Sometimes when I pick up a book like Is This a Cry for Help? I worry they're going to end up being a bit preachy about the things I already believe in. Emily Austin strikes the perfect balance of society/political commentary and just beautiful story telling with this one. This was my first book by her, but it certainly will not be my last.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Darcy and Joy are married and each in elements of the book business. Darcy is a librarian, while Joy works in book binding. Darcy suddenly gets some bad news, and she spirals downward into a mental breakdown. She must take medical leave from her library job, and when she returns the environment is different. The community is pushing for book bans and a regulation on their DEI programs. Darcy has to learn to navigate this new normal, and she does so by examining her own self, her relationships, and how she wants her life to look going forward.

This is a very quick book that any open-minded, book lover will happily enjoy. It is book-centric and 100% relevant to today's communities. Darcy is also a character that can encourage others to look deep within themselves to heal and grow, whatever issues afflict you. Though the premise seems slightly gloomy, this is quite an empowering and uplifting book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Austin has done it again!! Is this a cry for help, is a story about life after loss, identity and acceptance. She masterfully weaves the feeling of grief and guilt with acceptance and incredible comic relief. The novel is effortlessly funny and I found myself laughing out loud despite heavier themes throughout the book. Austin has an amazing ability to take all those little thoughts that are rolling around in your brain onto the page in such a thoughtful, reflective, and generous manor. This is a love letter to libraries and librarian staff - sharing the power that they hold and emphasizing the importance of people they serve. Can’t recommend it enough!

Possibly my favorite Emily Henry novel to date. I had a similar experience to Darcy in my teens and early twenties, and I hadn’t realized how impactful it would be to see someone like me reflected with such care in a book. So happy this story exists.

Also, Enid cameo!

I loved this book so much. I’m a huge fan of Emily Austin’s writing. This is my third book by her and she’s three for three with knocking it out of the park.

I really liked the overall themes and focus on the importance of libraries. This story is very relevant to the current political climate in America and I really appreciated the way the various storylines concluded.

Also seeing Darcy and Joy’s relationship made me so happy.

Very impressed with this new novel from Emily Austin. I have loved all her previous works and remain delighted with her narrative voice and compelling characters. My heart wants to give it five stars but I will give four just for the purposes of this feedback review because I had some things I wanted more out of the story. Namely, I wish it would have been explored a little more why exactly Darcy was so broken up over Ben's death. I know we get into feeling guilty because she feels like she "abandoned him" but I think that there could have been a little bit more time diving into that and peeling back more layers to establish why this specific plot line was so important and had to be included alongside the other plot threads because at some points, I just wasn't fully buying it. On to my heaps of praise: adored Darcy, adored Joy, and adored the librarian x library element. It was great to read a book with a happy and healthy lesbian couple. I loved the way the author described the differences between Darcy's relationship with Joy and her previous hetero relationships. The description of the setting was great and I really felt like I was there with Darcy in her house by the lake. I think Emily Austin writes character-driven stories so well and this is no different.

★★★★★ Funny, raw, and deeply affirming

Emily Austin has done it again. This book is sharp, weird, and full of heart. Darcy is such a beautifully messy character—grieving, spiraling, trying to hold it together while her library job becomes ground zero for book bans and community outrage. The writing is darkly funny but never loses its emotional core. I laughed, I cried, I felt seen. It’s a love letter to libraries, queer identity, and the complicated ways we heal. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Wow, this book was just what I needed. It was a mix of quirky and serious. I really felt connected to Darcy, she was just so relatable in her quest to find herself and to delve through a hard past. It’s so surreal how with time and distance, one could look at a situation so differently compared to how you felt in the moment. I think we all have things we recreated and that we wish we had done differently. But like Darcy, I think we all come to acceptance. I enjoyed following the journey that Darcy went through.

She's done it again! Yet another 5 star read for me from Emily Austin. She always writes such complex main characters. It always feels like we're always discovering more and more layers to her characters as the s tory goes on

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! Wow wow wow! This book was absolutely incredible, I think probably Austin's best so far. Darcy was such a wonderful narrator and the way her complexities were handled was graceful and deeply relatable. That's one thing I have loved about all of Austin's books, how complex and varied her protagonists are, and while none of them are perfect all of the grow through the progression of their stories. This holds true for Darcy as well.

