I've come to realize I've lived a good deal of my life with a certain amount of magical realism. . .so when I find a dose of it in my reads that is just right - not too much and not requiring too much suspended disbelief . . .then I'm full in! Sarah Addison Allen has hit that sweet spot in her books I've had the pleasure to read, and Other Birds is no exception.

I was immediately absorbed by this story (and only later could the internet finally convince me that this was fiction, not fact) - North Carolina, Mallow Island, home of the original marshmallow, and dellawisps. Birds are throughout the book, stories and theories propounded by knowledgeable characters. Soon, a reader realizes, they are joined by haunts, ghosts, spirits of place and people. Zoey, 18-yrs old and now seeking her inheritance - a condominium left by her deceased mother - finds a community of living and dead to settle her into her new life. Zoey is a reader, and there is a reclusive author it is rumored living amongst them. The path of the book unravels one delicious clue after another, stories within stories.

NOTE: Don't skip reading the author's acknowledgement - her last sentence reveals for whom this book was written, and the freedoms it released. I teared up, thinking of my own promises to my dear one, long-gone, and mightily missed.

*A sincere thank you to Sarah Addison Allen, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a free ARC to read and review.*

Very unique read. Something I think a lot of folks need to read and something to really think about. I must have for folks that love this genre.

I've waited on Sarah Addison Allen's newest book for the longest time. I've enjoyed following her on social media, and was thankful when she went into remission. Other Birds weaves together great Southern storytelling with that little bit of magic Sarah loves to add to her stories. It was definitely worth the wait!

Sarah Addison Allen has been one of my favourite authors from the day i read her first book. I was so excited to know that the author had a new book coming out. And this book did not disappoint!

This begins on Mallow Island, in South Carolina where Zoey goes that summer following the death of her mother many years before, who left her studio condo to Zoey. Zoey has memories of this place, memories of when she was there with her mother as a child, but that was long ago. In the interim years, she’d lived with her father and her stepmother, although it was a life that lacked even the most basic sense of care, or caring, for her or about her. And now Zoey is back to the place and thats when the story takes a turn.

I loved the characters and the setting was oh so lovely, it was easy to picture it all, the descriptions of the native plants, the birds, especially the dellawisps that is native to the island.

An enchanting tale filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won’t let you go sums up the book!
Highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the ARC of Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen. I have loved the author's previous works, and was really excited to have this galley. The author does a beautiful job of weaving symbolism and magical realism into the story. Parts of the novel were sad, as the characters learned to let go of grief and move forward. I will note that the beginning was slow for me, and the premise required suspension of reality. Once I bought into the concept, I really enjoyed the lovely writing and the fantastical ride that was Other Birds. Pick up this book on a rainy day, in a contemplative mood, and close the cover feeling hopeful.

I don't read a lot of magical realism but after getting The Light Pirate from NetGalley and actually enjoying it, I thought to give this one a try also! I loved the cover and the beginning of the story was interesting enough but after putting it down for a couple of days, I just didn't feel the need to come back to it.

Thoroughly enjoyable read with a great cast of characters. I was enchanted from beginning to end. Sarah Addison Allen does a great job creating immersive worlds.

Sarah Addison Allen and the worlds she creates are always so warm and welcoming, and Other Birds was no different. I always love the sense of family you feel in her books, whether it's found family or the one you're born into. Other Birds is set on an island near Charleston, SC, and reading this book during the summer was the perfect time to read it and imagine life on a coastal island.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I had not read anything by this author before and was pleasantly surprised.
This was a cute, charming tale and had elements of magic and ghosts - that were not scary.
Lots of little details to love - the birds, the realistic magic, all of it.
Great read!

I was already a fan of Sarah Addison Allen before I started “Other Birds”
This book is filled with lyrical prose and magical realism which hooked me from the start. Birds, ghosts, people and beautiful imagery what is not to love about this magical story that will capture your heart.

I always want more after I have finished her books. So delightful!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book for review.

I went into this book completely blind and I am glad I did. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters. I think the author did a fantastic job at building the story and I would definitely read another book of hers. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

I had my library book club read this book and I believe they all really enjoyed it. I would recommend this title.

A beautiful tale of loss, redemption, and how we all have ghosts of the past that we must let go of in order to embrace new beginnings. Sweet & hopeful, that had me weeping by the end. A hug of a book! Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I have been enchanted by Sarah Addison Allen books for a long time but this one didn't hit the mark for me. It was so short and still seemed to drag and just be slow.

A lonely, isolated young woman looking for remnants of her mother’s life, a place to belong, moves to a quiet island off the coast of South Carolina. Magical realism is not for everyone. I do enjoy it of not too overpowering. I loved that this book had such quirky characters, but I never felt like I really got to know any of them that well.

I'm always on the lookout for Southern authors, and while I'd heard of Sarah Addison Allen, I hadn't read any of her books. The premise of Other Birds intrigued me and happily I've found a new-to-me Southern author to catch up with. I really enjoyed this book, full of quirky characters who live on the margins of life for different reasons, and who are all living (or have lived) at the small 5-unit Dellawisp apartment building. At the heart is the story of Zoey, who has come to South Carolina to live in her deceased mother's apartment on a charming little island while she starts attending a college nearby. Gradually we learn the stories of her new neighbors, and the invisible strings that connect them. There's some magical realism here and a touch of the supernatural, but not in a scary or off-putting sense (at least not for me - YMMV!). I found myself looking up some of places and birds in the story to see if they were real or borne of Allen's imagination. It's a lovely book, tragic and hopeful and atmospheric and full of colorful characters that kept me interested in learning more about each of them.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Many perspectives and one dimensional characters weaken her latest book. While less magical than her previous novels, it will still manage to keep dedicated fans reading.

What a sweet story of love, family of choice and belonging. The magical realism was enchanting. Thanks #NetGalley

Another beautiful story woven by Sarah Addison Allen; This time with a more mysterious vibe. The reader follows Zoey as she moves into her (deceased) mother's Dellawisp Condos, and meets the various quirky characters that live there. Zoey finds herself trying to uncover untold stories and possibly solve a mystery as well. As is typical of Magical Realism, there's just a touch of otherworldliness to the story, which I absolutely love. At this point, I think it's safe to say I'll read anything that Sarah Addison Allen writes!

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This story really spoke to me! I loved the concept of found family and the connections these people who all lived in these apartments on Mallow Island found. There’s a very magical feel to this story and I can’t stop thinking about it. It will be a book I reread many times. My first by Sarah Addison Allen and definitely not my last.