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.

As a long time fan of Sarah Addison Allen's, I was overjoyed when I heard she was releasing a new novel. Other Birds did not disappoint! As someone still processing the passing of her own mother and figuring out how to proceed in this new chapter of life, I connected with all of these characters in different ways. A lovely, heartwarming story of new beginnings.

Zoey arrives on Mallow Island, South Carolina ready to take over her late mother's condo at the Dellawisp. Named after the tiny turquoise birds that inhabit and guard the garden, the building is built in a u-shape with 5 separate condos. The residents are all quirky in their own way, each holding on to the secrets of their past. Lizbeth Lime was the strangest of them all, hoarding boxes on boxes of papers, yelling at the neighbors for the slightest noise. But when she dies in a freak accident, the property manager hires Zoey to sort through all the boxes. But when she contacts the woman's son to collect what's left, he doesn't want anything to do with it and neither does her sister Lucy, who also lives in the Dellawisp, living like a recluse with no contact with anyone. But with Lizbeth gone, the rest of the neighbors become closer and start to heal from their pasts.
I absolutely love this author's writing. The aura of magic and mystery, the development of relationships between the characters, the way she reveals their secrets a little bit at a time, even the "ghost story" chapters just fit seamlessly into a beautiful story.
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

I love magical realism. It's one of my favorite genres. This was my first book by Sarah Addison Allen and it did not disappoint. The beginning was a little slow and I almost gave up on it, but boy am I glad I didn't .
This story was magical and lovely with an overall theme of hope.
Other Birds is a beautifully written and highly engaging must read. Just be warned you might cry.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A SAA book always hits the spot, and this was no exception. Show me something real that you can’t see, write of connections poetically.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

First, thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for an e-copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

While some parts were not for me and I found myself wanting more at times, overall this book was wonderful! I'll definitely pick it up again when I'm in a better headspace, but even though I wasn't, I enjoyed the journey. Any time I can explore connections and relationships through a safe distance via fiction, it's a good time. This was the first time I read anything by Sarah Addison Allen, but I think I'll actually be following any new releases now!

And yes, while I don't personally find it a perfect book, I can see how others would, making it a definite recommend for me!

4/5

“There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don’t sing. Maybe they don’t fly. Maybe they don’t fit in. I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”

While fans of Sarah Addison Allen have been waiting since 2015's First Frost (Waverley Family, #2,) the author has survived cancer and struggled with the loss of her mother and sister, days apart while writing this book. The long wait and these overwhelming factors make Other Birds all the more amazing. A wonderful story of pain, longing, abandonment, mental health, and all types of mothers. True to the author's style, magical realism is woven into the lives of the Dellawisp residents in such a way that a reader believes every word. Full of ghosts and secrets and the painful longing to belong, Other Birds is beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. There is also a strong food storyline, which I personally always love.

I’ve waited years for a new book by Sarah Addison Allen and Other Birds was worth the long wait. We are treated to a cast of diverse characters who are all going through some sort of pivotal change in their life. Sprinkled in to the storyline is Allen’s signature dusting of magic that seems as if it could be real. I savored ever page and will revisit it again soon. Welcome back Sarah. We missed you.

Since her mother died and her father remarried, Zoey hasn’t really felt like she fit at home. She leaves Tulsa for Mallow Island, South Carolina, where she’s inherited a studio apartment that her mother had owned. A mysterious invisible bird named Pigeon travels with her. The apartment building is small – just five units – and the courtyard is populated with tiny turquoise birds called dellawisps, after which the building is named.

Shortly after Zoey’s arrival, a crotchety resident named Lizbeth Lime dies. She was a bit of a hoarder, and Frasier, the apartment manager, asks Zoey to take on the task of cleaning out Lizbeth’s apartment. As she cleans, Zoey gets to know the other residents: Lizbeth’s reclusive sister Lucy; Charlotte, a young woman reluctant to trust anyone, who may not be who she says she is; big-hearted chef Mac; and of course, Frasier, although he doesn’t live onsite. Oh, and then there are the ghosts, too. Everyone has secrets, and no one is entirely what they appear to be. But Zoey, with her perpetually cheerful nature, manages to befriend the other residents and begin to learn their stories.

