The Bird House

by Kelly Simmons

Interweaving diaries penned forty years apart, The Bird House blends the fierce voice of a woman struggling against dementia to bond with her only grandchild, with her point of view as a young wife and mother. We witness the secrets of Ann Biddle's family through every lens: from the clarity of the rearview mirror, through the haze of Alzheimer's, and as a young housewife in 1960s suburbia grappling with illness, death, heartbreak and tragedy.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Family, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Book Club, Adult

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

My sixth novel NOT MY BOY debuted January 2021. Booklist compared it to Big Little Lies, and Julie Clark, the author of LAST FLIGHT said it was "impossible to put down." I hope you enjoy it -- and please check out my backlist, Amazon Exclusive standalones and NEW 2025 Crime Collection -- all featuring good women making bad decisions.

Start with my best-selling book, ONE MORE DAY, maybe? Or my first two, a bit more literary in tone -- STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE, both with unilaterally glowing reviews. (If you like it dark, you might prefer THE FIFTH OF JULY.)

My books have been applauded by bestselling authors like Megan Abbott, Caroline Leavitt, and Sarah Pekkanen. They've been hailed as "great titles for book groups who love strong female characters" by the Library Journal. Publishers Weekly called my first novel, Standing Still "An electrifying debut" in its starred review. Even Kirkus likes me! Maybe you'd enjoy discovering a new-to-you author?

Prefer SHORTER books to binge?
My indie pubbed NEW 2025 Crime Collection includes: THE OFF SEASON, THE SHOULDER SEASON, and THE HIGH SEASON. Great page turning short reads featuring unforgivable crimes in unforgettable locations.

I've visited hundreds and hundreds of book clubs via Zoom, Google Hangouts or in person. I'd love to meet with yours.

For book signing events or more information, see my website kellysimmonsbooks.com. Or friend me on Facebook (kellyatbubble) or Insta (kellyasimmons) or follow me on twitter (kellysimmons) for more giveaways etc etc.

Thanks for being part of the goodreads community!

Reviews

[Sally G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book, for me, was meant to be. Here's the funny back-story.

While on Twitter, I was involved in a conversation with other 'Twits' (I don't think we're actually called that - but, it's funny, so - I use it) about books we'd recently read and enjoyed. I mentioned that while it took me some time to finally get to it, I'd found Still Alice by Lisa Genova really good.

As Twitter is an open Social platform geared to conversation and connection ~ a woman named Kelly Simmons joined the conversation and said something to the effect of: "If you liked Still Alice - you'll love The Bird House". She added more, but that's the part I remember.

The Bird House, I thought - gosh, I just SAW that book on the Costco Book Table two days ago. I actually picked it up because I loved the cover and the title (if you read my reviews, you'll find that this is a common theme for me when seeing a book I'm not previously familiar with). The only thing that prevented me from buying it was the stack of book I already had at home waiting my attention. Seriously, I believe I suffer from a book buying addiction. But, I digress.

So, I tweet back to Kelly Simmons the fact that I almost bought it, etc. She called it serendipitous - and that was that. Me being me, I then went to her Twitter page to find out more about her. And long story short (if it's not too late) ~ she's the AUTHOR of The Bird House!

I bought the book later that week, put it at the top of my 'To Read Next' pile ... and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

This story is told from the perspective of Annie Biddle - a 70-something year old woman succumbing to Dementia.

With honesty and a willingness to acknowledge the truth about the many hurts and disappointments in her life, including frank retells of bad decisions made - Annie takes us through a family history laced with betrayal, pain and many secrets.

Her granddaughter Ellie serves as a trigger for certain memories and insights as the two grow close through time spent together and secrets shared.

We see history repeat itself through the generations with affiars and illegitimate children. There's tragedy, marital discord, lives lived openly and lives lived in secrecy. Annie shares it all and apologizes for none of it. She also tries to impart her wisdom learned in meaningful ways to enrich the life of her beloved granddaughter.

I rated this book 8 out of 10.

My favourite line in the book? "Ellie ... if you ever have to choose between a man who's serious and a man who's fun, choose the fun one. Promise me."

