INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER
Emily Austin, the bestselling “queen of darkly quirky, endearingly flawed heroines” (Sarah Haywood, author of The Cactus), returns with a luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.
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. Between the two of them, there is no more room on their shelves with their ample book collections, various knickknacks and bobbles, and dried bouquets. Rounding out their ideal life is two cats and a sun-soaked house by the lake.
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. Is This a Cry for Help? not only offers a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age but also powerfully explores questions about sexuality, community, and the importance of libraries.
A Love Letter to Libraries
"Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for a copy of Is This A Cry For Help? Here are my thoughts! Darcy is happily married to her wife, Joy and is working at the local public library. She is returning to work after an extended leave of absence, due to finding out her ex-boyfriend passed away. In this novel Darcy juggles her grief as well as community demands of the library. I’m ashamed to say this is my first Emily Austin read, because she’s an author, I’ve been meaning to read for quite a while. I’m also very happy that this was my first read because it was excellent, and oh so timely. Darcy feels like a real person you would know in your life, and I loved how the author explored grief in this way. Sometimes people think that old partners are in the past, but I don’t think that’s the case. When grief hits you unexpectedly, I think it’s even more challenging to decipher. But I loved that Darcy took the time to work through her emotions. The library is a pillar of the community. I know in my own town, it’s a place people can warm up, learn and use resources when my hometown is divesting in a lot of these areas. The library is reliable and there for everyone. The news of banning books or applying more control over who uses the library and how is a topic that gets me pretty fired up. Emily Austin dives into this headfirst with a character who is so competent at defending the library, I wish I was quite as eloquent. This book is a love story for the library and why we need it. It’s a beautiful example of seeing politics in the books we are reading and why reading is political and should remain so. Definitely check this one out, you won’t be disappointed!"
