Overall, Other Birds was enjoyable and worth the read. I would definitely recommend it to others, especially those that may be in mourning or going through tough times. It’s able to touch on sensitive subjects without being over the top.
Although I do with some of the latter events weren’t so anticlimactic, the lack of anything too jaw dropping did give me the opportunity to really assess the meaning of the book.

**I received this advance copy free from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

2.5 ⭐️

Books with lots of magic or just a hint of it are things I seek out & I’ve long been a fan of Sarah Addison Allen’s swoony & magic-tinged fiction with romantic elements. So I’m sad to say that Allen’s upcoming release Other Birds unfortunately doesn’t work for me.

This book takes place on Mallow Island, a beloved place immortalized in a famous piece of literature authored by a now-semi-reclusive writer. There’s a set of condos on the island where various people & ghosts—the narrators of the book—come together to live & grow & eventually solve a mystery or two.

Featuring a couple of twists, a unique Southern setting, & found family, Other Birds also has Allen’s distinctive voice. I love how she renders the world full of possibility.

But the stories never fully come together for me in a way that’s moving. The characters feel somewhat flat for me & I was never fully invested in the story.

I’ll look forward to more books by the author in the hopes that I’ll love them more but this one isn’t a fave.

Release date: 09/13.


CWs: (please note that what follows is not an exhaustive list.) Past sexual abuse. One of the characters is from a cult where kids were abused & not given proper care or medical treatment; a kid died there due to the latter. Hoarding. The South feels pretty romanticized here. One of the characters—presumably a white woman—is also a henna artist, which I was concerned is cultural appropriation.

Other Birds
A Novel
by Sarah Addison Allen
Between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways. Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning 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 Mallow Island, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a girl on the run, two estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, and a legendary writer, and three ghosts. Each with their own story, Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn't written yet.


I thought the book was ok. Not GREAt, just ok enough to finish. But, I am sure most really got into it.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Other Birds” is a character study in the “magical realism” genre (which is, quite honestly, a genre I didn’t know existed). The story begins by following Zoey, an eighteen-year-old girl striking out on her own and moving into her deceased mother’s apartment in The Dellawisp building on Mallow Island, South Carolina. The Dellawisp features four other apartments with singular seemingly secretive tenants and an enigmatic caretaker.

As the story progresses and the characters are introduced, the narrator perspective shifts, giving the reader a glimpse into each of the character’s lives. Tragedy soon strikes and one of the neighbors is lost. The events thereafter begin to unfold as the characters slowly become drawn to one another and their pasts are revealed. There’s a quirky artist with a shadowy past, a lonely chef, two estranged sisters, and the friendly caretaker. Then there are the ghosts that tag along behind some of them. As their pasts crash into their present situation, the characters’ relationships are developed and tested as the future unfurls before them.

The beginning of this book felt a bit slow, and I wasn’t sure at first if I would enjoy the novel. It didn’t take long, however, until I honestly struggled to put this book down. This enchanting book was a lovely character study. In presenting the lives of each of its quirky characters, this book explored many of life’s difficulties that readers can relate to. The exploration of the relationships, both past and present, is beautifully detailed. I fell in love with the characters and found myself cheering them on and dying to know what happened next.

Then there are the “magical realism” elements. From quirky birds (the dellawisps) who follow people like dogs and like to steal things, to an invisible bird, to ghosts who remain tethered to this world, this book covered quite a few magical elements. These elements didn’t detract from the book, however. Rather, these bits of magic added what I can only think to describe as color and texture to the narrative, rounding out the both the characters and the book.

Overall, this book quite frankly left me wanting to give it a hug! The story was engaging, the characters relatable and interesting, and the ending apropos. As I was reading it, I couldn’t wait to finish the book to see what happened, but I also didn’t want the book to end! I would highly recommend this book to all readers, both adult and young adult. If you’re a fan of magical realism, I’m certain you’ll love this. If you are a fan of well-developed, engaging character studies, you’ll definitely love this. If you just enjoy fiction in general, this book is for you. I feel it would quite simply appeal to everyone. I am definitely picking up a hard copy of this book when it is released, and I will be looking into other books by this author. It has been a while since a singular book has made me want to delve into a writer’s backlist, but this book was so enthralling that I can’t wait to dig into more works by this author. Read this book! I’m certain you’ll fall in love with the gang at The Dellawisp.

