Zoey Hennessy is a young women out in the world for the first time. She journeys to her late mother’s home, Mallow Island—known for its marshmallow confections—in search of clues about her relationship with her mother.

“Other Birds” is set at the pink Dellawisp Condos, named after the swirls of tiny turquoise birds native to the island. The theme of birds is wound throughout the novel as is Allen’s trademark magic.

On the night of Zoey’s arrival with the invisible Pigeon in tow, one of her neighbours, Lizbeth Lime, dies under odd circumstances, and Zoey’s summer ends up being quite extraordinary.

Her neighbors are quirky and become her chosen family. Each character has a complex past and Zoey guides them into coming together and healing. By the end of the novel, the secondary characters’ stories are as important as Zoey’s story.

The heart of the book is mother figures, and deceased mothers refusing to leave after they’ve passed away. Most of the characters don’t have great mother figures, and Allen gives them space to be messy.

“Other Birds” is about what you do when you lose people and how you move on. It is is a beautiful, lyrical story, complete with genuine characters whose depth reflects Allen's skill as a writer.

I really wanted to love this book and I think I’m in the minority but I could not get into it. I think magical realism is just not for me. The cover really got my attention and that was what made me want to read it!

Normally, I adore Sarah Addison Allen books. As a devourer of early Alice Hoffman books in the late 90s, Addison Allen often feels like the inheritor of that southern gothic/magical fiction/light women's fiction intersection that Hoffman dominated in my heart for so long. Other Birds takes its place among a solid line of Addison Allen books in that the story is character-driven with hints of a magical other woven throughout. Here characters are drawn together by the Dellawisp, a collection of condos hidden away on Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina. The central ones are Zoey, just on the cusp of entering college, who inherits her mother's condo, and Charlotte, a henna artist with a mysterious past.

There are, of course, a lot of wonderful parts of the book like a cast of ghostly visitors, Mallow Island's candy-colored landscape, the Dellawisp itself, and a central story emphasizing found family. On the other hand, there are a lot of elements like the overwhelming whiteness of the book, the framing of one character of color as mother figure, the depiction of another's sexuality, and the way trauma is used. The pacing of the book is also slow without much development until the third act climax and reveal and their hurried resolutions.

In sum, this one is a no for me, though I do recognize this is not the perspective of most reader's of Other Birds. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

This book sounded interesting to me and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher. Though I'm not a huge fan of magical realism, I like exploring books from other genres so that I have some titles to recommend to patrons at my library. Having said that, I'm sad that it took me so long to read this book! Sarah Addison Allen is a lovely writer and I was drawn in to the story of the inhabitants of the Dellawisp Apartments, human, bird, or apparition, as they struggles through their lives and found that they didn't actually have to struggle alone. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the preview copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I will happily recommend this book.

Another fun and magical read from Ms. Sarah Addison Allen. These are great when I want a break from my typical dark murdery reads. Very enjoyable, will recommend easily.

Magical and very intriguing, this is the world of Other birds, a world where the characters had to work hard and accept the past in order to move forward and built a new future.

The story of Zoe who has been living alone for most of her life, moving into her mother's studio her new life will start to unfold meeting new characters and people that will transform that loneliness into something more beautiful and more magical. her father and stepmother didn't really care for Zoe, they literally treat her like she was non-existence. I'm glad that as soon as she moved away her life even looked more magical and appealing that the one she was living under her father's roof.

Her new neighbors are also having a difficult time with many things that are not even communicating but in some way, they show as they walk around. is like everybody in the complex was escaping from a past that didn't want to share but shared anyway with their attitude and ways of moving around.

I felt connected with Zoe's character, especially with her loneliness.

A very magical story where Zoe finally finds someway some company and love even if it was not what we expected her neighbors were completely transformed by Zoe's ways and magic.

This is one of those stories that will take you time to get immersed in but at the same time will make you feel happy and in love with some of the characters.

