I had heard nothing but great things about Sarah Allen's writing but had not read anything of hers yet. Other birds was getting rave reviews so I knew I had to read this book.

The story, told in multiple POVs, talks about difficult childhoods with parents who probably shouldn't have had children to begin with. Each story/characters is written so well that the pages come to life. Behavior is explained by product of environment. Then interweave birds, it just brings the story more to life. This book is complex but not in a tough to chew sort of way. You won't want it to end - its beautiful!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Addison Allen for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Other Birds absolutely blew me away and I loved every second of it. I loved the atmosphere of the book - the entire time I felt like I truly was in Charleston/Mallow Island. I also really enjoyed how everyone’s secrets slowly revealed themselves throughout the book and a couple of them really shocked me! This reminded me of Alice Hoffman in a way and I think fans of the Southern gothic genre would really enjoy this one. It’s sweet, mysterious, and unforgettable. 5 stars.

Somewhere between 3.5-4 stars. I feel like it’s hard to categorize this book. Little bit of mystery, family relationships, young adults finding their feet, elder wisdom, animals, with a splash of supernatural! Overall, this was not my kind of book but the characters were very likable. I will definitely be recommending this book to older lady friends/family. I feel that fits as the target audience for this book.

An enchanted tale filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won't let you go.

Other Birds is such a quirky, heartwarming story of love, loss, friendship and found family.

It is full of endearing characters.
Zoey, a lonely 18yo soon to be college student moves to the condo her late mother left to her, meets the other residents of the condo complex The Dellawisp, name after the birds. Charlotte the hippi henna artist; Mac, the large ginger chef; Frasier, the caretaker of the condo; Lizbeth the neighbor with the mental health issues; Lucy the recluse, and Oliver, Lizbeth's son.

And their ghosts. Because either they are not ready to say goodbye to these ghosts or the other way around.

I loved these characters. But, Camille... She became one of my favorite fictional characters. This woman fed the hungry neighborhood kids, hundreds of them for years. But her Macbaby was different. Mac and Camille's story brought tears to my eyes.

Zoey and Charlotte found a friend in each other. They both needed it badly. Both were so lonely and had to grow up fast.

Frasier... The man full of secrets.

Lizbeth and Lucy. Their stories are heavy with abuse, addiction and mental illness. Oliver, sweet Oliver, what he went through as a child hurt my mama heart.

And dellawisps. The funny, little blue thieves.

Man, this book was full of heart. I already want to reread it. It touched me in so many ways. It was a quick read. I've read it in two sittings. If you like found family stories, I highly recommend this one.

Thank you for the ARC of this novel. This was a sweet story.

Other Birds tells the story of a group of neighbors, their relationships, and their pasts— with a hint of magical realism. What worked for me were the characters, all likable, and the “ghost” stories. The flow of the story was just okay to me and it’s definitely more character than plot driven. I was hoping for a little more mystery. It’s definitely a quick read though, and it made me feel happy throughout. Thank you again for the ARC.

Zoey comes to Mallow Island to claim her dead mother’s condo. Mallow Island is a charming place, overcome with tiny turquoise birds. As Zoey begins her story on Mallow Island, she meets and learns the stories of her neighbors: estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, a girl on the run, a famous writer, and three ghosts.

I enjoyed this magically story about found family. The magic is light and woven into the stories of the characters, which made you really get to know them on a deeply level. I enjoy stories with quirky, unique characters and this tale is full of them! It’s a ghost story, that’s sentimental instead of spooky.

“There are birds, and 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 rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”

Other Birds comes out 8/30.

I was disappointed in this one—maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it, as I have really enjoyed the author’s other books. This one seemed to take a long time to get off the ground, with quite a few characters interacting but their storylines didn’t seem to go anywhere. There’s a big dramatic scene far too late in the story that seemed to come out of nowhere. I’d recommend the author’s other books for sure!

Sarah Addison Allen is back! One of my favorite comfort authors is back with my most anticipated read of the year (of many years, really).

Other Birds centers of Zoey, a 19-year-old who’s just moved into her late mother’s old condo on the small island of Mallow, SC. The building is also home to Mac, a shy chef, Charlotte, an artist who moves around a lot, and Lizbeth and Lucy, estranged middle age sisters living in separate units, plus Fraiser, the property manager. This story picks up when the death of one resident brings the others closer together. As always, a strength of SAA’s book is the character development across a fun cast of supporting characters. While Zoe is our protagonist, I had a soft spot for Mac and Charlotte.

