This was really beautiful. It was a slow, gentle book and yet the pacing didn’t drag. The ever so slight whisper of a mystery helped keep my attention. And the characters all grew together in such heartfelt, gorgeous ways.

I just finished Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen and this is my review.

Zoey didn’t know what to expect when the cab pulled up to the apartment her mother had left her after she died. The building, full of South Carolina charm comes with the interesting name of The Dellawisp. Named after the little turquoise birds who reside there.

Zoey yearning to belong, sets out to befriend her neighbors. Charlotte, the girl who is always running away. The chef who isn’t over the loss of his surrogate mother and 2 estranged sisters…. Everyone has their skeletons and they all seem to have a ghost too.

When one of the neighbors dies unexpectedly, Zoey is tasked with cleaning out the apartment and discovers the secrets hidden there. Can all the lost souls, dead and alive, make their way into the light?

This book exceeded my expectations. I found the book delightfully quirky with a hint of magical possibilities that really stretched the imagination on a realistic level. I really enjoyed how all the characters came together and became this little mismatched family. Every single character had something they needed to let go of in their pasts and I loved watching it all unfold.

I loved the setting of mallow island and I wanted to know more. I could just feel the vibe of the island, how it looked and smelled. I actually enjoyed the pace of this read, it wasn’t super fast but just kind of hit it stride and stayed there. It was a novel take to have POV from the ghosts. I actually thought that was kind of clever. Loved the twist at the end too, it was very unexpected and I felt it was a smart way to end the book.

If you are looking for a beautiful women's fiction read with magical realism and a whole lot of love… This has to be your next book!

4.5 stars Thank you to netgalley and St Martin's Press

This book is extremely hard for me to rate, as I have loved and adored so many of Sarah Addison Allen novels in the past...but sadly this one just didn't quite live up to the others for me.

The positives are that the overarching themes send a wonderful message. i.e. Even outsiders can find their "family," even if it's not by blood. That those we love are always watching over us. That it's okay to let go of those we've lost, while still never forgetting or loving them deeply.

The negatives are that I never felt like any of the characters were fully developed. They never quite seemed real or authentic to me, and mostly all of them conveniently had terrible mothers, just in different types of ways. I also didn't feel the "magic" of the magical realism that Allen's books normally have...as the "magic" here were really just ghosts/spirits.

I liked the book, but didn't love it, and aside from the above reasoning, I just can't quite put my finger on truly why that is. If the synopsis peaks your interest, please give it a read, as so many others have loved it!

💭My review🐻
It was my first time reading a book by Sarah Addison Allen and it absolutely didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed it. It was a sad story but so beautiful. I loved all the character's stories and backstories. There is soo many details to this book it was awesome and you can forget the twists and turns ( I said Wow so many times while reading this book). I really enjoyed reading it. I really felt like I was in the story. LOVED IT!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I wish this was a real place because I'd like to live there. Unfortunately, Mallow Island and the Dellawisps, tiny turquoise birds only found on the island, are completely fictional. Otherwise, it would have been my next vacation destination, as it is sunny and beautiful, and I would have loved to explore the small town and sample the marshmallow dishes. Mallow Island is also famous for the author Roscoe Avanger, who wrote one bestseller decades ago and then disappeared from the public eye.

Zoey's mother has died and left her an apartment on the island, which was a surprise. Zoey is very young and is planning on starting college in the fall. She goes to the island intending to clean out her mother's apartment and possibly put it up for sale or rent. Her companion is Pigeon, who is invisible, can fly, and can be confined in a birdcage. Her mother's apartment is in The Dellawisp, a building named after the birds, which are numerous around the building. It is in the shape of a horseshoe and has only a handful of apartments owned by the tenants. The other tenants are sisters who don't get along, a talented henna artist with a past, a chef with a crippled cat, and ghosts.

I loved this book more than I can say and have already re-read it to pick up all the clues I missed before. My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These are my opinions of the book.

