‘The skeletons in the closet have nothing on the one in your backyard. ‘

My thanks to Black Spot Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Little Bird’ by Tiffany Meuret in exchange for an honest review.

As the cover suggests this is a rather unusual novel. Josie Lauer is recently divorced and mourning the death of her father. In order to cope she has established a strict daily routine working from home. Indeed, she isn’t going out. Her only companion is her chihuahua, Po.

This ordered life changed when she notices a small shrub in her backyard. Within hours it has grown and its vine-like tendrils are running amok. Add to this an overly friendly new neighbour and most alarmingly a talking skeleton named Skelly that has perched herself in Josie’s backyard on a throne made of the sentient vines. Skelly’s nickname for Josie is ‘Little Bird’.

Josie takes this all remarkably well considering. Still, she has been consuming a lot of vodka and perhaps these are her versions of pink elephants? As the plants continues to grow and Skelly’s utterances become more cryptic, Josie has to figure out the reason for Skelly’s appearance.

‘Little Bird’ proved a surprising uplifting tale and I certainly couldn’t resist the quirky goings on or a perky talking skeleton and sentient vines. It’s very witty and entertaining.

Overall, I felt that Tiffany Meuret did well in blending horror, fantasy, and comedy. Perhaps this weird little book is not everyone’s cup of tea but it delighted me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Black Spot Books and Tiffany Mueret for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think I missed the point of this book, If I'm completely honest. I thought I was going to love it, but I found myself just feeling confused about the plot - and I think that's completely on me. The writing was great!

*thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc!*

little bird is the first book i had heard of by tiffany meuret, but now i know just how damn weird she gets? it for sure won’t be the last.

little bird is one of those horror novels that is about This but is *actually* about THIS. it is so multifaceted, saying so much in so few words.

the main character, josie, is a complete wreck, and in a lot of ways i think i related to her. the urge to hide away when you feel broken by things that have happened, and the way you try to repair yourself afterwards - or not. the development of josie coming to understand herself and deal with the trauma she’s endured was so engrossing i could barely look away.

this book got weird in the very best way. little bird is the type of book that you have to reread to pick up all the nuances (in my opinion) because the sheer fever dream quality of it blinds you to it on first pass. i thought the otherworldly elements (that i don’t want to spoil) made for one of the most compelling, ‘confusing in the best way’ books i’ve read so far this year.

if i had to compare it to something, i’d say it’s like the disorientation of Bunny by Mona Awad had a baby with the bizarre characterisation of The Beauty by Aliya Whitely. dare i say it though, i personally think this was better than both of those books.

overall this has put tiffany meuret on my radar, and i can’t wait to read some more of her work.

**thank you again to the publisher for providing me with an arc!*

Freshly divorced and grieving her fathers death, Josie has secluded herself to staying inside her home. She follows a daily routine during the day but at night drinking copious amounts. She wakes one morning to find a new shrub in her dirt back yard and with it strange occurrences.

This book was very humorous and unique. I loved the authors style of writing. Josie’s interactions have a snarky bite that I loved. I also loved the talking skeleton, it was an added bonus that brought on more humor.

Possibly the nicest ‘scary’ story I’ve read. It does raise some questions… Is it YA, Is it horror? One question that is easily answerable… Is it good?

We find our protagonist, a dog owner and alcoholic struggling with life in general. When a non-descript plant sprouts in her otherwise barren back yard. And, a new neighbour arrives at the same time.

The plant takes over not only her house and garden, but also her life. “Skelly”, an otherwise unwanted addition to her garden, takes over.

I feel the need to answer the question that I posed last. Is it good? The short answer is a resounding YES.

It flows effortlessly, with a flowing prose between our two main characters. Drawing you into it with ease. It questions life, death and the afterlife without being to heavy and overbearing.

This has become another very easy addition to books that I can recommend.

Status: Completed.

Rating: 4.7/5.0

A sweet little story filled with sadness, fantasy and a mystery. I would not say this book is a horror story at all so that is in my opinion a wrong category for this one.

