Brighter Than Before

Charming + heartwarming, this was such a feel-good read. 

First off, I loved that this story centres around a middle-aged woman! Love and self-discovery do not end as perimenopause begins! Claire is in her 50's, divorced with an adult daughter and ready to make it on her own. She moves to Chicago to start a new life, creating a to-do list to ensure she reaches outside her comfort zone in love and life experiences. 

Enter Miles, her new neighbour who keeps his personal life to himself. He befriends Claire and makes it quite clear he's not searching for love, but he will help Claire meet her Mr. Right by aiding Claire's daughter, Minnie to vet Clarie's blind dates. Her dates are a mishmash of bad and sweet as Claire finds out the kind of man she wants to share the next chapter of her life with and who will support her and her exciting new endeavours.

The main and secondary characters were all amazing and I'm a total sucker for the found family trope! My only wee beef is the main conflict and the couple's refusal to communicate their issues went on a bit long, otherwise this was a delightfully predictable story that hit the spot.

Brighter Than Before is a charming, heartwarming read with bits of cute humour and wonderful messages about standing up for yourself, second chances, finding your people and following your dreams so you can live life to its fullest! 

If you're looking for a sweet read with closed door romance and characters you'll rally behind, you've found it. It hits stores on June 9, 2026!!

Other books I'd recommend by this author:

The Summer of Yes

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital advanced copy of this book which was gifted to me in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Courtney Walsh

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Light Read

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

First Published: June 9, 2026

Read: June 2-8, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: Life has a way of changing your path--and Claire Karadec certainly didn't plan on a fork in the road in her forties.

After a painfully public discovery shatters her marriage, along with her picture-perfect, country club life, Claire finds herself suddenly single and faced with a blank page for a future. On that page she writes a simple list that reads like equal parts dare and daydream--Move to a new city. Make a real friend. Get a job I love--and she vows to accomplish every single one.

Before she can talk herself out of it, she takes a step of faith, puts her old life in the rearview mirror, and leases an apartment in Chicago, the city that has always had her heart. This one step sends Claire on a journey of self-discovery, giving her the courage to conquer her fears, one checklist item at a time, and showing her that life can be a whole lot brighter than she imagined.

She rediscovers a love for baking, stumbles into new friendships, and even allows her daughter, Minnie, to create a dating profile and choose her dates for her. Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is Miles, the charming, off-limits neighbor whose kindness makes it hard to remember why he's off-limits at all.

Between late-night journaling, disastrous first dates, great big lessons and priceless small victories, Claire learns to quiet the voice telling her she wasn't enough and listens to the one that asks the harder question . . .

What do I really want?

As old expectations loosen their grip, Claire discovers that belonging isn't a place you're invited to--it's a life you build one brave choice at a time. And the sweetest things often show up when you finally get out of your own way.

From New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh comes a witty, warm, and uplifting novel about second chances, found family, and the courage it takes to become yourself--perfect for fans of Annabel Monaghan and Sarah Adams.