Interesting Facts about Space was such an earth shatteringly beautiful and surprising story! I really did not expect it to make me feel the way it made me feel. Meeting Enid, a queer women who loves true crime, and finding out about her troubled childhood and absent father was interesting. I loved her story line with her half sisters and how that slowly developed. Her relationship with her mom, Vinn her co-worker and friend and Polly were all individually so fascinating. I loved reading her thoughts and the way this was written. At first, i truly did not see where this story was going, like at all. Everything that unfolded was brilliant and the way it happened was perfect. Enid meets Polly because Enid was sleeping with Pollys wife. How funny and clever if a relationship to blossom from. Not only that, it's the first time Enid lets another women in and see her for who she is. She doesnt clean the house she doesnt pretend to be someone shes not for the sake of a hook up. Enids friendship with Vinn is one of authenticity and closeness due to both of their mothers having mental illnesses. Vinn worries for Enid to another level which leads to his "breaking in" to her home which leads to Enids absolute paranoia. I think this story is a true testament to miscommunication and just how much anxiety and a disability such as being half deaf can have over a person. This story also shun a light on autism, therapy and the deaf community that is so unheard of! Truly a brilliant read that i will never forget. Definitely a 2024 favourite by far.

How do you begin to a review a book that touched you in a way most books haven’t? I felt like Emily Austin had reached through the pages and the words and was seeing me directly. As an autistic lesbian with PTSD, OCD, anxiety and depression reading about Enid (the mc) was like looking in a mirror in a distinctly uncomfortable way because of how *clear* the reflection was. The way she felt so out of place and out of touch with herself as a kid, the way she couldn’t tell what memories she had made up and which were real, (and so so much more) made me feel so seen. I’m not hard of hearing like Enid, but I struggle with auditory processing and like Enid constantly feel like I’m missing parts of conversations or will reply to something without knowing what the other person said because you’re to embarrassed or anxious to ask them to repeat themselves. Across the whole book Enid is abused by strangers who think she’s purposefully ignoring them when in reality she can’t hear them, and that scen

I *loved* this book. I was completely wrapped up in Enid's world, and her journey with relationships, love, anxiety, and mental health. Its beautifully written and I couldn't put it down

I loved diving into the world of Enid!

Enid's life revolves around true crime podcasts, a soundtrack to her exploration of the complexities of casual online dating. She is neurotic and quirky and uses her vast knowledge of the cosmos to avoid dealing with difficult conversations with her Mother and works hard to keep everyone in her life at an arm's reach. As Enid embarks a new relationship with her half-sisters after her estranged father's death, she happens to also stumble into her first serious romance. But the tale takes an unexpected twist as she becomes haunted by the unnerving feeling of being followed...

Emily Austen is able to weave all of this into a well-paced, intricate story, that tackles sensitive topics like grief and mental illness in an incredibly relatable way.

While the journey is compulsively readable, the conclusion, though delivered well, left me yearning for a bit more time to tie up loose ends. Despite this, there is an overall warmth that lingers after you finish reading. Enid's personal journey, with all its quirks and complexities, is a great read, and I found myself thoroughly captivated by her journey.

A wholly gutting, hilarious, and peeking-through-fingers cringing, an absolute must read!

Enid is a half-Deaf, neurodivergent, lesbian who is afraid of bald men and wonders if she's a bad person. A new relationship reluctantly inspires Enid to delve further into her childhood issues, foster a relationship with her deceased Dad's replacement family, and why she avoids the possibility that anything may work out for her. For true crime lovers and anyone who might wonder if they're broken inside (and if it's forever).

I adored this book, I felt sick to my stomach, roared with laughter, and wondered if the feeling of being a rotten human is a characteristic of truly good people.

An absolute painful pleasure of a read, 5 stars!

This was excellent on all accounts - not only is the writing superb, but it's also a great example of propulsive and engage storytelling. Absolutely would encourage anyone reading this to add this to their radar of 2024 releases and I will most definitely be highlighting this prior to publication.

Enid is a hard-of-hearing lesbian, which immediately made me drawn to her as someone who also experiences similar issues from my own hearing loss! She's awkward and fumbling through life in a way that's equally endearing and frustrating to watch unfold. She's generally very complacent and passive with all decisions in her life, and avoidant to a complete fault. Her phobia of bald men plays a central role in the story, and despite how stupid this sounds - it actually leads to some shocking reveals and some really carefully woven backstories.

There is several scenes that made me laugh out loud, and even the array of minor characters felt distinctly human and multi-faceted. Though there isn't a ton of plot here, there is several overlapping mysteries that kept me engaged through out. I wasn't sure how things would evolve until the reveals came along and I appreciated the foreshadowing even more.

While I have no clue if the several interesting facts about space this reports are scientifically accurate, I enjoyed them for what they represented within the context of the book and loved space was woven into the metaphors and imagery. Absolutely stellar novel and shoutout to the publisher for giving me a copy of this via Netgalley!

This was fantastic. This book just pulled me out of a three-month reading slump. I absolutely devoured it.

