My son has autism, so I'm always interested in reading books about autism, especially when the author has autims and first-person experience with the joys and challenges of everyday life. This book sounded good for these reasons, but it fell flat for me.
Sunday Forrester is a mom obsessed with Sicilian folklore and an etiquette handbook. She thrives at her greenhouse job but struggles to navigate social situations. And her 16-year-old daughter Dolly continues to baffle her as Dolly expresses her independence and begins to make her own decisions. New neighbors, Vita and Rollo, bring excitement and connection to the mother and daughter. Sunday even begins to make friends with the couple. But they threaten to turn her life upside down in a negative way. Can Sunday navigate the changes and keep herself and her family intact?
While I like Sunday's character, I didn't see anything poetic or funny in this book, as promised by reviews. And the end felt rushed and too pat to be reality.
I did like that all the characters had flaws. That reality is refreshing!
Some of my favorite quotes:
Sunday's mom rejected her after her sister Dolores died in the lake. In this book, Sunday came to "realise, now, that my mother could still have loved me, if she had chosen to. It is possible to know the oddities of people and to love them regardless."
As a mom, I totally relate to Sunday's observation when Dolly chose to move to London instead of continuing school: "I ache for the sight of her as she does not for me. She is not mine, but I am, painfully, hers."

4 ⭐️ out of 5 for All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow.

This is a quirky, lit fiction debut written by an autistic author and starring Sunday, an autistic single mother of 16-year old Dolly. The book is character driven with a slower paced plot.

When Vita and Rollo rent the house next door to Sunday and Dolly, Vita quickly becomes Sunday’s friend— dropping by randomly and becoming a big part of Sunday’s life. Sunday struggles with her preferences for a quieter life and has a hard time understanding and interpreting others’ speech and behavior. Dolly is a typical 16-year old girl who wants a larger life.

The relationships among these 4 people is the basis of this unusual book, which I enjoyed. Thank you to the author, Tinder Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I first started reading this, and I would say, even half way through, I thought it was such a quirky and odd story. I kept reading because I wanted to find out what was happening near the end. What was the big dark, devasting thing?
Now that I’ve finished, and finding out that the author is also autistic, I’ve realized so much more about this story.
This story is about Sunday, and her 16 yr old daughter.
It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. It wasn’t the ending I needed to get to, to be satisfied. It was how Sunday accepted and handled herself and how family and others treated her every day of her life. She persevered and showed her daughter love and commitment every day.
I originally was thinking of rating this a 3, because it was just so odd and quirky, but now that I’ve had a couple days to ponder, it really is a heartbreaking but also beautiful story. I love that Sunday was content being herself and all her quirks.

I really wanted to like All The Little Bird-Hearts. Having disabilities myself, I’m interested in books with characters with disabilities and believe there aren’t enough out there.

I liked how observant Sunday was, but the writing style was very wordy and sometimes repetitive. I had to leave the book for awhile and then I tried going back to it. I wanted to connect with the characters and with Sunday especially, but I never felt like I did, which was a shame. I also didn’t learn as much about autism as I thought I would, and that was a shame too, as I’m all for disability awareness.

Thanks to Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow and Algonquin Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

2 stars.

Thank you to Algonquin and Netgalley for the free copy of this book.

Sunday Forrester is an autistic single mother raising her neurotypical sixteen-year-old daughter Dolly in the Lake District of England. On certain days she must only eat white food; bright lights and loud sounds cause her pain; she refers to an old etiquette handbook to guide her through confusing social situations.

When the glamorous couple Vita and Rollo move in next door, Sunday experiences friendship and acceptance like never before. Unfortunately there is a much darker side to the couple.

I was absolutely mesmerized by the first half of this book: the poetic descriptions, insights into Sunday's view of the world as a neurodivergent person, her joy at feeling seen and loved for the first time. The latter part of the book began to feel slightly repetitive, and then went down such a heartbreaking path. Overall I found the book beautifully written, just depressing for how the main character is treated.

