Book review: Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin
Genre: Literary fiction
Release date: January 13, 2026
Goodreads rating: 4.3
My rating: 4.5
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I was offered an advance copy of this book by Atria Books and am so grateful to have discovered Emily Austin’s writing. Her last novel We Could Be Rats has been on my TBR but Is This a Cry for Help? ended up being the first novel of hers that I delved into, and I quite enjoyed it.
The story follows Darcy, a 31-year-old woman who recently suffered a mental breakdown. We meet her on her first day back at work as a librarian and follow her as she navigates the transition. In the first few pages, we learn the reason for her breakdown (guilt related to an ex-boyfriend who recently died), and subsequently follow her everyday life with her wife, her journey of self-discovery, and are privy to the issues she must face as a librarian.
I really enjoyed Austin’s writing style. At first, I wondered if I would find the mental health theme of the book heavy, but Austin uses an introspective writing style that I found extremely effective (even calming). She hones in on the healing aspects and pulls you into the many small individual moments and steps that lead her in the right direction.
I also loved how she wrote Darcy’s character. She is depicted as a reliable, effective and intelligent woman, which helps to dispel the unfortunate myth that mental breakdowns are related to weakness. Darcy is written in a real and honest way. She feels like a real person to me, which made me invested in her experience.
The story is also nicely layered. Several parallel events support the main themes of the book (shoutout to Kat the cat, or bird-loving Sammy).
I also loved the sneak peek at the inner workings of a library. I had never stopped to consider how truly important the role of a library was in promoting free and equal rights… and in providing social support initiatives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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