We Could Be Rats A Novel

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin, published by Simon and Schuster on January 28, 2025, is a novel that explores the complex relationship between two sisters, Sigrid and Margit. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the story delves into Sigrid’s struggles with adulthood and her deep-seated issues stemming from a turbulent childhood. As she navigates her life working at the Dollar Pal and grapples with the loss of her best friend, the narrative unfolds the contrasting perspectives of the sisters as they confront their past and the expectations of society.
Readers will find a poignant examination of family dynamics, childhood imagination, and the impact of societal pressures within this 256-page work. The novel touches on themes of humor and black humor, as well as LGBTQ+ experiences, providing a rich tapestry of emotional depth and social commentary. As Margit seeks to understand Sigrid’s hidden turmoil, both sisters embark on a journey of rediscovery, ultimately revealing the enduring bond that connects them.
Official synopsis Publisher
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.
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