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Everything's Coming Up Rosie
Sometimes what you think you want and what you actually want turn out to be different things . . .
Rosie Waterman has one 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?
Rosie Waterman has one 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?
353 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2025
346 people are currently reading
14249 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Walsh
37 books5,388 followersCourtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes low spice romance and women's fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists. She is also a Carol award winner and Christy award finalist.
A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.
Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.
Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,310 reviews
June 10, 2025
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
I read The Summer of Yes last year, and I was disappointed. This one fared a little better for me. Rosie is an unemployed actress, and she has to move out of her apartment, so she decides to go home to visit. While there, she notices all her friends have been busy with careers, husbands and having babies. She starts to question if she should let go of her dream. She then gets a Job as a director at a small theatre in Wisconsin, not her beloved New York, and the actors are all senior citizens!
Walsh wrote a truly heartwarming tale of a woman who discovers you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need. The best part of the book is the fact that it is marketed as a romance, BUT the romance takes a back seat. It deftly blends humour with relatable struggles, and I loved that Rosie found her true calling even if it was in the most unlikely place.
This was such a fun read with a charming cast of characters. What more can you ask for in a book? It was funny and campy and filled with dad jokes. An excellent palate cleanser after a bunch of heavy reads, I have The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley in my to-read pile, and I look forward to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
3.5 Stars
I read The Summer of Yes last year, and I was disappointed. This one fared a little better for me. Rosie is an unemployed actress, and she has to move out of her apartment, so she decides to go home to visit. While there, she notices all her friends have been busy with careers, husbands and having babies. She starts to question if she should let go of her dream. She then gets a Job as a director at a small theatre in Wisconsin, not her beloved New York, and the actors are all senior citizens!
Walsh wrote a truly heartwarming tale of a woman who discovers you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find you get what you need. The best part of the book is the fact that it is marketed as a romance, BUT the romance takes a back seat. It deftly blends humour with relatable struggles, and I loved that Rosie found her true calling even if it was in the most unlikely place.
This was such a fun read with a charming cast of characters. What more can you ask for in a book? It was funny and campy and filled with dad jokes. An excellent palate cleanser after a bunch of heavy reads, I have The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley in my to-read pile, and I look forward to it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
February 3, 2025
Absolutely sweet and heartwarming. Courtney writes a beautiful story with a main character who has a lot of self doubt and worry for her future but the way she develops is something I think we can all relate with. This one will be easy to recommend to everyone in your life!
April 29, 2025
✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
Publication date: 10th June 2025
In full transparency it did take me a minute to get into this story and for it to pick up but IT PICKED UP like my heart is so full🥲 this is such a feelgood/uplifting story in every sense of the word🥹 even though it was a slow starter in terms of plot it still felt like I was watching documentary visuals while listening to the audio. I saw another reviewer use the term "Broadway and books" which is the best way to put it; if you love Broadway and books then this is for you, also its one of the reads where the characters felt like family to me too (kinda like when you finish a show and get attached) except this was shorter. Truthfully I didn't expect to love it as much as I did but I was invested to the point that I didn't want the story to end, even with the romance being a sub plot it was still wholesome and heartwarming🥹
Tropes
▪︎ Small town / Fresh start
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Friendships
▪︎ Personal growth / Self acceptance
Plot Summary
Rosie Waterman’s dream of becoming an actress is falling apart. After losing her job and apartment, she takes a last-chance opportunity to direct a Cinderella play — only to find it’s for a group of senior citizens in a small-town retirement community. As Rosie adjusts to the unexpected, she starts to realises that success — and happiness — might look very different from what she always imagined.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for the ALC
Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
Publication date: 10th June 2025
In full transparency it did take me a minute to get into this story and for it to pick up but IT PICKED UP like my heart is so full🥲 this is such a feelgood/uplifting story in every sense of the word🥹 even though it was a slow starter in terms of plot it still felt like I was watching documentary visuals while listening to the audio. I saw another reviewer use the term "Broadway and books" which is the best way to put it; if you love Broadway and books then this is for you, also its one of the reads where the characters felt like family to me too (kinda like when you finish a show and get attached) except this was shorter. Truthfully I didn't expect to love it as much as I did but I was invested to the point that I didn't want the story to end, even with the romance being a sub plot it was still wholesome and heartwarming🥹
Tropes
▪︎ Small town / Fresh start
▪︎ Found family
▪︎ Friendships
▪︎ Personal growth / Self acceptance
Plot Summary
Rosie Waterman’s dream of becoming an actress is falling apart. After losing her job and apartment, she takes a last-chance opportunity to direct a Cinderella play — only to find it’s for a group of senior citizens in a small-town retirement community. As Rosie adjusts to the unexpected, she starts to realises that success — and happiness — might look very different from what she always imagined.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Fiction Audio and NetGalley for the ALC
June 10, 2025
My Quick Takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️🔥 kisses only
- Content 🤔 parental abandonment
For anyone who is chasing after a seemingly unattainable dream, or has grieved a dream they had to let go, this book is for you. Rosie’s struggles and insecurities and half truths are all so relatable. I could see myself in pieces of her struggle.
This is a closed-door romance but leans a bit more toward women’s fiction. The plot focuses more on the struggles and character development of the female main character with the romantic interest being secondary. There was plenty of witty banter and flirty, which I loved. I usually don’t lean toward women fiction but Rosie was so relatable that I was quickly pulled into her sphere.
If you’re an audiobook reader, the audio is a MUST! I think I found a new favorite narrator, Jorjeana Marie’s narration made the story come to life.
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️🔥 kisses only
- Content 🤔 parental abandonment
For anyone who is chasing after a seemingly unattainable dream, or has grieved a dream they had to let go, this book is for you. Rosie’s struggles and insecurities and half truths are all so relatable. I could see myself in pieces of her struggle.
This is a closed-door romance but leans a bit more toward women’s fiction. The plot focuses more on the struggles and character development of the female main character with the romantic interest being secondary. There was plenty of witty banter and flirty, which I loved. I usually don’t lean toward women fiction but Rosie was so relatable that I was quickly pulled into her sphere.
If you’re an audiobook reader, the audio is a MUST! I think I found a new favorite narrator, Jorjeana Marie’s narration made the story come to life.
