
Member Reviews

A cute, quirky rom-com perfect for lovers musicals and the theater! The characters are endearing, the romance is sweet and supportive, and the journey to believing in yourself was heartwarming.

Rosie went to NYC to follow her dream of becoming a Broadway star but her biggest accomplishment so far has been as a corpse on Law and Order. On a trip home, she realizes that while she has been off chasing her dream, her friends have become real adults with jobs, spouses and babies.
She's offered a job to direct a regional production of Cinderella... in Wisconsin. She accepts the position even though its not in New York because at least she'd be getting paid for something theatrical (even though she hasn't directed in years). It's not like she has any other offers rolling in.
When she arrives, she quickly realizes that the "regional theater" is actually a retirement community and the "actors" are senior citizens with zero acting experience. This presents new challenges for Rosie but shows her what it really means to "dream big".
This story was sweet and fun, and I liked the themes of personal growth, believing in yourself, and following your dreams. It was a great book to read to cleanse the palate after a psychological thriller!
Thank you to Courtney Walsh, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The sweetest, feel-good story. Not just about romance, but life and the people that make it matter.
I loved the journey of Rosie. It may have happened in a way that few (if any) take, but it was so relatable and beautiful. I think every human has had moments of wondering if they are a failure (and the only one to be failing). I think everyone has experienced the pain of isolation in some way. And to see represented on a page the beauty of community and how honest vulnerability matters? *chefs kiss* and all the feels.
And Arthur? Probably the best side character. Although this book is packed full of excellent characters.
So many good quotes too. This might be a book I have to have a physical copy of, just so I can always have it on hand.
I laughed out loud, cried, and was left thinking about my own life in unexpected ways for a “rom-com.” I also felt that compared to most other writings in this genre, Courtney Walsh is actually a strong writer and story teller, not just putting something quick on a page because rom-coms sell.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars
While this wasn't my favorite romance, I still think it was a cute, quirky rom-com that anyone who loves musicals and the theater world will love! The characters are sweet and endearing.

Courtney Walsh truly earns her title as the queen of writing characters who are older in age. Her knack for capturing the unique voices and quirks of these characters had me giggling throughout—every dialogue felt so accurate, it was as if I was eavesdropping on real conversations.
The story also weaves in one of the most adorable love stories I’ve ever read, adding a delightful twist to the narrative. This unexpected yet heartwarming romance makes the journey all the more engaging.

Courtney Walsh’s quirky characters just make her books so relatable! This book had me laughing out loud and getting emotional by the end! It was a cute story but the best part was growth of the surprise relationship between Rosie and Arthur! Made my heart swell!

That was the worst courtney Walsh book I’ve read 😭 like truly I gave it 2 stars only because I love her and there were parts here and there that were decent but that’s it haha so many names to keep track of and so many theatre references which makes sense and I love/know theatre but even too many references for me

This is such a heartwarming story about our main character Rosie who is doubting her self a lot and worries about her future.
She’s kept a lot of the difficulties in her career and personal life from her family & friends and has now chosen to be more honest with herself, her family and friends.
There is a romance subplot which showed a healthy and supporting relationship. I also loved the hometown friendships!
I loved the musical/theater aspect in the book, I’ve never read anything like this before.
My favorite quote: ‘’that’s part of the adventure. If everything was good all the time, you wouldn’t appreciate any of it. It’s the hard stuff that makes the good stuff so much sweeter.’’
I think we can all relate to Rosie in some point of this story. Reading about her journey, growth and the positive change when you have to walk a different path than expected was really enjoyable.
This was the first book I read by Courtney Walsh, I’ve heard a lot of positive things about her other books so I will definitely give them a try as well!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love all book titles by Courtney Walsh! She is an author that has a special way to connect with her readers and create books that you just can't put down. I love the development of the characters and how her books are not graphic or triggering at all. All you are Graced with is quirkiness, romance elements you with all the swoony feels and just a balance of life and the opportunities that manifest itself over time. Thank you Courtney Walsh for your books and for Netgalley that has provided this ARC.

Courtney Walsh writes the book equivalent of Hallmark movies - saccharine, a swoony man, and so filled with light. Her love of theatre is evident in every page, and Rosie makes a compelling heroine in her growth as a person and professional. She is messy and raw but also downright funny (and as a former theatre kid, I loved all of her references). Every side character sparkled, especially Arthur and Dylan, and Booker made a perfect love interest.
Please note that this IS a spice-free romance, with only kissing, which is part of why I describe it as Hallmark-esque. What it lacks in spice, it makes up for in heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an eARC in exchange for my honest review. This is my second Walsh book, and I can't wait to read more!

BOOK REVIEW - ARC
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSIE BY COURTNEY WALSH
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
That said, what an enjoyable read! I had never read a book by Courtney Walsh before & now I want to read her entire repertoire!!
Rosie is such a great character. I wasn't sure about her at first, but she quickly grew on me. She's funny & witty & fun. I wish she was my friend in real life!
I also loved Connie; she's a very well-written character. I could imagine her so easily in my mind. Every story should have a Connie!
Speaking of what every story should have, everyone needs an Arthur in their life. What a magnificent man. I absolutely loved him. He made my soul happy.
And, of course, I loved Booker too. I also like that the author compared him to two famous people. I looked them up, which helped solidify Booker as a real person. What a hottie, haha.
If my review wasn't obvious, I absolutely loved this book.

