Read this if you like...
🎭 musical theater
✨ quirky characters
💕 golden retriever MMC

Rosie Waterman's acting career in NYC has flopped. Even though she's homeless and jobless, Rosie miiiight have stretched the truth to everyone back home about how successful she's been. A visit home tempts her to come clean, but a sudden offer to direct a regional production of Cinderella changes her mind. Rosie heads off to the theater in Wisconsin only to discover that the musical is at a retirement community. New friendships (both platonic and hopefully-not-platonic) force Rosie to confront how she views her career, her relationships, and herself.

3.5 stars. This was cute story. I enjoyed the retirement community setting and the characters. Does this place need a library assistant?! Free housing and food, plus you're getting paid? Sign me up! While the beginning started slow and I kept wanting to put my Kindle down, I eventually got invested and needed to how if the show would go on. I did theater in high school, so I appreciated the musical references. There's something about theater that can be transformative. It's raw and humbling to put yourself out there for everyone to see and critique. Everyone is touched by this production of Cinderella from Rosie to the cast and ragtag creative team.

The relationships Rosie builds were all so sweet. Her friendships with her colleagues and the elderly residents had depth. My favorite characters were Arthur (the grumpy stagehand) and Dylan (the sullen teenager). As for the not-so-platonic relationship, Booker has such golden retriever energy. He was kind just because he could be, which I find so rare these days.

I did have two issues with the story. One, if the characters have to be dumb for the plot to work, then the plot isn't working. Two, I often felt removed from the narrative. There's a lot of telling rather than showing. For example, Rosie often talks about rehearsal, but we're rarely there with her in the moment.

As well, the mild innuendo surprised me. It was very mild by anyone's standards, but not exactly what I'd expect from a Christian publishing house. Perhaps I'm being too uptight, but did the elderly woman have to constantly comment on Booker's appearance? All in all, this was cute and people who already love Courtney Walsh will eat it up. For me though? While I found myself endeared to the characters, I don't think I'd reread it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Courtney’s books are always sweet and filled with giggles, swoons and heartwarming moments. This one was no different. Avery relatable and easy to love book .

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Bursting at the seams with charm, humor, and growth <i>Everything's Coming Up Rosie</i> surprised me with all it offered!

Rosie's dreams of dashing off to New York to pursue acting haven't panned out like she'd hoped. Despite attending loads of auditions and being willing to take even the most theatre adjacent positions, she can't keep a roof over her head. During a trip home she takes stock of her friends' lives and feels like she's coming up short. Try as she might to spin her situation, thoughts of failure creep in. When she gets an offer to direct, she jumps at the opportunity. So what if it's in Wisconsin, housing is included. In her excitement she skims pertinent information. Rosie's jaw hits the ground when she realizes the people she'll be directing aren't professional actors, but senior citizens.

Could the opportunity to bloom where she's planted be the lesson she needs to take herself to the next level or will her preconceived notions of what success looks like derail her chances of personal and professional happiness?

This pleasant story exceeded my expectations. Rosie's growth was never overshadowed by anything else including the light romantic thread. The love interest Booker was considerate and encouraging. Rosie mentoring a teen while being mentored by a retired theatre pro herself was the ultimate balancing act. Rosie had moments of digging deep to improve herself and showing her magnanimous side. The characters' charisma shone throughout the novel making it a joy to read.

A breezy read with enough depth and heart to pull me in with a smile.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Delightful rom-com from Walsh. A tiny bit too preachy at times, but par for the course from some of Walsh's previous titles. 20 somethings in a quarter-life crisis might find some words of wisdom, but for the rest of us who are happily entrenched in our lives, it's just fun to watch Rosie find her way.

Oh Rosie, I felt like your story was me 15 years ago. Sometimes you hold on to a dream so tight that when it doesn’t go the way you planned you feel like an epic failure instead of seeing that your dreams can change and morph.

Rosie Waterman has been trying to make it as an actress in NYC for years but nothing ever really goes her way. She paints her city life as glamorous to her friend group but really she’s floundering. When she gets kicked out of her apartment and receives a job offer to be a part of a production of Cinderella in Wisconsin she takes it.

Once she arrives, things aren’t exactly what they seem and she soon realizes she’s directing Cinderella at a senior living community. Although out of her element, with the help of the community (and the community’s physical therapist) she realizes that she’s been looking at her dreams through the wrong lens. Instead of asking “What if I fail?”, she learns to ask “What if I can?”

Rosie gained so much from the community around her, especially Arthur and Booker. I loved Arthur’s grouchy exterior but his heart of a teacher on the inside. And Booker was fun, a little quirky and the perfect guy next door. Booker helps to ground Rosie but at the same time gives her wings to fly.

This book is a great mood booster and a lovely romcom with all the feels! There hasn’t been a book by Courtney Walsh I haven’t loved and this is just another in that “Loved it!” column. Thank you @netgalley and @thomasnelson for the ARC copy!

