Book Review: Other Birds

A Two-Minute Book Review

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

“Right off the coast of South Carolina, on Mallow Island, The Dellawisp sits — a stunning old 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 an island outside of Charleston, she meets her quirky and secretive neighbors…and three ghosts.”

I love it when a book meets my expectations. I enjoyed GARDEN SPELLS (2007) and had high hopes for a charming found-family story with a bit of magical realism. OTHER BIRDS was a perfect summer read, lounging by the pool. Allen’s writing pulls the reader into the story, and her characters are unique, well-rounded, and likable. The plot is interesting without being too heavy — a lovely book.

Of course, now I want a sketch of “old man Otis,” the cutest of the Dellawisps, and something cooked with cornmeal.

Thanks, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Sarah Addison Allen, for the opportunity to review OTHER BIRDS. US Pub Date: 30 Aug 2022

Do you read magical realism? Let me know some good recommendations in the comments!