What do you think?
Rate this book
The Next Big Thing: The Sunrise Beach Series Book One
Not yet published
Expected 21 Apr 26From USA Today bestselling author Erin Scoggins comes a witty, heartfelt romcom about a big-city food forecaster, a brooding chef, and the thirty days that might change everything.
She can’t cook. He won’t leave. And the hottest thing coming out of the kitchen might just be their chemistry.
When Cora Lockwood’s boyfriend betrays her by stealing her idea and tanking her career, her perfect life collapses, leaving her with a battered reputation and a one-way ticket home.
Returning to Sunrise, North Carolina, Cora plans to sell her grandmother’s café and move on. But The Salty Spoon isn’t empty—it has been taken over by Jack Harlow, the stubborn chef who’s staked his future on bringing her family’s recipes back to life. With a developer circling and long-hidden secrets bubbling up, they’ve got thirty days to fight over the café’s sell it or save it. And neither plans to back down.
With the clock ticking, Cora and Jack become unlikely partners in chaos, tangled in late-night cooking lessons, small-town meddling, and one inconvenient attraction that has sparks flying both in and out of the kitchen.
Brimming with Southern sass, laugh-out-loud banter, and a swoony slow-burn romance, The Next Big Thing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, and Sarah Adams.
She can’t cook. He won’t leave. And the hottest thing coming out of the kitchen might just be their chemistry.
When Cora Lockwood’s boyfriend betrays her by stealing her idea and tanking her career, her perfect life collapses, leaving her with a battered reputation and a one-way ticket home.
Returning to Sunrise, North Carolina, Cora plans to sell her grandmother’s café and move on. But The Salty Spoon isn’t empty—it has been taken over by Jack Harlow, the stubborn chef who’s staked his future on bringing her family’s recipes back to life. With a developer circling and long-hidden secrets bubbling up, they’ve got thirty days to fight over the café’s sell it or save it. And neither plans to back down.
With the clock ticking, Cora and Jack become unlikely partners in chaos, tangled in late-night cooking lessons, small-town meddling, and one inconvenient attraction that has sparks flying both in and out of the kitchen.
Brimming with Southern sass, laugh-out-loud banter, and a swoony slow-burn romance, The Next Big Thing is perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, and Sarah Adams.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 21, 2026
7 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Erin Scoggins
10 books88 followersErin is a long-time Southerner with a fondness for offbeat humor and fresh fried chicken. After fifteen years in marketing with a Fortune 500 company, she traded her MBA for fictional crime scenes and feisty small-town families. She writes fun, flirty mysteries that are celebrations of food, family, and the killer South.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cora Lockwood really said, “I will simply return home for five minutes, sell this café, and emotionally detach,” and the universe responded with, “Cute. Anyway, here’s a grumpy chef, unresolved grief, and a full-blown identity crisis.” And honestly, I respect that level of narrative sabotage.
The Next Big Thing is serving full Hallmark-core energy, but with just enough emotional spice and chaotic banter to keep it from feeling like it was ghostwritten by a scented candle. We’ve got Cora, who cannot cook to save her life, which is extra humiliating because her entire personality used to be predicting food trends. That’s like being a meteorologist who can’t recognize rain. After getting professionally and romantically wrecked by her garbage ex, she slinks back to Sunrise, North Carolina, ready to offload her grandmother’s café and her feelings in one efficient transaction.
Except… enter Jack Harlow. And no, not that one, but spiritually, yes. Broody, stubborn chef with a tragic backstory and a moral compass that is aggressively pointed at “save the café at all costs.” He has basically squatted in her grandmother’s restaurant with good intentions and emotional damage, and now these two have thirty days to either sell the place or accidentally fall in love while arguing over flour.
And oh, they argue. The banter is doing cardio in this book. It starts off a little try-hard, like everyone is auditioning for a quirky indie romcom, but then it settles into something genuinely fun. Their dynamic shifts from “I would like to strangle you with a dish towel” to “I would like to kiss you but I will instead make passive aggressive comments about your life choices,” which is my favorite flavor of slow burn.
