Other Birds was a magical book. It seemed a bit different from the author's previous stories. This story was well thought out and all the characters (the likeable and unlikable) were all well developed.

Really not sure what to think about this one. I've read everything by Sara Addison Allen and always loved it. I really felt like this was rushed at the end.

How utterly beautiful this story was: the author's tribute to her mother in her Acknowledgement brought tears to my eyes.

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This is a story about love: how the lack of it can drive you to madness; how the abuse of it can break your spirit and make you try to erase your painful memories with drugs and alcohol; how the false lure of it can make you forget your obligations and endanger those you should have been protecting. Both poverty and wealth left their scars on the hearts of many of the younger versions of the characters we meet in this spellbinding story...

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I loved the ghosts most of all! Lizbeth - that mean, unlovable curmudgeon! - was off the charts: a hoarder with a huge grudge against the world - and most especially against her sister, Lucy.

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Lucy's story, when you finally get to read it, will make you moan: this brutal, harsh world spares no one, it seems. Everyone looked the other way and young lives were damaged forever.

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Charlotte, Mac, Zoey and Oliver were all on a trajectory to finding family, acceptance and ultimately love in the oddball Dellawisp community. Frasier was the unwitting master hand that set the stage years ago when he gave the mentally unwell Lizbeth a job and a place to live in the Dellawisp condominium complex he managed. He saw a kindred tortured spirit in Lizbeth's young son, Oliver.

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I was completely entranced by this story, and can't wait to read more books by this author. I enjoyed every minute I spent on Mallow Island with this colourful band of misfit characters. I hope we get to hear about them in future publications by this author - they have become old friends!

I'm rating this gem of magical realism a 5 out of 5 totally well-deserved stars. There were so many praiseworthy and insightful passages that I've practically highlighted the entire book! Do yourself a favour and pick this one up, pronto! My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A close friend introduced Sarah Addison Allen to me years ago, and I fell in love with her strong female characters sprinkled with magic and poetic, almost ethereal, prose. It has been a long time between novels so when I came across a chance to review “Other Birds,” I felt as if I had won the lottery.

The novel opens as Zoey (with an empty bird cage housing Pigeon—don’t worry, you will figure it out) arrives in Mallow Island to live in her deceased mother’s studio as she waits to start college in the fall. Zoey’s anxious for any connection to her mother whose loss she is still mourning. As Zoey gets situated, she (and the reader) meet a delightful assortment of characters (and ghosts) in a tender story about loss, acceptance, and survival. This is one of those novels that you pause in amazement just to enjoy some of the descriptions and whimseys of delight. Usually, I am not crazy when a story switches between so many point of views but I enjoyed the voices of these unique (and in some cases, otherworldly) individuals.

It was difficult not to eat this book up since I’d been waiting for it for so long for it, but this was definitely a treat to savor. Whether you have been anticipating her next read or are new to the author, you will fall in love with Zoey and Co.

Thank you Sarah Addison Allen, Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to give this an early read.

This was my first time reading this author. I had heard about her writing and enjoyed the magical realism that she puts in her writing.

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! 💜