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Song of Belonging: A Novel
For fans of Kate Morton, Amy Harmon, and Sally Page comes a multigenerational novel infused with touches of magical realism about a woman’s journey to find her place in an uncertain world as she unravels her family’s legacy.
In 1934, a child’s death tears open a family and shakes the small town of Richarme, Louisiana. Recalling her grandmother’s hidden gifts that had been shut down decades earlier, Grace Paschal begins writing to her deceased daughter as she navigates grief and guilt for Lily’s death, which will haunt their French community for generations.
In 2019, Alice, Grace’s great-granddaughter, awakens in her apartment in Berkeley and opens a jewelry box given to her decades earlier upon Grace’s death. When she explores its contents, the lines between past and present fade. As she works to meet the demands of her career, her life turns upside-down when new and frequent memories that aren’t her own rise to the surface—memories that cause her to question everything about the life she has chosen.
A haunting and magical story of a family with hidden gifts and secrets, Song of Belonging follows Alice as she embarks on a journey to discover the truth about her ancestors and find her place in a lineage of women healers who protect the waters that surround their Louisiana home.
In 1934, a child’s death tears open a family and shakes the small town of Richarme, Louisiana. Recalling her grandmother’s hidden gifts that had been shut down decades earlier, Grace Paschal begins writing to her deceased daughter as she navigates grief and guilt for Lily’s death, which will haunt their French community for generations.
In 2019, Alice, Grace’s great-granddaughter, awakens in her apartment in Berkeley and opens a jewelry box given to her decades earlier upon Grace’s death. When she explores its contents, the lines between past and present fade. As she works to meet the demands of her career, her life turns upside-down when new and frequent memories that aren’t her own rise to the surface—memories that cause her to question everything about the life she has chosen.
A haunting and magical story of a family with hidden gifts and secrets, Song of Belonging follows Alice as she embarks on a journey to discover the truth about her ancestors and find her place in a lineage of women healers who protect the waters that surround their Louisiana home.
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 2, 2026
I enjoyed spending time in Alice’s world, or worlds should I say. Alice experienced some rather unusual happenings in her life due to her inherited connections with her ancestors and other worlds.
Alice’s great grandmother left her a special jewelry box, filled with an assortment of unique items. In essence, Grandmere Grace left Alice some presents, a blessing and an assignment of sorts, along with guidance for her life. What a legacy!
Magical realism is represented so well in this book. Dreamlike sequences were woven together with very realistic settings in a very recognizable world.
I enjoyed the deep family ties between many of the characters. I loved the new friendships that formed in such natural and genuine ways. I was drawn to the connections between humans and animals. Concern for our oceans and waterways is a prominent theme in this well written novel. There is so much to love in this book!
This quote, from page 124, pretty much sums up my love for reading. “ I just love stories. I love stories about all of the people who’ve lived on the Earth. I love reading about other cultures and time periods, imagining myself in other worlds.”
So very well done! So very much enjoyed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from She Writes Press. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
Alice’s great grandmother left her a special jewelry box, filled with an assortment of unique items. In essence, Grandmere Grace left Alice some presents, a blessing and an assignment of sorts, along with guidance for her life. What a legacy!
Magical realism is represented so well in this book. Dreamlike sequences were woven together with very realistic settings in a very recognizable world.
I enjoyed the deep family ties between many of the characters. I loved the new friendships that formed in such natural and genuine ways. I was drawn to the connections between humans and animals. Concern for our oceans and waterways is a prominent theme in this well written novel. There is so much to love in this book!
This quote, from page 124, pretty much sums up my love for reading. “ I just love stories. I love stories about all of the people who’ve lived on the Earth. I love reading about other cultures and time periods, imagining myself in other worlds.”
So very well done! So very much enjoyed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from She Writes Press. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.
June 25, 2026
Song of Belonging by Michelle St. Romain beautifully blends historical fiction, family history, and a touch of magical realism. Spanning generations, this moving story explores grief, identity, and the lasting connections between past and present in a way that feels both intimate and thought-provoking.