✨Book Review✨

Yesterday was publication day for Other Birds and I tried so hard to finish it in time to post. Alas, adult/mother duties overtook my afternoon and I finished yesterday evening.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC of this book.

I’m not typically one for magical realism, but this book was so well done. It’s quote where you understand the title is *chef’s kiss* :

“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.”

This book is about the residents of a Dellawisp condominium finding themselves while finding each other. It’s beautiful and I especially loved the fact that one character, Zoey, was kinda sorta from Tulsa and had an invisible pigeon.

It was so funny going from Carrie Soto to this book because Carrie’s father’s endearment for her was the Spanish word for pigeon “pichóna” and then Zoey (you guys already know I love this name!) has this pigeon in this book!

This cover is gorgeous and this book was like a warm hug. Read this if you love characters finding themselves, found families and a dabble of magical realism.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
(Round up to 4 for Goodreads)

Sarah Addison Allen has long been one of my favorite writers. I hadn’t read a book of hers in about five years so I was ecstatic to discover the release of Other Birds. It sucked me in on the first page and still hasn’t quite let me go, hours after finishing it. Aside from the hard lives these characters have led, this book is a delight. The characters and setting have so many wonderful details and the plot had two big twists I had no idea were coming (and one that I did see, but that’s okay). I love Pigeon, the ghosts, the Dellawisps, the details of the apartments. I love that Mallow Island has a rich history and such a presence that it’s one of the main characters. I tried to savor it but I also couldn’t put it down. This is a book to fall in love with and get lost in.

I was given a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you want found family, a supernatural cozy mystery story, and edge-of-fall vibes, pick up this book stat! Other Birds is the story of a group of people who live at The Dellawisp, a small apartment building on an island. Each person has their own baggage that they are dealing with, and through their newest tenant, Zoey, they connect with each other.

I don't want to say too much, because I think going in without knowing much about the story is a great way to read this one. Read this while you're cozied up beside the fire this fall!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!

Other Birds by Sara Addison Allen is a story about a town, it’s quirky residents, and a reclusive author. It’s about abandonment and how people navigate grief. It’s about writing a new ending to your own story.

There are very few authors that are autobuy for me. There are very few authors that I’m a ‘completist’ of, having read all of their books (at least once). There are even fewer authors I’ll preorder, waiting months (or longer) for their next release. The number of authors that hit all of these are very slim indeed, and Sarah Addison Allen is one.

I believe that words are magical, they matter, they have power. Books quite literally saved my life. There was a time when nothing else made sense, but books did. Sarah Addison Allen’s books found me when I needed magic. They spoke to me in such a deep, hopeful way that’s hard to explain. But that’s how books work.

Fans of her writing know that several years ago she lost both her mother and sister, a loss so profound she needed to tend to her own soul before writing again. Thus the gap between her last book and Other Birds. It’s clear she’s a different writer now, something I appreciate. I think this is an extremely personal book for Sarah Addison Allen.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy, to Netgalley for the digital ARC, and to Goodreads for the Advanced Reader Copy.

I so enjoy Sarah Addison Allen's books. She has a way of turning fantasy into reality. Of making magic "ordinary" and normal. I love that when I read her books, the fantasy aspect doesn't hit you in the face; it's woven so seamlessly that it is just a subtle gift that makes the story sparkle and shine. The Other Birds is just a beautiful little gem of a book. The characters were wonderful - Zoey, Charlotte and Mac all just spoke to me in so many ways, how broken, yet hopeful they all were. I loved how all the little nuances and connections evolved and made themselves known in a quiet an unassuming way - the author let them all play out in time, without hitting the reader over the head with them. It was refreshing to be able to simply lose myself in the beauty of this book without having to work at it - it felt more like I "experienced" this book instead of just reading it. Highly recommend!

I’m such a huge fan of Sarah Addison Allen. I’ve been waiting forever for her newest book and this did not disappoint. She’s an amazing storyteller and I could not put this down.

Really enjoyed this book! A large cast of unique characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect with Other Birds but so glad that I had an opportunity to review the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review.