The small-town energy is aggressively present. You cannot breathe without someone’s grandma’s best friend popping up with unsolicited advice and a casserole. And weirdly… it works? The community feels warm and nosy in that “they will absolutely ruin your life but also show up when it matters” kind of way. There’s also this underlying mystery about Cora’s grandmother and the café that adds just enough intrigue to keep things from becoming pure sugar fluff.
But here’s where I, lovingly, start side-eyeing. The story leans hard into tropes. Like, if tropes were a buffet, this book made a full plate and went back for seconds. Small-town return, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, evil developer circling like a cartoon vulture… it’s all here. And sometimes that works beautifully, but other times it makes the plot feel a little too predictable, like I could see every emotional beat coming from three chapters away with a flashlight and a map.
Also, the character depth? It’s… uneven. Cora’s grief and regrets about her grandmother actually hit. There are moments where you can feel that ache of “I should have asked more questions, I should have stayed longer,” and it sneaks up on you in a way that feels very real. But then other parts, especially some of the side conflicts and the villain situation, go full soap opera logic. There’s a subplot involving attempted assault that feels like it deserved way more care and resolution than it got, and instead it kind of just… lingers awkwardly like a guest who missed the cue to leave.
Jack, though. Listen. He is doing his job. He is broody, he is competent, he cooks, he has emotional walls you just know are going to crumble at the exact right moment. Is he a little archetypal? Yes. Did I still eat it up like a croissant? Also yes.
And the romance itself is very much slow burn, emphasis on slow. We are talking longing looks, tension, almost moments, and like… two kisses total. This is a “yearning is the main course” situation. If you’re here for spice, you will be politely escorted out. If you’re here for emotional build and soft payoff, welcome, grab a seat.
By the time everything wraps up, it does that thing where every loose end gets tied in a neat little bow, which is satisfying but also slightly too tidy. It’s giving “third act resolution montage” where everyone smiles and the café is saved and capitalism is defeated by vibes.
Did I have a good time? Yes. Did I occasionally want to shake the book and yell “give me a little more depth and a little less trope stacking”? Also yes. So we’re landing at a very solid 3.5 stars. Charming, funny, heartfelt, a little predictable, occasionally messy in ways that don’t fully pay off, but still the kind of book you breeze through in one sitting while craving pie and reconsidering your life choices.
Huge thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC, truly out here enabling my emotional attachment to fictional chefs and my ongoing delusion that I, too, could fix my life with a small-town café and poor decision-making.
The Next Big Thing is serving full Hallmark-core energy, but with just enough emotional spice and chaotic banter to keep it from feeling like it was ghostwritten by a scented candle. We’ve got Cora, who cannot cook to save her life, which is extra humiliating because her entire personality used to be predicting food trends. That’s like being a meteorologist who can’t recognize rain. After getting professionally and romantically wrecked by her garbage ex, she slinks back to Sunrise, North Carolina, ready to offload her grandmother’s café and her feelings in one efficient transaction.
Except… enter Jack Harlow. And no, not that one, but spiritually, yes. Broody, stubborn chef with a tragic backstory and a moral compass that is aggressively pointed at “save the café at all costs.” He has basically squatted in her grandmother’s restaurant with good intentions and emotional damage, and now these two have thirty days to either sell the place or accidentally fall in love while arguing over flour.
And oh, they argue. The banter is doing cardio in this book. It starts off a little try-hard, like everyone is auditioning for a quirky indie romcom, but then it settles into something genuinely fun. Their dynamic shifts from “I would like to strangle you with a dish towel” to “I would like to kiss you but I will instead make passive aggressive comments about your life choices,” which is my favorite flavor of slow burn.
The small-town energy is aggressively present. You cannot breathe without someone’s grandma’s best friend popping up with unsolicited advice and a casserole. And weirdly… it works? The community feels warm and nosy in that “they will absolutely ruin your life but also show up when it matters” kind of way. There’s also this underlying mystery about Cora’s grandmother and the café that adds just enough intrigue to keep things from becoming pure sugar fluff.
But here’s where I, lovingly, start side-eyeing. The story leans hard into tropes. Like, if tropes were a buffet, this book made a full plate and went back for seconds. Small-town return, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, evil developer circling like a cartoon vulture… it’s all here. And sometimes that works beautifully, but other times it makes the plot feel a little too predictable, like I could see every emotional beat coming from three chapters away with a flashlight and a map.
