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Brighter than Before
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Expected 9 Jun 26In her forties, newly single in the Windy City, and reeling from a major life shake-up, Claire Karadec finds a reset in the most unlikely of places--a dating profile set up by her adult daughter. From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh comes a refreshing, lighthearted, sweet novel, perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan and Sarah Adams.
Claire did not plan to end up mid-forties with a daughter studying in London and the unfortunate discovery that her husband is not the man she thought he was. In fact, he's the exact opposite of a faithful, loyal, kind, and good-hearted spouse. And the discovery of his real nature and lack of remorse leads her to do what she never thought she would--divorce him.
After a year of wallowing before hitting rock bottom . . . in public, unfortunately, Claire realizes she needs to finally answer the question her therapist asked her all those months "What do you really want?" It was a question she couldn't answer then, but now she knows it's time to figure it out.
It's the turning point that leads Claire to change her life. And not just a little--a lot. She sells her house in Denver and moves to the city that's always had her heart--Chicago.
With the help of nosy neighbors, new friends, and a daughter who sets her up on a dating site from across the ocean, Claire begins to answer that big, important question by figuring out what she wants and how to live life on her own terms.
Claire did not plan to end up mid-forties with a daughter studying in London and the unfortunate discovery that her husband is not the man she thought he was. In fact, he's the exact opposite of a faithful, loyal, kind, and good-hearted spouse. And the discovery of his real nature and lack of remorse leads her to do what she never thought she would--divorce him.
After a year of wallowing before hitting rock bottom . . . in public, unfortunately, Claire realizes she needs to finally answer the question her therapist asked her all those months "What do you really want?" It was a question she couldn't answer then, but now she knows it's time to figure it out.
It's the turning point that leads Claire to change her life. And not just a little--a lot. She sells her house in Denver and moves to the city that's always had her heart--Chicago.
With the help of nosy neighbors, new friends, and a daughter who sets her up on a dating site from across the ocean, Claire begins to answer that big, important question by figuring out what she wants and how to live life on her own terms.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 1, 2026
15 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Walsh
37 books5,572 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 10, 2026
Courtney Walsh can always be defended upon to provide an uplifting, heartfelt, comedic story while keeping all her content clean! The cover design on this one was SO CUTE!
I loved Walsh’s last novel, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie and was looking forward to diving into this one. Though there were parts of the novel that didn’t hold my attention as much as I would’ve liked and some pretty boring / predictable spots, overall I enjoyed the story! Lennon was my favorite character and I liked the community-oriented apartment complex. I loved the growth and resilience Claire displayed and really liked the whole supporting casts—her friends!
After a relational crisis in her 40s, Claire sets off on a new adventure to declare change in her own life by taking action to discover what truly makes her happy. She makes a list of goals comprised to find out who she is apart from being a
wife / mom and starts a new life for herself. And what she discovers along the way teaches her life can be a whole lot brighter than before. A story of friendship and rediscovery set against the backdrop of Chicago and a friendly,
community-oriented apartment complex.
read if you like adventure, boy-next-door trope, baking, Chicago & pickleball!
fave quotes:
“bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s doing the thing anyway despite the feeling or fear.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved Walsh’s last novel, Everything’s Coming Up Rosie and was looking forward to diving into this one. Though there were parts of the novel that didn’t hold my attention as much as I would’ve liked and some pretty boring / predictable spots, overall I enjoyed the story! Lennon was my favorite character and I liked the community-oriented apartment complex. I loved the growth and resilience Claire displayed and really liked the whole supporting casts—her friends!