May 25, 2025
As I started this book, I wasn't sure if it was a good fit for me but as it continued, I was drawn into Rosie's story. She considers herself a failure, a down and out actor living in NYC, but playing positive and upbeat for her mom and friends. She takes a job in a small town Wisconsin theatre working with a creative team for the play Cinderella out of desperation. What she didn't pay attention to was it is for a retirement community and she IS the creative team and director with mostly volunteers. It was such a sweet read as Rosie grows and learns so much about herself from the people, a sense of closeness and community and even love with a hunky physical therapist for the community. This is a great read with an inspiring ending and a different Rosie.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my thoughts.
September 30, 2025
Swoon city!!
Loved:
-Romance between Rosie and Booker
-Bertie and Arthur
-all the side characters: Rosie’s friends, the seniors, Daisy, Louis, Dylan - each added layers to Rosie’s development and growth
-the message about not giving up on yourself but also adjusting your dreams to included healthy change and relationships
-Booker Hayes
It might take some readers some time to connect with Rosie at first because she lies to her friends at the beginning and is very insecure. There’s plenty of growth there and it didn’t bother me because of the light hearted tone.
No language and only kissing. Highly recommend!
Loved:
-Romance between Rosie and Booker
-Bertie and Arthur
-all the side characters: Rosie’s friends, the seniors, Daisy, Louis, Dylan - each added layers to Rosie’s development and growth
-the message about not giving up on yourself but also adjusting your dreams to included healthy change and relationships
-Booker Hayes
It might take some readers some time to connect with Rosie at first because she lies to her friends at the beginning and is very insecure. There’s plenty of growth there and it didn’t bother me because of the light hearted tone.
No language and only kissing. Highly recommend!
July 6, 2025
4 stars
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie was a fantastic read about finding yourself and following your dreams. I loved that the heroine was almost 30 and still hadn’t quite found her path in life. As a nurse who loves working with older folks and a theater person, this book spoke to me! It was a lot of fun and the romance was cute as well. Happy to report this was a win for me!
Everything’s Coming Up Rosie was a fantastic read about finding yourself and following your dreams. I loved that the heroine was almost 30 and still hadn’t quite found her path in life. As a nurse who loves working with older folks and a theater person, this book spoke to me! It was a lot of fun and the romance was cute as well. Happy to report this was a win for me!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Jorjeana Marie
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 10m
June 23, 2025
Rosie went to live her dream in NYC to become a broadway actor, but the best thing she did was play a corpse on Law and Order. On the brink of bankruptcy, she takes a temporary position in Wisconsin at an assisted living facility to cast and direct a production of Cinderella, starring the octogenarian residents.
Everyone is in love with Booker, the old and young ladies alike. Eventually Rosie falls for Booker and has to decide if she is going to give up the dream of acting on stage or keep going.
Rosie has a sad (but not overly tragic) backstory. The older crowd has some cranky naysayers and some filled with wisdom. They are a cute side character addition and a fun setting. If I have one criticism I would have liked to see more of the residents, less of Rosie’s insecure internal dialogue.
I am a fan of Courtney Walsh, she is the master of building chemistry while still keeping the bedroom door closed. It’s not easy to do. But I always end up a little happier when I finish her books.
Book to be published June 10, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the ARC.
Everyone is in love with Booker, the old and young ladies alike. Eventually Rosie falls for Booker and has to decide if she is going to give up the dream of acting on stage or keep going.
Rosie has a sad (but not overly tragic) backstory. The older crowd has some cranky naysayers and some filled with wisdom. They are a cute side character addition and a fun setting. If I have one criticism I would have liked to see more of the residents, less of Rosie’s insecure internal dialogue.
I am a fan of Courtney Walsh, she is the master of building chemistry while still keeping the bedroom door closed. It’s not easy to do. But I always end up a little happier when I finish her books.
Book to be published June 10, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for the ARC.
April 9, 2025
I thought I'd never finish this 😭
It honestly took me a while to get through this book. The story started off extremely slow. The ending was honestly the best part I say around the 70% mark is where I actually got into it. The story focuses on the FMC Rosie is a struggling actress trying to achieve her dreams while it seems everyone around her has already figured their lives out. She finally gets offered a job at a theater which she feels could be a great addition to her resume but what didn't know was the job would be at a retirement home. Although it seems like this isn't going to work out for her she ends up meeting wonderful people including a love interest. Her being at the retirement home allows her took look at life differently and finally find her own happiness.
While the story did start off a bit boring and slow I did enjoy the ending and even found myself getting emotional at some parts.
It honestly took me a while to get through this book. The story started off extremely slow. The ending was honestly the best part I say around the 70% mark is where I actually got into it. The story focuses on the FMC Rosie is a struggling actress trying to achieve her dreams while it seems everyone around her has already figured their lives out. She finally gets offered a job at a theater which she feels could be a great addition to her resume but what didn't know was the job would be at a retirement home. Although it seems like this isn't going to work out for her she ends up meeting wonderful people including a love interest. Her being at the retirement home allows her took look at life differently and finally find her own happiness.
While the story did start off a bit boring and slow I did enjoy the ending and even found myself getting emotional at some parts.
June 18, 2025
My favorite modern setting is in a Senior community. This was a charming, fun read. The characters were sweet and memorable. It teaches us a life lesson through Rosie. Perhaps what we thought we wanted was really not what we needed and something much better happens. Uplifting and enchanting, exuberant story. Great narration.
I was blessed with an audio ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
I was blessed with an audio ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
June 12, 2025
Read if you love:
🎭Musical theatre
✨Quirky characters
💕Clean romance
🏡Retirement community
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
☝️Single POV
🏘Small-town feel
🌸Blossoming friendships
😎Summer vibes
This was a sweet and heartwarming story! I loved the retirement community setting, quirky characters, and slow friends-to-lovers romance. Rosie has a sad, yet not overly tragic, backstory and struggles significantly with self-doubt, feeling like a failure, and life not unfolding as she envisioned, something I think many readers will relate to.
