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Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up
What if that thing you really feared happened? Would the joy you hold pop? Or would you experience love and joy deeper than you can imagine?
They met in college and fell in love. They talked about getting married, and he started looking for a ring. They dreamed about life together, a life of beauty and joy, raising babies and laughing with friends and growing old.
They did not imagine a car accident. They did not imagine his brain injury. They did not dream about the need for constant care and a wheelchair and fear that food might choke him.
And they could not have imagined how persistent love would be. Theirs and God's.
Ian and Larissa Murphy tell their story of love in Eight Twenty Eight. Except, it's not just their love story. Really, it's yours as well. Read and gain a picture of love that will challenge all you think you know about what is true and what persists.
They met in college and fell in love. They talked about getting married, and he started looking for a ring. They dreamed about life together, a life of beauty and joy, raising babies and laughing with friends and growing old.
They did not imagine a car accident. They did not imagine his brain injury. They did not dream about the need for constant care and a wheelchair and fear that food might choke him.
And they could not have imagined how persistent love would be. Theirs and God's.
Ian and Larissa Murphy tell their story of love in Eight Twenty Eight. Except, it's not just their love story. Really, it's yours as well. Read and gain a picture of love that will challenge all you think you know about what is true and what persists.
208 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2014
45 people are currently reading
1239 people want to read
About the author
Larissa Murphy
1 book6 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author on Goodreads with this name.
Ian and Larissa are husband and wife. They love one another. They laugh together. They seek to serve God together all while dealing with the implications of life in a world marked by suffering, yet compelled by love. They live in Pennsylvania where they watch as God works all things together for good.
Ian and Larissa are husband and wife. They love one another. They laugh together. They seek to serve God together all while dealing with the implications of life in a world marked by suffering, yet compelled by love. They live in Pennsylvania where they watch as God works all things together for good.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
September 2, 2014
There are few people I respect more than Ian and Larissa. Ian and I grew up together. He's my best friend. They live out what's in this book. Their love for one another and their trust in The Lord is staggering. They're not saints. They're broken individuals who have been transformed by Jesus.
Read this book. Be inspired by their love.
Read this book. Be inspired by their love.
November 30, 2014
I looked forward to reading this book, and I really wanted to like it... but I was disappointed. Please note I mean no criticism of Ian and Larissa's actual life or story, but just of the published memoir itself.
My main criticism: I wish the author had gone into greater depth of reflection in the book.
To decide to marry a man with a traumatic brain injury is, obviously, huge. She shared some of what that process was like, but on a fairly surface-y level. What were the conversations between her and her parents about that like? His parents? How did she actually decide to go through with it? There were several years between Ian's accident and their engagement, and though she described grief, longing, and jealousy of others' lives moving on, she never explored in real depth what her thought processes about their future together were like during that time.
A perfect example: "He loved my soul, but I didn't know if love for my soul could fill the gaps I would feel in my heart. So we just kept going." And... done. ????
Another: "Steve talked to Ian a lot, like the time I found them out on the patio, and Steve started to tell me what he was learning in the book of Job, and what Ian had been telling him about wanting to marry me. Steve was helping Ian to prepare to make one of the biggest decisions of his life."
...That's it. No more detail about how conversations like that went. A few pages later they were engaged.
There was one brief paragraph (pg 178) when Larissa describes someone asking her if she felt pressure to stay. "No, I didn't think so. I truly believed Ian and I could marry."
Okay... but why? And how did she arrive there? There had to have been more to it than that, and the book would have been richer for more of those reflections shared.
Similarly, deeper reflections were missing on such complicated topics as her relationships with his family. There were several allusions to being frustrated or angry at Ian's parents, not knowing her role in the house or around Steve's death- I can only imagine moving in with your boyfriend's family for years would have had its own story, but it was never explored. Perhaps this was out of respect for others' privacy, which I can understand... but it didn't make for excellent writing or storytelling. Elsewhere I read a review that said the author only described everyone she and Ian knew as "wonderful and holy", and I would agree with that. Almost all of the people in the book besides Ian and Larissa felt two-dimensionally sketched out.
My other significant complaint is with the way faith was written about. Not the FACT that it was written about- nothing about Ian and Larissa's story has ever remotely hidden faith! (Awesome!)
But there seemed to be an assumption that the reader is deeply familiar not only with Christian faith, but with a very specific subculture of evangelical Christianity.
