It’s hard to say that I enjoyed a book so much that starts out the way it does, but this book was just so well done. This book is going to make you feel all the emotions. It does contain sensitive subject matters, so check into that. I, however, loved it. Emily Austin made being a rat at the fair something everyone will want to add to their bucket list.

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin takes on an interesting structure to show two sisters coming back to each other.

Austin does an impeccable job at creating characters who are well rounded, to the point I feel I'm reading an autobiography of someone who exceptionally embodies what it means to be a human. The thoughts of the characters feel so grounded, and their actions are so wild, yet mundane, they must have happened in real life.

One quality I love that the author brings into all of her work is how absolutely everything is linked with something else. There are no extraneous remarks that are never resolved. Through We Could Be Rats, we wonder many things, that sure feel like they're mentioned solely to move the plot forward, but actually have a full circle moment. It helps the stories feel grounded in reality.

There are many times I found myself lost in the pages, convinced I was close with Sigrid and knew her as well as I knew myself. I cried with the characters, felt their frustrations, and felt their sense of continuing on.

What a fantastic read.

This was expertly written but contains a lot of trigger warnings. Austin addresses these at the beginning of the novel which I appreciated. She gets into the head of the modern girl like no one else can. Sigrid is a complex character and her woes become your woes. You understand more and more of her through each attempt. This contained some of the same humor that her last novels did, but tackled deeper issues as well (like the opioid epidemic).

This was a heavy read, and one that impacted me deeply. On the surface, Sigrid and her sister Margit couldn’t be more different; Sigrid is a high school dropout who stayed in her hometown working a dead-end job, while Margit, the “golden child,” left town for college and seemingly never looked back. What follows is a deep exploration of the bonds of sisterhood and what led them to their current place.

I’m having a hard time putting my thoughts of this book into words. What I can say is that I was incredibly moved by both the writing style and the emotions it provoked within me. I saw myself in both Sigrid and Margit in entirely unique ways. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ and mental health representation, which were approached head-on but also very delicately. This was my first book by Emily Austin, and I am looking forward to her reading her backlist.

Please take the content warnings into serious consideration before starting this novel, as the topics are heavy and not danced around.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted eARC!

Wow! This was my first Emily Austin novel, and I am an instant fan. The book literally blew me away, and I could not put it down. The format and writing style are perfect. A tale of two sisters who couldn’t be more different but never are what they seem to be.
Sigrid never graduated from high school and is struggling with ‘growing up’. As a child she had a vivid imagination and a closer relationship to her toys than her family and friends. Now she works at the Dollar Pal store and just broke up with her girlfriend. Margit, her sister, is going to college and has always been the more mature and controlling sibling. Each sister deals with life and what is expected from them differently. They hardly speak to each other but soon realize that they have more in common than they thought.
I loved this book and will definitely look for more from this author. Even though the topics are quite heavy, there were enough laugh out loud moments to make it highly entertaining. It is a slow pace, an emotional roller coaster, mainly character-driven but has a big twist that will make you gasp. This book will remain with me for a long time. I highly recommend it. 5⭐️
Trigger warnings: suicide, mental illness, addiction, domestic abuse
I would like to thank Netgalley, Atria Books and Ms Emily Austin for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy. I truly enjoyed it. The above is my honest review and own opinion. The book is available on 1/28/2025.

duh this is five stars but just know i am confused...

emily austin burrows herself further and further into my heart with every book she write. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!! her books are kinda out of my usual reading tastes just because of the writing style and the fact that they aren't romances. yet i cannot stop thinking or talking about them. i know everyone in my life is getting sick and tired of me yapping about these books.

when i started this one i was taken aback. i hadn't really read the synopsis and once you do i feel like the first half is still pretty jarring. the content of this book is pretty heavy so definitely check trigger warning before diving in. after reading all 240 pages, i'm happy, sad, lost, angry, basically any emotion you could feel. so much of this book packs a punch but because of my lack of understanding it hits in different ways. what i mean by confusion is that you find something out in the end that kinda changes how i view the first half of the book so my brain is jumbled right now.

