Another wonderful read by Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are always a welcome treat! This book was
about family and how our lives are changed and how we love and a dash or two of magic.

This was my first book from this author, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Other Birds was lyrical and imaginative, it was philosophical and sweet, it connected with me on a level many books don’t. Other Birds follows the lives of several people who live in a small apartment complex, their loved ones lost, and life after death. It had depth both in the story and characters. I loved every word and did not want to leave the world of Marshall Island. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read.

A huge thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. #OtherBirds #NetGalley

Setting: Mallow Island [marshmallows]--off the coast of South Carolina. The Dellawisp--a building named after the tiny turquoise birds who populate the area.

A cast of dysfunctional inhabitants including [but not limited to]: Zooey--ready to start college--who comes to claim her deceased mother's apartment, Charlotte--a henna artist, Mac--a cook often covered in cornmeal, Frasier--the owner of the Dellawisp. In addition the estranged sisters Lizbeth and Lucy, and Oliver--Lizbeth's son. All of them looking for something and all of them lonely, incomplete--and with emotional baggage.

Did you know that narshallow is a plant and it's roots were previously used to make marshmallow--and /or medicine. [I did not]

Eponymous title: "There are birds, and then there are other birds... I'd much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing." And hence the oddities. Birds: the dellawisps, Pigeon [who is part of Zooey's story]. And ghosts--many chapters are in one of the ghost's voices. And as advertised, magic realism,

Thin, extremely predictable, and trite. Saw some of the plot coming together from miles away [a disconnect for me].

Am I a harsh critic? Perhaps. But I expected so much more considering some of the reviews I read that praised this novel. Many very choppy sentences. Again in the distinct minority, but...

2.5 but not rounding up because to me, that means read it.

“If the people around you don’t love you just as you are, find new people. They’re out there.”

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is a heartfelt story and more! It feels like the comfort food that fills you up and makes you hungry for more. It was like the warmth of the coziest blanket paired with warm fuzzy socks on a cold winter day. It’s the ray of sunrise that brings hope and the promise of tomorrow by the sharp hew of sunset. Its the pain when cuts run deep and the sense of surviving that old scars bring. The security that only the feeling of belongingness can give. Other Birds is a book of friendship and of family. A tale of grief and moving on. A magical story and the tough reality. Other Birds is LOVE.

Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, Frasier, Oliver and Lucy were individuals brought together by fate. Each has a baggage and a past they tried to run away from and memories they fear to let go. Misfits, they call themselves, and when misfits unites, they became family.

I really love this book. It was beautifully written and so hard not to love the characters. It gives the reader a reason that there is always something good left in this world! I am very grateful to receive both an e-copy and the stunningly cute book box with merchandise of Other Birds from Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press in exchange of my honest review. I highly recommend this book.

Sarah Addison Allen is one of the best writers who do magical realism, in my opinion. Her stories feel effortless and you believe in the unbelievable because she makes it real. This was an intriguing book and I picked it up because I loved the theme around the birds and their relation to grief and loneliness. This book took a little time to get into, but my attention was piqued with the cornmeal situation. What a clever idea. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with this book as much as I did others that the author has written. I didn't bond with the characters like I was hoping to and that ultimately made this an entertaining story but not one that I loved. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is a moving story about family – those you are born to and those that become one. "If people around you don't love you just as you are, find new people. They're out there."

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
The title intrigues me – Other Birds. What does it mean? I can't wait to find out. The cover is simplistic, with a birdcage and birds flying around it, but that doesn't tell me more than the title does. The blurb mentions magical realism and an island off the coast of South Carolina. I love both of those things. And so many characters and secrets - that definitely captivates me.

Actual Reading Experience:
The magical realism surrounding the birds is a moving aspect of the story, and I just loved it. I can't say much about it, but I guarantee you would find it as moving as I did.
I especially loved the theme of family. Sometimes the family you are born to just doesn't give you all the love you deserve. But if that happens, there are still plenty of people who will, and they can become the family of your heart. This is a very heartwarming theme that resonated with me on many different levels.

