I would like to live in a world imagined and written by Sarah Addison Allen. There's a little shimmer of the mystical and magical that offsets the ordinary and it is lovely.

In this new novel, we spent time with a cast of characters that are brought to the Dellawisp Condos by chance...or is it? Zoey inherits her condo from her mother who died long ago and who Zoey longs for a connection to. Charlotte found her way there while on the run from a traumatic childhood, and while fulfilling the wish list of an old friend. Lizbeth and Lucy didn't travel far to get there and are a few doors apart, but really a world apart from one another. Mac is looking for someone else to love besides his deceased and adored caretaker, but he doesn't really know that. Oliver has run away from the Dellawisp, looking for another place to belong.

Birds are special to me and they have a special place in this book too. From the beginning, I envied Zoey her Pigeon.

My only complaint about "Other Birds" is that it ended too soon. I look forward to the next book by SAA!

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

Tiny, turquoise-colored birds, ghosts, and a legendary writer--it didn't take me long to fall under the spell of Other Birds, by NYT best-selling author Sarah Addison Allen. I love books with magical realism and this one, which is rich in both sadness and hope, is a new favorite.

Highly recommended for Allen's existing fans and anyone who craves a page-turning distraction from the harsh realities of the present.

Once again, accomplished storyteller Sarah Addison Allen weaves together a beautiful literary journey in Other Birds. Set off the coast of South Carolina on Mallow Island, the main character, Zoey, is pursuing her mother's story. Her search leads to a historic building where the residents are as intriguing as their stories. Add in a splash of Allen's signature magic, and readers find themselves on an exploration through multiple storylines and gentle plot twists. In the end, Other Birds leaves readers with a satisfying ending and a longing for a glimpse of the fantastic.

This book was a long time coming. I am a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's magical realism, and this book did not disappoint. It felt clear to me that this book was heavily influenced by the passing of Allen's mother and sister, and how could it not be?
Whimsical birds and magical cornmeal are just two of the things that make this story unique. There were several surprises, and most of them I did not see coming!
This was an ode to family and I am here for it.

I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books. I’ve been waiting so long for a new book from her. This was totally worth the wait. Full of warmth and magic, it’s what we need right now.

I am not sure there are enough superlatives to describe how much I loved this book. To be fair I always love her books but this one felt special. And then to read the author’s notes and see that she suffered such great loss while writing this book made it feel even more special. Each of the characters brought their own energy to the story and then melded together to form a community of people that you just want to be part of. The mystical/magical elements of this book were just right, not too much not too little. I certainly did not anticipate who the mysterious visitor was and this revelation really added another level to the book. In less capable hands this story could have just been marshmallow sweet, but Ms Allen builds on relationships and how the past informs our destiny and most of all the importance of always being willing to develop new friendships and let go of the past, whether it was pleasant or unpleasant. So - I just really loved this book and have already spread the word to my friends to watch for this one to be published. All opinions are my own and were not influenced by the ARC I received from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book from Netgalley and this review is in my own words. I really enjoy this author's work. There is so much hidden in this story that you just can't put it down. The characters each have their own quirkiness and stories. The setting for this story sounds so magical with a town famous for making marshmallows to the Dellawisp birds. Zoey breaks down the barriers of this apartment complex with her outgoing personality and creates a community.

This is my first book by Sarah Addison Allen and now I can't wait to read her other books. I always love books that have multiple point of views and this story was so beautifully written. It was so atmospheric you felt like you were right there with the characters. Filled with love, loss, magic and newfound family you won't be able to put this down!

REVIEW:

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I could describe Other Birds in a word, it would be warmth: this book brims with it, nestled in the wonderfully soft setting of Mallow Island, among the dellawisps and the spun-sugar air and the candy-colored buildings. The main character, Zoey, moves to her mother's condo in the Dellawisp the summer before college starts, where she meets a misfit cast of characters, each with their own eccentricities and tragic pasts. Other Birds soars in the atmosphere and the lightness it has even when discussing heavy topics, but it also falls startlingly flat in other, more essential aspects.