Her religious conversion is described only in her admission of being afraid of going to hell on one page and a few pages later stating that "the truth of Jesus and His accomplishment on the cross infused into my bloodstream. Faith came alive in me, and I was able to look at the world in an completely different way. I became flesh, and I became God's." What? How? What does that mean?
There are frequent references to "His accomplishment on the cross", "switching my fate from hell to heaven", "I was seeing God in these friendships" without going into any more detail.
One paragraph read, "We were moving from stone to flesh, from lifeless clay to pottery, agreeing to wash away ourselves until the pure white shown through."
In another place, "He's excited for us to see each other in perfection as we come into Christ and into the fullness he has promised for us".
Would anyone who is not immersed in evangelical culture have any idea what any of that means??
These are very specific ways of describing the Bible and faith in Jesus. Not everyone reading these statements will know what she means- I assumed that the Murphys hoped their book to be an outreach tool, but I feel like unless the reader has already been immersed in a conservative Christian culture, they would be really confused. It might have been helpful to at least give a basic explanation of the Gospel.
I wasn't confused, but I still found the language off-putting. To be frank, the book was filled with "Christianese"- lots of words and ways of talking that only Christians, especially particular subcultures within the wider Christian community, use. There are ways to talk about Jesus, grace, and the Gospel that are much more accessible. I can't imagine any of my non-Christian friends understanding the beliefs or experiences she is referencing without getting some more explanation. Even for someone who does follow what she's talking about, it sounded stilted and removed from real life.
I think Ian and Larissa's story is beautiful, and they both seem like wonderful people. I wish them all the best and I have enjoyed following their blog and their videos on the Desiring God website. I think there is much to learn from their character and their lives. I just wish this book had pushed harder to explore and reflect on a deeper level.
My main criticism: I wish the author had gone into greater depth of reflection in the book.
To decide to marry a man with a traumatic brain injury is, obviously, huge. She shared some of what that process was like, but on a fairly surface-y level. What were the conversations between her and her parents about that like? His parents? How did she actually decide to go through with it? There were several years between Ian's accident and their engagement, and though she described grief, longing, and jealousy of others' lives moving on, she never explored in real depth what her thought processes about their future together were like during that time.
A perfect example: "He loved my soul, but I didn't know if love for my soul could fill the gaps I would feel in my heart. So we just kept going." And... done. ????
Another: "Steve talked to Ian a lot, like the time I found them out on the patio, and Steve started to tell me what he was learning in the book of Job, and what Ian had been telling him about wanting to marry me. Steve was helping Ian to prepare to make one of the biggest decisions of his life."
...That's it. No more detail about how conversations like that went. A few pages later they were engaged.
There was one brief paragraph (pg 178) when Larissa describes someone asking her if she felt pressure to stay. "No, I didn't think so. I truly believed Ian and I could marry."
Okay... but why? And how did she arrive there? There had to have been more to it than that, and the book would have been richer for more of those reflections shared.
Similarly, deeper reflections were missing on such complicated topics as her relationships with his family. There were several allusions to being frustrated or angry at Ian's parents, not knowing her role in the house or around Steve's death- I can only imagine moving in with your boyfriend's family for years would have had its own story, but it was never explored. Perhaps this was out of respect for others' privacy, which I can understand... but it didn't make for excellent writing or storytelling. Elsewhere I read a review that said the author only described everyone she and Ian knew as "wonderful and holy", and I would agree with that. Almost all of the people in the book besides Ian and Larissa felt two-dimensionally sketched out.
My other significant complaint is with the way faith was written about. Not the FACT that it was written about- nothing about Ian and Larissa's story has ever remotely hidden faith! (Awesome!)
But there seemed to be an assumption that the reader is deeply familiar not only with Christian faith, but with a very specific subculture of evangelical Christianity.
Her religious conversion is described only in her admission of being afraid of going to hell on one page and a few pages later stating that "the truth of Jesus and His accomplishment on the cross infused into my bloodstream. Faith came alive in me, and I was able to look at the world in an completely different way. I became flesh, and I became God's." What? How? What does that mean?
There are frequent references to "His accomplishment on the cross", "switching my fate from hell to heaven", "I was seeing God in these friendships" without going into any more detail.