Our main character is isolating herself from the world. She is having some trouble finding her rhythm again after her father's death and her own divorce. She lives with her small dog and works from home, a home that will become her worst nightmare.

Some weird vines have started growing in her garden and they will start shaping and morphing into something else. Something or someone that will start communicating with her.

This story was quite odd at times and it is more of a metaphorical exploration of life, death and our main character Josie.

Perfect for: People looking for a rather bizarre tale about life and hardships

Trying to Put into words a review for this book for me is like trying to remember a really good dream that you didn’t want to wake up from. I picked up this book and assumed it was a horror/ fantasy novel. And while it is to some extent. It is so so so much more.

Josie is a mess, we’re talking a self deprecating, alcoholic, hermit wrapped in a heavy comfortable shroud of anxiety. Someone who is all to easy to relate to. Recently divorced and still mourning the death of her father she thinks she’s got it all figured out comfortably numb in her existence. Her only anchor to reality and her own humanity is her pup Po. Until the vines start to grow in her back yard, and the skeleton appears. The thing I keep coming back to with this little novel is the anger. Josie is so angry at the world, at life, at her mom, her ex husband, that through the majority of the story she so closed off and down right mean. It’s a relatable kind of rage that I found myself sympathizing with more than it being a turn off of her character. Her new neighbor Sue is extremely likable in a kinda nosey mother knows best sort of way. I appreciated her bluntness and direct approach during her interactions with Josie. My favorite character however was the ever enigmatic Skelly. The witty and at times down right comical dialog between her and Josie is a delight.

I really just don’t think I can properly express the depth of truth and exposure of the human condition that this novel so effortlessly pulls out. While somewhat hidden in metaphors and cryptic stories only an immortal skeleton can tell, the message will hit you in some sort of way. And it will definitely stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Josie Lauer is freshly divorced and grieving the death of her father. In her misery, she has become a bit of recluse, perfecting the company of her chihuahua, Po, to any of her neighbors. But when a mysterious woman moves into the house next door and a skeleton seated on a throne of vines shows up in her backyard, Josie just might be forced out of her comfort zone.

I honestly enjoyed this book so much. Little Bird is definitely a book that leaves you confused and asking what in the world is going on. But that’s the beauty of it. It’s unsettling and creepy, but also comforting in a way. Is there such a thing as cozy horror?

I think this is the first book in a long time that actually made me question how an author comes up with their ideas. This was original and fresh. I will definitely be looking into Meuret’s other works.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tiffany Meuret, and Black Spot Books for the e-arc of Little Bird in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s start off by saying that this is a very weird book. And let me tell you I loved it. It caught my attention because the main character was described as a hermit. Which is basically me. So i was very intrigued. It was the perfect length and it packed a perfect punch. Great read!!

[Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC with honesty.]

Alright, I'm going to be completely honest with you. I have no idea what I've just read. It's a pretty easy read for some hard hitting topics. There is some alcohol abuse and a lot of self deprecation but at the core, I think it's a very peculiar book that leaves you thinking about for a long time. I'm STILL thinking about it. It's hard to say whether I felt the story truly completed because I don't think it had a normal ending in most books. I will say, this, to me personally did not jive as horror. (I think others have commented on this as well.) But it still had some intense moments. Skelly is a very interesting character because you never get a straight answer out of her. Josie - wow - Josie is that person whose always veered away from society and prefers to be a loner. (Hey, I'm probably one myself deep down.) But overall, you can tell something doesn't seem right no matter how many times she complains about people bothering her. Without spoilers, I'll say I did find it attention getting. There were more than a few moments throughout the book that kept raising the stakes.

Overall, I think I did like this book. The story at the base was very dark but also very deep. The ones that leave me confused but not in a bad way are the ones that stick with me for awhile. And I find to like that more than the average book that leaves little impressions on me.

Po also helped.

My Rating: 4 Stars.

What a sweet little gem of a story this was. While I disagree with this being labeled as horror, it is definitely a compelling novella that I'm not sure I would have picked up if it hadn't been in the horror section on Netgalley.

