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Brighter than Before
Courtney Walsh
Publication Date: June 9th, 2026
Thomas Nelson Fiction
352 Pages
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Genre: General Fiction | Romance | Women’s Fiction
I like Walsh’s romance books because they’re uplifting and the women are always discovering something about themselves. The main character is in her 40s in this one, and even she has something to learn. Claire’s husband was cheating on her, and it became very public. After her divorce and hitting the lowest of lows, Claire has decided she is done with her past and writes herself a little list: move to a new city, make a good friend, and get a job she loves. None of these things are easy, but they’re even more difficult when you’re about to hit middle age. Imagine being in your forties and putting your whole life in the rearview mirror! Claire leaves Denver for Chicago because she has always loved it there.
My favourite part of Claire’s new life was her rediscovering her love for baking and wanting to eventually open her own shop. I also loved how much her daughter, Minnie, wanted her mother’s happiness. So much so, she sets up an online dating profile for her mom and takes over filtering out the options. Of course, this led to hilarious first dates. Also, Claire meets Miles, the next-door neighbour and they become friends and she shares these terrible dates with him, which of course are more enjoyable than the dates themselves. Filtering out the options. Of course, this led to hilarious first dates. BUT during these terrible dates, Claire meets Miles, the next-door neighbour.
Walsh writes books that feel authentic. Claire’s experience after her divorce isn’t just glossed over; her fear and vulnerability come through, and they felt very real. Watching her grow, step out of her comfort zone in Chicago, and take on her challenges was very satisfying. It reminded me that when you hit rock bottom, there is only one way to go but up. Claire used it as a push to start a life that was her own, and I felt weirdly proud of her. Maybe because I had to do the same thing as she did.
The side characters brought so much heart and humour to the story. Claire’s daughter and her quirky neighbours were a nice touch, and her disastrous dates brought the fun, so the heavier themes were balanced out well. I appreciated how her new relationship was built on friendship first, even if it was a bit predictable, but no dramarama!
If you enjoy funny romances that are clean and uplifting, this is the book for you. It’s sweet and heartwarming, and I enjoyed watching Claire finally get what she wants out of life. There’s lots of emotional depth and a focus on found family. This isn’t fluff because it really is a character-driven story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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