This was a well-written, sharp, perfectly paced, reflective story about getting to know one's self- and taking the time and space to do that. It's about humans- complicated characters, not all good or bad, but all who have stories that have shaped (and continue to shape) their lives. It promotes empathy, which is a huge reason why I love reading books!

One of my favorite parts was the depiction of Darcy and Joy's marriage. It was such a realistically loving and supportive relationship, and I am always so happy to see a beautiful marriage portrayal!

I did find it to be very heavy-handed at times. I am a liberal and a librarian (like the protagonist), and I even found myself feeling lectured at times! Overall, though, I really appreciated the story, the reflections, the multi-faceted characters, the awesome marriage relationship, the high value placed on listening to other people's stories, and of course, the magic of the LIBRARY!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

Emily Austin is one of my favorite authors, and I'm so excited to read anything she writes. I read this in less than 24 hours and was just so pulled in, as I always am with her work. I like how this one has an older protagonist who is working through past trauma, rather than actively going through the mess of her twenties. I love how real this book and its characters feel, and how much it defends public libraries and their purpose in society. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Darcy is flawed but endearing. She is relatable while trying to be herself. This book is about grief and life and picking back up. There is so many good themes in this book and it really is just an overall good book to read.

Is This A Cry For Help? is an instant 5 star read and one of my favourite books so far this year.

Austin writes paradoxically. I could barely put it down as I read, but it also felt like no time was passing at all. The story is so relatable and direct, while also being insightful and consistent in providing timely social commentary and opportunities for reflection.

As an information professional, intellectual freedom and censorship is an issue near and dear to me. I loved how Austin captured the issue accurately and honestly, all while being both so incredibly frustrating and funny.

Darcy is a fantastic character: she is real and flawed, but is trying to become a version of herself who she is happy to be. For the majority of the book is she temporarily in a long-distance relationship with her wife, Joy, and dealing with intense guilt and confusion around the death of her ex, Ben. We see her in these relationships, we see her in therapy, we see her at work in the library. In all contexts, she is imperfect and you are rooting for her the entire time.

Is This a Cry For Help follows Darcy, a librarian who recently returned to work following a medical leave after having a mental breakdown. She had a lot of complicated feelings toward her ex boyfriend, who she found out had died months earlier, and is coping with the guilt of leaving him to pursue a more authentic life for herself. Concurrently, Darcy is dealing with angry patrons at work who are pushing for increased censorship at her library branch.

Is This a Cry for Help focuses more on Darcy’s recovery from the breakdown and deeper understanding of herself coming away from the incident, and there are just glimpses throughout her therapy sessions and reflections that shed light into what happened and why. Darcy is so earnestly compassionate to everyone she meets, and she puts effort into trying to understand people who have a different perspective than her. She’s learning to extend that same compassion to herself, while comparing her current self to who she was when she was younger in order to try and understand the nuances of her relationship with Ben. There’s a lot of insight into compulsory heterosexuality, as well. There are also themes of the importance of libraries, inclusive programming and access of information, and anti-censorship/book banning.

Emily Austin writes with a balance of poignancy and humor that makes for such a satisfying read. I find her characters to be relatable in an aspirational way, and when I finish reading her books I feel like I come away a better person with more self-understanding. Is This a Cry for Help is one of her best yet, which is saying a lot because I’ve truly loved all of her books so dearly. This was a pretty quick read but definitely one that I want to revisit. If you’ve read and liked any of Emily Austin’s other books, this one will also most likely be a good fit. If you like books that are primarily character-driven, I think you’ll also like this one. It’s accessible as far as literary fiction goes, though, so imo worth reading even if that isn’t usually your favorite genre.

Thank you to Atria books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Austin has done it again. A deep dive into the inner workings of a somewhat odd lesbian main character, accompanied by dry, witty humor and meaningful discussion of relevant issues. Darcy is a librarian returning to work after a 2-month hiatus following a series of panic attacks after finding out her ex-boyfriend passed away. Throughout the novel, Darcy examines, with the help of her therapist, the complexities of this past relationship and how it impacts her current relationship with her wife, Joy. Joy is away attending to family matters when things at the library get a little... chaotic. Ultra conservative patrons (try to) start a revolution against the library and its "woke" policies. Austin graciously navigates issues in a candid manner that supports acceptance and individuality. I always enjoy when an author makes a reference to characters from previous work, and our girl Enid from Interesting Facts About Space makes a brief yet fitting appearance. This is one of my favorite Emily Austin novels to date and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Emily Austin did it again. I've read everything since her debut novel and she has got to stop reading my diary! All jokes aside, this was a wonderful and devastating novel about grief and in many ways, growing up. I'm going to be recommending this to all my library friends and colleagues. Thank you to the publisher for the eArc copy in exchange for an honest review.

Darcy’s life turned out better than she could have ever imagined. She is a librarian at the local branch, while her wife Joy runs a book binding service. But when Darcy receives the news that her ex-boyfriend, Ben, has passed away, she spirals into a pit of guilt and regret, resulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from the library. When she returns to work, she is met by unrest in her community, and protests surrounding intellectual freedom, resulting in a call for book bans and a second look at the branch’s upcoming DEI programs. Through the support of her community, colleagues, and the personal growth that results from examining her previous relationships, Darcy comes into her own agency and the truest version of herself.