When you google the location and some other items in the book to find out information, the author has done an excellent job transporting you to another locale. Nicely done.

Adding to my best of 2022 shelf.

I had not realized that another book by Sarah Addison Allen has been on my TBR list, this is my first read by this author (although she has published many books). Once again I thank NetGalley for introducing me to a new-to-me-author.

Other Birds is making me reconsider how I rate books. This one is 5 stars, in the future other books will have a bit of a more difficult time getting to 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Addison Allen (the author) and St. Martin's Press the publisher for this opportunity. Publication date is 8/30/2022.

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

Sarah Addison Allen has created something special in her latest book, Other Birds. There’s a quirky cast of characters combined with a touch of magic. The residents of the Dellawisp all have their own baggage, but until they let go of the past, they will never be able to move on.

This is an enchanting story of found family, community, secrets, and comfort food! I loved it, and it was definitely worth the wait! I recommend grabbing a copy now along with a marshmallow treat!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Happy Pub Day to <i>Other Birds</i> by Sarah Addison Allen!

Newly graduated from high school, Zoey comes to an island outside Charleston to claim her deceased mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp, a horseshoe-shaped building named after the turquoise birds who live in the courtyard. There, Zoey meets the other tenants: a pair of middle-aged sisters who haven’t spoken in years, the chef at a local restaurant, a henna artist, and the caretaker who remembers Zoey’s mom, along with the building’s ghosts. Each guards their own stories and secrets.

Sarah Addison Allen’s newest book was well worth the wait! Her ability to blend magical realism with stories that will pull on your heartstrings is as impeccable as ever. I loved getting to know all the tenants at the Dellawisp and wish Mallow Island was somewhere I could really visit. Don’t miss out on this novel!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

Well worth the wait! Sarah is the master of Southern magical realism and her books never fail to brighten up my days.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. I've been meaning to read Sarah Addison Allen for ages and a part of me was afraid that her books would be too quirky and cutesy for me. I do like magical realism, but sometimes books about a bunch of quirky characters in a small town can be annoying. In Other Birds, however, I was very into the characters and the setting. I loved that they were all basically searching for one thing: the feeling of being loved. There are ghosts who can't rest for various reasons, messy family dynamics, and characters who live their lives in hiding. It's a quick read, and it almost felt incomplete, but I think I only felt that way because I had happily zipped through it. The writing feels effortless and comfortable, and it's easy to be swept up in the world the author creates. Highly recommended, especially if you're in a reading slump and need something easy.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

I've enjoyed every book by Sarah Addison Allen, but this one was absolutely my least favorite of the bunch.

It just didn't connect with me the way previous books have. It didn't enjoy the characters in this book nearly as much. Maybe because there were so many of them, shoe horned into the story. And so many issues in there as well. From hoarding and mental health issues, to past sexual assault and growing up in a cult, to child neglect. And of course, they all come together in the Dellawisp, and help each other heal?

As multiple other reviewers have said, I felt like this book meandered from character to character, while never really fully developing each one or really combining them all in to one complete story, and then BAM! The last few chapters suddenly things start happening and everyone comes together and it all just fell flat for me.

All in all, it had a few lovely moments and Allen is fantastic at description. I hope this book marks her return to writing and that there will be more from her soon.

I love Sarah Addison Allen's writing. Her books always feel full of thoughtful, understated whimsy, and this book is no exception. Other Birds has an underlying bittersweet layer to it as well.

I usually don't like books with multiple POVs, but I love how seamlessly Allen weaves the narratives of all the characters (including the "bonus" characters) throughout the story.

This is a very readable, very sweet story- definitely recommend!

I enjoyed this story and found it enthralling!

Zoey Hennessey heads to Mallow Island, where she will stay in her deceased mother's studio until she begins her first year of college. The studio is in a building called The Dellawisps, after the turquoise birds that live there.

