This book was strange but I kind of liked it. This story follows Josie a middle aged woman who’s father died and husband left her. Now she is focusing on work and drinking till she blacks out every night. The only friend she has is her dog Po, until a mysterious vine appears in her backyard from which sprouts a Skelton Skelly. Josie refuses to have anything to do with Skelly at first since it interrupts her routine that’s is until her new neighbor Sue tells her she needs to deal with Skelly. This book is seems like a fun read at first but as Josie begins to reflect on her life it quickly becomes a sad introspective story about being lonely. The authors writing was beautiful and I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. The only thing I didn’t care for was the ending it made sense but I wanted more to it. I would like to thank Netgalley for a chance to read this one !

Note: Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for allowing me access to this arc!

My Review
I’d like first to say that the cover of this book is AMAZING. It is beautiful and draws your attention right off the bat! If you are looking for a quick read with an exciting story, this is your book! This book was different than anything I’ve ever read, and I am HERE for it. It was strange and delightful in a wonderfully creative way. When you first start the book, you’re a little bit confused. Isn’t this supposed to be a fantasy story, not a sad one? Stop being confused, and keep reading, my friend! The supernatural aspects you are looking for are just around the corner.

The Good Things
1. As mentioned above, the cover is the best thing about this book. I'm not saying that to take away from the story, but because it fits the book’s atmosphere and creativity to perfection.
2. That creeptastic skeleton. Talk about cool!
3. The ENDING was a surprise, and I’m quite pleased with it! Too many times have I read a book where the ending is predictable.
4. The characters were fantastic, especially our main character, who is introduced right off the bat as an alcoholic recluse with mental illness. Meuret should be beyond proud of her ability to make a character come to life like this!
5. As someone with a dog (my best friend), I LOVE the addition of Po. 

The Bad Things
1. The story was extremely character-driven. Some readers may not view this as bad, but I definitely prefer a little more spice in my STORY, not just the characters.
2. Being categorized as “horror” is slightly off for me, but perhaps it won’t be to others.
3. This seemed like a very quick read, even for a quick reader, like me. 


My Final Rating:
☆☆☆☆ (Goodreads)
☆☆☆☆ (Blog)
☆☆☆☆ (Amazon - review will be posted as soon as the book is released)

This was a very strange, short book. I wouldn't say 'strange bad' but I'm also not sure if I'd say 'strange good'. I'm usually a lover of character-driven stories, tales of grief, and bizarre plots but I think this pushed it even for me. It was a quick read, and thought-provoking in its own way.

This was a strange little story. Weirdly entertaining. A quick read.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc

I had a really hard time enjoying the plot of this book, it just did not hook me nor did it make me want more. However, the author's writing was absolutely suberb in every way!

The book itself was very short and divided not into chapter but into days (8 days to be precise). Over the course of the 8 days our main character Josie seems to be in the middle of a life crisis where she drinks and basically does nothing but work when vines start to grow outside and she is visited by a skeleton called Skelly. Josie can control the vines and Skelly likes to dispel really confusing life knowledge. In addition her new neighbour Sue also knows Skelly and can also control foliage to some degree. And so the story goes, mostly following Josie in her mundane life tasks, narrating her emails, her weird conversations with Skelly, tea with Sue, exploration of her relationship with her mother and just general boring activities with her dog.

This is not the sort of book I would usually read and truly I struggled greatly with it. Thankfully it was short and sweet.

I recommend this book if you like reading how characters experiencing extensional life crises deal with it it rather odd ways. For the me writer's exquisite command of the English language saved this book because the plot did not resonate with me at all.

„She was either crazy or she was talking to the dead. Either way, she was utterly fucked.”

welp, that was disappointing…
It started off good. I sympathized with the mc and her dog and then the skeleton but then they talked about some stories and i was so uninterested that the entire thing seemed boring to me. i was waiting the entire time for something interesting to happen but nothing…
i also dont really get how its supposed to be horror when legit nothing happens except for a skeleton being in the backyard and since the first description of it was “halloween decoration“, i pictured it so uncreepy the entire time (which wasnt very helpful in such a boring story)
non of the relationships or the “character development” made sense to me. they all just seemed to act best fit for what the author wanted instead of actually making sense to the characters.
it was such a small book but still i felt like it took me ages to finish cuz nothing was going on😭 wish i would’ve just dnfed this at 25% when i wanted to…

(thanks netgalley for the book tho!!)

