Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney Walsh: Book Review

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is the latest release from Courtney Walsh. With an anticipated release date of June 10, 2025, it takes readers to a small community theater in Wisconsin. Rosie Waterman is a struggling actress, and she’s afraid to tell her friends and family. After her latest failure, she finds herself back home and applying for every job that deals with acting and theater. When she’s given a fantastic opportunity to work for a community theater for the summer, she jumps at the chance. Little does she realize that things are not what she thinks, and her life is sure to change.

I want to thank Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Everything’s Coming Up Rosie. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Rosie Waterman has one goal: to become a working actor. But lately, that hasn’t been working out. When she loses her apartment and 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 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?

My Opinions

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is labeled as a romance. In my opinion, that is the wrong way to classify this novel. While romance is included, it isn’t the story’s primary focus. So, how would I classify it? What’s wrong with calling it a contemporary? It’s a fun read that focuses on self-discovery and personal growth.

The cast of characters in Everything’s Coming Up Rosie is a group of people I would love to be surrounded by daily. Connie flits from one thing to another without sharing all the needed information. Arthur is such a curmudgeon, with a heart of gold underneath it all. Rosie’s childhood friend group is the kind of friends we all deserve to have.

One thing I wish had been discussed a bit more was Rosie’s reaction when she learned who the theater group members were. Was it just because it wasn’t what she expected? Or is there more to the story?

I wish we had gotten to know Rosie’s mom more so that we could better understand their relationship. While Rosie opens up about her feelings, I’m not 100% sure she gets her healing arc.

Who do I think would enjoy reading Everything’s Coming Up Rosie? Do you enjoy reading books full of quirky characters? What about ones where the main character is on a journey of self-discovery? Or a book that makes you smile, laugh, and maybe even reconsider your personal life journey? If you answered yes to any of these questions, walk to your preferred bookstore and get the book. If you answered yes to all of these questions, then run! I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.