Set in a picturesque Charleston apartment complex, the novel weaves together the lives of its quirky residents, each grappling with their own struggles and secrets. The story centers around Zoey, a young woman who inherits a mysterious apartment and discovers that the building’s inhabitants—both living and deceased—hold the key to unlocking her past and finding her place in the world.

Allen’s writing is lush and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between reality and magic are delightfully blurred. The apartment complex itself feels like a character, filled with its own history and charm, and the magical elements add a whimsical touch without overwhelming the story. The themes of healing and connection are explored with sensitivity and depth, making the novel both engaging and emotionally resonant.

The characters are well-drawn and endearing, each bringing their own unique perspective to the narrative. Zoey’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, and her interactions with the other residents are both poignant and heartwarming. While some plot twists may feel a bit predictable, the emotional payoff and the development of the characters are handled with grace and care.

The pacing of the novel is steady, with moments of quiet reflection and bursts of magical intrigue that keep the reader engaged. The resolution ties up the various threads of the story nicely, offering a satisfying conclusion that feels both hopeful and realistic.

Overall, Other Birds is a captivating and uplifting novel that showcases Sarah Addison Allen’s talent for blending the magical with the everyday. It’s a charming read that will resonate with fans of contemporary fiction and magical realism alike, leaving a lasting impression long after the last page is turned.

Upon relocating to her late mother's former residence on Mallow Island, South Carolina, nineteen-year-old Zoey is met with an overwhelming sense of loss and solitude that has been a constant presence in her life since her mother's passing during her childhood. The apartment, called Dellawisp after the enigmatic turquoise birds that inhabit the area, becomes the setting for Zoey's unexpected connection with her fellow tenants, each carrying their own burdens of sorrow and heartache.

The enchanting element of magic woven into the narrative of this tale introduces a captivating layer of complexity that captivates the reader from the very first page to the last. As a fervent admirer of stories centered around the concept of found family, I found "Other Birds" to be an incredibly fulfilling and satisfying exploration of this theme.

I finally read this one and wow. It was amazing. I was hesitant at first but ended up living it in the end.

The way I could kick myself for not picking this up sooner. Mood reading can be a drag at times.

The story is touching as we navigate characters that come together to and learn to love; themselves and others. To belong is to be seen and there is not always a place for this and not always someone you need to know by blood. People are our people for numerous reasons. Found family can help you feel like you belong. I absolutely loved the birds. I am such a huge fan of birds.

"Other Birds" is the book on grief we all needed, and it could only have been written by Sarah. This book has been waited, yearned, and longed for by many readers alike, myself included. I adored meeting the cast of characters through Zoey at The Dellawisp. I had an inkling as to who/what the bird accompanying her represented, but I was still charmed by Zoey and her coming to learn who her mother was and what kind of life she lived. This book made me want to ask more questions, call more often, and check in more with my own mom - which is the magic of Sarah Addison Allen. She leaves you wanting a stray piece of candy, a fuzzy summer peach, or a crisp apple (if you dare). While this was not my favorite book of hers, it is a beautiful addition to a body of work that feels like an old and dear friend.

"Other Birds" by Sarah Addison Allen is a beautifully crafted tale filled with magical realism and heartwarming moments. Set on the enchanting Mallow Island, the story follows Zoey Hennessey as she inherits her mother's apartment at The Dellawisp, a charming building inhabited by an eclectic group of residents, including ghosts. The novel artfully weaves together the lives of these characters, each grappling with their own pasts and secrets.

I was captivated by the atmosphere Allen creates, blending the mystical with the everyday. The narrative is rich with themes of loss, healing, and the importance of found family. Zoey's journey to uncover the mysteries of her new home and connect with her neighbors is both touching and intriguing.

The writing is lyrical, and the pacing keeps you engaged from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the depth of the characters, each bringing their own unique perspective and backstory to the plot. The touches of magic and the sense of community among the residents of The Dellawisp added a delightful layer to the story.

Overall, "Other Birds" is a gem of a book that will appeal to fans of magical realism and those who enjoy stories about personal growth and connection. I highly recommend it for a cozy, emotional read.

I am writing to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read 'Other Birds' by Sarah Addison Allen. Although I finished reading this book before its release date in 2022, I am only now getting around to reviewing it. I apologize for the delay in writing this review.

As a dedicated fan who has read all the author's books, I can confidently say that "Other Birds" lives up to her previous works. The story follows Zoey, who inherits an apartment from her late mother, known as the Delawisp Apartments, situated on Mallow Island, SC. Zoey formed connections with the group of unique residents, including a woman on the run, a heartbroken chef, two estranged sisters, and even some ghosts. Ms. Addison Allen does an excellent job with character development, and the reader learns about each of their lives, backstories, and the hardships they have faced and overcome. Ms. Addison draws the reader into Zoey's and the residents' journey, evoking strong emotions that linger even after finishing the novel. I still hear the delawisps, and the story's impact remained with me for days. "Other Birds" is a tale of self-discovery, connection, friendship, love, and the creation of a newfound family. I adored this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.

