Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh is a delightful and heartwarming tale of self-discovery and unexpected opportunities. Rosie Waterman, an aspiring actress facing career and personal setbacks, finds herself directing a production of Cinderella in a retirement community. Walsh skillfully crafts a story that explores themes of redefining dreams, finding joy in unexpected places, and the importance of community. Rosie’s journey from a disillusioned performer to a capable director is both relatable and inspiring, and Walsh’s engaging writing style ensures a captivating read.

The book’s strength lies in its charming and well-developed characters, particularly the residents of the retirement community. Their unique personalities and enthusiasm for the production add warmth and humour to the narrative, creating a delightful backdrop for Rosie’s personal growth. The romantic subplot, while not the primary focus, is sweet and satisfying, with Booker’s gentle charm and genuine connection with Rosie adding a layer of emotional depth to the story.

Walsh’s engaging prose and well-developed characters create a memorable and heartwarming story. The book’s message about embracing unexpected opportunities and finding joy in new beginnings is timely and relevant. Whether you’re a fan of musical theatre, heartwarming romances, or simply stories about personal growth, this book offers a delightful and satisfying reading experience.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I love seeing the show come together! I love the relationships that develop between Rosie and everyone at the "community". She finally learns what real friendship is about. Rosie needs to deal with her past to put on the best show and be the best person she can be, but that is really what everyone needs to do. You have to deal with whatever issue is holding you back. Super book!

I loved this book! I enjoyed reading about all the different characters in the town. I would give this book 5 stars!

This book tells the story of Rosie who inadvertently finds herself hired to direct a play at a Senior Living Center. The characters in this story are so fun to read about and I really enjoyed the development of Rosie's character as she learns the importance of being true to yourself. When you combine a director out to prove herself, a sullen teenager and a hot handyman with sassy and disgrunteld senior citizens, it is guaranteed that you will laugh, roll your eyes and maybe even cry reading this.

Everythings Coming Up Rosie is a cosy read about an young woman who takes a job as a creative director for a Cinderella play at a retirement home. There, she meets a very charming love interest, makes unexpected friendships, and also finds herself along the way - what her dream really is, acting or directing..
Even though it took me some time to connect with the FMC, it was overall a very sweet read. I liked how the book carried a positive message.

This book was super cute and in typical fashion Courtney Walsh brings light, life, and humor to Rosie’s story. Rosie experiences growth in the most unexpected situations while making some friends along the way and finding love. This is a great beach read! Thank you to Net Galley/the publisher and author for an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

Everything's Coming Up Rosie
by Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Series: none
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “Rosie Waterman has one dream: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn't been working out. When she loses her apartment and her job on the same day, she does what she always does--puts herself out there, ready to find the next big thing. But a trip home makes her realize that while she's been struggling to make this dream come true, all her friends have become real adults with careers and weddings and babies on the way. Rosie's been at this for years, and she has nothing to show for it. But how does she simply let go of her dream?
When she's offered a job as the director of a regional theatre's production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance--even though she's only directed in college and the job is in Door County, Wisconsin, and not in New York. She has no other offers, and at least she'll be getting paid to do something theatrical. But when she arrives, she quickly realizes that the "regional theatre" is actually in a retirement community, and the "actors" are actually senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.
Working on the show presents new challenges, forcing Rosie to learn how to step up and be the leader this fledgling theatre troupe needs. The more time she spends with her new cast, the more she begins to rethink what it means to dream big, especially when that big dream hasn't turned out to be at all what she thought it would be. It's not at all what she expected, but could it be exactly what she needs?”

