This book was so engaging, just like the characters in it. It is beautiful storytelling and so, so magical. A very poignant story which grabs your imagination from page one. I couldn’t put it down as I really wanted to immerse myself in these characters lives and those around them dealing with shifts of existence. We all think about whether the choices we've made were the best ones at the time and this book explores this with a magical, mysterious storyline and I loved it.

This book can go under many genres; new adult, magical realism, paranormal, romance, mystery, women's fiction...the list goes on and on but in a word, it was simply lovely. Beautiful, emotional and so believable. Read it in a couple of sittings. This book is compelling, heartbreaking and thought-provoking all at the same time and I was really pleased with the surprising secrets and twists. The central theme of everlasting hope shines through to the very end, I will miss these characters.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written.
The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing.
The characters and storyline were fantastic.
Truly amazing and appreciated the whole story.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

St. Martin's Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

It’s been several years since her last book, so I was elated when I received an early copy from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

There really is a Queen of magical realism and she’s back. I so missed Sarah Addison Allen’s writing. I’ve read all of her books and was a fan from the beginning.

This novel is exceptional and was well worth the wait. From the very beginning we have a condo in a cobblestone building on an island, a pink kitchen and an invisible bird. The story just keeps getting better and better. The characters are so well written and the descriptive writing was lovely. I swear I could smell and taste the food and feel the atmosphere on Mallow Island and in the garden with the dellawisps. Personally, I want to live at The Dellawisp and visit the bakery and sweet shops with all things marshmallow.

I loved this so much, I have preordered a copy of this novel. Release date is September 13, 2022. Congratulations to the author for this beautiful story.

Sarah Addison Allen is back with a fantastic exploration of found family. This found family has members that have all experienced some rather devastating losses or hardships, sometimes both.

They live in a magical little group of condos with fantastic, other-worldly birds, a ghost or three, and uniquely drawn characters, most of whom are endearing, real, and extremely interesting. Even the two that I didn't much care for I came to understand and have empathy for.

Prepare yourself for beautiful, lush descriptions that are so real you can feel the softness of the air and see the cornmeal in the head chef's hair, more than a little dose of magical realism, and a journey of the heart well worth taking. No one does characters and magical realism like SAA and I simply adore her, her other books, but especially this book.

Take the time to read the acknowledgement at the end. It's worth it. I'm devastated that Other Birds is finished and while I rarely reread books, I do believe this is one I will.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

I was so excited to get my hands on this long awaited story by the marvelous Sarah Addison Allen. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.
This tale weaves a spell into the fabric of the readers heart with it’s mesmerizing imagery. The characters are a fascinating menagerie of residents that inhabit of Dellawisp Condos on the charming Mallow Island. These individuals all have a story, the chef, the artist, the caretaker and the sisters. When the newest resident, Zoey, moves in changes abound.
At its heart this book explores the themes of self discovery, found family, and love in a way that is unique to Sarah Addison Allen’s storytelling. I found myself highlighting so many moving phrases and passages and so know I will need to re-read this one. Finishing this book left me feeling both contented and wistful. This is a must read story for fans of magical realism.

I am a big fan of Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are ones I have reread over and over. I have anxiously awaiting this book for years. This book is in the same category of the rest of her books. A classic. One that must be on my bookshelf.

Sarah Addison Allen writes characters who just can't help but love and wish that you knew them in real life. I especially loved the character, Camille. This book stirred so many emotions in me. I don't think I will be the same again.

"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."
It's been seven long years since Sarah Addison Allen's last book. Seven long years of me waiting. Seven years of tumultuous life for the author--surviving cancer and then experiencing the loss of both her mother and her sister. It was worth the wait for sure. As much as I wanted to savor each page, I also wanted to inhale these words I had been longing to read. I think I was able to achieve a balance.

This story features one of my favorite themes, which is found family. These characters are real, raw, somewhat broken, somewhat healed, with fractured pasts and working toward new beginnings. There's loss and grief and misunderstanding. They come together, along with a few ghosts, to help each other move forward.

I adore Allen's magical realism and her incorporation of food as one means to communicate love and care. Her characters are vividly drawn and made me want to know even more about them. There's the perfect amount of intentionality by the author to craft an imaginative and moving tale, sure to please current fans of her work and hopefully to create some new ones as well. Do yourself a favor and pre-order this book, you won't be disappointed.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an early copy of this lovely novel.

Sarah Addison Allen writes books that bring comfort, joy, and magic to her readers. Other Birds was worth the wait.

I read it in one sitting because I needed to know what happened to the characters so lovingly brought to life by Ms. Allen's words. Now I'm going to read it again to savor those words and soak up all the magic. Wishing one of those little birds would come sit with me.