Is This a Cry for Help?

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 with unrest in her community and protests over intellectual freedom, resulting in calls for book bans and a second look at the branch's upcoming DEI programs.

With the support of her community and colleagues, and through the personal growth that comes from examining her past relationships, Darcy comes into her own agency and her truest self. Is This a Cry for Help? Not only does it offer a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age, but it also powerfully explores questions about sexuality, community, and the importance of libraries.