After a relational crisis in her 40s, Claire sets off on a new adventure to declare change in her own life by taking action to discover what truly makes her happy. She makes a list of goals comprised to find out who she is apart from being a
wife / mom and starts a new life for herself. And what she discovers along the way teaches her life can be a whole lot brighter than before. A story of friendship and rediscovery set against the backdrop of Chicago and a friendly,
community-oriented apartment complex.
read if you like adventure, boy-next-door trope, baking, Chicago & pickleball!
fave quotes:
“bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s doing the thing anyway despite the feeling or fear.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was the perfect combination of romance and women's fiction. I love Miles (who, for whatever reason, has a Scottish accent in my head) and Claire. I admire Claire's determination to change her life and finally change her life and make it what she wants it to be. this story is absolutely filled with character growth, embracing your dreams, and learning that it's never too late to start over.
thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my complimentary advanced ebook copy. all opinions here are completely my own.
thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for my complimentary advanced ebook copy. all opinions here are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book is about a woman who is finding herself again after being tied to a man who held her back and suppressed her opinions and dreams. She decides to start over, moves to a new city, makes new friends, and finally begins to go after the life she actually wants. I really enjoyed reading about this journey.
One of my favourite parts was how she built friendships in her new city. The friend group and their dynamics were fun, warm, and added so much to the story. I also really liked the family aspects that were woven throughout the book. Everything felt supportive and comforting.
The romance was another highlight for me. I really liked the male love interest, especially how their dynamic started out. I loved watching their relationship grow naturally from friendship into something more. The way that transition was handled felt very thoughtful and well done, and I genuinely enjoyed them as a couple.
I also found her journey of pursuing her dreams very inspiring and hopeful. It made the story feel uplifting and motivating without being unrealistic.
There was one small thing about the ending that I didn’t completely love, but I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers. It wasn’t a major issue and didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it. I don’t think this book is necessarily aimed at younger readers, but I can easily see it appealing to people in their mid-twenties as well as readers in their forties.
This book is about a woman who is finding herself again after being tied to a man who held her back and suppressed her opinions and dreams. She decides to start over, moves to a new city, makes new friends, and finally begins to go after the life she actually wants. I really enjoyed reading about this journey.
One of my favourite parts was how she built friendships in her new city. The friend group and their dynamics were fun, warm, and added so much to the story. I also really liked the family aspects that were woven throughout the book. Everything felt supportive and comforting.
The romance was another highlight for me. I really liked the male love interest, especially how their dynamic started out. I loved watching their relationship grow naturally from friendship into something more. The way that transition was handled felt very thoughtful and well done, and I genuinely enjoyed them as a couple.
I also found her journey of pursuing her dreams very inspiring and hopeful. It made the story feel uplifting and motivating without being unrealistic.
There was one small thing about the ending that I didn’t completely love, but I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers. It wasn’t a major issue and didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it. I don’t think this book is necessarily aimed at younger readers, but I can easily see it appealing to people in their mid-twenties as well as readers in their forties.
January 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! Really cute! She writes really cute and funny romance stories. I enjoyed Claire’s character development and how solid Miles was throughout her journey. The book was a bit long for what it was as it was pretty predictable from the beginning but I still loved it.
Claire’s relationship with her daughter was one of my favorites and I loved how close they were even though they lived countries away from each other. John was a jerk and I was glad she found a beautiful life without him. A wonderful clean rom-com!
"You walk up to a table with an empty seat and ask whoever's sitting there if you can join them. Maybe ask if they want to be friends. Ask what they like. It's all about listening to other people. People like to talk about themselves. The only way to have a friend is to be a friend, sweetheart. Remember that."
“Sometimes I think if we chose to focus on the things that made us similar more than the things that make us different, the world would be a much kinder place.”
"If you rush, Claire, you defeat the purpose of baking. If you go slow, it'll calm you down. And all the noise of the world will just... fall away."
“Just because I wouldn't have chosen this outcome for my life doesn't mean my life can't become something beautiful.”
Claire’s relationship with her daughter was one of my favorites and I loved how close they were even though they lived countries away from each other. John was a jerk and I was glad she found a beautiful life without him. A wonderful clean rom-com!