Alongside Zoey live the other tenants, Lizabeth Lime, Lucy Lime, Mac Garrett, & Charlotte Lungren. Lizabeth and Lucy are estranged sisters, while Lucy keeps to herself and avoids people, Lizabeth wages war on all those who disturb her in any way. Mac is a chef and Charlotte is an artist. Frasier the management who has an unusual talent passed down from his grandfather.

Along side the living are the ghosts that are unable to leave, a few have unfinished business and another remains due to the fact one particular human can't let go.

After one of the tenants dies unexpectedly, Fraiser offers Zoey the job of cleaning out the apartment. Zoey shifts through all the items she starts a box of what she feels are personal items to save. Little does Zoey realize the importance of what's in the box.

It isn't long before Zoey befriends two of the other tenants, except Lucy who remains aloof.

The ghosts add an interesting take on the story where their lives are revealed in pieces until the reader has a better understanding of the human characters' relationship to them.

All the tenants have been wounded in some way from their past and searching for a better life. I think out of all the characters, Zoey was the one not as tainted by the hurt she endured, which lead her to help break everyone else out of their shells. Characters who have been broken and yet rally around others to lift them up! They can become the family they always wanted. There are a few surprises in the story! Wonderful read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

“Stories aren’t fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.”

Thus begins Sarah Addison Allen’s latest release, the one waited for patiently by legions of loyal fans. From the first sentence on, every reader can rest assured– it was absolutely worth the wait.

I’ve never been able to pick a favorite Sarah Addison Allen book– they’re all so wonderful! But Other Birds may just be her best book yet, and my new favorite.

Zoey has just inherited her mother’s condo in the tourist town of Mallow Island, South Carolina. She escapes her unhappy childhood by moving there the summer before she begins college, intending to make this unknown place her true home, and perhaps finding some of her mother’s belongings and healing for herself along the way. She finds the magical Dellawisp tucked behind the main boulevard, a horseshoe shaped building with a garden full of strange turquoise birds and even quiet residents. Life becomes much less quiet for all the residents when the neighborhood busybody unexpectedly dies, ushering in all kinds of change. Charlotte keeps to herself, Mac is hiding something, and Lucy– well, no one sees Lucy. These neighbors may just have to confront mysterious circumstances, ghosts, and possibly discover that not all stories need to be told.


All of Allen’s titles sweep me up into the story so fully I’m reluctant to put them down, but none so much as Other Birds. The way these characters lives intersect, the secrets they keep and the stories they share, weave together in such a compelling way. But there’s more to it than just that– this story has such heart, made all the more heart-piercing with magical realism.

This cast of characters is intriguing, relatable, and intricately developed. Perhaps it is the little nuances, their histories, and their resilience that make them endearing and unforgettable, or perhaps it is the way they help each other grow. Regardless, the result is that whether the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger or not, I was equally enthused about each perspective shift and character.

As always, Allen’s settings are unique and lean towards the magical themselves. The storied history of Mallow Island made me wish it was a real place (I’m only half certain it isn’t– this world is so well crafted I can’t tell what is true and what is invention!). The island, the Dellawisp, and the individual condos are all so well developed that the imagery jumps off the page to form a mental film reel so real it feels as though you could reach out and touch it.

There is something inherently magical about Allen’s writing. The writing itself is gorgeous and engaging, made all the better by the equally engaging story. The integration of magical realism adds an air of whimsy to a story that certainly has its heavier moments, but also suspends the reader fully in the story.

Honestly, I’m a reader and a writer, and I’m having the hardest time pinpointing what exactly it is that makes this particular novel so engrossing and wonderful. I couldn’t put it down– I read it in just a few sittings, and I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. Reading this book– it felt like more than reading, somehow. It felt like an experience.

Even though you may want to devour it, read it slow the first time. It’s worth it. Personally, I can’t wait to re-read it.

After all, the heart of every one of Allen’s stories is the promise of hope and magic in everyday life.

And as she says herself in Other Birds, “Not everything has to be real to be true.”

Thank you to Sarah Addison Allen, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an advanced e-galley such that I could share my honest opinions.