One paragraph read, "We were moving from stone to flesh, from lifeless clay to pottery, agreeing to wash away ourselves until the pure white shown through."
In another place, "He's excited for us to see each other in perfection as we come into Christ and into the fullness he has promised for us".
Would anyone who is not immersed in evangelical culture have any idea what any of that means??
These are very specific ways of describing the Bible and faith in Jesus. Not everyone reading these statements will know what she means- I assumed that the Murphys hoped their book to be an outreach tool, but I feel like unless the reader has already been immersed in a conservative Christian culture, they would be really confused. It might have been helpful to at least give a basic explanation of the Gospel.
I wasn't confused, but I still found the language off-putting. To be frank, the book was filled with "Christianese"- lots of words and ways of talking that only Christians, especially particular subcultures within the wider Christian community, use. There are ways to talk about Jesus, grace, and the Gospel that are much more accessible. I can't imagine any of my non-Christian friends understanding the beliefs or experiences she is referencing without getting some more explanation. Even for someone who does follow what she's talking about, it sounded stilted and removed from real life.
I think Ian and Larissa's story is beautiful, and they both seem like wonderful people. I wish them all the best and I have enjoyed following their blog and their videos on the Desiring God website. I think there is much to learn from their character and their lives. I just wish this book had pushed harder to explore and reflect on a deeper level.
February 2, 2016
This is one of those books where I love the story, but I didn't care for the writing of it. There are certainly some really beautiful and tender moments in here, as well as some honest reflection that allows the reader deep into Larissa's heart. I am grateful for her willingness to share her story because she does not have to let us into her world and heart.
But -- the book was hard to read. Not as in emotionally hard, although there are pull-at-the heartstrings moments. The challenge with this book, for me, was in two areas.
1. Timeline -- Larissa uses a common technique of mixing past and present, which can be very effective at keeping readers engaged and pushing forward in their reading. But in order for this to be done well, there must be significant clues to the reader that this is happening. Chapter breaks, larger than usual paragraph breakers, dates, and transitional words and phrases are necessary. Unfortunately, they are frequently missing (at least in the e-book version I read). Thus, I would move from a moment where the family was celebrating that Ian took a few bites of food immediately into him talking about walking. More than once I had to look back to see if I was missing a page or if I had missed something to clue me into the fact that this was happening. These clues were all too often missing.
2. Incomplete Story -- I recognize that Larissa does not owe us her story. She did not have to tell it, but when she decided to be open about her story, she also opened herself to a lot of curiosity about her life and decisions. I left this book with so many unanswered questions that I felt immensely dissatisfied. I was sharing the story with my husband who kept asking me questions to which my answer was, "I have no idea. She didn't talk about that." For example, I wondered about her family, I wondered about her relationship with her Mother-in-law, I wondered why they moved, I wondered how she came to have other family members living with them . . . it went on and on and on. It felt like she was telling this story to people who already knew these answers.
As with many of the books that I have been disappointed with this year, I wish there had been better organization and more specific details in the story. For potential writers who want to share their lives with a wider audience, please remember that your readers have not lived with you all your lives and if your story is interesting or unique, you may be called upon to tell us more than you might feel comfortable with sharing.
But -- the book was hard to read. Not as in emotionally hard, although there are pull-at-the heartstrings moments. The challenge with this book, for me, was in two areas.
1. Timeline -- Larissa uses a common technique of mixing past and present, which can be very effective at keeping readers engaged and pushing forward in their reading. But in order for this to be done well, there must be significant clues to the reader that this is happening. Chapter breaks, larger than usual paragraph breakers, dates, and transitional words and phrases are necessary. Unfortunately, they are frequently missing (at least in the e-book version I read). Thus, I would move from a moment where the family was celebrating that Ian took a few bites of food immediately into him talking about walking. More than once I had to look back to see if I was missing a page or if I had missed something to clue me into the fact that this was happening. These clues were all too often missing.
2. Incomplete Story -- I recognize that Larissa does not owe us her story. She did not have to tell it, but when she decided to be open about her story, she also opened herself to a lot of curiosity about her life and decisions. I left this book with so many unanswered questions that I felt immensely dissatisfied. I was sharing the story with my husband who kept asking me questions to which my answer was, "I have no idea. She didn't talk about that." For example, I wondered about her family, I wondered about her relationship with her Mother-in-law, I wondered why they moved, I wondered how she came to have other family members living with them . . . it went on and on and on. It felt like she was telling this story to people who already knew these answers.