I really enjoyed this coming of age story! It was very quick to read and hard to put down. It was funny but also touched on a lot of serious topics which I find Emily Austin is so good at doing! The characters were so lovable. Toward the end I was kind of ready for it to be over but there was a little twist at the end that I loved! If you love the library, you struggle with mental health or you’re a part of the LQBTQ community this would be up your alley! (3.75 ⭐️)

✨ Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts ✨

Available January 16, 2026

thank you soooo much netgalley for the opportunity to read this book as an arc

i had already read a book from this author before and knew that i love her writting style and find it very addicting
this book sheds light in so many important topics and its so relatable in so many levels that i just found myself keep turning the pages
as well as it was very comforting to have a character that finds her comfort in the books in the library, as many of us can relate to that

A big thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of one of my favorite authors!

Oohh this was good!! A beautifully written book that discusses import themes regarding standing up for people from the LGBTQI+-community and the way the public conversation is shifting towards conservative beliefs (f*ck book banning!!). I thought it was so interesting to read how Darcy reflected upon her relationship with Ben and how this changes over time. I also really liked the therapist conversations and the lovingly and respectful talks Darcy had with her wife, Joy. Sometimes everyone was a bit *too* wise and well spoken in conversation with each other, but there was definitely space to make mistakes as well. A touching, funny and moving book that preaches the importance of the library. More of this please!

Emily Austin’s novel is a witty, heartfelt look at grief, identity, and resilience. Following Darcy, a librarian navigating personal loss and community tensions, the story blends humor with emotional depth. With sharp writing and a strong sense of place, Austin delivers a timely, queer-positive narrative that’s both moving and memorable.

Darcy's a librarian who's just returned to work after a mental health crisis. She's been thinking a lot about her ex-boyfriend whom she found out passed away and feeling a complicated mix of emotions, sadness, anger, sympathy - for him and their time together, before she knew she was gay. There's also a lot going on at the library and a flurry of active right wing protesters in an uproar over what they believe is a left wing agenda to indoctrinate kids.

This is really a love letter, in the way Austin writes love letters, sad but funny, to libraries and the librarians who work day in and day out to provide free public services for everyone in the community.

There's of course some sad reflections and sad but funny plot lines. This isn't nearly as sad as some of Austin's other books. I definitely have a soft spot for Austin's writing, and this felt right to read.

This just might be Emily Austin’s best work yet. I absolutely loved this story. In one facet, it’s a love letter to libraries. As a librarian raised in libraries, I love how much it dives into the work of modern libraries (we’re so much more than just books), the challenges we face, and why libraries are so important to their communities. On the flip side, it takes a deep look at how girls are raised in our patriarchal society. It delves into the repercussions that has on how we perceive ourselves and who we grow up to be, and how we work to find our true selves despite the persistent horrors.

I found this book to be immensely relatable, affirming, and a joy to read. If there’s one new book you pick up in 2026, let it be this one. Bonus points for Lou’s cameo.

3.5/5. I enjoyed this one. It was nice that the main character was a librarian. I found that pretty interesting. Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful and raw book that examines the complexities of how our histories impact our present and the role of different relationships in shaping who we are. I really connected to the way Darcy talked about coming into herself as she grew and how we constantly change as we age. I’m very grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Emily Austin has done it again! She's perhaps my favorite lesbian literary author and I genuinely think her writing gets better with every book.

This book contains what I now consider Austin's special blend of humor, tearjerkers, and neurodivergency, and reading it frel slile a warm hug and cup of cocoa after a long day. It's about the importance of libraries, loving yourself, and letting go of who you once were. It concerns compulsory heterosexuality in a way that made me feel like Austin was looking into my heart. I'm so glad I read this book. It's going to sit with me for a long time.

I was so excited for the invitation to read Emily Austin’s new release and a long time fan of her work. I love that Austin features neurodivergent, queer women with mental health issues. It feels so relatable to my own experience and reading Austin’s work feels like settling in for a night at home with your best friend. Is This a Cry for Help? incorporates very real, pressing issues such as book banning, targeting hate towards marginalized communities of all types, and the lengths at which society thinks we should go to “protect” children from indoctrination. A big undertaking that was handled compassionately. I absolutely loved this book!

I am always such a big fan of Emily Austin’s writing and this was such a solid read! This reminded me more of Everyone in this Room Will Someday Be Dead and that was the book that made me fall in love with her writing. Emily Austin is such a great story teller and has such a great way of connecting with the reader with her characters and stories in an emotional yet darkly comedic way which I really appreciate. Just because it has comedic moments doesn’t invalidate the seriousness of the topics in which she writes either which I find important to note. I loved this! Thanks again to the publisher for the ARC!

Austin's writing style is engaging. It’s the kind of prose that makes you want to keep turning pages, even when not much is happening plot-wise.
That said, there were moments where the story felt a bit rambly, and the pacing lagged in places. The main character, while deeply human and complex, started to wear on my nerves as the book went on. Still, I appreciated the honest exploration of mental health, relationships, and identity.

This book was outstanding. As a public librarian, I have never felt so seen by a book or had the challenges of my daily life expressed so clearly. I find that many books about libraries or librarians can be stereotypical and trite, painting librarianship as "just reading books all day" - this was not the case. Darcy was such an engaging protagonist and I loved seeing the world through her eyes. The intersection of grief and mental health with working in a library, censorship, and attacks of libraries as safe spaces was so well done. The other characters, particularly Joy and Mordecai, were engaging. Declan was so real and felt like one of the right-wing "journalists" I often encounter while doom scrolling yelling about banning books and drag queens. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it is released, as well as recommending it to all of my library colleagues!