I loved this coming of age story. Sweet heroine trying to figure out her life when her dreams are not quite working out as she'd hoped. Down on her luck and seeing all of her friends thriving, she accepts a job without really looking at what it is for. Just a directing position for the musical Cinderella...easy peasy. Right? Hahaha! Oh this was delightful! I loved watching Rosie learn and grown and redefine what her dreams were and deciding if it had changed or was the same with some new added elements.

The secondary characters had me turning the pages quickly and smiling and being pulled into this story. Lovely!!! You'll have a great time reading this one. Especially if you love musical theater!

Funny side note... my daughter was just in a production of the musical Cinderella as The Wicked Step-Mother! She was fantastic! Go watch the live production of it if you can. So funny. And slightly different than the animated Cinderella. Just an FYI.

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I find that if I’m going to read a book with no spice it has to have a good story line to make up for it. And thankfully for me this story was a fun enough read that I didn’t need the spice.

Sweet Rosie has a dream but unfortunately our dreams don’t always play out the way we want it to.. but is that really the worst thing that can happen? Especially if those dreams aren’t always meant for us?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and would happily read more of, I think this is a perfect palate cleanser if you’ve just finished something dark and are looking for something to reset the nervous system 🤭

I absolutely adored this new book by Courtney Walsh. It discusses Rosie, a woman whose acting dreams have been shattered over and over again while her friends seem to be succeeding at life. When Rosie accepts a job without reading the whole description, her life starts on an unpredictable path of growth and realization.
I loved Rosie's character development, and the chemistry between Booker and Rosie was so well-written. The other characters were so fun and enjoyable, and the ending definitely gets a chef's kiss from me.
If you're looking for a delightful, light-hearted read, I definitely recommend adding this one to your list for the summer.

Sometimes life doesn't go the way you dream. That's Rosie Waterman's experience, anyway. And it's this experience that sends her to a place she never anticipated stepping foot into: a retirement community.

Everything's Coming up Rosie is a story of perseverance, honesty, and friendship. Walsh created quite a cast of characters, from our gregarious heroine, the steady hero, a bevy of retirement community folks, a moody teen, and Rosie's four stalwart friends. I thought the relationships between Rosie and Arthur and Rose and Dylan were especially sweet. They also lend credence to the very true claim that the only reason introverts have friends is because an extrovert adopted them. This story also reminds us that everyone has a tale of their own, some happier than others.

There were humorous parts as well, such as the mud incident and the critter debacle, that will elicit more than one round of laughter.

Content Notes:
Profanity: one use of the Lord's name taken in vain
Sexual: an innuendo tossed toward the hero and heroine, as well as a speculation of the walk of shame (that was doesn't actually happen)
Alcohol: Beer is mentioned; characters go to a bar

(And I would like Marnie's story. Just sayin'.)

If you like sweet heroes, spunky side characters, humor, and contemporary romance, then Everything's Coming Up Rosie may be for you.

*I received an ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

After reading a couple of Courtney Walsh's books, I think she had this talent for storing stories that might seem slow on the beginning, but secretly build your relationship with the characters so strongly that the end makes your heart grow three times bigger and feel so much more than you ever thought possible. This book is no exception.

If you love Broadway and theatre, whether a theatre-goer or participant in the arts in any way, this book will touch your heart. The author writes about a budding but burned out actress taking the last resort job of a director for a retirement community play of Cinderella. Imagine old people doing a play! The laughs the unique characters, the quirky FMC, it's all here. The FMC meets the physical therapist and together they embark on a journey of friendship that helps both of them open up to their feelings.

There were times I was a little annoyed with the lower self-esteem of the FMC, but that shows the success of the author in creating feelings for the reader. This is a good book I think many other readers will enjoy as well.

One word to sum up the entirety of this book would be WOW! I am not over exaggerating when I say this is and will be my top read of 2025. The characters, the dialogue, the humor, the emotion.. I am blown away by the book, “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” written by Courtney Walsh. I am a big fan of Courtney’s work and was so excited to dive into this read!

The main character Rosie is a struggling actress (to say the least), who is lost in life. No job, no money, and incredibly lonely in New York began blindly applying for Jobs. In her hasty search, she randomly applies for a job as the creative director at theater in a small community in Door County. To her dismay it wasn’t just any ‘small community’, but a retirement community that expected her not only to direct the play Cinderella, but to make a show so amazing that it saves the failing theater program. With twists and turns, love and heartbreak, and creating new dreams, this book exceeding every expectation I had. I would give this book infinite stars, it needs to be added to everyone’s TBR!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own 🤍

I loved Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh. Courtney’s writing style is one of my favorites. Clean and tells a good story.

The characters were so fun. Booker is kind & sweet. Rosie is funny & insightful. I loved the transformation of all the characters but I think Dylan’s was my favorite. And Arthur… he’s gruff, grumpy, sweet and thoughtful. Possibly my favorite “old” person.