The beginning of this one intrigued me but as the pages went on I unfortunately just wasn't hooked. This is my first Sarah Addison Allen so I'm not sure if I don't jive with her writing style but sad to say this wasn't a big hit for me. I did really enjoy the uniqueness of the characters and the way places were described but just don't think magical realism is for me. Excited for others to enjoy this though!

Wow - I have waited a long time for a new Sarah Addison Allen book. It was worth the wait! Her words about this eclectic group of people and how they come together is perfect. A touching story of how love and acceptance makes the world a better place. I won’t look at a bird the same way without wondering their story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Best book I’ve read this year

I did not love this book and it broke my heart. I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books and I waited so long for her new book to come out. I just couldn’t get into the characters of this book. ;(

It's been a good long while since I last read a book by Sarah Addison Allen. I'm glad I picked this one up. Slow, intricate, and beautifully written, this is a tale of healing, family, and community. It reinforces the lasting power of love through such atmospheric writing (I feel this book is best read in the summer, it just gives off that vibe) and magic realism. It's easy to see why Allen is such a master when it comes to these themes. Truly something anyone would want to have in their collection.

This is my first exposure to this author’s writing and from the other reviewers’ comments, it seems to be a bit of a departure from her usual style. Magical realism is one of my favorite genres, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. While it did have plenty of mysterious events, most were due to the presence of ghosts…not my favorite literary device.

Mallow Island, off the coast of South Carolina, is the setting for the story – rich in history and charm. The cast of characters includes the residents – both living and dead - of a restored building of condominiums named the Dellawisp after a flock of ever-present tiny, turquoise birds. The title of the book is derived from this eclectic mix of “misfits,” all touchingly wounded souls unable to move beyond their past losses and grief.

The book began very slowly, so it was a bit difficult to engage with the storyline. However, once the characters began to get fleshed out through the telling of their back stories, it held my interest and was fairly entertaining. At times the story felt convoluted, but I enjoyed the various twists I did not see coming and the conclusion did weave together what seemed disparate threads.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Other Birds, by Sarah Addison Allen is a magical realism read and even a little bit of ghosts mixed in. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this e arc.
About: "When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother's apartment on Mallow Island, 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 written yet."
This is a found family trope, a story also about family secrets and love. ... about people that struggle throughout their lives to feel loved and is it still love even if maybe you don't feel it back.... There are the estranged sisters, a girl who is a henna artist, a chef, and the caretaker Frazier... ghosts, family secrets, and a South Carolina setting.
I have been recommend Garden Spells by this same author and then saw the Netgally arc might be available and decided to request it. I am excited to read Garden Spells as well.
Quotes: (Possible spoiler so skip quotes if you don't want to experience any before your read)
"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."
"History is known for sugar- coating...Second chances are not to be wasted. It is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn in life... stories are fabric... They're the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.... my present life became by second birth."
"Don't hold on to old love so hard you forget to live"
"It is love, even if you're not loved back."
"My soul still need to fly"
For me the book was a little slower pace than I like, but a lot of that depends on my mood as I am a mood reader myself. 3.5*+. This books has some twist and surprises too.

I have read several of Sarah Addison Allen's books and I just enjoy each one so much. And her latest book is not exception. If you are looking for a feel good book and don't mind magic realism this is book for you. The setting is just lovely and had me begging for summer. The cast of characters are quirky and fun. While difficult things do happen, overall it is a real feel good book and one I highly recommend if you need a lift.

I was so excited to see a new book by Sarah Addison Allen. The wait was excruciating! With themes of grief, loss and feeling like a fish out of water in one's own life, I felt like this book was aimed right at my heart.
“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.”
This quote, the namesake of the book, meets everyone where they are at. Aren't we all "other birds" after all?
As there were a fair amount of characters, including ghosts, (Yes! Ghosts!) the exposition took a while, but definitely came together after a while. I was a little confused at times, I must admit. Ultimately though, I think the ending was lovely. I do think it was a bit of a departure from her other books, which are steeped in magical realism. There was some of that, but not really used in the same way fans of SAA might be used to. Definitely engaging and worth a read! Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Addison Allen and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Ps. I give it three stars, although I do wish that half stars were a thing! I'd definitely give it 3.5!
my key:
5 stars amongst the best I've ever read
4 stars loved it so very much
3 stars liked it a lot
2 stars meh
1 star yuck