Allen’s writing style is just beautiful. She draws word pictures that you can almost touch, and it makes it easy for me to envision the setting, the characters, the action as I read. Her characters are flawed, but the more endearing for their flaws. I was absolutely invested in what happened to them, even the ghosts.

At its heart, this is a story about coming home. A story about love and loss, and how either or both can sometimes keep folks earthly or ethereal trapped somewhere far longer than we need to be. It’s also about the beauty of found family, and people learning to love and belong to the family they’ve found. I absolutely adored it, and I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All of the opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

I truly loved this quiet yet confident book set in a hidden condo complex on Mallow Island, South Carolina. I kept seeing all the characters as if in a movie. It would truly be a perfect television series.

A BOTM pick! I was happy to get this as an ARC and recommend it to friends for their Sept box. Beautifully written and well done in the realm of magical realism (one of my favorite genres. Difficult to pull of but such a wonder when it is). A true gem of a story.

✨Review✨

Other Birds
By Sarah Addison Allen
Genre: Magical Realism
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

“A dream, a story, an invisible bird—it was all the same thing really. Not everything has to be real to be true.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this beautifully unique book! Filled with delightfully whimsical characters and heartwarming moments, this was a true joy to read. At its core, this is a character study of found family and what tethers us to one another.

If you love magical realism I think you’ll enjoy this!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Addison Allen is a favorite author whose stories I remember details too, long after the book has been closed. Other Birds is her newest release that takes us to Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina, to the Dellawisp, a sanctuary for birds and lost souls.

I loved the island and the Dellawisp, a horseshoe cobblestone building with a courtyard that’s been converted to condos. It’s tucked away beyond the main streets and provides a sanctuary for tiny turquoise birds who flutter about observing the tenants as they go about their day.

The author introduces us to the island and Dellawisp along with young Zoey. Zoey is a recent high school graduate who is spending the summer in the condo she inherited from her mother. It’s her first time alone, and she wants to reconnect with the memories of her mother, but also experience life at the Dellawisp and is hoping to meet its residence. Like the birds, she is curious, tentative and eager to a part of the community.

Zoey is not traveling alone. Pigeon is with her. Pets aren’t allowed, but no one can see Pigeon. They never have. As Zoey integrates herself into life at the Dellawisp, we meet her neighbors. A chef who wakes up covered in cornmeal each morning, a henna artist running from her past, and two sisters who have not spoken in over twenty-five years.

This was a magical tale, and I loved getting to know each of the characters, including the manager who oversees the Dellawisp. Talk of food, friendships and the return of a resident quickly pulled me in. Together they form a friendship, heal and perhaps find home.

Addison delivers magical realism and complex characters who you cannot help but root for. Even the broken ones will tug at your heartstrings. I wanted to pack my bags and immediately visit this island. I wanted to take the tours, sample the food and meet the residence of the Dellawisp.

I highly recommend Other Birds and all of Allen’s books. They are keepers. If you don’t already do so, I recommend following the author on Facebook. On Sundays, she shares short stories that hook me every time. #SAAShortShortStorySunday

4.5/ 5 stars

Other Birds is my first book by this author. I would categorize this as Contemporary Magical Realism.

The book takes place on Mallow Island, off the coast of South Carolina. and features a bunch of 3rd person POVs (plus a few short chapters from some ghosts).

Almost 19 year old Zoey is getting ready to start college. She arrives in Mallow Island to claim her mother's apartment.

This apartment complex has tiny turquoise magical birds. The book is very character driven. There are a group of neighbors, all with their own stories. We get to see: Charlotte, Lucy, Lizbeth, Mac along with Frasier and Oliver (who are also connected to this apartment complex).

This book was super different. At times it was quite slow with not too much happening. But I adored Zoey and Charlotte's friendship. And I really loved getting to know Mac and Oliver.

There was definitely a bit more happening towards the end (some things I predicted and some things I did not see coming). The book is about friendship. I can't stop thinking about the end and about the acknowledgments.