I found the beginning of the story to have a little bit of a slow start, and it focused a little too much on Rosie’s insecure internal dialogue at times. But, Courtney has a way of bringing the lighthearted, funny, make-you-smile moments with depth that I love, and this book was no exception. This book definitely grew on me, and I ended up really enjoying it. I will read anything she writes, and I loved her note at the end!✨
I listened to the audiobook and had a fun time with it! This is a great one to read/listen to this summer☀️
Content to consider: Parental abandonment (recounted), remembering the death of a loved one, sexual joking (not graphic)
Thank you, @thomasnelson and @netgalley, for a complimentary audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
🎭Musical theatre
✨Quirky characters
💕Clean romance
🏡Retirement community
👨👩👧👦 Found Family
☝️Single POV
🏘Small-town feel
🌸Blossoming friendships
😎Summer vibes
This was a sweet and heartwarming story! I loved the retirement community setting, quirky characters, and slow friends-to-lovers romance. Rosie has a sad, yet not overly tragic, backstory and struggles significantly with self-doubt, feeling like a failure, and life not unfolding as she envisioned, something I think many readers will relate to.
I found the beginning of the story to have a little bit of a slow start, and it focused a little too much on Rosie’s insecure internal dialogue at times. But, Courtney has a way of bringing the lighthearted, funny, make-you-smile moments with depth that I love, and this book was no exception. This book definitely grew on me, and I ended up really enjoying it. I will read anything she writes, and I loved her note at the end!✨
I listened to the audiobook and had a fun time with it! This is a great one to read/listen to this summer☀️
Content to consider: Parental abandonment (recounted), remembering the death of a loved one, sexual joking (not graphic)
Thank you, @thomasnelson and @netgalley, for a complimentary audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 24, 2025
ARC Review - Releasing June 10, 2025
Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
4 stars
Blog Link: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
🎭When your Broadway dreams lead you to.....a retirement community? This is a story about losing it all and finding something even better. 💫
⭐Read This If You Love:⭐
🎭🎶🎬Books about Theatre & Music Production
💕💌🌸Clean Romance
🏡🧓🪴Retirement Community
🤗🏠🍲 Found Family
☀️🍉🕶️A Good Summer Read
Rosie's journey is funny, real and inspiring. We follow a heartwarming and humorous story where she rediscovers her purpose after her dreams have shifted. Rosie has been wanting to be on Broadway and continues to strike out on her big dreams as a working actor. She goes home and is offered a job as the director of a regional theatre production of Cinderella - the catch? The job is in Wisconsin, not New York. She goes to take this job and realizes the job she accepted is actually in a retirement community and the "actors" are actually senior citizens.
We see Rosie really experience growth here from as what starts as a detour becomes a journey of self-discovery, joy and surprises. She meets Booker, who is a cinnamon roll type guy that helps her work through her feelings. He also was very patient with her, which I appreciated. She struggles with so much that I find relatable and I think others will too. It just took me quite some time to get connected to her personally (a lot of internal dialogue that was hard to digest), so I would say around 40% I was more connected to the story.
The side Senior characters really made this story too, so iconic!
Overall, a good book that I think would be a fun, easy recommendation for a contemporary women's fiction with a little romance to read during the summer or on a beach trip! (Romance could have been a bit more developed, but still cute!)
Oh, and READ THE AUTHOR’S NOTE! Loved that.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a copy of the audiobook and e-book to honestly listen to and read for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content: Clean romance, no language, a mention of "oh dear Lord in heaven" in a moment that would be considered shock, parent abandonment mentioned, mentions of death of a loved one, some inuendo jokes but nothing explicit. overall clean contemporary women's fiction.
Everything's Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh
4 stars
Blog Link: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
🎭When your Broadway dreams lead you to.....a retirement community? This is a story about losing it all and finding something even better. 💫
⭐Read This If You Love:⭐
🎭🎶🎬Books about Theatre & Music Production
💕💌🌸Clean Romance
🏡🧓🪴Retirement Community
🤗🏠🍲 Found Family
☀️🍉🕶️A Good Summer Read
Rosie's journey is funny, real and inspiring. We follow a heartwarming and humorous story where she rediscovers her purpose after her dreams have shifted. Rosie has been wanting to be on Broadway and continues to strike out on her big dreams as a working actor. She goes home and is offered a job as the director of a regional theatre production of Cinderella - the catch? The job is in Wisconsin, not New York. She goes to take this job and realizes the job she accepted is actually in a retirement community and the "actors" are actually senior citizens.
We see Rosie really experience growth here from as what starts as a detour becomes a journey of self-discovery, joy and surprises. She meets Booker, who is a cinnamon roll type guy that helps her work through her feelings. He also was very patient with her, which I appreciated. She struggles with so much that I find relatable and I think others will too. It just took me quite some time to get connected to her personally (a lot of internal dialogue that was hard to digest), so I would say around 40% I was more connected to the story.
The side Senior characters really made this story too, so iconic!
Overall, a good book that I think would be a fun, easy recommendation for a contemporary women's fiction with a little romance to read during the summer or on a beach trip! (Romance could have been a bit more developed, but still cute!)
Oh, and READ THE AUTHOR’S NOTE! Loved that.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a copy of the audiobook and e-book to honestly listen to and read for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content: Clean romance, no language, a mention of "oh dear Lord in heaven" in a moment that would be considered shock, parent abandonment mentioned, mentions of death of a loved one, some inuendo jokes but nothing explicit. overall clean contemporary women's fiction.
June 22, 2025
Sometimes when the world feels like it’s on fire, comfort can be found in the hug of a good book. You know those types— the kinds of books that are warm and fuzzy, featuring lovable side characters, and set in a quaint town riddled with charm. And this is exactly the type of book Courtney Walsh is best at writing. Hers are the ultimate cozy, heartwarming reads, and Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is certainly no exception. Once I met the gang, and the small town in which they live, I felt my mind ease almost immediately.
What I love most about Rosie, as well as Walsh’s other books, is that they tend to feature older characters, with more wit and wisdom than most, and who usually end up stealing any scene they are in, more often than not. Usually, these dynamic characters help to create that sense of found family that is also a huge part of why her books function like literally, literary hugs. I also appreciate the self-transformation her MCs experience because they are never over the top and unrealistic. These characters could, in fact, be us, the readers.
And while her traditionally published books tend to focus more on self-discovery and growth through the friendships the characters develop, let us not forget they always include a super swoony romance subplot sure to set your heart aflutter. Booker was a fantastic counterpart to our heroine Rosie, and their friends-to-lovers arc was the cherry on top of this charming story.
🎧 Perhaps an outlier opinion, but worth noting just the same— I am not sure why this is, but I struggled quite a bit with the audio. I’m not sure why exactly, because the narrator wasn’t bad by any means. But there is a monotonous tone at times, that made it a little harder to get into during the first few chapters. While it eventually became less of an issue, I’d probably recommend the physical or ebook over the audiobook.
Read if you like:
▪️found family
▪️theatre productions
▪️forced proximity
▪️friends to lovers
▪️senior sidekicks
▪️witty humor
▪️small town charm
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Libro.fm for the gifted copies.
What I love most about Rosie, as well as Walsh’s other books, is that they tend to feature older characters, with more wit and wisdom than most, and who usually end up stealing any scene they are in, more often than not. Usually, these dynamic characters help to create that sense of found family that is also a huge part of why her books function like literally, literary hugs. I also appreciate the self-transformation her MCs experience because they are never over the top and unrealistic. These characters could, in fact, be us, the readers.
And while her traditionally published books tend to focus more on self-discovery and growth through the friendships the characters develop, let us not forget they always include a super swoony romance subplot sure to set your heart aflutter. Booker was a fantastic counterpart to our heroine Rosie, and their friends-to-lovers arc was the cherry on top of this charming story.
🎧 Perhaps an outlier opinion, but worth noting just the same— I am not sure why this is, but I struggled quite a bit with the audio. I’m not sure why exactly, because the narrator wasn’t bad by any means. But there is a monotonous tone at times, that made it a little harder to get into during the first few chapters. While it eventually became less of an issue, I’d probably recommend the physical or ebook over the audiobook.
Read if you like:
▪️found family
▪️theatre productions
▪️forced proximity
▪️friends to lovers
▪️senior sidekicks
▪️witty humor
▪️small town charm
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Thomas Nelson and Libro.fm for the gifted copies.
April 24, 2025
2.5 stars. I wish I loved this! It seemed right up my alley, since I’m such a broadway and musical theatre fan. Overall, this was cute, but lacking in depth. The romance was lacklustre, I truly felt nothing between Rosie and the mmc. It was instalove, which isn’t my favourite, but every interaction between them was just fine, nothing that got my heart beating.
I found Rosie to be and act extremely juvenile. I would believe it more if she was in her early 20s but she’s almost 30, and I found myself rolling my eyes at her attitude and “quirkiness.” A lot of references felt forced, because I’ve never seen musical theatre people act the way she does. I did enjoy her growth, and her interactions with the charismatic residents of the retirement home.
I also found the humour, and Rosie’s friend group, to be incredibly juvenile as well. It truly didn’t read like women in their late 20s. Arthur was the best character in the book, and I loved seeing his interactions and growth with Rosie.
I received an advance audio copy of this novel, and the narrator does a fantastic job!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
I found Rosie to be and act extremely juvenile. I would believe it more if she was in her early 20s but she’s almost 30, and I found myself rolling my eyes at her attitude and “quirkiness.” A lot of references felt forced, because I’ve never seen musical theatre people act the way she does. I did enjoy her growth, and her interactions with the charismatic residents of the retirement home.
I also found the humour, and Rosie’s friend group, to be incredibly juvenile as well. It truly didn’t read like women in their late 20s. Arthur was the best character in the book, and I loved seeing his interactions and growth with Rosie.
I received an advance audio copy of this novel, and the narrator does a fantastic job!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 6, 2025
I smiled my way through this book. Touching on hard things but not overwhelmed by them. It’s bright, sunny, and effervescent. I loved it.
June 6, 2025
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.
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.
November 7, 2025
‧₊˚ ┊❝𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩, 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚'𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚.❞‧₊˚ ┊
⤷𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀ˎˊ˗
this was my first Courtney Walsh book and it was so freaking cute! all the characters were so funny and quirky, the romance was really sweet and the message about dreams and self discovery was written really well. really, the writing of the entire book was really enjoyable!
this book had no language and no spice, which was really refreshing to read in a book! would highly recommend reading it.
⤷𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀ˎˊ˗
Rosie: she was so fun! i really liked her sense of humor and i think her character growth was executed really well. her character definitely improves throughout the book.
Booker: he was so patient and kind with Rosie. everything about him was just *chefs kiss*
there were a lot of side characters in here but i would have to say that Arthur, Bertie and Daisy had to be some of favorites:))
⤷𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀ˎˊ˗
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘖𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.
"𝘖𝘩, 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦," 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥. "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"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."
⤷𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹ˎˊ˗
if you take anything out of this review, please read this book. buy it, go to the library, just read this book!
⤷𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀ˎˊ˗
this was my first Courtney Walsh book and it was so freaking cute! all the characters were so funny and quirky, the romance was really sweet and the message about dreams and self discovery was written really well. really, the writing of the entire book was really enjoyable!
this book had no language and no spice, which was really refreshing to read in a book! would highly recommend reading it.
⤷𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀ˎˊ˗
Rosie: she was so fun! i really liked her sense of humor and i think her character growth was executed really well. her character definitely improves throughout the book.
Booker: he was so patient and kind with Rosie. everything about him was just *chefs kiss*
there were a lot of side characters in here but i would have to say that Arthur, Bertie and Daisy had to be some of favorites:))
⤷𝗾𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀ˎˊ˗
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘖𝘳 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵. 𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨.
"𝘖𝘩, 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦," 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥. "𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"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."
⤷𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹ˎˊ˗
if you take anything out of this review, please read this book. buy it, go to the library, just read this book!
September 14, 2025
---------------------review---------------------
Rosie feels like while all her friends are successful and living amazing lives; she continues to fail in her acting career. She worries that if she tells them what a failure she is, they will all hate her.
Then she gets a job that she is sure will change everything. She receives an email from Sunset Players, and she discovers she got a job as director for the play Cinderella. However, she was so happy about the job that she didn't read the entire description. If she had read it, she would have discovered it was cast by old people from the retirement community.
At her job, Rosie meets a man named Booker who she instantly falls in love with. He is handsome and sweet, and Rosie finds that his kind green eyes are easy to get lost in. Just when their friendship starts to turn into romance, she has to say goodbye to him for probably forever. Her big break had finally come, and as much as she didn't want to leave him and the community she had learned to love so dearly, she did want the job.
She kisses Booker goodbye, but this may not be the last time she sees him. Booker moves to Chicago to be close to her. It's not the end of their romance after all.
Rosie feels like while all her friends are successful and living amazing lives; she continues to fail in her acting career. She worries that if she tells them what a failure she is, they will all hate her.
Then she gets a job that she is sure will change everything. She receives an email from Sunset Players, and she discovers she got a job as director for the play Cinderella. However, she was so happy about the job that she didn't read the entire description. If she had read it, she would have discovered it was cast by old people from the retirement community.
At her job, Rosie meets a man named Booker who she instantly falls in love with. He is handsome and sweet, and Rosie finds that his kind green eyes are easy to get lost in. Just when their friendship starts to turn into romance, she has to say goodbye to him for probably forever. Her big break had finally come, and as much as she didn't want to leave him and the community she had learned to love so dearly, she did want the job.
She kisses Booker goodbye, but this may not be the last time she sees him. Booker moves to Chicago to be close to her. It's not the end of their romance after all.
March 7, 2025
Rosie dreams of becoming an actress, but luck is not on her side—she ends up jobless and homeless. So when she's offered a job as the director outside of New York, she immediately agrees. Later, she discovers that the theater is actually located in a retirement community, and the "actors" are senior citizens with no acting experience whatsoever.
Due to a traumatic childhood experience, Rosie always tells everyone she’s fine and never truly opens up to others. Even with her friends, she’s afraid to share the struggles she’s facing in her life. This is a story about healing, personal growth, and the idea that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
What I enjoyed the most was the romantic subplot, even though it wasn’t the main focus. Booker was sweet, and they liked each other right away—I just wished their relationship had been explored more. But the epilogue touched me.
It was a cute and fun read, but unfortunately, the story didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. This was my first book by the author, and I’ve seen a lot of great reviews for her other works, so I’ll definitely give another one a try later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Due to a traumatic childhood experience, Rosie always tells everyone she’s fine and never truly opens up to others. Even with her friends, she’s afraid to share the struggles she’s facing in her life. This is a story about healing, personal growth, and the idea that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
What I enjoyed the most was the romantic subplot, even though it wasn’t the main focus. Booker was sweet, and they liked each other right away—I just wished their relationship had been explored more. But the epilogue touched me.
It was a cute and fun read, but unfortunately, the story didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. This was my first book by the author, and I’ve seen a lot of great reviews for her other works, so I’ll definitely give another one a try later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 28, 2025
Read: May 21st - May 27th
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher and the author for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I actually almost DNF-ed this book due to a few issues (mostly Rosie coming off like a high schooler rather than a 29-year-old adult, because I love dorky adults, but she fell short of that in immature), but with its shorter and quick, so I figured I'd stick it out. And although I cannot say that it had some huge turn around that made me adore the book, I am glad I finished.
First, this isn't really a romance. I marked it as such as there is romance in it, but it's far more about Rosie's journey of self acceptance and her dream than the romance between her and Booker. There's just enough of Booker around to let me throw the romance tag on.
I was honestly way more invested in the relationship between Rosie and the inhabitants, whether that be Arthur or Dylan or even miss Drama Queen whose name I cannot recall (Belinda?). They all interacted in such fun ways and helped each other grow. Also, as someone whose grandmother was in a care facility due to her age, I really appreciated seeing a book that gave care to those who are so often just ignored by society, especially when it was mentioned how much they truly can thrive when given care and something to love.
So while this book didn't absolutely hook me or anything, I did love the cast of 'old people' and the different theatre workers (even Rosie, who eventually grew on me), and just what this book set out to accomplish.
Format: Audiobook
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher and the author for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I actually almost DNF-ed this book due to a few issues (mostly Rosie coming off like a high schooler rather than a 29-year-old adult, because I love dorky adults, but she fell short of that in immature), but with its shorter and quick, so I figured I'd stick it out. And although I cannot say that it had some huge turn around that made me adore the book, I am glad I finished.
First, this isn't really a romance. I marked it as such as there is romance in it, but it's far more about Rosie's journey of self acceptance and her dream than the romance between her and Booker. There's just enough of Booker around to let me throw the romance tag on.
I was honestly way more invested in the relationship between Rosie and the inhabitants, whether that be Arthur or Dylan or even miss Drama Queen whose name I cannot recall (Belinda?). They all interacted in such fun ways and helped each other grow. Also, as someone whose grandmother was in a care facility due to her age, I really appreciated seeing a book that gave care to those who are so often just ignored by society, especially when it was mentioned how much they truly can thrive when given care and something to love.
So while this book didn't absolutely hook me or anything, I did love the cast of 'old people' and the different theatre workers (even Rosie, who eventually grew on me), and just what this book set out to accomplish.
April 29, 2025
This is a difficult review to write. For the first 50% I really wasn’t enjoying this one. I found our main character annoying and not very bright. I also very much disliked the way she lied to her friends and seemed to be pretty stuck up. The second half of this book I found far more enjoyable. Obviously Rosie has some character growth (but her being annoying in the first half is still a genuine complaint) And the story becomes more engaging.
While I didn’t like the “insta love” vibes in the romance to start off with, I do think they end up being pretty cute together. This book falls right in the middle of general fiction and romance. It’s both not enough romance to be a full on romance book, but at the same time I find it doesn’t focus enough on the other aspects and characters for it to feel like a true general fiction.
Some things that I didn’t enjoy: the name Booker (no offense to anyone with that name, but sometimes in the audiobook it sounded like booger), the pacing of the story, the writing and metaphors were a bit weak. I would have liked even more theatre references and maybe have them included in a way that didn’t feel as disjointed. Also, some of the southern accents in the audiobook seemed off to me.
One aspect that was a stand out for me is the arc with Arthur. It genuinely almost made me cry and felt very special. I wish other relationships with the people involved in the cast would have been developed in a similar way.
From the author note this feels like a quite personal story and so I don’t want to critique it too harshly, while also still giving my honest opinion on the book.
If you are looking for a quick read about a woman who feels like her life in the theatre industry is becoming a bit of a mess, finding her way, and finding love, this could be the one for you!
Thank you netgalley for this eARC and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
While I didn’t like the “insta love” vibes in the romance to start off with, I do think they end up being pretty cute together. This book falls right in the middle of general fiction and romance. It’s both not enough romance to be a full on romance book, but at the same time I find it doesn’t focus enough on the other aspects and characters for it to feel like a true general fiction.
Some things that I didn’t enjoy: the name Booker (no offense to anyone with that name, but sometimes in the audiobook it sounded like booger), the pacing of the story, the writing and metaphors were a bit weak. I would have liked even more theatre references and maybe have them included in a way that didn’t feel as disjointed. Also, some of the southern accents in the audiobook seemed off to me.
