This is truly such a special book. I resonated with the main character, Darcy, so much. This book was deeply impactful and also has moments of being extremely cozy. I loved how it also just felt like a slice of life. Catching a glimpse into these characters' thoughts and relationships was such a joy (pun intended). Everyone should go and pick this book up, especially during times like these. I think this might be my new favorite of Emily Austin’s! I also would love 5 more books about Darcy and Joy. What a spectacular read!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me ARC of this book!

This no el read like an autobiography for me. It provided interesting insight into the life of a librarian. Additionally, she discussed an early life of confused feelings by trying to do and be what everyone else wanted her to be. As she gained life experience she became herself. This story tells of her path to self discovery. It’s well-written and moved me easily through the story. It’s well worth your time.

This one wasn’t really for me. I found the pacing slower and set it aside a few times. Themes might resonate with other readers — not a match for me.

Everything Emily Austin writes is so tender current. Navigating grief, politics, relationships and personal mistakes in such an eye opening way with quotes that stick with you.

Slice of life and very character focused, I sometimes wasn’t in the mood for this? It definitely is slow and a very close perspective on being a woman, being queer, and struggling with past mistakes. Being human is such a complicated experience and Emily Austin manages to expose jt all out on a page.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing me a digital copy of this arc! I’m excited to pick up a copy once it releases and to recommend it. A heavy novel so tender and full of life lessons without feeling peachy is hard to find! I feel like this makes such a great gift to give when friends and close family are dealing with finding themselves or struggling to understand their grief.

This book probably isn't for everyone, but it's for me. It's like a cozy version of doom scrolling? It was hopeful, it was patient, and I left it feeling like I'd learned something. I can't wait to read it again on publication day!
Also ok fine-- I'll get my master's in library sciences, since you're twisting my arm

Emily Austin!!! I’d say I’m in your walls, but I think you’re in mine! She’s done it again, folks, hitting on all sorts of topics you might be grappling with. Check this out if you’re terrified by the state of the world. If you’re a lesbian baffled by heterosexuality but also reconciling with how it shaped your life. If you’re dealing with complicated grief. If you grew up doing your local library’s summer reading challenges. It’s really a love letter to libraries and the way literature and different perspectives can expand our understanding of ourselves. It’s probably reflective of many of our lives right now. Navigating violence and hatred and conspiracies just while trying to live your life and show compassions toward others. It’s gently uplifting and hopeful in a way Austin always nails by not disregarding the negatives, but just acknowledging all the good, as well. I will also never stop yelling from the rooftops about how Emily Austin just Gets romance! It’s usually subtle but so thoughtful and sweet, and this is no exception. Darcy and Joy have my heart. The same day I finished this, I convinced two people to get a library card so I feel I’m doing my part🫡

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

Emily Austin's best work! I am completely partial to Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead as my top Emily Austin novel, but there is no denying that Is This A Cry For Help is her most touching, emotionally deep and purposeful book.
Darcy was a wonderful protagonist who, while grappling with her recent mental breakdown, was a admirable and relatable character. Her adoration and dedication for her job was inspiring, her relationship with Joy was incredibly lovely, and the struggle with grief and guilt gave her a vulnerable and relatable edge.
In classic Emily Austin fashion, the story was told by smaller segments and interconnected paragraphs that create a seamlessly quick reading experience! Along with the story of Darcy, Joy and the death of Ben, the promotion and defense of the public library was a core element and eloquently expressed the necessity of public access to media!
I have no complaints, but I did find two typos. On location 1944 (there were no pg #), "feeing", supposed to he "feeling", and on location 3018, there is a sentence that says "i worry she might have postpartum.", which I am assuming is supposed to say "postpartum" depression.

I've read every one of Austin's books and they're always amazing. As a librarian who also has a eerily similar past to the main character this one hit me hard but I think anyone would be able to see themselves in this book. It is a powerful book of the love of libraries, importance of community, and journey to healing. Such an important book at such an important time.

Another knock out of the park from Emily Austin. A timely pressure cooker of a book centered on the impossible standards librarians face in the current anti-intellectual culture and another searing glance into the complicated waters of mental health. Another book from Austin that will have you laughing out loud and tearing up!

This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author, and while I usually like her work, this one wasn’t my favorite. I did like the parts on public libraries and the relationship between the couple at the heart of the story, as well as the description of someone trying to recover from a mental breakdown. It touches on grief, homophobia, gender identity, and family dynamics, all set against the challenges libraries are facing today. The library rants and overall message came across as a little too preachy. A quick and well-written read, but not one of my favorites.

Comes out January 2026!!

I love Emily Austin's novels, and this one did not disappoint. I found Darcy and Joy more relatable than characters in previous novels, maybe because their day-to-day lives (and cats) mirror my own in many ways (besides the cozy lakeside cottagecore house... what a dream, fr!!)