this book is still a masterpiece. emily austin just writes such real characters who have conflicting emotions about life and i get it. my pen barely leaves my hand when i'm reading because of how many small lines just hit so hard. more people need to be writing sad girl literary fiction but specifically like how she does so that i have more books to read.... not that i need more. the commentary on living in a small, conservative town and having an asshole run for a political position was like a shot straight to my heart. its also just a shitty time in the political climate so i was getting frustrated even reading about it be fictionalized. (fuck white men who are racist, homophobic, sexist, transphobic, and just awful people who keep getting high positions of power. I HATE YOU)

my rating is a five star but i think i will just rate anything she writes five stars. out of the three this one is my third favorite. this could be because i've reread both of the others and have only just finished this. please, please, please, pick it up anyway though because its great. pick up all her books while you're at it!!!

Brilliant. An emotional smack in the face. An ending that made all that hurt and turmoil feel worth it. There's such a bursting possibility of hope.

Sigrid and Margit grew up in a tense (understatement) household, and had opposing reactions to that trauma. Margit grew hypervigilant and careful, always aware of others' feelings and trying to de-escalate the situation; Sigrid disappeared into her imagination and struggled not to be confrontational about the things she cared about. Sigrid is also a lesbian in a small conservative town that has regressive ideas, and an opioid and homelessness problem. Sigrid and Margit both feel trapped and had different plans for getting out. Margit did, going to college. Sigrid didn't...

I feel like even discussing the structure of the novel will give things away, so please read the author's note in the beginning. This is a novel that contains extremely heavy topics, but somehow manages to remain effervescent. I tore through the first half, and took a little more time with the second. Sections two and three are revealing and important.

This is a book about sisterhood, friendship, guilt, and healing. Despite the dark start, it ended on a note that gave me hope.

Emily Austin is truly a one of a kind writer in that she writes with what feels like a universal voice, and creates narratives that it is easy to crawl inside and inhabit. I experience her books, not just read them. She is absolutely brilliant, and I will read everything she writes. In the future, I think we'll look back on her work as essential to understanding this moment in time.

I have loved all of Emily Austin’s books so far. I find her main character’s to be so relatable. I also admire how she tackles heavy topics in such a thought out and gentle way.

Sigrid is deeply unhappy and no one gets her, even her sister Margit. Margit is constantly frustrated by Sigrid because she does not try to conform to or be a part of regular society. However the two sisters endured a less than ideal childhood which should bond them, and when Margit learns the depth of Sigrid's unhappiness, maybe the two can begin a new phase of their relationship.

This is a hard one for me to rate, there are definitely triggers in this book (if suicide is one of yours, don't read it). Emily Austin is one of those writers where I may not fully enjoy the content of what I am reading but her writing is so funny and quirky that I still enjoy it. The first part of the book is a series of discarded suicide note drafts that tell the story of Sigrid and Sigrid and Margit’s relationship. I really enjoyed this novel because of the writing and how the story evolved. This is not for everyone but if you have my sort of humor and you enjoy quirky but traumatized characters, then pick this one up. I ended up listening to over half of it on audiobook and the narrator did a spot on job for the difficult subjects, she knew when to hit the humor and when to hold back.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC to review

I was lucky enough to get an ARC for this book and I can’t say enough good things.

I absolutely adored this book! Emily Austin is one of my favourite authors when it comes to portraying mental health and queer women. I loved the layout of this book and the different perspectives. This is heavy and emotional, but in my opinion, written in a very beautiful, relatable, digestible way.

Emily Austin’s grasp on my psyche should be studied. Good God.
This book is comforting, confusing, a mirror for me to squint at. ‘We could be rats’ is really the only thing that’s engaged me emotionally since my cat died last month and I turned into this weird numb husk.
It was sadder than the other books I’ve loved by this author. It likely won’t be my favorite Emily Austin book in the long run, but it was effective and memorable for me. Missing the way the world was when you were young does hurt, but the sky is still pink sometimes. I’m grateful to have gotten the arc, thank you Atria Books.

