Two sisters, one childhood, complete opposites. I've always been fascinated at the fact that some people who come from the same household, the same traumatic experiences, could grow up to have completely different outlooks on life and lead very different lives, sometimes, more often than not, isolating. I have a sister and yet, I feel as though our childhood made us into different people, where she used it as fuel for life and going after what she wants, I let it make me a shell of a person for the longest time- quiet, too nice, too agreeing, a pushover.

I truly felt for both Sigrid and Magrit. I think it was hard not to. Emily Austin, you've made a fan out of me. I don't know the right words to describe all that this book did to me. All I can say right now is I cried and felt so seen as someone who's had her fair of mental health issues. This was my first Emily book but it definitely won't be my last.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

This novel is about two sisters; Sigrid and Margit. Sigrid is a lesbian, works at the Dollar Pal, and wishes she could have been a kid forever. Margit is a college student who doesn't understand her sister and prefers to pretend that everything is okay. When Sigrid decides she's going to commit suicide, we learn through attempts at writing final letters what their childhood was like with their parents, Sigrid's best friend throughout high school and more.

This was written so beautifully, as I continue to expect from Emily Austin. The way she describes Sigrid's vivid imagination and her fighting adulthood hit me in a way I wasn't expecting. When we change perspectives later on in the book, I was blown away by how cleverly planned out this novel was. With that, I will leave you with this quote that I can't stop thinking about:

“If I could have picked what I was born to be, I would be a fat little rat at a fair. I would ride the Ferris wheel all night. All the carnival lights would reflect in my happy, beady eyes. I would feast on candy apple cores, discarded peanuts, and melon rinds. I would spook the ladies and carnival workers for kicks. When the lights went out, and the gates were shut, I would scurry around on the ground, rummage through the trash cans, and squeak happily with my rat pals. I would live to be about two years old, which is as long as most rats live. I would get my money’s worth out of my little rat lifespan, and I would leave the earth happy to have been there.”

Emily Austin never disappoints! After reading Everyone in this room will someday be dead, I jumped at the chance to read this one. Great read and the writing style is different and unique.

"We Could Be Rats" is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that follows the lives of two very sisters in their late teens and early twenties. Margit is a high-achieving academic, while Sigrid is a high school dropout who views herself as a failure. The story explores Sigrid’s suicide attempt and its impact on both sisters. It is a powerful exploration of identity, mental health, and the complexities of sibling relationships.

I don’t normally go for literary fiction but this was so so good. It had me spending way too much time wondering which sister I am and I will continue thinking about that for too long as well

Middle school and high school me would have been enamored with this book. It fits right in with my other favorite books during that period. It was really good but it close to home in the way that used to make me feel seen, and now just sort of makes me feel sad and powerless and question if I'm even real.

Please read the author’s note, this book could be triggering for some.

Part one is the note, part two is the truth, and part three is what follows. Emily Austin is able to weave humor into a very unfunny topic. She does not make light of the topic, she just shows that life is messy and sometimes we have to laugh at the absurdity of it all. The author has a very unique voice that I identify with. Everyone will take something different from this book.

This is my second Emily Austin book and I think she is going to be an auto-read author for me.

We Could Be Rats is weird in the best way. Emily Austin has such a unique voice—funny, offbeat, and sneakily profound. The book dives into themes like loneliness, identity, and self-worth, but with this dry humor and vulnerability that just works. I found myself laughing at one line and then suddenly hit with something unexpectedly deep the next.

The main character is wonderfully awkward and relatable in that "I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm trying my best" kind of way. The writing style is sharp and clever, and the pacing keeps things moving, even in the more introspective moments.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? A few parts meandered a little, and some side characters could’ve used more development—but overall, it’s original, heartfelt, and left me thinking about it long after I finished.

If you’re into offbeat, character-driven stories with a lot of heart and humor, this one’s definitely worth the read.

This was my first Emily Austin read and it will not be my last. While this book fell a bit flat for me at the end I enjoyed my time reading it and sped through within a 24 hour period.

Through this book you follow to sisters through one sisters mental health struggles and get to really observe the effect on both parties.

This book depicts mental health and acceptance so well that it really hits you in a place you didn't even know you needed.

Trigger warnings for suicide.

This book hits so deep while also having so much fun humor. Emily Austin has yet to write a bad book. She is able to pick up on such unique feelings that make you feel seen and heard in ways you maybe don't like but need the validation from. This is a heavy hitter for sure but so worth the read.

Not bad, but I didn't connect with this the way I did Interesting Facts About Space last year. I don't know if it was the format of this or the stream of consciousness/journal entry sort of style, but something just fell flat. I like Emily Austin's characterization and I thought all the family and friendship bits were great, but it wasn't enough to fully get me into this. Personally, not for me.

Despite really enjoying Interesting Facts about Space, one of Emily Austin's previous books, I struggled to get into this book. Something about Sigrid annoyed me, making it difficult to be invested in this book. I DNF'd it early on as the prose was rambly. I'm unsure if Sigrid is meant to be unlikable or if it's just me.

Emily R. Austin is one of my favorite authors, so naturally, was really excited to start ‘We could be Rats’. I’ll admit, I struggled a bit with the beginning, it was hard to get into at first. Eventually, I decided to switch to the audiobook, and that made all the difference. From there, the story picked up, and I found myself getting drawn into the narrative.

I really enjoyed reading about the dynamic between Sigurd and Margot. Honestly, can it even be an Emily R. Austin book if there isn’t a deeply complex family dynamic at the center? Getting to explore their childhoods through both sisters' perspectives was heartbreaking, but so well done.

While this isn’t my favorite Emily R. Austin book, I still appreciated the emotional depth and the unique way she tells stories. It’s definitely worth the read, especially if you’re already a fan of her work.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. This arc was provided in exchange for my honest review.!

I don’t even think i can put i to words how i felt reading this. It was an emotional roller coaster for sure. It might be my favorite one from her, honestly. The second half just blew me away and the last line of the book was so f*cking heartbreaking and wonderful and had me sobbing in my car. 5 stars!

This was my most anticipated read of the year and it did not disappoint! Emily Austin is now certified as one of my favorite authors! This book felt almost like a coming of age story and it really resonated with me. I loved it so much I will read anything Emily Austin writes

Emily Austin never misses! I loved this book, it was so creatively written and just quintessential Emily Austin.

this is emily austin's magnum opus -- the most incredible story about grief, coming of age, sisterhood and healing. i wish we could be rats too <3

Genuinely incredible and wildly unique. I love Emily Austin’s writing and the characters she creates so much. Her balance of humour, honesty, and darkness is so easy to consume and so clearly her own. I’m excited for every single thing she puts out in the future.

"If I could have picked what I was born to be, I would be a fat little rat at a fair. I would ride the Ferris wheel all night. All the carnival lights would reflect in my happy, beady eyes...I would live to be about two years old...I would get my money's worth out of my little rat lifespan, and I would leave the earth happy to have been there."

This was the best book I've read in awhile, and although it took me a few attempts to get into the groove, but once I got slightly farther, it felt like I had been completely sucked into Sigrid and Marg's lives. Although sisterhood is something I've never had the chance to experience firsthand, struggling with my mental health is, and it was perfectly encapsulated by Emily Austin's really unique voice. I can't wait to read more of her older books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC.

I have never read a book like “We Could Be Rats” and I admire the author’s creativity and how she was able to structure the first section of letters. While they were serious, they were also funny and touching and emotional. There were parts of the rest of the book I don’t think I understand fully which made me feel like maybe I would have gotten more out of the book with a rereading.