As with many of the books that I have been disappointed with this year, I wish there had been better organization and more specific details in the story. For potential writers who want to share their lives with a wider audience, please remember that your readers have not lived with you all your lives and if your story is interesting or unique, you may be called upon to tell us more than you might feel comfortable with sharing.
August 28, 2014
Interesting, quick, easy reading, despite the serious subject matter. I appreciated that it was not over-spiritualized or preachy. You can fly through this one in a few hours, although the story will stick with you for much longer than that.
Ian and Larissa are the only dynamic characters in the book - everyone else has their one label and side shown (wonderful and holy for all of them), and nothing changes with them from the beginning to the end. In fact, no negative aspects of any other character is ever shown, except for a few medical personnel. Both Ian and Larissa have personality and their ups and downs come out (more so with the latter). It's really Larissa's book, despite Ian's name on the cover as co-author, and she is very honest about herself. Ian is a main character, but not one with much authorial voice, which is actually nice, because there is no confusion about who "I" is or anything like that, which can happen when two people attempt to write together.
Not to take away from the story, but a few comments on the writing:
On the upside, it reads like a book, not a blog. It moves along at just about the right pace. There is enough medical detail to keep the reader informed, but not so much as to bog one down. It's a book about a relationship, not a medical drama.
On the downside, it reads like a book written by a first-time author and published by a little-known company. Sometimes it jumped from past tense to present tense (some of which seemed intentional, some of which seemed like mistakes), and there were some typos.
I would highly recommend this book, but am basing that recommendation on the content, not the writing.
Ian and Larissa are the only dynamic characters in the book - everyone else has their one label and side shown (wonderful and holy for all of them), and nothing changes with them from the beginning to the end. In fact, no negative aspects of any other character is ever shown, except for a few medical personnel. Both Ian and Larissa have personality and their ups and downs come out (more so with the latter). It's really Larissa's book, despite Ian's name on the cover as co-author, and she is very honest about herself. Ian is a main character, but not one with much authorial voice, which is actually nice, because there is no confusion about who "I" is or anything like that, which can happen when two people attempt to write together.
Not to take away from the story, but a few comments on the writing:
On the upside, it reads like a book, not a blog. It moves along at just about the right pace. There is enough medical detail to keep the reader informed, but not so much as to bog one down. It's a book about a relationship, not a medical drama.
On the downside, it reads like a book written by a first-time author and published by a little-known company. Sometimes it jumped from past tense to present tense (some of which seemed intentional, some of which seemed like mistakes), and there were some typos.
I would highly recommend this book, but am basing that recommendation on the content, not the writing.
October 12, 2014
Wow this book was intense! I initially picked it up because a friend knew this couple personally and introduced me to their blog. I found Ian and Larissa to be incredibly honest and inspiring in their willingness to show their vulnerability.
This book made me cry half of a dozen times. This book is powerful, painful, and written in a way that I felt I was actually living it. This is a book that I would put into the category of being a better person because I read it. Simply reliving Ian and Larissa 's story changed me and for the better. It is the kind of book that leaves an imprint on your heart permanently.
To the authors: thank you. Thank you Larissa for being so honest about your feelings- you didn't sugar coat what you went through. It was real and powerful. You are more than you realize. I am in awe of you.
To Ian: I pray that my husband loves me as much as you love your "wifey". Your faith inspires me and your tenacious (though your wife might say stubborn) spirit encourages me to press onward and persevere.
Thank you for sharing your story and for a few hours allowing me to be part of your lives.
This book made me cry half of a dozen times. This book is powerful, painful, and written in a way that I felt I was actually living it. This is a book that I would put into the category of being a better person because I read it. Simply reliving Ian and Larissa 's story changed me and for the better. It is the kind of book that leaves an imprint on your heart permanently.
To the authors: thank you. Thank you Larissa for being so honest about your feelings- you didn't sugar coat what you went through. It was real and powerful. You are more than you realize. I am in awe of you.
To Ian: I pray that my husband loves me as much as you love your "wifey". Your faith inspires me and your tenacious (though your wife might say stubborn) spirit encourages me to press onward and persevere.
Thank you for sharing your story and for a few hours allowing me to be part of your lives.
May 25, 2017
While I appreciated Larissa's honesty and willingness to open up her heart to the world in this book, I was left largely unsatisfied. It is very disjointed and chaotic in its timeline, large parts of the story are left out (I was left with a lot of unanswered questions), it is very focused on Larissa's inner thought life, and it has an extremely defensive tone to it throughout - all of these things made it hard to get through. I really admire both Ian and Larissa for their faith in God and willingness to go through whatever He puts in their path without giving up on Him. It is comforting to see that weak humans (especially since I am one) can endure anything with God walking beside them. So, while I am inspired by the love story of Ian and Larissa, I guess I was hoping for a better telling of it.
October 26, 2015
I had seen some of the videos of Ian and Larissa a few years ago, and was excited at the chance to read their story. They have such an amazing story to tell, and I was interested to see how they intersected their faith with the real life events they had experienced.
I was a bit disappointed in the structure of the book. I found parts difficult to follow because the story jumped between past and present, between blog posts and narrative. It was disjointed and lacked a flow that made it easy for me to read. I also felt that the book was a series of disjointed events or ideas that did not flow together to really tell the tale of how their faith in God allowed them to get where they are today. The opportunities to really share how God moved through the dark and difficult days were skimmed over with simple explanations or words that didn't really bring resolution at all.
I was a bit disappointed in the structure of the book. I found parts difficult to follow because the story jumped between past and present, between blog posts and narrative. It was disjointed and lacked a flow that made it easy for me to read. I also felt that the book was a series of disjointed events or ideas that did not flow together to really tell the tale of how their faith in God allowed them to get where they are today. The opportunities to really share how God moved through the dark and difficult days were skimmed over with simple explanations or words that didn't really bring resolution at all.
February 21, 2015
I really wanted to love this book. Learning about Ian and Larissa was so inspiring when my then-fiancé and I watched a video about them in our church group. While I appreciated the message of the book, I did no enjoy the writer's style and was left hanging with a lot of questions that went unanswered.
February 4, 2020
I love the ending with Steve pointing to Christ....revealing the purpose of this book. I loved Larissa’s real, raw and honest transparency even though many times it didn’t put her in the best light, and her devotion to love as she has been loved....I love Ian’s spirit....my favorite quote by him: “I have an Incredible Savior”.
August 2, 2016
I sent the following feedback to the publisher through netgalley.com, who gave me a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a story of God's faithfulness and unending love, this book was amazing. No one could read this and not be drawn to their knees by the amazing picture it gives of God's promise to never leave us! However, I wish it would have been a little more polished. I felt like it was a rough draft in many aspects. For example, Larissa jumped around a lot chronologically, so it was difficult to keep up with where the story was on the timeline. Was it right after the accident? Was it after they were married? I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more "flow" in the writing. Still, I would recommend this book to anyone desiring to celebrate God's faithfulness and how that is played out in marriage. He is awesome, and He works all things together for good!
As a story of God's faithfulness and unending love, this book was amazing. No one could read this and not be drawn to their knees by the amazing picture it gives of God's promise to never leave us! However, I wish it would have been a little more polished. I felt like it was a rough draft in many aspects. For example, Larissa jumped around a lot chronologically, so it was difficult to keep up with where the story was on the timeline. Was it right after the accident? Was it after they were married? I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more "flow" in the writing. Still, I would recommend this book to anyone desiring to celebrate God's faithfulness and how that is played out in marriage. He is awesome, and He works all things together for good!
May 25, 2015
This book is the sweet, uncomfortable, wonderful story of God making one girl more like Himself. Larissa Murphy is raw and honest in describing her sins, her mental battles, and the abundant grace God bestows upon her. I cried so many times reading this. It drove me to pray that God will equip me for the tasks He has for me, but was also a sweet comfort: He gives more grace. He works all things for good. He will not leave me.
December 29, 2025
This book was published back in 2014. I read it several years later. What a story of trials and tragedy but how this young couple survived in spite of very difficult circumstances. It is a story of how a young girl stuck beside her boyfriend after a horrific accident that left him in a coma for weeks and then disabled for life. It is also a greater story of two families sharing the burden of a disabled young man, and how God's love was reflected in the sacrificial giving to this young man. It tells a story on how their marriage ended up what romantic novels are written about, but also an honest retelling of this young girl's struggles, challenges and thoughts going thru this time in their lives.
March 25, 2023
Page by page, I was challenged by Ian and Larissa and how they handled the obstacles in their path. Marriage is about putting your partner first, and for these two, that is taken to a whole new level.
I appreciated how she didn’t try to mask her emotions and feelings with “Christian” words. This book was honest, brutal, and real.
I appreciated how she didn’t try to mask her emotions and feelings with “Christian” words. This book was honest, brutal, and real.
March 5, 2015
What would you do if the one you loved and planned your future with go in a severe accident? Well this happened to Ian and Larissa, a young couple who had been together for quite some time and planned on getting married soon. One day Ian got in a freak accident and nothing was the same. Larissa still loved him the same no matter what, because she knew that if it had happened to her he would have never left her. She stayed by his side and never left. He is now in a wheelchair and can barely talk. Would you stick by your loved ones side? I chose this cook because I'm very interested in crazy love stories like this that are sad, but joyful. It was definitely what I hoped for while reading this book. I recommend this book to young adults and adults. I also feel like if you need to be interested in this type of book for you to enjoy it, but I highly recommend it.
August 19, 2015
Maybe it was because I listened to the audio book, but I found most of this difficult to get through. It says it is just over 200 pages, but I would have guessed that it was closer to 400. What this author and her family have lived through and faced with great faith is why I wanted to hear it. My expectations were reflections on God and suffering and faith that arose out of their own personal story. Instead it felt more like listening to someone read their journal to me. My expectations are not in the authors control, so I may be somewhat responsible for my bad experience with this book. There were small moments scattered here and there that gave me something to aspire to in my own marriage, and I am grateful for that.
May 12, 2015
Ian and Larissa have been going out and planning to get married when he has a terrible car accident. It goes through the awful first few days in hospital where his prognosis is very poor.
Then it describes a very slow, recovery phase where they ease him out of a coma by bringing him home- secure in the love of his girlfriend and family.
The devotion shines through the very difficult time and shows how hard every tiny step forward is fought for and just how much a brain injury shatters lives around the patient aswell.
One of those books that will stay with you a long while.
Then it describes a very slow, recovery phase where they ease him out of a coma by bringing him home- secure in the love of his girlfriend and family.
The devotion shines through the very difficult time and shows how hard every tiny step forward is fought for and just how much a brain injury shatters lives around the patient aswell.
One of those books that will stay with you a long while.
Read
September 21, 2016I listened to this one (audio book). I think listening made it harder to understand the character and what she was truly feeling. It was sort of monotone. So I have mixed feelings on what I thought of the story. Not enough depth/feeling for me, for what I truly think this journey was for them. But it did give me a sense of hope, of love everlasting, of endurance, of perseverance. Believe in the vows, "in sickness and in health". In nothing is every guaranteed. Be thankful for every moment you have now. And love is more than good looks, more than good health. Love is everything.
October 25, 2014
I loved this! such a beautiful story of pain, struggle, God's grace and forgiveness, and His strength that helps you stick around when the going gets tough. I loved how transparent Larissa was about her struggles--she didn't sugarcoat anything. This also reminded me of my mom's time in the ICU and although she wasn't affected mentally (praise Him!), it was still a difficult time and God really had to walk us through that in His love. So glad that these two chose to share their story with us.
July 2, 2014
I loved that Larissa told their story so honestly! It's so much more than overcoming a tragic disability; it spoke to me more about marriage, in particular. She wrote about her frustrations and sadness but also how lucky she was to be with a good man. Even though their situation is harder than most, they both continuously honor Christ. Great read!
July 8, 2015
Rich and heavy, this book is about two people living out Christ's love. It makes you think long and hard about how much Christ loves us and how much we love each other. If I could give this book than 5 stars I would.
January 8, 2016
Such a powerful love story . It's a beautiful and messy picture of unconditional love that God has for us and we should have for each other. There were many times I cried during this read wondering if I could do it. Just beautiful!
February 13, 2017
I am still wiping my eyes. Eight Twenty Eight is gorgeously written and I could barely put it down. I am so glad that Larissa and Ian decided to share their beautiful portrait of a marriage that truly reflects Christ and His church.
June 26, 2014
Thought-provoking and totally heartwarming. An amazing story told beautifully. Definitely would recommend.
