I have loved every book by Sarah Addison Allen. Her soon to be released Other Birds was a delight to read! It is a story of Zoey who moves to Mallow Island to go to college and live in her deceased mother’s apartment at The Dellawisp. She meets the other residents who are
somewhat quirky and secretive. This is a whimsical, magical story of family, loss, birds, ghosts and so much more!
Just loved this book and would highly recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the eversion ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sarah Addison Allen for
another wonderful story.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Other Birds
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Sarah Addison Allen
ᴠɪʙᴇ↠ A whimsical island, a quirky community, strange birds & ghosts
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ↠ In love 💕

📖 ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ:
⛲️ A cute whimsical apartment complex
📜 A long lost story waiting to be found
☠️ A death that might be suspicious
⛲️ Lonely residents that need each other more than they realize
🍡 An island made famous by marshmallows

💭 ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ:
↠ I love the way magic and whimsy is sprinkled throughout a book that is ultimately about life and finding your people and path in the world.

↠ The mystery of Lizbeth Lime and her sister Lucy is immediately intriguing, quirky and at times humorous.

↠ The book is told from varying perspectives of the residents of the apartment complex (both dead and alive). I loved hearing everyone’s stories. The heartaches and pasts that they’ve tried to move on from but won’t be able to until they let others into their worlds.

↠ The ghosts that still linger and the man that takes care of the building who can see them are humorous and endearing.

↠ This book makes you think about how everyone has an untold story and what you think you know about someone is never the whole story. All the characters are so complex and interesting and I loved learning about their lives.

↠ This book leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy. Initially my favourite characters were Mac and Charlotte but by the end I loved them all for their unique stories and hearts!

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Review will be posted to Instagram @Firefly.Lane week of July 11 & a Pub Day post when it comes out

Other Birds is a magical and heartwarming tale set on the whimsical and sweet Mallow Island near Charleston, and tells the story of a group of people young and old living at the Dellawisp that never had loving families of their own. When Zoey moves in to the studio apartment left to her by her mother, she's leaving behind a father, stepmother and stepsiblings that didn't have much interest or use for her. An outgoing and friendly personality and the death of one of her neighbors only days after she moves in has Zoey slowly bringing the rest of her neighbors together - starting with Charlotte. Charlotte is adrift when Zoey reaches out to her, and from a crummy childhood of her own, but a friendship with Zoey quickly forms and then begins with other neighbor Mac, a chef that grew up on the island and yes, you guessed it, also grew up in less than ideal circumstances. Through landlord Frasier, Zoey also reaches out to Oliver. Oliver's mother Lizbeth is the tenant who passed away, and whose misunderstood sister Lucy also lives in the complex. With the help of some friendly and cantankerous ghosts, as well as a live person with a less than honest agenda the tenants of Dellawisp become a family for each other that they never had. While the ghosts of the book stretch the book into the realms of magic realism, this is still a sweet story grounded in the scenic South and the richness of the characters and their relationships with each other. Addison Allen will pull at your heartstrings with the lack of love many of the characters have experienced during their lives, but where she truly shines is not making you feel sorry for the characters - they don't need your pity, they just need each other to go from surviving to thriving. Definitely a great book and one to read if you need a feel-good story to make you believe in the goodness of others. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve loved her books in the past. They always felt magical and beautiful. I would recommend this book :)

Zoey is 18-years-old and has just graduated from high school. She heads from Oklahoma to a little island off the coast of South Carolina called Mallow Island. She’s inherited a small studio apartment from her mom in an eccentric old building. Her mother died when Zoey was a child and it’s one of the few things she has of her mother’s. As soon as Zoey moves in there’s a accident with one of the neighbors and the tragedy puts the residents on a crash course getting to know each other as they figure out the mysterious happenings going on in the building.

I’ve read several of this author’s books. They are charming, entertaining, and always a bit magical. Ultimately, this book is about creating the family that you need rather than just accepting those who are related by blood but don’t appreciate you.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced copy of this book. It will be released on 8/30/22.

I can still remember the sweet, magical hold that Sarah Addison Allen's book, Garden Spells, had on me fourteen years ago. So, I was truly excited to see that she had a new book coming out after a long time away from publishing.

