Claire Labajo’s Get Up, Fight and Live is a deeply personal journey through grief, faith, and healing. After the death of her beloved husband Matt, Claire documents the aftermath of loss with a raw and open heart. The book unfolds as a mix of memoir and devotional, tracing her descent into sorrow and the small, spirit-led steps she took to find peace again. Through dreams, signs, music, and the everyday kindness of others, she paints a picture of pain met with grace. Scripture and prayer are woven throughout, guiding her transformation from broken widow to someone slowly learning to laugh again.

What struck me most was Claire’s honesty. There’s no fast-forward through the ugly crying, the guilt, or the isolation. She talks about not eating, losing weight, leaving the TV on for days, and begging God just to make it through. That kind of vulnerability is rare and powerful. I found myself moved by how relatable her moments of doubt and frustration were, especially the strange comfort of hearing your loved one’s voice in a dream or a song lyric. It wasn’t all sorrow, though. Her sense of humor snuck through the tears, whether it was pretending to be a celebrity in a bakery or sharing the cheeky pranks Matt pulled. Those stories made me laugh and cry at the same time. That’s the kind of writing that stays with you.

The structure bounces between anecdotes, prayers, and spiritual reflections. But that also made it feel more real. Grief isn’t neat. It’s messy and weird. I appreciated how Claire allowed that chaos to come through. The writing isn’t polished in a literary sense, but that’s part of its charm. It’s raw. It’s hers. And it’s told with a voice that feels like a trusted family member sitting you down to tell you everything they’ve been through. You can feel the warmth behind every word.

If your heart is aching, if you’ve lost someone and feel like no one understands, this book might just feel like a friend. I’d recommend Get Up, Fight and Live to anyone navigating grief, especially widows, caregivers, or folks trying to reconnect with their faith in the middle of heartbreak. Claire doesn’t give answers, she gives you a flashlight and a hug and says, “I’ve been there too.”

Pages: 49 | ASIN : B0BVBZ5JQ5