“Birth Road” by Michelle Wamboldt felt like I was having a deep conversation with the book itself. I felt empathy while reading the story of Helen, and her characteristics mirrored a portrayal of me. I really felt resonated with Helen, almost as if I was reading a story of my own self.

Helen was a young little girl who lived in the woods since childhood. She was born to shine bright like “God’s lights," as her Father called it; but her family’s burdens and struggles had become an obstacle of her birth road. The novel portrays love, loss, trust, identity, how cruel the world can be, and how it doesn’t take much for your loved ones to start breaking, which can eventually start to break you.

The book acted as an older sibling, teaching me how to prioritize myself and my happiness above everything else. I really enjoyed this read and loved growing up with Helen, all throughout the good and the bad.

Michelle Wamboldt’s style of writing and the ability of storytelling was remarkably beautiful. Her words left me speechless and staring at the wall until reality settled me back. I loved how Wamboldt had allowed the readers to resonate with the character’s struggles and triumphs.

I recommend this book to anyone who is struggling to walk on their birth road because they’ve been carrying other people’s weight and burdens for way too long. This book is definitely for you if you don’t remember the last time you smiled, and you feel like your silence needs to be heard.

I read Birth Road in one day, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it. It was a shorter novel than what I typically read, but it made for a good afternoon of reading.

The plot of the novel was quite depressing, which is not what I was expecting. There are a few happy moments, a few moments where Helen’s true happiness can be seen, but the happiness is more often than not overshadowed by heartbreak or pain. I appreciated the storyline, but it was a bit too disheartening for me. I believe that the character Helen is based on the author’s grandmother, and knowing that information makes it even more heartbreaking and real.

I did like that some of the loose ends were tied up at the end of the book. I was able to predict some of them, but knowing that I was right was very satisfying to me. I wish that some of the questions that got answered at the end of the novel were answered a little sooner, as I felt that the end of the novel was a little rushed.

Overall, I did like this book. I’m a sucker for good historical fiction, and this definitely delivered in the historically accurate division. I will say that it can be a bit depressing, but pushing past that reveals a good, solid storyline that speaks to the hardships that women in the mid 20th century faced with courage.

I was very excited to read Birth Road by Michelle Wamboldt and it did not disappoint. It’s a captivating piece of historical fiction with such well structured and well delivered storytelling. The pacing, especially when it comes to how and when key information is revealed to the reader, is incredibly well done making it hard to put down. Helen, who’s based on the author’s grandmother, is such a nuanced and compelling figure to follow. She immediately grabbed my attention and kept it with ease. This is a very genuine story, especially in the sense that even though various characters and events were fictionalised, there’s still a deep truth to them - which can be a tough balance to strike, but Wamboldt pulled it off beautifully. Birth Road is a wonderful novel that I would unquestionably recommend reading.