We Could Be Rats

A Novel

By: Emily Austin

Narrated by: Candace Thaxton

A “one-sitting-read" (Laurie Frankel, New York Times bestselling author) about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space.

Sigrid hates working at the Dollar Pal but having always resisted the idea of growing up into the trappings of adulthood, she did not graduate high school, preferring to roam the streets of her small town with her best friend Greta, the only person in the world who ever understood her. Her older sister Margit is baffled and frustrated by Sigrid’s inability to conform to the expectations of polite society.

But Sigrid’s detachment veils a deeper turmoil and sensitivity. She’s haunted by the pains of her past—from pretending her parents were swamp monsters when they shook the floorboards with their violent arguments to grappling with losing Greta’s friendship to the opioid epidemic ravaging their town. As Margit sets out to understand Sigrid and the secrets she has hidden, both sisters, in their own time and way, discover that reigniting their shared childhood imagination is the only way forward.

“A must read” (Haley Jakobson, New York Times Editor’s Choice author), We Could Be Rats is an unforgettable story of two sisters finding their way back to each other, and a celebration of that transcendent, unshakable bond.

A great addition to Austin’s other work

I found this story to be more tame than Emily‘s other works. I know that’s maybe crazy to say since this book was about suicide, but if you’ve read her other works, I think you would agree. But I enjoyed it just the same. The way Emily uses humor in her stories makes them feel more relatable. I would recommend her books with the caveat that her characters can be very strange, but I think we can all see ourselves in them and at times have maybe felt like them.

Sisterhood can be complicated when you are queer

I’ve never read something that both broke something open inside of me and healed part of me at the same time. Having an older sister can sometimes feel like standing at the edge of a chasm—close to one another, yet separated by an overwhelming distance. Sometimes it feels like we’re standing side by side ready to jump together, other times it feels like you are looking across the chasm staring at one another, then times you feel like you are standing alone waiting for her to show up. There events that happens in your life that help you both to take a step away from that edge together, they are rarely joyful moments. They often come from a place of pain, yet after you feel like you can walk away together breathing easier knowing you aren’t alone.

We Could Be Rats captured those feelings beautifully. I found myself crying several times throughout this book, but it was the kind of cry that brings peace by the end. This book reminded me that, despite all the differences between my sister and me, I would never have made it this far without her.

Excellent heartfelt story

This story is so lovely & the voice actor did an amazing job. You’ve got to check this out!

Nothing Like I Have Ever Read

Touching, riveting story. Sad but also funny. Makes you think about how much is going on inside people that we don’t see.

I cried

Amazing narration, this is the only audiobook I’ve listened to that hasn’t taken away from the story.