Finally a book that broke my reading slump!!! This story was even better than I expected. I read it in two settings…albeit on a long road trip. Then I recounted the whole thing for my husband! So glad to own this one on my shelf. Great characters. Superb character development. I think Mac was my favorite, but they were all wonderful. And that last reveal…the first page of the epilogue…made me gasp. I did not see that coming, although maybe I should have.
This was going to be a solid 4 stars, but when I caught myself smiling through so much of the book, I had to bump it up.

Favorite quote: “Zoey was uneasy with the thought of untold stories. What happens to them? Where do they go? If you never share your stories with at least one other person, does that mean they weren’t real, that they never really existed?”

I absolutely adore Sarah Addison Allen's writing and have devoured everything she's written. Other Birds is no exception. All of Allen's quirkiness, charm, and heart are present as is the magical realism that makes her stories shine.

The interconnectedness of the characters was so satisfying to watch play out despite the sadness, lingering resentments, and lost potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher.

Beautiful magical realism in a southern gothic novel! This poignant story of grief, found families, love and longing. I think the creative way they author finds to describe grief and longing is amazing. Each character is fascinating and compelling to read about on their journey of self-discovery. I think the story within the story of Mallow Island is another unique facet of this novel. I loved the parents and children themes and how you always long for your family no matter how old you are. I have been a fan of SAA from her previous novels and I live in NC so I love knowing some of the places personally.

I am a HUGE Sarah Addison Allen fan, and this book perfectly illustrates why:
Her luminous, fantastical storytelling is both enchanting and emotional.
Other Birds will transport you to a small coastal town that harbors many secrets. In the ensemble, each character is mysterious and enjoyable in their own way.
I loved the twists the plot took to show you more of who these people are and how they all ended up in a small apartment complex together. A lovely summer read.

I have always love Sarah Addison Allen's books and was so happy to see that she had released a new one. Other Birds had the familiar mystical and magical books while also adding a layer of grief and mourning and what that can mean to different people. This was a beautiful, heartfelt book that tugged on my heartstrings until the very last page.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All words and opinions are my own.

Sarah Addison Allen does a fantastic job or threading the right amount of magical realism into her small town stories. The charm of the characters, the location development and the weaving of everyone's story comes together beautifully.

The word that comes to mind for Other Birds (as well as other Sarah Addison Allen novels) is sweet. But not in the cheesy or sappy sense. It's almost as if the magic throughout this novel has added sparkling sugar at the edges of each page. The author takes topics such as deep personal grief, childhood neglect and loneliness and softens them with magical birds, ghosts, eccentric and kind characters, a charming Southern island setting, and yummy food.
I read this book while grieving the loss of a family member and I found it comforting. What I love about magic realism is that difficult real-life topics can be softened when magical elements are all around. They help the characters deal with their grief or pain and they can help us too. Highly recommended!

Absolutely amazing novel, this book will break your heart and piece it back together. I couldn’t get enjoy, absolutely amazing.

I loved the idea of "Other Birds", but for me, I keep reaching for more and was left wanting.

"Other Birds" delves into themes of healing, magical realism, and ghosts, making it the perfect book for me, however, I needed a bit of a longer story. I think by adding depth to the characters and their interactions, Allen would have written a novel 5-star novel.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the sense of community and friendship. A second bonus were the small blue birds called dellawisps that dance around the apartment complex. They add a layer of mystery to the story and character arcs.

I loved everything about this book: the setting, the concept, and the characters. It was my first read from this author and I will definitely be reading more from her.

Magical! Lovely look at grief and sadness and feeling not quite whole. I really enjoy this author even though I am usually a plain old realistic fiction reader. Sometimes you need something transcendent… and this satisfies.

Other Birds completely took me by surprise in the very best way. Magical realism is a genre I have only recently come to enjoy, and I found it so totally well done here. I loved this unique, cozy fantasy with a Southern vibe. Really not a combination I have ever used to describe a book, but it really worked here. Sarah Addison Allen is such an excellent writer and weaver of stories that I think she could do anything and make it work.

The highlight here were the characters and setting for me. There are several POV's to keep straight and while I absolutely came to really enjoy them, I will say it was a bit difficult to keep them straight for some time until I really became immersed in the story. This is very much a character rather than plot driven story. As for the South Carolina setting, the author brought it totally to life on the pages, down to the native plants and birds of the setting that made for such a beautifully atmospheric read.

This was a magical read that meshes the real with the imaginary in a fantastic way that I know will stick with me for a long time to come. It will be one I highly recommend for that reader looking for something just a bit different in their life. It's a gem that I wish more people were talking about!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

I really enjoyed this cozy fantasy but had a little hard time keeping the characters straight at first but once I figured it out I couldn’t put this book down. This story has quite a few POVs all around Della Wisp condos. We follow multiple people’s life in these condos as well as some perspectives of ghost from past residents. This book was much more focused on character building than action based plot which I really enjoyed. At first it was a little confusing but once I realized that multiple Povs sometimes take place during the same chapter I was good. I really look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.