The main thing that drew me away from this book was the plot — or lack thereof. There is little driving the story forward, and the result is a narrative that meanders from character to character without truly committing to anything of substance. Seemingly unrelated issues are connected at the end, but with little satisfaction; the climax's grand villain is one we never met prior, the mysterious Roscoe Avanger's identity is revealed and then rushed past with no ramifications, Zoey's tumultuous relationship with her mother, despite being referenced so often, gets a few pages at the end for resolution and nothing else. The characters are given the same treatment: at first, charming, but often underdeveloped to the point of becoming dry. Even when given backstories of severe neglect or religious cults or angry, bitter families, the characters themselves aren't interesting enough to dwell on or flesh out. Even Zoey felt startlingly forgettable in her own story.

I think the premise of Other Birds is a good one, but the book fell short of what it promised not just in its summary, but throughout the developing story.

WRAP-UP:

+ Pros:

— atmospheric setting
— comforting writing

+ Cons:

— plot that quickly becomes boring
— dry/uninteresting characters

FINAL RATING: 2.5/5

This was another fabulous read from Sarah Addison Allen. Living in South Carolina, the low country setting felt so familiar and the characters were lovable and intriguing.

This felt different than other Addison Allen books, but not in a bad way. There's a bit less emphasis on finding significant other love and more about a mother's love and finding peace. There was a surprising reveal, I was genuinely surprised when I found out, and there are not so surprising things. I think the assortment of both help to create a red herring effect because you KNOW about a couple things even though you aren't explicitly told yet so you don't really think about other things.

This is more about Zoey's ascent into adulthood (she's college-aged) and hoping to reconnect with her dead mother (figuratively) by moving into her mom's old apartment on Mallow Island. It's also about the relationships we form with other people since Zoey tries to make friends with the five others living in the small apartment complex tucked out of the way.

This was a fun quick read. I'm glad to see a new Sarah Addison book out as I've missed reading her stuff.

Other Birds was a beautifully written magical realism novel. It was obvious to me the author was very passionate about this story and those emotions were conveyed throughout the story. This cast of characters (including ghosts) come together as they are trying to find their way in life, all desperate to be loved and accepted. I loved all the quirky ghosts and I enjoyed the use of food to convey care and emotion throughout the story. Overall this was a solid magical realism and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I just finished Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen, and I am so glad to have received the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I love everything I've read by this author and was not disappointed by this one. In fact, I think it just may be my favorite one of hers. It was a bit magical, in a good way!

SAAllen will always be a must read author for me. I can't think of another writer off the top of my head who had the ability to craft stories that can slide into everyday literary fiction but have this childlike whimsy to them. They all have just an almost warm, homey air of magic to them that wraps around you and pulls you in. Not a single one I don't like.

This story has all the subtle nuances of possible magic? the occult, whatever that otherworldly-vide is that whispers like a haunting lullaby just on the fringes. An island with history, a group of people all either running or hiding secrets from the past, and spirits unwilling to move on - what do all of these things have in common? A unique hidden tenement that house not 6 lives that will soon be woven together, but 3 ghosts and some very bizarre birds. It's the Dellawisp. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and get the feels.

** I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion **

Years ago, I bought a book called The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. I’m sure I read the back cover at the time to see what it was about, but I’m pretty sure I grabbed it mostly because of the picture on the cover. The picture of a young woman sitting outside on a moonlit night, with butterflies and/or moths flying about. It was just a great cover, and I wanted to know the secret this young woman had.

Fast-forward a few years and I find the book in my TBR (To Be Read) pile, which has gone from a pile to a bookshelf, to an entire closet by this time. And I wonder why I haven’t read it yet, so I do. And that, THAT, is the story of how I discovered one of my favorite authors. Sarah Addison Allen’s books are all special, with their quirky characters, the small-town settings, and the special little something that’s not exactly magic, but pure imagination in each story. I have read all but two of Sarah Addison Allen’s and a short story of hers. To be clear, it’s not because I don’t want to or because I can’t find them. I actually own both books and the short story. But like a favorite box of chocolates, I’m saving the books so I can savor the stories when I really need them. On the day when I get some sad news, or I’m just not feeling well, I know I have those books (and the short story!) to make me feel better. I’ve been itching to cave in and read one lately, but I was on NetGalley about a month ago and guess who is coming out with a brand new book? You guessed it.