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but there were a couple of points that I thought were weak. I have read many books that had a main character who was dealing with Alzheimers. And the main character in this book, Ann, has an early onset version of it. Here's the odd part: I didn't really find it all that convincing. True, she forgets things here and there, but overall, the character seemed extremely lucid, and the reader really had no idea that she had it except for a few occasional mistakes. This was an odd way to bring this disease into the story, because you would think that it would make a difference in the plot. I read the author's Q and A session at the end of the book and was confused because she mentioned that the main character's disease might bring some of her versions of event into question, but I never really questioned it. That being said, this book is about a woman who lost a child when she was younger, and now is older and is dealing with spending time with her grandchild. I really enjoyed the interactions with the grandchild, and also enjoyed the time jumping that this book took, from past to present, as the mystery of how the child dies is unraveled. Overall, I enjoyed the author's writing style and have purchased her first book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marry the fun one when there is a choice to be made. 💞

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a beautifully written and spellbinding novel? Well, look no further because Kelly Simmon's The Bird House is the novel for you. Startling, eloquent, and immersing, I was hooked from the first page until the very last, and even then I was close to begging for more, more, and more of these richly developed characters and the world they live in.

The Bird House tells the story of Ann Biddle, a woman whose dealt with more loss, death, and pain than any good person should, and now after more than seventy years of life, she's beginning to deal with the starting stages of Alzheimer's. Though, when given the chance to create a strong bond and relationship with her precious granddaughter Ellie over Ellie's school project, Ann jumps at the chance. Little do they know that this school project over family histories will lead to not only secrets spilling out from every door and pathway possible, but to Ann's looking over of her life: the choices she made and what they meant for her and her family. Will Ann be able to handle it? And what happens when she and Ellie learns more than they should? Only time will tell in this richly told story intertwining past and present times.

Not only because of Ann's early stages of memory loss but the fact that this story is told strictly in her diary entries over the years, Anne is in all ways an unreliable narrator but in the best way possible. For one, it lead to this story to have a compelling and unique voice, one that constantly lead me flipping the pages eager to find out more about Ann's life, such as what happened to her daughter? Or, better yet, what happened between her and her high school sweetheart, as well as much, much more. Plus I was constantly questioning whether or not she was always telling the truth or merrily exaggerating some aspects.

More importantly, I loved her granddaughter Ellie. Ellie was a sweetheart. Cautious, honest, and sweet, I could clearly see what Ann loved her so much. Though, what I liked most about both characters was the bond they began to form over the course of the novel, because not only did it play an important part in making this The Bird House an amazing book, but it was admirable and relatable to any girl or boy whose been close to a grandparent, in my opinion.

I also really enjoyed the way Kelly Simmons told this story in diary entries of past and current times, because not only did she effortless tie everything together in a picture perfect way that never left me feeling like I wasn't getting a clear image, but she did so in a way that it made The Bird House compelling and full of dirty little secrets I couldn't wait to find out more about.

Lastly, as I'm sure you can already guess, I loved Simmons' writing. It's beautiful, poignant, and eloquent and it made this novel flow in a perfect pace. Also, she did such a suburb job of getting the voices of her many characters and setting down in a way that I could easily picture everything and feel like I was right there.

In all, The Bird House is most ways a nearly perfect novel, in my opinion. I simply can't wait to read more by Simmons, as I'm sure she has many, many more fabulous novels and ideas up her shelves.

Oh, and while this novel is labeled adult fiction, I don't see any reason why older teens wouldn't enjoy it.

Grade: A+

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is true? What is real? What is forgotten and what can never be erased? In a lifetime of good intentions we all have our share of secrets, regrets, and undiscovered passions. And digging through old letters, connecting the importance of a ring with something said long ago, really looking at what is around you, well, it can change your entire view of your world.

The Bird House by Kelly Simmons (Washington Square Press) takes the reader on a mesmerizing journey into one woman’s past and beyond in this sparkling and engrossing novel you’ll want to recommend to everyone you know. The characters are real, the situations at once startling yet believable. I found myself glad that I couldn’t sleep last night, because that meant I could get back to this novel and read it through to the end. How many novels are good enough for that? After finishing the last page I had that “I just read something truly amazing” feeling. The lingering of images and emotions. The sadness, as if parting from a very dear friend….

Simmons writes of a granddaughter who is brutally honest, and who needs to do a family heritage project with her grandmother. She takes us into the head of Ann, a seventy-something woman of high intelligence and so-so memory, who skips us back and forth through time. Her past is a life full of promise, then terrible loss and guilt. In her present Ann finds her heart being won over by her granddaughter, a child who asks all the wrong questions in just the right way. And Ann finds answers she hadn’t even known she was seeking.

The story is at once heart-wrenching and hilarious. Ann has a tart tongue and a sharp eye, making her the ideal narrator casting a witty eye on everything from egocentric architects, Main Line Philadelphia elite, the claustrophobic existence of a new mother, the horrors of those tacky birthday party activity joints, and the temptations of a forbidden lover.

