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.

I liked the cover and the title of this book so I figured I’d give it a try. It starts out well but as time goes on I found myself having a hard time remaining engaged. I didn’t really connect with the characters and the story is more slow paced. Plenty of other reviewers liked this book well enough but it wasn’t a fit for me. I had no problem with the writing, I guess I thought it would be more exciting than it actually was. I’d still suggest others check it out, but it wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley awhile ago and just let it sit there. I was thinking this isn’t the type of book I normally read so maybe I’ll skip it. However about 2 weeks ago I started reading it, just a few chapters at night and I actually started to like it.

It is beautifully written and has so much meaning behind it. All these people meet in the DellaWisps and together they form their own family. Towards the end I didn’t want the book to be over.

I have to admit I’m more of an audio person and this is the first full length book I’ve read on my kindle. It kept me interested from the get go and never wavered.

It would be amazing to have a follow up to see how Zoey gets on at college. Does Oliver ever move in or does he stay with Fraser. How about Charlotte and Mac getting married and having children?

I am now going to check out this author for more of her books. Her writing is spectacular, some of the best I’ve ever read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this beautiful book. I LOVED it.

I am so in love with this book! I love all her books but this is my favorite! Going to be in the top 5 books for me this year! Amazing characters! Love love loved the ending! One of the best endings to a book!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Sarah Addison Allen - 5 stars!

Zoey arrives on Mallow Island SC after leaving her father's home in Tulsa OK with not much more than her imaginary bird, Pigeon. She is going to reclaim her deceased mother's apartment and go to college in Charleston. Zoey doesn't have many friends and her family left much to be desired. She's disappointed when she sees there isn't anything personal left in the apartment but she's determined to make friends with her new neighbors. And they are quite the bunch - both those that can be seen and those that can't.

Oh, I loved spending time in this place with these characters. The author has created a magical world filled with birds, interesting characters, and so much heart. This book is all about the family we make, finding those who love us just the way we are. It's also a good reminder that everyone has a story and is struggling in some way. I loved all the life lessons here wrapped up in a beautiful but not overly sentimental way. I didn't want this book to end!

Magical! A beautiful story about love and what family really means. It may take a while to get into the story but once you do you’re hooked. I guarantee it! If you’re into magical realism that is. 🤓

Thank you for this opportunity!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Ms. Allen for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Ms. Allen’s books are always a treat. Gentle, sweet, a little magical, they remind me of a vanilla ice cream cone: just right on a warm summer day. I will be honest, the book blurb for this title didn’t excite me as much as some of her others have done, but the book itself ended up working magic on me just like all its predecessors.

The main character is Zoey, a lonely, neglected girl who moves to Mallow Island off the Carolina coast because her late mother bequeathed her an apartment there. She intends to go to college in the fall and spend the summer in her mother’s apartment, reliving memories and looking for things that might remind her of her mother. She is accompanied by an invisible bird named Pigeon.

Of course the apartment building, which isn’t very large, hosts a small collection of various misfit residents who make up a sort of quirky, miniature found family for Zoey. Every one of them comes from a troubled childhood and each one of them had parents who ranged from lousy to downright criminal. There’s also, as in all of the author’s books, a healthy dose of magic and a few ghosts.

Overall the book was charming and a smooth, easy read. The writing flow gently from one character to another. I liked Charlotte the best – she had more layers and was slightly darker, as opposed to Zoey’s youthful effervescence – but I suspect that had Lucy gotten more page time she would have been my favorite.

If you like the author’s books, you’ll love this one. I walked away afterwards feeling refreshed and charmed. Maybe Ms. Allen really does work magic!

This book had some good parts and some bad parts.

I love how Sarah weaves subtle magic into her stories and this story delivered on that. I also love how all of her stories highlight found families.

The thing I didn't like was the cultural appropriation of henna done by Charlotte. So I get that Charlotte had a really bad childhood and she found henna and it was an escape for her BUT she made a career out of doing henna as a white person. It just felt gross. If Sarah had wanted Charlotte to wear henna and be an artist she could have Charlotte be a painter but regularly get henna done by an Indian person to feel beautiful.

Overall, this book was not my favorite Sarah Addison Allen stories but it wasn't bad. It was just meh,.

"Other Birds" by Sarah Addison Allen is an absolutely delightful read! Ms. Allen is one of my favorite authors. Her books are like a warm hug, comforting and enveloping. I was captivated by the quirky, well developed characters and the touch of magical realism made this book a charming read. The setting for the story, an island whose history is built on marshmallows, is absolutely perfect for this sweet story. There were twists and turns that I didn't see coming, keeping me interested and engrossed in the story and the large cast of characters. At its core, this book is about overcoming trauma and letting go so one can move forward, happy and healed. It's not as light of a read as some of Ms. Allen's other works, but it is a beautiful one nonetheless.