The setting and larger issues that are touched on in this book are also so relevant in our current political climate and I really appreciate the spotlight that this book put on the struggles our libraries are facing! We really get to see just how vital librarians and libraries are in our communities and all the services they provide, and through Darcy how important these things are to the people who keep our libraries running.

Both humorous and emotionally moving, this is probably one of my favorite pieces of literary fiction to date, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Emily Austin at her best!! This was probably my favorite of her books, which I’ve adored all of. Darcy’s relatability and internal monologue made me feel like I was reading a transcript of my own thoughts. I enjoyed every second of this and was sad for it to end.

i’ve had a complicated relationship to emily austin’s writing. having previously read both everyone in this room will one day be dead and interesting facts about space - i really wanted to love austin’s writing. but something always fell short. too be honest, i think a lot of it comes from how WELL she writes about anxiety. her characters have always felt almost too relatable that i leave finishing one of her books with more anxiety than before i started.

that all being said, when i received an arc of is this a cry for help? i wanted to give it an honest shot. especially because the plot of this novel felt so relevant and close to what i care about and value. and i can honestly say i thoroughly enjoyed this novel. i do think it’s austin’s best, in my opinion. the plot is simple in nature, the story remains small, and is at times predictable but i genuinely really enjoyed this one. it’s a love letter to libraries and the people who are fighting to keep them a safe space for all. it’s a love letter to books. to community - both the one we collect for ourselves and a community as a whole.

i finished this was feeling warm and fuzzy rather than on the verge of my own menty b, so i call that a win lol

In "Is This a Cry for Help?", Emily Austin has crafted a jarringly realistic protagonist in the modern day and age, one whose character and story many of us with empathize with.

Now in her thirties, Darcy has finally settled into a quiet but content life in a small town in Canada. Working as a librarian at her local branch, she's happily married to her wife Joy, and live together with their two cats. She's moved on from her difficult childhood or past - or so she thinks, until Darcy finds out unexpected in an obituary that her ex-boyfriend of five years, Ben, has passed away. The news sends Darcy reeling and into a mental breakdown for several months, but one she doesn't tell the people around her about. When she returns to work several months later after recovering from her "medical condition", Darcy does her best to continue on as normal, despite the circumstances.

In the weeks that follow, Darcy is forced to acknowledge her past - the difficult and rocky relationship she has with her mother and the unrealistic expectations she was held to, the way she was scared to acknowledge her own sexuality from the beginning, and the complicated relationship she had with Ben in her formative years. We learn more about Darcy little by little as she recalls the memories she's collected over time, and see how she grows and reacts when the DEI efforts at her library come under threat by a handful of loud voices in the community she's grown to love.

This is a subtle novel that slowly grows on you over time, and highlights a number of pressing issues at large in our society today - the overall stigma of mental health, sexuality, gender norms, family dynamics, and the importance of libraries as bastions of open access and education. While Austin's writing style felt a little too simple and rudimentary at times, I appreciated the slow and steady development of Darcy as a character as she reveals more about her backstory and character over the chapters. I think many readers will see aspects of themselves in her, from her constant people-pleasing desires, to her conflict avoidance, to the regimented requirements and expectations her mother held onto her from a young age. Despite it all though, her growth and development over the course of the novel may seem small, but is decisive and satisfying.

Very much a recommended read when "Is This a Cry for Help?" is published in January 2026!

TW: death, grief, mental health issues, & mention of eating disorders

Darcy has returned to her job at the library after a two-month-long mental health break. She is thirty-two with a wife named Joy and two cats. Her ex-boyfriend Ben had passed away, triggering a mental breakdown. Even though she is back to work, it’s clear that she’s still in a precarious state of mind. Along with possessing guilt over Ben’s passing, Darcy feels contrite over her past illness. We watch as this woman reflects on her past, reconciling with her mistakes and her perception of Ben.

In Emily Austin’s signature style, this book blends humor and existential dread. I like to use this phrase sparingly, but this is truly a love letter to libraries, posing as a heartfelt and realistic depiction of working in the community. Discussions of censorship, book banning, and library defunding are tactfully explored; the conversation surrounding it is thought-provoking and nuanced.