Also, the character depth? It’s… uneven. Cora’s grief and regrets about her grandmother actually hit. There are moments where you can feel that ache of “I should have asked more questions, I should have stayed longer,” and it sneaks up on you in a way that feels very real. But then other parts, especially some of the side conflicts and the villain situation, go full soap opera logic. There’s a subplot involving attempted assault that feels like it deserved way more care and resolution than it got, and instead it kind of just… lingers awkwardly like a guest who missed the cue to leave.
Jack, though. Listen. He is doing his job. He is broody, he is competent, he cooks, he has emotional walls you just know are going to crumble at the exact right moment. Is he a little archetypal? Yes. Did I still eat it up like a croissant? Also yes.
And the romance itself is very much slow burn, emphasis on slow. We are talking longing looks, tension, almost moments, and like… two kisses total. This is a “yearning is the main course” situation. If you’re here for spice, you will be politely escorted out. If you’re here for emotional build and soft payoff, welcome, grab a seat.
By the time everything wraps up, it does that thing where every loose end gets tied in a neat little bow, which is satisfying but also slightly too tidy. It’s giving “third act resolution montage” where everyone smiles and the café is saved and capitalism is defeated by vibes.
Did I have a good time? Yes. Did I occasionally want to shake the book and yell “give me a little more depth and a little less trope stacking”? Also yes. So we’re landing at a very solid 3.5 stars. Charming, funny, heartfelt, a little predictable, occasionally messy in ways that don’t fully pay off, but still the kind of book you breeze through in one sitting while craving pie and reconsidering your life choices.
Huge thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC, truly out here enabling my emotional attachment to fictional chefs and my ongoing delusion that I, too, could fix my life with a small-town café and poor decision-making.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for granting me access to an e-ARC of “The Next Big Thing” by Erin Scoggins in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a Hallmark-like romance book filled to the brim with fluff and silliness, this book is for you! It was fast paced with no lulls, each page was packed with movement, and the occasional alternation of POV between the FMC and MMC kept things interesting. It was trope-heavy, with some of my highlights including slow burn, forced proximity/enclosed spaces, protective love interest. The fluff was tooth achingly sweet, the mystery was surprisingly a star of the show, and all conflict and loose ends were wrapped up in a pretty bow by the end.
I was pleasantly surprised with the heart of this book. I picked it up for a fun time, but there were touches on some heavy topics without it getting overconsuming. The most notable of this was how Scoggins addressed grief. It was an underlying pulse through cover to cover, driving the story forward and explaining much of the character's choices. There were some lines that hit me so hard that I had to read them a few times over before moving forward. Cora’s regrets and grief seemed to bullseye my own. Seeing the regret of not spending time with my own grandmother, the regret of not spending more time with her in the kitchen learning to cook and learning her recipes, wishing I knew more about her life, wishing I could just talk to her and get answers to my burning questions made this book and Cora’s story all the more real.
Another pleasant surprise of this book was just how earnest, honest, and open each character was. They said what they meant, they meant what they said, they stood by their people. This book is a champion of community, supporting your neighbours, and being there for people in their times of need.
That being said, there were some pieces that I struggled to enjoy, which brought the overall rating down.
My biggest piece of feedback is that this book should come with a warning about attempted sexual assault. There are a few scenes in this book where it is either discussed or attempted, with no real strong closure. I do wish there was an extra conversation or two added to close these plot points off.
Additionally, the characters leaned heavy into the caricatures territory, with there being more following of tropes than meaningful character development. The humor and banter in the book veered too much on the silly side of things for my own personal taste - although, I will say the banter between Cora and Jack did get better as the book went on. There was a heavy reliance on tropes and cliches to propel the plot and characters forward - which isn’t a horrible thing (if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!) but it did make the story a little too easy to predict for what I personally enjoy. All of this being said, these are just my own personal preferences… If you go into this book looking for a trope-heavy, silly, Hallmark-like fun time, you are going to be getting exactly that!
Overall, this was a fun read! I would recommend it to anyone looking to sit down and consume a whole book in one sitting (like I did!!), or anyone looking to get their fill of a fluffy, silly, romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for granting me access to an e-ARC of “The Next Big Thing” by Erin Scoggins in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a Hallmark-like romance book filled to the brim with fluff and silliness, this book is for you! It was fast paced with no lulls, each page was packed with movement, and the occasional alternation of POV between the FMC and MMC kept things interesting. It was trope-heavy, with some of my highlights including slow burn, forced proximity/enclosed spaces, protective love interest. The fluff was tooth achingly sweet, the mystery was surprisingly a star of the show, and all conflict and loose ends were wrapped up in a pretty bow by the end.
I was pleasantly surprised with the heart of this book. I picked it up for a fun time, but there were touches on some heavy topics without it getting overconsuming. The most notable of this was how Scoggins addressed grief. It was an underlying pulse through cover to cover, driving the story forward and explaining much of the character's choices. There were some lines that hit me so hard that I had to read them a few times over before moving forward. Cora’s regrets and grief seemed to bullseye my own. Seeing the regret of not spending time with my own grandmother, the regret of not spending more time with her in the kitchen learning to cook and learning her recipes, wishing I knew more about her life, wishing I could just talk to her and get answers to my burning questions made this book and Cora’s story all the more real.
Another pleasant surprise of this book was just how earnest, honest, and open each character was. They said what they meant, they meant what they said, they stood by their people. This book is a champion of community, supporting your neighbours, and being there for people in their times of need.
That being said, there were some pieces that I struggled to enjoy, which brought the overall rating down.
My biggest piece of feedback is that this book should come with a warning about attempted sexual assault. There are a few scenes in this book where it is either discussed or attempted, with no real strong closure. I do wish there was an extra conversation or two added to close these plot points off.
Additionally, the characters leaned heavy into the caricatures territory, with there being more following of tropes than meaningful character development. The humor and banter in the book veered too much on the silly side of things for my own personal taste - although, I will say the banter between Cora and Jack did get better as the book went on. There was a heavy reliance on tropes and cliches to propel the plot and characters forward - which isn’t a horrible thing (if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it!) but it did make the story a little too easy to predict for what I personally enjoy. All of this being said, these are just my own personal preferences… If you go into this book looking for a trope-heavy, silly, Hallmark-like fun time, you are going to be getting exactly that!
Overall, this was a fun read! I would recommend it to anyone looking to sit down and consume a whole book in one sitting (like I did!!), or anyone looking to get their fill of a fluffy, silly, romance!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Edit: Gave it a second chance (AKA half read, half skimmed), hoping it got better and I could up the rating... why did I even bother.
Between the insta-love and cliche Hallmark plot, this book just wasn't for me. The whole Lolly mystery wasn't even half fun... anyone with a brain cell or 2 could tell what happened. And I know lots of people hate insta-love, but I don't mind it at all! The way it happened in this book though? Alexa, play Whiplash by Aespa. Wasn't invested in the romance at all.
Cora, unfortunately, didn't get any less annoying. The MMC's, whose name I've already forgotten, only personality traits are "badboy" and "can cook". Meh. No thanks. Didn't care for the side characters either, but meddling neighbors are essential in small-town romance, so can't fault the author for that one. Sam, though, Governor, I love you.
Rolled my eyes so many times reading this book, frankly, I'm surprised they're not stuck up there.
Also, if you're going to write sexual assault, at least warn your readers.
--------
I'm sorry, I barely even made it past the first chapter, and then ultimately dropped at chapter 6, around 20%.
I don't know if the author wrote Cora, thinking she'd be all cute and quirky, but completely not being able to cook, to the point where the fire department has been sent to your house 3 times within the year isn't cute nor quirky; that's stupidity.
What do you mean this 20/30 year old woman can't toast toast??? They have a literal machine made just for that! If you burn it one time, turn the time down next time. I know 10 year olds who've worked out toasters. What do you mean that her cutting oranges sent her to the hospital for stitches? What do you mean she's given people food poisoning multiple times, and still was irresponsible enough to keep wanting to bring food for people??? Yeah, yeah, call me the fun police, I don't care. There's literally zero reason a grown ass adult can't cook something edible. Maybe not good, but edible. Eye roll. Get a recipe book. Get a food thermometer.