On the first pages I was cringing a lot, but I am very surprised. This book is so good. The characters are perfect, I loved everyone, even the ones that only appear once or twice.
And Rosies journey is perfect, so inspiring :,)

Rosie is a struggling actress who is having to move back home because she just can't find a job in New York. Feeling like a failure because her friends are successful and moving to the next big step in their lives she hides her struggles from them. In a desperate attempt to find a job she filled out any application that even remotely resembles a job that would keep her working in the theater. So when she gets a offer via email she is elated and accepts the position.
It's not until she is on site that she realizes that her new job where she thought she would be at a reputable theater working as part of a creative team is actually just her, a one person "team", at a retirement community., Obviously this is not what Rosie had envisioned for her career, working in the theater at retirement community...at her age... at their age, what would a play even look like? Well she's about to find out! She's in charge of directing their next play, and while she's never directed, some of these people have acted since high school, so the scales balance out. With an amazing set of new friends and colleagues she's going to stick it out and give it her best shot. Not to mention, her neighbor, the physical therapist for the residents, (and total heartthrob) Booker is keen to help her and get to know her!
Courtney wrote a book that exposes something so many of us hide, pushing down our big feelings because they’re “too much”. Feeling deeply doesn’t have to be something we hide, but something we can use to connect to others. How “Our priorities shift as we get older, you can still love the things you love, but maybe in a different way.” showing us that, “Only you can decide what’s best for you. And if you don’t want to quit, maybe you just pivot. Keep your eyes open. Opportunities are everywhere.”

"That's part of the adventure. If everything was good all the time, you wouldn't appreciate any of it. It's the hard stuff that makes the good stuff so much sweeter."
Courtney Walsh indeed is a queen of poignant rom-coms. I fell in love with Rosie from page one - her spirit, desire to make people laugh, heart for people, and tenacious nature were so endearing. Her honest, raw first person voice was relatable, sweet, funny, and lovable. Her growth as a person, a theatre director, and an actress was quite satisfying to experience. And Booker. Oh man, he was such a perfect leading man for Rosie. Mind you, he wasn't perfect - he had his flaws of wanting security and safety, but his patience, steadfast loyalty, great sense of humor, and generosity made him such a safe haven for Rosie and her wandering soul. This book made me cry snort-filled laughter tears, heart-aching compassion tears, and heart-broken ugly tears. It's one of my favorite reads from 2025. If you love rom-coms with all the feels, you don't want to miss this one.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK.
So much so that I had to shout about it. Rosie is down on her luck trying to be a successful actress in NYC and is failing miserably. She doesn't want to let on to her people at home how much of a failure she feels like so she acts like everything is amazing but it's slowly killing her to be lying to her friends and family. She just panic applies to every job possible and get's a hit in Door County for the summer and takes it and it is life changing.
Rosie finds herself directing a production of Cinderella, at a retirement community. Yep - Cinderella is old. And this is EVERYTHING. The characters, the banter, the found family... Courtney Walsh definitely used her theater background for this one and it shows. She knows all the ins and outs of putting on a show and it came so beautifully to life through her words.
I seriously did not want this one to end. I will continue to read everything this brilliant woman puts out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is fighting Isadora for my favorite of her standalones. This is out in June and you should most definitely pick it up

What a delightful read about a girl going for dreams and becoming who she wants to be. Steamy Kissing only Rom Com with top-notch banter and slow burn longing.
The side characters are wonderful. The friendship and support Rosie gets helps her bloom. A wonderful
story of getting what we want isn’t always what we thought it would be, and getting what didn’t expect might be exactly what was needed.
There were so many LoL moments. The MMC is a good man. I love that. He is emotionally available and so supportive and sacrificial.
I was interested and engaged through the whole book. Great pace and no lull or over written chapters. Courtney did a great job laying out our FMC struggles and challenges in a way that is true to human nature.
I was left rooting for so many characters that I really loved by the end.
***some formatting mistakes start toward the middle of the e-book

This was very cute. I found Rosie awkwardly endearing. It was easy to see why her and Booker fall in love, and they had great chemistry. I loved the plot with the retirement home theatre and all the characters she meets there.

Loved this !! Such a cute and clean read. Really enjoyed her writing style, can't wait to check out more of her books!!

Rosie moved to NYC to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Her friends and family seem to think she is thriving. She did play a corpse on Law and Order after all, but she feels like she is failing, and her most recent way off Broadway show was just cancelled, and her roommates have kicked her out for not being able to pay rent. She has been lying to her best friends back home, so they have no idea how dire her situation is. When she panic, applies to a bunch of acting and directing job,s and get offered one that seems too good to be true, she shows up in Wisconsin to discover that instead of being part of a creative team to work on Cinderella, she is charged with saving the theatre program at a retirement community. She makes friends with an unlikely cast of characters, including Booker the on-site physical therapist and potential love interest who moved to the retirement community to be closer to his grandmother, Arthur, a grouchy member of the community who we learn was a director and NYC theater teacher, and Daisy, an angsty teenager who just needed someone to see her.
If you like slow burns, this one is for you. I did not think I was going to get my HEA, and this book kinda broke my heart for a bit there. I don't want to spoil too much for you, so read it yourself and break your own heart!

* I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. *
Oh, what an absolutely heartwarming read this was. Left me in shambles from the beginning. Everything’s Coming Up Rosie hit so close to home as a Midwestern girl who went to NYC then came back home for a little redirection and I think it was exactly what I needed now. Rosie is such a genuine, sweet, and raw character. Her struggles seemed so real and watching the growth with her new journey made me so happy.
Beyond the wonderful story, Courtney Walsh created the perfect cast of characters who each had their own wonderful personality, had me laughing the whole time (when I wasn’t tearing up), and such a wholesome romance story. This is an amazing found family story, and the ending was the perfect closure for these characters, even if I wanted more.
If you’re a fan of sweet romances, hilarious characters, and a plot you don’t see often, you should definitely check out this book!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this arc!*