On the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, there is a hidden gem.... an apartment building called The Dellawisp. It is named after the tiny turquoise birds that reside there, and they are just as magical as the place itself. There are only 5 apartments at The Dellawisp, and five people who all are in need of healing. Mac, a chef who cooks comfort food but finds no comfort in the food he fixes for himself. Lucy & Lizbeth Lime, sisters who have apartments on opposite sides of the courtyard, yet never speak to each other. Charlotte is a henna artist who never stays anywhere very long, and doesn't want to admit to herself what it is she is running from. Then there is Zoey, who has inherited her mother's apartment, and has come to stay in it for the summer before she starts college in the fall. She has spent her entire life feeling unloved and unwelcome by her father, her stepmother and the kids from her previous marriage. Her stepmother couldn't wait for Zoey to hurry up and move out so she could turn Zoey's room into a craft room. Right after Zoey gets there, Lizbeth dies in a tragic accident. Once Lizbeth's toxic energy is gone, the mood around The Dellawisp becomes lighter, and Zoey becomes determined to befriend the remaining residents,, and maybe even make them the family she never felt she had.
This book was both whimsical and magical. There were ghosts of past residents & ghosts of loved ones of the current residents, there was Zoey's invisible bird, Pigeon, and there were the witch's balls that Charlotte hung everywhere and kept giving everyone that kept mysteriously breaking. There were heartwarming moments with new friendships being formed and love in the air. This book shows how family is not just who you are tied to by blood, but can also be forged by friendship, and mutual love and respect. I loved seeing all of the residents find healing from their past traumas, and the ghosts from their pasts being able to move on. This delightful book is one that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is about Zoey who has come to Mallow Island to learn more about her deceased mothers' past. Zoey will be starting college in Charleston, but she moves to a nearby Island over the summer to see if she can learn more about the time her mother spent on the island. When the woman in the next apartment is found dead, she bands together with her neighbors to figure out the strange occurances that are happening in the area.
This was cute and sweet, but it felt like there were too many characters to really get to know any of them. I also wish that there was more of the magical realism so it wouldn't feel so forced.

I was a late convert to @sarahaddisonallen books. I had just run through all of them and was despairing!

Releasing August 30th is her newest title, OTHER BIRDS by @stmartinspress. I love Allen's ability to blend just the right amount of sweetness to make this a light and touching read with the perfect amount of sass and snark to keep it from being too sugary.

18 year old Zoe has moved into the condo her late mother left her in the Dellawisp community on a South Carolina island. She's determined to befriend her aloof neighbors, a task that they don't always make easy for her. After the surprising death of a particularly cranky resident, the neighbors pull together to help battle each other's ghosts - both real and imagined.

You guys, this is a definite thumbs up. Bookstore, library, wherever you get books, snag this one and you will not be disappointed. If you're new to Sarah Addison Allen, just plan on reading alllllll her past books. You won't be sorry.

Thanks to @netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

OTHER BIRDS is a unique, powerful, and uplifting story written by the incomparable Sarah Addison Allen. Effortlessly twining magic with hard scrabble lives shaped by determination, good luck, and helpful assists from loved ones, ghosts, and kind people, this story is centered on a small, contained apartment complex located on Mallow Island. Through different points of view, Allen tells the story of what happens when a small group of new friends let go of the past and embrace the present and one another in friendship, love, and community. Highly recommended as a read you will not forget that will have you considering a visit to an island like this one. I was given an early reader copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I haven't read a book by this author in quite a few years. She was originally brought to my attention as being compared to Alice Hoffman, who is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed her older books, but did not really think she was comparable to Alice. In this book, Other Birds, I see the comparison. This book was exactly what I needed and I am so thankful to my Goodreads and Bookstagram friends and their reviews because this book wasn’t even on my radar!

