Thank you so much to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and libro.fm for my gifted copies.

Courtney Walsh never disappoints. A local author for me, I love reading about places I have been and heard about my whole life. This specific book takes place in Sheboygan, WI, which I have visited on many occasions.

We follow Rosie as she strives to become a working actor. After losing her job and apartment, she heads home where she embellishes a bit to her friends as to how well her life is really going. While at home, she is offered a job as director of Cinderella at a theater in Door County, WI. But upon arrival she is shocked to realize that the theater is in a retirement community, and it's been left up to Rosie to save the show.

I always enjoy Walsh's ability to write a well written story that has both depth and is completely clean. So clean that my 11 year old could read it and I wouldn't blink an eye. Rosie's confidence just blossoms throughout the story, which is extremely uplifting. The friendships formed are some of my favorite. Generational friendships are the best, throw in a little romance and we have a complete story. One that always ends well, thanks to Walsh.

She truly never disappoints and this will be a great book to read poolside!

To be honest I found this book a little slow and I struggled to get into it. I didn't find that I had any emotional connection to the main character, Rosie, and that made me unsympathetic to her drama. The romance didn't really happen for me until almost at the end, when the story picked up pace and I found renewed interest in what I was reading.

This is the third book I have read from this author. Having read and loved The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and The Summer of Yes, I was excited to read this book too, however it fell a bit flat for me. Still, I look forward to reading more from Courtney Walsh in the future.

🎶Grab the book, from the racks the racks!
You've got nothing to do but relax.
Just a kiss. Read it now.
Honey, everything's coming up Rosie! 🎶


If you love the theater, you will love "Everything's Coming up Rosie". Courtney Walsh has titled her book with a paraphrase of the scene stealing hit number "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy", and this sweet confection that is sure to please any musical theater lover's taste. Rosie Waterman was a theater kid who actually had the gumption to move to New York and try for her big break. But now she is broke, and her career is non-existent. In an application blitz, she applies for anything theater related she can find, without really looking at the job descriptions carefully. Rosie finds herself in a job directing "Cinderella" at a retirement community. Part screwball comedy, part romance and part adult "coming of age", this novel follows Rosie's growth as a person as she learns to stop pretending and let people know what she is really thinking. - not an easy task for an actress. The author is also a theatre director and playwright, so all the theater details are spot on. Rosie can't resist a song cue and this book had me singing along with her. The characters were a lot of fun and had me wishing that I was in the cast with them. I did think that Rosie took too long to realize the exact nature of her job. It made her seem pretty dense, and she is otherwise pretty savvy. This novel refreshingly different from the current trend in romances. There is absolutely no spice- just kissing. That plot twist is a bit unrealistic for a character her age, but it makes the book appropriate for readers of any age. This one is sure to please theater geeks and senior citizens so it was right up my alley.

I alternated between the audiobook and eBook of this fun story. Narrator Jorjeana Marie makes an ideal Rosie and the versatile actress handled a variety of characters with ease. I will be on the lookout for more audiobooks with her narration. Follow my direction and grab this book.

Thank you so much for this ARC! This book is a must for all the theater girlies, but also so fun for the non-theater girlies (me). It's packed with humour, life lessons and I'm in love with all of the characters. Its very fast-paced written and it's just a really fun romance!

Rosie’s dream of being a full time actor in NYC isn’t working out for her. Like roommate kicking her out not working out. She finds herself with a job offer that includes housing and food so she literally can’t turn it down! When she arrives she comes to find she’s agreed to be the director of a retirement community’s theater program.

Rosie ends up finding new friends, community and love but is that worth giving up her dream of acting for?

First of all, if you’re a reader and love theatre you should definitely read this book. Second, if you relate to a character who is figuring out life and understanding her dreams, you’ll definitely connect to Rosie’s character like I did.