"You walk up to a table with an empty seat and ask whoever's sitting there if you can join them. Maybe ask if they want to be friends. Ask what they like. It's all about listening to other people. People like to talk about themselves. The only way to have a friend is to be a friend, sweetheart. Remember that."
“Sometimes I think if we chose to focus on the things that made us similar more than the things that make us different, the world would be a much kinder place.”
"If you rush, Claire, you defeat the purpose of baking. If you go slow, it'll calm you down. And all the noise of the world will just... fall away."
“Just because I wouldn't have chosen this outcome for my life doesn't mean my life can't become something beautiful.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5! Cute! This is a romance novel but honestly I think just calling it a "feel good" read is probably more appropriate.
Claire finds herself divorced at 46 after her marriage of 23 years implodes. She is trying to put her life back together and starts over in Chicago, somewhere she always wanted to move but her ex-husband never agreed. Claire isn't quite sure who she wants to be or what she wants so she sets out on a mission to figure that out in the most type A way possible, a list. This was cute. I read it in one day. There is a ragtag group pf characters and while it is a romance there is negative spice. I did feel that the ending should have been wrapped up a little sooner, but other than that I found it enjoyable!
If you are looking for a quick, sweet, easy read or a book to get you out of a slump then this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Claire finds herself divorced at 46 after her marriage of 23 years implodes. She is trying to put her life back together and starts over in Chicago, somewhere she always wanted to move but her ex-husband never agreed. Claire isn't quite sure who she wants to be or what she wants so she sets out on a mission to figure that out in the most type A way possible, a list. This was cute. I read it in one day. There is a ragtag group pf characters and while it is a romance there is negative spice. I did feel that the ending should have been wrapped up a little sooner, but other than that I found it enjoyable!
If you are looking for a quick, sweet, easy read or a book to get you out of a slump then this is it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Brighter Than Before is pure comfort in book form. It’s heartfelt, hopeful, and had me smiling and giggling more times than I can count. Claire is so real that even if you haven't gone through exactly what she has you can still easily find a way to relate to her. Miles.... whew... what a man! He was pushy without being annoying and too pushy. He was exactly what Claire needed. Lennon is the best friend we all need! I loved all of the characters I was supposed to and disliked all of the others haha. Courtney Walsh just gets how to write characters that feel real and stories that hug you right when you need it. Sweet, emotional, and impossible not to love. The life lessons in this book, I believe, are some that we all need at some point in our lives. This is a warm, comforting read that reminds you that even after hard times, brighter days really can come. Total five star read for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
Después de un divorcio que la dejó expuesta y sin rumbo, Claire decide que seguir sobreviviendo no es suficiente. Con su hija ya lejos y una vida que dejó de sentirse propia, toma una decisión impulsiva que lo cambia todo: mudarse sola a Chicago y empezar de nuevo desde cero. En una ciudad que siempre soñó pero nunca habitó, Claire se enfrenta al silencio, a la soledad y a la incómoda pregunta de quién es cuando ya no cumple los roles que la definieron por años. Poco a poco, nuevos espacios, pequeñas rutinas y personas inesperadas comienzan a recordarle que reinventarse no significa borrar el pasado, sino aprender a mirarlo con otros ojos y atreverse a desear algo más.
__
El único pero que le pongo es como nunca le planto cara al ex, incluso al final se ponen a platicar y le dice que algún día lo perdonara.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Después de un divorcio que la dejó expuesta y sin rumbo, Claire decide que seguir sobreviviendo no es suficiente. Con su hija ya lejos y una vida que dejó de sentirse propia, toma una decisión impulsiva que lo cambia todo: mudarse sola a Chicago y empezar de nuevo desde cero. En una ciudad que siempre soñó pero nunca habitó, Claire se enfrenta al silencio, a la soledad y a la incómoda pregunta de quién es cuando ya no cumple los roles que la definieron por años. Poco a poco, nuevos espacios, pequeñas rutinas y personas inesperadas comienzan a recordarle que reinventarse no significa borrar el pasado, sino aprender a mirarlo con otros ojos y atreverse a desear algo más.
