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

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is the winding tale of many lives interwoven by the island of Mallow.

Zoe, a young college student, moved to Mallow to discover her mother’s history. Charlotte, always running from her past, moves to Mallow to seek sanctuary. Mac, a chef with paranormal occurrences holding him back from moving forward in his life. At its heart, Other Birds is a story of belonging.

Other Birds was like a tapestry, pulling together many pieces into a final picture. My biggest issue with this book was that the pacing was SO slow I struggled to continue reading it. If you like a slower, more thoughtful pace in stories, this is the book for you.

Rating: 3/5
Genre: Magical Realism/Fiction

#fiction #botm

I was enchanted by this little community of misfits. Each character's past weaves together with the present culminating in a somewhat predictable but entertaining climax. I love every book by this author for the way she seemlessly blends reality with a touch of magic that makes the entire story sparkle and this book did not disappoint.

I was given an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Other Birds was not at all what I was expecting. As it stands, alone without any connections, this book was great. It was well written and put together in an intriguing way that made the reader want to continue. The characters were well built, all with their own issues and hauntings.
That said, however, as a Sarah Addison Allen book, I wasn't thrilled. Allen's other books provide a warmth that I was missing and hoping for. Her previous books are like comfort food. This book, however, left me just a little confused. It had her usual flare of magic in the real world. But this time, it was of spirits instead of some unknown entity. I was also really confused as to the importance of the Dellawisp birds, other than the island namesake and the author's utter fascination with them.
In the end, as a general book, Other Birds is a great read. As a book written by one of my favorite authors, however, I don't think it stood up to any of her others.

I have enjoyed all of Sarah Addison Allen’s previous books and so I was very happy to receive a complimentary copy to review. I love how the author weaves magical realism into her stories. I liked the setting and the characters. It was a sweet story that tugged at my heartstrings. "A dream, a story, an invisible bird - it was all the same thing, really. Not everything has to be real to be true." - 3.5 stars

This is a magically charming book! I loved all the unique characters. They each had a sense of quirkiness that made them interesting. It is the perfect character driven story that I enjoyed from beginning to end. Actually, the only thing that I disliked about this wonderful book was that it had to end. Although, the ending was fabulous and wrapped everything up perfectly.
I highly recommend visiting Mallow Island in this beautiful book. I am very grateful to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this heartwarming book in exchange for a honest review.

This is a heart warming novel about found family and friendships. The magical realism in this is subtle, so if you typically shy away from it I think you should give this one a try! I always really enjoy this author’s work

---Other Birds Sarah Addison Allen



Another enchanting read by the author.


We meet Zoe when she decides to move into her late mother's apartment.

She is grieving of course and she meets her new neighbors and even a ghost or two.

I really liked Zoe and the characters in this book. It was endearing and unusual and just heartbreaking at times.

I liked the new beginnings and the ghosts of course.


Who would enjoy the book? People who like quirky books, with a bit of loss and healing and ghosts, someone who has read and enjoyed the author's earlier books would really enjoy this one too.

4*****

Thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher

This is a wonderful, magical, cozy story of family - the ones we find and want to stick around with and the ones we are ready to let go of. Like the other books by Sarah Addision Allen, there is a hefty dose of reality, along with some magic, and that makes everything sweet and heartwarming in the end. I loved the story, the setting, and the characters and the wonderful bonds between them.

Family can be found in all sorts of unexpected places.
The author, Sarah Addison Allen seems to wave a magical wand throughout this book, and she brings the reader a story that not only will warm your heart but a book that won't easily be forgotten.

The characters have all found their way to a magical group of condos that few seem to know exists. The residents are an eclectic group of people, perhaps with a ghost or two who present themselves in unique ways. The author slowly begins to peel away their stories and reveals how well they fit together in this beautifully written story.

I love a book where the author's words allow me to feel the descriptions and words in their story. Other Birds gifted this to me and more. The acknowledgement at the end of the book must be read, so don't miss it!
I would highly recommend this beautiful book!

Another good one from Sarah Addison Allen, so glad she’s back. A lovely tale of love.
** Thank You to the publisher and NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.**

As usual, Sarah Addison Allen hits a home run. I read this in less than 24 hours! It's got a handful of mysterious twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters and, of course, the tiny bit of magic that Allen always weaves into her stories. Just wonderful.

A little bit of a love story, a little bit of a story of family secrets, and a little bit of magical realism makes this book a fantastic read. I have read everything this author has written previously, and this book is just as good as their older works. You will fall in love with the setting and the slew of characters you will meet. This is the perfect read for a Cozy feeling.

I love Sarah Addison Allen's magical realism, and I think this was one of her most creative uses yet! I love the setting of Mallow Island, South Carolina and the fluttery birds, and I could envision the quaint row of townhomes in the Dellawisp. The personalities and experiences of all the characters just fit so well together into the storyline and made me enjoy the book--the characters were worth caring about. Unfortunately for me from about 1/3 through 2/3 of the book, the flow just felt 'off' like it was missing something and my interest in finishing it went nearly to zero. But, the last 1/3 redeemed it for me. It was full of surprises and interestingly satisfying 'feelgoods', and made me glad I read it.