Impressions: This is a fun, quirky romance unless you stop to think about the characters and plot; then, it just feels immature. Although Rosie is sweet and easygoing, these same qualities make her appear lacking in maturity. I did resonate with her desire to fit in and feel successful. Rosie is introduced as having a trustworthy set of friends and family who love her as she is. Rosie allows herself to believe that this love is conditional, so she lies for years. She is at an all-time low that leads her to take a job she knows little about. I’m not sure why lacking sense or vision would be attractive, but low and behold, Rosie finds romance. Her seemingly spontaneous and optimistic nature is viewed as fun, but it is really guarded fear and anxiety that cause this put-on attitude. Rosie works through these feelings with a handsome coworker. I don’t want to sound like a downer, but self-discovery and romance should be paired with caution and time. Again, if you look past these deeper issues the book was easy to read with amusing encounters. I think Rosie's journey to self-discovery was worth reading about. I also feel the need to note that I worked in the therapy world and never encountered a facility that had housing like this story describes.

Quotes: “ ’You just didn’t fit the part.’ It doesn’t matter how amazing you are- if you’re not right for the role, according to that director’s vision, you can't change that. It’s eye- opening to realize sometimes an actor can be really good but still wrong. For years, I let every rejection inform the way I felt about myself, as if each one punctured a hole in myself worth. Now I realize what a waste of time that was.” - I have a son who is involved with theater, and this was spot on. I see him put so much of himself into being a chameleon to fit what is needed when he just needs to be himself and accept not all roles are meant for him.

“Marched to my own drum and all that.’ ‘That’s because you keep the sheet music to yourself,’ he says, and I smile.”

“‘You could pivot,’ she says, her tone sounding like that’s a perfectly acceptable choice, ‘if that’s what suits you. There’s something awfully exciting about a fresh start. Or you could adjust and try a new approach to the old dream. Every life experience teaches us something.’ She studies me. ‘Maybe you just need a little shift.’”

“’ You can find fun anywhere,’ Bertie says. ‘It’s when you stop looking for it that it disappears.’”

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

Courtney Walsh’s Everything's Coming Up Rosie is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, resilience, and the unexpected paths life can take. The story follows Rosie Waterman, a struggling actor whose dreams seem to be slipping away. When life forces her to take an unconventional job directing a theater production in a retirement community, Rosie embarks on a journey of growth, finding purpose and connection in the most surprising of places. Walsh’s storytelling shines with humor, charm, and emotional depth, creating a narrative that is both uplifting and relatable. The quirky cast of senior citizens adds a delightful touch, while the themes of redefining success and embracing change resonate deeply.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction.

Well 5 stars, so you can probably guess I really enjoyed this book. I love community books, with characters and their troubles. This was the perfect mix of romance and community, and it really ended with such high feel good spirits.

I liked this book more than I anticipated. I took my quite awhile to get into it but I was glad I stuck with it. I really didn’t like Rosie at the beginning because she was so closed off, keeping everything even from her close friends and only wanting to portray that she had it all together. I really appreciated Al the personal growth she experienced in the book. All the people that surrounded her were wonderful even if they initially came off grouchy. I liked how it was just as much about her own journey as it was a romantic journey. And that is coming from a romance lover. The premise was sweet and I think so many of the lessons that Rosie learned can be applied to all of us.

Whether it's a full on romcom or books like this one that read a little more like women's fiction (while still delivering that romance and a HEA, of course), if Courtney Walsh writes it, it's undoubtedly going to be a must read for me. This one was absolutely no exception. Right away, I was drawn into Rosie's life... I think anyone who has ever felt like they weren't quite living up to their dreams and expectations is going to relate to this character (and if you happen to have theatre experience, even more so). As the story begins, Rosie is feeling her dreams of being a successful professional actor fading away with each letdown. And then she gets offered a job at a small regional theater... which was not quite what she expected, being at a retirement home and all... but it might be just what she needed. I loved seeing her growth throughout the story--- both in her confidence in herself and letting others in. Booker was such a great match for her and while her journey definitely took center stage (no pun intended), I just couldn't get enough of these two together. With moments that had me laughing out loud and others leaving me reaching for a tissue, this one took me on a beautiful emotional roller coaster, and I enjoyed every minute!

Everything's Coming Up Rosie is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language.