__
El único pero que le pongo es como nunca le planto cara al ex, incluso al final se ponen a platicar y le dice que algún día lo perdonara.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 10, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book so much. Courtney Walsh has a gift for creating characters you can’t help but adore, and Claire and Miles were no exception. Claire’s growth after her ugly divorce was one of my favorite comeback stories—flawed, honest, and deeply relatable. She’s such a beautiful example of what it looks like to pick yourself up again, one day at a time.
Walsh is also an expert at writing older characters, and this book proves it once again. There’s an elderly neighbor who absolutely stole my heart and will quickly become a favorite for readers.
This story left me misty-eyed by the end, cheering for Claire the whole way through. A truly feel-good read that lingers with you long after you turn the last page.
I enjoyed this book so much. Courtney Walsh has a gift for creating characters you can’t help but adore, and Claire and Miles were no exception. Claire’s growth after her ugly divorce was one of my favorite comeback stories—flawed, honest, and deeply relatable. She’s such a beautiful example of what it looks like to pick yourself up again, one day at a time.
Walsh is also an expert at writing older characters, and this book proves it once again. There’s an elderly neighbor who absolutely stole my heart and will quickly become a favorite for readers.
This story left me misty-eyed by the end, cheering for Claire the whole way through. A truly feel-good read that lingers with you long after you turn the last page.
January 11, 2026
This book has been such a breath of fresh air in so many way. So many women go through Claire’s experience in their 40’s, and it’s a beautiful story from beginning to end. It brings humor to the chaos of life and joy to those moments we find happiness after pain. I adored Miles from the beginning to end— and I love how Claire fights his kindness with her own assumptions. The Chicago setting, foil daughters, and even how to make friends in your 40’s shows that we can all shine through 2nd chances, taking a chance on our dreams, and our redemptive stories. And the inclusion of her journaling made it so intimate to see what we dream as we are honest with ourselves, and not knowing between the pages of life— it’s ok to not have the answers, no matter our age.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely loved this book!! The story follows Claire, a middle-aged divorcee who is starting over in Chicago, as she navigates the journey of rediscovering herself. I found myself chuckling throughout - the author, Courtney Walsh, writes with a warm, lighthearted style that makes the characters feel real and relatable. It's a beautiful story about second chances, reminding us that it's never too late to figure out who you are and embrace the power of connection. I can't wait to read more from Courtney Walsh!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 8, 2026
I don’t know how Courtney Walsh does it or what kind of magic she uses when she writes, but Brighter Than Before was amazing and beautiful and moving. I loved Claire’s journey. It was full of growth and hope and change while also being hilarious (& cringy 🫣) at the same time. There was everything I’ve come to love and expect from her novels and it’s easily why she is one of my favorite authors. Every time I read one of her books I’m touched and challenged in the best kind of way. I couldn’t put it down and I highly recommend reading it!!
I was given an advanced copy of Brighter Than Before. All opinions expressed above are my own.
I was given an advanced copy of Brighter Than Before. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Arc reader here!!
This actually was good!
Never read a "older" woman story, and although at first I thought of dropping it, I decided to give it a shot. Good choice me!!
Great writing, great characters, a lovable journey, her relationship with her daughter is cute, a really good male love interest. Overall a good book
As an early twenties reader, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone in my same age group. But I would recommend it to maybe more adults or readers who want to read a light no spice rom-com.
PS. Thanks to Courtney Walsh and NetGalley for giving me an arc copy of this book and giving me a chance to read this lovable journey!💕
This actually was good!
Never read a "older" woman story, and although at first I thought of dropping it, I decided to give it a shot. Good choice me!!
