Reading a Courtney Walsh book is like walking into your favorite kind of story and getting to live there for a while.

This was so cute. And as a theater girlie, I felt seen.

If you'd told me I'd love a romance book set at a retirement community, I'd probably have given you some side-eye, but then I'd come back later and tell you you were right because I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Rosie and Booker and the hilarious cast of characters at Sunset Hills.

The cast of characters in this book is really what made this book shine. Each of the characters at Sunset Hills was unique and hilarious and all of them together was ridiculous in the most charming of ways.

Courtney has a way of describing settings and scenes within her books that truly makes it feel as though you were there with the characters, experiencing what they experience, and it's a magical experience. I loved the depth of Rosie and Booker and Arthur and so many of the other characters. You'd think with such a diverse cast, things would get confusing, but I never had any trouble distinguishing between anyone. They were all so unique and just themselves that they were easy to distinguish.

There was some slow pacing, and I wished the romance had been a little more developed, but I still finished the book totally content with where it ended.

Overall, there are a few heavier themes, but you'll leave this book feeling lighter and happier because you can't help but smile at the sweetness of all of it.

I guess if I had to use one word to describe this book, it would be that: sweet. Though another word that comes to mind is <i>curmudgeonly</i>.

Definitely recommend this to all my friends who like contemporary romance with depth and humor.

Notes:
Romance: Kisses
Violence: None
Language: None
Triggers/Content warnings: None that I remember.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for my audio copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved the audio! I absolutely adored this book! From start to finish, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie had me completely hooked. The characters were so full of heart and personality—I felt like I truly knew them. There’s such a beautiful depth to their emotional journeys, and the growth they each experience felt real and rewarding.

The love story was tender, heartfelt, and swoony in all the right ways. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and most of all, it made me feel. I also have to give a special shoutout to the older characters—they were charming, hilarious, and added so much warmth and wisdom to the story.

This book was the perfect blend of humor, heart, and healing. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is an absolute gem.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook!

I'll be honest, I didn't expect to love this one as much as I did! Leaning more towards Women's Fiction than Romance, (though we do get a really fun romance sub-plot, the story follows Rosie, who's trying to make it big as an actress. She accepts a job directing a production of Cinderella in Wisconsin, only to find out the gig isn’t quite what she expected: the show is being staged in a retirement community, and all the actors are seniors.

This book gives off such cozy vibes, with one of my favorite tropes—found family—plus a lovely dose of personal growth, character development, and just the right touch of romance. The narrator does an exceptional job bringing the story to life, and Courtney Walsh has a real talent for creating flirty banter and chemistry in a no-spice story.

While I don’t think this book will be for everyone, I personally really enjoyed it. I’d recommend it more to fans of Women’s Fiction than to readers looking for a traditional romance.

“Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things” Rosie Waterman’s big dream is to be a be a working actor. But when that does not seem to be working, she takes a summer job at a regional theater.

Courtney Walsh is back with wholesome late coming of age story. I loved the cast of characters, especially the physical therapist representation. I also appreciated and connected with the theme that it is not too late to redefine what you really want in life or maybe rethinking how to achieve your goals. I made a pretty significant career change at 42, moving from a physical therapist to healthcare IT. I think this book highlights the struggle that it takes to reframe your goals and make a change. This is a fun impactful read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun romance novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

This was a decent read, but it just didn’t really grab me. The story was fine, but I found myself wishing for more excitement or emotional highs and lows to keep me fully engaged. It felt a bit too low-key for my taste. The romance is very sweet and clean—I'd rate the spice level at about 0.5—so if you prefer subtle, wholesome love stories, this might be more your style.

That said, I do have a special place in my heart for books set in Wisconsin, and I appreciated the cozy Midwest charm woven into the setting. Overall, not bad, just not quite what I was hoping for.

It was hard not to fall in love with the main character of this book!! Rosie is such a relatable character to anyone that feels like they are not achieving their dreams. It was fun to cheer on Rosie and her ups and downs in the development of her character. The setting of this book was in a retirement community and the residents of this community that Rosie is interacting with are just the cutest thing. I love how they are also cheering her on to meet all of her dreams and successes in life. And how could anyone not like Booker’s (Rosie’s love interest) in this book?!?!! This book was cute little rom-com that I enjoyed very much.
Thank you Net Galley and publisher for the eARC of this book!!

