Other Birds: A Novel

Written by Sarah Addison Allen

Narrated by Siiri Scott

From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes a tale of lost souls, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.

Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of Mallow Island, South Carolina, lies a stunning cobblestone building comprised of five apartments. It's called The Dellawisp and it's named after the tiny turquoise birds who, alongside its human tenants, inhabit an air of magical secrecy.

When Zoey Hennessey comes to claim her deceased mother's apartment at The Dellawisp, she meets her quirky, enigmatic neighbors including a girl on the run, a grieving chef whose comfort food does not comfort him, two estranged middle-aged sisters, and three ghosts. Each with their own story. Each with their own longings. Each whose ending isn't yet written.

When one of her new neighbors dies under odd circumstances the night Zoey arrives, she's thrust into the mystery of The Dellawisp, which involves missing pages from a legendary writer whose work might be hidden there. She soon discovers that many unfinished stories permeate the place, and the people around her are in as much need of healing from wrongs of the past as she is. To find their way they have to learn how to trust each other, confront their deepest fears, and let go of what haunts them.

Delightful and atmospheric, Other Birds is filled with magical realism and moments of pure love that won't let you go. Sarah Addison Allen shows us that between the real and the imaginary, there are stories that take flight in the most extraordinary ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Aug 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781469222127

Sarah Addison Allen

Sarah Addison Allen lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she is at work on her next novel.

Reviews for Other Birds

[ForFor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I did not think I would love this book as much as I did! It really made me want to jump into the pages and join this found family! The characters all felt so real and I wish I could talk to them all!

[Valery Bolliger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A cute story with some unexpected turns. Could have made more out of the setting but good for a bit of mystery and some romantic charm.

[donnalvsbooks6044 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book immensely, and was so happy that the author has written another magical realism book.

[andy5185 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What does it take to let go? Sarah Addison Allen has given us a beautiful and enchanting story about a few people on an island that in coming together discover what it means to face your fears, let go and move forward. Includes a large dose of magical realism with ghosts narrating intermittently between the real people drama. Not a complex plot, it’s pretty obvious where the story is going,but I loved every page. It was healing to read. Trigger warning: there is trauma in this tale in the form of addressing past abuse, violence, and PTSD.

[spiritedstardust · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too many POVs for me

[Leah Barton Tew · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book doesn’t know what it’s about.

It reads as though the author had several ideas in her head but couldn’t flesh out any of them enough to write an entire book, so she threw them all together and came up with a (very) loose framework to connect them. Many plot points come and go that are either never developed, or add nothing to the story line. Often I was left thinking “What was the point of that?” On the other hand, some plot points come out of nowhere to make another plot point make sense, when in fact they both should’ve been left out entirely.

To that end, there’s just no cohesiveness to the plot, to the characters’ motivations, etc. I love a novel where multiple threads are carefully woven together into an amazing fabric. This is not the case with this book, which is more like a poorly sewn and misshapen crazy quilt.

The other thing I didn’t like about this book is that it feels like a brainless Lifetime movie. I don’t like Lifetime movies because they only work if you check at least 50 IQ points at the door. This book is no exception, and it just gets worse the closer you get to the end.

The book gets one star because the author is a good wordsmith. It gets a second star because it doesn’t have any gratuitous sex scenes. The three points I didn’t give it are for having a wildly and unnecessarily meandering plot line, erratic character and structural development, and because it wasted my time.

[Sherri Chandler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The was a charming story of life and the lives of people looking for the love family can bring, whether blood or chosen. I have often heard ‘your friends are the family you choose’. It is deftly illustrated in this story.

[faye373 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good narration, always clear who was saying what, and also a good story

[V Warfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A cozy, feel-good story. If you're looking for a hopeful, atmospheric book, this is it. A few of the author's observations were so well-worded and profound that they really stuck with me. For example, (probably paraphrased due to the limitations of my memory) "Stories aren't fiction. Stories are fabric. We drape them over our ghosts so we can see them." But overall, this isn't a book that is trying to be profound. Rather, it is a comfort to read.

[csofiam · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a lovely story... Our past, our fears, our dreams... maybe we all want to be another birds instead of a ordinary one's

[Camille · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not worth the listen. Poor character development and story telling. This could have been a good story if it was crafted better.

[ras2432 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's been so long since I fell in love with a story like I did this one. Beautiful.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Plus 3 more *** if I could. I always so enjoy anything written by Sara Addison Allen and this book was absolutely lovely to read. She writes with such flare and detail I can see in my mind these little birds flitting everywhere in their home at the Dellawhisp. I read her books with such joy but so sad its done until the next!

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great work of magical realism from Allen that explores families of all varieties, including those no longer living.