I'm only subtracting a star because of a glaring continuity error in the plot that should have been caught by an editor. Though it didn't take away from the story, it bothered me!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this fabulous book, in exchange for my honest review.

OTHER BIRDS
Sarah Addison Allen

Other Birds is a magical journey of the whimsical, the enchantinting, and the peaceful.

After many years, Sarah Addison Allen gifts to us a uniquely creative and beautiful story where magical realism is not only front and center, but also infused with memories of the past, family secrets, love and hope~ along with the exotic and eccentric which makes for a heart-tugging story that is emotional, colorful, quirky, and charismatic.

Ms.Allen transported me to a place so intriguing, that I found myself absorbed within the lives of these characters and all that surrounded them at The Dellawisp on Mallow Island...

I thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley, for the opportunity to enjoy this captivating narrative which brought to me the unexpected, the light and airy, as well as the sparkling, spellbinding, and memorable moments that make stories by this particular writer, favorites of mine.

4 Stars

#OtherBirds
@sarahaddisonallen
#StMartinsPress

Wild Sage Book Blog

My only criticism of Other Birds is that I wanted more. I wanted to see more and know more about these delightful characters-- to feel as if I had put my book down and taken my own quiet little condo at the Dellawisp.

This is a sweet book about motley and colorful characters who find a way to grow and heal together. I enjoyed it very much.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me an ARC copy of this delightful book to review.

Sarah Addison Allen has done it again! She has delivered another enchanting story sparkling with hints of magical realism.

Eighteen-year-old Zoe arrives at Marrow Island, South Carolina. She moves into the studio apartment left to her by her mother Paloma. Paloma died when Zoe was young, and Zoe is hoping to feel closer to her mother by living in a place that they were both happy. The apartment is in the Dellawisp, named for the enchanting turquoise birds that inhabit the gardens there.

Family is at the heart of this story. Sometimes our given families fail us, and we need to build our own family. This was such a touching story filled with eccentric characters, a few ghosts and a whole lot of heart.

Very well written book II like how it's a structure in this book. I like when she was telling the stories about these people in the book and then you find out what happens with these people who are of the ghost in this book and their own chapters but it all seems to be tied together. Everybody has a story to tell Zoe came back to marshmallow island. She moved back to her mother's old apartment DELLLL ACAWS P. Zoe gets accepted into account in Charleston. When she gets there there's a lady called Lacey who never leaves the apartment Call LI ZB ETH. There's the girl named Charlotte who's running through something for the past as well And then you're h Mac who would get cornmeal all over every night. This was tied to a woman called Cam ILL And then you had the guy who lived there as a property manager.. You find out who Oliver is related to it also in the book This book reads like a murder mystery and people helping each other out. Everybody had a very hard life and they seemed to triumph. Mac who lived on the island since he was a child And Lucy and her sister as well. Zoe had A pet called pigeon who was Is Hebrew And there were other birds around there area as well. There's a lot of history in this book as well about about The property Manager Who turns out to be somebody in the book to find this out there. It's the same thing with pigeon the bird to find out who this bird really was. Oliver has a story behind it as well and you find out what really happened between Lucy and her sister. Charlotte also has a pass as well and she did believe in the ghost And she kept running away from things because she's always afraid she's c O Let's Colt and find her from Vermont. Mac was very dedicated to CA MILLE who raised him. She was really good because his mother abandoned him as a child. The story I like because there's a lot of happy endings and everybody got what they wanted in the en Even Pamela Who was Zoe's Mother who died when she was very young Every time something would happen in the book The next chapter would be about these people who were no longer around. This is how you found out about them and how they were Type to the living person.

If you’ve been a fan of Sarah Addison Allen’s books for awhile, you’ll know it’s been a long wait between her last book and this book. Other Birds was definitely worth the wait.

It’s hard to know what to say about this book without spoilers, so I’ll talk most about what I loved and how the story made me feel. This story felt like a balancing act in many ways; it would go along slowly, giving you a chance to immerse yourself in the characters and setting, and then BAM - you’d get hit with a huge piece of information that changed everything. I had trouble setting the book aside because the characters felt so real and I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how everything was going to work out.

The found family aspect of this book was absolutely beautiful. I loved how the group of Dellawisp misfits were so used to living their quiet, private lives, and then circumstances brought them together and they had to choose whether to stay closed off or open up. I loved the dynamics between the different characters and getting to see bits of their lives and what led them to the Dellawisp and, ultimately, each other. I also really appreciated the themes of the things and people that haunt us, and rising above not only adversity but also the expectations of others.

Other Birds is surprising, magical, beautiful, and emotional. It’s a story about love and loss, hope and grief, finding family and finding home. I know this story and its characters will stick with me for a long time, just as many of Sarah Addison Allen’s other stories and characters have.