Set in the 1980s, All the Little Bird Hearts is a subtly stunning family drama that delves deep into the evolution of mother-daughter relationships. The story is narrated by an autistic single mother, Sunday, who lives with her teenage daughter in England. A charming couple suddenly moves in next door and becomes entangled in their lives which causes a rift between Sunday and her daughter. The author of this novel is autistic and you can feel the authenticity of Sunday’s character in her inner monologue and puzzling social interactions. I loved this brilliant glimpse inside the mind of a neurodivergent woman and thought Lloyd-Barlow perfectly captured all of Sunday’s hardships and triumphs.

This was a really good but strange read. I had to concentrate a bit more on it and couldn’t fly thru the pages but it was well worth it.

(𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 @𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 #𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬.) 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 by debut author Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow is a remarkable book for many reasons. To begin, it’s about a neurodivergent mom, Sunday, with a 16-year old daughter, Dolly. Sunday functions at a high level and has developed systems to help her navigate the world and stay centered within it. She follows a 50’s “manners” guide for social situations and relies on a beloved book of Sicilian folklore when she feels in need of comfort or calm. Her life is neatly ordered, but as we all know teenagers can be a challenge and Dolly is no exception. Throw into the mix a wealthy, sophisticated couple renting the house next door for a few months. They take a kind interest in Sunday, who is also drawn to them, but it’s Dolly who most falls under their spell.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
This is Sunday’s story and if I’m perfectly honest, at times I grew a little weary of her unique peculiarities. They slowed the story and sometimes felt repetitive. Eventually, I realized how important they were. These quirks were a huge part of who Sunday was. I began to feel more compassion and greater admiration for her determination. I also finally understood how deep her love for her daughter really was.⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 is a special story in that the author herself is autistic and has a fascinating life story. She always loved books, but struggled in other academic areas and eventually left school. When the last of her own children (both neurotypical and atypical) entered school, she decided to set an example and return to school herself. That took her all the way to earning a PhD in creative writing, publishing this novel and being longlisted for the Booker Prize. This is a special debut! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed All the Little Bird-Hearts. I know the author has autism, so I appreciated the perspective of a neurodivergent character. It was a lovely and quick read.

Sunday is a woman with autism. She has created routines for her daily life that are upended when she meets her new neighbor, Vita. Vita is unlike anyone Sunday has ever met. She often bursts into Sunday’s home wearing pajamas or other eclectic outfits and challenges Sunday to try new things. Vita seems to accept what Sunday calls her “peculiarities.” However, their friendship changes once Vita meets Sunday’s teenaged daughter Dolly.

We get to understand Sunday, who has been misunderstood her whole life - by her parents, her sister, her ex-husband and in-laws. Sunday (I love her name BTW), tries to live her life according to an etiquette book and she is obsessed with Sicilian customs and stories, although she would prefer to live the Southern Italian life at home in England. She loves nights watching TV and laughing with her daughter. Her past and her struggles are heart-breaking,

Author Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow, the first woman with autism nominated for the Booker prize, has created a type of character I haven’t met before and it is interesting to see her world from her point of view.

I received a copy of this book from Algonquin for review.

Loved the autistic representation in this story. Alot of really incharacters and the story was quiet but still wild.

This was an interesting story, the writing sometimes feels a little all over the place with many different stories being told at once. You can tell that Sunday is autistic and relies on her etiquette book to get her through any social situations, but when new neighbours move in next door her world is changed and her daughter starts seeing a new world and slowly drifts away from her. The book was heartbreaking as you see Sunday watching her daughter become entranced by this new life. This was a beautiful book.

Sunday Forrester isn't like the other people in her lakeside community, she stays to herself, she does things simply, and she tries very hard to observe the rules she's set out for herself. For a long time now life hasn't always worked out for the best but turned out the best way it possibly could under the circumstances. Sunday has no intention of making any changes, she's divorced, single, and doing just fine working at her former in-laws farm and sharing the raising of her 16 year old daughter with them. She almost doesn't say anything when she notices something in the backyard of her neighbor Tom's yard, only what if the woman she sees lying there is hurt and no one else is there to notice? She was just in the middle of going to investigate when the woman leapt to her feet and came to introduce herself-

Vita is nothing like the people in her community and Sunday doesn't know what to think when this brash woman enters her house and quickly begins a dialogue as if she's known her for ages. Even stranger, she doesn't question any of Sunday's quirks. If anything, she seems to welcome them and respond with her own.