Thank you, Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press, for the advance copy of Other Birds in exchange for an honest review.

Magical and delightful! Beautiful story - Helps you to believe in the good of human nature again. Excellent character development - you find yourself invested in each character. They are all eclectic and you will hate to see them go as you finish the novel. It's the cool breeze off a bird's wing - light, entertaining, and, above all else, fun!

Ms. Allen's books always have just the right touch of magical realism. I just love the lovely, unique turns of phrase she comes up with. I think both adults and young adults (including high school students) will enjoy this book. If you like oddball, quirky characters and a good storyline with a bit of mystery, this book is for you.

I was SO EXCITED to see that Sarah Addison Allen had a new book coming out. It’s been awhile since her last one (with good reason) and she definitely did not disappoint me. I love that her books primarily take place in the south and have that low magic vibe to them. Other Birds was a bit more somber than some of her other titles, dealing with some heavier topics, but they were done well. The ending totally made me cry and I love how it wrapped up. It was such a solid 5 stars from me and I’m in love with the story.

Other Birds was precious! Magical realism at its best!

Zoey Hennessey finds herself moving from Tulsa to Mallow Island in South Carolina. She'll be there until she starts college. The condo was left to her by her mother, Paloma who died when she was young.

Paloma used to love going to Mallow Island and Zoey is hoping to find out more about her mother at the Dellawisps. The building's name comes from the small turquoise birds that inhabit the courtyard. On her arrival, the apartment manager, Frasier takes her to her condo and Zoey realizes there is nothing left behind by her mother. Yet, her disappointment is not long-lasting.

Zoey will get to know the other owners of the condos including Charlotte (henna artist), Mac (chef), Lizbeth (eccentric, hoarder), Lucy (Lizbeth's sister and a recluse), Frasier, and Lizbeth's son. The readers will also meet the ghosts too.

It was a sweet story despite the painful background of each character. I love Zoey's innocence and the way she is able to connect with all the other characters. In a way, she helps them heal and move forward, with some of them finding romance too.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Other Birds" by Sarah Addison Allen is a perfect blend of Friendship Fiction and Magical Realism!

Carrying Pigeon in her birdcage, Zoey Hennessey has arrived at her new home left to her by her late mother years ago. In the coastal town of Mellow Island, S.C., her condo is part of a secluded cobblestone building known as 'THE DELLAWISP'. It's named after the tiny turquoise birds that inhabit the island, the trees, and the air surrounding the small, private complex. A wrought iron gate is the only entrance and, along with the wispy birds, makes it feel like a secret, magical place.

Zoey is shown to her loft studio by the manager, Frazier, an elderly black man with a long white beard gathered and tied at his chin in the fashion of a pirate. He describes her new neighbors: Charlotte Lungren, a henna artist; Mac Garrett, an executive chef; Lucy Lime, a reclusive and her sister Lizbeth Lime, who Zoey meets briefly and surmises her to be brash but mostly confused. She wonders if the other neighbors are as...quirky!

Sitting on the balcony past midnight, the humid air feels thick and oddly still to Zoey. She knows all her neighbors are home now as she hears Pigeon land on her birdcage inside and cooing for Zoey to come in, too. Zoey feels a chill go through her and has a peculiar feeling that something is about to happen.

Inside, moments later, she hears a heavy thump from one of the apartments below that's startling. She sees Mac go outside and knows he heard it, too!

Something just happened! Something strange...

This is the first Sarah Addison Allen book I've read and it exceeds my expectations. This author creates characters that are quietly imperfect, solitary by choice or circumstance, painfully broken, and drawn together in one place for reasons beyond their control. Each is fearful of secrets from their past that leach out slowly to the reader through their backstories. Each is hoping for a brighter, worry free future.

