I don’t think I’ve read anything I can compare this to. Sunday is a complex and unusual MC and we become very invested in her story while knowing she may be making some questionable choices. The audio narration was well done. The British author is the first autistic person nominated for the Booker award.

3.0 stars

Summary
This literary novel is set in 1980s, Lake District, England, and told from the perspective of an autistic mother, Sunday. Sunday's relationship with her daughter Dolly slowly disintegrates as they become wrapped up in the glamour of their new neighbors, Vita and Rollo.

My Thoughts
I haven't read many novels told from the perspective of an autistic character, so I appreciated that the author was able to bring that lens to the story. Sunday's attention to detail and special interests added a lot to my understanding of her character. It was clear how much she treasured the life she had built, and it made it all the more heartbreaking when Dolly could not appreciate it in the same way.

While I understand this novel was about relationships, I wish there was more plot to develop our understanding of the characters. Much of the book felt very slice of life when it could have included more risks with the story. This was well written but, ultimately, a bit forgettable.

All The Little Bird-Hearts was a pleasant heart warming read. The audiobook was really good and narration was spot on. The voice change for characters was good but I found at places that few characters sounded exactly the same and I had to listen very hard to understand who was actually speaking. Apart from this issue which bothered me towards end of the book more, everything else was really good.

All The Little Bird-Hearts tells us a story of an autistic single mother Sunday who is well immersed in her daughter's life, her whole life actually surrounds around her daughter. She has got no luck in finding love at any place. Because of being autistic she is always misunderstood and is looked down upon for being "not normal". Her own parents did not like her. Her spouse and his parents could never understand her. But the worst part I felt was how her daughter treated her.

Normally we have read many books about struggles of an autistic child and his parents who are learning how to raise an autistic child. This book felt different because a neurodivergent is trying to raise a neurotypical kid.

Enters Vita who is charming and beautiful. Vita is staying next door and even though it is not in the nature of Sunday to make friends fast, Vita and she strike a bond superfast. They become good friends. Sunday is actually mesmerized by Vita's charms and modernness.

But is Vita a really good sunday can ask for? Many might find it a simple story and it is a simple story but in my opinion, a very well written one with a powerful lesson. I loved the writing style very much and I found myself immersed in world of Vita and Sunday. It kept me engaged till the end.

Thanks Netgalley and Hachette audio for this wonderful audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 stars

All the Little Bird-Hearts is a unique book that tackles a number of issues. Primarily, this is a book featuring a MC with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and is written by an author with ASD as well. I enjoy incorporating diverse representation into my Read shelf, and ASD is very close to my heart, so I grabbed this book when it was available via NetGalley. With loved ones who have ASD, I experienced the voice of the main character to be authentic and endearing and true to the experience of many with ASD.

This book can be hard to quantify. There is a certain feeling of dread from breadcrumbs throughout the first-person POV, indicating that trouble is about to emerge in the story, yet I wouldn't call this a suspense or mystery novel by any means. This is best categorized as literary fiction. The style is much like a coming of age, as the characters ultimately navigate the growing pains as teenagers transition into young adults; its like a coming of age but for empty nesting. I do have to say that I think this same story would look very different if it were written by Dolly about her mother, instead of by Sunday about Dolly.

Regarding the audio, the performance was top-notch and I really appreciate the affect that the narrator put into the story. The MC often focuses on and highlights the way that words are pronounced in dialogue. If you are between formats when selecting this book, I strongly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC via NetGalley of All the Little Bird-Hearts, which is available now.

Going into this book, I had no idea what it was about. I'd heard a bit of buzz about it during award season, but somehow missed any actual description of its plot. I'm glad because I found the experience to be much better when I didn't have any preconceived notions about what it was about. As I was listening, it became clear fairly quickly that our main character was Autistic in a. time where Autism was yet to be recognized or understood. I was really impressed with how beautifully this book handled this perspective. It didn't lean into cliches and ended up being very insightful. All in all, I would absolutely recommend this book to just about everyone.

What a surprisingly tender and emotional read. I loved, what I felt, was a role reversal. This is the story of an autistic mom raising a neurotypical daughter. Sunday, our mom and mc, is struggling through the teenage years of her daughter. She's also worried about social etiquette. There are a lot of rules and she's relying on a book that she references often in the story to give her guidance to navigate the interactions.

I loved learning about our mc. I loved the way she described sounding out words and phrases other people said. I loved her meeting her neighbor, as the neighbor breezily walks in to her home and life. The narrator of the audiobook was so good, I was completely drawn into the story and it was hard to find pause points to carry on with my day to day. It was a quick listen and one that I'm so glad I gave a chance. The cover doesn't reveal much but the story was really unique and well-told!