I’m sad to say that though the synopsis really interested me and I tried to push through, I had to dnf this book at 40%. The many different POVs did not work for me, and I never felt hooked to this story or it’s characters as it dragged on. I’m not sure if the magical realism/paranormal increases in the second half, but it wasn’t there enough for me in what I managed to read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

When I first started reading this book, I was a little perplexed as the usual charm that I had come to expect from Ms Allen’s writing wasn’t evident.
I should have realized that the last few years have changed everyone and everything - even Ms Allen’s writing.
But like all things that transform because of grief, the original isn’t gone - it never could be. Love remains eternally. It may not produce the easily identifiable physical proof it once did, but it still provides proof if you have the eyes and ears to perceive it.
This may be the most intimate book that Sarah has ever written. It softly and slowly curls into the cracks that are in your heart.
This is the best novel that Sarah has ever written, in my opinion. The perfect subtlety and insistent gentleness is nothing short of a masterpiece. Bravo Sarah. Thank you for taking us on your journey.

This magical book was worth waiting for! People aren’t always what they seem and sometimes that’s a good thing. Feel good book that I highly recommend preordering! 💜

I was so very excited to get my hands on Ms. Allen's newest book, "Other Birds", having sorely missed her work for some time. (I have read her entire back-list some 8 or 9 years ago). Like many of us, the author has been through some things in that time, so this book is a bit darker & different from her earlier works - there is a palpable sense of grief interwoven throughout. But the stories of the residents of the Dellawisp condo's are worth learning, they are flawed characters who come together in the best of ways. I loved young Zoey, and Mac, the chef, best - but they're all interesting, if a bit broken, creatures. Speaking of creatures - the birds interwoven thought was creative & a great plot device. Recommend strongly to most all readers - be aware however, this book is a bit different than her other stories & there are a few trigger warnings (abuse mostly). My sincere thanks to the publisher, author and Net Galley for the complimentary DRC, the exchange of which did not effect my opinions.

Ugh! I am having a hard time writing this review. This author is new to me and I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book as well as all of the 5-star reviews. Who can resist secrets, ghosts and magic, right? Unfortunately, this story took a long while before it even peaked my interest. I almost DNF it twice, but I toughed it out. I neither loved it nor hated it. It was just ok. I liked the characters, but was unable to feel any kind of connection with them. I was also disappointed in how minor a role the ghosts played. I was hoping for more paranormal activity. But, please don't let my review discourage you!! I can see why many readers rated this so highly. I just didn't feel the same way.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this eARC!

Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors and I'm so glad I got to read this one. This is a beautiful story with beautiful imagery. It's about love and loss and finding oneself. There is a bit of magical realism and ghosts too.

OTHER BIRDS by Sarah Addison Allen follows Zoey who shows up on Mallow Island to claim an apartment left to her by her mother when she passed away. Now 18 years old, she heads there hoping to find out more about her family and instead finds that family is not always who you are related to. This band of extraordinary neighbors will have you laughing, hoping, crying, and believing that the power of connection is a magic all of us are capable of.

OTHER BIRDS carries Allen’s trademark themes of magic and family carried along by her melodic writing style and unforgettable characters. There are so many good lines in this book! For a book so many of us have been waiting for, it will not disappoint and provides a lot of insight into the writer’s journey outside of the pages. Some sections have an air of melancholy about them, which is expected as she was writing about mother figures while processing her the loss of her own mother. But the overall impression of the book is positive and makes you feel like a warm hug after being apart for so long.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Other Birds is an enchanting novel that touches on healing through community, chosen family, and ultimately letting go of the past. While the book initially appears to focus on Zoey moving into her mother's old condo in search of some kind of connection to her, Other Birds weaves you through the fabric of the other residents in the complex - their families, their history, and how their connection with one another ultimately bonds them together to create a new kind of family that values each of them because of — rather than in spite of — their struggles.

The book was written so delicately and with such care that by the end of the novel, I felt truly connected to each and every one of the characters and felt deeply for each of them. There were clearly points being made about loss, letting go, and family — but it all washed over me gently, letting me as the reader experience the feelings of the characters without being taken out of the story.

This was a beautiful book, and probably my favorite read of the year so far. Now I'm searching through Allen's books to add them to my list.