Starting over is never easy. When Claire Karadec is suddenly single after a very public betrayal leads to her divorce, she decides to move across the country to live in Chicago, a place she’s always dreamed of living but never had the chance. In Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh, an inspiring and funny women’s fiction novel with some sweet and clean romcom elements, readers will fall in love with Claire, her college-aged daughter Minnie, and her friendly neighbor Miles.
Inspired to create a list of new things to try, Claire explores her new city (and its variety of cuisine) with Miles. She takes a chance at finding a new friend in a food court during a humorous lunch break. At the urging of her daughter, and with Miles’ assistance, she tries out online dating as a 40-something for the first time since her college years. Much more than a typical romance, this story shows Claire’s growth as she takes all sorts of chances and learns just how brave she can be.
With witty banter, realistic but entertaining supporting characters, and an overall delightful story, I highly recommend Brighter than Before. I was so happy to listen to the audiobook narrated by Patti Murin, a newer favorite of mine who has performed many rom coms that I’ve enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley, as well as Thomas Nelson for the ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.
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