This is how All the Little Bird-Hearts and the relationship between Sunday and Vita begins and we can't help but be pulled into both the narrative and their lives much the way Sunday and her daughter Dolly are. Charm and spontaneity are strong elements in Vita's life, particularly where it regards things that she wants, up to and including the attention and focus of others. She swoops into Sunday's life at random for some time and then pulls Sunday and Dolly into her and her husband' Rollo's life shortly thereafter, an act that pleases both of them and quickly consumes Dolly when she is invited to 'work' for them. As this progresses we learn more and more about Sunday and Vita herself, bit by bit discovering the depths of Sunday's past and the reasons for Rollo and Vita's flight from London into the English countryside. Is there more going on between Rollo and Vita than it seems? Are their intentions healthy in regard to Dolly and Sunday? Is Sunday's interpretation of her friends right or are they just one more group of people taking advantage of her differences for their own benefit?

​ Not only does Lloyd-Barlow get autism right she portrays the complex relationship between a nuerodivergent mother and her socially typical and affluent child quite nicely as well. We don't only see Sunday from an outer lens colored by our interpretations of her experience in All the Tiny Bird-Hearts, we find ourselves looking at things through her eyes and understanding both her own perspective and that of the people around her in layers, giving the book much more nuance. This is a book set in the 80s and has a feel that matches the era but also makes me think of novels and films set in the 60s, that sort of closed and small outlook that feels welcoming and mysterious in a quiet way and engages with you differently than a lot of literary books do. The characters are all very real here, we see them the way Sunday does and we gauge them with our own eyes and end up with a broader idea of them as people. I really liked how Sunday expresses the elements of her past in small stories that connect to the conversations and we get a feel for why she connects them together, whether through tangential ideas or through her affection for her beloved etiquette and Northern Italian myths books. Sunday is a very real person with her own understanding and we don't end up feeling like she's a luridly stereotype of an autistic person, we have sympathy for her views and empathy with her inability to fit with the world she grew up in. No, she doesn't always get it right but we also don't end up blaming her for her mistakes either. As a neurodivergent mother, it was nice to read a book that seemed to understand the ways that a mother with these complexities could both work with and not always grasp the things their child was dealing with.

I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to read and review All the Tiny Bird-Hearts by Algonquin Books and Netgalley, this was absolutely a good experience and I'll be keeping an eye out for other books from Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow in the future!

I know I am supposed to be as most people will magnanimous in my review of this book by this autistic author but I must be honest and say I got irritated really quick when reading the book. Not just by her friends but Sundays constant description of her intake of the world although at first I found it interesting it eventually became aggravating. I think haven’t been told in third person it would’ve been more enjoyable but then I guess we wouldn’t have gotten Sunday’s true inner thoughts. I did find the story interesting and had someone describe the book to me just like the summary I would’ve wanted to read it for myself but again it probably would’ve been more interesting hearing an overall account as opposed to this detailed inner dialogue from Sunday. I am being honest what I say I did find some of her thoughts quite amusing and some even made me chuckle but this review is my overall opinion and I am sure most people will love the book I did like it at least when I wasn’t feeling irritated by above said reasons. I want to thank the publisher a AnNet Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Sunday lives with high functioning autism, a tragic family secret, and a teenage daughter.

Dolly wants to live like other teenage girls and get out from under her odd mother. The perfect opportunity comes when a lively childless couple moves in next door and ‘adopts’ Dolly.

But the wife, Vita, has secrets of her own which eventually put a wedge between the real mother and daughter.

Sunday is baffled and afraid and not sure how to bring her much loved daughter back to her. Meantime, she thinks back on her own unloved childhood and how that affected her as she grew to be an adult. She is misunderstood as odd and simple, but underneath she is complex.

I loved living inside Sunday’s mind and heart, as events seemed to happen beyond her control. She is one of the most compelling narrators I've encountered this year.

Four stars because I felt the ending wrapped up too quickly, but it was still satisfying.

Step into a world of emotional resonance and authenticity..…

Book Information

‘All The Little Bird-Hearts’ by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow is a 304-page fiction novel published on March 2, 2023. Thank you to Algonquin Books for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review and for including me in their blog tour.