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.

Unfortunately this audio title disappeared from my library when I had to do an update on my NetGalley app, or it has been archived and I no longer have access to it.

I have a physical copy of the book and look forward to reading it some time in the future.

All the Little Bird-Hearts is about Sunny, an autistic woman, and her 16 year old daughter Dolly. I really loved this book and seeing a true insight into someones life dealing with autism, this felt unique and raw and took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I really recommend this, I loved reading from a new perspective.

Thank you to Algonquin and Netgalley for the free audio 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.

'All the Little Bird Hearts' by Victoria Lloyd-Barlow is a delight of a book and will grab you from the beginning.

Sunday lives with her daughter Dolly. They both live their lives but everything changes when the glamorous couple called Vita and Rollo move in next door and life is never the same again.

The characters in this book are so well written. Sunday is a gem of a character. Sunday lives her life a little differently and has particular ways to do things. How this is impacted by Dolly and then Vita and Rollo is well described and adds further dimension to the story.

The characters really make this story, which is actually chilling but still a great story to read.

This audiobook is well narrated and is one that you forget how long you have been listening to as you get grabbed into the story.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to listen to this book for an honest review.

Sunny is an autistic woman with a 16 year old daughter Dolly. They are befriended by a childless couple who introduce them to a more sophisticated lifestyle that is particularly appealing to Dolly. This book was interesting due to its insight into how Sunny experienced and coped with situations. However, I can’t say that I enjoyed the book. It felt repetitive and, between Sunny’s backstory and the callous treatment she faced from pretty much everyone in the book, it was a depressing story. 3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

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.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a really interesting read with a very unique voice. I felt many different emotions listening to this, it really draws you in. I can't say I recall ever really reading a story set from the perspective of an autistic person like this, and I think everyone should give this story a try. The narrator was perfect as well.

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.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator's quirks, observations, and analyses kept the story from becoming tedious or boring. It's not an action packed book, but a unique perspective of a regular life, with vivid characters. The narration of the audiobook was great.

"All the Little Bird-Hearts" by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow is a Blend of Family and Literary Fiction!

Sunday Forrester lives in the same house she grew up in. She finds comfort in order and routine, eating light-colored food, caring for things that grow, sharing her love of Italian folklore, and being in the presence of her sixteen-year-old daughter, Dolly.

When a posh London couple, Vita and Rollo, moves into the neighborhood, unexpected friendships develop and Sunday feels what it's like to be accepted and loved. It feels special until she realizes there may be something darker brewing behind the masks of the couple living next door...

"All the Little Bird Hearts" is a beautifully written first-person narrative of an autistic mother, Sunday, relaying to the reader the trauma from her past, and her perspective on the present. It's heartbreaking to hear her views and yet there is such clarity in her thoughts it feels comforting listening to her words.

The best part of this book is getting to know Sunday, who is a remarkable and memorable character. She relies, often lightheartedly, on the social etiquette book that keeps her within the lines drawn by others when she senses herself straying too close to the edges. She seems to possess an innate ability to flourish and is voraciously introspective. Her resilience and her observations are the high points in the story. She is a character I would love to meet.

This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook may be the best listening experience I've had this year with the voice of the narrator, Rose Akroyd, flowing smoothly and easily. It was a perfect pairing for this soft yet stirring listen.

"All the Little Bird Hearts", Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize, is a quiet and moving debut novel. I will remember Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow's beautiful prose, self-reflective storytelling, and a point-of-view I appreciate learning more about. I look forward to what this author writes next and I highly recommend this book with the audiobook as the best format for gaining the full essence of the main character, Sunday Forrester!

5⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Algonquin Books, and Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow for a DRC and ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

All the Little Bird-Hearts made me angry and sad. I do believe the story should evoke strong emotion from the reader so I do not mean this as a criticism. I was not upset with the author or the narrator. I was enraged and disheartened by the world that this story reflects.

Told in an authentic voice, All the Little Bird-Hearts is the story of an autistic (although never explicitly stated) woman (Sunday) raising a teenage daughter (Dolly) on her own. When her exuberant new neighbor (Vita) shows up at her door, Sunday tries to process this woman’s behavior. She is taken in by the charm and flashiness, though, and a friendship, greatly valued by Sunday, begins to form. But Vita may not be the friend Sunday believes her to be, and Sunday’s social struggles and vulnerability blind her to this truth.

