I adore Sarah Addison Allen, and couldn't wait to read Other Birds. The description of the beautiful Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina leaves the reader feeling as if they are right in the middle of it, surrounded by a beautiful old apartment and tiny turquoise birds. I loved the characters and their backstories, and the magical touches left on every page. This book is a delight.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen was everything I was looking for in a book. I just fell in love with Mallow Island, South Carolina, The Dellawisp and Zoey Hennessey. I loved all of the magical realism that took place in this story and loved how Zoey brought everyone together. While there were times this story was a little slow I still enjoyed the story. I feel like I have to read more from Sarah Addison Allen now that I have experienced Other Birds.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. I enjoyed the charming, whimsical story that got better as it went along. It somewhat reminded me of the House on the Cerulean Sea. A delightful read.

First ever Sarah Addison Allen reader here - and this book was just wow! I finished it a couple weeks ago and it's still with me. I have been left with the most wonderful book hangover - complete with the feeling of falling in love and being wrapped up in the warmth and comfort of a wonderous moment. I thoroughly appreciate the notion “Not everything has to be real to be true.”

I was under Allen's spell immediately after reading the book synopsis: When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a young woman with a past, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and a lonely chef, and three ghosts. The sudden death of one of Zoey's new neighbors sets off a search that leads to the island's famous author and to a long-estranged relative of the sisters. Each of them has a story, and each story has an ending which hasn't yet been written.

We meet so many wonderful characters in Other Birds each struggling with the past and searching to find themselves. Zoey and her invisible pigeon entering college years and desperately looking for roots. Charlotte with a love for henna art and a life on the road. Mac and his fears of letting go to the woman that loved and supported him. Frasier’s love of the dellawisp and his mysterious connection to Lizbeth. Lucy, more shadow than person and lastly Oliver, Lizbeth’s son.

This is a heartwarming story about found families. It's filled with quirky characters, magical realism and the uniquely added ghost point of view. I enjoyed learning about each one and the gentle teasing apart of tangled mysteries. And there's a warm thread throughout - being different is ok.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Sarah Addison Allen for sharing a wonderful novel full of hope and friendship and new beginnings.

I've been a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's work ever since I read The Peach Keeper. I knew she'd taken some time away from writing novels to care for a loved one, so I was thrilled when Other Birds was released. This is a poignant deep dive that examines what it means to be loved, and what happens when we take the bold risk to love someone knowing they might not love us back.
Allen is a master at writing magical realism. Her ability to examine the unseen things of this world then weave them into a story is truly remarkable. As always, the characters she brings to life on the page are outstanding. How she skillfully weaves all the plot threads together into such a beautiful story is beyond me. No spoilers of course but the plot twist is truly next-level.
Above all, I was so moved by her ability to study and examine heartache then transform it into something so beautiful and infused with hope.
I did receive an ARC which I'm super grateful for and I also purchased a gorgeous copy via Book of the Month. Other Birds is a novel that will stay with me for a long time. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

I enjoyed this book as much as I did her previous ones. This book made me wish I had a ghost looking out for me. I loved that everyone at the Dellawisp was trying to get away from their past, but also trying to be better people. The death of resident was all that was needed to start a chain of events that would ultimately start everyone on a path of forgiveness and give them the ability to move on with their lives.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but have loved others by Sarah Addison Allen. After hearing her discuss the losses she suffered and her mother being the inspiration for this story, I knew I had to read it. The quirky but lovable characters are from dysfunctional families and have their own issues and scars but when they find each other and learn to let go of their pasts, that's the true magic of the story. Charming, heartwarming and unique with bursts of magical realism, this book is a wonderful escape from reality.

Other Birds is an artisan marshmallow of a book, a delightfully sweet, fluffy story about a world we wish existed.