Also her getting scammed by that rival magazine dude??? What the hell... is that not illegal??? Why did her company straight fire her instead of, idk... suing the dude?????????? Even if you need something to make the plot move along, at least make it realistic. If I were Cora, the first thing I'd be doing is finding an employment lawyer. But then again, we've established she's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Also, we've literally just met the hero, so I can't pass judgment. He seems fine so far. But like. His name is literally JACK HARLOW. What is this... fanfiction???
Writing was ok too.
Thought it was really gross the grandma saddled the FMC with the cafe that had a ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR loan taken out on it. Seriously. 6 figures!!! 5 zeroes!!! What the fuck.
2 stars, seriously, Cora's character... I just can't do it. Even if it's a fiction novel, it's set in the real world. Make it seem like it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.
Between the insta-love and cliche Hallmark plot, this book just wasn't for me. The whole Lolly mystery wasn't even half fun... anyone with a brain cell or 2 could tell what happened. And I know lots of people hate insta-love, but I don't mind it at all! The way it happened in this book though? Alexa, play Whiplash by Aespa. Wasn't invested in the romance at all.
Cora, unfortunately, didn't get any less annoying. The MMC's, whose name I've already forgotten, only personality traits are "badboy" and "can cook". Meh. No thanks. Didn't care for the side characters either, but meddling neighbors are essential in small-town romance, so can't fault the author for that one. Sam, though, Governor, I love you.
Rolled my eyes so many times reading this book, frankly, I'm surprised they're not stuck up there.
Also, if you're going to write sexual assault, at least warn your readers.
--------
I'm sorry, I barely even made it past the first chapter, and then ultimately dropped at chapter 6, around 20%.
I don't know if the author wrote Cora, thinking she'd be all cute and quirky, but completely not being able to cook, to the point where the fire department has been sent to your house 3 times within the year isn't cute nor quirky; that's stupidity.
What do you mean this 20/30 year old woman can't toast toast??? They have a literal machine made just for that! If you burn it one time, turn the time down next time. I know 10 year olds who've worked out toasters. What do you mean that her cutting oranges sent her to the hospital for stitches? What do you mean she's given people food poisoning multiple times, and still was irresponsible enough to keep wanting to bring food for people??? Yeah, yeah, call me the fun police, I don't care. There's literally zero reason a grown ass adult can't cook something edible. Maybe not good, but edible. Eye roll. Get a recipe book. Get a food thermometer.
Also her getting scammed by that rival magazine dude??? What the hell... is that not illegal??? Why did her company straight fire her instead of, idk... suing the dude?????????? Even if you need something to make the plot move along, at least make it realistic. If I were Cora, the first thing I'd be doing is finding an employment lawyer. But then again, we've established she's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Also, we've literally just met the hero, so I can't pass judgment. He seems fine so far. But like. His name is literally JACK HARLOW. What is this... fanfiction???
Writing was ok too.
Thought it was really gross the grandma saddled the FMC with the cafe that had a ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR loan taken out on it. Seriously. 6 figures!!! 5 zeroes!!! What the fuck.
2 stars, seriously, Cora's character... I just can't do it. Even if it's a fiction novel, it's set in the real world. Make it seem like it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a fun and easy read that I finished in just a few days. While parts of the story felt a bit predictable at times, it still kept me engaged and entertained throughout.
The story follows Cora as she returns to her hometown after her life takes an unexpected turn, where she meets Jack, a chef determined to save her grandmother’s café. What starts as tension and disagreement slowly turns into something more, and I really enjoyed watching their dynamic develop.
I especially liked learning more about Cora’s grandmother and her past, which added a deeper and more emotional layer to the story. It gave the setting and the café a lot of heart and made everything feel more meaningful.
Cora’s journey of finding her place again and deciding what she really wants in life was nicely done, and Jack also shows growth as he learns to move forward from his past. Their development made the story feel warm and satisfying.
Overall, this is a light, enjoyable romance with small-town charm, a bit of tension, and a lot of heart. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for an easy and feel-good read.
✨ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I’m sharing my honest thoughts voluntarily and with appreciation for the opportunity to read it early.
