Little Bird is so weird...
No, its not that bad "weird"
Its absolutely a good "weird"...
But, still its an okay book for me

This book is such a page turner. I love the idea and the magical realism in this book.
Thanks, Netgalley to this opportunity :)

A weird, intriguing and compassionate exploration of grief, loss, and the human condition. It was a really quick read and it approached magical realism in a fresh way. 3/5 stars.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly went into this book completely blind, having never heard of the title or author, and I was not disappointed! It’s was very well written and such an original concept for a story. I found myself relating to both Skelly and Josie by the end of the book and was a little sad it was over (although Josie’s story could be just beginning if the author was inclined). I found myself openly laughing at some parts and saying “WTF!?!” at others! I would definitely recommend to anyone with a good imagination and sense of humor looking to make the impossible, possible.

Josie is a functioning alcoholic grieving for the death of her father and her divorce. She just wants to drink and be left alone by everyone accept her beloved dog Po. Then a pesky, talking skeleton shows up in her garden one day, invading her well practiced recluse lifestyle and won't go away.

The characters are interesting. Skelly is sarcastic and always has a good story to tell, Sue initially thought to be the ever interfering neighbour, had secrets concerning Josie which she chose not to give up too easily. The long suffering mother is just misunderstood and then there is the reluctant ex-husband who wants nothing more to do with Josie.

Quite an intriguing, interesting, unique book but you never fully know what's going on with the plot I feel the author keeps you in suspense for far too long. The few clues dropped along the way where too shallow to be meaningful. Both Skelly and Sue tended to speak in riddles, so much so that I lost interest in knowing the answers in the end. When the big reveal came, it wasn't a 'wow moment' as the author built it up to be, more of an "oh ok" despite the dramatic scene. However, I liked how odd this book is, how unconventional the characters are and the weird dynamic between Josie and Skelly.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for this eARC of Little Bird

Little Bird is labelled up as being a horror which I found surprising as I didn't find anything remotely horrorish about it.
This novel is kooky in a good way, at times I found myself thinking is our main character Josie just imagining these things because she's drunk.
The set up of Little Bird is profound in a way that I never expected with this book. I wasn't too sure what I was getting into after reading the blurb but I found myself really enjoying josie's world and not even remotely disturbed by Skelly. I felt Sue knew more than what was established and thought that insight would have served us readers a little bit more.
The ending surprised me and I felt it was a nice way to end everything, I did have a few questions though but given the main character's relationships, one can assume it made no difference.
I loved the writing style of this novel, the build up, the mystery was all great and nothing was over descriptive or too bogged down and it all flowed nicely together.
I definitely recommend Little Bird, even though it's a bit of a kooky read, it's still a great read.

Some spoilers, here.


This wasn't a bad little book. Weird and funny enough to keep me interested with a happy ending. I might have liked it because I very easily could picture myself in Josie's shoes...angry at everything...alone except for her beloved dog (who she would fiercely protect in the blink of an eye)...just isolated from the real world. I really enjoyed the "if you're sad and alone, a secret, long-lived band of sisters will become your new family" aspect. Comforting to think about never really being alone because ancient, all-knowing beings will have your back...although I'm still not quite sure why they were around or what they did except adopt lonely ladies. :D And! Her little dog, Po, still got to be her BFF...he wasn't abandoned forever. This is a book that forever hang out in my brain and I'll probably buy a hard copy once it's released. Thank you NetGalley, Black Spot Books, and Tiffany Meuret for allowing me to read this!

Little bird by Tiffany Meuret I found it OK book but I kept checking how far I was and I was getting a bit bored with it. I only read 33% and had to stop reading it due to losing interest but I am sure other people eho like this style of writing with love it. Thank you netgalley for letting me read this book

Wonderfully weird — one of those books that unexpectedly delights with its whimsy-veiled depth. An interesting exploration of grief and isolation that resonated a lot with me. Quick and fun!

I geuinely had a fun time reading this book. I really enjoyed the book. Perfect for those looking for something a bit different.

When a mysterious plant blooms in her yard and a skeleton takes up residence amongst it, Josie is confronted with facing what she wants for herself and her life.

Little Bird was a relatively quick read at a little over 200 pages. It is weird and quirky, and it is unlike anything I’ve read lately. I really related to Josie at points (maybe I should be concerned about this) and was really interested to see where her story went.

It’s missing something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but it is enjoyable none the less.

2022 is the year for trying new things, and the bones of this story proved worthy for such a feat. There’s something almost quirky about this story; a cozy horror if you will. If you’re a horror fan who thrives on gore and chills, I’m afraid this book doesn’t deliver in that regard. It did, however, prove a good dabble in a new genre, and I don’t regret falling into these tangled webs spun by Tiffany Meuret.

The wit and sarcasm shared between Josie and Skelly proved an equal match, and their encounters were my favourite part of this book. I chuckled at the passive aggressiveness, puzzled over the cryptic answers and half-spoken truths, and I liked the way the threads of Skelly’s purpose unravelled with each tale traded. The way each twist unfurled like flowers upon the vines was crafty, though I will admit there were times I wasn’t too sure what was going on. The ending took a direction I wasn’t anticipating, and I applaud Meuret for this unique perspective on the narrative of grief and solitude, of hiding oneself in the shadows while yearning for a piece of the light.