May 25, 2026
I was captivated by Song of Belonging from the very beginning. Michelle creates a story that feels both grounded and magical, weaving together family history, mystery, and a deep connection to the natural world.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its atmosphere. I could almost smell the ocean air, hear the waves, the river, and feel the presence of the forests and shoreline. The settings are so vividly rendered that I often felt transported into the story itself.
I particularly loved the way the narrative moves between generations, gradually revealing connections that feel both surprising and inevitable. There is also a subtle mystical thread running through the novel that lends an enchanting quality to the story and kept me eagerly turning pages.
What stayed with me most, however, was the novel's message of interconnectedness—between people, generations, and the natural world. It is a thoughtful reminder that we are part of something much larger than ourselves, and that belonging can be found in places we least expect.
Beautifully written, immersive, and filled with heart, Song of Belonging is a book that I suspect will stay with me for quite some time.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its atmosphere. I could almost smell the ocean air, hear the waves, the river, and feel the presence of the forests and shoreline. The settings are so vividly rendered that I often felt transported into the story itself.
I particularly loved the way the narrative moves between generations, gradually revealing connections that feel both surprising and inevitable. There is also a subtle mystical thread running through the novel that lends an enchanting quality to the story and kept me eagerly turning pages.
What stayed with me most, however, was the novel's message of interconnectedness—between people, generations, and the natural world. It is a thoughtful reminder that we are part of something much larger than ourselves, and that belonging can be found in places we least expect.
Beautifully written, immersive, and filled with heart, Song of Belonging is a book that I suspect will stay with me for quite some time.
May 22, 2026
What a nice read. I found myself pretty invested in the two main characters - and wondering how their storylines would be resolved. In the end, all the pieces of the puzzle fit together, but found myself wanting to stay in this story longer. My guess is there are more gifts and secrets to be unearthed. Book 2 in a series, perhaps?
Review of advance copy received from Author
Michelle St. Romain's debut novel is excellent! I loved each and every one of the characters (well, except one -- and you'll figure out who that is!).
This is one of those books I was sad to finish. I want to know more, hear more, feel more.
Song of Belonging enchanted me with it's poetic style, depth, and respect for the challenges of family secrets. Michelle St. Romain is gifted with the art of writing and understands the craft very well.
🤞🏼this is a series that continues!!
This is one of those books I was sad to finish. I want to know more, hear more, feel more.
Song of Belonging enchanted me with it's poetic style, depth, and respect for the challenges of family secrets. Michelle St. Romain is gifted with the art of writing and understands the craft very well.
🤞🏼this is a series that continues!!
Read
January 10, 2026Here is Alice, a modern woman, who embarks on a journey to herself when she makes a mystical connection to her family's past. Her discoveries lead her -and us--to understand what being and belonging really mean.
June 27, 2026
What stayed with me after reading Song of Belonging was the way Michelle St. Romain treats memory as something that can be inherited as deeply as family itself. The novel quietly blurs the boundaries between generations until the past no longer feels distant but intimately present.
I especially appreciated the dialogue between Grace's story in 1934 and Alice's life in 2019. Grace's letters to her deceased daughter become more than an expression of grief. They create an emotional current that reaches decades into the future, shaping a descendant who cannot explain the memories suddenly surfacing within her. The family's hidden gifts and the lineage of women connected to the Louisiana waters add touches of magical realism that never overshadow the emotional core. Instead, they deepen the novel's exploration of belonging, legacy, and the unseen ties that bind one generation to the next.
This novel will resonate with readers who enjoy family sagas where mystery grows from emotional inheritance rather than suspense alone. By the final page, the strongest impression is that understanding where we belong often begins by listening to the voices that came long before us.
I especially appreciated the dialogue between Grace's story in 1934 and Alice's life in 2019. Grace's letters to her deceased daughter become more than an expression of grief. They create an emotional current that reaches decades into the future, shaping a descendant who cannot explain the memories suddenly surfacing within her. The family's hidden gifts and the lineage of women connected to the Louisiana waters add touches of magical realism that never overshadow the emotional core. Instead, they deepen the novel's exploration of belonging, legacy, and the unseen ties that bind one generation to the next.
