the pacing. Most of the book doesn’t feel like it has much of a direction. That doesn’t hinder its enjoyability, but it set an expectation of the book being more of a “no plot just vibes” book, but the book becomes much more structured at the end and everything comes together. I would have preferred if that “coming together” was more gradual, as it felt kind of rushed.

Emily Austin is one of my favorite authors and this book is no exception. Her prose and character work is excellent and I definitely recommend this book.

I have been SO excited for this one, as I absolutely devoured Austin's first book via audio during a solo road trip in Southern California a few years ago. It hit at just the right time about just the right topics, and I was willing to read literally anything Austin came out with next. Interesting Facts About Space hit a different little part of my heart than her first novel, but I still really loved it.

The most well executed part of this book is the tension. I could tell something horrible was going to be revealed fairly early on, and the breadcrumbs just keep increasing as we get closer to the reveal.

What I loved most about this book was the compassion it ends up extending to everyone once Enid was able to see outside her own experience. If you've ever had mental health issues and lost the memories of large swathes of time, you will likely know what Enid goes through, and I think it was really well done. Not everyone has the same trauma, but all of us are just acting like we know what we're doing, and recognizing that and extending empathy to each other is a great start for leading a healthy life.

I also really liked the way partial Deafness was incorporated. A former partner of mine was very HoH in one ear, and it impacts life more than people might think. I really appreciated the look at Enid coming to own that and learn to assert herself and find some community.

Overall, while I don't think this has taken the place of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead in my heart, Austin will absolutely remain a top author for me. Highly recommend.

enid is obsessed with space. she has a fear of bald men. she loves to listen to crime podcasts daily. enid has a mother who often does not wear lipstick. she is deaf in one ear. she is a lesbian with commitment issues. she is terrified that someone is following her.

enid believes she’s a bad person. what is a bad person? how do you become a bad person? is enid a bad person?

things i expected this book to be (and was proven right):
-charming
-funny
-relatable

things i did not expected this book to do:
-break my heart into a million pieces page after page

i was both devastated and comforted by this story. i read of a mother-daughter relationship similar to mine. i read of a character with flaws and strength i could wholeheartedly relate to and empathize with. i feel like i went on a long journey alongside enid.

maybe i should be be gentler with myself. maybe i deserve to love and be loved. maybe my best could be enough. maybe, just maybe, i am a good person.

interesting facts about space had everything i look for in a book. i loved it so much.

thank you to atria books and netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for a honest review.

i could read this author's books about crazy weird damaged people healing and being happy exclusively for the rest of my life and be content.

this was heady and intense and very truly bizarre, and at many points i felt anxious reading it, and it really reminded me why i hate true crime (which is honestly a pro), but all of those ended up being good things. i connected to this story and this protagonist, and this book is very strange and very real and very dark and very fun all at once.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC! I adored this book with my whole heart. Enid is the socially awkward, mentally ill, lesbian representation I need more of. This entire book is just Enid's introspection and you can't help but want better things for her, and for her to make better decisions. Emily Austin is just so good at getting inside a character's head and letting us live in there with her, and it makes for a surprisingly refreshing and charming narrative. Even when I was annoyed with Enid and the people around her, I was cheering for her and occasionally laughing out loud. It is so incredibly easy to relate to Enid, it sometimes felt like her thoughts and words were plucked directly from my own brain.

At times, the plot felt very repetitive and exposition-y, with Enid both expressing her thoughts to herself and us the readers internally, and out loud to those around her. That being said, I would still happily have lived in Enid's brain for another 100 pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will happily continue reading everything Emily Austin writes.

Thank you to NetGalley/Atria Books for a copy of Interesting Facts About Space in exchange for an honest review.

Everything Is Stardust

The best comedy is the kind that makes you feel; maybe it even makes you sad. Emily Austin‘s Interesting Facts About Space has that quality. To say Enid is going through a lot is an understatement. Her life is imploding around her, and I think many of the things she’s dealing with will be evident to the readers before they are to her, but that’s just part of the journey.

A common refrain of Enid’s is that she has an evil parasite within her. This parasite is really just her impulse to do not-so-good things (i.e., her humanity). But, like a true parasite, it eats away at her. And her loved ones’ parasitic demons eat away at them. And everyone drops witty one-liners while it’s all happening. But, at its core, Interesting Facts About Space is about healing.

How do people heal? Especially when they’re neurodivergent or have been exposed to extreme trauma. How do you stand up for yourself? What do you deserve? What are you willing to ask for? In this book, the infinity of space is a stand-in for the enigmas of those questions, of life, of all the blank spaces in Enid’s memories. It’s perfect.

Should You Read It?
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I am so glad I did; it’s one of the best I’ve read in a while. Anyone prepared for a comedy about serial killers, extremely depressed parents and PTSD should pick this up. That’s probably not everyone, but it’s right about my alley. Hopefully, it’s up yours, too.


