As the novel begins, Darcy, a librarian recovering from a nervous breakdown caused by the untimely death of an ex-boyfriend, finds herself back at work. A chance encounter with a patron and an offended right-wing journalist threatens to send the library reeling as talk about defunding, program changes, and ultimately, book-banning takes center stage. All the while, Darcy’s wife Joy has fled town to be with her expectant sister, leaving Darcy to navigate life on her own for now.

At this point, it’s no secret that Emily Austin is one of my favorite working authors. Her novels are deeply introspective, filled with characters who leap off the page and burrow deep into your mind long after you’ve put the book back on your shelf. They always feel like someone you know, or even carry parts of yourself; above all else, it’s what keeps drawing me back to her work. IS THIS A CRY FOR HELP is of course, no exception. Like Astrid in EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD or Enid in INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE, Darcy is a titular Austin character who realises that healing from a traumatic event or past experience, is forever a work-in-progress with both ups and downs, and everything in-between. The book also feels especially timely given the neverending political discourse of “us vs. them” and the constant failure to empathize with others.

Much like Austin’s previous work, IS THIS A CRY FOR HELP is an exceptional novel by an author who can seemingly do no wrong right now. I can confidently say that this will easily find a spot on my year-end list. Look for it when it hits shelves in January 2026.