If you’re looking to try something a little different this year, then this may be for you!

I received a complimentary e-copy of this book, thanks to Net Galley and Black Spot Books, in exchange for my honest review. Coming June 7, 2022 - available now for pre-order from all major booksellers.

I decided that I needed a little break from bodice rippers (very little ... like, the length of this book little) and the March challenge for the Alphabet Soup group on Facebook is Two-Word Titles and the book I was intending to use, as it turns out, is a spin-off from a series I haven't read yet with overlapping characters and my brain started to twitch .... so I hopped on to NetGalley in hopes of a Two-Worder in the Read Now listings. Then I saw the cover. And then I hit "Read Now." And then I read the description. It actually sounded pretty dang good.



Really, though. That cover is amazing.

The book itself started with lines well-worthy of your standard Book Beginnings & Friday 56 post.

*******************************************************************
The morning was always too bright after a bender. Well, perhaps not a bender, but a carefully controlled evening of adult beverages that had gone slightly off the rails.
********************************************************************

And still under the assumption that this would be the perfect book for Friday's post, I checked out the 56% mark as well.

*********************************************************************
"Years. She's going to live in my yard for years?"
"I doubt that. I've known her long enough to know this behavior is different. Her deal with you, the ferocity of these vines, her constant lingering in your yard. Something is happening, something big."
"Oh, that's just super."
********************************************************************

So that short little break from bodice rippers is going to be significantly shorter than I had first expected because it's a short and fast read. It's not the greatest book I've ever read, but it's not awful. Of course, I still have 22% left since I took most of Tuesday off from doing more than binge-watching Alice in Borderland on Netflix. Pretty sure that the only reason I'll get through the last 22% before my shift ends this morning is that Netflix is blocked on the work computer and I neglected to bring the Kindle.

Let's just say that so far the cover and the two blips I would have used if it had made it to Friday were some of the best bits. It's listed as "horror" on NetGalley and Amazon and GoodReads and I just don't get it. Yeah ... there's a random talking garden skeleton, but unless Skelly starts slaughtering pets and people really soon I would simply tag this as "strange" rather than "horror."

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!
*4 stars*

Josie is dealing with a lot. After the loss of her father and her recent divorce, all she does is work, drink, and take care of her little chihuahua, Po. Once her new nosey neighbor Sue moves in, and she meets a talking skeleton (named Skelly) everything changes.


This was so FUN! I loved reading about a fellow Josie. She is so crotchety and flawed and relatable. Little Bird is such a neat and weird little book, unlike anything I’ve read recently. It might not be for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a quirky dark comedy about loss, loneliness, and talking skeletons, this one is for you. Po stole my heart (don’t worry, happens to him!), and I loved seeing Josie’s dynamic with Skelly. The only reason I’m not rating higher is I expected more horror going into this, and it was a little hard for me to get through the middle of the book.

Po, the yappy chihuahua. Josie, the workaholic with dead daddy issues. Sue, the nosy neighbor with unknown intentions. And, Skelly, Josies backyard talking skeleton all come together to make you read 200+ pages while consistently asking yourself “what is the actual F*ck is going on right now?” To be honest, even after finishing this book I am not entirely sure what the plot was or what that meant for the ending. This book was a quick read, neither bad nor great. Would recommend if you’re looking to induce a headache.

First: I really love the cover of this book.
Going into this I thought this was going to be scary or suspensful or something to have it fit in the horror category, which I didn't get. But it was interesting in its own way.

A woman who doesn't like leaving her house, who drinks every night doing her best to take care of her dog Po, and take care of her online business .Dealing with the grief of her father, and her failed marriage.. When a weird plant, and Skelly arrive to shake up her orderly life. She has no idea what to do when a skeleton pops up out of her garden and starts talking to her.. I mean who would??
I kind of loved Skelly?.. She was really the star of this book for me.. Skelly was sarcastic, and she told a really great story.. This story is definitley unique, while Im pretty sure alot of what it was goint for went over my head I did enjoy it, and would check out more by this author in the future.

I really wanted to like Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret, but found myself frequently checking how far along I was. This book could've used more or spent its time on building the rapport between its characters, especially Skelly and Josie.

The book follows Josie, a woman who's recovering from the death of her father and a divorce, as she finds a talking skeleton in her yard one day. Coincidentally, a new neighbor also arrives named Sue. As Josie tries to figure out what the skeleton, or Skelly, wants and their connection, she must confront her own grief.

The premise of Little Bird is interesting but the characters fell flat for me; Josie is a somewhat bitter and darkly humorous protagonist to follow, but I never felt really in her head. Similarly, the other characters had no chemistry with each other which completely undermines the promise of this book being "found family." Skelly needed more scenes and felt like a voice piece for random mythology that didn't really add anything to the book.