The love story between Booker and Rosie is so sweet and cute.

In the end it isn’t exactly how Rosie expects everything to turn out but it is exactly what she needs.

Favorite quote
“You miss out on so much if you dwell on the past or try to predict the future.”

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! From the beginning, I related to Rosie and was rooting for her. Her struggle to figure out what she wants to do with her life is one that resonated with me and I enjoyed her character development throughout the story. On top of that, Booker is absolutely swoon worthy and the relationship he had with Rosie was so sweet. The retirement community was such a unique setting and combined with the "save the theatre" theme, it made the book hard to put down.

This was a cute and fun read. I’ve enjoyed every Courtney Walsh book that I’ve read and this one was equally as enjoyable.

I did want more from the story though—I wanted more of her getting to know the cast members at her new position. I loved how much we got to know Arthur in particular but wished there was more substance with other characters there so that you could really feel why she felt at home there beyond having her own mailbox and knowing Booker. There was so much potential to connect with other characters when the disaster happened!

I also wanted more Booker towards the end of the book—I loved his character and his growing relationship with Rosie. I felt like the storyline with her friends from home overshadowed the relationships she was building at the theater and her relationship specifically with Booker. I didn’t care about her friendships back home nearly as much as the ones she was forming in her position.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced copy of this book!

What a great, charming book! Rosie Waterman is a struggling actress who feels like a failure in comparison to her friends (and frenemies) back home. Thanks to a swath of job applications, she finds herself in Door County, Wisconsin for the summer as the artistic director for Sunset Players--not Sunset Playhouse--which winds up being... a retirement community. Does she give up on her acting dream? Can she even tell anyone she knows that she's working here and not with an actual theater company? Also, what really is going on with that hot guy who drove her from the bus station?

What I enjoyed most about this book was the relatability of the characters--I have had more than my fair share of wondering whether the choices I was making for my life were things I wanted versus things I thought other people wanted for me, or that would impress them. It can be challenging to look for your dream in different places/spaces, never mind the added difficulty of concurrently processing past drama. There are plenty of quirky, delightful people in this novel, and the romance is sweet and (mostly) believable (hot guy never dates but makes the exception this once...? Hmm). Anyway, I was primed to like this book because my youngest's name is Rosie and I myself loved acting when I was younger, and the author did not disappoint.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Courtney Walsh has done it again in 'Everything's Coming Up Rosie' by providing a thoughtful, tender and hilarious story. The author's genius way with words evokes deep emotions and laugh out loud moments that combine for a perfectly delightful experience. I highly recommend Rosie's story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Courtney Walsh delivers another charming rom-com with Everything’s Coming Up Rosie, a sweet, heartfelt story filled with humor, personal growth, and just the right touch of romance. Rosie is a lovable, quirky protagonist who’s trying to find her way after her dreams of performing hit a dead end. Her journey is messy, sometimes frustrating (seriously, who takes a job without reading the description?), but always entertaining. The found-family dynamic adds warmth, and her relationship with Booker—who is equal parts patient, steady, and completely swoon-worthy—brings plenty of heart. While the romance felt a little slow at times and could have used a bit more emotional depth, the story as a whole is a cozy, uplifting read.

What makes this book shine is Walsh’s signature blend of humor and heartfelt emotion. Rosie’s character growth is satisfying, and I loved watching her come into her own, not just as a performer but as a person learning to redefine success on her own terms. The side characters add plenty of charm, and the banter keeps things light even as deeper themes of self-worth and resilience unfold. While it’s not my absolute favorite of Walsh’s books, it’s still a delightful escape—perfect for fans of feel-good romance with a dash of soul-searching.

I enjoyed reading Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. She is true to herself and the friendships (past and current) were so inspiring. She had the chance to direct a play even though she is an actress and discovered how much she loved it.
I will definitely read more of Courtney Walsh’s books as they provide the type of story I want without smut and course language.
Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC as I appreciate it.

Courtney Walsh always delivers a funny heartwarming romance and this is no exception. Rosie feels she is failing as an actress and is in desperate need of a job. She takes one at a senior adult community theatre, not realizing that is where it is. Rosie meets Booker and other friends and as she leads and directs the play she grows and learns a lot about herself and what she wants her life to look like and also falls in love. Great read!

I love Courtney Walsh’s books so I was excited to get an ARC of this one. Unfortunately, it’s my least favourite of all her books. It could be that it’s a bit less romance focused and more solve-my-quarter-life-crisis focused. I LOVED BOOKER, though. Booker almost made me give this 3⭐️

The book definitely feels like it could be a movie - it has the feel-good quirky community-turned-found-family and a lots of feel-good feelings. As a book, there was a bit too much introspection on not wanting to feel sad feelings for me (maybe because I relate so much????!!! 💀) also, the ending was a bit much. Did he really get that job so easily???

If you like less romance-heavy books, though, you might really like this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the free book in exchange for this review.