Sarah's latest is centered around Zoey and her arrival to The Dellawisp, a small condominium building named after the tiny, colorful birds that reside in the courtyard garden. Zoey has inherited her condo from her mother, and now that she’s 18 and ready for college, she’s hoping this will allow her to learn more about her mother. While living there, Zoey finds herself making friends with the other tenants; tenants who, up until now, have all kept to themselves. Through Zoey’s involvement, we get to learn a little about each tenant and what brought them to the Dellawisp. Just like with her other novels, the characters and the charming descriptions of the dellawisps (and Dellawisp!) left me smiling and wanting more. I loved it!

Special Note: Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a captivating, long-awaited, new tale by Sarah Addison Allen.

Zoey Hennessey heads to Mallow Island in South Carolina. Here she inherits her deceased mother’s apartment The Dellawisp, aptly named for the little blue birds that live there. Here she meets the estranged Lime sisters – one loud and cantankerous, the other one only seen by the movement of her curtains. Charlotte, a drifter of sorts, who is unsure of permanency but longs for it all the same. Mac Garrett, a chef who cooks everything with corn flour, who is afraid to let go of the past. And finally Roscoe, the maintenance man/caretaker of The Dellawisp. Lest we forget the three ghosts that have unfinished stories to tell.

This story is about love (or lack thereof) and family, whether by blood or new found. I found myself eager to learn about each character and how they ended up where they were, whether in life or death. Each story unfolding and blending together, makes you wonder if they were connected previously and brought together from unknown forces.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Love. Loss. Past trauma. And the healing power of found family. This book spoke to me in a very personal way. When you add in ghosts, different character POVs and witch balls I'm absolutely in for the ride. This was a quick read, but also an incredibly satisfying one. Filled with characters I was cheering for and grew to genuinely care about. That's not an easy thing to do. And although this book did touch on some heavy subjects, it never lost its sense of lightness and positivity. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and will now seek out other books by Sarah Addison Allen. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

Sarah Addison Allen is my favorite author. I was so pumped to receive a digital ARC of her new novel through NetGalley.
It is beautiful. I love her writing because of her mixture of realism with little nubs of magic and her fantastic character building. This was just a lovely story with lots of character exploration and back stories. I love the discoveries the reader makes as the story unfolds.

She wanted chaos........

Like so many, many others who breathe it in in order to reassemble the inner turmoil that festers there. With a constant shift in the air, it forced an unexpected response. A subtle presence of one who inevitably lights the way and calms the storm.

Sarah Addison Allen presents a novel structured with human building blocks. We will be introduced to shadows of individuals, both real and perhaps not, who fill these pages with doubt, fear, rejection, grief, and tiny fragaments of simple love in all forms. Allen wishes for us to slowly make their acquaintance before instantly reacting with surface judgments so ingrained in the human psyche.

Zoey Hennessey, on the cusp of nineteen, is relocating from Tulsa to Mallow Island off the South Carolina coast. Autumn will bring her to college in Charleston. But for now, Zoey just wants to embrace her mother's memory in Paloma's condo that she has inherited on the island. Zoey has traveled with her pet pigeon, Pigeon, who brings her comfort. But there's other baggage that Zoey carries from her former life. In spite of it all, Zoey searches out connection wherever she lands.

We'll meet the other residents of Dellawisp Condos including the turquoise blue birds that fly freely throughout the grounds. Frasier, the manager, runs a tight ship. The other occupants are as varied as the shells on the shore. They are all clinging to their privacy with two being reclusive. But it is Zoey's nature to seek out the ticking stories held within. Frasier hires Zoey to sort through boxes upon boxes in one of the condos of the reclusive who just passed away. Zoey will uncover unexpected treasures from an unexpected tomb.

Sarah Addison Allen uncovers unifying concepts in her host of characters. Their lives stem from the bizarre to the tragic to the unexplainable. And they all circle dance around the deepest desire to be loved and to be accepted in the scheme of things. Other Birds is a gift from this author to see what can't readily be seen and to experience a life without self-imposed limitations. A honey of a read.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Sarah Addison Allen for the opportunity.