The Atlantic's Senior Associate Editor Emm a Sarappo will be in conversation with Emily Austin about her new book Is This a Cry for He lp?
\nCopies of the book will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of East City Bookshop. \;
\n\n\nDarcy&rsquo\;s life turned out better than she could have ever imagi ned. She is a librarian at the local branch\, while her wife Joy runs a bo ok binding service. Between the two of them\, there is no more room on the ir shelves with their ample book collections\, various knickknacks and bob bles\, and dried bouquets. Rounding out their ideal life is two cats and a sun-soaked house by the lake.
\nBut when Darcy receives the news th at her ex-boyfriend\, Ben\, has passed away\, she spirals into a pit of gu ilt and regret\, resulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from th e library. When she returns to work\, she is met by unrest in her communit y\, and protests surrounding intellectual freedom\, resulting in a call fo r book bans and a second look at the branch&rsquo\;s upcoming DEI programs .
\nThrough the support of her community\, colleagues\, and the pers onal 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\, co mmunity\, and the importance of libraries.
\n\n\nEmily Austin (she/her) is the bestselling author of four novels\, all published by A tria Books and Simon &\; Schuster Canada\, including her most recent\, "We Could Be Rats" (2025)\, which was an instant national best seller. Her next novel\, "Is This a Cry for Help?"\, comes out in January 2026.
\nEmily&rsquo\;s debut novel\, "Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead" (2021)\, was long listed for The Stephen Leacock Memoria l Medal for Humour\, shortlisted for the Amazon First Novel Award\, and a finalist for the Ottawa Book Awards. Her second novel\, \;"Interesting Facts About Space" (2023)\, has been nominated for the 2025 Forest of Rea ding Evergreen Award\, and was long listed for The Stephen Leacock Memoria l Medal for Humour. It was also \;the #1 bestselling LGBTQIA+ book in Canada and the most circulated LGBTQIA+ book in Canadian libraries in 2024 . \;Her poetry debut\, "Gay Girl Prayers"\, was published by Brick Boo ks in 2024\, was a CBC Best Book of Poetry in 2024\, and a finalist for th e 2025 Archibald Lampman Award.
\nHer writing often centres lesbian characters and explores themes of mental health\, religious trauma\, neuro divergence\, and queerness.
\n\nEmma Sarappo \;(she/her) \;is an editor and critic. Currently\, she is a Senio r Associate Editor for The Atlantic\, covering books and literary culture. \;Previously\, she was the Arts Editor at Washington City Paper\, and her writing can be found in multiple outlets. She is from south of Nashvi lle\, Tennessee\, and currently lives in Washington\, D.C.
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