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.

This book was so magical. The characters and the world it is set in are so quirky and adorable, while also having a darkness that made them feel real and gave them depth.

Other Birds is a family story, infused with magical realism. It has shifted my perspective on birds. I loved the characters and working through their trauma. Beautiful writing and atmospheric.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story! It seemed short and sweet but I loved the character development and how it followed so many peoples lives all revolving around a condo unit on Mallow Island. The only reason it wasn’t a 5 star read for me is because I really wanted some kind of closure between Lucy, Oliver, and Fraiser. I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for literary fiction with a complex story and multiple characters points of views.

This was a great read. I admit it took me a bit to get into, only because it was different genre than what I normally read. I loved the cast of characters and the bonds that developed. The magical aspect is a theme I really enjoy so that is what kept me hooked.

What an enchanting story! No doubt Sarah Addison Allen has a true gift in storytelling. Other Birds touches on so many different aspects of the human experience: growing up, growing old, family drama, second (and third) chances, it's absolutely lovely.

Other Birds was a great read by Sarah Addison Allen. There are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways between the real and the imaginary. On Mallow, off the coast of South Carolina, The Dellawisp sits. It is a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe, it is named after the tiny turquoise birds that inhabit an air of magical secrecy. Zoey comes to the area to claim her deceased mother's apartment the Dellawisp. Her mother's neighbors are quirky and secretive. There is a young woman with a past, two estranged sisters, and a lonely chef, as well as three ghosts. The sudden death of one of Zoey's new neighbors sets off a search that leads to the island's famous author. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.