This book was strange. Even now, after having read the book and letting myself think for a week or two before writing this review, I’m really not sure how I feel about it entirely. It’s the type of book you will either love or hate.

The ending, and many things that happen in the story are up for interpretation. Many of the fantasy elements within the book are not well explained, through it is purposeful. This is one of those books where the reader is meant to come up with their own meaning. Some people like that, others don’t, so take that as you will.

The writing within the book is phenomenal, and wholly unique. I can genuinely say I’ve never read a book like this in my life. The writing was poetic and darkly humorous while dealing with tough topics. The main character deals with grief, alcoholism, and agoraphobia. All of these topics are written in an honest an truthful manner. As the main character starts to descend into her madness, so does the story. The plot becomes more and more abnormal as the main character spirals further into her alcoholism and agoraphobia. The settings become more atmospheric as scenes were described in ways both eerie and beautiful.

The ending was the most confusing part about the book. We are set up for major character development, but that never really happens. Instead, the main character seems to evolve into someone else entirely. For me, the ending represents the main character overcome by her mental illness, and her eventual passing into the afterlife where she serves to help others in need. I would really like to hear other reader’s interpretations of what exactly the book (and ending) represented, as I believe it would be a bit different for everyone.

Overall, this book was odd, but entirely unique. It was eerie, atmospheric, and thought-provoking.

I would recommend this to: Anyone looking for a book dealing with tough topics that contains a lot of depth.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was very strange...but not in a bad way. Just strange.

Little Bird is about middle aged Josie, a white woman who owns a freelance company that settles customer disputes. Josie has been hit hard by the death of her father and dissolution of her marriage. To cope, Josie spends most her time working, playing with her dog and drinks copious amounts of vodka. One day, Josie notices a new vine plant has sprouted in her yard and a new neighbor has moved in. Then a magical skull comes with it as the plant continues to grow. Josie knows something big is about to happen, but she's not sure what it is or why it's picked her.

This was a very atmospheric story. The creepy element of the menacing and magical skull/skeleton was done so well. I liked how there was always tension in the scenes. Josie was an interesting character, though her alcoholism didn't really endear her to me. I didn't hate her either, I just felt like she was letting her life spin out of control because she didn't know how to do anything else. Really, she probably needed some therapy.

The ending was not something I guessed would happen, but it made a lot of sense. I liked that Josie eventually befriends her nosy neighbor, Sue. Sue was such a sweetheart and tries to take care of everyone. I liked the dynamic between these two even when Josie was a huge grump to her.

Overall, this was interesting but strange. I would recommend this to people who enjoy character driven stories.

Rep: white alcoholic female MC, female skeleton side character (like literally a skeleton), white female side character.

CWs: Alcohol consumption, alcoholism, grief. Moderate: death, death of parent, terminal illness (all happened before start of book, mentioned as flashbacks).

The cover for this book is beautiful, and so is the story! You could put yourself in the Mc shoes. Fab story, I really recommend

Little Bird
by Tiffany Meuret
This is another amazing NetGalley book! I want to thank them and the publisher for letting me read this terrific fantasy! Wow!

A gal with her little dog Po keeps to the house and she works from there. She doesn't venture out. She drinks, a lot. Her father died and she just couldn't cope. She drove away everyone with her drinking, mother, husband, and friends.

She doesn't even keep up with her yard. Dry and barren. Until it wasn't.
A vine popped up. Then more. Along with it came a skeleton. Then it began to talk with her. About the same time, a nosy neighbor moved in.
She knows what is happening.

This book reveals itself like the flowers on the vines. Slowly, beautifully, and tantalizing the reader! A true delight!

This book was a cover request for me but I was not disappointed. It was intriguing from page one. The writing was beautiful but not too over the top and has one of the best relatable main characters I’ve ever read. You can easily place yourself in the main characters shoes. This was a beautiful yet stinging story about grief, loss, and self destruction. The fantasy element was well done and kept me guessing. This was a delightful read & I look forward to more by this author.

Josie is freshly divorced and grieving the death of her beloved father. Little by little, she shuts herself off to the outside world by working from home via her online business, ordering her groceries online, and ignoring anyone within a 50 block radius. Josie is convinced that the only companions she needs in this world is her little dog, Po and vodka. However, when a nosey neighbor and mysterious talking skeleton show up on her doorstep, they are determined to break through her barriers and get Josie to open up about a past that she much prefers to stay buried.
Little Bird is a captivating, twisted and dark tragedy that seems simple on the surface. In all actuality, it has a complex and unique plot and sub-plot that weave together beautifully. This book is difficult to categorize because while it does have clear elements of fantasy and sci-fi, it also tells a tale that anyone who has dealt with true grief and tragedy will immediately recognize. This is not a story for everyone. It evokes real emotions and could potentially be triggering for those struggling with deep loss or depression. I would have liked more clarity in regards to the ending, but I would definitely still recommend to a friend. If you are looking for depth, tragedy, and intrigue, this is your book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Little Bird will be released June 7, 2022!
My review will be posted on my blog on instagram at http://instagram.com/bumbling.bibliophile/ and Amazon in the near future.

What an odd but interesting book. It was not at all what I expected but take nothing at face value and enjoy the story as it unfolds. The writing felt a bit like Gaiman mixed with Robbins on a way I can't quite put a finger on but that fanatical quality around it.

2,5✨

I must say that I was attracted by the cover, it is exquisite! And it adds nicely to the atmosphere created by the author.
I started this book with no expectations so I can't say that it disappointed me. The thing with this book is that I wasn't interested in Josie's life story at all. I couldn't make me care for her. Instead I was drawn to Skelly's story. If at the beginning I saw this being just as a sarcastic and an interesting one, at the end I saw in the depths of this character and I could sense its sadness and loneliness. Her stories and her thoughts kept me reading this book.
I also liked the thing that the book surprised me at the end.

”You think of yourself quite a patron of it, but in reality, you loathe darkness. The shadows do not suit you any more than they suit me. Many can, and do, thrive in such gloom, but you and I are not it.”

Thank you for the chance to read this story!

This book is a quirky, paranormal urban fantasy tale about Josie and her dog Po. It’s reads as a sort of dark fairytale, which I loved a lot.

Josie is struggling with lots of things in her life: a recently failed marriage, losing her father who she was very close with, working in a job she hates and a strained relationship with her mother. She’s a functioning alcoholic and sort of hits rock bottom throughout the story. Her garden gets taken over by sentient plants and a talking skeleton who forces her to confront her problems and make a choice: to continue on with life the way she has been or to accept change and strive for something better.

This book was such a surprise. It’s funny, quirky and also tackles some pretty heavy themes. Josie is a relatable protagonist. It gets quite dark and bleak as the story goes on, but is also emotional and insightful. I found the story overall to be quite sad, but the ending does hold it’s own kind of hope depending on how you look at things. I liked the way the story is told and I found it very interesting that there are lots of ways the ending could be interpreted.

Overall, I loved this book and I would definitely recommend it to others who like fantasy with a quirky, dark twist.

Trigger warnings for this book around alcoholism and depression.

Thank you to Netgalley and Black Spot Books for an eARC of this book.

Firstly, The cover of this book is very beautiful. I really love the skeleton, flowers, and little dog against the black background. If I saw this at the library or bookstore I would definitely pick it up to read the synopsis based on the cover.
When I read the description of this book, I was expecting something a bit more horrifying in content since the plot summary mentioned a talking skeleton. However, in a lot of ways this story is charming and reminds me more of “The House by The Cerulean Sea”; the fantasy genre. It’s more about a found family and it’s quite sad.
For me, I wish some things had been more explained, like Skelly, and the ending, but overall enjoyed this book.
Thank you Black Spot Books and NetGalley for my ARC.

Little Bird is a quirky little paranormal urban fantasy tale. From the cover art to the plot I feel like this was very aggressively marketed toward me and it did not disappoint.

We follow Josie, a girl approaching rock bottom after the loss of her father/best friend and subsequent failed marriage. As Josie tries to process her grief, she cuts herself off from the outside world, only finding comfort in her chihuahua Po and her stash of vodka. When a nosy neighbor and sentient back yard skeleton force their way into Josie’s life, she’s forced to make a choice; continue to allow her life to collapse in on itself or accept change and find a way to move forward?

Possibly an acquired taste, bleak and evocative, charming and insightful, with a sprinkle of humor and a deluge of weird, Little Bird, while short, is meant to be savored. I wouldn’t be surprised if I came back to this one again.

“Little Bird” is a strange and yet profound tale about grief, loss and the struggle of just existing as a human being..

Josie is a functioning alcoholic and has burned many bridges in her life. The only things she has left are her job and her dog Po. One day, strange vines start to appear in her yard, and a weird talking skeleton (aptly named Skelly). A new nosy neighbor also moves into the neighborhood, and is taking an interest in Josie. In just a few short days, Josie’s life changes in unexpected ways and she will have to make a decision: stay where she is or move on with her life.

The first 50% of this novel were a bit confusing for me, but around halfway through I started to really connect to Josie and her struggles. Everyone who has ever struggled with mental illness will understand some of the things she struggles with and is going through, and Tiffany Meuret has a poetic yet straight to the point style of writing about it.

I cried a few times during my read of “Little Bird”, mainly at parts that involved Josie’s relationship with her dog Po. As a dog owner myself, the talks with Po and the feelings about him really hit close to home. He is Josie’s lifeline and it really shows.

I’m not sure I would call this story exactly hopeful, but it is something akin to that. I have many ideas and interpretations about the ending and the general plot, but these are of course spoiler territory so I won’t talk about them in this review. I’m excited for this book to come out so that I will be able to talk to other readers about all my theories!

The cover is truly beautiful and stunning and perfectly fits the vibe of the book.

This book was a lot darker and more realistic than I expected, and I think you need to be in the right state of mind to read it. If you are currently struggling with depression or similar mental health issues, I would wait to pick up this book until you are in a better place mentally, because some of the things in here could be triggering.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it to people who enjoy weirdly poetic and absurd stories about sad things.

(Thank you to NetGalley, Tiffany Meuret and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for this book in exchange for my honest feedback. All opinions in this review are my own.)

This story won't be for everyone but that's alright. It's not supposed to be. I have maybe (definitely) been scrolling through TikTok too much lately but "the girls that get it, get it... and the girls that don't, don't." It was a strange, eclectic story and I loved it. I didn't know what to expect or where this tale was going. I found myself reading all night to learn more about Skelly, about Josie, Sue, sweet Po, and what their fates would be.

I can relate to Josie so much. I've been there. The self isolation, the irritability, the moments of salvation that come in the bond with ones dog, ooof. It was a bit of a gut punch, but not in a bad way. Instead, it gave me a sense of connection. Not unlike the interconnectedness of the siren network. And I found that to be comforting and beautiful. Little Bird was a winner for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Tiffany Meuret for this ARC.

I am really having a hard time putting into words on how much I enjoyed this story. Josie was a very relatable character and I really could see myself in her. From her not wanting to leave the house to her mental issues. There are days I don't want to leave the house and deal with people.. I really don't know how much I can say without spoiling it. I don't know if this was Tiffany Meuret intent but I felt like this was showing how dark and alone mental illness can make you feel. Like the vines closing in on you in your brain. I will be buying a physical copy of this book once it comes out, I can see myself rereading this over and over again. I will also recommend this book to all my friends and family. Thank you Black Spot Books, , Netgalley and Tiffany Meuret letting read and review this book.