Characters:
Other Birds is a character-driven story, and oh, what wonderful characters they are!

Zoey Hennessey is the main character. She is an eighteen-year-old beginning college in the fall and moves into the condo she inherited from her mother while she waits for school to begin. She is a loving person who has had a rough childhood with a father and stepmother that do not show her anything resembling unconditional love. Her inquisitive nature is charming, and her invisible bird, Pigeon, is very intriguing and gives me the chills.

Zoey's support characters are the other residents of Dellawisp Condo: Mac Garrett, a chef; Lucy Lime, a shut-in; Elizabeth Lime, a busybody and estranged sister of Lucy Lime; Oliver Lime, Elizabeth's son who is away looking for a job; Charlotte Lungren, a free spirit and henna artist; and Frasier, the caretaker/manager of the condos.

Each character has secrets, and those secrets are revealed as each learns and grows from their interactions with one another. They become the family that each is sorely in need of.

Narration & Pacing:
Most of the story is told in 3rd person except for the ghost chapters. The ghosts speak directly to the reader in an intimate first-person narration. This is a great touch and an incredibly poignant way to tell the story. The pacing was my least favorite part as it's more of a medium pace. However, I loved the end, as that was incredibly fast-paced.

Setting:
Dellawisp Condo on Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina is the setting. The Dellawisp Condo area is used perfectly and thoughtfully. The rest of the island is not utilized as much, and I would love to have explored it more. Still, the area critical to the story is wonderfully used.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a story that will speak to you in profound ways, Other Birds is just that book.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is a charming , quirky novel about a charming, quirky cast of characters.

Zoey is a nineteen year old woman returning to Mallow Island for the first time since she was a little girl, along with her invisible bird named Pigeon. Note: Pigeon is not the only invisible character in this book. Zoey meets the other inhabitants of the Dellawisp Condo community and helps bring them together.

This is a magical, lyrical book and very much character- driven. The title refers to people/birds who are not like the others and perhaps don’t fit in. The novel also demonstrates how we can create the family of our choosing.

I highly recommend this novel and plan to re-read it! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC.

3.8 Stars
One Liner: Slow start but good

Marrow Island, on the coast of South Carolina, is more of a tourist destination. However, nestled in its center is Dellawisp, an old building in horseshoe design and secrets from the past.
Zoey goes to Dellawisp to claim her dead mother’s property and continue her education away from an apathetic father and stepmother. She meets-
• Fraiser, the caretaker of the building
• Charlotte, a struggling henna artist
• Mac, a sous chef with secrets
• The Lime sisters, Lizabeth and Lucy (who couldn’t be more contradictory even if tried)
• The Dellawisp birds
• Ghosts waiting for…
Everyone has a story that weighs them down. Everyone has ghosts from the past. But maybe it’s time to write the stories and let go of the past for a better future.
The story comes from the limited third-person POV of the main characters and the first-person POV of a couple of interesting characters. (Yep, too many POVs but each with a distinct voice).

My Observations:
This is my second book by the author, and I like how well she deals with heavy topics. The story could have been melodramatic but reads more like a melancholic narrative.
Having so many POVs and voices is not easy. This book manages it well, even when the POVs change in the middle of a chapter. That said, reading this when distracted can cause confusion. There are quite a lot of voices.
The use of magic realism starts with a promise. How can we not be curious about Pigeon or ghosts? However, a little more of it would have been great. The setting has the potential, but the story skims only the surface.
The same happens with the characters’ backstories too. There are hints of a lot of things (triggers listed at the end), but none are detailed. Though I like books with more depth, this one worked just fine for my current mood. I didn’t want anything too heavy or overwhelming. The characters are a bit stereotypical, which I didn’t mind.
The story doesn’t progress until after 70%. The first chuck is where we collect information and get to know the characters. Max action takes place in the last 15-20%, and it picks up pace. Feels like the book ended too soon. The last chapter made the ending interesting for me.
What I would have liked is an acknowledgment of the cultural heritage of henna. Charlotte is a henna artist, meaning there are too many opportunities to add a couple of lines about henna’s origins. There is one teeny reference, more like an indirect nod. Henna has been a part of Hindu, Islam, and other indigenous cultures (Egypt and Africa, I think). Google can help with more information. It’s not common for a white blond woman to be a henna artist. No issues with it (makes me glad that she likes it as much as we do), but proper acknowledgment would have been appreciated.