One aspect that was a stand out for me is the arc with Arthur. It genuinely almost made me cry and felt very special. I wish other relationships with the people involved in the cast would have been developed in a similar way.
From the author note this feels like a quite personal story and so I don’t want to critique it too harshly, while also still giving my honest opinion on the book.
If you are looking for a quick read about a woman who feels like her life in the theatre industry is becoming a bit of a mess, finding her way, and finding love, this could be the one for you!
Thank you netgalley for this eARC and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 21, 2025
SUCH A FEEL GOOD BOOK😍 if you like broadway and books (my 2 literal personality traits) you will love this!!
PS Also obsessed w the Jeremy Jordan reference 😍😍
PS Also obsessed w the Jeremy Jordan reference 😍😍
June 11, 2025
Courtney Walsh’s “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” is a delightful and deeply moving novel that captures the beauty of personal growth, human connection, and the unexpected ways life can steer us toward our true selves. I had the privilege of receiving this eARC via NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction in exchange for my honest review, and I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on this poignant and humorous story.
The story follows Rosie Waterman, a struggling actress in New York City, whose life takes a surprising turn when she accepts a summer job in Wisconsin. Rosie assumes she’ll join a creative team to direct a play, but upon her arrival, she discovers she’s the sole director and creative team for a production in a retirement community. To make matters even more challenging, Rosie has never directed before, and her cast consists entirely of elderly residents.
These circumstances thrust Rosie into an unfamiliar world that forces her outside her comfort zone. Along the way, she learns invaluable lessons not only about the art of theater but also about herself, her fears, and the importance of genuine connection.
Rosie is an incredibly relatable protagonist. She’s riddled with self-doubt and plagued by a fear of nearly everything—animals, insects, nature, herself, and above all, the truth. Her reluctance to confront her reality has led her to lie to her family and friends about her situation. But as the story unfolds, Rosie’s new role at the retirement community becomes a transformative experience.
Through her interactions with the residents, Rosie begins to peel back her layers of insecurity. She meets Arthur, a former director and acting coach, who becomes a mentor and helps her rediscover her own innate talents. Arthur’s wisdom teaches Rosie that while dreams might evolve, their essence can remain unchanged, rekindling her passion for storytelling in ways she never expected.
And then there’s Booker, the charming and charismatic physical therapist at the retirement home. Booker gently encourages Rosie to open herself up to love, honesty, and vulnerability, providing the perfect balance of support and humor to counterbalance her fears. Their slow-burn romance is both heartwarming and deeply satisfying.
At its core, this book is a celebration of friendship, found family, and the beauty of human connection. The residents of the retirement community, each with their own quirks and wisdom, form a “found family” for Rosie, offering her insights and inspiration as she navigates her new role and her own emotional journey.
The novel also leans into several beloved romantic and storytelling tropes, including:
· Slow Burn Romance
· Found Family
· Friends to Lovers
· Humor
Quote: “Because isn’t that what everyone wants? To love and be loved? To share a life with a person who knows all the things you don’t say out loud and chooses you anyway?”
This book is a heartwarming and uplifting story that will leave readers smiling. Rosie’s journey of self-discovery, paired with the tender romance and the vibrant personalities of the retirement community residents, makes for a fun read. The novel reminds us that even when life doesn’t go as planned, it can lead us to places—and people—we never knew we needed.
Side note: I totally pictured Emma Stone and Scott Eastwood as Rosie and Booker. And I want to live in Sunset Hills. It sounds amazing!
The story follows Rosie Waterman, a struggling actress in New York City, whose life takes a surprising turn when she accepts a summer job in Wisconsin. Rosie assumes she’ll join a creative team to direct a play, but upon her arrival, she discovers she’s the sole director and creative team for a production in a retirement community. To make matters even more challenging, Rosie has never directed before, and her cast consists entirely of elderly residents.
These circumstances thrust Rosie into an unfamiliar world that forces her outside her comfort zone. Along the way, she learns invaluable lessons not only about the art of theater but also about herself, her fears, and the importance of genuine connection.
Rosie is an incredibly relatable protagonist. She’s riddled with self-doubt and plagued by a fear of nearly everything—animals, insects, nature, herself, and above all, the truth. Her reluctance to confront her reality has led her to lie to her family and friends about her situation. But as the story unfolds, Rosie’s new role at the retirement community becomes a transformative experience.
Through her interactions with the residents, Rosie begins to peel back her layers of insecurity. She meets Arthur, a former director and acting coach, who becomes a mentor and helps her rediscover her own innate talents. Arthur’s wisdom teaches Rosie that while dreams might evolve, their essence can remain unchanged, rekindling her passion for storytelling in ways she never expected.
And then there’s Booker, the charming and charismatic physical therapist at the retirement home. Booker gently encourages Rosie to open herself up to love, honesty, and vulnerability, providing the perfect balance of support and humor to counterbalance her fears. Their slow-burn romance is both heartwarming and deeply satisfying.
At its core, this book is a celebration of friendship, found family, and the beauty of human connection. The residents of the retirement community, each with their own quirks and wisdom, form a “found family” for Rosie, offering her insights and inspiration as she navigates her new role and her own emotional journey.
The novel also leans into several beloved romantic and storytelling tropes, including:
· Slow Burn Romance
· Found Family
· Friends to Lovers
· Humor
Quote: “Because isn’t that what everyone wants? To love and be loved? To share a life with a person who knows all the things you don’t say out loud and chooses you anyway?”
This book is a heartwarming and uplifting story that will leave readers smiling. Rosie’s journey of self-discovery, paired with the tender romance and the vibrant personalities of the retirement community residents, makes for a fun read. The novel reminds us that even when life doesn’t go as planned, it can lead us to places—and people—we never knew we needed.
Side note: I totally pictured Emma Stone and Scott Eastwood as Rosie and Booker. And I want to live in Sunset Hills. It sounds amazing!
May 22, 2025
DNF page 218 All notes are reflected of up to this point
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
My many thanks to the Author, Publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book!