As readers, we are likely to detect the problematic nature of this relationship early on, but that is, in part, the point, demonstrating how others are able to understand behavior in a way that Sunday cannot. We also get heartbreaking glimpses of Sunday’s past, which makes her own fixation on the friendship and her consequential blindness all the more understandable.

I found myself enraged on Sunday’s behalf. The way most of the people in this novel treated her was absolutely disgusting. But I believe it. I know how quick some people are to prey upon those they view as different. Plus, the depiction of privilege and the arrogance of wealth seemed infuriatingly accurate.

More than anything, I felt extremely frustrated with Dolly. I know her age contributed to her behavior, but I do wish the epilogue had helped me feel more at peace with her choices. I think it was meant to, but I was genuinely upset with how she treated her mother, and what I was given in that final act just wasn’t enough. Perhaps it’s just the single mother I once was rising up from within me, recognizing all of Sunday’s love, sacrifices, and best attempts in raising her daughter.

I do think All the Little Bird-Hearts is an important book. Since it’s an own voices novel, it provides readers with critical insight into a neurodivergent mind (although you must also remember that each neurodivergent person is a unique individual and not an exact mirror of the narrator). It also corrects many of the misconceptions people possess regarding autism, while illuminating how cruel society can be toward those who don’t fit in a box. Sunday deserved a much kinder life story, but I don’t blame the author for giving her such an honest one.

I am immensely grateful to Hachette Audio, Tinder Press, and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

2023 has been the year of own-voice writing for me. It has made such an incredible difference in how I appreciate stories and has challenged my perspective in many ways. That being said, I was THRILLED to read All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow as a person who identifies as “on the spectrum” writing a book with our protagonist having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Fun fact: the author was the very first person having ASD nominated for the Booker Prize with this title landing on the 2023 long list. ⁣
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Now about the story: Sunday experiences the world around her differently. She eats only “white” foods, she models her social interactions around a book of social etiquette and she falls back on a book of Sicilian folk lore in the hard moments. Above all of that, she loves her daughter, Dolly, who is her entire world. Life is shaken up for her when her new posh neighbours move in next door and slyly become a part of their life. (I won’t ruin any of the plot here, but just know that they were entirely nefarious). ⁣
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This book was so genuine in how it was written. We, the reader, we omniscient to the intents of this story’s villains, but we read through the eyes of Sunday who struggled to find the intent behind the actions of those around her. I was immediately drawn into the writing in the first three chapters as Sunday dissects social interaction after social interaction. I felt the low-lying constant frustration at not knowing what to expect from a conversation. ⁣
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It was also incredibly eye-opening as we learn about Sunday’s upbringing and how she was treated as a child growing up neurodivergent with a family who couldn’t understand her differences. I was so moved by Sunday’s ability to find joy for herself despite her entire world acting against her. It was just beautiful. ⁣
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I would note: for those looking for a fast-paced drama, this will not be that. Although a drama is really the central plot point in the novel, it is really more about Sunday unravelling the mystery herself which can feel slow as she examines every interaction line by line. Truly, this was the beauty of the novel for me, though, and made reading a character with ASD feel right. I think there is a tendency to overwrite neurodivergent characters and they can feel quite cliche, but this was not the case here. ⁣
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I would highly recommend this book to those who are looking to diversify their reading. It was such a unique and poignant experience to read through the lens of a neurodivergent author, and I hope to read more in the future. ⁣
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Thank you to NetGalley and Tinder Press for access to this title in return for a fair and honest review.

Immersive and engaging. A recommended purchase in all formats for collections where women's fic is popular.

"All the Little Bird-Hearts" is a quiet, sometimes disconcerting step into the mind of an autistic mother who is wading through the process of letting her neurotypical teenaged daughter find her own wings. I appreciated that this was an #ownvoices narrative, which made the main character, Sunday, quite genuine and easy to relate to. This is an excellent book for helping readers develop a better understanding of neurodiversity.

Sunday and her 16-year-old daughter Dolly have a mostly quiet and routine existence living alone together, until new neighbors arrive next door. The enigmatic couple, Vita and Rollo, soon manage to entwine the pair in their lives, hosting them for regular dinners that draw Dolly further and further into their influence. Sunday soon finds that letting Vita and Rollo into her life may have bigger implications than she once thought.

I found the characters of Vita and Rollo puzzling and somewhat difficult to pin down — and perhaps because we are largely seeing them through Sunday's eyes. At times dismissive and at other times tender, Vita especially is a character with many shades, some of which left me feeling unsettled. While I did enjoy reading this book, I can't help but wishing that I had a clearer picture at the end. I listened to this book on audio, and found the narration and production very well done. 3.5 stars rounded up.