**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie
By Courtney Walsh

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie follows Rosie, an actress in New York whose career is dwindling. Struggling to find work and pay her bills, she ends up getting kicked out of her apartment. Rosie decides to return home to a suburb of Chicago to visit her friends, after sending out numerous job applications everywhere she could. There, she discovers that her friends are moving forward with their lives—having babies, getting married, or landing their dream jobs. Rosie feels stuck and, as she often does, pretends that everything is okay.

While staying with her friends, Rosie receives a job offer to direct a play at a theater in Wisconsin. With few options available, she jumps at the chance, only to find out that this is no ordinary theater—it’s a retirement community.

I really enjoyed watching Rosie’s journey as she navigates what she truly wants in life. She confronts past trauma and learns to be open to pivoting in her dreams. However, I do wish the relationship with Booker had been more prominent. Their connection was sweet, and with Rosie only being in Wisconsin for the summer, it made sense for them to set boundaries. That said, I would have liked to see more depth and balance in their relationship. I did, however, enjoy the banter between Rosie and Booker.

I gave Everything’s Coming Up Rosie 3.75 stars out of 5. I’ve loved Courtney Walsh’s other books, such as My Phony Valentine and My Lucky Charm, and I’m excited to see what she comes out with next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read Everything’s Coming Up Rosie.

Rosie leaves NYC and the theater after several years of trying and floundering. She heads to her mom's house in her hometown with her tail between her legs. But, she refuses to share her story, even with her oldest friends. In perfect timing, Rosie is offered a summer job in Door County and she jumps at the chance to get back to work. In her haste, she neglects to read all the details and her summer assignment is a surprise.

It has been too long since I have read a Courtney Walsh book and I LOVED this one. I inhaled it on a flight back from Europe, and it had me loving this story of a girl coming home and rediscovering who she is. Rosie accepts a job without understanding what she's walking into because she is desperate. What she finds is a place where she grows into more than she thought she could be. The supporting cast of characters is delightful, and I really enjoyed seeing Courtney's other life as the director at a youth theater come to life as Rosie puts on a show at a retirement community. The romance is also so sweet. There are laugh outloud moments, plenty of times that tug at your heart, and just a story of coming home to who you were and who you are. I truly loved this book.

loved this one!! Beautiful characters and Arthur was my favorite. Totally clean, sweet romance. I was thinking id be disappointed with the ending but it redeemed itself.

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

Courtney Walsh’s books are always a fun read, and this one was no exception. I think everyone, at some point, has compared themselves to others based on where they are in life. The protagonist, living in New York and away from her high school friends, doesn’t contribute much to their group text—feeling like she’s not as successful as they are.

When she moves from New York as a struggling actress to small-town Wisconsin, she’s a complete fish out of water. But in the most unexpected place—a retirement facility—she meets a lively group of seniors who help her find confidence and believe in herself. Between bonding with these lovable residents, a teenage girl, and a handsome coworker, she convinces herself this is just temporary, that she won’t form lasting connections. Little does she know how wrong she is.

This story is heartwarming, filled with humor, and a reminder that sometimes the people we least expect can change our lives in the best ways.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

After reading several suspense books, Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh was just what I needed. Like the other books that I have read by Courtney, I could certainly relate to the main character, Rosie,

Rosie Waterman feels like a failure. Things just aren't going her way in much of her life. Her acting dreams aren't coming true, in spite of hard work. She is in debt to her roommate. At the start of the book, she is headed home to a baby shower for one of her good friends. She has three good friends from high school and she thinks that they have it all together. . .only to find out later, that they don't either.

One of the things I loved about this book is the part where Rosie discovers she is not alone. . .And how many of us feel alone and afraid to open up? I know I could relate to that.

I also liked Booker, Rosie's romantic interest in her new job. Speaking of the job, Rosie is the director of a production of Cinderella for a retirement village in Wisconsin. I spent two years working with the elderly as an activities coordinator at a nursing home. I love it when books make older folks part of the book. I enjoyed the older characters in this book.

I love that Courtney's book have a HEA and I know that when I start. It is one of the reasons I love her books. This one was enjoyable for me. I don't have any interest in theater but I still enjoyed the story line and the characters.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions within this review are my own.

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.