Where to Start with Emily R. Austin
For most readers, the absolute best entry point into Emily R. Austin's bibliography is her sensational debut novel, Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead (2021). This book perfectly establishes her signature style: neurotic, highly anxious queer protagonists, sharp observations about mortality, and a delicate balance of dark humor and profound empathy. Starting here allows you to experience the breakout voice that put her on the map before exploring her later, similarly themed standalone books.
If you prefer a story with a focus on quirky special interests and complex family dynamics, you can also easily start with Interesting Facts About Space (2024). Since all of her novels are complete standalones set in their own distinct worlds, there is no strict narrative continuity to worry about, allowing you to pick whichever premise resonates with you first.
Emily R. Austin Books in Publication Order
Emily R. Austin's novels and poetry collections are list below in their order of release. Reading her works in publication order is a great way to watch her narrative style and thematic exploration of neurodivergence and modern isolation evolve over time.
- Oh Honey (2017) – A darkly comedic debut novella about Jane, a telemarketer who repeatedly calls the same man using different personas and fabricated life stories.
- Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead (2021) – Her breakout debut novel following Gilda, an anxious, queer, atheist lesbian who accidentally lands a job as a Catholic church receptionist.
- Interesting Facts About Space (2024) – A novel centering on Enid, a space-obsessed, hearing-aid-wearing lesbian who struggles with dating, family relationships, and paranoia about a stalker.
- Gay Girl Prayers (2024) – A poetry collection that blends existential dread, religious imagery, and queer identity.
- We Could Be Rats (2025) – A contemporary novel focusing on the complex and sometimes strained bond between two sisters, Sigrid and Margit, as they navigate childhood traumas and adulthood.
- Is This a Cry for Help? (2026) – A literary novel centering on Darcy, a thirty-two-year-old librarian dealing with grief and workplace book banning battles after taking a mental health break.
Chronological Order & Reading Caveats
Because Emily R. Austin writes contemporary standalone fiction, there is no chronological order or overarching universe connecting her novels. You do not need to worry about character crossovers, spoilers, or chronological prequels. Each book stands entirely on its own.
However, readers should keep in mind that Austin's works deal heavily with sensitive mental health themes. Her protagonists routinely struggle with clinical anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, grief, and feelings of alienation. While her books are renowned for their warm, empathetic humor, they deal directly with heavy topics, so readers looking for lighthearted escapes should be prepared for significant existential themes.
Standalones vs. Collections
Austin’s work is currently divided between her narrative prose fiction and her poetry:
The Standalone Prose
Her novels and novellas make up the bulk of her narrative work. From the telemarketing shenanigans of Oh Honey to the library conflicts in Is This a Cry for Help?, these stories are characterized by first-person narration, quick pacing, and highly specific character neuroses that make the protagonists feel incredibly real and endearing.
The Poetry
For readers who want to experience Austin's writing in a different medium, Gay Girl Prayers offers a poetic companion to her novels. It captures the same thematic landscape—queerness, mental health, and religious themes—in a lyrical format, making it a wonderful companion piece once you have completed her novels.