The author quickly envelops you with sharp imagery, true tension, mystery, passion and deeply-felt love. Her writing reminds me of Anne Tyler’s: amazingly brilliant, yet so accessible.

So read The Bird House, love it, share it. Your friends will be glad you did! Very highly recommended.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book in one day and was interested enough to finish but in the end cannot really recommend it. It is the tale of Ann a 73 year old woman who is said to be starting to have symptoms of alzheimers, a disease which killed her mother. It alternates between present day Ann and her diary as a young wife and mother in 1967.

The problem I had was that neither Ann nor any other character in the book is a nice person. Ann herself is cold, and described not caring for her children, and then not caring about her granddaughter Ellie until she was 8 years old. Ann's daughter in law is humorless and mean, the men are all one dimensional.

We hear from the beginning that Ann is forgetful and has dementia, but there are little to no signs of this. She forgets one or two things over the course of a summer, but how is that different than any one else? It also is mentioned that her mother had been confined in a nursing home from age 50 on, but the information is presented as though it is a natural occurrence for one to have dementia at age 50.

All of the women in the book cheat on their husband too and we cannot really understand why because everything is from Ann's viewpoint and she is just not a nice narrator.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big disappointment. The opening pages make the reader feel like something big has happened, but in reality, the book was just "there". No big turn of events worth telling over again. Very predictable. The only good news is that it was only 270 pages and an easy enough read that I didn't feel too annoyed that I wasted a few days reading it. But for those of you who were on the fence about it? Watching the birds from your window may be more interesting.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this read about Ann, a grandmother who is linked to the past through her 8 year old granddaughter Ellie. The secrets and the guilt of Ann's family all come tumbling through in this well written story of disappointment and heartbreak. It keeps the pages turning from the very first one.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Kelly Simmons wrote The Bird House so that story can switch back and forth between 2010 and 1967, this book was easy to keep the time periods separate. There are clues in the chapters on 1967 that answer the questions the Ann Biddle had in 2010. This book is full of symbolism and straight forward clear writing. I love the author's style and know that story would succeed if Ann was not the sole narrator.

Ann Biddle has a family secret and as soon as I read that I knew that I wanted to find out the truth. My family on both sides have secrets. I have mild cognitive impairment so I have memory problems too. So I immediately connected with this story. Ann Biddle's memory is failing and she worries about a death in the past because she cannot remember the important parts of truth connected to the death. The author not only keeps you reading even when you really don't have the time but she has developed fascinating characters in her story.

Ann spends time with her granddaughter Ellie who is 8 years old, smart, full of life and perceptive. It seems that all her other relationships were gone, her husband died in the past, her mother and father are long gone. So she and Ellie explore family stories. Ann is selective about what she tells Ellie but sometimes things happen to jolt Ann's memory back. They care about each other. Ann reminds me of my grandmother when she was slipping dementia.

I highly recommend reading this book.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book.Like a previous reviewer I had my doubts about the main theme being that Ann had Alzheimers, if anything it was a very mild or very early form since Ann telling the story was very lucid and clear, apart from a couple of occasions when she appeared to get times wrong (we can all do that!!). it was a very gentle way into a particular relationship that Ann began to forge with her granddaughter and through the granddaughter Ann was able to say a lot about her past and things she felt she could now say.

[Lynn Maslanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Perfect for the woman who raised her kids on soda and not diet soda either.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beneath the surface of any problem, if you scrabble a bit, you'll find a secret.
It may take a while-decades perhaps-not for your excavation, mind you, but for your desire to appear; for that childlike curiosity to float up again. Indeed, you may need an actual child to summon it, as I did.
But this is what drives us--the historians, the trash pickers, the gossips, the shrinks. And yes, the readers of books. We're all rooting around, teasing out other people's hidden reasons." [p.1]

......I absolutely fell in love with the opening sentences of The Bird House. Why? Because as a reader I do want to find out that deep, dark secret someone is hiding or learn what motivated someone to betray a friend or a lover. This is one of the biggest reasons why I love to read. The other reason? Is to find wonderful gems that touch me emotionally as this one did. I could go into detail about the book and why I found it to be a stellar read, but I really feel that would be robbing you, the new potential reader, of experiencing this one without knowing much beforehand. Suffice it to say that you will come to love Ann and her granddaughter Ellie. I really enjoyed seeing this story unfold through Ann's eyes because you were never quite sure if what you were seeing had actually taken place or not, due to her dementia. Ellie became the grounding force for me. She was sort of the guiding light in the story and helped fill in the gaps or missing pieces. I thought the author's use of a family project was genius in bringing two generations together. The author took this plot device and really worked it seamlessly into the story. I finished this book over the period of 24-hours. In fact, I had a hard time turning the light off Sunday night to go to bed and couldn't wait until my free time on Monday to finish the book.

