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Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead
by Emily Austin
Imagine a protagonist who's deeply anxious about mortality, so much so that she accidentally gets a job at a Catholic church despite being an atheist. That's Gilda, navigating early adulthood with a constant internal monologue about death and a profound awkwardness in social situations. This book feels like spending time inside the head of someone incredibly smart, deeply weird, and painfully relatable. It’s a quiet, introspective read that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny and profoundly touching, often in the same paragraph. You'll find yourself chuckling at Gilda's deadpan observations while also feeling a pang of recognition for her existential dread. This is for readers who appreciate dark humor, philosophical pondering, and characters who stumble through life trying to figure out how to be human, even when everything feels a bit absurd.
10 Books similar to 'Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead'
If you connected with Gilda's uniquely anxious worldview and her search for belonging, you'll find kindred spirits in our curated list. We looked for books that explore the quiet humor in existential dread, protagonists who feel fundamentally out of step with the world, and narratives that find unexpected warmth amidst isolation. Whether it's another socially awkward hero navigating life's absurdities or a deeply introspective journey into the self, these recommendations share that distinctive blend of melancholy, wit, and genuine heart that made Austin's novel so memorable.
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Like Gilda, Eleanor is a socially awkward narrator who struggles to navigate the complexities of human interaction while dealing with internal trauma. Both books balance dark themes of mental health with a dry, observational humor that makes the protagonist deeply endearing.
This novel features a protagonist who feels fundamentally different from the rest of society and uses a rigid structure—in this case, a convenience store—to mimic 'normal' behavior. It shares the deadpan delivery and existential questioning found in Austin's work.
For readers who appreciated Gilda’s nihilistic tendencies and her struggle to function in a demanding world, this book offers a more extreme but similarly dark and satirical look at alienation. The narrative voice is sharp, detached, and deeply introspective.
by Meg Mason
This story captures the same 'sad-girl' energy and sharp wit, focusing on a woman navigating the fallout of her mental health on her relationships. It mirrors Austin’s ability to find humor in the most painful and honest moments of life.
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by Halle Butler
This book highlights the crushing banality of modern work life and the anxiety of trying to fit into a corporate mold. It resonates with Gilda’s struggles at the church office and the feeling of being an imposter in one's own life.
While more ensemble-focused, this novel shares the theme of people who are 'messy' and struggling to keep it together. It combines high-anxiety situations with a compassionate, humorous look at the human condition and our shared mortality.
by Sylvia Plath
A classic touchstone for the themes of existential dread and the feeling of being trapped by one's own mind. Like Gilda, Esther Greenwood observes the world through a lens of profound detachment and spiraling anxiety.
by Emily Austin
Written by the same author, this book carries the exact same DNA: a queer protagonist with specific obsessions and high anxiety trying to navigate a world that feels confusing. It maintains the signature blend of humor and deep-seated fear.
This novel explores the intersection of physical ritual, religion, and mental health. Fans of Gilda’s internal monologues and her complicated relationship with the Catholic Church will appreciate the visceral and honest exploration of obsession.
Though it contains a magical element, the core of the story is about the passage of time and the anxiety of not knowing how to live one's life. It captures the same sense of displacement and the search for meaning in a chaotic existence.
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