Zoey, almost 19, has just moved from Tulsa, OK to Mallow Island, on the coast of South Carolina. She shows up with an empty bird cage and everything she owns to live in the condo her mother left to her when she died and will be staying until she starts school in the Fall in Charleston. She's immediately mesmerized by the beauty of the island and it’s unusual birds, the Dellawisps, small turquoise birds. Zoey loves the beauty of the condo but was hoping to find some signs of her mother, Paloma, there, but she does not.

I loved the theme of "found family," and how the author united a small and disparate cast of characters who have struggled throughout their lives to feel loved. Each character had a unique voice and an interesting story. I cared for each one of them and enjoyed seeing how their narratives unfolded. There is a troubled, reclusive author, two estranged sisters who share a secret past, a henna artist on the run from something or someone, an amazing, lonesome chef and eventually a troubled young man who will return home. There are, of course, also a few ghosts because this author is known for her addition of magical realism.

I loved this book. Sarah Addison Allen has shown true growth and maturity in her writing and I bet it only gets better and better from here!

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen was a beautifully written story of a girl trying to move on with life after the death of her mother. The book had it's mystical characteristics which the author is known for but the characters are well developed and you can't help but falling in love with them. I would definitely recommend this book but know in advance it is heavy and may take some time to read and let it sink it.

Not usually a book quote gal, but this one spoke to me: "There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don't sing. Maybe they don't fly. Maybe they don't fit in. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing."

I always enjoys this author and the magical and mystical touches her books bring. It has been quite a while since I read one, and I was excited to see this one!

Zoey arrives at The Dellaswisp to claim a place that was special to her mother who has passed. Zoey's father and stepmother have a new family and a new life, and she is searching for her place in the world.

The Dellawisps themselves (birds who have taken up residence) - I could almost feel them around me. Then there are the other residents - the apartment manage, who may or may not be what he seems; a quirky girl on the run; a chef whose food comforts everyone but him; and two estranged sisters. Zoey's invisible bird, Pigeon, is there as well. Oh, and the ghosts. Each of them, ghosts included, lost in their own way and struggling to find their path.

It was a story of found family. Family not having to be a blood relation. And how important connections are to others. These characters are real and relatable. All are broken in some way, trying to heal and find new beginnings. They suffer loss. There are misunderstandings. I felt I knew these characters and was invested! When a tragedy occurs at Dellawisp, they all come together and a new kind of family is formed.

I loved the reveal of who Pigeon is! I adored all the comfort food descriptions. And as always, the magical realism.

This book was just delightful to me!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a little mystical, but you really learned to love the characters. It was about a girl trying to find her way after her mother died. I really thought It was a cute read!

Charming, spellbinding, and entertaining!

Some books come along once in a blue moon that you want to climb in the pages with the characters, visit with them, hang out in their quaint setting and just be for a while.

Sarah Addison Allen's OTHER BIRDS is one of those enchanting, memorable, and magical books. Everyday magic awaits to be discovered in the unlikeliest places.

I have adored Sarah Addison Allen's books since her debut and every one since. Each book features unforgettable characters, and OTHER BIRDS is one of my favorites.

The author herself has experienced grief and hardship from cancer to the most recent passing of her mother and sister. Her author's note is heart-rendering and makes you want to reach out and hug her for sharing this beautiful story with her fans and readers worldwide.

"I go now to settle in a place where there is always happiness. But how can I be happy when my soul still needs to fly?"

A dream. A story. An invisible bird named Pigeon.

"Stories aren't fiction. Stories are fabric. They're the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them."—Roscoe Avanger, Sweet Mallow

Meet Zoey Hennessey, eighteen years old. She is starting college in Charleston, SC, in the fall. She is headed to her new home on Mallow Island with a birdcage in hand.

Mallow Island is a tourist spot due to the book by Roscoe Avanger. Nearby, The Mallow Island Resort Hotel, The Sugar Warehouse, and Historical Trade Street. The town is famous for its marshmallow candy over a century ago.

More importantly, she is moving to Dellawisp Condos (once horse stables) near the Sugar and Scribble Bakery. A beautiful old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe with a wrought iron gate.

