Sarah Addison Allen has done it again! Another fabulous read by one of my favorite authors who never disappoints! The magical realism transports the reader right into the story.

Magical, transformative read that made me smile while reading, which is always the sign of a great read.

The characters are quirky, each unique in their own ways, but they have a depth that makes them feel like old friends. This book has emotions, a little mystery, a bit of magic, and a lot of heart.

Magical

4.5 stars

“Birds are supposed to be messengers between heaven and earth.”

A motley group of eccentric characters find the true meaning of love, loss, and friendship in Other Birds.

18-year-old Zoey moves from Tulsa to Mallow Island in South Carolina months before she starts college. The island holds a special place in Zoey’s heart, as it is where her mother lived when she first immigrated from Cuba. Zoey moves into her mother’s studio in a quirky condo community, Dellawisp Condo, named after the dellawisp birds that call the grounds home. When one of the residents dies, the building works in mysterious ways to bring the residents together.

In addition to Zoey’s, multiple perspectives are shared by the residents of the Dellawisp (and their ghosts). There’s Mac, an executive Chef, Charlotte, a henna artist, hoarder Lizbeth Lime, and her shut-in sister, Lucy Lime, as well as Oliver, Lizbeth’s son. The community is run by Frasier, the caretaker who holds a special affinity for the Dellawisp birds. I loved all of the characters, but there was something about Mac’s story that touched my heart.

The perspectives of the ghosts added another layer to the story. Pigeon’s chapter had me crying happy tears.

All of the residents have secrets, and their secrets are keeping their ghosts in their lives.

It took me time to connect, especially with Zoey’s character, but when I finally did, I was completely immersed. I could not put this book down; it made me want to move to the fictitious Mallow Island and meet the dellawisps.

Addison transported me to Mallow Island. I not only felt like I was in another place while reading this but also that I was in another time. Magical realism is woven throughout seamlessly, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The dellawisps, the island, and all of the characters warmed my heart. Food also plays a special role in this story and unites the characters.

This is a beautifully written story with a heartwarming message about love and found family: “If the people around you don’t love you just as you are, find new people. They are out there.”

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

I completely absorbed this book. When you're waiting for an author's next brilliant work, the days are long. I read that Allen took time off of publishing to care for her mom, and I knew that she was going to infuse this book with that depth of heart and breathtaking love for a mom who needs your help. I know that depth. Sarah Addison Allen has written a full-on masterpiece with her signature magical places and little creatures in this case, the birds,) and her handling of those who come back....it's magic. If you lost a great love, and you believe that life has a world of magic in it, read Other Birds. It's genius. So beyond worth the wait. Hugs to Allen for delving into her caretaking moment to weave gold into this story.

Other Birds

3.75⭐️

This book started out slow for me but really grew into its own. It takes place on a small island but mostly inside an apartment building where an eclectic group of people live. The story goes through each of their perspectives as well as a few ghosts that surround them.

I loved the connections that grew, especially Zoey as she brought them together. I didn’t love all the quirky ghost stories.

Thanks to @netgalley for this advanced copy of Other Birds coming out this August!

I was thrilled to see this author had written a new book!
This one is set on an southern island resort town…Mallow Island.
There is a beautiful cobblestone apartment building called the Dellawisp.(named after the tiny turquoise birds that inhabit the area alongside the tenants).
I loved this cast of characters who resided in this building… they are all lonely souls, some with secrets from the past..
the way they come together and become like family.
Its a beautiful story.
Of course, this author always has a touch of magical realism in her novels, this time a few meddling ghosts.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Sarah Addison Allen OTHER BIRDS

The Dellawisp Condos, formerly stables, tucked behind the shops on Mallow Island, are named for the unusual birds that reign there. These bossy little thieves, the dellawisps, are the “other birds” and the residents of the Dellawisp Condos are decidedly “other” also, as Zoey soon discovers when she moves into the condo inherited from her mother.
All have secrets and sorrows, reasons to hide, but gradually they begin creating the family they weren’t fortunate enough to be born into. There are risks and rewards and the ultimate question: Is it better to be “an other bird" or to try to be whatever “normal” is? It may be easier to fit in, but is it worth the cost of hiding one's own unique self?
Like Paloma, I was a bit sad at the end, not wanting the visit to end, wanting to spend more time in this magical place of food, friendship, ghosts, and surprises. I’ll plan to revisit and savor the beauty again, lingering over lush descriptions. Perhaps someday a dramatization will be done as well, but for now the pictures in my mind will do, along with the ones I found when I looked up witch balls and mallow plants (both beautiful). It’s like a little coastal vacation, and some cornbread and Millionaire pie would go nicely with some iced tea.

I have been a Sarah Addison Allen fan for a long time and always enjoy her books. This one, like all of her books, has great characters. I enjoyed the ghost also. However, the plot takes a while to develop and for the reader to kind of figure out what is going on. I still greatly enjoyed reading this novel and thank you for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded down

I’m a huge SAA fan - so I rounded down to try to stay unbiased. Not sure if that’s fair or not but it is what it is.

Will I reread this over and over like some of her others? Nope. Am I glad I read this one? Yup. Will I buy it to add to my collection? Absolutely.

Zoey moves back to Mallow Island in hopes of finding herself maybe through learning her mother’s story. Instead it’s the stories of the characters she encounters that creates her home.

There’s definitely sparks of something every so often within the pages and her signature 1-2 quippy liners, but it lacked an overall emotional pull for me. Things concluded nicely but it didn’t feel tied together throughout.

Thank you for the eARC - I will always be a fan of hers and was so exciting to read this early!

I really liked the start of the book and did like the story but it took a long time to get to the point and I skipped ahead a few times. Interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! I haven’t read a SAA book in years so I was excited for this.

Overall, I thought the sentiment was there with this story. It held my interest at first, but it took too long to explain what was going on and I found myself confused at times instead of curious or intrigued. I think if I read this book some other time I may rate it better, it just was not my vibe this time though I love magical realism

The city of Charleston is known for its ghost stories. So, it’s no surprise that an island not too far away has residents talking about their very own tales of magic and spirits from the beyond. This place is called Mallow Island where an unusual species of birds known as dellawisps can be found.

Zoey’s mother sadly passed away 12 years ago and left her daughter the deed to her condo on the island. Zoey decided to stay there for the summer before attending the College of Charleston in the fall. She couldn’t wait to move out from her home in Tulsa. Apparently, her father and stepmother were happy to say goodbye as well.

She was greeted by Frasier, an elderly Black man, managing the care of five condos. She followed him inside her new place carrying her luggage and a birdcage with her invisible friend, Pigeon. Over the next few weeks of time, she met the other home owners who all had an interesting past along with the resident birds that didn’t seem to fit in. Frasier said, “I’d much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”

It's the characters that make this book come alive – quirky and fun in their own way with stories from each home owner and ghosts still around. Those that were once outsiders came together when Zoey entered the circle. This group of five gradually started to belong which brought in a greater sense of happiness and love. Everyone wants to belong in some way. This story is beautifully written with a satisfying ending.

My thanks to Sarah Addison Allen, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of August 30, 2022.

Other Birds was a beautiful read, connecting the stories and lives of the lonely misfits and ghosts at the Dellawisp on Marrow Island.

I honestly picked up the book because of the gorgeous cover, and was not disappointed.

Zoey, a recent high school graduate moves to Marrow Island to take on her mother's condo, wanting a fresh start at attending college and to connect to her mother's previous, who passed several years ago. Soon, Zoey is making friends with the other tenants and learning the meaning of overcoming loneliness.

I really enjoyed it and how everyone's lives became entangled, in a beautiful way.

4 whimsical stars

Sarah Addison Allen is known for writing books with magical realism and this one is no exception! Set on Mallow Island, South Carolina, the author creates a world that I would love to inhabit!

An apartment complex is tucked away like a secret down an alley -- named The Dellawisp for the enchanting birds that live there. Our main character Zoey moves to her mother’s abandoned apartment at The Dellawisp one summer. She encounters the odd cast of characters in the apartment dwellers, but soon makes friends.

There’s Max, a world-class chef, Charlotte, a young woman who never settles for long, and plenty of ghosts. Throw in a death and mysterious cornmeal and you have a fascinating story!

This story was a great break from heavier reads, and I quite savored it! I loved the last chapter and found it to be an excellent way to end the story.

I loved this book! I practically consumed it. I am a huge Sarah Addison Allen fan. This book follows Zoey and her invisible bird, "Pigeon" as they strike out one their own. They land in a condo owned by her late mother and meet a host of characters in this complex. Two elderly sisters who don't speak and one you even don't see! A handsome chef and across they way, an artist. All of whom interact and follow along with the "father" of the building , the complex manager Frasier. Each of these characters have a story to tell and all come together at the Dellawisp Apartments. The Dellawisp is a tiny blue bird the complex is named for. Their stories are heartwarming, heart breaking and all have a common bond of love. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery, spirits, birds, friendships and that deep bond of really needing a friend.