Summary

Sunday, residing in her lifelong home with her sixteen-year-old daughter Dolly, follows unique routines, such as consuming only white foods on her "quiet days" and relying on her etiquette handbook and Sicilian folklore for social comfort. Dolly, however, is a wildcard on the verge of leaving home. The arrival of Vita and Rollo, a charming London couple next door, disrupts Sunday's carefully ordered life. Seduced by their wit, the families intertwine, bringing newfound love and acceptance to Sunday. Yet, a darker truth lies beneath the surface of Vita and Rollo's charm. Unbeknownst to Sunday, Vita covets what she lacks—a beautiful, clever daughter like Dolly.

My Thoughts

Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow's debut novel, ‘All The Little Bird-Hearts,’ offers a beautifully written first-person narrative that is simultaneously heartwarming, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. The quiet and moving nature of the novel sets the tone for a unique exploration of parenthood through a distinct perspective.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its unique perspective. In a literary landscape often dominated by familiar narratives, 'All The Little Bird-Hearts' soars with its refreshing take, unraveling the untold story of a parent with autism raising a neurotypical child. This reversal of the usual narrative provides a unique and insightful viewpoint.

Adding to the novel's authenticity is the fact that the author herself has autism. This not only lends an authentic voice to the narrative but also contributes to breaking away from stereotypical portrayals of characters with disabilities. The novel successfully avoids tokenism and sidesteps common tropes, presenting a genuine and nuanced depiction of neurodiversity. Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow's authentic voice, rooted in her own experience with autism, turns 'All The Little Bird-Hearts' into more than a novel—it becomes a profound conversation starter on breaking stereotypes in literature.

As a reader with a personal connection to autism and who works every day within the disability community, I found the book to be a valuable learning experience. Lloyd-Barlow's articulate portrayal of the main character allows readers to gain insights into the unique perspectives and challenges faced by individuals with autism. The narrative becomes a window into their world, fostering understanding and dispelling misconceptions surrounding this diverse spectrum.

The emotional resonance of the novel extends beyond its exploration of neurodiversity. The story takes a dark turn as it delves into the mistreatment endured by the protagonist, Sunday. The unethical, immoral, and illegal challenges she endures evoke a strong emotional response, particularly for readers familiar with the very real struggles faced by individuals with disabilities. The narrative sheds light on the harsh realities that some individuals, like Sunday, may confront, adding depth and poignancy to the overall narrative.

At its core, ‘All The Little Bird-Hearts’ is an emotional journey. It portrays a protagonist determined to live a content life despite significant difficulties and betrayals. Lloyd-Barlow's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves a narrative that is not only touching but also thought-provoking. The novel stands as a testament to the power of genuine voices, offering a compelling exploration of neurodiversity and the complexities of the human experience.

Recommendation

'All The Little Bird-Hearts' by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow doesn't just tell a story; it dismantles preconceptions, inviting readers to witness the strength and vulnerability that coexist in the intricate tapestry of life with autism. It is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel. Lloyd-Barlow's authentic portrayal of neurodiversity and the compelling narrative make it a touching and thought-provoking read, highly recommended for those seeking a heartfelt exploration of the human experience.

Rating

4 Neurodiverse Stars

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝-𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐝-𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐰
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐥𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏𝟐.𝟓.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝑂𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘

Thank you @algonquinbooks for a gifted copy.


I found this a bit of a sad read, but the prose is observant and sharp, cutting deep into the themes of relationships and acceptance.

Sunday, an autistic woman, narrates the story; she is kind and empathic, loves to follow rules from an old etiquette book, and is the mother of sixteen-year-old Dolly.

My heart ached for Sunday. Please don’t misunderstand me; it is not for the fact that Sunday is autistic, oh no. It is how others treated her and insinuated that she was incapable because she is autistic.

Sunday and her daughter live in a small row house in the lake district outside of London. When Rollo and Vita move in next door, things suddenly change. Vita is fancy and loud and inserts herself into Sunday and Dolly’s lives uninvited. But she especially charms Dolly, whisking her away to London and doing what Sunday cannot for her.