And, if you’re wondering, Interesting Facts About Space does indeed deliver interesting facts about space. Emily Austin makes good on that.

Interesting Facts About Space hits stores on January 30, 2024. Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or library. 📚🔥🚀

I have mixed feelings on this story and I think it's entirely my issue lol.
On the one hand, I loved the writing and writing style, brava Emily Austin **clap emoji** and I was very invested in our main characters narration and all of her relationships. I liked that our main character had growth and I lol-ed numerous times!
But I finished the story feeling uneasy and I can't exactly see why. I do think there were some repetition in us finding out things with Enid and then her explaining them verbatim to other characters, it felt a little heavy handed. I wasn't in love with the mystery leaning third act. But honestly I could just be triggered by the in-time therapy sessions which in real life make me uneasy, and our similar diagnoses and those are definitely just me problems!
All in all, I'm glad I read the book. I'll think about Enid whenever I see a bald man which is nice!
My review will go up on my YouTube channel [LOL] in a wrap up. I will link when it's uploaded.

Enid lives a simple life. She works at the Space Agency. She’s socially awkward. She listens to true crimes podcasts. And she talks to her mom about space.
But lately she feels like she is being followed. One night she sees a pale, bald man peeping in her window. She has a fear of bald men.
Is she just going crazy and listening to too many podcasts? Or is someone actually following her?

This book was a little slow in the beginning and I found myself skimming through lots of paragraphs. I felt like a lot of the book was unnecessary, and the majority of it was spent on understanding who Enid is and how she grew up. Though it was slow, I actually did enjoy the ending! It all made sense as to why Enid has her fears. I also enjoyed being in Enid’s head and laughed a few times. She is easy to relate to because we all have thoughts and feelings that we don’t always say out loud!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Read if you like:
•Fleabag
•Being Inside the Narrator’s Brain
•Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (but this is better)


I spent so much of this book thinking “okay, this book’s entire genre identity is going to be decided by whether or not these internalized thoughts become action.” Kept me thinking and interested and wanting to reach through the page and help Enid out.
Watching someone work through their every thought to this extent felt so intense- was truly hard to stop reading.

I was so excited to be approved for this ARC because I absolutely loved Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin. Her writing is some of my favorite and this book was no different. I didn't feel like it was particularly plot driven though, so I struggled to pick it back up during the first 60%. It did pick up in the second half though.

"Interesting Facts About Space" is an absolute gem of a novel that deserves nothing less than a five-star review! From the very first page, I was captivated by the fast-paced and hilarious storytelling that Austin masterfully delivers.

Enid, the protagonist, is a character you can't help but root for, even with her unusual obsession with space and her rather unique phobia of bald men. Her quirky personality and her penchant for true crime podcasts add layers of depth to her character that make her incredibly relatable. As Enid navigates the complexities of her personal life, including her estranged half-sisters and her foray into the world of dating apps, you can't help but laugh, cry, and cheer her on.

The novel's blend of humor, charm, and heart is truly enchanting. It tackles the universal theme of self-discovery with such finesse that you'll find yourself reflecting on your own life and secrets. Enid's journey of self-acceptance is beautifully portrayed, reminding us that it's okay to embrace our quirks and imperfections.

What I particularly loved about "Interesting Facts About Space" is how it weaves together Enid's fascination with space, her struggles with personal relationships, and her increasing paranoia into a brilliantly orchestrated narrative. The way the story unfolds keeps you hooked until the very end, and you'll find yourself eagerly turning page after page to uncover the truth. "Interesting Facts About Space" is a literary masterpiece that left me thoroughly entertained and profoundly moved. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a memorable and uplifting read. Kudos to the author for creating such a captivating and heartwarming tale!

She’s done it again!! After book #2 I can officially say that Emily Austin is one of my favourite authors. I would read this woman’s grocery lists.

This book follows Enid - 20-something and anxious, with an irrational phobia of bald men and lots of interesting facts about space. She has an absent father, a complicated relationship with her mother, and 2 half sisters that she is trying to built a relationship with. Objectively, Enid and I are nothing alike. But this character vocalized thoughts I’ve never been able to find the words for. Interesting Facts About Space will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the deepest parts of your psyche. Enid is a flawed character and that’s exactly what I loved about her. If you loved Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead as much as I did, I would highly recommend picking this one up.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts! I can say with certainty that Interesting Facts About Space will remain a favourite for 2024.

