Genuine voice is what first came to mind while reading this book. It doesn’t feel puffed up. It feels lived, learned, tested and proven. Graceful and encouraging but challenging all at the same time. The author lets the reader into her heart. I love reading books like that. They are powerful.
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Jennie Lusko shares the story of the unexpected loss of her young daughter. In this, her first book, she expresses her pain and her desire to flourish in spite of it. Jennie included personal stories and was disarmingly honest, even sharing journal entries. Though I have not lost a child as she has, I could relate on so many levels. She quotes John 16:33, “in this world you will have trouble.” Unfortunately, none of us are exempt of trouble, so there is something here for everyone. The book is appropriately titled Fight to Flourish, emphasis on the fight. The themes of the book remind me of a Sara Groves song called The Boxer. One of the main lyrics in the song says “When you said this was a fight, you weren’t kidding.” I’ve always liked that song, because of it’s honesty and relatability. If you have not heard it, it is definitely worth the time to look it up.

We have hope because Jesus has already overcome the world. The reason we can flourish is Jesus Christ. I had never read James 1:2-4 in The Message Bible, so this scripture hit me in a new way as I was reading the book. James 1:2-4 “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

I loved the Charles Spurgeon quote at the end, “Whatever there may be of beauty in the material world, Jesus Christ possesses all that in the spiritual world in a tenfold degree. Amongst flowers, the rose is deemed the sweetest, but Jesus is infinitely more beautiful in the garden of the soul than rose can in the gardens of the earth . . .’ I am the rose of Sharon’.” This was the best and rarest of roses. Jesus is not “the rose” alone, He is “the rose of Sharon,” just as He calls .His righteousness gold, and then adds, “The gold of Ophir” - the best of the best. He is positively lovely and superlatively the loveliest. He is more beautiful than the most beautiful things we have beheld.”

You will find challenge and encouragement in these pages.

I received an ARC copy from the publisher and netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great book. Highly recommend the book, the study guide and the videos. This has helped me through so much.

Before you read this review: This book deals with the death of the author’s five year old daughter. If that’s a trigger for you, please skip the rest of this review.

I think it took courage for Jennie Lusko to share her story. Her honesty in this book was refreshing and encouraging. She didn’t mind sharing the pain of her journey of losing her child. I was impressed with her determination to embrace her emotional and spiritual journey; to push through the hard times; and her determination to still be an encouragement to her family and her church. She talks of the impact of her daughter’s death has had in their family. Although she looks at their loss in a realistic way, there’s a message of hope that shines through in every chapter. The message of this book embraces this quote “I don’t have to understand God in order to trust Him.” I know I’ll be returning to this book for practical encouragement during difficult times.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A touching story about Lusko's story after losing her five-year old daughter. Heartwarming/heartwrenching story about moving on after tragedy and not just living but flourishing. Lusko is an inspiration and a reminder that God does wonderful things!

This book came along at just the right time. I am so glad I got to read this book.

Have you ever felt stuck or feel like you're on an known path, with a never ending frustration of not knowing when tough times will end? I've walked through those seasons more times than I wish to think about.

This book really encouraged me that flourishing doesn't mean lack of struggle or anything, it means that you can flourish IN the struggle. I am grateful to have been able to read this book and I am glad to be able to share this with my friends.

Jennie's writing in "The Fight to Flourish" is so encouraging. It's the motivational pep talk you need to keep going, in whatever it is you're doing. As well as a friendly reminder of God's provision and worthiness as mentioned in scripture.

This was such a disappointment. It starts off strong, but goes downhill after chapter one. The writing is poor, the story-telling often doesn't make sense (random stories added in throughout, never connecting to anything else), a story in Scripture is clearly not researched well because the commentary doesn't line up with the Scripture that is referenced, and the book hovers on the surface, never really digging deep into the promised message.

"The Fight to Flourish", by Jennie Lusko, is a well-written Christian Living book that is highly authentic and easy to read. Lusko has an honest, transparent writing style who is easy to share her own failings and struggles. While sharing about the death of her daughter, she encourages the reader to keep going. But not only does she want her reader to simply not give up, but she wants them to flourish as well. (I really enjoyed her plant object lessons too.) I really enjoyed this book and found it to be very helpful!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Great book especially for those who have lost a child, but not exclusively. Jennie uses a lot of imagery to express her point and it works well. She always keeps her stories pointing back to Christ and His word. It is a lengthy book, but worth the read.

This book was not quite what I expected - it had much more religious undertones than I had anticipated and featured conversations mainly on God and faith. For people focused on the church and their role as Christians in society, this book is a good reminder of ways to succeed while working through day to day life. Lusko has first hand experience with life as a Christian and shares insights that apply to religious individuals. If you are not looking for a Christian only perspective, this may not be the right choice for you, but if you want a faith-based approach to a balanced lifestyle, then this book is a great place to start.

This was a great, easy to read book about how flourishing in the life we've been given isn't always easy. Many times we must fight in order to flourish in the midst of life's difficult circmunstances. Jennie speaks and encourages through the voice of experience and compassion. She knows what it's like to feel as if life is over and it's all you can do just to make it through one more day, let alone to flourish. Lusko's five year old daughter, Lenya, went home to be Jesus after suffering an asthma attack. So she knows all about the "Fight to Flourish." I loved Jennie's comparison of fighting to actual real life boxing....lacing up the gloves, being focused and alert, and being prepared for the punches that life throws at us every day. She teaches that no matter what punches we're dealt, we can still be strong, be a blessing to others and flourish right where we are.

A raw account of what a grieving mother has learned through seeking God in the face of loosing her five year old daughter. I appreciated that this book wasn’t a retelling of her husband’s book but instead provided more of a focus on her moving forward. It was a great mix of biblical life lessons and stories. It did feel like her appeal to a smaller audience of women with kids and who were married, but that didn’t bother me too much. I also appreciated how she continued to place the focus on Jesus and being transformed by Him. This wasn’t a fluffy, typically Women’s ministry book but instead embraced the true pain and struggles in life by fixing our eyes on Jesus to help us no matter what season we are in.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

I also listened to portion of the audiobook through the local library and loved how they pulled in elements from her husband’s sermons, the funeral service, and has some musical elements. It was a nice addition to the audiobook!

Love Levi Lusko and the books he has written so when I heard his wife Jenny Lucko was writing a book I was excited to read it. Jenny’s book did not disappoint. This book is filled with true life stories of those who have struggled to overcome things in their lives that could have broken them. With the use of scripture and real life examples Jenny gives her readers tools to help them fight in the midst of suffering. Truth that a person can stand on to help fight and flourish through life’s difficult seasons.

Omg I feel as the Jennie and I are friends and she just spent the day with me telling me about my “Fight to Flourish” I’m in !! Best book ever to help see your part to participate in when it come to your life’s battles and storms so that you come out on the other side flourishing!!!

Jennie’s description of living through the terror of losing her kindergartner unexpectedly is nothing short of excruciating. Yet, despite her overwhelming loss, she is able to invite truth and the living hope of Jesus Christ found in scripture right into her pain. Not only does Jennie make it through this tragedy intact, she is able to FLOURISH in spite of it! You won’t be able to put this book down and you’re going to want all of your friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, and loose acquaintances to read it!!