I was angered as people like Vita and Rollo, Sunday’s ex-husband, and his family continued to make Sunday feel odd and small and wedge themselves between her and Dolly. But my heart cracked at how Dolly treated her mother; I know she was a teenager, but still.

Seeing that the author herself is autistic, I am curious if she chose to set this book in the late ‘80s because it was a time when autism was not well-defined, and people such as Sunday were misunderstood greatly.



🍚 𝚂𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜

Sunday is neurodivergent. She likes things done a certain way, only drinks fizzy drinks and eats white food. She has a daughter, Dolly, and her husband left her because of her quirks. She works on his family's farm as this is the only job she has ever had and lives in the house she grew up in. Vita and Rollo move in next door and they push themselves into Sunday's life and disrupt her quiet existence and influence Dolly.

This is a slow, slow read. There were parts I skimmed like Sunday trying to pronounce things the ways others did. Perhaps this worked out better listening to the audio book. Also all the Sicilian folklore. I don't remember if she was even Sicilian or this was just a book that intrigued her. The other book that guided her was an etiquette book. I liked Sunday but I was sad for her. Even her mother didn't like her much and the others were just awful to her. I really disliked Vita and found her to be outrageous, entitled and silly with no redeeming characteristics. The only person really nice to her was David and his character wasn't really explained. With no real plot it is hard to say anything about the ending which just ended in a real bizarre way.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Algonquin Press for providing me a digital copy.

All the Little-Bird Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow is the latest in a few written by autistic women in the UK books I’ve noticed lately. I’m sure many books are written by autistic women every year but there has been a real uptick in using this information in interviews and publicity.

Like the author, the main character, Sunday Forrester, appears to be autistic but as the book takes place in the 1980s it seems like she was simply thought of as an eccentric and annoying child and then adult. She has a daughter, Dolly, who, while more social than her mother, also displayed a lot of autistic traits but ones that perhaps were more easily hid or socially acceptable like dressing younger than she was.

It is a tight domestic drama that involves a strange couple who have decamped in a neighbor’s house while her neighbors are away. The wife half of the couple was ingratiated her way into the main character’s family and soon they were all having weekly dinners together and seeing each other quite a bit.

I had a hard time guessing what would happen next, which is usual for me! I had initially thought the couple might have had an interest in the home Sunday Forrester and her daughter lived in. It was mentioned quite frequently to have be worth some money and in a desirable living and holiday community and only hers because she inherited it after her parents died. She is able to work a lower-paying job at a greenhouse because of this.

But that’s not how the book turned out at all. I almost wonder if that was going to be part of the story at some point and then it turned away more into this other couple worming their way in to Sunday’s daughter’s life. There was a lot about the house and it was a very well plotted, deliberate seeming novel and I’m not sure what other reason there would be for so much house talk.

I thought having it take place in the 1980s was perfect, it still felt contemporary but it was a time before there as much awareness of autism and what little there was centered around boys. It was fun to read a book about an autistic woman and girl who were artsy, bookish, and creative and not science and math-oriented like the male-dominated stereotype.

I really enjoyed the book as difficult as it is to describe, its almost a character study of two “couples” and the undercurrent of need that dominates one set.

I received the ARC and paperback (which matches my current knitting project– fittingly, a hot water bottle cover) from the publisher, Algonquin Books, as part of a book tour. I was so excited because it was a book I had heard about when it came out overseas and then was long-listed for the Booker Prize and I hoped it would come out here in the US.

All the Little Bird-Hearts, by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow, was just released earlier this month! Long listed for the Booker Prize, it is a wonderful story told through the eyes of a neurodiverse single-mother of a neurotypical 16yr old girl. Sunday has never fit in, not even amongst her own family. Then one day a new couple move into the house nextdoor, and Sunday finds a fast friend in Vita, finally someone who seems to understand her. But can we ever really know someone else's true intentions, especially if we have a difficult time picking up on, and understanding social cues?
I love this dissection of everyday life in a neurodiverse household. Written by a neurodiverse individual you can absolutely feel the sincerity, unlike when neurotypical writers include neurodiverse characters.

I highly recommend this excellent piece of women's literary fiction!

Special thanks to @netgalley and @algonquinbooks for an advanced review copy!