LAUREN WATKINS - "Better Love Next Time" - Big Loud Records

Some heartbreak songs are built around what was lost. Others focus on the moment when someone realizes that losing something might create room for something better. “Better Love Next Time” lives in that second space, transforming the uncertainty of a goodbye into a hopeful reminder that endings can sometimes point toward a brighter future.

That perspective has become one of Lauren Watkins’ greatest strengths as a songwriter. Rather than treating heartbreak as the final destination, Watkins uses it as a starting point for reflection, growth, and a little bit of optimism. Released via Big Loud Records/Songs & Daughters, “Better Love Next Time” showcases an artist who understands that moving forward can be just as powerful as looking back.

Serving as the third advance track from her upcoming third studio album ‘If I’m Being Honest’, the song represents a refreshing shift in the way Watkins approaches the familiar territory of lost love. Instead of leaning into resentment or replaying old wounds, she chooses acceptance, embracing the possibility that a relationship ending can eventually lead to something more meaningful.

The song’s message comes from a deeply personal place. Watkins has shared that she wrote “Better Love Next Time” because she needed a song with this exact kind of encouragement while navigating her own past breakups. At its core, the track is built around the belief that a goodbye does not always represent failure—it can also be the moment before a new chapter begins. Watkins acknowledges the pain of letting go while still holding onto the idea that something better may be waiting ahead.

Co-written by Watkins alongside Lauren Hungate and Mark Trussell, “Better Love Next Time” highlights her ability to turn everyday emotions into relatable country storytelling. Her songwriting has a conversational quality, making listeners feel as though they are hearing advice from a close friend rather than a perfectly packaged life lesson. The lyrics blend honesty with a playful sense of charm, using good-luck superstitions and hopeful imagery to bring personality to the process of moving on. References to crossing fingers, wishing stars, and holding onto a little bit of luck add warmth to a song about rebuilding confidence after heartbreak.

Produced by Will Bundy, the track pairs Watkins’ traditional country instincts with an upbeat, forward-moving arrangement. The production carries the feeling of someone finally stepping away from the past and looking toward what is ahead. Its bright energy allows the song to remain uplifting without ignoring the emotions underneath, creating a balance between reflection and renewal.

That balance is what makes “Better Love Next Time” such an effective addition to Watkins’ catalog. Her 2024 debut album ‘The Heartbroken Record’ introduced listeners to her sharp perspective and fearless approach to love, loss, and vulnerability, while her 2025 project ‘In A Perfect World’ continued expanding her emotional range. This latest release feels like another evolution—not because Watkins has left heartbreak behind, but because she has discovered another way to tell those stories.

The song also stands apart because it refuses to follow the expected breakup-song formula. There is no anger to hold onto, no need to assign blame, and no attempt to rewrite the past. Instead, Watkins finds freedom in accepting that some relationships simply run their course. Sometimes closure comes not from understanding every reason something ended, but from trusting what can come next.

As another preview of ‘If I’m Being Honest’, arriving September 25, 2026, “Better Love Next Time” continues building excitement for Watkins’ next chapter. Following recent releases including “Heartbreakaholic” and “Convenient,” the song reinforces her ability to combine thoughtful songwriting, emotional honesty, and a perspective that feels distinctly her own.

Ultimately, “Better Love Next Time” is not about replacing one love with another—it is about believing that the future still has something worth finding. Lauren Watkins takes a familiar country theme and gives it a fresh emotional perspective, reminding listeners that sometimes the end of one story is simply the space where a better one can begin.

(Review Written By: Chad Carlson)