This was such a sweet coming of age story about Rosie who leaves New York City after her dream of being an actor doesn’t pan out like she thought it would. She unexpectedly, and apprehensively, takes a job at a retirement community to run their production of Cinderella. She meets and grows to quickly love so many of the colorful and fun members in the community, and including a handsome guy named Booker.

Her time at the retirement community presents new opportunities and time to ponder if she should rethink her dreams. Can she still pursue her dreams? What if the path to that dream looks a little different than it did before? Maybe chasing our dreams ends up being not what we expect, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Two of my favorite quotes from the book: “Sometimes dreams shift and change and grow, and changing along with them isn’t failing. Pivoting isn’t quitting. Happiness isn’t linear and seeking it isn’t selfish.” And “You can be exceptional anywhere.”

I really enjoyed Rosie and all the characters in the community. They really were fun characters and brought life and humor to the book, and created a sweet found family trope. I also thought her relationship with Booker was really sweet.

If you love the theater, found family, clean romance, and coming of age stories, I highly recommend this book!! Definitely a book I’ll have my theater-loving daughter read. The audiobook was really great too, Jorjeana Marie is a fun narrator.

*Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the early audiobook!*

As soon as I saw the cover and read the title of this book I was drawn to it! I'm not sure if it was the stage setting or the hopefully title. Whatever it was, I knew I had to read it!
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh is... Adorable. Heartwarming. Uplifting in all the right ways!

I adored Rosie—her quirks, her heart, her hope. The romance? Sweet and delightful. This book was like a cozy hug with a sprinkle of sunshine. Perfect for fans of feel-good stories that leave you smiling.

Who doesn’t doubt themselves from time to time? Who doesn’t see someone else figure out their life and get self-conscious about their own decisions? If you relate to one or both questions, you will relate to Rosie in this excellent book, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. 

Rosie is an aspiring actor, but she has failed to land her big break. She moved out of the Midwest to New York to pursue her career further and, in the process, has grown further from her friends. She doubts herself and is afraid they will see her as a failure, so she never confides in her friends. Her friends are moving ahead in life, while Rosie feels she is standing still, and this is a major struggle for her. 

Desperate for work, she applies to many jobs, barely reading any of the descriptions. This is how she accepts a directing position for a play in a retirement community. 

This was such a good story about trusting in yourself and leaning on those around you. All of the supporting characters, both young and old, were so well written and thought out that I felt I personally knew them all.

It really seemed like a predictable book, but I was blown away by how different this was from what I was expecting. This is my second book by Courtney Walsh, and this is the second time I have been blown away.

As someone who lives in Wisconsin and has been to Door County multiple times, this book was SO CUTE! Courtney Walsh hit the setting descriptions out of the park and also had a great feel for midwestern characters, especially the leading man. Rosie was an interesting character to follow, and I enjoyed her journey throughout the story. If you are a theater person, this will also be right up your alley.

Very cute story! I love the concept that your dreams can change based on the people you meet along the way. Rosie is such a fun and quirky heroine, and her growth through working with the Sunset Players really shows her finding her confidence and making plans for the future

Every time I read a Courtney Walsh, I find myself regretting the hours I spent reading those books that I marked below 3 stars when I could've been reading something like this. I absolutely adore this book in particular for being so real and finding the little joys in trivial things. The entertainment industry in its ginormous capacity always presents itself to be so glamorous and chic, then then there's always the other side of the story.

As a very young person who's still struggling with making career choices and frankly any big decisions about my future, I think Rosie is a relatable character. She's likable in that she has tons of good personality traits, at the same time she grapples with the human feelings of inadequacy and jealousy. I enjoyed her portrayal as a well-rounded, flawed person who still has humanity and good intentions. From the author's note, it's quite likely that parts of the character were derived from Walsh herself.

I don't consume a lot of western media apart from books, so I was unfortunately unable to understand the many references to theatre made throughout. However, that didn't take away from the fact that this listening experience was unbelievably amazing. The writing is brilliant; every side character is memorable and plays a key role in the plot and Rosie's character development. This is genuinely such an engaging listen, I was hooked and couldn't stop, basically had this one audiobook playing over all my activities.