This story takes place over a very short span of time, but it never felt as though there was something missing, time-wise. Our main character is in voluntary isolation, having cut herself off from the world as much as possible after her father's death and her own divorce. She lives with her small dog, makes her living by rewording customer interaction emails for impatient company CEOs, turns their vitriol into polite versions of "fuck off", and then drinks herself into oblivion, only to start over the next day. It's a structured, yet empty life, but Josie convinces herself that she's content.

Until the day she looks out her window, and sees a strange weed sprouting in her otherwise desolate yard.

In just a day or two, the weed has taken over her yard, and the vines have created a throne for a weathered-looking skeleton to perch on. The skeleton is not only unnerving to look at, but it also suddenly speaks to Josie, making her question her life choices. And not only that, it makes her take on the challenge of coming up with a story that the skeleton - Skelly, as she decides to be called - has never heard before. She has three days, no ideas, and the ground underneath her house is literally threatening to swallow her whole.

Little at a time, we get to know Josie and come to understand what is going on with her, her self-imposed social exile, and her escape into alcohol and professional word-mincing, all delivered in witty and thoughtful writing. I honestly didn't think I would tear up toward the end, but following along with Josie and Po made me invested.

If you're looking for a thoughtful little story about how we choose to remember and be remembered, definitely give this book a read!

Read this if you like: Found family, spooky vibes, fantasy, quick reads

Freshly divorced and grieving the death of her father Josie Lauer stays in her home. To cope with her losses, Josie follows a strict daily routine of work, playing with her dog, Po, and trying to remember to eat a decent meal, usually ending each night by drinking copious amounts of vodka. In other words, she is not coping well.

Everything changes when Josie wakes to find a small shrub has sprouted in her otherwise dirt backyard the morning after yet another bender. Within hours it's a vine like plant is spreading, along with company. There is talking skeleton called Skelly that has perched itself in Josie’s backyard on a throne made of vines. There is also a brand new neighbor that has proven herself to be quite nosey.

After finally talking to Sue, her new neighbor, Josie realizes she knows a lot more about the vines and her bizarre new visitor than she initially lets on. There’s a reason Skelly has chosen to appear in Josie’s suddenly blooming backyard and insists on pulling her out of her carefully kept self-isolation.

I don't think this should really be marketed as a horror book. It's really more fantasy. It wasn't so much scary as it was just odd and interesting. I did enjoy it. It was very different than anything I have ever read. It's a very quick read at just over 200 pages. The writing style is great. I love the idea of found family. I loved Josie and Sue's connection. I definitely recommend this as a quirky different read! It comes out June 7th!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Blackspot Books for the gifted copy! ❤️

this book felt a little like a fever dream. it wasn't what i was expecting and, to be honest, i'm not sure i know what happened in it, but the reading experience was entertaining.

I picked up this book because I was looking for something different than my usual domestic suspense or cozy mysteries. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Little Bird is a darkly humorous cozy horror tale (or maybe fantasy or even magical realism—it’s hard to categorize and that is part of its charm).

Josie is grieving her father and her marriage. Only her little Chihuahua Po can cheer her up. One day a vine takes hold in her desert backyard. It is soon home to a talking skeleton, Skelly. Skelly tries to give Josie advice. Now, if Josie could only be positive that Skelly is real and not a delusion…

I love this original story even though it dragged a bit in spots. If you want to read something completely different, and think about its deeper points about life, grief and loneliness days later, read Little Bird. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Black Spot Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Josie is having a hard time dealing with the death of her father and her failed marriage. She avoids dealing with these issues with alcohol. Until a strange plant full of vines starts taking over in her backyard. Things get weirder when a talking skeleton shows up in the middle of the plant. These new dilemmas may just force her to face everything she has been avoiding.

Little Bird is a strange story with unforgettable characters. Between the snarky alcoholic Josie, the cutest chihuahua Po, and the talking skeleton named Skelly you are not bound to forget this crew any time soon. This book shows the destructive effects that grief can have on someone's life if they cannot work through the feelings. I really enjoyed trying to figure out why Skelly was in Josie's yard. The subject matter was dark and heavy, but it was balanced with wit, the mystery of Skelly, and the cuteness of Po. I would recommend this story to those who like a bit of the fantastical mixed in with their hard hitting stories.

