Book Review | Singing Through Fire: by Lara Silverman

Today I am reviewing Singing Through Fire: A Memoir of Finding Surprising Joy in Life’s Darkest Trials by Lara Silverman which is available now.

Book Description:

What if you fall in love on the brink of death? Singing Through Fire invites readers into the Job-like true story of a young woman who loses everything—and dares to ask why a good God allows it.

When Stanford Law graduate Lara Palanjian collapses on her dream job, she never imagines it will lead to four years bedridden—or to the love of her life.

Enter Matthew Silverman: a witty, wise, and impossibly joyful youth pastor and professor facing terminal cancer. What begins with a few random encounters soon ignites an extraordinary, God-written love story that neither of them saw coming.

As their unlikely romance unfolds between medical crises, late-night laughter, and unexpected musical performances, Matthew’s unshakable faith challenges everything Lara thinks she knows about God’s goodness—and what it means to walk with Christlike faith, resilience, and joy in the face of overwhelming grief and suffering.

But with time against them, one question looms louder than the rest: What if this gift is only for a moment?

Surprisingly funny and spiritually rich, Singing Through Fire is a modern-day “Job meets Lucille Ball.” It explores what it means to suffer, love, and even laugh and make music while your life is burning down around you. It eloquently gives voice to the aching questions many sufferers quietly carry—then takes readers inside the breathtaking story of two people who found miraculous love and defiant joy amid heartbreaking loss.

It reveals how God can use even our deepest pain to write the most beautiful love stories—even on the cusp of eternity.

Book Review:

A request went out to review this book and I was intrigued by the title so I put my hand up. Wow oh wow, it was like Lara eloquently voiced all the doubts and fears I’ve wrestled with. She endured what sounded like hell on earth and in this memoir she openly and honestly shares the struggles she went through and unpacks the tension she faced between faith and doubt. To see her somehow retain her sanity and her faith, wow what an incredible testimony! She refers to Martin Luther’s quote about suffering and how it is like fast-tracked seminary school because it imprints God’s truths on our hearts, we are forced to live them in practice. And that is such a powerful statement, it’s one that I’ve wrestled with many times. You see throughout my life I’ve faced illnesses and diseases for varying periods of time and my latest battle has dragged on for over 10 years. I’ve found in the trials of affliction that I’ve been left questioning and doubting God time after time BUT that’s where Lara’s words really touched my heart. “I now know that if I wait, He’ll heal me in the end, in His timing. Maybe I really can trust God?” Then a few pages later she challenges me to view my suffering in a whole new light: “Christianity requires costly perseverance…” and yet again my heart lifted as I read “…God really does speak into situations and sustain us in the fire…..” Her words challenge me to keep trusting God and holding on. 

Lara invites her readers into the most intimate moments of her marriage and vividly shows what a living sacrifice can look like. The way that Lara and Matt ministered to each other and cared for each other was truly moving. Matt challenged those around him to remember that we ALL have a race to run (a way we are Called to live our lives) and Matt challenges us to run our race to the very best of our ability whether it be a long or a short time. As I read on and knew that Matt’s death was imminent, I almost didn’t want to keep reading, it was just too heart breaking but even in his final moments Matt left a lasting impression on those around him. Here too Lara openly shares her struggles and how she processed and unpacked her immediate time of grief.

I have just finished reading Lara’s book and I feel at a loss, like I am just too overcome with emotion to be able to put any more words together, I doubt that there is more that I could possibly say to help you understand just how deeply moving this book is. BUT know this: whatever struggles you are facing I know that you’ll find LOADS of encouragement within Lara’s book. It would also make a great gift for a friend walking through a trial and I’ve done just that, purchased a few copies to give away to friends. 

Australian readers you can purchase through Amazon here.

This is the American Amazon link.

Grab a copy or two today.

Many blessings,

Keona