This story is about a group of misfit people who are running away from things in their past, who all find each other living in a small cluster of condos that are watched over by some unusual birds, on Mallow Island, South Carolina. These characters are all looking for second chances in their lives, with the hope that things could change, while also being surrounded by others like themselves and ghosts from their past.

I'm glad to see that so many reviewers loved this book. However, it just did not resonate with me. I liked the book but the setting, the characters and the storyline felt very one dimensional and the magic, for me, seemed to be missing.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Other Birds is a wonderfully written story by Sarah Addison Allen. Her quirky, magical tales are always a delight to read.

When Zoey arrives on Mallow Island, South Carolina, she feels both like she's come home and like she's an outsider who doesn't belong anywhere. Her mother emigrated from Cuba many years ago, and landed on Mallow Island, South Carolina. When she married, she and her husband lived in the South for a few years, until he lost his job and decided they would move back to where his family lived in the Midwest.

Zoey's mother brought her back to Mallow Island a few times before she passed away, when Zoey was only 7. She remembers very little about her visits to Mallow Island as a young child, but now that she is 18 and headed to the College of Charleston, she is glad to have her mother's apartment to live in during the summer and on school breaks. She doesn't have a great relationship with her father or her stepmother, who was all too excited to turn Zoey's room into a crafting space.

The apartment is the loft unit at The Dellawisp, a small complex of apartments hidden off a side street. The dellawisps (birds) fly everywhere, and seem to communicate with the manager, Frasier. The other apartments house a chef, an artist, two middle-aged sisters who don't talk to each other, and a bevy of ghosts. When a tragedy occurs at The Dellawisp, the other residents slowly begin connecting with each other. It turns out Zoey is the breath of fresh air they all needed to move on and exorcise the ghosts in their lives.

I really adore the way Allen writes, and her take on magical realism. Her books feel both grounded in Southern culture and alive with magic and fantasy. Maybe that's less of a contradiction than it should be, given that the South is a place where ancestors are kept alive through their descendants' storytelling.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

Thank you to the publisher for my review title. All opinions are my own.

My goodness. Sarah, I have missed you. Really, really missed you. Anyone ever asks for a NC author rec she is absolutely one of my go to’s. I mean. Come on. Magical characters. Stunning atmosphere. Heartfelt and charming stories that wrap me up like a warm blanket. That’s SAA.

This title. Oh my. It was all those things. I adored the characters. You can not go wrong with a Southern ghost. I don’t need to say more. Sarah speaks for herself. Pick this one up. Enjoy. Savor. Try not to rush off to move to a little island near Charleston. I’m doing my best with that as well. Sigh. Mallow Island. You hold my heart.

This was such a charming and magical story, as are all Sarah Addison Allen's novels.
Set in a small apartment complex, "Other Birds," brings together several characters, all living their own separate, lives. Those lives start to become become intertwined when Zoey moves in.
As she reaches out to each of her neighbors, we start to see more of their lives, and their history, and the "ghosts" that haunt them.


Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Other Birds is the first novel we have had from Sarah Addison Allen since 2015, and it was worth the wait. I was so excited to have another book from her and to get an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for this review.

In Other Birds, Allen takes a departure from her usual mountain setting and takes us to Mallow Island. Mallow is a fictitious island off the coast of Charleston, SC. Once famous for marshmallow and candy shops, the island is mostly tourist trap now.

Soon to be college freshman Zoey has moved to Mallow and in to her dead mother's apartment at the Dellawisp. Named after the strange breed of bird that inhabits the courtyard, the Dellawisp only has five inhabitants and one of them dies shortly after Zoey moves in.

Other Birds i just as magical as Allen's other books. It is almost calm and peaceful in the storytelling and the setting. It makes you feel like you have had a renewing break from life. Other Birds comes out August 30th, so per-order your copy now by clicking on the book image!