Recommend? Oh yes!! I know that my review really didn't go into depth and honestly I hate to tell a reader too much about any book I read. I will say this, I loved the characters, even the ones I didn't care for very much (daughter-in-law) because the author made them REAL. The story could happen and has happened to many, many people. I was intrigued, captivated, and couldn't put this one down!!

Rating: 9/10

[Sara Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so unbelievably good in a really subtle way. I love how the story line was being played out so quickly but you didn't even know it until you were almost done with the book, which I thought was so cool. I mean, it's like you didn't even know it was happening and then- BAM! It all came to get perfectly.

I really adored the characters. I really felt like Ann could be anybody's Grandma and it makes you appreciate the wisdom and knowledge a person has just from living life. Having worked with seniors previously I know from first hand experience how interesting hearing the life story of another person can be. I mean, it's just an ordinary life but it's so different from the next person.

What I really loved about this book was how the author really described, in a believable way, what it's like to be in the early stages of dementia and how they feel when a family member "checks up" on them. If you have ever had a family member or friend develop dementia this would be an interesting read for you.

What also is interesting is how Ann chooses to tell Ellie (the grand daughter) family "secrets". Which really aren't secrets- they are just events that happen over the course of life, but somehow, people believe that by not talking about it everyone will be better off. Which, families are built on success, tragedy, ups and downs. And I think that younger generations should learn about their family history. Good or bad.

This is such an excellent book and would make a fabulous Mother's Day gift for your mom or Grandma. Truly.

[Elise Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I ask myself, "Is it me? Almost all the other reviewers like this book a lot. Am I missing something they saw?" Here are my problems with it. First, the reviews did give me an expectation that this would be a wonderful book, so the fact that I felt it was only "OK" was a letdown. Second, the first chapter sets the reader up to expect some dark revelation and gain of some deep self-awareness by the narrator. I don't think it delivered on that promise. The elements of story are, in my opinion, trite. Once I got far enough into the book to realize it wasn't going to be the book I had thought it would be, I knew all the "secrets" and small awarenesses that the narrator, Ann, would come to. I knew them fairly early into the book, so the rest of the book was simply confirmation. Last, I wanted beautiful prose. Sadly, this book didn't have any. The writing sounded like that of an inexperienced and not very talented writer's. It also sounded like something written for a Young Adult audience, though I cannot see young readers being able to relate to the narrator. I'm not knocking that audience---YAs can be sophisticated readers. I mean that the language seemed consciously geared down to a young reader's level. It's not a book I'd recommend to my reading buddies, and it didn't encourage me to read anything else by the author.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! Beautifully written story about family secrets, relationships and tragedy. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read her first book.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just what I needed to "cleanse my palate" from the last book I trudged through. Fun, quick read!

[Laura Besley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the unravelling of secrets within this small family.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ann Biddle, a widow in her 70's, lives alone in her Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania home. Ann has been keeping a journal since she was a young mother in the 1960's and the story jumps between that time and the present. She loves to garden, plays tennis with her friends and, most of all, she spends time with her 8-year-old granddaughter Ellie. Ann and Ellie have grand afternoons rummaging through old trunks in the attic although there are certain things Ann cannot bear to look at. In the 60's Ann was the mother of 2 small children: Emma and baby Tom. Emma was not an easy child; demanding, devious and prone to outrageous tantrums. We learn early on that Emma died in childhood but not until late in the book do we find out the circumstances.

Ann does not have an amiable relationship with Tinsley, Ellie's mother. Tinsley has rules for everything: how much sugar Ellie is allowed to have, her afternoon snack must be a protein, no soda!, on and on and on. Rightfully, Tinsley worries about Ann's care of Ellie as it is obvious that Ann is showing signs of dementia, a disease that afflicted Ann's mother at an early age. Ann catches Tinsley in a compromising situation that not only gives her ammunition to get more time with Ellie but opens up deep secrets in Ann's own past.

