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The Flightless Birds of New Hope

A Novel

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The Flightless Birds of New Hope

By: Farah Naz Rishi
Narrated by: Kelsey Jaffer
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About this listen

Three estranged siblings—and a high-maintenance cockatoo—reunite in a luminous novel about forgiveness, connection, and the complexities of family by the author of Sorry for the Inconvenience.

Upon the sudden deaths of their bird-obsessed parents, the three Shah siblings reunite.

Aliza has spent years holding their crumbling family together, caring for their younger brother, Sammy. And Aden, named executor of the estate, finds himself resentfully facing the one member of the family who always got their parents’ undivided love: their famous Bollywood-bopping cockatoo, Coco.

One reckless night, Aden opens Coco’s cage, letting her do what he did a decade ago—fly away from home.

In a panic, the siblings set off to recover her, armed with only Coco’s tracking chip and the fragile hope they might set things right. What they think will be a quick search and rescue becomes a two-week cross-country road trip, where old grudges resurface, relationships are tested, and long-buried dreams stir awake.

As Coco, meanwhile, forges her own path to the past, Aden, Aliza, and Sammy follow—not just the bird, but the possibility of something more: a way back to each other.

©2026 by Farah Naz Rishi. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Coming of Age Editors Select Family Life Genre Fiction

Editorial Review

Birds of a feather...
I love the premise of this story: three grieving siblings embarking on a cross-country adventure to find their dead parents' escaped award-winning cockatoo, Coco. What starts as a bird hunt becomes an exploration of family dynamics, as road-trip mishaps force the siblings to confront years of guilt, blame, and love. Author Farah Naz Rishi skillfully weaves adventure with internal healing. Narrator Kelsey Jaffer’s performance brings these complex sibling relationships to life, along with a few chapters told from Coco’s perspective. This is family drama at its finest, wrapped in an unexpectedly engaging quest that left me invested in both the bird and the bonds. —Tricia F., Audible Editor

All stars
Most relevant
A fantastic book full of heart, laugh and a masterful performance by the narrator. The first few chapters are a bit hard to get through because the protagonist begins the book as a somewhat unsympathetic character, but this really ends up paying off as he grows and changes throughout the story. The prose is exquisite and the characters lovely!

A moving story about a pet and it's family

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