The story follows a 20-something queer woman named Enid as she navigates her relationships, career, mental health, and an irrational fear of bald men. It's at once hilarious, devastating, and deeply relatable. Austin is a literary genius.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Austin's first novel, Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, as well as fans of authors such as Sally Rooney, Elif Batuman, and Melissa Broder.

I am so grateful to have read this book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this title.

Okay so here’s the thing: this book is perfect for someone who isn’t me but I absolutely adored it anyways, a conundrum right? . The writing is so good. The pace and the way the story is being told? Incredible. Enid? SUPERB. The way the story slowly reveals its nooks and crannies? Sublime.

The one problem I have with it is that it reminded me how dumb my brain is at times. It’s a book that delves into heavy topics with a light hand and a book that is uniquely its own voice , right from the start.


Definitely suggest picking this one up ASAP.

It is important to note that most of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the book's subject matters & those detailed in my review overwhelming. I suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters that contain reflections on self-harm, attempted suicide, parental neglect, grief, parental abandonment, mental illness, & others.

There is a particular aspect of fanaticism that renders the make-believe frightful. There is no looming monster under our bed, nor any perched ghoul on the roof. The part of our brain that engages with the imagery of these tales utilizes its power to remind us that the scales & oozing secretions could be present; they could become real threats, if, at any point, the brain decides upon a narrative shift. In a world where there are no fantastic beasts, we rely on the sharpened edges of stories, crafted from the sedentary troubles of terrible humans to rivulet the dark of night & send us tormented under folded sheets.

The experiences of those around us shape the world in which we live, without our realizing that the craftsman’s hands are ailed. When the reader is introduced to Enid she is painted with crusted colours. The main character of this book is insecure; she has no fixture; she is on the precipice of snapping; she is uncertain. Like in many of the books I have enjoyed reading, the author has offered a morsel of time for the reader to masticate. Enid’s insecurity is an Everest, making her person fragile porcelain where once she was a stone.

When Enid was young her life became a secret. It is never very pleasant to speak on things that hurt us & for Enid, her quotidian was filled with gelatinous beasts salivating in every corner. Her father, a man she hardly knew, had a short stint relationship with her mother; they became pregnant; Enid’s existence in the world knew him only as a shadow.

Her father chose to invest his time with a woman who became a mother to two (2) daughters. As the story goes, what was first is now last & by the time it mattered, Enid’s father was dead in the ground & the cacophony of women left behind, responsible for healing the wounds he inflicted.

While reading this book, I was reminded of what it promised me; a story that would comfort readers—the worst thing they had ever done wasn’t so bad. Perhaps it was pessimistic to believe that this story couldn’t achieve what it set out to do. I have been in the world too long to fall prey to the eagerness of what is promised; we are not always so lucky as to see our hopes transform into concrete reality. Rather than take my apprehension personally, this story continued on its course. I am glad that I was allowed along for the ride.

Enid’s life is a strange one & that is not because it is unusual. Rather, Enid’s life is strange because it is palpably tangible. In Enid, I found much of myself & if readers allow for the discomfort of personal recognition, they might too. I can imagine that for Enid, living life in a house that was never a home was difficult, especially because her mother attempted to make it into a place of safety. Yet, both became enshrined by despair; her mother was no match for her mania & Enid, was left alone in the hallways awaiting the latch of the lock holding the bedroom door separating them, in place.

This story deals primarily with mental illness & disorders. Nearly each of the characters is plagued by some form of torment. In this way, Austin has allowed her story to be real. The reality is that many people experience the repercussions of intergenerational trauma; what the reader is faced with in this book is the beginning of what might surely become a long series of pains.

It was admirable to see each woman within this mangled family tree attempt to prevent what they felt could happen. The daughters brought into the world by loving mothers & an angry absent father, offered to each other the promise of comradely. Their efforts were wrought with distress but, most of all, hope.

I was perhaps enamoured with Enid because she experienced much of what I have. Her paranoia & distressing anxiety were home to me in my childhood body & as I grew I became aware that the world was perhaps filled with colours in a palette I could not see with my eyes.

How the author incorporates horrible things into her characters is earnest & I applaud her for that. I am hopeful that that Austin did not live these experiences firsthand hand though, the delicate nature of her storytelling slithers with the possibility that she sees in the dark too. Regardless, her ability to present eager or apprehensive readers will Enid & her life make her an author I will revisit until she decides to write no more; with shelves settled from the stories she held inside.

The exploration of trauma & the denigration of brain matter as a consequence of illness is no easy feat to present. Readers might find themselves utterly upset by the story. It would be entirely acceptable for them to place the book aside, never to weave their hands across its back, ever again.

That is to say; this story is upsetting. Enid is suffering & unable to find her way but, at the same time, she is strong & dangerously forceful in keeping her place in this world. The fact that she climbs through her window to avoid someone, or that she refuses to speak frankly with her mother about her feelings does not dismiss her essence; Enid is a force.