Every difficult subject was handled with grace. Austin depicts mental health issues without romanticizing them, and offers a multifaceted perspective of internalized homophobia/compulsory heterosexuality. In relation to these topics, the author provides incredible and one-of-a-kind analogies that will hit close to home for many readers. One example of this that stood out to me was her comparison of the shame that sometimes manifests around queer intimacy to the guilt that can arise from eating.

This book is for the people who were perfectionists as students, who were slowly unraveling on the inside; for the people-pleasers that struggle to differentiate romantic and platonic attraction; people whose therapists say they’re overly self-aware; lesbians with a unique relationship to their queerness; and those who find the utmost value in community and libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC. A heartfelt thank you to Emily Austin for, yet again, writing one of my favorite books.

Is This a Cry for Help? offers a poignant exploration of grief, identity, and the complexities of returning to normalcy after a mental health crisis. The story centers on Darcy, a 32-year-old librarian who, after a two-month medical leave following a breakdown triggered by the death of her ex-boyfriend, returns to work at her local library. As she navigates her professional responsibilities, Darcy grapples with unresolved guilt over her past relationship and the complexities of her current life with her wife, Joy.

Austin's writing is both sharp and empathetic, capturing the nuances of Darcy's internal struggles and the challenges of re-entering a world that has moved on without her. The novel delves into themes of compulsory heterosexuality, the impact of societal expectations on personal identity, and the importance of community spaces like libraries in fostering inclusivity and support.

However, while the book is rich in character development and emotional depth, some readers may find the pacing slow, as much of the narrative focuses on introspection and subtle character interactions rather than plot-driven events. Additionally, the novel's introspective nature may not appeal to those seeking a more action-oriented storyline.

Overall, Is This a Cry for Help? is a reflective and heartfelt novel that offers insight into the complexities of identity and healing. While it may not resonate with all readers due to its introspective pacing, it provides a meaningful exploration of personal growth and the challenges of reconciling one's past with the present.

I was so thrilled when I received this Advanced Reader Copy. I adore Emily Austin and her quirky, character-driven novels and was thrilled I didn’t have to wait until January to get my hands on her newest. Austin’s newest novel stars Darcy, a queer librarian battling social and political issues that will feel very common to everyone in the North America. From battling freedom of speech, inclusivity, and book bans, this story reminds us that the library is for everyone. Darcy is also battling her own challenges with mental health, grief, and her past. Also, there are cats. Sure, it’s not going to be for everyone, but you will enjoy this book If:
- You have read and loved Emily Austin’s prior books
- You love libraries and oppose censorship
- You like slow-paced character-driven stories covering big topics with wit and levity

Many thanks to Netgalley and Artia Books for sharing this book with me in exchanged for my honest thoughts. I’ll continue to read anything from the lovely Emily Austin!

This was very intimate and at times quite sad given the focus on our current political climate. I appreciate the portrayal of librarians as not just guardians of free speech but overall personal freedom and autonomy. I think queer women will appreciate the portrayal of the complicated dynamics of compulsory heterosexuality.

Thank you Atria books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest Review.

I usually don't read litfic because I had the wring impression that all litfic is as difficult to read as classic litfic but this book blew me away.

All the characters have flaws and feel like real persons you might know in real life.

The main theme of this book is battling grief. The main characters ex boyfriend died and she got to know later. She also had a mental breakdown and returned to work after a break and then the far right crackpots started a malicious campaign against her library.

This is a very beautiful book!

Emily Austin has done it again.

How the author manages to create a character with a mind you are living inside throughout the story is absolutely beyond my understanding.

The character of Darcy is drawn in colored pencil. Consistent and growing. The author colors her in more and more, as Darcy finds more questions. Seeks more answers. Finds a security in herself.

This character is poetry.

While there are so many relevant themes that are so striking and unexpected shifts in the story, I’m just so laser focused on the incredible development and depth of the imperfect and powerful FMC.

Emily - please keep writing stories. We need them. We need your characters, too.

This was such a great book! I loved the vulnerability of Darcy, and it's just such a weird feeling reading about characters who are experiencing political pushback relating to books in the current timeline we are in. It really resonated with me! I would definitely recommend this book, it has it all! Laughs, serious moments, and a feeling of being heard and seen!