My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Author: Casi Scott
Review type: Spoiler-free ARC review

ARC disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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I really enjoyed Birds That Couldn’t Fly by Casi Scott. The writing is beautiful, and the story gives us a realistic look at love and how much our upbringing can influence what we accept in our relationships.

What stayed with me most about the book is how honest it is about the patterns we can’t see in ourselves. Zoë knows exactly the life she doesn’t want nothing like her mother’s and yet she keeps reaching for the same things in different packaging.

Casi Scott writes that tension beautifully: we can be so clear about what we don’t want and still struggle to make the choices that take us somewhere different

This was a four-star read for me, with plenty to think about beyond the romance.

A Little About the Story

At twenty-five, Zoë Thomas is still navigating life, living with her mother, and trying to figure out love. She knows she doesn’t want to settle the way she believes her mother did, but her own relationships aren’t quite giving her what she needs either.

When her boyfriend leaves and her mother is diagnosed with stage-three cancer, Zoë finds herself dealing with heartbreak while becoming a caregiver. Her best friend, Isaias, is there through it all. But between the pull of her ex and her changing feelings for Isaias, recognizing what she really wants becomes complicated.

The Patterns We Don’t Always See

The relationship between Zoë, her mother, and the women who came before them was one of the most interesting parts of this book.

Zoë doesn’t want to be like her mother, who didn’t want to be like her own mother. Yet some of the same mistakes continue from one generation to the next. It made me think about how easy it is to recognize a pattern in someone else’s life and miss it in our own.

Saying we want something different is a start. Learning how to do things differently takes more work.

I appreciated that Casi Scott allowed Zoë to still be figuring that out. She’s young, and knowing what she doesn’t want doesn’t mean she already has all the answers. Her choices could be frustrating, but they also made her feel like a real person.

Recognizing the Love That’s Already There

There were so many layers to this story, starting with Zoë’s grandmother’s experience with love and then her mother’s relationship with her father. Whether Zoë realized it or not, those experiences shaped how she understood love and what she was willing to accept in her own relationships.

She has a friend group that loves her. She has Isaias showing up for her. There is so much love in her life, but she’s still searching for it in places that left her wanting more.

I liked that the friendships had a meaningful place in this story. It made Zoë’s life feel fuller, and it reminded me how easily we can take consistent love for granted when we’re focused on what we think we want and need.

Isaias’s patience and steady presence were things I appreciated, too. I was rooting for Zoë and her mom to recognize what was in front of them, while also understanding that familiar feelings can be hard to let go of even when they aren’t giving us what we need.

Seeing Her Mother Differently

The mother-daughter relationship added another layer that I really enjoyed.

As her mother’s illness brings them closer, Zoë begins to understand her differently. There is tenderness between them, along with the history that has made their relationship difficult.

I appreciated watching Zoë begin to understand her mother differently, even if it came from secretly reading her journal. As we get older, we start to see our mothers as women who were figuring out life, too. That doesn’t mean we agree with every choice they made, but learning their stories can help us understand things we couldn’t see before.

For me, this relationship was an important part of Zoë realizing what true love means and what she wants for herself.

Would I Recommend It?

Yes, especially if you enjoy realistic stories where the family relationships and friendships are just as meaningful as the romance.

Birds That Couldn’t Fly is about love in all its forms: the love that raises you, the love that confuses you, the love that challenges you, and the love that helps you grow.

I enjoyed Casi Scott’s writing and the care she brought to these relationships. If you’re looking for something that feels real and layered, with a main character who is still learning about herself, this one is worth adding to your reading list.

Will you be adding this one to your TBR? Let me know in the comments.