[onyx95_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In an attempt to feel closer to the mother who had passed many before, Zoey moved to Mallow Island and into her mother's condo. Meeting some of the other tenants and finding a way to draw them out of their own shells was something she never thought she would be good at, but she was doing a lot of new things lately. Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite authors, so glad she has written another book. This story I found to be a little predictable but at the same time, it's such a sweet story and I think is written so well that I didn't mind the knowing. It was still a joy with each ah-ha moment that I read.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of Zoey who lost her mother years earlier, and her father has remarried and is engrossed in his new family. He made no secret of his desire for Zoey to move away. So, Zoey heads to the place where her mother once lived and meets a diverse cast of characters that helps her to heal from heartbreak. She brings along Pigeon, a bird that only she can see. This wasn't my favorite of Ms. Allen's books, but it still has a magical touch.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful, enchanting, and engrossing - this sweet book of neighbors, ghosts, and fresh starts was perfect to get me in the mood for Halloween. Slightly paranormal but mostly human drama, Other Birds details the people tied to The Dellawisp, a fun and funky set of townhomes set on Mallow Island. When eighteen year old, Zoey moves into her apartment she immediately sets about getting to know her neighbors. Zoey is looking for a fresh start and the only thing of real value she brought with her is her invisible bird named Pigeon. The living inhabitants of The Dellawisp are Charlotte - a young woman in her twenties who does Henna and seems to be hiding from the world, Lizabeth - a loud angry woman doesn't want anyone or anything making any noise on the property, Lucy - the reclusive older sister of Lizabeth who no one ever sees, Mac - the red headed chef who is nice to look at, and Frasier - the property manager. Each resident has their own ghosts (whether they realize it or not) but the closer they get to each other the less they need their ghosts. A fun and unique story.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This long-awaited book by Ms. Allen is finally here and I am so happy! As always such a treasure to read a mesmerizing story that expresses loss and healing.

[eliz12_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I struggled getting through this book, with the second half especially challenging. The characters were never developed, never left me feeling they could be real people. Instead, they existed in this story to have a problem that could be resolved thanks to the other characters. The curious names and nicknames - Garland, Pepper, Macboy, Lizbeth Lime - always slowed me down, as though readers are being tossed a bit of quirkiness that's supposed to be fun, but instead it's annoying and cute. There were long scenes (everything with Garland) that were irrelevant to the book, and many moments that should have been much longer. The first half of the story is a bit drawn out and never really takes us anywhere, seeming to promise something extraordinary in the end. But it's the end that's the quickest, and too tidy, and throughly unsatisfying. I found it annoying that the author chooses to quote a "book" from within the story - ie herself - at the beginning, making me believe she's a bit too charmed by her own words. Often, I saw this as a would-be Alice Hoffman tale, but it never acheived Hoffman's lyrical writing or ability to take the reader to a world filled with enchantment yet undeniably real.

[fredreeca · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Zoey has recently left her father’s home to go to college. She has moved to a condo she inherited from her mother on Mallow Island, South Carolina. She meets all the weird neighbors and absolutely falls in love with the place. But, can she heal and overcome her past?I fell for Zoey on the very first page. She is so young, but yet, she has some wisdom about her and she is so full of kindness. She is just one of the many characters which create this lovely story. I loved them all! They each bring their own tragedies and insecurities into this tale but they also bring their strengths.No one does magic like Sarah Addison Allen. I have loved this author since her very first book and if you have not read her…you are missing out! All her books have characters which are damaged in some way or another. And there is alway just a touch of magic which just helps everyone see where life is supposed to lead them. This book tops the list!Need a book which will make you smile and tug at your heartstrings…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, talk about author's who try something different.This is not the Sarah Addison Allen I know and adore.  This is something more ambitious, edgier, with sharp, uncomfortable characters that survived sharp, uncomfortable experiences.  Rather than 2 characters Allen bounces between, this is an ensemble cast, and every one of them are victims of abuse (TW for molestation, though never explicitly described) and neglect.  None of them define themselves that way, but all are living the lives they live, in part, as a reaction to that abuse or neglect.  Only one truly continues to suffer.This is also almost more a ghost story than it is a magical realism.  The magical realism is still here, though muted and without playing a central role in the characters' lives.  Instead, the ghosts that haunt the dellawisp condos are the driving force behind the characters, with one ghost in particular driving the plot of the book itself.  The ghosts range from kind and loving to horribly broken.In spite of what may sound like a melancholy, depressing setup, the story is actually quite optimistic and full of hope.  These people aren't damaged goods (save one of the characters and her part is a centre stage one, even though her story is pivotal); they're all building their best lives, and after the death of a tyrannical neighbor, they come together as friends, some with the possibility of romance, although no romance occurs on these pages.The dellawisp birds add a spot of comedy here and there, as these little tiny turquoise birds rule the roost at the dellawisp condos (named after them), bossing the residents around, stealing their stuff, attacking strangers, catching a ride on residents' heads.So, while this isn't the kind of Sarah Addison Allen story I love so very much that re-reading them is like shrugging into a favourite blanket when it's cold, it was a very good, well told, well-written story.I read this for Halloween Bingo 2022 for the Magical Realism square, but it would work equally well for Ghosts & Hauntings.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I know that I am not the only fan who has been eagerly waiting for Sarah Addison Allen’s latest novel, Other Birds. I found this author’s previous books to be magical, special, and enticing. Other Birds did not have the same feel as the author’s other works. I did not find myself drawn into the story. The tale is told from several point-of-views (the residents along with a ghost or two). The story meanders from one character to the next. I enjoyed the descriptions of Mallow Island as well as the apartment complex with the lush foliage and unusual birds. There is an assortment of characters who have issues. There is one trying to run from her past (that never works), one who has someone they are not ready to let go, estranged sisters, a young woman looking to bond with her deceased mother, one who wishes to escape the island, and the caretaker of the condos. It is an offbeat cast of characters with some of them having unusual quirks. Before Zoey arrived at The Dellawisp, the residents kept to themselves. Proximity along with some strange occurrences slowly bring the residents together. The residents begin to bond and slowly get to know each other. They each have something they need to get past (hoarding, mental health issues, child neglect, sexual assault, a cult) before they can move on with their lives. There is your biological family, and then there is the family you create which is what we have in Other Birds. It happens in a way that is slightly unbelievable. The magical element was different (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you). I did not feel that the characters were fleshed out (there were too many of them, so they all suffered). I was never able to get into this book (I tried). I felt Other Birds lacked substance. There are various unrelated storylines along with a mystery or two. I felt that the ending to Zoey’s story was lackluster. The mystery resolution is rushed and incomplete. While Other Birds is my least favorite book by this author, I am looking forward to Sarah Addison Allen’s next magical tale. Other Birds is a unique story with an enticing island, bizarre birds, a fragrant tree, an abnormal mystery, quirky residents, and past pains.

