Reviews

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

mallyj_20's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

moonspluvia's review against another edition

4.0

A 3.75/low 4 stars!! Man this took me a while to finish. I got like super sad and didn’t want to do anything, so this book stayed in my kindle for like over a week. But then I got a bit better and finished the book!! I gotta admit, the middle wasn’t doing me favors to finish the book. I thought it was okay, but all the tiptoeing and stuff turned me off a little. The last third of the book though really turned around and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! This book is at its best when it focuses on the dynamics between the main four characters and their pasts. I thought the ghost chapters were really interesting and I felt a lot of emotion from them. Overall it was a nice read!! I think if I was in a better mood I would’ve rated it better, but i can always reread!!

tamara_joy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

A sweet book, happily not saccharine though.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Mental illness

Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Drug abuse, and Stalking

kfletchers's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this! The twists were actually pretty interesting and I thought all the characters were very sweet. 

ldillaway's review against another edition

3.0

This book was sweet and a nice read but nothing in it really grabbed me and the pacing in the second half felt quite rushed.

vfinney444's review against another edition

4.0

I’m so sad I wasn’t able to devote the mindset to read this book at 100%. It is going on my to read list for sure. Initially telling the story of 18 year old Zoey going out on the world on her own, it really tells the story of the secrets we hide, the ghosts we keep, and the power of found family. Very sweet, and wholesome, with a sprinkle of magic and mystery.

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

3.0

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.

lemmyjoz's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

5.0

itacuz's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I didn't like this. I don't want to dunk on it too much, but everything felt too prescribed. Like the author wrote what she thought you would want to read, rather than what made sense. 

I'm not some gatekeeper of what something "making sense" is, but there was something off about this book that left the happy endings unsatisfying. Too many things were too convenient, while other elements of realism attempted to drag the book back to reality. 

Some books are not for me and this certainly was one of them. Do with that what you will. 

kahkmyers's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sarah does it again. Somehow she turns a book that when described to others, sounds ridiculous, into a heart warming amazing story. Loved every sweet, sad and twist that makes up this book.