This was a quiet book with some lovely interactions between a loving grandmother and her cherished grandchild. On the surface it seems that Ann had a good and happy life but her early journals show just how difficult her time had been. It is well written and easy to read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not quite a 4 star read for me but I give so many 3 stars and they go from very low to high that this one was good enough to move to low 4.
A Grandmother who is aging, some references to Alzheimer's but not many, who loves her granddaughter and gives her information about her family, does fun projects with her, takes her on outings, things that serious parents who are very concerned about the upbringing and education of their children sometimes don't spend enough time doing.
The story was very believable for to me but I'm of the age of the grandmother and I've been in love with my grandchildren from the day they were born so I'm the intended audience; not sure if anyone who has not experienced this would relate to the book as much as I did. There is throughout the novel and bit of a feeling of sadness (at least for me) and it is one that goes back and forth in time to tell the story and solve a question that is there throughout the book.
The best line in the whole story is near the end when the Grandmother tells her Granddaughter.....
"If you ever have to chose between a man who's serious and a man who's fun, chose the fun one. Promise me."

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book examines the lives of its characters through genealogy and psychology. What makes us who we are? Are the conclusions we reached as young people entirely accurate? Does time influence memory? Ann is a well to do Main Line Widow who enjoys spending time with her eight year old granddaughter, Ellie. Working on a school project with Ellie, Ann is faced to recall her life, the choices she made and the responsibility she must take for the lives of her children. Ann's life is rather like an onion as layer after layer reveals her true character. Along side the story of Ann's fears for her son's family, she is anxious over lapses of memory, worried that the dementia that claimed her mother, waits at the door for her. It has been a while since a book has captured my attention like The Bird House did...I will be reading more of Ms Simmons work.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read! It’s not action-packed, leaving you on the edge of your seat, but it’s a pleasant read for sure. I really related to this story, as my grandmother is the same age as Ann, and developed early stages of dementia around 2010. She’s now in a memory care facility, and can’t read more than a paragraph or two, so it was so nice to read something from the perspective of someone going through what my grandma must have been experiencing.
While it’s not the crazy dramatic stories I usually read, it’s just enough drama to keep me intrigued and wondering what will happen next! Giving it to my Dad to read next!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Grabbed because of the reference to Alzheimer's. Don't think it did the best job of describing the confusion that goes along with it. At one point, it even seemed like it was the son with the confusion, he says the grandaughter has to be home early because she has an activity the next day, but when the grandma brings her home early he says she didn't need to be.
I still don't get the significance of the key found towards the end of the book. And unless she was setting up for a sequel, leaving the ending with just an email to her potential half sister was disappointing.

[Colleen B McChesney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story being told from Ann’s perspective, although Ann’s confession in the first chapter made it hard for me to keep things straight for the first couple of chapters. I will confess that I was worried for Ellie during the story at times. Definitely sent chills up & down my spine all the way up to the ending. This story also brought back wonderful memories of my time spent with both my grandmothers during the summer as a child gardening, bird-watching & talking about our family history stories too.
I recommend this great read. 👍

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I thought more could have been done with the dementia part. Some mentions of forgetting something here and there but never really convincing that Ann actually had dementia. That could have been woven into the storyline more and made things more interesting. And why was Emma so nasty? Was there a reason given for that that I missed? All in all though a pretty good book.

[Sandra Strange · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel is told in alternating sections at different times in the life of the protagonist as her story unfolds. The narrative is plotted well, with the woman's history unfolding slowly, and with surprises for her, as well as the reader, adding up to a positive ending for most of the characters, even the less sympathetic daughter in law. My problem is the theme of the book: justifying, even championing, adultery, if one isn't happy with one's spouse.

[Beverly Mccollum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating is actually a 3.75. What a quirky but thoughtful novel. It’s been around for 14 years but I’d not read it. The main character-Ann -is an elderly woman facing the early stages of dementia. Memories are unreliable -age is apparent and secrets from decades earlier arise. Ann’s loving relationship with her 8 year old granddaughter is a very prominent part of the plot. Quite interesting and open-ended. Recommend it.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This novel grabbed me from its first pages and didn't let me go. A novel told from the perspective of a strong woman with a checkered past and an unsure future.


I loved the characters the story and would have loved to read 100 more pages. Absolutely outstanding, Kelly Simmons. This novel is one of the best books I've ever read!

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book to be well written, with a good storyline to it. Having a mother that has Alhemizer's in some instances I could follow the storyline yet with Anne her case is so mild in comparison I feel like it wasn't as profound a book as it could have been where this disease is concerned. This was a book that for me was a good read but not a great read.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, especially the interaction between Ann and her granddaughter Ellie; however, for me, the ending left too many unanswered questions for the ending to be completely satisfying. The author's style of writing is excellent and I will read more of her books.

[Lynn Bergmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice read. About an elderly woman dealing with a lapsing memory and her current family and family's past. Parallels occur across three generations. Mostly from the eyes of a grandmother and her granddaughter. Lots of insight into what makes and breaks families.