[cmdh5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Other Birds by Sara Addison Allen is a story about a town, it’s quirky residents, and a reclusive author. It’s about abandonment and how people navigate grief. It’s about writing a new ending to your own story. There are very few authors that are autobuy for me. There are very few authors that I’m a ‘completist’ of, having read all of their books (at least once). There are even fewer authors I’ll preorder, waiting months (or longer) for their next release. The number of authors that hit all of these are very slim indeed, and Sarah Addison Allen is one. I believe that words are magical, they matter, they have power. Books quite literally saved my life. There was a time when nothing else made sense, but books did. Sarah Addison Allen’s books found me when I needed magic. They spoke to me in such a deep, hopeful way that’s hard to explain. But that’s how books work. Fans of her writing know that several years ago she lost both her mother and sister, a loss so profound she needed to tend to her own soul before writing again. Thus the gap between her last book and Other Birds. It’s clear she’s a different writer now, something I appreciate. I think this is an extremely personal book for Sarah Addison Allen. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy, to Netgalley for the digital ARC, and to Goodreads for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[carolesrandomlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was excellent! I have read a couple of Sarah Addison Allen’s books before picking this one up so I had a good feeling that this would be a book I would enjoy. I just love the way that she weaves just a hint of magic into her stories and I really believe that she is one of the best when it comes to magical realism. It didn’t take long for me to fall for the characters in this story and I soon found this book very hard to set aside.After graduating from high school, Zoey decides to move into her mother’s old studio condo at the Dellawisp. Another resident has recently died, leaving a condo full of paper and other items. Zoey takes on the task of clearing out the unit and is soon joined by another neighbor, Charlotte. Zoey and Charlotte work on cleaning together and eventually get to know the chef that lives in the building, Mac. I love the bonds that this group of characters formed over the course of the story. Zoey seemed to be the catalyst that was able to bring everyone together, even Oliver, who says he wants nothing to do with his mother’s things. Every character in the book had an interesting history and I really enjoyed the way those stories were worked into the story.I really wanted to see everything work out for this group of characters. Each of them deserved to have good things in their lives. I loved that the most important thing that they gained over the course of the story was their relationships with each other. All of the characters were able to find some closure from the things from their past that has been haunting them. There is just a bit of magic sprinkled throughout the novel which kept things very interesting.I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a delightful story featuring a fantastic cast of characters that I could help but root for. There were a few twists in the story that I found rather surprising as well. I definitely need to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Whimsical, charming, magical, who can't use a little magic in their lives? A feel good book, one that explores real life problems and features some terrific characters who are trying to work their way through them. The location of Mallow Island, an island off the coast of Georgia, and is noted for their mallow plant, reminded me of St.Simons island a place I love. Just gorgeous.There are whimsical birds, magical cornmeal, and love just waiting to be found. Spending the time to read this book was both poignant and delightful. I just love this authors books and this one was a long time coming. Well worth the wait.ARC from edelweiss.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s been a long time since I last read Addison Allen, and I was worried that I’ve grown so far away from fiction that I wouldn’t enjoy it — no worries there, the story is as magical and captivating as her other books, and the characters and settings have been haunting me ever since. As usual, she sets out to make you fall in love with the sense of place, and Mallow island, South Carolina doesn’t disappoint. Also, the weird tiny condo community of the Dellawisp with its marvelous bossy birds and surprising ghosts. Beautiful unfolding of characters, particularly wonderful to see them heal and grow. Just a gently enthralling story.

Advanced Readers Copy provided by edelweiss