Eighteen year old Zoey Hennesey has never really had a home. Her father provided a roof over her head but he and her stepmother made it clear it was done with the greatest reluctance and that they expected her to leave as soon as she could. Fortunately, her deceased mother left Zoey both a trust fund and a condo in Mallow, South Carolina. Just weeks after high school graduation Zoey finds herself alone at her mom’s unit in the Dellawisp complex with only an invisible bird for company. But she doesn’t stay lonely for long. Much to her surprise, something about the move has transformed her from the shy, sad girl who didn’t have a single buddy the last few years into someone who seems to have a knack for making friends.

One of the things henna artist Charlotte has always loved about the small Dellawisp complex is that the neighbors don’t interact. They have a nod and smile kind of acquaintaiship with little conversation and absolutely no sharing of secrets. To be fair, they haven’t had much of a choice. Lisbeth Lime, one of the residents, runs screeching out of her unit if they make the slightest of sounds outside their own homes – sometimes she loses it even if the sound comes from inside! Still, the solitude enforced by this behavior means that Charlotte’s secrets have stayed her own and for the first tme in forever, she hasn’t had to pack up and move just to keep people from prying. Life’s pretty great – until she loses her job.

Mac is still grieving the loss of his foster mother, the only person in his life who ever truly loved him. He goes through the motions necessary for existing but he isn’t really living. He might be the head chef of a five-star restaurant, with notable awards under his belt and write ups in fancy magazines, but after hours he comes home to his condo at the Dellawisp and has only a cat – and a ghost – for company.

Oliver Lime hasn’t been back to the Delllawisp since he left for college. His mother Lisbeth is a hoarder who has no room in her home or her heart for her son. If it hadn’t been for the elderly property manager Frasier, Oliver probably wouldn’t have had clothes that fit or food to eat the entire time he was growing up. Which is ironic since his aunt Lucy lives right next door – but she had as little interest in Oliver as his mother did. Oliver has no intention of ever going back to that dysfunctional place, where his mother and aunt have been waging a silent cold war for decades.

But on Zoey’s first night, a mysterious death pulls all the neighbors but Lucy out into the shared garden. Before Charlotte knows it, that moment of bonding results in her helping Zoey with a project and spending afternoons showing her around town. Mac finds he suddenly has people to cook for in these two lively young women. And Oliver unexpectedly learns that home isn’t a place but the people in it.

There is a romance in this story but while the two characters like each other basically from the start we are at the 85% mark before there is even talk of kissing. The emphasis here is very much on how having a broken childhood because you come from a bad family doesn’t have to make you a bad or unhappy person. All the characters have difficult backgrounds – Frasier was raised by an alcoholic grandfather, there was a terrible secret in Lucy and Lisbeth’s house, Zoey was unwanted, Charlotte was raised in an abusive commune, Oliver was raised by the deeply troubled Lisbeth and Mac’s mother deserted him. Their stories all show how a single helping hand can make a huge difference and how we don’t have to let our pasts dictate our futures. I both loved and struggled with this theme. On the one hand, resilience makes for a much better, happier story than the idea that we might sink in the dark, dangerous waters we are born in. On the other hand, the author rebuilds her characters’ lives with almost too much ease. Everyone is quirky rather than damaged, and the ghosts that represent their pasts helpful rather than haunting. I’m glad this isn’t a dark or depressing narrative, but the sweetness is cloying and overly saccharine at times. The magical surrealism – with its benign ghosts and invisible birds – gives it an almost fairy tale feel rather than the heftier, more realistic tone that the depths of these characters seemed to cry out for. Instead, everyone bonds and builds each other into a better family than the one they were born into.

Which is lovely. Found family can be one of life’s greatest treasures and Mac, Oliver, Fraser, Charlotte and Zoey truly deserve their good fortune. They are, all of them, kind, decent people any of us would be thrilled to have in our lives. I was enchanted by the way they connect and how much that connection heals the holes in their hearts and lives. One of the final scenes in the novel, involving Zoey and college, brought some tears to my eyes. It’s such a contrast from how the tale began and shows the importance of being open to letting others in. The sweetness of it all could have been overwhelming and shallow but it’s also so very heartwarming and cheering.