The story follows Cora as she returns to her hometown after her life takes an unexpected turn, where she meets Jack, a chef determined to save her grandmother’s café. What starts as tension and disagreement slowly turns into something more, and I really enjoyed watching their dynamic develop.
I especially liked learning more about Cora’s grandmother and her past, which added a deeper and more emotional layer to the story. It gave the setting and the café a lot of heart and made everything feel more meaningful.
Cora’s journey of finding her place again and deciding what she really wants in life was nicely done, and Jack also shows growth as he learns to move forward from his past. Their development made the story feel warm and satisfying.
Overall, this is a light, enjoyable romance with small-town charm, a bit of tension, and a lot of heart. I would definitely recommend it if you’re looking for an easy and feel-good read.
✨ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. I’m sharing my honest thoughts voluntarily and with appreciation for the opportunity to read it early.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun, lighthearted book with slow burn tension, witty banter & a "It's a Wonderful Life" ending. The town folks are hilarious (especially her deceased Grandma's friend group) & there are some fun plot twists learning about some things from the past.
Favorite scene: Cora & Jack are talking about dating apps. Jack is thinking about her being on one... "She'd have a profile he'd pause on, smile at, then swipe right before he even realized what he was doing. A little sarcastic, a little offbeat, with just the right amount of sass to keep things interesting....she would write that she's 'fluent in sarcasm, kitchen explosions, and true crime podcasts. Swipe left if you can't handle me abandoning you for pizza.'" 😂😂 This pretty much perfectly describes Cora. ❤️ Jack? He's a teddy bear with a past. Pretty perfect & swoonworthy. 🥰
There really isn't much spice in the book... just a couple kisses. But there's fun, slow burn interaction between the 2 of them (ie: the book is clean 😉)
Thank you to the author (Erin Scoggins), publisher (BooksGoSocial) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Favorite scene: Cora & Jack are talking about dating apps. Jack is thinking about her being on one... "She'd have a profile he'd pause on, smile at, then swipe right before he even realized what he was doing. A little sarcastic, a little offbeat, with just the right amount of sass to keep things interesting....she would write that she's 'fluent in sarcasm, kitchen explosions, and true crime podcasts. Swipe left if you can't handle me abandoning you for pizza.'" 😂😂 This pretty much perfectly describes Cora. ❤️ Jack? He's a teddy bear with a past. Pretty perfect & swoonworthy. 🥰
There really isn't much spice in the book... just a couple kisses. But there's fun, slow burn interaction between the 2 of them (ie: the book is clean 😉)
Thank you to the author (Erin Scoggins), publisher (BooksGoSocial) & Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2026
Cora Lockwood was not a chef; she had the fire department on speed dial with her cooking mishaps. Instead, Cora was a food trend expert who would predict the next best food trend! After being blindsided and betrayed by Alex Jameson, a competitor in the business, Cora is fired from her job. Cora receives a letter that she needs to take care of her grandmother’s estate, including the café. But when Cora arrives in NC, she sees the community very much attached to it, even though the café has been closed for months. Will she have the heart to sell it? What will she discover?
This heartwarming story will evoke all kinds of emotions, but it will also inspire you to cheer on Cora as she discovers what her next big thing in life is. I thoroughly enjoyed the charming small-town setting, the unwavering support she receives, and the conflicts that arise. These elements combine to create a captivating and entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages. It’s an excellent choice for a vacation, as it’s difficult to put down once you start reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This heartwarming story will evoke all kinds of emotions, but it will also inspire you to cheer on Cora as she discovers what her next big thing in life is. I thoroughly enjoyed the charming small-town setting, the unwavering support she receives, and the conflicts that arise. These elements combine to create a captivating and entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages. It’s an excellent choice for a vacation, as it’s difficult to put down once you start reading!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you BooksGoSocial through NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This book is a really good palate cleanser book. You've just read a heavy romantasy or dark romance and need something light, this is it! It's definitely very Hallmark and a bit cliche at times but we all need cute reads.
Cora is able to predict then next food trend yet can't cook to save her life. She is tricked and her ideas are stolen so she gets fired and at the same time her grandma has just died so she returns to her home town to sell the Salted Spoon. Of course it's not that simple and the story begins. The side characters are very fun, but again the cliche small town characters. Jack, the MMC, has a bad reputation but shows that he really isn't what the town makes him out to be. The banter was great and it was a very quick read.