To summarize, Other Birds is a mellowed narrative that deals with various topics but doesn’t go deep. It still manages to be emotional in some parts. It will appeal to readers who like a light touch of magic.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
*****
Content Warning: Hints/ mention of pedophilia, child abuse, parental abuse, parental neglect, parental death, romanticized grooming (dunno if I missed any).

This one was nowhere near what I was expecting. Such a wonderful example that it takes more than blood ties to be a family. Our story takes place in Mallow Island, South Carolina and follows 18 year old Zoey who has just moved there from Tulsa the summer before starting college in Charleston. Her mother left her a condo in a community called Dellawisp, named after the birds that occupy the area. A resident passed away soon after Zoey moves in, and the building works it’s magic to get the others together. Along with Zoey, there are multiple perspectives shared from the residents and their ghosts. Yes, I said ghosts. I was both shocked and intrigued to learn of all the unusual happenings surrounding our characters. Everyone that lives in this quirky community is dealing with a loss, love, or friendship in some aspect. I think what I loved the most was that everyone had a story to tell. Magical realism is crafted so effortlessly that I forgot what is fantasy and reality. This is such a beautifully written story about love, friendship, and found family.

Thank you @netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was eager to read 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗗𝗦 by Sarah Addison Allen. I expected I’d enjoy it, but I didn’t realize what a breath of fresh air it would be. My August reading has been a little on the blah side, and I needed something to tweak my reading mojo. Who would have thought that a book full of magical realism, quirky characters, ghosts, and romance would be the ticket?⁣
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The story centers on Zoey, an 18-year old who has come to claim the apartment left to her by her long deceased mother. It’s one of only five units in a very special building on Mallow Island off the coast of Charleston. She’s there for the summer along with her invisible bird, Pigeon. As one might expect, Zoey meets up with the other residents and the building’s manager, all with their own sad stories and some with their own ghosts. Friendships develop, backstories come out, connections are found or grow. It’s a charming little book that left me feeling good and put a big smile on my face. If you’re feeling the need for something a little different, I definitely recommend giving Other Birds a try! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 stars⁣
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Many thanks to @stmartinspress for an electronic ARC of #OtherBirds.

Other Birds is out tomorrow and I could not be more excited for another Sarah Addison Allen @sarahaddisonallen book!
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This is a BOTM choice and it could be an amazing option for many of you. This book looks at the loss of loved ones, and what can happen when one grows up without love. It is beautiful, sad, powerful, heartwarming, and had me tearing up in the last chapter.
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Sarah incorporates magical realism into her stories and like her other books, this story is so unique. Some chapters were in the past, most were present, and some were told by ghosts. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming. The ending I was not expecting, and as the reader, I loved it! I just wish there was an epilogue with a little peek, so I could know how Oliver, Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, Lucy, and Frasier (because I’m greedy)…
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I don’t want to say too much, but I do want to say that there are TW’s for this book and it may not be the right time for you. I will include the TW’s in the comments section.
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Sarah lost her mom and sister within a week of each other, and that loss and love came through in this story.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC,

How does SAA always make me cry and have all the fluttering emotions? She has characters that will make you chuckle and ones that will break your heart. I loved every single character (okay well every POV) even the grumpy, slightly unhinged ones. I could feel their life stories pouring off this page and loved how Zoey in her innocence and earnestness brought them all together. I would visit Mallow Island in a heartbeat after these descriptions. I love the subtle magical hints throughout the book (no spoilers) and just how smoothly the story flowed even as it jumped between people and time. I highly recommend this along with all of her books!

I LOVE Sarah Addison Allen's books. I've read them all at least twice, and I've been eagerly awaiting another release from her. My wish was granted with Other Birds!

Other Birds feels a little darker and grittier than Allen's previous books, and it did take me a bit longer to become immersed in the story. Once I was in, though, I was IN. I loved this story of found family and the loved ones who never really leave us. The narrative also had the same surprises and magical touches I've come to expect from her work. I highly recommend it as a magical pick for fall!

Magical realism and Sarah Addison Allen go hand in hand. You are instantly transported into the world she wants you to land. In this book you land into Mallow Island, South Carolina where the air is perfumed with sugary treats, flocks of blue turquoise birds and tenants of luxurious condo units who have mysterious stories.
The beauty of this novel is the underlying connection of family, love and friendships that is formed in the most uncommon way. We all want a flock and we find it when we are not even looking.
I really like Sarah Addison Allen's stories though sometimes it takes a little while to get into the story. It comes together at the end where you are left with a wonderful sensation of togetherness. I give it a 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️

This beautiful book is a reminder that we have the power to choose: who we become, the people we call family, how we see the world, and whether we give ourselves permission and space to heal. Mallow Island, the Dellawisp, and the characters Sarah Addison Allen has created become places and people readers will hold dear, want to visit, and want to know. And you will come to know them through her words. This is the story fans of Allen’s work have been waiting for.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book! It's been awhile since this author has published a book but it has been well worth the wait! I adore Allen's magical realism and her incorporation of food as one means to communicate love and care. Definitely soul healing, emotional, powerful and another must read I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for access to this eARC. Other Birds was a perplexing, inventive story with a lot of heart, a collection of souls adrift, and a threads left unraveled. Overall, I enjoyed the writing style and the truly original setting of magical elements of the book. However, I had a hard time getting truly invested in the characters until around the 70% mark of the book. While the apex of the story was meaningful and well formulated, I found the twists and reveals and changes in the characters perceptions and presentations lacked a certain weight, and some of it almost felt unfinished. While I understand the author’s intention, I wasn’t as moved as I would have liked to be. I do think this author has a wonderfully distinct voice to her writing style, and I am always looking for new magical realism reads. 3.5 Stars.

Other Birds
by Sarah Addison Allen


It’s the summer before Zoey starts college. She has left her father’s home where she has felt less than welcome. In an attempt to connect with family, even if it is just the memory of her long deceased mother, she moves into the apartment where her mother last stayed. Zoey is hopeful to find reminders or mementos of the mother she barely knew. Here she encounters the residents of the Dellawisp Condos who all seem to have their own stories of loss and heartbreak, secrets and ghosts from the past to make peace with. This is a book about second chances, and “Second chances are not to be wasted.

In Other Birds, Sarah Addison Allen has wowed me once again. Her characters are written with such pathos and gentleness that she makes it easy to understand the basic humanity of even the most unlikable of characters. With comfort and ease, her words soar from the page and into the reader’s heart. Though the tone is wistful and a bit melocholy, she loses none of her signature magic and charm.


Many thanks to @SarahAddisonAllen, @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the opportunity to read this advance digital copy.

I am a huge fan of all of her work and was shook excited to receive an ARC.

The book did feel like it had a bit of a slow start and didn't really pick up until about halfway through. The little bits of magic didn't feel as endearing or magical as they have in her other books.

I did really love the characters and the development was great.

The storyline over all was one that had great twists and things I didn't see coming.

Over all it was a wonderful book but for me didn't have the same level of charm or magic woven through out as her previous novels.

I've been a fan of Sarah Addison Allen for a long time, though it has been years since I've read one of her books. Other Birds was just as magical and fantastical as I remember her writing as being. She writes with such beauty and whimsy, and I absolutely devour her books. She really evokes magic in her writing, and I'm always enchanted by the worlds she creates. Her books also always make me hungry, and Other Birds was no exception. I definitely want to try out Mac's cooking and Zoey's potato chip sandwiches. I could practically smell the scent of marshmallows and sugar floating on the air, and I felt like I was right there on Mallow Island. I also love the characters that Allen creates, especially Otis and Pigeon. I can't wait to see what magical world Allen creates next