Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe, and named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment on an island outside of Charleston she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a girl on the run, two estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, a legendary writer, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn’t yet written.

Another sweet magical book from Allen. Zoey is filled with the wonder of someone about to go to college. Someone who is trying to bring people together and learn. Even the one tense scene was easily resolved. Glad for another book by this author.

Side note: 2 chapters were out of order in my electronic copy. I hope this is fixed before it's published.

“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 another bird than just the same old thing.”

This enchanting story follows 18-year-old Zoey as she moves to Mallow Island, SC to prepare not just for starting college in the fall, but also for a fresh start on life. She moves into her mother’s old apartment in the Dellawisp condo community, named for the quirky little dellawisp birds that call the area home. When one of the other members of the condo community is found dead, Zoey plays a key role in getting the residents to come together and also in helping everyone to find their separate paths to their own versions of love and acceptance.

I thoroughly enjoyed this charming tale of found family, belonging, friendship and love. The narrative features alternating perspectives between a few of the current residents of Dellawisp, and even a few past residents in the form of ghosts, which was a successful strategy in keeping me hooked and wanting to know what happened next. The characters themselves all felt so real, flaws and all, and were easy to get invested in and to relate to. I loved each and every one of them for different reasons, and Pigeon just stole my heart in the end. And how can I forget about the lovable ghostly curmudgeon, Lizbeth?!

In addition to the themes and characters, there was so much else to love just as much - the lovely birds that carried so much meaning on their wings, a strong sense of food, magical realism that made me a believer, and gorgeous imagery of Mallow Island that made me want to stay there forever. Other Birds was enchanting, sparkly and magical, and one that I will be recommending to lots of different types of readers. A well-deserved 4.5 stars. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. This book is one of those books with a story that’s going to stay with me. This was my first Sarah Addison Allen book and most certainly will not be my last. I’ve already purchased several of her previous books. I don’t want to say too much about this story as I don’t want to give anything away. It includes birds, surprises, magical realism, and a smidge of romance. You need to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Heartwarming and tragic, another magnificent tale from Sarah Addison Allen. Her magical realism is a stunning support character while the true story lies in the relationships - past, present and future - with reveals keeping you moving along. I wasn't ready to leave the Dellawisp once I finished!

Other Birds is a beautifully told story filled with magic, whimsy, heart and the power of love. It’s magical realism at its finest. This is the first book I have read by Sarah Addison Allen and it certainly won’t be my last.

When Zoey arrives at Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina, she is immediately swept into the drama of her secretive neighbors at the condo complex of her deceased mother. Filled with feisty birds and mysterious ghosts, the Dellawisp complex, named after the tiny turquoise birds that live among the trees, becomes a character in itself.

The friendships are at the heart of this story. It’s hard to have a favorite character because each one is so complex and interesting: Charlotte, a woman with a mysterious past fills her days drawing henna designs and riding her scooter. Mac, an executive, James Beard award-winning chef at a resort restaurant, always seems to be dusted with cornmeal. Frasier, the caretaker, has a unique bond with the birds. And Lucy Lime, a woman shut-in her her condo, only seen by the light of her cigarette glowing in the dark.

I was immediately drawn into the world Allen created. The vivid descriptions of the island and the food, the heartfelt dialogue between the characters, and the exploration of the meaning of love, all made this one of my favorite books of the year.

I’d highly recommend reading Other Birds if you love magical realism, adore found family stories and love reading about food.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.*

What happens to untold stories?

That's just one of the big questions that this novel tackles. It's a story about found family, secrets, loss, and love. The characters are all nuanced and well written. I ultimately connected with each of them.

Woven in to the story is all sorts of magic, including an invisible bird, witch balls, and ghosts. Normally, I do not prefer ghost stories, but one of the ghosts in this, Camille, was also one of my favorite characters.

There was a bit of weird chronology in the advanced reader copy that I am hoping was sorted for the finished book.

I have long loved Sarah Addison Allen's books. I highlighted so many quotes that spoke to me and that I know I will come back to. I was so pleased to be able to read it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Sarah Addison Allen takes us to Mallow Island in her latest book, Other Birds. The sea breeze and the smell of sugar is in the air. A small condo building has adults, both young and old, who are working to come to terms with the past and move forward into a positive future. A few ghosts and mischievous birds add to the magical and poignant elements of this novel. Allen has a gift for allowing the dialogue and relationships between the characters to unfold in such a natural way that we, as readers, also get to fully know and care about them. Charming, delightful, and recommended.

A truly magical book. Maybe not quite as otherworldly as some of the author’s earlier books, but just as wonderful. I read this so quickly I had to forgo such niceties as eating, sleeping and talking to my family! But worth it! I fell in love with all the characters, especially the birds. Can’t give away any of the details, you’ll have to read it yourself. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I loved this book. It was the perfect blend of magic and realism that makes this genre so compelling to read. It's like a world where things are full of just a little bit more potential and something that's all we need to believe in a better tomorrow. Sarah Addison Allen is an outstanding writer and anyone who loves her will be fully satisfied with her newest release. I am so happy I had a chance to read this beauty.

Thank you!

Zoey moves to Mallow Island the summer before she begins school at the College of Charleston. She's taking up residence in the condo where her mother lived before Zoey was born and where she planned to take Zoey after divorcing her father. Unfortunately she died, leaving Zoey to be raised by her much older and disinterested father and his new wife. The Dellawisp, the community where she moves, is small, inhabited by another young woman, a chef, and two estranged sisters.

Zoey, eager to create a new family, is drawn into the lives of her new neighbors, even as one of them loses her life the first night Zoey is there. She senses other presences and helps her neighbors find peace.

Like Sarah Addison Allen's other novels, there's a strong element of magic and a gentle lyricism. I've very much missed Sarah Addison Allen's books--although her absence from writing is totally understandable--and am so happy to have had the opportunity to read this one. I loved the different setting. #OtherBirds #NetGalley

DNF at 65% I did skim to the end of the book to know what happened but this book just did not grab my attention. I loved her previous books and the description on this made it seem like this would be similar but I felt that there was hardly any magic and the characters were all so unlikeable. There was a lot of potential for where the story took place but a lot of things were brought up and then never really explained. My biggest issue was that I do not understand why out of every art medium that exists she wrote a white woman profiting off of henna????

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing an ARC for my honest review.

Wow, this book starts off like a typical modern fiction, and then there's some mystery, some magic, and suddenly you don't want to put the book down, you want to stay right there on the island, getting to know the characters and seeing if Zoey can discover the truth about her mother and about herself. Allen once again gives us a story woven to enchant, that will have you mesmerized from page one and sighing at the dn with having a very satisfying read, It's an AMAZING book, sure to be the hit of the late summer, so don't miss this one!

4.5 stars
It's been a few years since we've gotten a new book by this author and it was worth the wait! She does magical realism so well. This book was no exception. The characters and the setting were amazing.

I had heard nothing but great things about Sarah Allen's writing but had not read anything of hers yet. Other birds was getting rave reviews so I knew I had to read this book.

The story, told in multiple POVs, talks about difficult childhoods with parents who probably shouldn't have had children to begin with. Each story/characters is written so well that the pages come to life. Behavior is explained by product of environment. Then interweave birds, it just brings the story more to life. This book is complex but not in a tough to chew sort of way. You won't want it to end - its beautiful!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Addison Allen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Other Birds absolutely blew me away and I loved every second of it. I loved the atmosphere of the book - the entire time I felt like I truly was in Charleston/Mallow Island. I also really enjoyed how everyone’s secrets slowly revealed themselves throughout the book and a couple of them really shocked me! This reminded me of Alice Hoffman in a way and I think fans of the Southern gothic genre would really enjoy this one. It’s sweet, mysterious, and unforgettable. 5 stars.

Somewhere between 3.5-4 stars. I feel like it’s hard to categorize this book. Little bit of mystery, family relationships, young adults finding their feet, elder wisdom, animals, with a splash of supernatural! Overall, this was not my kind of book but the characters were very likable. I will definitely be recommending this book to older lady friends/family. I feel that fits as the target audience for this book.

An enchanted tale filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won't let you go.

Other Birds is such a quirky, heartwarming story of love, loss, friendship and found family.

It is full of endearing characters.
Zoey, a lonely 18yo soon to be college student moves to the condo her late mother left to her, meets the other residents of the condo complex The Dellawisp, name after the birds. Charlotte the hippi henna artist; Mac, the large ginger chef; Frasier, the caretaker of the condo; Lizbeth the neighbor with the mental health issues; Lucy the recluse, and Oliver, Lizbeth's son.

And their ghosts. Because either they are not ready to say goodbye to these ghosts or the other way around.

I loved these characters. But, Camille... She became one of my favorite fictional characters. This woman fed the hungry neighborhood kids, hundreds of them for years. But her Macbaby was different. Mac and Camille's story brought tears to my eyes.

Zoey and Charlotte found a friend in each other. They both needed it badly. Both were so lonely and had to grow up fast.

Frasier... The man full of secrets.

Lizbeth and Lucy. Their stories are heavy with abuse, addiction and mental illness. Oliver, sweet Oliver, what he went through as a child hurt my mama heart.

And dellawisps. The funny, little blue thieves.

Man, this book was full of heart. I already want to reread it. It touched me in so many ways. It was a quick read. I've read it in two sittings. If you like found family stories, I highly recommend this one.

Thank you for the ARC of this novel. This was a sweet story.

Other Birds tells the story of a group of neighbors, their relationships, and their pasts— with a hint of magical realism. What worked for me were the characters, all likable, and the “ghost” stories. The flow of the story was just okay to me and it’s definitely more character than plot driven. I was hoping for a little more mystery. It’s definitely a quick read though, and it made me feel happy throughout. Thank you again for the ARC.

Zoey comes to Mallow Island to claim her dead mother’s condo. Mallow Island is a charming place, overcome with tiny turquoise birds. As Zoey begins her story on Mallow Island, she meets and learns the stories of her neighbors: estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, a girl on the run, a famous writer, and three ghosts.

I enjoyed this magically story about found family. The magic is light and woven into the stories of the characters, which made you really get to know them on a deeply level. I enjoy stories with quirky, unique characters and this tale is full of them! It’s a ghost story, that’s sentimental instead of spooky.

“There are birds, and 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 rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”

Other Birds comes out 8/30.

I was disappointed in this one—maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it, as I have really enjoyed the author’s other books. This one seemed to take a long time to get off the ground, with quite a few characters interacting but their storylines didn’t seem to go anywhere. There’s a big dramatic scene far too late in the story that seemed to come out of nowhere. I’d recommend the author’s other books for sure!