Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead

A Novel

By: Emily Austin

Narrated by: Emily Tremaine

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

In this “fun, page-turner of a novel” (Sarah Haywood, New York Times best-selling author) that’s perfect for fans of Mostly Dead Things and Goodbye, Vitamin, a morbidly anxious young woman stumbles into a job as a receptionist at a Catholic church and soon finds herself obsessed with her predecessor’s mysterious death.

Gilda, a 20-something, atheist, animal-loving lesbian, cannot stop ruminating about death. Desperate for relief from her panicky mind and alienated from her repressive family, she responds to a flyer for free therapy at a local Catholic church, and finds herself being greeted by Father Jeff, who assumes she’s there for a job interview. Too embarrassed to correct him, Gilda is abruptly hired to replace the recently deceased receptionist Grace.

In between trying to memorize the lines to Catholic mass, hiding the fact that she has a new girlfriend, and erecting a dirty dish tower in her crumbling apartment, Gilda strikes up an email correspondence with Grace’s old friend. She can’t bear to ignore the kindly old woman who has been trying to reach her friend through the church inbox, but she also can’t bring herself to break the bad news. Desperate, she begins impersonating Grace via email. But when the police discover suspicious circumstances surrounding Grace’s death, Gilda may have to finally reveal the truth of her mortifying existence.

With a “kindhearted heroine we all need right now” (Courtney Maum, New York Times best-selling author), Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead is a crackling and “delightfully weird reminder that we will one day turn to dust and that yes, this is depressing, but it’s also what makes life beautiful” (Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of Pizza Girl).

©2021 Emily Austin. All rights reserved (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved

Critic reviews

"Tremaine's pacing and delivery capture Gilda's mounting anxiety as she spirals out of control, becoming increasingly preoccupied with death and disaster as her life crumbles around her. Tremaine's characterizations bring heart to Gilda's well-meaning co-workers, complex family members, and unique friendships." (AudioFile Magazine)

Review

It is very good story about a life perspective. The biggest part in it is the fear. Some parts are so boring even though the narratives go smoothly and fast. Overall, it is good, especially the end. If I know to right better, I would. ✌🏻

Unexpectedly Entertaining

I don't remember how I discovered this book. The premise intrigued me. This book is both funny and poignant. I did laugh out loud several times. I admired Gilda's ingenuity in hiding her secrets while feeling sorry that she felt she had to. I hope she has a better life going forward, and I think she will.

Boo hoo Protagonist

Sorry, this is the first bad review for me to have to write. This main character is too whiny for enjoyment.

Gilda & Eleanor Would be Friends

If you liked “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine”, this should be your next listen. It is a raw, laugh-out-loud story about mental health and feeling like nothing matters while also feeling like everything matters. Cannot recommend enough.

Gilda says the things we all are thinking

This book touches on it all. The extraordinary of the ordinary such as hearing a loved one laugh. Family denial and pretending not to see what is right in front of them. Gilda deals with depression in such a honest and funny way that was delivered perfectly by the narrator. Gilda is a cool character to take a journey with .

Very similar to Eleanor Oliphant

It’s was pretty good overall, I was rooting for the main character and invested in the story.

A Little Dark.

Amusing, got sorta morbid a few times.
Not something to cheer you up. Not bad.

Mindfulness Makes for a Boring Read

Really great idea of a story but read thru the mind of a neurotic practicing mindfulness was so redundant! I didn't need to envision her every observation of every situation she found herself in.

Couldn’t stop

I loved listening to this book, it was such an adventure through the main characters head and truly a journey for myself on how we see ourselves and how we must honestly deal with the world. Loved it.

Hilarious and Heartbreaking

I loved this book. If you have ever felt misunderstood or questioned everything and you have a bit of a dark sense of humor, read this! It's one of the best books I've listened to in the last few months, and I listen to at least a few a week. I cried and laughed, and I felt everything. Definitely recommend.