Once again, Emily Austin has created a deeply relatable and sad novel about growing up, family relationships and mental health, while still managing to package witty humour into the pages.

In this book, our main character Sigrid has decided she wants to end her life so she is crafting her suicide note while reflecting on her complicated relationships with her family and friends, and reminiscing on her lost childhood.

I really enjoyed the emphasis on growing up and feeling like your childhood has escaped you, and not knowing where you stand now. I found myself relating to a lot of what Sigrid was saying. I also really enjoyed reading about the particular dynamic she has with her sister - Margit.

This book just felt so real and raw. It had me highlighting quotes that resonated with me, and I don’t normally do that. I will definitely continue to read from Emily Austin in the future.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This book is not my usual style. It’s gay, but not super gay, and while relationships are mentioned, there’s no romance aspect to it. But oh my god, THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING I NEEDED RIGHT NOW. The book centers around a twenty year old woman looking back on her life as she tries to write her suicide note. I know that sounds morbid, but the book was a beautiful exploration of what makes us into the people we become. I resonated so much with the words in this book, especially right now as the country seems to be going on a fast downward spiral. The main character talks a lot about wanting to stay a kid, and I think a lot of us can relate to that. There’s a ton that I could say about this book, but I don’t want to go into more detail than that because I truly believe this book is better the less you know going into it. It’s like a puzzle you’re piecing together while the main character pieces together her life. It’s beautiful and deserves to be read by everyone, so get it now! Seriously.

We Could Be Rats is a full 5 ⭐️ from me, but of course.

Wow, what a beautiful little book. Truly existential and heartbreaking, challenging the reader to think about their own child self weighed against their adult self. I found myself relating so heavily to Sigrid, but also to Margit.

I just loved this but don’t know how to talk about it. Emily Austin at her best.

This is the first book l've read from Emily. When I originally requested this book the title and book cover caught my attention. I did not realise how much this book would capture me. The story of two very different sisters and growing up in a small town with "swamp monster" parents.
In the first part of the book we read about Sigrid trying to write a letter to make people in her life feel better after her death. We learn about Sigrid growing up, not wanting to conform to the society rules of her small town. But, in the second part we get to read how it was for Margit growing up in the same small town. By the end of the book I was questioning everything I had read as there's an unreliable narrator. Overall, I loved this book and definitely will be purchasing a copy for myself.

More content warnings would have been nice— the first chapter is a su*cide note. I love Emily Austin but I was not prepared for that and it was very hard to read/get past.

This is easily the worst book I’ve read in the last 2 years. The way it reads is a rambling train of thought made into suicide notes and diffused into sections written by the sisters.
I’m sorry maybe it is just too cool and intellectual for me but it felt like listening to someone who is drunk and high trying to tell a story. I am absolutely shocked by the good reviews.
I definitely should have just DNF’d this one and unfortunately cannot recommend it at all.

This is my third Emily Austin book and certainly won’t be my last! Emily never ceases to amaze me with how accurately she captures anxiety and overthinking . The characters in this story perceive themselves as being disconnected from one another, but they are more similar than they realize. A defining event brings them together and illuminates how much they love and need each other. It was a lovely depiction of sisterhood and a good reminder of what matters most in life.

4.5 rounded up

"I used to joke, 'I wish we were rats' because, if I could choose how the world worked, we would all be rats at the fair. We would all live well, sampling every possible ounce of happiness."

---- there will be MINOR spoilers in the review. nothing huge, but there is vague mention of the direction of the plot.---

I just truly don't even know where to begin with how lovely this story was. If you take away the fact that the first half is drafts of a suicide note, it's genuinely so funny. I love when a book can combine such beautiful truths about the world with a certain level of brevity where you're just like "wow, that's hilarious" and then you read that line over and over because it just hits in such a deep place in your heart. I loved seeing the world from the optimistic and imaginative mind of Sigrid. there were just so many nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout her note. I think this would easily be my most highlighted book in a long time.

