Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC I was able to read Little Bird (which honestly, the cover made me do it the description sealed the deal). I wasn’t sure what I was expecting in this story going into it, but upon finishing it wasn’t exactly this. It was a quick read that moved at a decent pace and at times felt very reminiscent of reading a cozy mystery. Maybe cozy horror needs to be a new genre? There wasn’t much overtly horror about the story itself aside from a sentient skeletal being. Josie isn’t a likable character, although I don’t think she is supposed to be, but it was still disappointing that she didn’t truly address any of her issues. Overall it’s a unique concept that made for an enjoyable light read. ( )

This is the sort of wonderfully unusual and original book that is impossible to neatly pigeonhole. A little macabre, mysterious and somewhat dark, there is a lightness as well. A surreal journey of someone dealing with (or perhaps not dealing with) the pains of life, who finds herself in a bizarre situation with a conclusion she is blind to. ( )

Content Warnings: alcoholism, death, terminal illness (cancer).

Before anything else I'm going to state what I'm sure most people are looking for: the fate of Po, the dog. He does not die.

Now that that is out of the way, I will begin my review. I'd be remiss to not mention the amazing cover art. I love that each of the main characters on page (Josie, Skelly, Po, and Sue) are represented in some way or form.

Meuret's Little Bird is one of those reads that you go in with one idea but get thrown through a loop. Calling this a horror is the main reason I was not expecting the journey I went on. Magical realism, or contemporary supernatural, would have been more fitting as the main genre descriptors used. Or maybe even horror-lite if we must include horror.

Little Bird is about a woman named Josie who is struggling with the loss of her father as well as her alcoholism. One day, in her barren backyard, she discovers something growing. Creepy vines that have a life of its own, and in the midst of it a skeleton... named Skelly. And she talks... and she wants to make a deal.

The introduction of Skelly is where we veer off from horror for me. Meuret describes Skelly as a Halloween prop, and I just can't unsee that. I know Josie is utterly disturbed (I would be as well if a skeleton started talking to me), but I still couldn't wrap my brain around being afraid of her. If anything, the vines are what gave me a chill, not the talking skeleton.

Taking the idea horror out of it, I saw Little Bird as a story of self-discovery and acceptance. I related to Josie. I rooted for her. I wanted to know more about her. The core of this novel takes place in an eight-day span, and it was a pleasure to see how far Josie comes along personally and in the relationships she made with Skelly and Sue. I would recommend this novel for those who are more interested in character driven stories.


Thank you to NetGalley, Black Spot Books, and Tiffany Meuret for providing me this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Fyi-Thanks to Netgalley & Publishers for allowing me to read an advance reader copy.

Trigger Warning: Alcohol abuse, death, violence

Josie spends her days working from home and her evenings in the companionship of her dog, Po. She follows it by a nightly ritual of drinking herself to oblivion. Not coping with the loss of her father nor her recent divorce.
One day she notices a growing shrub in her “desert” backyard followed by an uncanny apparition of a skeleton, name Skelly.
Josie’s life of not coping with loss becomes even more convoluted with the introduction of her next-door neighbor and Skelly who refuses to leave her alone.

It's a strange story and more apropos to be read in October. It definitely gave me Halloween vibes.
Josie was weirdly very relatable and human even with the magical realism in this story. This book is very sad at times but in spite of Josie’s struggle, her love and care for Po is very endearing. I loved how their story was portrayed. I would read this book solely based on this piece alone.

I was also drawn to this book by the cover, the flowers, colors and even Po and the skeleton front and center… loved it. Because this book is classified as Horror it might put off some people from reading it. But I would actually say this book falls more into the fantasy genre. I recommend reading this book blind with no expectations…to be experienced by a nice fireplace (real or pretend) in low lights and some candy… won’t disappoint. ( )

Little Bird
by Tiffany Meuret
This is another amazing NetGalley book! I want to thank them and the publisher for letting me read this terrific fantasy! Wow!

A gal with her little dog Po keeps to the house and she works from there. She doesn't venture out. She drinks, a lot. Her father died and she just couldn't cope. She drove away everyone with her drinking, mother, husband, and friends.

She doesn't even keep up with her yard. Dry and barren. Until it wasn't.
A vine popped up. Then more. Along with it came a skeleton. Then it began to talk with her. About the same time, a nosy neighbor moved in.
She knows what is happening.

This book reveals itself like the flowers on the vines. Slowly, beautifully, and tantalizing the reader! A true delight! ( )