March 28, 2015
Beautiful reflection of God's love for us. {Rom 8:28}
May 3, 2016
Glorious.
October 13, 2025
I loved this book! It showed me that love is not a feeling and how tonhnrnGod even when you can’t see him working!
December 4, 2021
Ian and Larissa Murphy’s 2014 journal asks the question, “Can you imagine if your life were changed in an instant?” As the Murphy’s document in this 222-page chronicle, it actually happened to them. For Ian and Larissa, that instant came on Saturday, September 30, 2006. That was the day Ian’s station wagon collided with and became crumpled under an SUV. The Jaws of Life were summoned to pull Ian out of the wreckage, followed by a helicopter ride to a trauma center with a massive brain injury.
What happens in the days, weeks, months and years after the crash, Larissa reports in intimate detail. When Larissa and Ian’s family learn from his doctors that he was “failing four out of five brain activity tests,” a decision had to be made. Should they let machines keep Ian alive, or should they let him die naturally?
Spoiler alert! The family made the decision to keep Ian on life support. With that traumatic choice, came a whole new set of questions. Ian would not be the same person he was before the accident. Life for Ian and Larissa would never be the same. At that point, the authors take the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Larissa takes us inside her mind to share her battles with anger. She reveals her fear that she would be wasting her life if she stayed by her then fiancé’s side. Larissa, with her “many years of spunkiness and feisty spirit,” had to weigh the cost of marrying someone who would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Larissa is totally transparent when it comes to revealing her doubts and struggles, through her engagement with Ian and their eventual marriage, a relationship Larissa admits, “can hardly be considered comfortable.”
Eleven years after their storybook, outdoor wedding in 2010, the couple are now parents of two preschoolers. While watching a January 2021 TV interview, it became obvious that Larissa was doing all the talking. Sadly, Ian was primarily non-verbal.
Two takeaways from this soul-searching saga: (1) The fragility of life. Ian was absolutely right when he told Larissa prior to his fateful crash, “A car accident, or anything, can completely change your life.” Yes, indeed. In a micro-second. (2) It is still possible in this self-centered world for two people to remain in a committed marriage “in sickness and in health.”
What happens in the days, weeks, months and years after the crash, Larissa reports in intimate detail. When Larissa and Ian’s family learn from his doctors that he was “failing four out of five brain activity tests,” a decision had to be made. Should they let machines keep Ian alive, or should they let him die naturally?
Spoiler alert! The family made the decision to keep Ian on life support. With that traumatic choice, came a whole new set of questions. Ian would not be the same person he was before the accident. Life for Ian and Larissa would never be the same. At that point, the authors take the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Larissa takes us inside her mind to share her battles with anger. She reveals her fear that she would be wasting her life if she stayed by her then fiancé’s side. Larissa, with her “many years of spunkiness and feisty spirit,” had to weigh the cost of marrying someone who would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Larissa is totally transparent when it comes to revealing her doubts and struggles, through her engagement with Ian and their eventual marriage, a relationship Larissa admits, “can hardly be considered comfortable.”
Eleven years after their storybook, outdoor wedding in 2010, the couple are now parents of two preschoolers. While watching a January 2021 TV interview, it became obvious that Larissa was doing all the talking. Sadly, Ian was primarily non-verbal.
Two takeaways from this soul-searching saga: (1) The fragility of life. Ian was absolutely right when he told Larissa prior to his fateful crash, “A car accident, or anything, can completely change your life.” Yes, indeed. In a micro-second. (2) It is still possible in this self-centered world for two people to remain in a committed marriage “in sickness and in health.”
July 31, 2018
This is a tough book to review.
I have absolutely no doubt of Larissa's love and dedication to Ian, and his affection for her. However, rather than feel inspired, I closed this book feeling sad for Larissa. From what she said (and more importantly, what she didn't say), I couldn't help but wonder whether she felt an obligation to marry Ian. It seemed as though she had gone down the path of being the dutiful girlfriend after the accident and was eventually left no choice.
She writes about being concerned that she is locked out of his caregivng decisions. She also promises Steve, Ian's dad, that she will care for Ian no matter what. That, plus the amount of time she writes about convincing herself that marriage is the right decision, give me the impression she feels compelled to marry Ian, no matter what.
Again, that's not to suggest that Ian doesn't have value and that their marriage isn't founded on love. I am sure it is. But I took care of my (much less) sick husband for a while, and I know the caregiver path is a difficult one. It broke my heart to read Larissa talking about how if only she was kinder and gentler and more faith-filled, she could be the helper Ian needs. I can't imagine walking in her shoes, but from here, it looks like she is doing an amazing job with what life's handed her.
I have absolutely no doubt of Larissa's love and dedication to Ian, and his affection for her. However, rather than feel inspired, I closed this book feeling sad for Larissa. From what she said (and more importantly, what she didn't say), I couldn't help but wonder whether she felt an obligation to marry Ian. It seemed as though she had gone down the path of being the dutiful girlfriend after the accident and was eventually left no choice.
She writes about being concerned that she is locked out of his caregivng decisions. She also promises Steve, Ian's dad, that she will care for Ian no matter what. That, plus the amount of time she writes about convincing herself that marriage is the right decision, give me the impression she feels compelled to marry Ian, no matter what.
Again, that's not to suggest that Ian doesn't have value and that their marriage isn't founded on love. I am sure it is. But I took care of my (much less) sick husband for a while, and I know the caregiver path is a difficult one. It broke my heart to read Larissa talking about how if only she was kinder and gentler and more faith-filled, she could be the helper Ian needs. I can't imagine walking in her shoes, but from here, it looks like she is doing an amazing job with what life's handed her.
August 14, 2017
I remember watching two videos about this couple for two separate issues. . one to explain what their married life was like and the second to explain how they were trying to continually strengthen their marriage through reading some John Piper book or something. Both of these videos I had seen before this actual book came out three years ago. When I found out about Larissa Murphy's book, I thought their story was interesting enough to want to read about.
If you are unfamiliar with Ian and Larissa Murphy, they met at college and had been planning on getting married, but Ian got in a bad car accident that damaged his brain and caused problems. They still loved one another and made things work and did eventually marry.
This book is not really about their marriage, but about the hardships that Ian and Larissa had to face because of the accident that took place and how they fought through together and still had love regardless of the difficulties.
I did enjoy the book. It wasn't bad. I wish I got through it faster than I did though. It definitely showed a lot of raw realities that I think many people in Larissa's situation would face and probably walk away from. God really did great work in both of their lives even if very hard.
If you are unfamiliar with Ian and Larissa Murphy, they met at college and had been planning on getting married, but Ian got in a bad car accident that damaged his brain and caused problems. They still loved one another and made things work and did eventually marry.
This book is not really about their marriage, but about the hardships that Ian and Larissa had to face because of the accident that took place and how they fought through together and still had love regardless of the difficulties.
I did enjoy the book. It wasn't bad. I wish I got through it faster than I did though. It definitely showed a lot of raw realities that I think many people in Larissa's situation would face and probably walk away from. God really did great work in both of their lives even if very hard.
June 26, 2018
There are so many things I loved about this book!
- That God is at the center and focus from beginning to end.
- The truth that God does allow hard, terrible things to happen in our lives but He never leaves us.
- That love can surpass our darkest moments.
- That healing is often found through prayer, scripture and people.
- The blessings God can give that are so different than what we hope or imagine and so much better.
I love the sense of family, friendship and devotion.
The kind of love this couple finds is what so many hope for and never find.
My only complaint is the way it was written made it somewhat confusing to follow along. I would have preferred a more chronological approach instead of the back and forth. I knew early on that they would be married so it took away from the anticipation and wonder of there being a happily ever after.
I had a hard time following his progression and lapses as well.
Overall, very inspiring story that shows me in numerous ways just how Great God is and that He is more than able.
- That God is at the center and focus from beginning to end.
- The truth that God does allow hard, terrible things to happen in our lives but He never leaves us.
- That love can surpass our darkest moments.
- That healing is often found through prayer, scripture and people.
- The blessings God can give that are so different than what we hope or imagine and so much better.
I love the sense of family, friendship and devotion.
The kind of love this couple finds is what so many hope for and never find.
My only complaint is the way it was written made it somewhat confusing to follow along. I would have preferred a more chronological approach instead of the back and forth. I knew early on that they would be married so it took away from the anticipation and wonder of there being a happily ever after.
I had a hard time following his progression and lapses as well.
Overall, very inspiring story that shows me in numerous ways just how Great God is and that He is more than able.
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