This is a world just a bit more magical than our own, where ghosts reside with the living, food has the power to influence our emotions, and even our most pragmatic characters hang beautiful glass “witch balls” to keep their homes safe. True to SAA’s usual style, magic is interwoven seamlessly into normal life for these characters, so we accept it without much world-building or explanation needed.

This book is set across one summer, making it the perfect late summer read. I loved this book, as I knew I would, and will definitely be rereading it soon.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Addison Allen is the queen of magical realism and her latest, “Other Birds” just further proves how masterful she is. The magical elements never feel forced or out of place, I immediately adore her characters, and her ability to write personal connections so honestly wows me every single time. I didn’t want to put this book down and, frankly, I was annoyed to re-enter reality anytime I had to take a break. I just finished it and I already miss Mallow Island and the band of misfits I met there. I read a lot of thrillers and Allen’s work is such a nice break from the doom and gloom - hopeful but not saccharine, light but not even remotely fluffy, peppered with nuggets of wisdom without being preachy, and just plain fun. It’s almost a supreme pleasure to read her work. 5 very sparkling stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Addison Allen has long been my favorite author. Her first book Garden Spells is probably my all time favorite book and it introduced me to my favorite genre which is magical realism.
I’ve loved all of her books and I’ve waited impatiently for a new book for years :) I follow the author on social media and knew about the losses of her family members and how that prevented her from having the time to write. When I found out this book was coming, about 8 years since her last book, I pre-ordered it before there was a cover image online or even a book description!
Then a couple of amazing things happened. First I got approved for the book on NetGalley. I told myself though that I was going to wait to read the physical book. This is my favorite author, I needed the actual book in my hands. And then the second amazing thing happened: The Book Club Cookbook offered my mom and I both early editions of the book!

I saved the book for the perfect moment (and by this I mean just a few weeks until I got back from a trip) and then I tore into it. I knew after waiting about 8 years for a new Sarah Addison Allen book that I’d read it too quickly and of course that’s what happened :)

This book felt heavier than previous books by the author but it wasn’t a sadness that permeated the story. To oversimplify it: none of the characters had a loving home in their childhood.

Zoey moves into her mother’s old home when she’s 18. Her mother passed away when Zoey was a young child and her father and stepmother were very distant to Zoey. So, as soon as she’s done with highschool she moves to the mysterious Mallow island and into her mother’s old home. Zoey is young and she hasn’t had it easy but she is so optimistic and warm. She immediately brings the neighbors into her life.
Cranky neighbor Lizbeth passed away the same day Zoey moves to town which results in Zoey getting a job cleaning out Lizbeth’s apartment and trying to find some manuscript she always claimed was there.
Zoey immediately makes friends with Charlotte who has tried to keep everyone at a distance since she moved in a few years ago.
There’s also Mac who became one of my favorite characters very quickly. He’s a chef, he lives with his cat (who also had a rough life before finding Mac) and he still mourns Camille who raised him when his mother walked away.

In this magical place, this found family is brought together. Camille and Frasier were/are the mother and father figures despite never wanting children themselves.

There are several characters that are ghosts. I’m glad we got to meet Camille as a ghost because she’s the most kind hearted and loving character and I loved getting to know her in the present tense. I can see why Mac mourned her so much. The stories of Camille feeding the neighbor hood kids with bags of free cornmeal just absolutely warmed my heart.

I look forward to doing a book themed meal to go with our book discussion. If you’re looking for some inspiration: go with cornmeal based recipes and marshmallow desserts.

Thank you so much to The Book Club Cookbook for giving us the rare opportunity of getting to read our very favorite author’s book early!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this title but was delighted with the read. I judge books by their titles and would not have picked this however, I'm so glad I did. Read it! It's fun and magical and endearing. You will love the characters and the story will make you smile. The story is told by several of the characters. It does show that no matter your beginnings - and none of the characters had nice starts to life - you can find happiness and even maybe a great love and a happy life. Thank you, NetGalley, and St. Martin Press for allowing me to read the eARC this is my honest opinion.

As a fan of Sarah Addison Allen, I couldn't wait to read Other Birds--and I wasn't disappointed. It's an incredibly engrossing story filled with twists--and a little magic. I can't wait to add it to our collection, and suggest it to our magical realism readers!

