Is This a Cry for Help?

To preface, this is the fourth glowing review of an Emily Austin novel I've had the pleasure of writing in the past five years. Yes, I'm a fan. Yes, she's a favorite. In this one, our protagonist Darcy has just returned to her library job after taking medical leave for a mental-health crisis triggered by the death of her ex-boyfriend. She continues to navigate guilt and grief during her return to work, which is complicated by the absence of her wife, Joy—who is away helping her newly postpartum sister—and the vendetta of a local right-wing newspaperman who is rallying like-minded community members to protest with his claims that the library has devolved into "a godless sex hole." Is This a Cry for Help? is a big-hearted hug for everyone who has suffered the consequences of compulsory heterosexuality. It's also a love letter to libraries, which offer a safe space for so many, and a reminder of the importance of protecting your peace.