Some of the themes sometimes felt heavy-handed, although I enjoyed the storyline as a BIG fan of the public library. Darcy is very reflective and was able to articulate her grief and views on issues at work so well and succinctly... my kobo was full of highlights.

This book is for:
-Fans of Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers
-Cat & library lovers
-If you like characters in healthy relationships who communicate well
-Imposter syndrome survivors

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Emily Austin for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review <3

Admittedly, this book and I got off on the wrong foot. I've read through a bunch of other reviews and I seem to be the only person who thought the initial scene involving the patron watching porn on one of the public computers was mishandled by the main character. I'm not saying that every library's policy is the same, and I certainly do NOT support censorship or book banning or anything of the sort. But I do know that where I work, if someone was watching an adult video, (especially out loud with no headphones), it would not only make all the other patrons uncomfortable, but also the employees. And if another patron complains about it, we have to honor that as customer service workers. We can't get up on a soapbox and tell them that they're wrong, then let the guy CONTINUE TO WATCH a XXX naked threesome on a public computer. That was absolutely wild to me.

This was a depressing read. A vivid depiction of someone experiencing and then attempting to recover from a mental breakdown. It dealt heavily with grief, homophobia, and the hateful rhetoric currently being weaponized against public libraries. Darcy is currently in a happy and cozy relationship with her wife, Joy, but she dwells HEAVILY on the recent death of her ex-boyfriend and also attends therapy sessions to try to work through it. I thought that the back and forth between Darcy and her therapist went on a bit too long and didn't add that much to the story for me, personally, though I understand why the dialogue was there.

I appreciated the general overall message of strong support for public libraries, and I liked the relationship at the core of the story, between Darcy and Joy. Also, the way the author described cats and cat behavior was charming. Darcy's inclination to protect the patrons who came to her for help was admirable, even if I found some of her self-righteousness a bit misguided at times. The things that Darcy is up against as part of her job and her personal life are not fun, and they are not easy. But something about the character herself held me at arm's length, and I didn't connect with her the way I expected to. I also found myself clenching my jaw through all the anti-library ranting, but I know that was the point. It just wasn't fun to read.

2.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Disordered eating, Depression/Mental breakdown, Mention of Suicide, Violent homophobia, Political bullying

I liked the parts about what librarians have to handle regarding their patrons and questions. I didn't care for the main character. I also read "Interesting Facts About Space." I think it's just the author that doesn't work for me. Sorry.

Thank you Atria Books and and author for allowing me to read this arc. I very much enjoyed this read. I ate it up. From the first line/first page this book had me hooked. This was my first reads by Emily Austin and I will 100% be picking up another. Austin captured the queer experience, grief, and current issues incredibly well. There were so many parts of this book that the author perfectly put into words the experience of grief. As someone who recently has been experiencing grief and loss for the first time, this book hit home and explored the raw emotions and pain that is grieving process. As a queer woman, I also felt as the experience of the queer FMC was relatable and matched the emotions that I have experienced in the past and in current relationships. The book perfectly executed the experience and intersectionality that is grief, queerness, and queer grief itself. Along with that, the book also touched on such important issues that we are facing currently in the reality and highlighted them in a way for the reader especially queer readers or more liberal readers to understand how to deal with and challenge these issues at hand. How to stand up for ourselves and our beliefs. AND our LIBRARIES!!! I specifically appreciated the conversation that the FMC had with Declan, the conservative right wing male character near the end of the book. It showed how to have those difficult conversations and how to better understand that we might not be able to change another persons mind about their beliefs. But still how to effectively stand up for our own and know how to communicate with the more right wing conservatives that we may have or come across in our lives. THANK YOU for writing this book, I cant wait to grab a physical copy when it comes out!

Well, who doesn't love a book about themselves? As a moderately depressed childfree, cat-loving librarian, I felt a real kinship with Darcy as she navigated her return to work after weathering a mental health crisis, only to step right into a book-banning fiasco at the library.

I like Austin's writing style. There wasn't much nuance, mystery, or suggestion here. She just told the story, tough stuff and all, in straightforward prose. While sometimes I like a little more complexity, this just worked. It was a good story, and an important story (touching on themes of LGBTQIA+ experiences, censorship and book-banning, and mental health) - but also a simple story.

This librarian will recommend this book to all her librarian (and non-librarian) friends.

A lighter read on a heavy subject. Set in a library where a small group of conservative activists is pushing back on programming and book content, this book also explores themes of mental health, gender identity and family dynamics. I think it is a very realistic depiction of the challenges facing librarians today, who remain committed to free access to information for all members of the community. Not a must-read by any means but a quick one and well-written. 3-1/2 stars

Not only was this a sole eyeball read (I am a tandem/immersive read truther), but I also started and finished this in one day!?! Truly a testament to the plot and writing.