This book made my heart happy. This book touched on so many things that I love. Magical realism, found family, love (but not all romantic love). This book will leave you feeling happy and loved.
I will admit that I guessed a couple of the twists early in the book, but they were still fun and understated reveals in the book. The story moved quickly and I didn’t feel like it dragged at all. Having little interludes from the ghosts was wonderful and added so much to the story!
I have been reading a lot of thriller, mystery, heavier books and this book just hit the spot!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you enjoy well written stories about the families we are born into and the ones we create, perfectly blended with a bit of mystery and just the right amount of magic then you can't go wrong with anything written by Sarah Addison Allen.

Her latest, Other Birds is a delightful read including a beautiful setting, with fully developed, relatable characters and perfect pacing. It starts like this. "The empty wicker birdcage beside her began to rattle impatiently." I'm in. At the Dellawisp, a small private apartment complex, everyone has secrets and is running to or away from something. Not surprisingly, they all live alone. Or do they? They each have reasons to remain distant, except one. Zoey, a young woman who wears her heart on her sleeve. Zoey, who will bring them all together. What could be better than that?
I highly recommend Other Birds.

I received a drc from the publisher via Netgalley.
Expected publication date 8/30/22.

This book is beautifully written and enchanting. 4.5 ⭐️s.

Told from multiple perspectives, this book brings together multiple characters - each with their own story and own baggage - into a makeshift family. At first, I thought there were so many characters that I was missing the plot. But once I realized that the characters’ side stories were the plot, I started to really connect with each of them and was totally invested in their stories. Mac’s character really stands out - I just want to hug him! Charlotte’s story was also very interesting and I admire her resilience.

The elements of magical realism were so well done. I’ve found that ghosts in magic realism often end up being a cheesy plot - but the humanity of these ghosts was so endearing that it just absolutely worked for me.

And the ending = perfection!

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to review this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 8/30/22
Genre: magical realism
In one sentence: When Zoey inherits an apartment at The Dellawisp in South Carolina, she discovers that there's much more to this building and its residents than meets the eye.

If you love getting lost in a fantastical world, this is the book for you! The author did a wonderful job creating The Dellawisp and Mallow Island - the birds in the title refer to the tiny turquoise birds (dellawisps) that live there. I didn't know what to expect going in, and I was a little confused after the first few chapters, but the story unspooled well, and I felt very connected to Zoey and her friends (living and dead). The ending was especially strong and very poignant.

If you love plot-based books, this may not be the one for you. But if you love magic, ghosts, and quirky characters - think Unlikely Animals and Remarkably Bright Creatures - you may enjoy this one! 4 stars from me.

I could not get into this novel. I was so bored with it and had no idea where this was going. It’s like she was trying to be like Binchy with town chatter and a big focus on birds. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. I was really looking forward to reading this and it just fell short. DNF at 11%.

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen is such an enchanting read.

I was taken on a magical journey when Zoey left her fathers home he shares with his wife and her children. Zoey is going to college in SC so she moves to The Dellawisp on Mallow Island. She meets the other tenants who have their own magical stories. Ghosts follow a few tenants and Frazier who takes care of The Dellawisp. The emotional outcome has such an unusual twist.

This is a must read, I enjoyed it so much I have to read a few other stories by this Author.

Thank you for this read in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and The Book Club Cookbook for the copy of this ARC.

Other Birds is a cute “found family” story about a group of people all living at the Dellawisp. Each has an emotional and/or tragic past, but together at the Dellawisp, they find each other and deal with the ghosts of their past… literally. I was very intrigued by the setting of this novel, but never felt very connected with or invested in the characters themselves. It also read a little on the YA side, so I think if especially for YA readers who like paranormal or magical realism storylines, this will be a big winner.

Sarah Addison Allen has been one of my favorite authors since I first read Garden Spells over a decade ago. Since then, I have devoured each of her books as soon as I can get my hands on them. Her latest offering, Other Birds, did not disappoint.

Other Birds tells the story of Zoey Hennessey, a girl on the brink of adulthood. Zoey moves from Tulsa, Oklahoma to the small South Caroline tourist town of Mallow Island. She's essentially alone in the world, a half-orphan who, now that she's 18, seems to want little to do with her sole living parent - a distant father who is more interested in her stepmother and half-siblings than he ever has been in her. Zoey takes up residence in her mother's old condo at the Dellawisp and quickly becomes entangled in a mystery and in the lives of the Dellawisp's eccentric inhabitants.

Other Birds contains Allen's trademark southern magic realism and unfolds at a slow, comfortable pace. If you haven't already read any of Allen's work, this is an excellent place to start. I'm so grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review and I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of quirky, gentle, southern mysteries free of an excess of angst.