Older people are often not included in books and reading this reminded me how rare it is to have a book that has so many. Like I said with the characters, each one of them has their own unique flair that they bring on to the story, especially with the intriguing premise of a theatre that seems unusual. Loved the audiobook narration by Jorjeana Marie, it was a fantastic listen which adds so much value to the book. I highly recommend getting your hands on this book, better still if you get the audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson & Zondervan Fiction Audio for this advanced copy of the audiobook of Everything’s Coming Up Rosie, by Courtney Walsh.

The story follows a quirky theater graduate as she tries to go after her dreams of acting in New York City only to come face-to-face with the reality of how difficult it is. In a moment of desperation, she applies for every job she finds and ends up accepting a job as the director of a theater production, without realizing it’s in a retirement community. Upon arrival, Rosie is quick to fall in love with the unique personalities living in this community, as well as facing the fact that she has no other options. Throw in a cute male-lead, Booker, and you have yourself a beautiful story!

I found this story heartwarming, as Rosie becomes honest with her friends and family and admits to herself that her dreams may have to shift but that doesn’t mean she’s giving up on them. The narration, by Jorjeana Marie, was fantastic and really added to the story. Lastly, the personal ties that the author, Courtney, as to theater major herself made this story all the more lovable. I really enjoyed it and would recommend this story to any fellow musical lover!

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie was a cute read, but I will admit I had a bit of a hard time getting into it at first. The whole “drama girl, actor” trope felt a little overdone for my taste, and I found the main character a bit annoying at times. But honestly, that’s more of a reflection on my personal preferences than the book itself. If you’re into that type of character, you’ll probably vibe with her much more than I did!

Once I pushed past that, though, the story turned out to be really sweet. It’s charming and has that irresistible appeal where you can’t help but root for the characters, no matter how frustrating they may be at times. I mean, how can you go wrong with a fun, feel-good read like this?

Overall, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a light, cute romance!

Super cute book! This is absolutely a book for all the “theatre” nerds out there. I definitely related to Rosie in many of the struggles she was facing. It was nice to experience how she was able to confront her issues/setbacks. The romance was adorable and I loved how Booker would see that there was more to her than the persona Rosie put on. Her misadventures were also pretty cute and the same town/retirement village was such a fun setting. I always appreciate Courtney Walsh keeping her books on the mild side. The narrator absolutely brought this book to life! Rosie felt so real and there was so much voice “acting” which I very much appreciated.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

4.5 rounded up. This book was, cute, light hearted and hopeful, perfect for reading at the beach or by the pool.

We meet Rosie who is suffering a low point in her career/life. A trip home for a baby shower starts a change in direction, for the better, for Rosie. She ends up with a new job and learns so much about herself, and the gift of friendship.

Advanced listener copy provided by Thomas Nelson Audio but all opinions are my own.

This was just sugary sweet even though there was the occasional deep topic.

The relationships between the MC and her friends, both old and new, felt so real.

I'm a former theater-kid and I loved the emotion in this book, you could tell Courtney Walsh knew what it was to need to perform.

I listened to the audiobook of this book and the narrator was great.


Thank you Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Everything’s Coming up Rosie
By Courtney Walsh
Narrated by Jorjeana Marie

Publishes June 10,2025

This was such a heartwarming story. Rosie went to NYC to pursue her dreams to become a broadway actor. But despite her dreams the best she was able to do was play a corpse on Law and Order. At the edge of almost loosing everything she takes a job in Wisconsin but didn’t read all the details and comes to find out its a assisted living facility and she was going to need to cast and direct a production of Cinderella using only seniors. It was such a feel good book and I just loved it so much.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This adorable read is all about a struggling actress’s summer gig at a retirement community!
Get ready for sweet romance with the only other young person around, hilarious drama as the senior cast doubts her directing skills, and a touching story of how she connects with a grumpy resident who’s reminded of his lost love. Expect plenty of giggles, heartwarming moments, and a few “aww!” surprises. Definitely a cute one worth the listen/read

Coming out June 10!! 🫶🏻