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sarahspils's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
I absolutely adore this book 🥹.
The progression of the book feels perfectly paced, and the development of each character is thoughtful and thorough. It's been awhile since I've felt this emotionally drawn to characters, and feeling this way towards every established character seems almost rare. Allen does such a wonderful job of this, though, and the more I learned about each character the more my heart ached and swelled for all of them.
The way that the themes are woven into the book also felt comfortably embedded; almost nothing felt too obvious too soon, and everything you find out as you read feels like it falls into place at just the right time and moment. This truly is such a beautiful story of finding family through unfamiliar means and people, making our way through the world, and learning to let go of the things that linger with us. I truly feel like this book will stick with me for awhile. :')
The progression of the book feels perfectly paced, and the development of each character is thoughtful and thorough. It's been awhile since I've felt this emotionally drawn to characters, and feeling this way towards every established character seems almost rare. Allen does such a wonderful job of this, though, and the more I learned about each character the more my heart ached and swelled for all of them.
The way that the themes are woven into the book also felt comfortably embedded; almost nothing felt too obvious too soon, and everything you find out as you read feels like it falls into place at just the right time and moment. This truly is such a beautiful story of finding family through unfamiliar means and people, making our way through the world, and learning to let go of the things that linger with us. I truly feel like this book will stick with me for awhile. :')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, and Car accident
teresaelj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
5.0
This is one of my new favorite books of all time. It is a book I genuinely think everyone should read. Firstly I was partial to it because it takes place in a fictionalized town off the coast of Charleston - in the sea islands on Wadmalaw. And secondly it’s magical realism.
This books is so easily read and it’s a book that handles so many kinds of grief as well as the importance of found family and love. There is an air of mystery and deep line of love. It’s human and gives you hope. At the end of the day it is a book centered on love that left me in tear.
This book will stay with me for the remainder of my life for sure.
This books is so easily read and it’s a book that handles so many kinds of grief as well as the importance of found family and love. There is an air of mystery and deep line of love. It’s human and gives you hope. At the end of the day it is a book centered on love that left me in tear.
This book will stay with me for the remainder of my life for sure.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, and Death of parent
hcgambrell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
sunnydale's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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? N/A
4.0
atmospheric, engaging story that manages to feel joyful while exploring heavy themes such as grief and the complicated legacy of flawed parents. the characters are so human, their virtues and flaws presented without judgment. i love that characters' emotions and decisions accurately reflect their age and the stage of life they're in.
i also loved the descriptions of food—i need to make a batch of cornbread asap.
i also loved the descriptions of food—i need to make a batch of cornbread asap.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
monalyisha's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I know that SAA is prolific & well-loved; this was my first time reading her writing. It was…sort of a mixed bag. I liked her characters. I thought they were sweet. I enjoyed the magical elements (especially the ghosts) and the light romance. It bothered me that Charlotte, blonde & boho, supported herself by doing henna (cultural appropriation). The worst of it, though, was the sheer number of similes and metaphors per page. It was a little absurd. 😬
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault
r_j_setser's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
"Book lovers can spot a wrapped book a mile away."
This was a beautiful and fun book! Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, and Oliver kept me laughing, feeling comforted, and fully engaged in their story. It was simple, but in a complimentary way. The story and characters had such a depth to them without making you feel bogged down by their pasts or struggles. It was such a beautiful way of portraying the complexities of people and how, when you find the right people, those struggles that typically isolate you can have the same power to knit you together and create strong bonds. I loved how natural the communication was for these broken people and it just felt so much like "finally" finding people who will stay on your side through thick and thin. Zoey and Charlotte's friendship was so comforting and healthy, too. Exactly what female friendships should be.
The mysterious undertones kept me flipping the pages. The food--oh my goodness. I would buy a cookbook of recipes from this book (and other Allen books!). Since finishing Other Birds, I've started The Girl Who Chased the Moon (also by Sarah Addison Allen) and her food descriptions set my mouth to watering.
The romance was so sweet and comforting, too. The kind that makes you feel like watching your best friend fall in love with someone who is PERFECT for them. There are several mentions of casual s3x from background characters but there's nothing shown on page. Overall, I adored this book and as I mentioned above, I immediately started another book by this author because I wanted more. This would be a great summer read!
This was a beautiful and fun book! Zoey, Charlotte, Mac, and Oliver kept me laughing, feeling comforted, and fully engaged in their story. It was simple, but in a complimentary way. The story and characters had such a depth to them without making you feel bogged down by their pasts or struggles. It was such a beautiful way of portraying the complexities of people and how, when you find the right people, those struggles that typically isolate you can have the same power to knit you together and create strong bonds. I loved how natural the communication was for these broken people and it just felt so much like "finally" finding people who will stay on your side through thick and thin. Zoey and Charlotte's friendship was so comforting and healthy, too. Exactly what female friendships should be.
The mysterious undertones kept me flipping the pages. The food--oh my goodness. I would buy a cookbook of recipes from this book (and other Allen books!). Since finishing Other Birds, I've started The Girl Who Chased the Moon (also by Sarah Addison Allen) and her food descriptions set my mouth to watering.
The romance was so sweet and comforting, too. The kind that makes you feel like watching your best friend fall in love with someone who is PERFECT for them. There are several mentions of casual s3x from background characters but there's nothing shown on page. Overall, I adored this book and as I mentioned above, I immediately started another book by this author because I wanted more. This would be a great summer read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child death
Content/trigger warnings: Little to no cursing. No spice. No gore.javafenn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
I deeply enjoyed listening to this book. I really loved the tendrils of ghosts lingering amongst each character and why their specific ghost sticks around. Zoey is so very young and you can’t help but hope nothing bad happens to her. She moves into her late mother’s apartment at the Dellawisp to learn who she was. She meets now friends and brings new meaning to the Dellawisp along the way. It’s a sweet book with a satisfying ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
melshoo's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Abandonment
katrinarose's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.0
Such a sweet story of love, overcoming trauma, and found family. It took me a bit longer than I expected to connect with the characters but it was a platonic slow burn and by the end I got emotional for all of them!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
yoadrienne16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual content