Staff Review: Is this a Cry for Help?

Darcy is a librarian returning to work after an extended period of leave.  She returns to find civil unrest directed at the library, her wife leaves town to see their newborn niece, and Darcy’s psychologist is digging into some uncomfortable aspects of her past.

On the surface, this is a book about crazy things happening in a library.  What the book is really about, however, is exploring mental health, resilience, and surviving an unhealthy relationship.  This is the first book by Austin that I have read, and I intend to go back and read more of her works.  I found the way writes to be engaging, with a nice balance of humour against the more serious elements.  She explored interesting topics in a way that captured my attention, which made this a difficult book to put down.

While reading this, you may think the scenarios that happen in the library are absurd.  Austin is a former librarian and I, as a current library worker, can assure you that this was extremely relatable and an accurate representation of events that can happen in a library.

4/5 Stars

Reviewed by Rebecca