Great writing, great characters, a lovable journey, her relationship with her daughter is cute, a really good male love interest. Overall a good book
As an early twenties reader, I wouldn't recommend it to everyone in my same age group. But I would recommend it to maybe more adults or readers who want to read a light no spice rom-com.
PS. Thanks to Courtney Walsh and NetGalley for giving me an arc copy of this book and giving me a chance to read this lovable journey!💕
January 11, 2026
Let me first start off by saying I absolutely love anything Courtney Walsh writes so it's no surprise I would love this one too. But this one gets me in the feels as a 40 something leaning into the stage of who am I outside of a wife and mother? How can I be brave in a new city? While my experiences are not the same as Claire I can relate on so many levels which probably made me love this book all the more. I laughed as Claire embarrassed herself yet again. I cried as she recognized the love her friends had for her. I rooted for her in every aspect of her life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh was such a great book! I enjoyed this heartwarming story that presented character development, friendships and relationships among the characters and just the realistic issues faced that I could relate to. I highly recommend this book to fans of Abby Jimenez, Mary Kay Andrews and Taylor Jenkins Reid. It was lighthearted without spice. It's a must read this year. I'm looking forward to reading many more of Courtney Walsh's works in the near future! She has gift! I am left with a full heart having read this book of good feels! Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me this title. My review is based on my true opinions and is my own words
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Claire spends a year of her life depressed and unable to move on after a painful divorce. She has spent nearly three decades pretending to be the person everyone wanted. It’s time for her to finally find out who she really is. She makes a list of what she really wants for her life and starts down a path of self discovery.
This is a beautiful, second chance at life story.
The main character is so relatable and lovable. You will absolutely fall in love with her journey and maybe be inspired to go on one of your own!
Another beautiful story from Courtney Walsh.
This is a beautiful, second chance at life story.
The main character is so relatable and lovable. You will absolutely fall in love with her journey and maybe be inspired to go on one of your own!
Another beautiful story from Courtney Walsh.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Courtney Walsh and Better Than Before was such a cozy and uplifting read! Claire’s move to Chicago after her marriage implodes felt both scary and exciting, and I loved watching her slowly rebuild her life one brave checklist item at a time. I loved that the baking, the journaling, the awkward first dates all felt so real. This book was easy to sink into and emotionally warm without being cheesy. If you love stories about second chances, found family, and figuring yourself out in midlife, add this to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the arc
This is exactly what you would want and expect from it, a cozy summary romance. My only issue with it was the initial pick up; however, after a bit, the book really transforms into a cute, relaxing read. If you love a cute read that you can cuddle up in bed with or read in your garden with alongside an iced coffee, I'd highly recommend this <3
This is exactly what you would want and expect from it, a cozy summary romance. My only issue with it was the initial pick up; however, after a bit, the book really transforms into a cute, relaxing read. If you love a cute read that you can cuddle up in bed with or read in your garden with alongside an iced coffee, I'd highly recommend this <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was SO good! I loved it! Right up there with "Everything's Coming Up Rosie" and "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley". Great characters, great plot lines, lots of witty dialogue, and a very satisfying ending.
No profanity and some PG kissing. Yay!
I recommend reading this book and loved it so much that I've added to my "To Be Purchased" list for the ebook and the audiobook.
No profanity and some PG kissing. Yay!
I recommend reading this book and loved it so much that I've added to my "To Be Purchased" list for the ebook and the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️NO NOTES!!!! Courtney Walsh completely encapsulates the kind of rom coms from the early 2000s that we want to see in the movies today! Heartfelt, fun, romantic - had me reaching for my book all day!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 11, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel! Courtney Walsh is easily becoming one of my top "feel good" authors. This novel was so light and easy to read. I enjoyed the banter between characters and the storyline of a middle aged divorcée finding herself and putting herself back into the world. Loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Courtney Walsh books are always an absolute-read for me, and this one was so, so good. The characters were wonderful and the story is sweet and uplifting and funny.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews