A love letter to public libraries, and an all-too-topical storyline. I really appreciated the balance of heavy and light in this book, and Darcy was a wonderfully flawed character. Though I am certainly pro-libraries, this book got a little after school special-y for me at times— I can appreciate that you have to drive the message home for any random reader who picks up the book, but I would imagine most of Austin’s audience is not new to this info.

Let’s try this again now that I don’t have (as much) wine flowing through me.

Tipsy or not, this is still a solid 5 star read for me. I love Emily R. Austin. I first fell for her writing with Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead, and Interesting Facts About Space sealed her as one of my new favorites. We Could Be Rats wasn’t my top pick. It was good, just not on the same level as the first two. But after reading Is This a Cry for Help? I’m ready to plant my “I love Emily R. Austin” flag firmly in the ground. I’ll read anything she publishes, and I’m pretty sure I’ll always have a good time doing it. Once again, I found myself uncomfortably (and comfortingly) identifying with the main character’s internal thoughts, which has happened with all of Austin’s books.

Is This a Cry for Help? follows a woman working at a library after returning from a stay in a facility. She’s trying to find her footing again after a mental breakdown sparked by the death of her ex. Not much happens plot wise, but that is part of the charm. It follows the same rhythm as Austin’s earlier work. If you are a fan of her previous novels, there is a very good chance you will love this one too. For me, it is the writing that shines. I have never seen my internal dialogue reflected so clearly in a character before. It made me feel not so alone in my own head.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy, and for once again giving me the comfort of feeling seen.

4.25⭐️

thanks to atria books and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

this book was such a fast-paced, interesting read! i always find it kind of difficult to describe emily austin's books because when it comes down to it, there isn't really a plot, and the writing is filled with a lot of dry humor, which i love. this particular book follows darcy, a librarian, who gets caught up in a discussion on censorship at the library with an alt-right "journalist" while she is also recovering from a mental health crisis triggered by the death of her ex-boyfriend.

like "everyone in this room will one day be dead," the main character is very dry and matter of fact, and i thought the author did a really good job of balancing pretty serious topics with the dry humor of the narrator's voice.

darcy is lesbian, and a lot of the book explores her journey with her sexuality, particularly through her discussions with her therapist about her ex-bf. it was interesting to read about this, as darcy does also mention how her sexuality is influenced by societal expectations for women, and how before coming out she was living based on a script she thought she had to follow, which i think is relatable regardless of your sexual orientation. there were other quotes during her therapy sessions that also really resonated with me.

this book also brings up an interesting discussion of censorship through a kind of bizarre scenario where the alt-right character was using a man watching porn at the library as a jumping board for book bans. there's one discussion in particular that darcy has with her friends about porn at the library that demonstrates really well how censorship is a slippery slope, and i thought that was articulated very well.

my only critique about this book is that towards the end when characters come together to discuss censorship, diversity, and inclusivity, it starts to feel a little preachy as opposed to natural thoughts or dialogue. i remember darcy has a long trail of thoughts on these topics that felt more like a textbook than a story.

overall, i'm super impressed with emily austin who is able to write such an engaging book that is moreso a character study than a plot-driven story, and is exactly what i wanted from her based on my past experiences with her writing!

Enjoyed Darcy’s story. The challenged books, grief and guilt of death and especially her relationship with her wife make this an easy story to share. So realistic since our library is going through the same troubles. Well done!

This is a difficult book for me to review. I actually really enjoyed reading it and learning about libraries and a hearing a librarian's perspective on our current divided mindset. Rather than a typical novel, the bulk of this book is taken up with Darcy's musings on why people become conservative and don't have empathy for people who aren't like them. There are a lot of paragraphs that start "Don't they understand..." or similar. In this way, in her own mind, Darcy is able to counter every point that the right wing characters have without ever having to have a dialogue with them and allow them a chance for rebuttal. My problem with this novel is that it's so liberal that no conservatives will ever pick it up. I think books are supposed to subtly bring us closer together by presenting ideas and perspectives we would not otherwise have had. This book is not subtle, and I think is therefore destined to be an echo chamber of people who already think this way reading a book about people who also think this way. I think this way, so I did enjoy the book, and if you think this way you'll enjoy the book too, but you won't be able to share it with your conservative parents.
Thank you too NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for this ARC! This was such a raw and emotional story of a librarian navigating the many different struggles that come with grieving, in addition to issues at her place of work and within herself, with her sexuality, and just overall in her day to day life.

The way the main character was written made her feel so real and relatable in so many ways! I really felt like I understood what she was going through because i felt like i could relate to her, and understand her as she spoke in a way I can understand!

This is not a book I would typically go for, but I am glad that I decided to check it out! I can’t wait to talk about it with everyone once it’s been released!

3.5 star rating.
Darcy, librarian who is facing ultimate library bans due to a circumstance while also dealing with grief of a past relationship.
The climax of the story wasn’t really resolved or as impactful as I thought It was going to be. Showed the importance of all libraries, identity and therapy. Emily Austin has a way with writing characters that feel like you know them.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC! This book was a bit out of the realm of what I normally read but I really enjoyed it.

“Is This A Cry For Help?” follows a librarian named Darcy as she navigates grief, overcomes a mental health crises, comes to terms with her sexuality, and fights censorship through her work at the library.

Each topic was discussed in such a real, human way, making it relatable to so many in some way, shape, or form. I felt like I was walking in Darcy’s shoes which allowed me to shift my perspective on a lot of the trials she faced.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining, raw read, definitely recommend.

4.5/5 !

This is my first book by this author and WOW! She seamlessly weaves the present and past, making the book impossible to put down. The writing style feels so true to the main character, Darcy. I connected so deeply with her, and the book is just so special. I love a character-driven novel, and this was exactly what I was looking for. The book's plot and themes are especially relevant to what is (unfortunately) going on in the world right now.
Thank you again, NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Soulful and quiet, a very welcome and homey slice of life of a librarian wrestling with a loss and What It All Means. The portrayal of both relationships in question is so thoughtful and mature, and really speaks to the experience of midlife when comfort overtakes both novelty and convention in terms of importance. The scenes in therapy feel so true, and her analysis of the effect of social expectation and its weight are so profound. Not to mention, the role of the library and the interplay there with the community- feels very timely right now. Very grateful I got to spend time with this person and her quiet life; this feels like conversations you might not be lucky enough to have if you overlook the everyday people who are all around.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy!

This book is about a librarian coping with grief and the past after an ex passes away. I liked the main character, she felt very real. The pacing felt slow/contemplative, and I liked the charm and humanity with which these serious topics were addressed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for this ARC.

This is my first Emily Austin book and I’m happy to report it will not be my last. This story made me laugh, cry, gasp, sigh, and much more. I found myself engrossed from page one, rooting for Darcy and Joy as well as the Library and community around it. And the cats? Perfection. The reflections on censorship and community resources made me critically think about my Stan Ed and how I personally support the things that I believe make the community better. My only complaint is that it ended too soon. I wanted more, but I fear that would be the case in any reality.

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Following Darcy, a thirty-something year old gay librarian, this books does an amazing job at exploring queer identity after 30s, the importance of community, relationships, and public libraries as safe and inclusive spaces. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Another 5 star Emily Austin book. Anything she writes, I'm gonna read!!! I loved this. She nailed the serious topics and sprinkled in the humor. Human names for cats always bring me such joy. I loved Darcy's internal monologue and all the quirky people she interacts with.
I appreciate the attention given to the public library, and all the resources it can give to their communities. I identify with Darcy a lot as someone that does not handle grief well, experiences a lot of guilt from the past and as a major over-thinker. Emily Austin, you've done it again! Might be your best book yet!

Darcy’s life is thriving in ways she could have never predicted. She’s a librarian at a local branch, while her wife Joy runs her own bookbinding business. There’s not enough room in their home for all the books they own between the two of them! Their home is their perfect oasis, sprinkled in with a few plushies and children’s books. Welcoming all to join into their bliss.

But Darcy learns the news of her ex-boyfriend Ben’s passing and spirals into a pit of despair. She feels guilt for his passing, so sure it had something to do with how she ended their relationship out of the blue. We watch as Darcy chronicles her life with Ben in therapy and how it drastically differs from her current life. All while she returns to her job at the library which gave her medical leave during her mental breakdown.

Back at the library there is a community uproar over some of policies surrounding intellectual freedom and books the library keeps. Through the unrest of the community we witness just how strong Darcy’s connection is to the community she’s helping which helps enrich her life and find some balance in who she truly is.

Again I must start by saying, I am Emily Austin’s biggest fan. I have never met a story or character by her that I didn’t like. She focuses on neurodivergent, queer women with mental health issues and does so with such grace and nuance constantly outdoing her previous work. I constantly see a new facet of myself buried within her work. I was the epitome of a latchkey kid growing up. Our house was across the river from the library and I would make the journey there whenever I could. Hiding in the stacks spending hours searching for the perfect book. It’s where I fell in love with learning, cinema and books. The public library made me who I am today. This book is an ode to libraries everywhere and the invisible labor librarians face ensuring the community has a safe space to flock to.

Thank you for inviting me to read this book in exchange for an honest review Atria Marketing Team and netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of Emily Austin's latest! Austin has such a talent for writing deeply character-driven stories, and this one is no exception. While I personally lean more toward plot-driven reads, I still enjoyed this one.

Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is still my favorite of hers, though — if you want a good laugh, I’d definitely start there! Still, I really appreciate the chance to dive into this one

I often feel a little insane about the state of the world. This book made me feel a little less insane and a little more hopeful.

Darcy was such a great character. She’s dealing with a significant amount of grief and guilt after learning about the death of her ex boyfriend. After coming back from a mental breakdown, she now has to fight the good fight every single day as a librarian. The library she works at has come under fire because a conservative news site is uncomfortable with what’s allowed at the library.

Darcy’s library is unfortunately a microcosm of the world. People are angry about diversity in books. They don’t want books that portray LGBTQIA+ characters or BIPOC characters. They’re worried about “exposing their children” to these “abominations”

I love Darcy and thought her healing journey was beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I cringed at the insanity she had to deal with. 5 stars all around

I'm a total Emily Austin fan, and have read everything she's written. She manages to balance good writing, humor, and important/serious topics in a way that really works. Is This a Cry for Help doesn't break that mold at all, in its story of the importance of library and mental health. I was quite taken by the characters in this novel, and appreciated the prominence of cats. I didn't like it quite as much as some of her others, as I found a lot of the library information was just a bit didactic in its presentation - that said, I appreciated the unbridled love letter to libraries and couldn't agree more with the need to share that love with as many as possible.

This is tough. I love Emily Austin books. I love all of the threads and the thoughtful, surprising ways they come together at the end. This book gave me an appreciation for the library, and made me think about our freedoms in new ways—I’m a progressive, but I do see why maybe porn shouldn’t be played in public spaces, and also how restricting that has negative implications, etcetera. I appreciated that about the book a lot.

I just felt like, overall, it was fine. Lines like, “I smile. ‘I’m so happy.’” The explainers of everything—I didn’t know if this book knew I was smart. It felt dumbed down, like I was being spoon fed throughout. I’m sorry :(

I will never not read Emily Austin books, but I hope for the next one it’s something more challenging for her, and more challenging for the reader.

I really enjoyed this book! Emily Austin has such a talent for writing quirky, lovable heroines who feel so real in their flaws, and Darcy is no exception. She’s navigating grief, regret, and a full-on life spiral after the death of her ex, and yet her story still manages to feel warm, witty, and relatable. I found myself pausing at so many quotable, thought-provoking lines.

What I loved most were the conversations around libraries—both their importance in a community and the tough, timely issues around book bans. It felt honest without being heavy-handed.
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This book definitely feels like classic Emily Austin: a blend of dark humor, heartfelt vulnerability, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. If you’ve loved her other books, you’ll find that same mix of quirky charm and emotional depth here.