Skip to product information
1 of 1

Is This a Cry for Help?

Publisher: Atria Books

Contributors:

Emily Austin (Author)

Contributors: Emily Austin (Author)

Regular price $26.60 USD
Regular price $28.00 USD Sale price $26.60 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Format
Inventory
Taking Back-orders – ships in 2 weeks
ETA: From February 16, 2026 to March 2, 2026
This item is out of stock but it can be ordered and will ship in 2 weeks

BISAC categories: Fiction -> LGBTQ+ -> Lesbian

BISAC categories: Fiction -> Humorous -> Dark Humor

BISAC categories: Fiction -> Literary ->

View full details

Product Description

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.
ISBN-10: 1668200236
ISBN-13: 9781668200230
Author: Austin, Emily
Publisher: Atria Books

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781668200230

ISBN-10: 1668200236

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: January 13, 2026

On Sale Date: January 13, 2026

Language: English

Pages: 304

Dimensions: 8.5 × 5.6 × 1.2 in

Weight: 0.85 lbs

Product Reviews