I have written some points relating to Enid’s experiences & the story itself circles these in ways that feel rather trite to recount in a review. I have sat with my thoughts as they relate to this story for some time; what do I think, how do I feel, what is there to say? There are few stories among the thousands that I would simply pass on to others, wanting them rather to read what is written than hear what I have to say.

Austin has a strangely melodramatic way of writing. Her characters are unlikeable & mean; sometimes altogether annoying. Yet, page after page, I could not loosen my grip, because they were human beings too.

The romantic entanglements that took place as a backdrop to the main plot added a layer of dimension that felt authentic. One might relinquish their fear that Austin has simply added lettering for the sake of checking boxes or shades of blue to confuse the sky. Every aspect of this story made sense in that it was relevant.

When Enid sent templated text messages; when she sat in the shower with the person who turned out to be the love of her life; when her mother wore lipstick; & when she thought about space & time; she was Enid & the reader grew to know her as one might any other important person in their life.

Though I have added many sentences of praise, I would not advocate for this book for all readers. I will not shy away from saying that a handful of readers will miss the beauty in this book entirely. I admit that it is not my place to decide for them what is worth their time & what moral they should take away from careful writing. However, it is my place to state that this is a beautiful book. The facet that renders it lovely is the innate & intricate care that the author has brought forth. Readers are lucky to grasp the bind that holds love; the likes of which never disappear for it is in ink & stone.

Where does this leave me & how might I conclude a review that is certainly lacking? While reading this book, I knew that I would not be able to compile all that is of value from this book into a single review. I found Enid’s earnest & tender recollections about special & interesting facts about space familiar & nostalgic.

I wanted to whisper through the pages that life would not be unkind to her forever; tomorrow she would meet the reprieve she surely needed, as I saw it coming down the lines of chapters formatted just for me. Somehow, this experience has left a part of me within the pages.

Humanity is a harsh critic, I will never lie & say that all of my reviews are kind; I have been harsh—nearly cruel in my comparisons & analogies. Words are very important to me. In the silence of hours, the twinkle of the eyes or the breath of a syllable can bring me back to the life I am leading. I have always found books to be among my most precious possessions; the discoveries I cherish like gemstones. When a reader meets a character like Enid whose life is torn apart by what she cannot describe & she is faced with people who cannot see her, the days of existence are very long; I say this from experience.

Austin’s talent for truth & terrible honesty will have readers giggling & gruesomely sad. Enid is an innocent child; an innocent adult; she is an innocent person who placates herself by behaving as a phantom in her life. I cannot fault her for this. She is intelligent & hopeful; she is thoughtful & eager; she tries her best & sometimes, she doesn’t even do that. But above all the mistakes & her horrible incomprehension of existence, Enid remembers the stars & the galaxies & she thinks of them when she wants the people she loves to know that, she is thinking of them too.

The most beautiful thing we have while alive is the knowledge that the entire universe is of its own; we are within it like a beating heart. Enid’s social claustrophobia & transferred revulsion stemming from the shadows in her memory are not cancer to her cells; she has healed in the only way she knows how.

Therefore, I must ask; Who is this story for? Which reader will read the tale of a woman sick from the dark confines inside? Who among us will be eager to know Enid & her flaws? Me.

Ultimately, this is a story about a woman who was once a child in a home where she was scared. Her fear manifested itself into paranoia & a demented sense of self. The loathing murmur of certainty has eaten her alive; no one is seated at the table to witness her cannibalistic demise.

The reader has arrived at what is possibly the most ideal time. The reader will walk through the halls of a silent home, where behind the doors people are crying; terror brooding; rouge wasting; babies growing; the sky darkening; laundry sagging; dishes moulding; & a clock ticking the time passing as though counting down to the final moment when Enid remembers who she is.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, & Emily Austin for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Interesting Facts about Space has excellent pacing and lovable, believable characters. Emily Austin does an outstanding job of endearing us to the narrator, Enid, as she navigates her anxiety and the fraught family dynamics between her, her mom, and her step-mother and step-sisters. All of the plot lines felt equally engaging and lots of parts were laugh-out-loud funny: every time Enid's sleeve tattoo of rats in Victorian dress is mentioned you can't help but giggle. The only character I had a bit of trouble with was Vin, who seemed a bit pushy to me, though the conclusion to the book gives us more insight to his character and I was satisfied.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to receive a copy of Emily R. Austin's newest novel after loving her debut, Everyone in This Room Will Someday be Dead. I loved this book and it's solidified Austin as a must read author for me. This book follows Enid, a true-crime obsessed woman who begins dealing with paranoia and fear that she's being stalked by bald men, at the same time she is trying to navigate complicated feelings in her personal life. Her mother has a history of depression and mental health issues, she's getting to know the half-sisters she's never known after the father that abandoned her dies, and she's developing real feelings for the woman she's seeing despite being scared of commitment. In this book through Enid's journey we explore themes of grief, mental illness, love, and feeling lost and unsure of who you are in your adult life. At the same time, the prose is funny and fast paced, making it compulsively readable. I also think it provides an interesting commentary on the genre of true crime and how it can have negative impacts on those who consume it, although it does so in a way that does not judge those who are fans of the genre.