Then we get to see Margit and understand the world from her viewpoint. See the way that she navigates the emotional turmoil of finding her sister and sitting at her hospital bedside begging her to live. the aftermath of finally seeing the hurt that your love ones have been hiding was conveyed in such a raw and honest way. I felt so much empathy for both Sigrid and Margit. They are such different people (one of my favorite things about humans, specifically siblings, is how we can experience the same parents and childhood and come out on the other side with such different manifestations of what we've experienced). Seeing all of the small moments of kindness that Margit allowed to gently guide her into seeking help was really touching as well.

This story was just so lovely. There really isn't much more to it than that.

Please check the TW <3 take care of your hearts and your brains, friends.

Thank you to Atria for an early copy of this book! I came for the title, i stayed for the bird in a monkey costume. and jo, of course.

I want to start with thanking NetGalley, Atria Books, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Emily Austin for the eARC for <i>We Could Be Rats</i> in exchange for an honest review. I was surprised and absolutely delighted when I received the eARC. <i>We Could Be Rats</i> is my most anticipated book for 2025 and let me tell you, it is well worth the wait! <i>We Could Be Rats</i> releases in the United States on January 28, 2025.

Anyone who has either 1) spent any time with me or 2) has seen any of my reviews, will know Emily Austin very quickly became one of my favorite authors after I read Interesting Facts about Space as an early release from BOTM last February. Austin has a talent for representing lesbian and autistic voices incredibly well. Once again, I sobbed.

Emily Austin continues to amaze with her latest release <i>We Could Be Rats</i> . <i>We Could Be Rats</i> deals with some incredibly heavy topics such as suicidal thoughts, suicide, and homophobia. Austin handles each of these tactfully and artistically. The first half of this book is told through a series of suicide notes that our primary narrator Sigrid is attempting to write before killing herself. From the beginning, Sigrid is an unreliable narrator who is stuck in life- whether due to her own actions or the small town. Sigrid is now determined that the only way to move on from this stuck-ness is to kill herself.

Each of the letters in the first half of the book is riddled with lies and half-truths. However, Emily Austin does an amazing job portraying the type of person Sigrid is. Austin has a true talent in creating characters that feel real. Her characters are messy and human and tangible. You love to hate them and love to love them. I don't think I will ever despise an Emily Austin character. I think they all need a good hug and some (read: lots of) therapy.

Austin plays a lot with the form in <i>We Could Be Rats</i>. When I opened the book for the first time, I was wary of the letter format. Yet, it was such a poignant way to showcase Sigrid's desire to not be a disappointment. Sigrid spends her letters, that should showcase her truth, creating a reality that would be more bearable for those she is leaving behind. It is a rambling mess as she searches for the truth she wants to leave behind. Austin does a great job capturing the rambling in a cohesive and not overdone manner. Sigrid is a selfless liar. She wants to downplay her own death to spare others.

Sigrid's sister, Margit, is the one who has to pick of the pieces. Margit is a typical older sister with older sister syndrome. On the surface, she is put together and does her best to stay out of the way and not make trouble. Sigrid makes enough trouble for both of them. Margit, through Sigrid's perspective, seems uncaring and unbothered. Yet, as we reach the second half of <We Could Be Rats</i> it is clear who she actually is. To spare from major spoilers, I will make one quick spoiler comment before moving on. Slight Spoiler: <spoiler>Margit's perspective is an incredible reflection on how a family member's suicide / suicide attempt affects them. Margit is tasked with keeping it together. Her life begins to unravel.</spoiler>

Emily Austin has done it again. I believe I have said this in my other reviews of her novels (and poetry!); Emily Austin's prose is an acquired taste. Everything has to be poignant and real. She succeeds at this, continuously. I feel like if you don't walk away sobbing or at the very least misty-eyed, you may not have read her works properly. Emily Austin writes about human connection from a notably queer, neurodivergent (autistic) lens that leaves me rattled every time as an autistic lesbian. Human connection is always difficult and even more so when you aren't the default. Austin's characters always find that connection on their own and they end the story ultimately stronger than they were at the start.

Thank you, Emily Austin, for once again making me a blubbering mess. I did finish this before my girlfriend and had to sob quietly in bed to 1) not wake her and 2) not spoil the book for her.