Her mother, Paloma, used to live here surrounded by the exquisite little turquoise birds called dellawisps. Paloma and her brother had been raised by their grandfather, a birdkeeper. She and her brother left Cuba on a small boat when he died. Her brother died after a storm. She drifted on a boat and finally met Zoey's older father once in America.

Paloma had only lived in SC four years before Zoey's father retired, and they moved to Tulsa. But Paloma returned with baby Zoey to the same condo that Zoey's father had gifted her.

She has since died and left Zoey the condo and a trust. Her father has remarried a woman who is not so nice. Zoey is glad to be moving away to a new family she will soon meet that is not blood family, but they are often the best kind.

Once she arrives, she meets a quirky cast of neighbors that will become her new family. Frasier, the building manager, Lizabeth Lime, her estranged sister Lucy Lime, Charlotte Lungren (an artist), Mac Garrett, a lonely talented chef, a legendary writer, and a few ghosts. Plus, Oliver, a son, will return home. Lucy never leaves her condo and does not like being around people.

Each of Zoey's eccentric, quirky, bohemian-style neighbors has a past and secrets. Then Lizbeth died. She agreed to help clean out the condo for Frasier.

Everyone at the condos is changed by knowing Zoey. There are those haunted by their past and those who cannot move on. They learn from one another and develop a bond. They become family.

Each character has baggage and secrets that have shaped their lives. They soon realize they have a connection between friendship, trust, healing, love, loss, and forgiveness.

What a beautifully written, unique book that transports you to a world of believing there is good and kindness in this world if we take a chance on others.

Magical realism is woven throughout like most of Sarah's books, and the food, the stories, the birds, the love, and the characters will warm your heart and soul.

Atmospheric, whimsical, and enigmatic. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways. For fans of author Karen White. Highly recommend.

A special thank you to #StMartinsPress and #Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #SMPInfluencers

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: 09/13/2022
Sept 2022 Must-Read Books

“Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe and named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment on an island outside of Charleston, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors…and three ghosts.”

I love it when a book meets my expectations. I enjoyed GARDEN SPELLS (2007) and had high hopes for a charming found-family story with a bit of magical realism. OTHER BIRDS was a perfect summer read, lounging by the pool. Allen’s writing pulls the reader into the story, and her characters are unique, well-rounded, and likable. The plot is interesting without being too heavy—a lovely book.

Of course, now I want a sketch of “old man Otis,” the cutest of the Dellawisps, and something cooked with cornmeal.

Thanks, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Addison Allen, for the opportunity to review OTHER BIRDS.

In a captivating story centered around Mallow Island in South Carolina, we find a flock of individuals who are so unique, but have ties that bind them together through the catalyst that is Zoey Hennessey. Allen has created a novel that is as beautiful in its themes as it is the imagery of the town of Mallow Island. As a reader, I felt immediately drawn to the beautiful southern landscape, the description of Mallow Island being so vivid that I could almost sense the Spanish moss hanging from the trees and the sweet mallow scent. The characters, while so incredibly different, were so delightful to get to know and became acquainted with. I cheered when Zoey got together this seeming ban of misfits, and was thrilled with the sense of family that they developed.

This was a truly an astonishing novel. I felt all the feels; the intrigue when slowly learning the characters stories and past, the fear when some of that past becomes part of the present, , and the overall sense of contententment and joy when a new family begins together. This is a novel that will stay with me for a long time to come, and I look forward to falling in love with these characters again and again when I inevitably reread.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this advanced reader copy of this breathtaking book. The opinions in this review are all my own.

I can see how the magic of this book.could pull you in. For me not so much. Not enough backstop on the characters to make me feel like I really knew them.
Was expecting more...sadly just wasn't for me.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

It was so good to be back in a world of Sarah Addison Allen's creation!! I've missed the magic and the intimacy that she brings to her books! The characters come to life and make you feel like you're a part of their world. This book is a beautiful reminder that there's always room in this world for the Other Birds like me.

Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning old cobblestone building shaped like a horseshoe, and named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy. Zoey inherits her mother's condo and decides to move there and attend college nearby. The chapters are divided into the other tenants and the ghosts who live there. Ms Allen always has a touch of magic in her books and I adore that aspect of her writing. As the people get to know each other the birds and the ghosts sense the change that is coming. Loved this one.

4.5 STARS

Read if you like:
✔️ Magical realism
✔️ Quirky characters
✔️ Coming-of-age stories

"There are birds, and then there are other birds. Maybe they don't sing. Maybe they don't fly. Maybe they don't fit in. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing."

I was thrilled to discover Sarah Addison Allen had a new book coming out, and even more pumped when I was approved for the ARC! Other Birds is a ghost story of sorts, but in a whimsical and fun way where the characters aren't afraid and you read snippets from the ghosts' perspectives. Zoey was an easy character to root for, and I was invested in her quest to learn more about her late mother, her mysterious invisible bird, and her longing for relationships. The pacing was good and Allen did a great job tying together all the stories. Though we read from many different perspectives, I felt like each story was wrapped up satisfactorily and I had a warm, happy feeling when I finished.

This is a wonderful book about found families, opening yourself up to love and new possibilities, and grief. There were also several twists that I didn't see coming, so it kept me guessing as well as being heartwarming. I definitely recommend Other Birds, which comes out next week!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sarah Addison Allen creates fantastical worlds based in reality and buried in small town Carolinas. In complete candor, "Other Birds" need more fleshing out. While the ending is able to tie all the various storylines together, it is a disruptive, and at the same time a surface level, read.

There are too many characters introduced throughout out the story and none of them get enough time to fully develop and ensnare the reader. The Ghost excerpts could potentially be removed throughout the narrative and added just before the ending, to give the reader that "Ah Ha!" moment.

I wanted more from "Other Birds" and I wanted to give the characters more humanity. At times, Charlotte seems a foil of herself and while this comes together in the end, it's more frustrating because I wanted to love Charlotte more. She is really the driver of the plot line, whereas Zoey is the assumed protagonist. It feels almost like we have the beginning and end of the story but no real concept of the journey they went on to get to the end.

Other Birds is Sarah Addison Allen's newest book and it does not disappoint! I have loved all her books--the magical realism entwines the characters, the ghosts, their pasts and futures--- binding all in love. This is what draws me to Ms, Addison's books, her ability to pull emotions from her characters and surroundings in such a way, that I gain new perspective on living.
The blurb does a good job of setting the storyline, I will say that the unfolding of each character's story kept me reading this book straight through. The feel good vibes last long after the last page is read. This book was definitely worth the wait.

A magical read, on a small island, found family, connecting to those you've lost and healing from the past.

Zoey has just graduated high school, and decides to move into the apartment her mother left her on Mallow Island before starting college in the fall. Just after moving in, a neighbouring resident dies and Zoey is thrust into all the mysteries and history of the island and The Dellawisp apartments and the mysterious man who manages them.

I was not sure what to expect going into this one but the magical realism elements were the perfect touch. The found family was so heart warming. The only thing that i felt was not up to par was some of the backstory of the characters, they book needed more detail, it should have been longer.

Thank goodness Sarah Addison Allen is back! And this novel is full of Southern charm and the magical realism we've come to expect from Addison Allen. It's perfect in its simplicity. On tiny Mallow Island, sits the Dellawisp, a condo complex named for the teeny turquoise birds that flit around the complex and its inhabitants. When Zoey comes to claim her deceased mother’s apartment, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a girl on the run, two estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, a legendary writer, and three ghosts. Each with their own story, not yet written.
Note to the author: PLEASE KEEP WRITING MORE BEAUTIFUL NOVELS! We've missed you.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc of this novel.*

I am so glad Allen is back. I have always loved her stories, and this one is no exception.
This book is about a grieving daughter looking for closure. What she finds is a new family to belong to. Every character has flaws but in a real and relatable way. You feel for them all . Allen's books always feature magical realism and she does it the best. So much heart and whimsy were infused into this story.

Ill be buying it as soon as it comes out.