This novel will resonate with readers who enjoy family sagas where mystery grows from emotional inheritance rather than suspense alone. By the final page, the strongest impression is that understanding where we belong often begins by listening to the voices that came long before us.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Michelle St. Romain’s first novel is a fascinating tale told through generations of a Louisiana family, touching on themes both personal and universal. St. Romain’s writing is lyrical, and she shares generously here from her Louisiana upbringing. This is a deeply satisfying read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Michelle St. Romain' beautiful and evocative first novel delves the depths of family, the natural world, and love itself. Her finely wrought characters are compelling and relatable. Their journeys and discoveries will resonate long after you finish reading.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A book filled with history, family, mysticism, and climate concern. It shows multiple generations of protagonist Alice’s family and how their stories are intertwined. Animals and our influence on them and their habitats play a role.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
A beautifully written novel! The generational story of the maternal side of St. Romain's family line, the story is written with prose and poetry, interwoven throughout the women and their respective stories. Part romance, part nostalgia, cast in love.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
First, I have to thank PW for gifting me the opportunity to read this book through their “grab a galley” program. And I was delighted to hear that I had won a copy through an email from the author herself.
That being said, I was caught up in the story from the very beginning. And it didn’t stop. I read it straight through over two sittings and I was sorry to see it end. The characters were well developed and the interactions were memorable. I loved the idea of a great grandmother having such an impact so many years later. She was certainly prophetic in the letter she left and even though there were 3 siblings, she chose the right one.
Without including any spoilers (you must read this book for yourself!!) I will say that I thought the main character took forever to find her true calling. But I believe that’s what makes for interesting reading as she struggled, made the wrong decisions and ultimately found her true identity.
There were two additions to the story that I felt were not necessary. Both politics and same sex marriage, while prevalent in the world today are only going to create conflict. You either agree and will be excited to find them included. Or you will not. The author handled both well and neither was pushed in my face, so I didn’t stop reading. I just didn’t believe they added anything to the story and I personally would have enjoyed the book just a bit better without them. In a conversation with the author, I assured her I would highly recommend her book. Maybe not as a featured selection in my Christian book club 🤣, but certainly a great read for my friends to read on their own.
To those reading this review - go read the book!! You won’t be disappointed.
I truly look forward to reading more of her books going forward.
That being said, I was caught up in the story from the very beginning. And it didn’t stop. I read it straight through over two sittings and I was sorry to see it end. The characters were well developed and the interactions were memorable. I loved the idea of a great grandmother having such an impact so many years later. She was certainly prophetic in the letter she left and even though there were 3 siblings, she chose the right one.
Without including any spoilers (you must read this book for yourself!!) I will say that I thought the main character took forever to find her true calling. But I believe that’s what makes for interesting reading as she struggled, made the wrong decisions and ultimately found her true identity.
There were two additions to the story that I felt were not necessary. Both politics and same sex marriage, while prevalent in the world today are only going to create conflict. You either agree and will be excited to find them included. Or you will not. The author handled both well and neither was pushed in my face, so I didn’t stop reading. I just didn’t believe they added anything to the story and I personally would have enjoyed the book just a bit better without them. In a conversation with the author, I assured her I would highly recommend her book. Maybe not as a featured selection in my Christian book club 🤣, but certainly a great read for my friends to read on their own.
To those reading this review - go read the book!! You won’t be disappointed.
I truly look forward to reading more of her books going forward.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The haunting and gripping opening chapter sets the themes for this novel that spans generations. Michelle St. Romain writes in an authoritative voice that carries the reader along. It's exciting that this is the first of three novels that feature strong women and the history they carry. St. Romain keeps her narrative eye on the past in the context of the present and the future. Quite enjoyable and an excellent debut for this accomplished poet.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A genre-defying novel offering beautiful lyricism, a generational mystery, romance and important environmental themes. This is an author to watch!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews