Review: The Silver Lining by Audrey Lancho Is a Deeply Touching Romance with an Unexpected Twist
- Book Nerd
- May 15
- 3 min read
Readers of sweet romance novels have come to expect the genre to unfold like a Hallmark movie--cheesy tropes and formulaic plots following by happy endings.
The Silver Lining by Audrey Lancho breaks the mold.
Lancho's story is original, mysterious, compelling, bittersweet, and heartfelt. It conveys a message of hope--even life's greatest storms contain silver linings, if you summon the courage to look for them.
The Silver Lining Plot Summary
Farrah Macon is living the dream. She manages a well-renowned art gallery and weds a wealthy, reclusive artist 19 years her senior. Despite being deliriously in love, the marriage abruptly ends in divorce. Heartbroken, Farrah returns to her hometown and moves in with her parents to heal from the unexpected blow.
Farrah switches career paths and becomes a nursing assistant at a nearby memory care facility while also working at her family's booth at the local farmer's market, uncertain what her future will hold.
It's not long before Farrah reconnects with her teenage love, James Abbott. Despite being high school sweethearts, the two parted ways before college, even though the breakup devastated them both.
Sparks soon fly between the two, as they toy with picking up where they had left off, but it's complicated. In addition to emotional baggage, Farrah also carries a secret that threatens to come between her and Abbott. He's a patient man, but will Farrah be able to bare her soul to him, or will she withdraw again and lose a second chance at love?
Review: The Silver Lining by Audrey Lancho Is Intriguing
Is "unputdownable" a word? It's the best way to describe The Silver Lining.
As the story progresses, the reader has so many questions! Why does Farrah leave her job at the art gallery? After her painful divorce, does she need to escape the art world and all the reminders it brings of her ex-husband? If the two had been so deeply in love, what could have happened to tear them apart? Why isn't Farrah receiving alimony or some type of financial settlement from the divorce? Why does Farrah feel guilty rekindling her romance with Abbott even though she is a free woman and her husband is long gone?
These questions are what keep the reader turning the pages. The author toggles between the past and the present to slowly reveal the whole picture, and it's done in such a tantalizing way that you are compelled to keep reading to learn the answers!
There is also a heartwarming subplot about a beloved local couple who are close to losing their home and property due to insurmountable medical bills. Farrah coordinates a raffle to help with their debt--a project she works closely with Abbott to pull off--despite being hounded by the town busybody.
The Silver Lining is far more complex than the average sweet romance because emotion runs deep and things get messy. The novel will break your heart a little before it puts the pieces back together for a deliciously satisfying ending.
Unlike cheesy romances where readers are merely observers, The Silver Lining pulls you into its pages, allowing you feel what the characters are feeling as if what they are experiencing is actually happening to you. The character development is so rich that you forget it's fiction--the people seem so real--making it a book you can't walk away from and soon forget. If Lancho set out to make her readers "feel" something while reading, she succeeded.
The Silver Lining is a fantastic read about keeping the faith and finding hope in the midst of adversity, following your dreams, honoring friends and family, and appreciating second chances.
More Books from Audrey Lancho
Audrey Lancho isn't a newbie, but she's new to me, and I'm delighted to have found her--you will be too! You can visit her website to learn more about her, sign up for her newsletter, and connect with her on social media.
Pick up your copy of The Silver Lining and then check out more books by this master storyteller.
COMING SOON....
A Telephone at Mannerley (Love & Lies Book 2)--Releasing October 2025
Out of Left Field--Releasing September 2026
Calling All Book Nerds!
Before you leave, don't forget to subscribe to Booknerdia to receive articles on book-related topics, like reviews!
For daily fun, follow Booknerdia's Facebook page!
Review: The Silver Lining by Audrey Lancho