4 stars. I don’t know why it took me so long, but once I got into this story I couldn’t put it down! Beautiful writing, and this was one of those books I got lost in.

Welcome to Mallow Island, the Dellawisp complex, and Sarah Addison Allen’s latest, remarkable, and best book.

Other Birds opens with an empty, rattling birdcage and 18-year-old Zoey Hennessey leaving her father’s house and arriving at the studio in the horseshoe-shaped Dellawisp condo complex on Mallow Island, where her late mother lived until her death twelve years before. There Zoey and Pidgeon (the invisible, protective resident of that birdcage) meet the singular few other residents, as well as the “swirl of tiny turquoise” dellawisp birds, native to the Island. The other residents with their own broken wings have found havens there. But they are not the only ones. Ghosts still linked to the present rustle in and out of those rooms as well. Mysteries thread through one another. The complicated, unknown history of two eccentric sisters, Lucy and Lizbeth, ominously permeates the complex. The henna artist, Charlotte, wears her art as armor and beauty, to survive a horrific past. Mac, the redheaded, towering chef with magical cuisine talents, holds fast to the only love that sustained him early in life. Young Zoey hopes to uncover and find love from any secrets of her late mother’s life. The past dark traumatic places in their lives are handled with a subtle, but effective touch by the writer.

Their stories smoothly unfold and blend with each other in this memorable and beautiful book of self-acceptance, letting go of the past, and finding hope and love in others and the future. While magical realism is not a genre I’ve lingered in, years ago I read the writer’s previous works as they were places with magical moments as well as imprints of what “could be” and they made my world better. Other Birds is a book I will reread and recommend – and linger in the writer's touching story, eloquence, and wistful images. “Everything around her was suddenly stitched together by unseen threads, as thin as gossamer.” Other Birds lets us slip into and become part of those invisible threads. “A dream, a story, an invisible bird—it was all the same thing, really. Not everything has to be real to be true.”

I am grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Addison Allen for the early access and opportunity to read Other Birds. My opinion is all my own.

Sarah Addison Allen's first book in seven years arrives at a time when we have all been changed by catastrophic events including a global pandemic and (depending on who you ask) the partial or complete collapse of American democracy. On a more personal note, Allen experienced the death of both her sister and her mother in the course of writing this book. So I was wondering how the author's typical mix of Southern gothic and magical realism would land, and if the losses she endured changed her voice.

Zoey arrives at the Dellawisp Condos on Mallow Island, South Carolina, to take ownership of the unit previously owned by her late mother. She is starting college in nearby Charleston soon, but is glad to escape the cold treatment by her father, stepfather and stepsisters a few months earlier than planned. She is greeted by the elderly property manager Frasier, who fills her in on the other condo residents: paranoid, furtive Lizbeth Lime; her reclusive sister Lucy; young artist Charlotte; and genial chef Mac. But during Zoey's first night on Mallow Island, Lizbeth is killed in a horrible accident.

With nothing to do until school starts, Zoey agrees to clean out Lizbeth's apartment, which is full of boxes and boxes of seemingly useless flyer, receipts and other paper. As Zoey struggles to figure out the reasons for Lizbeth's hostility towards the world, she also strikes up a tentative friendship with Charlotte, who has issues of her own, and Mac, who carries the past with him in a very physical way. Everyone at the Dellawisp has secrets, one of which is about to be revealed in a way that puts all of the residents in danger.

The book's chapters are written from several different POVs, including Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, Frasier, and an assortment of ghosts who are lingering around, waiting for something to happen before they can move along. Zoey doesn't see or feel the ghosts, but she has an invisible pigeon who has been with her for many years. These paranormal touches are generally accepted by the characters, but they don't overwhelm the plot.

Zoey's arrival is the catalyst for change, as friendships start to build and a romance or two emerges. The tone is a little darker than Allen's previous books, but not at all bleak or depressing. She still knows how to tell a page-turning story that celebrates found family and explores the challenging dynamics of maternal and sisterly bonds. I may be more cynical than I was the last time I read one of her books, but I am still charmed and moved by the troubled, lonely characters who are looking for connection even as they are afraid of what will happen if they let down their guard.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for honest review.

Wow. Just wow. This book is so very touching, I cried many times and I am not much of a crier. The characters in this book all were so important and I felt attached to each of them! I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone I come across.

Years ago, I devoured Sarah Addison Allen’s books. There is just something so magical about her writing and I was thrilled to see she was coming out with a new book, Other Birds. We’ve had to wait seven long years for her newest novel!

I absolutely loved the setting of South Carolina, the group of characters, and pretty much everything about Other Birds. There is a little magical realism that I don’t usually like but in this book, I didn’t mind it.

Here’s the plot:

Between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways. Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits—a stunning 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 Mallow Island, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors, including a girl on the run, two estranged middle-aged sisters, a lonely chef, and a legendary writer, and three ghosts. Each with their own story, Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn’t written yet.

Out on August 30!

Wow!! I’m almost at a loss for words! I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Sarah Addison Allen but this might be my favorite of all!

I’ve read many great books lately that I’ve given five stars but Other Birds deserves at least ten!

SAA has such a way with words and drawing you into a story. Every book she’s written has drawn me in and made me wish I lived in that world and I can easily say that I’d love to be a resident of the Dellawisp on Mallow Island! To be a part of a family that includes Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, Oliver and Frasier would be tremendous!

If you enjoy magical realism and being swept away to special places full of extraordinary people, get your hands on a copy of Other Birds! I know that I’ll be reading it again myself!

The people living in the Dellawisp building are all trying to find their place in the world. They all need a little help from the people they have lost who come back in a variety of ways to figure out just where they belong.

Sarah Addison Allen has done it again! Another fabulous read by one of my favorite authors who never disappoints! The magical realism transports the reader right into the story.

Magical, transformative read that made me smile while reading, which is always the sign of a great read.

The characters are quirky, each unique in their own ways, but they have a depth that makes them feel like old friends. This book has emotions, a little mystery, a bit of magic, and a lot of heart.

Magical

4.5 stars

“Birds are supposed to be messengers between heaven and earth.”

A motley group of eccentric characters find the true meaning of love, loss, and friendship in Other Birds.

18-year-old Zoey moves from Tulsa to Mallow Island in South Carolina months before she starts college. The island holds a special place in Zoey’s heart, as it is where her mother lived when she first immigrated from Cuba. Zoey moves into her mother’s studio in a quirky condo community, Dellawisp Condo, named after the dellawisp birds that call the grounds home. When one of the residents dies, the building works in mysterious ways to bring the residents together.

In addition to Zoey’s, multiple perspectives are shared by the residents of the Dellawisp (and their ghosts). There’s Mac, an executive Chef, Charlotte, a henna artist, hoarder Lizbeth Lime, and her shut-in sister, Lucy Lime, as well as Oliver, Lizbeth’s son. The community is run by Frasier, the caretaker who holds a special affinity for the Dellawisp birds. I loved all of the characters, but there was something about Mac’s story that touched my heart.

The perspectives of the ghosts added another layer to the story. Pigeon’s chapter had me crying happy tears.

All of the residents have secrets, and their secrets are keeping their ghosts in their lives.

It took me time to connect, especially with Zoey’s character, but when I finally did, I was completely immersed. I could not put this book down; it made me want to move to the fictitious Mallow Island and meet the dellawisps.

Addison transported me to Mallow Island. I not only felt like I was in another place while reading this but also that I was in another time. Magical realism is woven throughout seamlessly, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The dellawisps, the island, and all of the characters warmed my heart. Food also plays a special role in this story and unites the characters.

This is a beautifully written story with a heartwarming message about love and found family: “If the people around you don’t love you just as you are, find new people. They are out there.”

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

I completely absorbed this book. When you're waiting for an author's next brilliant work, the days are long. I read that Allen took time off of publishing to care for her mom, and I knew that she was going to infuse this book with that depth of heart and breathtaking love for a mom who needs your help. I know that depth. Sarah Addison Allen has written a full-on masterpiece with her signature magical places and little creatures in this case, the birds,) and her handling of those who come back....it's magic. If you lost a great love, and you believe that life has a world of magic in it, read Other Birds. It's genius. So beyond worth the wait. Hugs to Allen for delving into her caretaking moment to weave gold into this story.

Other Birds

3.75⭐️

This book started out slow for me but really grew into its own. It takes place on a small island but mostly inside an apartment building where an eclectic group of people live. The story goes through each of their perspectives as well as a few ghosts that surround them.

I loved the connections that grew, especially Zoey as she brought them together. I didn’t love all the quirky ghost stories.

Thanks to @netgalley for this advanced copy of Other Birds coming out this August!

I was thrilled to see this author had written a new book!
This one is set on an southern island resort town…Mallow Island.
There is a beautiful cobblestone apartment building called the Dellawisp.(named after the tiny turquoise birds that inhabit the area alongside the tenants).
I loved this cast of characters who resided in this building… they are all lonely souls, some with secrets from the past..
the way they come together and become like family.
Its a beautiful story.
Of course, this author always has a touch of magical realism in her novels, this time a few meddling ghosts.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Sarah Addison Allen OTHER BIRDS

The Dellawisp Condos, formerly stables, tucked behind the shops on Mallow Island, are named for the unusual birds that reign there. These bossy little thieves, the dellawisps, are the “other birds” and the residents of the Dellawisp Condos are decidedly “other” also, as Zoey soon discovers when she moves into the condo inherited from her mother.
All have secrets and sorrows, reasons to hide, but gradually they begin creating the family they weren’t fortunate enough to be born into. There are risks and rewards and the ultimate question: Is it better to be “an other bird" or to try to be whatever “normal” is? It may be easier to fit in, but is it worth the cost of hiding one's own unique self?
Like Paloma, I was a bit sad at the end, not wanting the visit to end, wanting to spend more time in this magical place of food, friendship, ghosts, and surprises. I’ll plan to revisit and savor the beauty again, lingering over lush descriptions. Perhaps someday a dramatization will be done as well, but for now the pictures in my mind will do, along with the ones I found when I looked up witch balls and mallow plants (both beautiful). It’s like a little coastal vacation, and some cornbread and Millionaire pie would go nicely with some iced tea.

I have been a Sarah Addison Allen fan for a long time and always enjoy her books. This one, like all of her books, has great characters. I enjoyed the ghost also. However, the plot takes a while to develop and for the reader to kind of figure out what is going on. I still greatly enjoyed reading this novel and thank you for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded down

I’m a huge SAA fan - so I rounded down to try to stay unbiased. Not sure if that’s fair or not but it is what it is.

Will I reread this over and over like some of her others? Nope. Am I glad I read this one? Yup. Will I buy it to add to my collection? Absolutely.

Zoey moves back to Mallow Island in hopes of finding herself maybe through learning her mother’s story. Instead it’s the stories of the characters she encounters that creates her home.

There’s definitely sparks of something every so often within the pages and her signature 1-2 quippy liners, but it lacked an overall emotional pull for me. Things concluded nicely but it didn’t feel tied together throughout.

Thank you for the eARC - I will always be a fan of hers and was so exciting to read this early!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC! I haven’t read a SAA book in years so I was excited for this.

Overall, I thought the sentiment was there with this story. It held my interest at first, but it took too long to explain what was going on and I found myself confused at times instead of curious or intrigued. I think if I read this book some other time I may rate it better, it just was not my vibe this time though I love magical realism

The city of Charleston is known for its ghost stories. So, it’s no surprise that an island not too far away has residents talking about their very own tales of magic and spirits from the beyond. This place is called Mallow Island where an unusual species of birds known as dellawisps can be found.

Zoey’s mother sadly passed away 12 years ago and left her daughter the deed to her condo on the island. Zoey decided to stay there for the summer before attending the College of Charleston in the fall. She couldn’t wait to move out from her home in Tulsa. Apparently, her father and stepmother were happy to say goodbye as well.

She was greeted by Frasier, an elderly Black man, managing the care of five condos. She followed him inside her new place carrying her luggage and a birdcage with her invisible friend, Pigeon. Over the next few weeks of time, she met the other home owners who all had an interesting past along with the resident birds that didn’t seem to fit in. Frasier said, “I’d much rather be an other bird than just the same old thing.”

It's the characters that make this book come alive – quirky and fun in their own way with stories from each home owner and ghosts still around. Those that were once outsiders came together when Zoey entered the circle. This group of five gradually started to belong which brought in a greater sense of happiness and love. Everyone wants to belong in some way. This story is beautifully written with a satisfying ending.

My thanks to Sarah Addison Allen, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of August 30, 2022.

Other Birds was a beautiful read, connecting the stories and lives of the lonely misfits and ghosts at the Dellawisp on Marrow Island.

I honestly picked up the book because of the gorgeous cover, and was not disappointed.

Zoey, a recent high school graduate moves to Marrow Island to take on her mother's condo, wanting a fresh start at attending college and to connect to her mother's previous, who passed several years ago. Soon, Zoey is making friends with the other tenants and learning the meaning of overcoming loneliness.

I really enjoyed it and how everyone's lives became entangled, in a beautiful way.

4 whimsical stars

Sarah Addison Allen is known for writing books with magical realism and this one is no exception! Set on Mallow Island, South Carolina, the author creates a world that I would love to inhabit!

An apartment complex is tucked away like a secret down an alley -- named The Dellawisp for the enchanting birds that live there. Our main character Zoey moves to her mother’s abandoned apartment at The Dellawisp one summer. She encounters the odd cast of characters in the apartment dwellers, but soon makes friends.

There’s Max, a world-class chef, Charlotte, a young woman who never settles for long, and plenty of ghosts. Throw in a death and mysterious cornmeal and you have a fascinating story!

This story was a great break from heavier reads, and I quite savored it! I loved the last chapter and found it to be an excellent way to end the story.