Other Birds is a fantastic meringue of a book, practically bursting with positive energy. The characters are all delightful people with unique personalities and the kind of eccentricities that make them interesting and fun rather than odd. The author’s lyrical prose, whimsical plot and charming setting make the book a complete joy to read. If you are looking for something delectable, something that will reinforce your faith in the world and the people around you, something that will renew your belief in the sheer goodness of life – look no further. This book is that burst of fictional affirmation you’ve been waiting for.

A beautiful story by a wonderful author. Assorted people with assorted stories living in a housing complex. Love the characters and the unraveling of their stories. Lots of magical moments!

SAA is probably top three fave so I would have died from shock if I didn't like this one.
On the other hand, I HATE it because it makes me ache that I can't crawl inside the book and just live in that story.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the beginning, the middle, the end and I even loved the acknowledgement.

This book is about healing. We all have something to heal from, whether it is physical or emotional. We are all there...This book introduces us to the stories of several different folks. There are even a couple of ghosts added to the mix.

Read the book, you won't be disappointed.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced readers copy. This book released August 30, 2022.

I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen’s writing in Garden Spells way back in 2007. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to read and review her latest release, Other Birds. Magical realism can be hit or miss but Allen has found a beautiful balance here.

Boiling this story down is surprisingly difficult. There are so many stories; everyone and their mother has a POV but it worked in this tale. I enjoyed following along each of the characters and the gentle teasing apart of tangled mysteries.

Zoey and her invisible pigeon entering college years and desperately looking for roots. Charlotte with a love for henna art and a life on the road. Mac and his fears of letting go to the woman that loved and supported him. Frasier’s love of the Dellawisp and his mysterious connection to Lizbeth. Lucy, more shadow than person. Oliver, Lizbeth’s son. Each of the characters were beautifully developed, and I found myself wishing I could be a part of their little community. The two budding romances were a delight to see!

Other Birds is ultimately a story of healing, letting go of plans that no longer align with you in the present, forgiveness, and found family. As cozy as it is powerful, SAA has found a way to keep me thinking long after finishing Other Birds. Musing over what it means to heal and finding yourself. Being comfortable with friends and community but also within your own skin. It was beautiful, and it makes me want to reread Garden Spells all over again.

Excuse me while I go find a pretty witch ball to hang in my favorite space.

This was my first book by Sarah Addison Allen, and I enjoyed it. I liked the southern setting and getting to know all of the different characters. Definitely a good read!

Garden Spells still reigns supreme as an absolutely stellar best book by this author!

Sarah Addison Allen does American South Magical Realism. There's romance, friendship, usually food, and things will be okay in the end. All of that is true here.

I just didn't attach to the Dellawisp or its inhabitants. Some of them were very sad, some of them were unpleasant, and all of them had secrets.

It could very well be me. I have been having a dry spell on books and it is making me impatient when a book isn't going as well as I want it to for me.

OTHER BIRDS by Sarah Addison Allen is a LibraryReads selection for August 2022. Allen again combines a Southern family tale with the magical realism for which she is known in novels like The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Lost Lake, and First Frost. The main character, Zoey, is a young adult who moves to a home her mother left her on Mallow Island, off of the South Carolina coast. The story begins a bit slowly, but that also reinforces the mood of tentativeness which is shared by Zoey's neighbors. They include Charlotte, a henna artist; Mac, an excellent chef; Lucy, an older recluse and sister to Lizbeth who died recently; plus Frasier, the complex's manager. Gradually, friendships develop and the characters become more appealing as they reveal background about themselves. Many had a troubled childhood which is linked to the various "ghosts" who haunt Mallow Island. Ultimately, this is a tender story with elements of mystery. Allen is a master at evoking peaceful, positive feelings. OTHER BIRDS received a starred review from Booklist who recommended it especially for readers of Fannie Flagg and Karen White.

Sigh. This book was beautifully fantastic. I loved it so much! Just everything about it, every detail, every character, every surprise revealed, was perfect.