This story does have some closed door romance but it is not the main plot so don’t go into this book thinking it’s a romcom. It’s more of a women’s fiction story. It’s a sweet story, I teared up some at then end from Rosie’s growth and everyone being so proud of her. I loved the sprinkled in theatre references and Rosie felt like a true theatre person. The only comment I have is I wish some of the characters were more developed in the middle of the story instead of all of the revelations happening at the end. And Rosie was a terrible friend at the beginning of the book, which was realistic and she did grow but I still wished for a little more growth on her part in the friendship area.

This book publishes June 10th. Order your copy now, check in out at your library and enjoy!

I really thought I was going to love this, but right from the beginning, I knew it wasn't going to be that easy. While I enjoy the writing style, having read other books by Courtney Walsh before, my biggest problem was my overall lack of interest in the story. It took me 6 days to hit 26%, a feat that I can usually accomplish in just two hours of reading before bed. I could’ve read this book in one day if I felt motivated enough, but that didn’t happen with this one.
Honestly, I think that this was a me problem. I decided to DNF this, because when I don’t have enough interest in a book, I start to pick apart every minor detail and that’s not what I want in my life as a reader and reviewer.
P.S.: I did find it a bit weird that Rosie, as an adult, accepted a job and spent days without doing any research about it.

~
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! Everything’s Coming Up Rosie had me laughing one minute and tearing up the next. Rosie is such a relatable, lovable character, and her journey felt so real and heartfelt. I truly felt like I Connected Rosie. Courtney Walsh perfectly balances humor and emotion, creating a story that's both uplifting, funny, and deeply moving. If you’re looking for a feel-good read, this one’s a must!

I loved everything about this story. It has everything that makes a story true; heart, hardship, sadness, joy, and humor. I laughed and cried, I even underlined passages to reread once I was done! This is one I will return to again and again. I absolutely loved it!

ARC Review - Releasing June 10, 2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: None (💋 only)

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is a heartfelt story about dreams, new beginnings, and all the messy moments in between. Rosie, a struggling actress in New York City, is forced to face the reality that her big-city acting career may never take off. Nearly bankrupt and out of options, she accepts a job in a small-town in Wisconsin to help stage a production of Cinderella. What she doesn’t expect is that her cast will consist entirely of residents from a retirement community.

As Rosie navigates this unexpected detour, she’s pushed to confront her emotions, reevaluate her dreams, and consider what comes next. With the unlikely support of a grumpy stage manager, a brooding teenager, and a kind-hearted physical therapist, Rosie finds herself on a journey to save the theatre program—and maybe rediscover her own passion in the process.

Courtney Walsh masterfully captures the emotional tug-of-war that comes with feeling stuck in life and uncertain about the future. This is a moving, introspective read that explores the vulnerability of letting go and the courage it takes to forge a new path.

While the story has a slow start, it quickly builds momentum, and by a few chapters in, I was completely hooked.

I highly recommend Everything’s Coming Up Rosie to anyone who enjoys stories of self-discovery and the unexpected beauty of change.

Pick this book up if you like:
🎭 clean romance
🎭 found family
🎭 the theatre
🎭 women’s fiction

A huge thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I am not a “theater person”, so some parts of this book felt a little slow, purely because of that and not being able to relate to the main character in that sense. I do work with geriatric/senior adults, and they have a special place in my heart, so I thought that aspect of the story was really sweet and endearing. Overall, it was a cute, wholesome, feel-good story of love, friendship, self discovery, putting yourself out there without being afraid to fail, and realizing that changing your dreams does not equal failing. This story also was a great reminder of how comparison can be a thief of joy. I have really enjoyed all of the books by Courtney Walsh that I have read, and I look forward to reading more! Thank you to the author, published, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Courtney Walsh is the queen of heartwarming, closed door romance. This book starts with Rosie at a crossroads in her life. The showbiz career she dreamed of isn't panning out - and as those around her are settling down, she's questioning what to do.

A job accepted spur of the moment turns out to be anything but what she expected - but the role and the characters she meets and gets to know push her to consider what she can do and who she wants to be.