I was having trouble getting into this book, a lot of the decisions made in this book I found to be rather dumb. And the advice was often even worse. Everything about this book I found to be very of the world, of what I remember there was no faith content whatsoever, (which there has been a small smattering of in some of her other books) but especially with some of the issues Rosie was having it would have been nice to see some sort of faith elements threaded though. Now I get that this is marketed I believe as “Clean Fiction” not “Christian Fiction.” So I get that completely! Don’t expect a book to be what it isn’t. However, I know this authors books are sold at christian retailers, so I’m just making additional notes based on that. I get what I am about to say is controversial and not everyone will agree with me, but regardless I’m still going to say it.
The majority of this book revolves around the idea of self happiness. And following your dreams and your heart, essentially finding your own way and what makes you happy. I staunchly disagree with these ideas. I get this is very much the mantra of today, but nowhere do we see these principles or ideas expressed anywhere in Scripture. In fact we see quite the opposite. Instead we see how God is the author of our Lives, our need to Trust and Lean on Him in all things. Our Joy is to come from Him and not from things of the world.
There were other things expressed in this book that I disagreed with, if it had been just one principle I disagreed with I could have lived with it, but all of them compounded upon each other just bugged me too much to continue.
I hate this book was such a miss for me.
Content notes:
A woman mentions her husband might get lucky tonight.
Multiple mentions of a women having several “sexy” ventriloquist puppets, including mentioning that one is wearing a bikini.
The woman makes an inappropriate routine with the puppet calling people “sexy,” saying it’s “looking for a man,” “that she has needs.” When asked what those needs are the woman reaches into the bikini bottoms of the puppet pulling out a paper, before she is quickly ushered off stage. (Not overly detailed)
A mention of a girl not wearing a bra, and how a man can probably see straight down her shirt. (Not detailed)
Mentions of a man’s physique (mildly detailed)
Mentions of a woman feeling exposed in front of a man while wearing skimpy pajamas (bikini bottoms, a tank top and no bra) mentions of her covering herself with her arms, and then throwing a sweatshirt on.
Mention a a woman having thoughts about a man she shouldn’t. (Based on context probably sexual but no details)
Our main characters go to a bar, mentions of a lady being potentially tipsy. The Lyrics “Country girls shake it for me” are written out. Mentions of people shaking to the music. Mention of a man having a bottle in his hands (we find out he is drinking non alcoholic beer)
A woman confesses her feelings to a man while drunk
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
My many thanks to the Author, Publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book!
I was having trouble getting into this book, a lot of the decisions made in this book I found to be rather dumb. And the advice was often even worse. Everything about this book I found to be very of the world, of what I remember there was no faith content whatsoever, (which there has been a small smattering of in some of her other books) but especially with some of the issues Rosie was having it would have been nice to see some sort of faith elements threaded though. Now I get that this is marketed I believe as “Clean Fiction” not “Christian Fiction.” So I get that completely! Don’t expect a book to be what it isn’t. However, I know this authors books are sold at christian retailers, so I’m just making additional notes based on that. I get what I am about to say is controversial and not everyone will agree with me, but regardless I’m still going to say it.
The majority of this book revolves around the idea of self happiness. And following your dreams and your heart, essentially finding your own way and what makes you happy. I staunchly disagree with these ideas. I get this is very much the mantra of today, but nowhere do we see these principles or ideas expressed anywhere in Scripture. In fact we see quite the opposite. Instead we see how God is the author of our Lives, our need to Trust and Lean on Him in all things. Our Joy is to come from Him and not from things of the world.
There were other things expressed in this book that I disagreed with, if it had been just one principle I disagreed with I could have lived with it, but all of them compounded upon each other just bugged me too much to continue.
I hate this book was such a miss for me.
Content notes:
A woman mentions her husband might get lucky tonight.
Multiple mentions of a women having several “sexy” ventriloquist puppets, including mentioning that one is wearing a bikini.
The woman makes an inappropriate routine with the puppet calling people “sexy,” saying it’s “looking for a man,” “that she has needs.” When asked what those needs are the woman reaches into the bikini bottoms of the puppet pulling out a paper, before she is quickly ushered off stage. (Not overly detailed)
A mention of a girl not wearing a bra, and how a man can probably see straight down her shirt. (Not detailed)
Mentions of a man’s physique (mildly detailed)
Mentions of a woman feeling exposed in front of a man while wearing skimpy pajamas (bikini bottoms, a tank top and no bra) mentions of her covering herself with her arms, and then throwing a sweatshirt on.
Mention a a woman having thoughts about a man she shouldn’t. (Based on context probably sexual but no details)
Our main characters go to a bar, mentions of a lady being potentially tipsy. The Lyrics “Country girls shake it for me” are written out. Mentions of people shaking to the music. Mention of a man having a bottle in his hands (we find out he is drinking non alcoholic beer)
A woman confesses her feelings to a man while drunk
June 7, 2025
OVERALL STAR RATING: 5/5
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
The plot was unique, the characters were AMAZING and overall, just an incredible balance of humor and heart. One of my favorite things is sassy elderly characters and this book had a handful!
Rosie Waterman wanted to be a star, but at this point in her life, the only thing she’s really nailed is the part of struggling actress. She’s embarrassed at her lack of accomplishments and although she has a very tight knit group of girlfriends, she tends to exaggerate her career journey. She doesn’t want to be labeled a failure but not being 100% honest and authentic with her friends is also taking a toll on her.
Desperate for work, Rosie leaves her home in New York and accepts a summer internship to lead a theatre group in Wisconsin. She’s excited and impressed when she sees the grounds where the theatre is located. Sunset Hills is gorgeous and comes with free room and board in the coziest little cottage. Then the reality hits her – this gorgeous campus is a RETIREMENT community! She’s surrounded by old people…old people who will be cast and starring in the play she’s to direct! NOT exactly the dream she thought she had signed up for.
Of course, these senior citizens are going to keep you highly entertained. Plus, there might just be a little love interest between Rosie and one of the other staff members who is more appropriately aged. Lol I loved that this story went deep. Lighthearted in some parts, but also very heartfelt regarding finding your true self, accepting what life offers and most importantly, being authentically YOU! A beautiful and inspiring story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
CLEAN RATING: 5/5
The plot was unique, the characters were AMAZING and overall, just an incredible balance of humor and heart. One of my favorite things is sassy elderly characters and this book had a handful!