5/5 ⭐️

4.25 stars
I had a really good time with this book. Who doesn’t enjoy a complicated relationship with your off & on depressed single mother. There is an instance when Enid is casually hooking up with people that gets her into trouble that then turns into a whole other unexpected relationship. I was surprised to see a relationship explored between Enid and her half siblings. It was interesting to read siblings forming a caring relationship into their adulthood. With the chaos that is going on in Enid’s head I’m glad that she was able to gain kind sisters.
What made me appreciate this book was Enid’s thoughts that she might be a bad person. She also feels as she’s missing critical info needed to fully form into herself. I think it’s relatable and gives us more insight into her as a character.
Here are some quotes showcasing that:
“I don't ever want to become my full self. There is no reality I can envision where myself now doubled is good. I think that if I were fully formed, I would be awful.”
“I want to hold people's beating hearts in my hands. I want to see all their arteries. I want to study how fully formed and bloody they are. I want to get as close as I can to them; to touch all their things, to put my mouth on them. I want to trick them into loving me. I want to test whether I can be loved; however, I think the way to test whether I am capable of truly loving people back is by ending things.”

Thank you netgalley for providing me an ARC for my most anticipated read this year! “everyone in this room will someday be dead” altered my worldview dramatically. The line “Now, do you ever think about how some people might wish that for you?” completely winded me in the moment and it’s sat in the back of my head for the two years since I first read it. Reading Emily Austin novels feels like a fourth wall break. it literally feels like someone, every other chapter, pulls the covers from above my head and shines a flashlight directly on my face in the night.

I have two half-siblings and a mom I feel guilty talking about them with. I hope I never see people again after a good time. I was lonely a lot as a kid. I avoid relationships because I believe I’m not made for them. I’ve always done things because I thought I was supposed to. Enid is one of, if not the most, personally identifiable character I’ve ever read and I don’t know how to thank Emily Austin for writing her. I can’t even put to words the things I didn’t love about this book because the good is so good. Reading this was a form of therapy and I wish I could have it in my hands right now to highlight and cry into.

Emily, I’m begging. Please do a reading or a signing or some kind of event here in Ottawa. If there’s one person in the audience, it’ll be me. My head is spinning.

This unique, quirky story follows main character Enid in a sort of slice-of-life way, as she navigates her life of working for a space center, dating women she meets via dating apps, listening to true-crime podcasts, managing her phobia of bald men, and trying to nurture relationships with both her mom and other family that she hasn’t previously been close to. We watch as Enid’s life heads towards a breaking point, and her typical coping mechanism of calling her mom to tell her interesting facts about space just isn’t quite enough anymore. With the help of friends and a therapist, Enid eventually works towards understanding both her past and her current self on a deeper level to ultimately lead to a hopeful future.

There is SO much to unpack in this short novel, but Emily R. Austin does it all with grace, providing such thought-provoking and reflective prose in the backdrop of an entertaining plot that is as humorous as it is heartbreaking.

While the publisher’s description of “fast-paced, hilarious and ultimately hopeful novel” is accurate, and the hot pink cover suggests a funny, popcorn-y story, I think both of those things are a little misleading as to what a reader can truly expect from this book. Despite being funny and compulsively readable, it’s also profoundly sad at times. This very character-driven novel really dives into Enid’s honest inner thoughts and takes on lots of aspects of mental health head-on in a deep way. Through Enid and her story, Austin explores PTSD, neurodivergence, paranoia, manic-depression, phobias, anxiety and more from the mental health perspective. Not only do we see mental illness through the eyes of a character experiencing some elements of it themselves, but we also see what it’s like to have someone close to you with mental illness, and how one person’s mental health can affect so many others. All of that being said, I do think that it ends on a hopeful note, and that the humor throughout provided a perfect balance to the heavier topics the book tackled.

All in all, this was a completely unique reading experience that eloquently melded humor with emotionally heavy themes to ultimately show that it’s possible to work through our fears and achieve a healthy headspace despite the most difficult of circumstances. And I LOVED also learning super interesting facts about space along the way! I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it, and it’ll be one that sticks with me for a long time. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Emily R. Austin and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This might be a case of bad timing. I absolutely loved an earlier book by this author and was really excited for this one. However the structure really isn’t working for me in this one. I may try again when I’m more in the mood for it now that I know what to expect but at this point, deciding it isn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook to review.

Emily Austin did it again for me. LitFic about neurodivergent queer people will always end up on my tbr. Learned a lot of fun facts about Space too.

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin is a humorous and charming story.
Emily Austin's writing style is quirky, hilarious, and surprisingly touching.
This book was so deeply touching and phenomenal.
I was sucked in quick. And found it to be very astounding.
I will be picking up her previous title Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Emily R. Austin has done it again! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and boy it delivered! Emily’s other book Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is one of my favorite books of all time, so I was very excited to read this one.
I really enjoyed following Enid's journey with mental health and her family. Over the course of the book had such a big character arc which was great to follow. Enid is a character I find very relatable, one sad gay to another. Overall what a stellar read that I would highly recommend. I will literally be reading anything, Emily R. Austin writes in the future

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing the reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review.