On a side note, I have a pet peeve of authors integrating folklore or characters telling stories to other characters when it's done like a campfire story. It's uninteresting and can really drag the pace down unless the storyteller has a distinct way of doing so. This is not a story about oral storytelling and the importance of remembering through words in the way that would warrant that kind of thing.

The heart of the book is also about Josie taking a moment to reflect on herself and the direction her life is heading in, but she didn't have any imperative or agency of her own to do so. There is complexity, especially between her and her mother, to dig up but it remains buried for most of this book.

Overall, Little Bird could've been much more atmospheric and taken more time developing its world and characters. I would've liked to get a better sense of time progressing, and Josie learning to open up and being forced to become friends with Skelly and Sue as her loneliness increases instead of her, surprisingly, just going along with them almost immediately. I also think Skelly would've been stronger without the unnecessary mythological elements and as a mysterious entity who has multiple interpretations for readers.

Josie is the perfect neighbor. She never makes a fuss over anything and you hardly ever see her. Grieving the loss of her father and trying to find her way through divorced life, she may be a bit of an alcoholic too. Then the talking, animated life size skeleton shows up in her back yard.
This book was ok. Josie was a difficult character to like. She was realistic and flawed but didn't have any redeeming qualities. We really only have 4 characters - Josie, her dog Po, Sue the neighbor and Skelly the talking skeleton. They were all just ok. The setting was confined to her house and backyard. Not much happens for a big part of the book, just Josie being rude and hateful to everyone expect her dog. The story was ok. There could've been a little more excitement there.
Based on this book (love the cover!) I would read more by this author.

This is a tough one for me to review because it's very possible the book just went right over my head. I kept feeling like I was moments away from the profound realization of what the heck the author was talking about, and then was left hanging as I couldn't connect any of the dots.
Little Bird explores grief, loneliness and connection in a new and interesting way. We follow Josie, recently divorced and coping with the death of her father as she deals with some strange developments in her life. She finds a sentient plant and skeleton in her backyard one day, and with the new arrival of her nosey neighbor who seems to know more than she lets on.
Overall the story did keep me interesting, the author was very good at keeping me engaged and curious as to what was happening next. I just felt like everyone spoke in riddles and the punchline never really, punched.
Again this could be a case of 'it's not you, its me'. Perhaps I'm just too dense for such whimsical prose!

It's an interesting read, but not what I expected based on the cover and synopsis. The cover is beautiful, and when I saw it on NetGalley, I immediately hit the "request" button. I expected a creepy read; instead, I got a quirky one.

Josie Lauer would laugh at her life if it weren't so miserable. Freshly divorced, she mourns her father's death and finds relief in vodka and daily routines (work, playing with the dog, dinner, vodka). Then, one day, she discovers the vine-like plant sprouting in her backyard and running amok. To make things even stranger, the talking skeleton, Skelly, occupies the throne made of vines. Naturally, Skelly wants to talk to Josie about things (life, grief, family, etc.). And so their relationship begins.

There's also a new neighbor who seems to know quite a bit about mysterious vines and talking skeletons. The mystery is why Skelly insists on pulling Josie out of her self-isolation.

The book's tone changes from humorous to melancholy but never becomes depressing. Although Josie has a drinking problem, she doesn't wake up, wasted, in her vomit. Her issue is more about losing control of her life than the destructive effects on her health. In other words, she's not a role model, but there's no extreme content here either.

Josie's narrative is quite distinct; it's full of wit, self-deprecation, and self-mockery. Her disdain for everyone except her little dog Po makes her observations about life and others (and her circumstances) funny, but also sad. Po is the only reason she goes outside. Her snarkiness masks serious mental health problems, but also makes the read entertaining.

However, the story itself is a bit boring, especially in the middle. I admit I was expecting more horror and less pseudo-philosophical asides. Things get repetitive, and I considered stopping halfway through but decided against it. I wanted to know the ending and the resolution. I'm glad I did - the ending is gratifying and strong.

I'm not fully sold on it, but I'll tell you this. If you're looking for something different, quick to read, humorous and melancholic at the same time, you can't go wrong with it.

4.5/5 stars

Josie lives alone, works from home, and barely meets with other people since she divorced her husband and her father died. The only company she has most days is her dog Po, and she likes it that way. So when a strange plant appears in her backyard on the same day a somewhat nosy woman moves in next door, she isn’t exactly thrilled about it. And then a talking skeleton enters the mix too.

Little Bird caught me by surprise. Initially, this book felt like a mix of A Monster Calls and Little Shop of Horrors, but later on, the book proved to be so, so much more and the end definitely surprised me. It starts a little slowly, but the pace quickly picks up and while things are happening back to back, the book also doesn’t feel rushed.

On top of that, the writing style is great, especially the conversation between characters. Josie as a main character has a very dry sense of humor and her conversations, especially with Skelly made me chuckle more than once.

Little Bird is definitely worth the read, especially for lovers of speculative fiction. It’s a very strange little book that didn’t take me long to read, but left me thinking about it, even days later.