The story deals with difficult topics but does so delicately, and manages to weave humor and lightheartedness throughout as a reprieve. Darcy felt so REAL to me - I loved how raw and honest her thoughts were, especially in the complex situations (i.e. Ben).

Given the political climate we unfortunately find ourselves suffering through, I think this book really highlights the importance of libraries, community, diversity, and honestly just emphasizes why being an empathic and understanding person is SO critical to our society.

This was a very character-driven book about Darcy, a 30-something librarian who is dealing with the mental and emotional aftermath of the death of an ex. In the book, she's moved on and is married to a woman, but with the help of her therapist, she's able to work through why she's so impacted by the death of her ex. Not a lot happens in the book, it's a simple plot and rather slow-paced, but we do see a glimpse into Darcy's daily life, her work, and her marriage. This was enjoyable, though I didn't find it particularly engrossing. I love libraries and enjoyed the "behind the scenes" look into what it's like to work in a public library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

I teeter-totter on literary fiction like two children too small to touch the ground and end up flailing in a concerning limbo until one jumps off and sends the other crashing to the ground. I'm usually the one crashing to the ground; i.e. DNFing the book. This time, however, there was no crashing or jumping.

Emily Austin's Is This a Cry for Help? comes out January 13, 2026. I received an advance copy from NetGalley, and it's my first Emily Austin book. It's a queer literary fiction about a librarian who returns to work after having a mental health crisis. Darcy is 32 and married to Joy, who I'm partial to because she likes to make soup–and I love a good soup.

Darcy had a panic attack when she found out about the death of her ex-boyfriend, who she dated for five years when she was 18 and he was 28. She spent time in an inpatient facility and is now taking anti-depressants and talking to her therapist. We meet her on her first day back after a two-month break. She is still fragile but feeling better. If that wasn't enough, she hears someone watching porn on the library computers and reminds everyone to use headphones in the library. After checking that the porn wasn't illegal, she goes back to work. A library patron takes issue with the porn enthusiast, and Darcy tells her the library doesn't regulate what people search on the public computers. As you might expect, the patron doesn't like her answer and takes her story to a local right-wing journalist.

What follows is a predominantly internal journey as Darcy comes to terms with her complicated relationship with her ex-boyfriend and the guilt she feels for leaving him. We see her with her therapist, talking to her wife, who's out of town visiting family, and dealing with the handful of people demanding book bans and accusing the library of pushing a gay agenda.

The book is introspective and is a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day life of a librarian. It was helpful for my current book, where the main character is also a librarian. From the outside, the droves of MC writers, librarians, and bookshop owners might seem over the top, but we write what we know. As a reading enthusiast, I love reading about characters who also love books. It never gets old. Austin creates relatable characters and navigates their lives with wit and humor–like someone plugging in a crock-pot full of meatballs in the bathroom.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes literary fiction, especially queer fiction. While Darcy isn't having a queer awakening, she is looking back on that time and the ways compulsive heterosexuality kept her in an unhappy relationship with a man who was flawed but overall a good person. There's a moment when she's thinking about how people don't consider two women hooking up as cheating, including women, because of internalized misogyny. This is something I've thought about, and this was one of many times Darcy was thinking about things that occupy my thoughts as well.

I read this in two days, which is kind of wild for a slow-paced book. I think that's because it was an easy read. Austin isn't hiding anything from the reader. The author doesn't encase the book's meaning and themes in hard-to-digest literary flourishes or meandering metaphors. It's straightforward, and so is the language. The subject matter is literary, but it has a slice-of-life approach.

Darcy grows through the process, and while little changes externally, I happily went on her internal journey. To be fair, there are some external changes, including a ginger cat, a rearranging of bookshelves, and a job opportunity. We aren't only banging around in her head for three-hundred pages.

If you're in the mood for a sapphic contemporary literary fiction with wit and wry humor, then pick up Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin.

Thanks to Atria Books for this advanced copy!

The incomparable Emily Austin has done it again. Her literary voice scratches an itch in my brain like no other author has before — though I would love to be able to find others to fill my time between releases. Her books are like *gently* being confronted with a mirror to your inner most thoughts about yourself and the world, or she manages to do that every time for me.

Darcy is a reference librarian at her public library and has just come back to work after being on a two month break due to a mental health crisis. Leading up to this crisis, she had found out that her ex-boyfriend, Ben, had died and she is left feeling grief and guilt about the way that this relationship ended, though she is now happily married to her wife, Joy. When she returns back to work, she is also confronted with rising push back from the community when certain groups are looking to challenge materials.

Tonally, I would say that this book is lighter than some of Austin’s other work. Darcy does experience growth through this book like other Austin main characters. You might even notice a cameo appearance from one of them. This book is so funny - it sneaks up on you in the most random moments, particularly the scene with the Crock-Pot among others. Darcy is incredibly human and the cast of characters in the book are equally absurd and lovable. If you haven’t picked up an Emily Austin before and this review seems at all appealing, let this be your sign.