A sweet read set in a small town! This one I did enjoy, the characters didn't resonate with me quite the way some of her other books have - it almost felt too short but Walsh does wrap up the story well!

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a review copy.

Another great book by Courtney Walsh! I’ve read a bunch of books by this author and, in all of them, there is a romcom/love story, but I always feel like Courtney Walsh’s books are so much more than that. There is always a focus on more than just the romantic relationship. Part of the reason I love her books is because she focuses on the main character’s struggles and shows how she grows and tries to become better. She’s able to learn from the people around her and from her experiences and become a better person by the end of the book. It also shows how important all the relationships in her life are, not just her romantic relationship. Everything’s Coming Up Rosie fits this description as well.

As I read about Rosie and her cast rehearsing and preparing to put on a play, I was reminded of when I performed in the musicals in high school. I had so much fun and made lots of good friends. I haven’t done anything like that in a long time, and this book inspired me to look up what kind of community theatre opportunities I have near me.

It was easy to relate to Rosie. She worked hard and felt like she was putting her whole self into her dream of being an actress, but she felt like she was failing at her goals and her life. I understand how that feels. There have been so many times in my life when I have put so much effort into something, but still felt like I was failing at it. It’s a frustrating place to be. While it was sad to read about Rosie keeping her troubles from her friends and refusing to open up to anyone, it was nice to see her work on those relationships and figure out how to be honest with herself and with those around her. I enjoyed reading about her realizations and transformations as Rosie learned and made changes in her life.

The love story was cute. While there is obviously some physical attraction there, I like that there is more to their relationship than that. They become friends and really start to get to know each other. They are able to learn and grow together and help each other to become better. That’s the best kind of relationship. You want to be with someone who helps you to be the best version of yourself and pushes you to try to be even better. I felt like this was the kind of relationship that Rosie and Booker had.

I love all of the fun, quirky side characters. It was easy to fall in love with all of them as I read about them working together towards a shared goal. It was a good reminder that everyone is important and has something meaningful to share.

I loved this new book by Courtney Walsh! I highly recommend it!

Disclosure: Thank you to Courtney Walsh, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While this particular story didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped, I still found the plot engaging and the female main character really enjoyable to follow. The writing was heartfelt and well-crafted—Courtney Walsh has such a beautiful way with words that always shines through.

I absolutely adore Courtney Walsh as an author. Her books consistently offer warmth, depth, and emotional authenticity. No matter the storyline, her voice is one I always trust and look forward to. She brings a sincerity to her characters and relationships that keeps me coming back for more. Even when a book doesn’t become a personal favorite, I’m still left appreciating the care and heart she puts into every page.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Courtney Walsh for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a theater nerd that loves seriously sweet and cozy stories- this book is for you. Every little theater name, lyric, theme drop will make you giddy. Courtney does a lovely job making the reader think about life's journey and how goals can evolve. It's also wonderful commentary about being true to yourself, and those that love you most.

Narration was great- the narrator added a lot of enthusiasm and zeal to the story. Knowing the author's personality- it was a really great fit.

Courtney Walsh can literally do no wrong. I love that I can read her books for a light-hearted romance without the language and 🌶️.

If you love female characters that are on a self-discovery journey this is the book for you.

Rosie is a New York actress who knows what she wants… but nothing is working out like she plans. She hits rock bottom and while desperately clinging to a career in theatre she accepts a position directing Cinderella in a place she did not exactly research. She shows up for her new opportunity to quiet the surprise and everything gets shook up from there.

This book was so relatable. It had some great life lessons. It had the best, loveable characters that you wish you could meet. It made me cry from laughing so hard 🤣. It of course has the most perfect swoony romance 😍. It’s a perfect relaxing summer read.

Everything's Coming Up Rosie is my 8th book by Courtney Walsh. I always enjoy knowing I can go into her books expecting a sweet story, a clean romance, witty banter, lovable characters, and good life lessons all packed into one. Readers who also enjoy these things (plus theatre arts) are sure to enjoy Courtney's newest.