My Rating: 4 out of 5

I’m not quite sure I understood this one. Perhaps it’s one of those obscure horror books with a deeper meaning, or one with hidden themes or analogies and, if that’s the case, they soared right over my head.

I found it entertaining for the most part, but just like Josie and her alcohol-addled brain, I had a hard time keeping up with her reality vs fiction. I liked the characters, particularly Skelly and the Nebby Nancy neighbor, though Josie and her struggles were certainly the highlight.

Bottom line — a weird little tale that didn’t work for me, but will most certainly appeal to many. 2.5 stars.

Well, this one was....weird. Josie is a cranky thirty-something alcoholic who has either lost or driven away everyone in her life except her little dog, Po. (Po being the best and most sane character in the book.) She lives alone, works from home, hates everyone because she hates herself, and spends more time hungover than a college frat boy.

So one day some mysterious plants appear in her backyard and in the next day or two a skeleton also shows up. Yes, it's bizarre. Now the skeleton talks to Josie inside her head but what old Skelly has to say doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and she doesn't get any more clear as the story progresses. Enter new annoying neighbor, Sue, who somehow knows about Skelly and the sentient vines from past experience.

What follows is a week's worth of Josie alternately getting drunk, blacking out, talking to the skeleton in her backyard, neglecting her poor dog, and sifting through her own repressed memories as the word falls down (literally) around her until the day when she has to make a choice which is only vaguely explained.

So...part psychological, part cosmic, part bizarre. I'm not sure if there's supposed to be some sort of deeper meaning or analogy here. Maybe it's really just about Josie finally dealing with her own screwed-up self and coming out a different person in the end.

The story was OK. The writing was decent and the premise interesting, but I feel like it needed a little something more -- more action, more explanation, more climax, maybe just more emotional reaction to the fact that an immortal talking skeleton showed up in the backyard.

So...yep. Just weird.

I was very confused and not sure what was supposed to be happening in this book. I had really high hopes based on the cover and the synopsis, but what was inside was jumbled and disjointed. I DNF at 20%.

Josie Lauer stays inside her home following her divorce and her father's death. To cope, she has a strict routine that ends with drinking too much vodka. Josie soon finds a small shrub, as well as a vine-like plant that brings a busybody new neighbor and a talking skeleton named Skelly. The sentient plant continues to invade Josie's life, and she realizes Skelly appears for a reason. Josie must figure out what that reason is before everything falls apart.

Josie's world is incredibly narrow at the beginning of the book, and the only interaction she has with living things is with her chihuahua. Occasionally the grocery delivery boy, too. With a new neighbor, sentient vines, and a talking skeleton, this is far more interaction than she's used to. There's a reason for that, one we gradually figure out as the novel progresses by clues dropped during texts with her mother, conversations with Skelly, and the stories traded back and forth. It isn't clear what Skelly wants, or why a story is so important to her, but we see how Josie's isolation, grief, and pain constricted her world and shut off any chance of bonding with anyone else.

Josie slowly circles the drain, so to speak. It's something that many who rely on alcohol or drugs hit at some point, and Josie does hit her rock bottom. It's sad, and I felt bad for her. Reaching that point was painful and lonely, but forced her to change. Change is scary, and the lonely life she had felt less painful up until that point. She must change, and can't stay how things are. Once we know her full story, it makes sense what she ultimately decides to do. It's a fascinating story, and one I raced through to finish.

I just could not get into this book. The cover was beautiful and the premise sounded intriguing, but the writing style just wasn't it for me. I expected a bit of horror or supernatural element but what I read was just strange and bizarre. I can get behind the main character struggling with socializing and coping with her loss, if it were done better...but it was just not really addressed at all in the first 1/4 of the book that I managed to get through. And Skelly....just seems weird....and I've read some weird shit. Like out of place almost? I kept imagining a plastic yard decoration that was snarky and I guess communicated through telepathy? I just have nothing making me want to find out what happens next and therefore no reason to continue this story.