Anything by Sarah Addison Allen is a win for me. The slightly magical elements in her stories are always the perfect touch, and her books tend to inspire a homey, loving family feeling, even absent the character's own loving family (as in Other Birds). I find myself always rooting for them to find their place of belonging.

An interesting paranormal flavored magical realism tale from Sarah Addison Allen. Charming and cute with fun characters who each have their own individual struggles and a great development of a found family. Some very sad family circumstances are presented in the narrative that just had me aching for a few of the characters. The mild twists were well-written and though I could somewhat see them coming, were not obvious. The soft magic of Allen's writing is soothing and just lulled me along as I read. The story was comforting despite some of the more heartbreaking and serious situations. I didn't want to put this read down and stayed up quite late to finish it in a two day binge. Emotionally wonderful and beautifully written. Allen has definitely not lost her touch.

I received an advanced digital copy of this novel from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Sarah Addison Allen is a master storyteller. Other Birds is a wonderful example of this mastery. A tale of the family we find, what we're haunted by as well as what we hide from others.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

The magical realism in this book was such a great surprise. Zoey is such a free positive spirted person. she inherits a condo and meets some interesting people. There is a troubled, reclusive author, two estranged sisters who share a secret past, a henna artist on the run from something or someone, an amazing, lonesome chef and eventually a troubled young man who will return home. I hoped for more from the ending but still the book was really good.

Top read of 2022 for me! Gorgeous writing with quirky characters and twists and turns all mixed with a beautiful foundation of a plot. This made me smile and tear up and at the end I just sat and held the book to just sit with the beauty of the words and story. Top notch. And the cover! Beautiful - fitting for the content. Thanks to St Martin Press for the copy - what a gift.

Quick Take: As always, Sarah Addison Allen's story had me feeling every emotion, and at the end, happy, smiling and feeling warm inside.

From day one, I have ADORED everything that SAA has written. I know that she had some very sad family issues over the years that kept her from writing her much beloved books. So when Other Birds came out, I was over the moon!

While this may not be one of her best, it was still filled with her signature storytelling, love of family, and magic.

Solid 4.5 Stars

How can you not love Sarah Addison Allen. With her bravery for approaching magic in the context of believable lives, she navigates grief with grace and sets the stage for an unsolved mystery full of surprises and discoveries. Her writing is unbeatable and lyrical - without ever being overdone.

I have read all of Sarah Addison Allen's books and have never been disappointed. I was so excited to read this one and Sarah Addison Allen has out done herself again. I will wait on pins and needles for her next book to come out. Thank you for sharing your words with us.

This is one of the best character-driven books I've read in a while. There are several points of view used to move the story,, and these characters are unique and interesting. Some may perceived this as a "slow" book because a lot of the action is really emotional rather than physical. I absolutely loved Zoey and Charlotte!

This is the first book I have read from this author and I was really drawn to the premise of this book. I found the location of the book to be enchanting. however I felt that this book was really just work to read. I felt that the characters were glazed over and did not really come out in the stories. I liked how each of them had a story though and something that has a hold on them though. I really liked the idea of the characters creating their own little family and felt the ending was well written. This book just ended up all right for me with the way the characters were lacking. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

This story was unique, and I really enjoyed it. I'm not usually a big fan of stories that have ghosts, but it really worked in this novel.

It has been a hot minute since I've read a book by Sarah Addison Allen. In the past, I've enjoyed her magical stories, and Other Birds did not disappoint! A touch of mystery, a bit of drama and a splash of whimsy make this story worth the wait!

I can't ever decide if I actually like magical realism or not. I know I don't LOVE it. This is Sarah Addison Allen's most recent book and I think this might be my first. It is the story of a group of people living in an apartment house called The Dellawisp, named after the birds that inhabit the courtyard. This is a story of how friendships can occur with the unlikliest people. It is a story of trauma and healing. With a bit of magic.

I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books so much. They feel all feel like a warm hug and this book was no different!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen.

If you are a Sarah Addison Allen fan (raises hand) then I'm pleased to announce that she's back baby! With all of her whimsical detail, right down to the name of the town where the story takes place, Mallow Island, a place inhabited by Dellawisps, the local birds that hum around like pixies.

Zoey has returned to Mallow Island after learned of her estranged mother's death, to claim her apartment, and learn what she can about her mother. But there is a strange air about the apartment building, each resident seems to hold close secrets. Zoey may be unlocking way more mysteries than just hers on this quick visit home.

Allen's book always have the sweetest taste, she loves sprinkling warmth and confection throughout her stories, it's so unique and inviting. The different roads that this story led me on sometimes had me a little lost, but otherwise were delightful with each turn.

I’ve waited forever to have a new book by Sarah, & it was worth the wait. Her storytelling is superb. The characters she writes come alive & the magical realism is, by far, my favorite from her. I cannot praise or recommend her books enough. This book was amazing.

A charming magical story of secrets and family. Told in multiple third person POVs, it is easy to follow and captivates the reader. The characters are well developed and unforgettable.

Words are not enough to describe how much I enjoyed this book. It was a welcomed break from my normal mystery/thriller.

I want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book.

I love magical realism, but ultimately something about this fell a bit flat for me. I had been so excited to read it, but when I finally closed the book, I was left feeling like something fell a bit short.

I am a huge fan of SAA, but I will admit that this book didn’t grab me in the way that I wanted. The characters were all very interesting and would have made the excellent protagonists in their own stories, but they felt too jumbled together and I couldn’t connect with any of them

Other Birds is about finding yourself, chosen family and community. It's about processing grief and the magic along the way that helps you along. I loved the descriptive writing, food, characters and setting of the island. The magical realism and mystery woven into the story is true to the authors style and I loved it all. I found myself looking up the places, the birds and the witch balls-I seriously want one of these beautiful pieces of art.

I tandem read and listened to this on audio which had a wonderful narration.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.