Once again Sarah Addison Allen has written a delightful story with a touch of magic. In a condo complex on a South Carolina island with a history of marshmallow production, the arrival of an outgoing college-bound woman, Zoey, coincides with the death of the complex's resident curmudgeon. Zoey is able to bring the residents together and we learn of their traumas, joys, secrets, and their ghosts. Yes, the novel features ghosts, but not the scary kind. This book is about found family, overcoming loss, moving forward, and the support of community. I left this novel wishing I could be the characters' friend, glad for the promising future ahead of them, and deeply happy they found each other.

Other Birds
Sarah Addison Allen
St. Martin’s Press
2022

“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.” (Frasier, p. 237 on iPhone EArc).

Sarah Addison Allen’s Other Birds is my first five star read of 2022. It’s a masterful piece of magic realism set in the Dellawisp (a horseshoe shaped condo) on Mallow Island, off the coast of South Carolina. The DellWisp is named for the turquoise birds that live there and who are chatty, nosy, and exquisitely beautiful.

The main protagonist is Zoey, a teen-aged who is headed off to college in Charleston, but has been gifted the studio apartment by her deceased mother, Paloma. She is filled with energy, imagination, and has a knack for creating family out of strangers.

Other characters include Frasier, the manager of the Dellawisp; Charlotte, a Henna artist; Mac, a gourmet chef; Lucy, Lizbeth Lime, and Oliver Lime; and of course, the ghosts.

I loved Zoey’s energy, but I was especially taken with Mac, a chef who believed that food is like storytelling. You create something wonderful and then you give it away. He awakens each morning covered in cornmeal, courtesy of Camille (now a ghost, but she raised Mac after his mother abandoned him as a child) who won’t move on until Mac has someone to love: Someone to cook for. Mac has created a whole menu devoted to Southern cuisine, specializing in cornmeal dishes.

The book weaves the characters together in such a magical tapestry that so felt transported to their world. I didn’t want the book to end, it was that good.

There are so many secrets that you have to read to find out. But here are three more thoughts from the book:

“Birds are supposed to be messengers between heaven and earth,” (Charlotte, p. 106).

Not everything has to be real to be true -Zoey.

Where do lost stories go?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this unbiased review.

I have waited years for Sarah Addison Allen to come out with a new book…the wait was worth it! I have read and adored every single one of her books, but this is her best work yet! I loved each character in this book and their individual stories that brought them together. It’s a story of brokenness and hope, and finding love and healing. I honestly didn’t want this book to end!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

I went back and read the book's blurb after reading the blurb. It isn't often that the two even match, but my goodness, that blurb is a masterpiece. Absolutely nailed it. I cannot do better without giving something away. If you want to know what the book is about, the blurb is not a lie, that is exactly what the story is about. It is beautiful and mysterious, with lovely touches of magical realism and complex, well realized characters. The island itself has its own persona, as does the Delawisp building and its avian companions. The introduction of Zoey into the complex as she takes residence in the apartment of the mother she never knew causes a small whirlwind of change, like the delawisps taking flight. Friendships begin and secrets are revealed. Hope returns. It's a lovely story, very enjoyable. Highly recommended.
My copy is an eARC from NetGalley.

Welcome back, Sarah Addison Allen. We've missed you. It's been a long time since we have had such a readable magical realism cum ghost story from you. And as before, Sarah grips you from the first chapter.

The novel takes place on Mallow Island, peopled with tourists, shops, a famous author (where is he?) and some very strange birds. Zoey has come to claim her mother's legacy, a condo on the island that is close to the college she will be attending in the fall. She brings with her an empty cage (or empty as far as anyone else can see) containing Pigeon, her invisible bird who keeps an eye out for her safety.

Zoey is only the first character we meet. Other humans are Charlotte, a henna artist, Frasier, who manages the condo, and later on Oliver, Mac and Lucy. Then there are the ghosts. As always in Allen's books, they are hanging around for a reason and each, eventually, gets a chapter of their own. There are plenty of surprises and you will find no spoilers here.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the author for a chance to read this early copy in exchange for my honest review.