Is This a Cry for Help?

Emily Austin,the bestselling ΓÇ£queen of darkly quirkyendearingly flawed heroinesΓÇ¥ (Sarah Haywoodauthor 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 griefloveand the power of libraries. DarcyΓÇÖs life turned out better than she could have ever imagined. She is a librarian at the local branchwhile her wife Joy runs a book binding service. Between the two of themthere is no more room on their shelves with their ample book collectionsvarious knickknacks and bobblesand 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-boyfriendBenhas passed awayshe spirals into a pit of guilt and regretresulting in a mental breakdown and medical leave from the library. When she returns to workshe is met by unrest in her community and protests surrounding intellectual freedomresulting in a call for book bans and a second look at the branchΓÇÖs upcoming DEI programs. Through the support of her communitycolleaguesand the personal growth that results from examining her previous relationshipsDarcy comes into her own agency and the truest version of herself. Is This a Cry for Help? not only offers a moving portrait of queer life after coming of age but also powerfully explores questions about sexualitycommunityand the importance of libraries.