Zoey is filled with youthful enthusiasm, dreams, and gumption. She moves into The Dellawisp hoping to learn more about her deceased mother, but is also looking for community, for a sense of belonging, friendship, and she is determined that the residents of The Dellawisp will become that for her. Her characters life was not all roses all the time, but she is filled with optimism and fun that is hard to deny.

Her neighbors are a quirky lot. There is Charlotte, a bohemian spirit and henna artist, Mac, a James Beard award winning chef who is known for his use of cornmeal, the Lime sisters who maintain separate apartments and don’t interact, and Frasier, the caretaker. They each have their own stories, the stories that have defined them up until now, full of love and love lost, full of shadows with rays of light.

The Dellawisp itself is a magical place. It has been a sheltering comfort for those that live there, hidden behind the main street that smells of sugar, with its special birds that exist only there, in that one place. Until Zoey arrives, and shakes things up in her own sweet way.

I don’t want to delve too much further into this story here, because I don’t want to give anything away. But this book made me smile and and cry and I was under the spell of its beauty the entire time I read it. When it ended, I wanted more and I sincerely hope that Allen visits this world and these characters again in a future book.

Before I wind this up though, lets talk about the food in this book. I love when food and memory and love are intertwined through the pages of a book. I think so many of us have food based memories – I know that I do. I think of my grandmother and my uncle when I make coconut tarts and Empire biscuits; hot cocoa on snowy days, the chicken and stars soup and Vernors that my mom would make me when I was sick – I could seriously go on and on. And in this book food is wound up here and there and everywhere, but most of all with Mac, whom I adored. I was so inspired by this book that I actually spent five hours the other day cooking and baking, standing in the kitchen barefoot and cooking up Carolina Chicken Bog and Plum Berry Cornmeal Cake. And dang, was everything so delicious! We will be eating the chicken bog for days and I have been eating the cornmeal cake for breakfast and it tastes amazing paired with my cup of coffee..

I absolutely loved this book! I actually can't wait to read it all over again.

This is a gem of a book. However I feel like birds are so polarizing (do we like them, do we hate them, are we terrified of them) that I'm worried that element is going to prevent people from picking this up. I would encourage readers to give it a shot! The writing is beautiful and the plot is equally as enchanting. "Between the real and the imaginary there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways."

Other Birds is an enchanting story about love, loss, and finding yourself. Zoey is an 18-year-old following the memory of her mother out into the big world, truly on her own for the first time. She finds it's not always easy, but along the way of finding out who she wants to be, she meets up with an engaging cast of characters who love her just as she is. This is a gem of a book I'm glad I had the opportunity to read. The writing is whimsical and the setting of the book was magical. I want to go to Mallow Island and see it for myself!

This is my first book by this author, but I am definitely going to check out her others. I would recommend this book to everyone.

A sweet story of found family with a little magic thrown in for good measure! When Zoey moves into the condo that belonged to her now dead mother she meets a small group of people who grow to love and need each other even though they often thing they don't need anyone.

What worked for me
- characters that I enjoyed getting to know and I could relate to
- interesting magical elements that were not over the top and almost believable
- Zoey's and Charlotte's friendship was so sweet and true
- a cozy, close setting
- good pacing to the plot - it moved along at a perfect speed
- an ending that felt right

4.5 stars rounded up

Sarah Addison Allen's writing is pure magic. Similar to her previous novels, Allen incorporates a bit of magical realism into her story and the end result is intoxicating.

Zoey moves into her mother's old apartment on the tourist island of Mallow. The island is known for its love of the marshmallow, and the variety of birds that happen to reside in the apartment complex. Over time Zoey is introduced and becomes friends with many of her neighbors, as an unexpected death thrust them together.

Above all this novel is about the formation of relationships. Family, friends, co-workers and strangers. Allen writes with a bit of quirkiness and mystery that allows the reader to form their own opinions of the characters. Overall I found this novel to be enjoyable and thoroughly calming in nature. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.