The Magical Realism kicks in early and feels like wind chimes sound in a delicate breeze, soft, sweet, and soothing. That's what makes this story fun and easy to read because without the whimsical aspects, the character's stories may break your heart and bring you to tears. The author does a thoughtful job with this balancing act in her writing, which is light, simple, and carries you along as it flows so smoothly and gently through the story. It reminds me of a conversation you would have with a close friend.

There is a mystery within the pages of this book, but to me, this is more about the lives of the characters, the magic of those living and the memories of those in-between.

True to a Southern setting, there's food mingled in to comfort and satisfy the soul. Another plus for this Reader who lives in the South and is also a Foodie! I highly recommend this thought provoking read that makes me ravishingly hungry to dig into this author's backlist!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 'beautiful dellawisp' stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Addison Allen for an ARC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Other Birds is exquisitely written, rich and full of love and hope and promise. I didn't want the book to end and sobbed a great deal while reading it. I hope she sets more stories in this place, with these characters. Sarah Addison Allen's world-building is truly next level, and I want to experience this town and these people again and again.

I really wanted to love this book, but I was often bored. It moved slowly. I was looking for more character depth and more enchantment. If you like magical realism and don’t mind a slow read, you might enjoy this book more than I did.

Everyone has secrets they’re hiding. Zoey moves into the Dellawisp, a small apartment complex on Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina. Her neighbors all have their own stories that we learn over time.

This is a sweet book filled with magic. I liked the found family and the ghosts. I felt for the first, say, 80% that nothing happened, and I’m mostly okay with that. Then the end came very quickly, and I’m mostly okay with that too. Overall, I would’ve liked a little more even pacing, but I’d recommend this to folks looking for a wholesome, comforting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!

In Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen, we meet Zoey. Zoey travels to Mallow Island outside of Charleston, North Carolina after her mother passes away to clear away her things and take over the apartment. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But not so fast. This book is full of magical realism such as resident ghosts, imaginary birds and a cast of interesting characters. I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't get into it.

3.5 stars
I love the magical realism of Sarah Addison Allen but it's been a long time since I've read one of her novels. Other Birds holds all the warm sunshine of her previous books along with the feel of Charleston, S.C. which is one of my favorite places on Earth.

The characters in Other Birds are dealing with the death of one of the condo owners, as Zoey helps to clean out her apartment. There are ghosts and stories floating around with each character.

The setting of the story reminded me of a movie I saw probably twenty years ago, "Til There was You" with Jennifer Aniston and SJP, something about the courtyard and quirky characters made me think of it.

The book was sweet and slightly predictable. I enjoyed it as a break from some of my heavier reads.

Our bookclub enjoyed this latest addition to her works. I love the quirky characters and they voices and this one had a mystery interwoven with the main story

I'm hit or miss with Magic realism so I went in to this one nervous. But it was absolutely wonderful! The story is a bit quirky but it's beautiful. About loneliness and finding your place in the world.

I was a bit overwhelmed at first because the whole group of house owners was introduced quickly and I got a little bogged down in the details. There are also a lot of POV and it bounces a bit, between those living there and those that weren't. But, honestly, all the perspectives were needed because it really gave different sides to every story in the only way you could - through the people who were there.

I really loved the characters. You get to know them so quickly through their perspective and through what they reveal (and don't) about themselves. And the end felt like a perfect conclusion! I'm so glad I gave this one a shot! it was really good!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Sarah Addison Allen returns with a novel about Zoey, a college student on her own adventure trying to rediscover her deceased mother in an apartment she'd kept and the other "misfits" around the complex. Each of the tennants have their ghosts, figuratively and literally, and they come together as an unlikely family in a way that heals and comforts.
As usual, throughout a story that has a feel-good vibe, Allen finds a way to ratchet the intensity to edge-of-your-seat action as each of the characters needs to deal with their ghosts.

A beautiful story about carrying the past, letting go, and carrying on with a touch of magic and whimsy as only Sarah Addison Allen can do.

#arc
#netgalley
#otherbirds

Disjointed and not the authors best. At times felt like a series of short stories with a tie in. I love this author though