While it took me a while to warm up to Rosie's character and really get into the story, by the second half of the book I found myself enjoying it more. The banter between Rosie and Booker was fun to read. Arthur was my favorite character by far. Seeing him finally open up and also share wisdom with Rosie sold me. I also enjoyed seeing other characters develop as the story progressed. My biggest struggle was with Rosie's character, especially in the beginning. It was incredibly hard for me to believe you can have life-long best friends that you can't be open and honest with. Later on, we learn a bit more about Rosie and why she holds back, but I still felt like I was missing something in the resolution.

At the end of the day though, I did enjoy this story. I think a lot of people will. My heart strings were tugged, as they always are with Courtney's books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Courtney Walsh for providing an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

“I might not like to be the center of attention, but I wouldn’t mind being the center of his.” 🎭🎬⭐️👵🏼💞
everything’s coming up rosie ARC 4/5⭐️
Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! I was so happy that I was able to read this one because I love anything Courtney Walsh writes! I really enjoyed this book and all of the characters! I didn’t want this story to end. I loved Booker! This book is about a girl named Rosie who is offered a job as the director of a regional theatre’s production of Cinderella. She jumps at the chance but when she arrives she realizes that the “regional theatre” is actually in a retirement community, and the “actors” are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever. Definitely read this if you like theatre and clean romance! This book comes out on June 10th!! Be sure to check it out!

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

Intergenerational novels go directly from my brain to my heart. I’ve got a soft spot for quirky senior citizens especially when they impart their hard earned wisdom to the younger generation. EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSIE from Courtney Walsh is a charming tale of self-discovery and found family. It’s a bonus that it’s set in one of my favorite places on earth - Door County, Wisconsin!

Rosie Waterman is a struggling actor. She’s been out there chasing her dream of fame for years and it’s just not happening despite her best efforts. Broke and disillusioned, she returns home feeling like a failure. But, Rosie is an actress and she’s good at pretending that everything is wonderful. The show must go on, right?

Desperate for a job in the theater, ANY JOB, she accepts an offer to join the creative team at a summer theater in Door County. What seems like an idyllic opportunity—great pay, free room and board, and theater related—loses some of its luster when Rosie looks a little closer and discovers the theater program is part of a retirement community.

This novel is full of (mostly) charming characters who occasionally behave like catty middle schoolers despite their age. There’s a smoking hot physical therapist on staff who takes an interest in Rosie, a grumpy old man who may have a lesson or two to share, a petulant teenager living among the geriatric residents, and a cadre of new friends ready to share their talents with Rosie.

It took me a bit to connect with Rosie, but when I did, I was rooting for her. Her character growth is tremendous. She learns a great deal about herself, her dreams, and the importance of letting other people in. By the end of the book, I was Rosie’s biggest fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a really great book. A sweet, feel-good love letter to theatre, about growth and the life we expected vs the life we love.

I loved Rosie in this book. I’ve know Rosie’s before and they are the life of the party hiding a lot of pain. They are so fun and so sweet, and often so sad. She is perfect, a happy and kind woman who really has disappointed herself, and assumes other will also be disappointed by her. But she becomes the light and life of this production of Cinderella at an old folks home, and learns to love her life and see her goals in a different light.

Also, a highlight, THE COMMUNICATION IN THIS BOOK IS BONKERS GOOD. Booker — the MMC — is so upfront about what he wants, and their communication for what their lives should look like is a masterclass for the uncommunicative. BEAUTIFULLY done. Especially if you dislike miscommunication. It’s great.

As a former theater kid, I absolutely adored the theater scenes throughout this book. The struggling actor, the retirement community rallying to put on a show, and the unleashing of an amazing talent through hard work and deep feelings. The author has done a fabulous job of weaving wisdom and guidance into a book to make it fun, believable, and heartwarming. Be sure to check this book out ASAP!