Recently, I was searching for a book that would be lighthearted and feel like it was full of possibilities. I picked Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh from the new book selection listed on the CPPL catalog website. I was pleasantly surprised that this book not only gave me the type of story that I was looking for, but that it also inspired me to try new things.
The book begins with Claire, who is about to have a terrible day. She is newly divorced and has been replaced by a “younger model” not only in her family, but in her friend group as well. Claire feels so desperate for validation that she accidentally makes a spectacle of herself at the local country club. This thankfully gives her the push she needs to change her life.
Without a fully realized plan in place, Claire moves to Chicago to start over. She leases an apartment after only looking at pictures online and meets some interesting characters on her first day in her new home: Lorraine, who is a 60-year-old YouTuber, and Miles, a handsome but off-limits single man who is a landscape architect.
Claire writes a list of all the things she hopes to do in this new phase of her life. She wants to make real friends, find a place where she belongs, and do the things that scare her. She doesn’t plan on trying skydiving, but maybe she could try new foods, or strike up a conversation with a stranger. Unknown to Claire, her adult daughter Minnie has taken it upon herself to create an online dating profile for her mom. Soon after Claire moves to Chicago, Minnie and Claire’s neighbor Miles, start planning blind dates with the men who have liked Claire’s profile.
This story is full of humor and slightly cringy first dates. I enjoyed Claire’s journey as she learned who she wanted to be and how to make that dream a reality. I cheered her on as she grew through her pain and wanted to cover my eyes when she made decisions that couldn’t possibly end well.
