This was a strange little novel which, pardon the pun, flew by with it’s fast pacing and interesting narrative. The main protagonist is an alcoholic who lives with her dog and is seeing something in her garden. Whilst this is marked as horror, I’m not sure it is. It’s more about heartache and loss, with a few fantastical elements. Who would I recommend this to? Y’know, I’m not sure - perhaps someone who enjoyed A Monster Calls or something like that, it’s certainly not what I went in expecting (but in a good way). So, yeah, check this one out if you’re in the mood for cathartic reading.

I'm not sure how I felt about this one. The writing was solid, not overly descriptive or flowery (despite what the cover might suggest). It didn't feel like a first offering. The main character was well-developed and believable. Not likable or sympathetic by any stretch, but certainly believable. The few secondary characters weren't quite so fleshed out (even Skelly, no pun intended) but it wasn't a huge issue for me.
The story, though, I don't know. I think it may have been a bit too ~literary~ for my taste. I'm more of a genre reader, and I was looking forward to something a bit spooky and weird. This was neither. No, really. Despite the sentient plants and the animate skeleton, it was a pretty straightforward story about loss and being lost and somehow finding a way out of it. It was ok, just, unlike the sentient vines, it didn't really grab me. Not much happened, we never received any real answers, and somehow, even though something big and scary was hinted at, the stakes always felt very low.
It was an interesting idea and the writing was good, I just wasn't the right reader.

Little Bird by Tiffany Meuret is an odd little read that twists what you think you know about life's hardships and makes you contemplate what a "likable" character is. Meuret's novel reads much like a short story which made it somewhat difficult to commit to the length of the text early on, but you certainly won't regret sticking with it! Josie's simple but sad life is entirely upended by the oddity that is Skelly and her nosy new neighbor, Sue. Before she knows it, Josie is pulled into making a deal that she doesn't even understand. What does Skelly want from her? What does Sue know? And why won't anyone just leave her alone? The realistic characterization of three unique characters and one lovable and opinionated dog urges readers to reflect inward before making snap judgments. The story is approachable enough for a teen audience, but the sophistication of the writing makes it more appropriate for adult readers. The line between right and wrong and good and bad is blurry. There is no black and white; Meuret's writing lives in the greys and ultimately this makes it a hard story to put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Elements of weird, Josie and Skelly are two sarcastic, damaged and yet somehow inspiring individuals you’ll meet. Part fantasy, part drama, with some great laugh out loud lines, it’s a book I won’t forget in a hurry. Thank you NetGalley for the read. I’ll definitely recommend.

A fascinating peephole view into a sad little life, and how it gets upturned by the fantastical. This is a lovely speculative novel for all who like the bizarre without it being too abrasive. Our hero, Josie has given up on life, only we don't want to give up on her, and neither does the talking skeleton in her backyard. The seemingly morbid oddity is rather mild and very tongue in cheek. The take is light and digs deep into the psyche of our character. For all those who read and love the magazine Strange Horizons, don't miss this lovely book.

i found this book to be a tad too short for me to fully connect with the full story
enjoyed the horror element especially the descriptive language
lovely cover and lovely dog
josie's characterization made it hard to fully empathize w her and the whole situation
also just very explanation for anything that occurs which was a bit frustrating to me

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Spots for giving me a free copy of this book. What follows is my honest review.

When I started reading. I had my doubts.

but I was quickly captivated by this book.

In less deft hands, the misanthropic MC would have been horribly pitiable. Here the author manages to create a character we can relate to and empathize with.

Make no mistake, this is a character driven story. It isn't action packed but the pacing is on point.

I wouldn't classify Little Bird as horror. The genre of magical realism is more fitting.

I look forward to reading more of this author's books.

After the death of her father and her recent divorce, Josie has developed a routine: she stays inside, plays with her dog, and self soothes with alcohol. One day, a large vine sets up shop in her yard, accompanied by a nosy new neighbor, and suddenly Josie's whole routine is upended. This book was wildly entertaining and gave me the same vibes as The Stepford Wives. Interesting concept - I wasn't super scared, but I was hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for the eARC

Sometimes I'm in a mood for a good speculative, magical realism fiction. This one really fits the bill. A deeply depressed alcoholic woman, Josie, holes up in her house to deal with the dissolution of her marriage and the loss of her father, along with the help her adorable dog, Po. Two new characters soon enter into her life and Josie begins to heal and find power within herself and from her friends.

The story is enticing and the characters so full and well drawn they stay with you after the last chapter. The writing could be a bit tighter but the interior dialogue and the growth of characters is well drawn out. Sometimes you need a complete change to move forward.

It was quite eerily dark and beautifully written. I really liked how the story progressed and things unfold, kept me on the edge through and through.

This was spectacularly odd. A charming exploration of grief and loneliness that I frankly couldn’t put down. I’ll keep an eye out for this offer in the future.

I would like to thank NetGalley for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Meuret compels her reader with this haunting book with a relatable protagonist.

The skeletons in the closet have nothing on the one in your backyard.
Freshly divorced and grieving the death of her father, Josie Lauer has caged herself inside her home. To cope with her losses, Josie follows a strict daily routine of work, playing with her dog, Po, and trying to remember to eat a decent meal—and ending each night by drinking copious amounts of vodka. In other words, she is not coping at all.

Meuret shows strong potential with this read!

This book was intriguing from page one. The language was refreshingly not flowery and the main character was incredibly relatable. The story of self destruction, grief, loss and human reactions to these matters was poignant and stung a little. Personally I could see myself in the main character despite the crazy events that surrounded the tale what touched me was the human flaws, the human infallibility it was touching and sad and at times funny too. The fantasy element was full of twists and turns I never really knew what was going to happen next. A very good read which I couldn't put down. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A twisted dark fairytale that blends fantasy with subtle horrors, there's nothing not to love about Meuret's latest.

Special thanks to NetGalley for sharing this free digital copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book was super creepy! A suspenseful, haunting, and engaging story.
Every twist and turn pulled me right in. I wasn't expecting what the story actually turned out to be.

Josie Lauer is still recovering from her divorce. She has carefully worked out a whole system to isolate herself from the outside world. That is till you find out about Skelly, the talking skeleton in her backyard. And if that wasn't enough, the new neighbor is always showing up announced in Josie's everyday life.
As the story progresses, we realize that the friendly neighbor knows a lot more about Skelly than she feigns.
It's such a compelling story. It had me turning pages like crazy. Each chapter came a step closer but kept me wanting more answers. And the answers were so well thought out and shocking! If you love atmospheric stories, then this is the one you should go for.

Meuret takes readers on an unusual ride through an eccentric fantasy complete with a flawed protagonist, a skeleton named Skelly, and a little dog sidekick named Po. Josie Lauer is doing her best to make it through the day when a foreign shrub takes root in her backyard. With it comes a story of grief and mental health that will captivate some readers and leave others scratching their heads in confusion.

While this is a short quick read, the beginning takes a few beats to really engage the reader. Josie's character comes off rude and distant, and while that's the intention, readers may find it challenging to connect with her since there are few likeable traits. It helps that she has an adorable dog sidekick, but some readers will feel that her personality in the early section doesn't hold the difficult balance between a flawed protagonist and someone readers can connect with and find sympathetic.

The action picks up with the introduction of the fantasy elements. A mysterious shrub begins to grow in Josie's backyard and a talking skeleton named Skelly appears. Josie even gets a new neighbor, a lovely older woman who Josie is arguably rude with upon early meetings. These intriguing plot points hold a lot of promise, but the repetitive dialogue and (again) Josie's characterizations make it challenging to really soak up the book's endearing premise.

While this story may not be for everyone, readers who enjoy fantasy (this isn't a horror a book) novels such as A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness will find themselves at home in this eccentric story.

"The cosmos cares little for our petty desires."

Josie is living her life with her dog Po and she's doing completely fine. Despite being recently divorced and despite the fact that her dad has died, she is doing completely fine. Until one day when she wakes up and finds a vine-like plant taking over her garden, oh and a talking skeleton named Skelly.

Little Bird was inexplicably good, so intriguing, and a story with so much depth. This is definitely one of those books that you'll keep thinking about after you finish it and one that you'll pick up on different aspects every time you read it. The writing was captivating and engaging. A very bizarre read and one you can't fully understand until you've read it.

"These are our stories. Each of them the exact moments when we became what we are."

Thank you NetGalley and Black Spot Books for the e-ARC, this copy in no way influences my review or rating.

I was drawn to the front cover of this book and to be honest it could have been written in elvish and I would still have coveted it, but as it happens not only was it beautifully written it was also such an intriguing story that I just couldnt put down. It was dark, atmospheric and full of paranormal elemnts. I really enjoyed it.

This one had me from the very start. First the cover, and then the story. An extremely flawed main character, her tiny and loyal dog, a new neighbor named Sue, and oh yeah, a skeleton named Skelly in the backyard. The author has a real talent for characters, and I felt a familiarity with the location, which was confirmed when I saw the author is from Phoenix. I loved watching Josie move from total self destruction to self awareness, with her little dog Po at her side. What can I say, I'm a total sucker for a dog sidekick.

As a horror fan, I can't say that there was anything truly terrifying here, but the paranormal elements of the story were interesting and kept me so involved in the story that I finished it in two days. I also really appreciated the moments of humor within what could have been a very bleak narrative involving grief and alcoholism. I actually laughed out loud more than a few times while reading this.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book, so thanks to NetGalley for introducing me to a new favorite author. I can't wait to pick up her previous book now.

Thank you NetGalley and Black Spot Books for the eARC.
Well, this was certainly a strange read! But fascinating, lyrical and so well written. I don't know what the author meant, but will write about my thoughts and feelings.
A woman, deeply disturbed by her father's death and her divorce, is mentally barely hanging on, suffering from PTSD: agoraphobia, loneliness, alcoholic and disliking herself, the only light in her life is her little Chihuahua (I have one myself, so totally empathized, especially seeing the cover, the spitting mage of my little one). When a strange vine threatens to take over and a vocal skeleton starts a relationship with her, her new neighbor starts to connect with het, trying to explain the phenomenon.
Eventually, she shucks off her outer, negative layer and finds the essence within.
I had the story in my head for a while, pondering its meaning and decided it was wonderful and highly recommend it!