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literarydeejay's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child abuse
accovino's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
One of her best. Just what I needed. I'm disappointed that the white woman is a henna artist, though. I feel like she could've been a face painter or something similar and not needed to delve into cultural appropriation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Pregnancy, Incest, Drug abuse, Stalking, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Cultural appropriation
eperetz's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia
snipinfool's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
CW: Sexual assault of minor, mental illness, drug abuse, emotional abuse
Zoey arrived on Mallow Island the summer before she was due to move into her college dorm in nearby Charleston. Her mother died twelve years previously and left Zoey a condo at The Dellawhisp. She hoped to find some items there that would spark memories of her mother, as she had few items that belonged her. The Dellawhisp had five units. Two belonged to estranged sisters, one to a man who worked late nights, and one to a woman who was an artist. Three ghosts were also living there as well. The condos were run by an elderly man who had been working there since it had been renovated many years before. The residents knew little about each other despite most living there for a considerable number of years. Zoey didn't know anyone in the area so she made it a goal to try to get to know her neighbors and hopefully become friends.
This was a heartwarming story about found family. Each of the residents was lonely, but for different reasons did not seek out those close by. Zoey became the one who brought them all together. Their life stories were interesting and varied. I love stories where people who are very different in background and experiences find a common thread and become close friends. It gives me hope that we can all find a connection with someone we thought to have nothing in common with. I will be keeping this story in my heart for a long time.
Zoey arrived on Mallow Island the summer before she was due to move into her college dorm in nearby Charleston. Her mother died twelve years previously and left Zoey a condo at The Dellawhisp. She hoped to find some items there that would spark memories of her mother, as she had few items that belonged her. The Dellawhisp had five units. Two belonged to estranged sisters, one to a man who worked late nights, and one to a woman who was an artist. Three ghosts were also living there as well. The condos were run by an elderly man who had been working there since it had been renovated many years before. The residents knew little about each other despite most living there for a considerable number of years. Zoey didn't know anyone in the area so she made it a goal to try to get to know her neighbors and hopefully become friends.
This was a heartwarming story about found family. Each of the residents was lonely, but for different reasons did not seek out those close by. Zoey became the one who brought them all together. Their life stories were interesting and varied. I love stories where people who are very different in background and experiences find a common thread and become close friends. It gives me hope that we can all find a connection with someone we thought to have nothing in common with. I will be keeping this story in my heart for a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
angiebradley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
kekepania's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The plot and POVs are interesting, and there's a nice sprinkling of magical...ness. However, it just gets sad. You're not left really feeling happy for anyone. Just....relieved they could maybe be happy in the future? Warning that there is a lot of mentions of suspected breaks in, which could make a reader feel uneasy or triggered. (Doors found open, hearing a front know rattling, etc)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Addiction
Minor: Violence
haileybones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There is a magical quality to Other Birds that adds to its sweetness -- and its sadness. I liked the story and characters and especially Mallow Island, but the handling of the characters felt a little off to me. They're all dealing with some element of loss, abuse, family, identity, and/or learning how to move through the world and, despite all their personal tragedy and reluctance to process it, they're very self-aware. I think that narrative choice serves the themes and fairy tale vibe of the story, but it comes at the price of some of the authenticity or subtlety or something. It still emotionally connects (I cried more than once), but it was because the author has a talent for profound sentences more than me feeling something for a character. I also noticed the two most prominent black characters fell into some racialized tropes, which made me a little uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
milojean_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Drug use
Minor: Pedophilia, Incest, Child death, and Sexual assault
betsygrace's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I liked this but the end left me feeling like I needed more closure. It took a while for the action to pick up, but I loved reading about the picturesque dellawisps and whatnot. It was a relaxing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body shaming, Child abuse, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, and Grief
jhansell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Violence