Sarah Addison Allen has been one of my favorite authors for years. This book does not disappoint - there's a little bit of otherworldliness we come to expect with Allen but it's just a beautiful story. Can't wait to recommend it to others in August.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Addison Allen’s Other Birds follows five people who reside at a small condo complex on an island off the coast of South Carolina. The fifth and most recently-arrived resident, Zoey, catalyzes a series of events that will change all their lives. Oh, and she also has an invisible pet bird.

Found family is a major theme throughout this book. Allen expertly weaves together different plot strands and character arcs, bringing the residents of The Dellawisp into collision in a variety of ways. This allows her to build relationships between characters who had previously kept to themselves, and in many cases, they find something in each other that they desperately needed.

These found families aren’t limited to humans, either. One of the Dellawisp residents has a cat who plays an important role in his life. Frasier, the complex’s caretaker, dotes on the small blue birds who live on The Dellawisp’s grounds and gave it its name. And Zoey’s bird, even though she can’t see it, provides companionship to her in what has, up until the start of the book, been a fairly lonely life.

Another central element of the novel is a fictional book, Sweet Mallow, whose reclusive author lives on Mallow Island (though not at The Dellawisp). Allen does something really clever here: not only does the book itself play a role in the plot, but some elements and themes of that book are echoed in the larger narrative of Other Birds. The Amazon blurb for the book describes it as having magical realist elements, and that’s definitely true. The reader finds out early on that ghosts exist in the setting, and there’s also that invisible bird. But the way some parts of Other Birds reflect parts of Sweet Mallow takes the speculative elements to a deeper level. Is it just that the author of Sweet Mallow was inspired by the events of his life to write his book, or does the causal arrow also point in the other direction?

This is the first book of Allen’s that I’ve read, and it makes me interested to check out more of her work.

Lovely novel about the family we choose and how their love can heal. Each of the residents of the Dellawisp, Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, Oliver, and even Frasier and Lucy benefit from the friendships that develop. The masks are peeled back, and, for maybe the first time for each, they are loved and accepted as they are., a revelation to most.
Zoey is the catalyst to creating this family from the closed off, guarded residents, each holed up in their condo, afraid to reach out to their neighbors. When Zoey bounces into their lives, the shells crack and healing begins.
A life affirming novel with a few of the departed looking on!

As a devoted fan of Sarah Addison Allen’s writing, I have been patiently and hopefully waiting for her to release a new novel. Thanks to an advanced e-reader copy from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press, I did not have to wait for my pre-ordered copy of Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen to be able to read her latest. I could not have been more delighted! Other Birds is a beautifully written novel about 18 year old Zoey and her journey to make a life for herself at her inherited home, The Dellawisp, which is nestled in a hidden part of Mallow Island near Charleston, SC. Sarah Addison Allen masterfully weaves together a lovely story about Zoey and her fellow Dellawisp residents highlighting the power of kindness, love, and community. If you are a Sarah Addison Allen fan, you will be absolutely thrilled with Other Birds. If you have not yet discovered Sarah Addison Allen’s books, don’t miss this one releasing on August 30, 2022.

This is a very peaceful ensemble story that deals with healing and reconciling struggles from your past. Zoey moves to The Dellawhisp and is the driving force behind quite a few people facing their personal demons, their history, and their unresolved business. There is no other way I can think of to describe this as healing and pleasant. It was just so heartwarming and I feel much better for having read it.

What I liked: it was a happy, positive, believable story without being sickly perfect with everything magically going right. I enjoyed that it was realistic with otherworldy elements. Nothing crazy to make the story weird though. Characters made decisions that seemed plausible and not just ones to drive the plot.

What I didn't love... not really anything. There was one section that either felt out of sequence or like a time jump wasn't super clear. It was something very simple but basically someone started a job and had given someone else a gift and then a chapter or two later talked about applying for that job and gave said gift. I may have missed the indicator on a time switch. It really didn't affect the story and maybe I just was confused.

I liked this one quite a bit. unique characters and setting and overall moving story of the connections between people. My first by this author, and will look for other of her books that are supposed to be even better than this one

I’m obsessed. The characters and their stories had me intrigued from start to finish. Their backstories are mysterious and so very interesting. Such a unique band of misfits finding family amongst themselves. It felt mysterious and heartbreaking with stories of love and learning to love woven throughout. Such a modern and touching take on loss and what happens after death. Every time I think back on what I just read I think of more things I loved about this book. I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Addison Allen's book Other Birds is a beautiful novel not to be missed. Normally, I never cry while reading a book, but this novel brought me to my knees. The story touched me in an extraordinary way.

Synopsis:
Eighteen year old Zoey feels alone. As a result of her mom's passing, all Zoey has left is faded memories and an old condominium her mom left her called The Dellawisp. The condo is located on Mallow Island in South Carolina. In an effort to reconnect with her mom, Zoey moves into The Dellawisp apartment. There she meets her unusual neighbors including a kind-hearted chef, a woman hiding out, two grouchy sisters, a once famous author and several ghosts. Each has a past and dreams of a better future, but their stories do not end here. Can they coexist?

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is quirky, raw and heartwarming. Readers adjust to following along with the plot despite there being a large number of characters. To fully enjoy the book, you must suspend disbelief and follow along with the storyline. You will enjoy Sarah Addison Allen's enchanting writing if you like magical realism.

Other Birds is available on August 30th. (5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for allowing me to review this outstanding novel. Your kindness is appreciated!

Other Birds – Sarah Addison Allen

Zoey Hennessey and her faithful companion bird, Pigeon (whom only she can see), are on their way from Tulsa, OK to Mallow Island, South Carolina. Zoey has plans to start school in Charleston and has made the decision to move into her deceased mother’s condominium in a small building called the Dellawisp. Named for the tiny colorful birds that inhabit this island, the small building is tucked away in a quiet area, and upon seeing it for the first time, Zoey can’t help but feel a rush of happiness.

As she settles in with the help of the Dellawisp’s old caretaker, Frazier, she is curious about her new neighbors. She first encounters Lisbeth Lime, an eccentric middle-aged woman who tells Zoey in no uncertain terms that she wants quiet, as she searches for a story she’s lost. Then there’s Charlotte, a young artist who paints henna tattoos, Mac, who is a chef & finally Lucy Lime, Lizbeth’s sister, who never ventures out of her condo. Intrigued by this cast of characters, Zoey settles in and begins to meet the group.

Each of the have their sorrows, their history, their regrets and their dreams and as relationships begin to grow, we learn more about these various individuals and how they came to be at the Dellawisp - with the occasional interjection by some ghosts who have stayed nearby to see some stories finished. This is a poor description for an absolutely wonderful book, filled with moments of loneliness, despair, hope - but mostly love - with just the right touch of magic!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & St. Msrtin’s Press in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

At the age of 18, Zoey moves from her home in Tulsa, OK to a small island off the coast of South Carolina called Mallow Island. It's a post-humous gift from her mother Paloma, who passed away when Zoey was a child, and she's given a studio apartment in a condominium complex called the Dellawisp, named after the tiny birds that reside on the island. Upon her arrival, Zoey is introduced to Frasier, the building's caretaker, and her neighbors: Charlotte, the struggling henna artist; Mac, an executive chef at a lauded restaurant; Lizbeth Lime, the suspicious and snoop of a neighbor dealing with a hoarding problem; and Lucy Lime, her reclusive sister that she holds a long-term grudge against. When Lizbeth suddenly passes away, it's the catalyst that brings these residents together in their small community.

"Other Birds" is definitely more of a character-driven novel, versus a plot-driven one, but it was one I couldn't get enough of. Sarah Addison Allen rotates between different characters' perspectives and alternating timelines to give both context and storyline to her novel; while this can be overwhelming and difficult to keep track of at times, it's paced and structured smoothly so that I never felt lost. I loved as well the inclusion of magical realism, and the perspectives of different ghosts that linger amongst these characters, which also shed light into their backgrounds and actions. She's able to build each person up individually with an impressive amount of complexity and depth for such a short novel, and I loved Zoey's resilience and positivity, which ultimately brings these characters together.

This is such a touching novel about the importance of family, both by blood and found. I found a number of similarities between this novel and "The Island of Missing Trees", so definitely recommended for readers who loved it as well!