Rosie Waterman wanted to be a star, but at this point in her life, the only thing she’s really nailed is the part of struggling actress. She’s embarrassed at her lack of accomplishments and although she has a very tight knit group of girlfriends, she tends to exaggerate her career journey. She doesn’t want to be labeled a failure but not being 100% honest and authentic with her friends is also taking a toll on her.
Desperate for work, Rosie leaves her home in New York and accepts a summer internship to lead a theatre group in Wisconsin. She’s excited and impressed when she sees the grounds where the theatre is located. Sunset Hills is gorgeous and comes with free room and board in the coziest little cottage. Then the reality hits her – this gorgeous campus is a RETIREMENT community! She’s surrounded by old people…old people who will be cast and starring in the play she’s to direct! NOT exactly the dream she thought she had signed up for.
Of course, these senior citizens are going to keep you highly entertained. Plus, there might just be a little love interest between Rosie and one of the other staff members who is more appropriately aged. Lol I loved that this story went deep. Lighthearted in some parts, but also very heartfelt regarding finding your true self, accepting what life offers and most importantly, being authentically YOU! A beautiful and inspiring story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*For more reviews and bookish content, be sure to follow me on Instagram @aliciasbooksanctuary
May 22, 2025
Rosie Waterman becomes jobless and homeless on the same day. While on a trip back home, all she sees are the successes her best friends are enjoying, but where is she? Not where she would like to be.
When she is offered a job as the director of a regional theatre, directing a production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance even though she doesn’t have much experience. But it’s in Wisconsin, not New York. When she gets there, she realizes that the regional theatre is in a retirement community and the actors are senior citizens with no prior acting experience.
Instead of giving up, Rosie learns what it means to lean into the challenge, to feel her feelings, and not run away from them. She meets unexpected challenges head-on and was able to experience the support of her new friends and her (old) true and trusted friends. Rosie discovers she can still dream and that it’s okay to follow through on it.
There were parts of this that made me laugh out loud, and that doesn’t happen very often. I liked all of the characters, and especially the growth and depth that Rosie showed.
I have a love-hate relationship with Rom-Coms, but it's all love when Courtney Walsh writes them! There isn’t one that she has written that I haven’t loved.
My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.
When she is offered a job as the director of a regional theatre, directing a production of Cinderella, she jumps at the chance even though she doesn’t have much experience. But it’s in Wisconsin, not New York. When she gets there, she realizes that the regional theatre is in a retirement community and the actors are senior citizens with no prior acting experience.
Instead of giving up, Rosie learns what it means to lean into the challenge, to feel her feelings, and not run away from them. She meets unexpected challenges head-on and was able to experience the support of her new friends and her (old) true and trusted friends. Rosie discovers she can still dream and that it’s okay to follow through on it.
There were parts of this that made me laugh out loud, and that doesn’t happen very often. I liked all of the characters, and especially the growth and depth that Rosie showed.
I have a love-hate relationship with Rom-Coms, but it's all love when Courtney Walsh writes them! There isn’t one that she has written that I haven’t loved.
My gratitude to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.
March 28, 2025
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!!!
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!!!
January 27, 2025
This was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the setting, the friend group, and the residents at the retirement community. There was humor, found family, and really good character growth. Definitely recommend for those looking for a heartwarming read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.
June 9, 2025
3.6 ⭐
This book felt cute, snuggly fun and relatable 🩷
It's more women's fiction then romance like I had thought... the romance is there and it's nice, but this is mostly about failure, dreams, companionships.
A wonderful audio accompaniment for my day!
It really makes you crave community and human relations 🥰
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
This seemed so cute and on brand for me, I had to request ✨
// Thank you to Netgalley, Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audio version of this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion //
This book felt cute, snuggly fun and relatable 🩷
It's more women's fiction then romance like I had thought... the romance is there and it's nice, but this is mostly about failure, dreams, companionships.
A wonderful audio accompaniment for my day!
It really makes you crave community and human relations 🥰
Ⓟⓡⓔ—Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ
This seemed so cute and on brand for me, I had to request ✨
// Thank you to Netgalley, Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audio version of this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion //
May 17, 2025
I had so much fun listening to this audiobook! The narrator was seriously great—super engaging and did an awesome job with all the different voices. It made the whole story even more fun to listen to.
The book itself was just a joy. If you’re looking for a light, funny romcom that will make you smile and laugh, definitely add this one to your list!
Rosie Waterman ends up in a really unexpected situation—directing a play with a bunch of elderly folks at a retirement community. She’s in this season of trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life, and along the way she makes some surprising friendships (mostly with older adults who are hilarious and wise in their own way). Oh—and yes, there’s a guy involved too!
I loved watching Rosie grow—she learns to be real with herself and honest with her friends, and realizes that life might not look the way you imagined, but it can still be really good. It’s just a fun, feel-good story. Nothing super heavy, just one of those books that’s easy to enjoy.
The only thing that threw me off a little was that it’s from a Christian publisher, and there were a few moments that felt a little out of place—some mentions of makeout sessions, the word sexy, and one scene where Rosie and her boyfriend fall asleep on a tarp and everyone assumes something happened (and she has to clarify that nothing did). It just surprised me a bit coming from a Christian publisher, but nothing was explicit.
Overall, I’m giving this one 5 stars. I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone looking for a clean, super fun romcom. The ending made me smile, and that’s what I love most in this kind of book!
The book itself was just a joy. If you’re looking for a light, funny romcom that will make you smile and laugh, definitely add this one to your list!
Rosie Waterman ends up in a really unexpected situation—directing a play with a bunch of elderly folks at a retirement community. She’s in this season of trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life, and along the way she makes some surprising friendships (mostly with older adults who are hilarious and wise in their own way). Oh—and yes, there’s a guy involved too!
I loved watching Rosie grow—she learns to be real with herself and honest with her friends, and realizes that life might not look the way you imagined, but it can still be really good. It’s just a fun, feel-good story. Nothing super heavy, just one of those books that’s easy to enjoy.
The only thing that threw me off a little was that it’s from a Christian publisher, and there were a few moments that felt a little out of place—some mentions of makeout sessions, the word sexy, and one scene where Rosie and her boyfriend fall asleep on a tarp and everyone assumes something happened (and she has to clarify that nothing did). It just surprised me a bit coming from a Christian publisher, but nothing was explicit.
Overall, I’m giving this one 5 stars. I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone looking for a clean, super fun romcom. The ending made me smile, and that’s what I love most in this kind of book!
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