There were some oddities in the book that made me give it 4 stars. The way her grandma died I think was trying to be funny but it didn't really land...pun intended. And there were some darker themes that were pretty glossed over.
It was pretty predictable but overall enjoyable.
This book is a really good palate cleanser book. You've just read a heavy romantasy or dark romance and need something light, this is it! It's definitely very Hallmark and a bit cliche at times but we all need cute reads.
Cora is able to predict then next food trend yet can't cook to save her life. She is tricked and her ideas are stolen so she gets fired and at the same time her grandma has just died so she returns to her home town to sell the Salted Spoon. Of course it's not that simple and the story begins. The side characters are very fun, but again the cliche small town characters. Jack, the MMC, has a bad reputation but shows that he really isn't what the town makes him out to be. The banter was great and it was a very quick read.
There were some oddities in the book that made me give it 4 stars. The way her grandma died I think was trying to be funny but it didn't really land...pun intended. And there were some darker themes that were pretty glossed over.
It was pretty predictable but overall enjoyable.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed The Next Big Thing, especially the beginning. The beginning pulled me in and I loved Cora and felt bad for her that a her ex was not who she thought he was and he stole her work. I laughed at Jack and Cora's initial meeting and interaction with Lolly's friends. The fact that Cora and her friends had to figure out why Lolly took out the loan and how to save The Salty Spoon. It was fun to see them snooping and trying to find out the gossip, I just wish we saw more of Cora doing the work to raise money.
The pace was fast and fun. I wish we could have gotten a little more in depth with the characters and had a little more tension. My biggest issue with that Nate got away with assault. I wish Cora had pressed charges or something to make sure he knew he could not do that. Because of that and the fact the last half of the book fell a little flat for me, I am giving this a 3.5 rating.
It was funny and heartwarming and I am glad I got to visit Sunrise Beach!
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Erin Scoggins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The pace was fast and fun. I wish we could have gotten a little more in depth with the characters and had a little more tension. My biggest issue with that Nate got away with assault. I wish Cora had pressed charges or something to make sure he knew he could not do that. Because of that and the fact the last half of the book fell a little flat for me, I am giving this a 3.5 rating.
It was funny and heartwarming and I am glad I got to visit Sunrise Beach!
Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial, and Erin Scoggins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She can’t cook. He won’t leave.
Cora Lockwood can’t cook to save her life, but she can predict the next big thing as a food trend expert. After being betrayed by her boyfriend, a competitor in the business, Cora loses her job. She receives a letter stating she needs to settle her Grandmother Lolly’s estate which includes a cafe. Heading to Sunrise, NC with the intent to sell the cafe and figure out how to move on, she discovers The Salty Spoon has been taken over by Jack Harlow, a stubborn chef who wants to preserve her grandmother’s recipes. Add in an inconvenient attraction, conflict with a circling developer, and meddling town folks and you have a sweet and sassy southern romance.
This was a very entertaining read with plenty of southern sass, banter, and a delightful cast of characters. I really enjoyed the small-town setting, the support the community gave to Cora and watching her find where she truly belonged.
Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Erin Scoggins for the opportunity to read and review this advanced readers copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Cora Lockwood can’t cook to save her life, but she can predict the next big thing as a food trend expert. After being betrayed by her boyfriend, a competitor in the business, Cora loses her job. She receives a letter stating she needs to settle her Grandmother Lolly’s estate which includes a cafe. Heading to Sunrise, NC with the intent to sell the cafe and figure out how to move on, she discovers The Salty Spoon has been taken over by Jack Harlow, a stubborn chef who wants to preserve her grandmother’s recipes. Add in an inconvenient attraction, conflict with a circling developer, and meddling town folks and you have a sweet and sassy southern romance.
This was a very entertaining read with plenty of southern sass, banter, and a delightful cast of characters. I really enjoyed the small-town setting, the support the community gave to Cora and watching her find where she truly belonged.
Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Erin Scoggins for the opportunity to read and review this advanced readers copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gotten from Netgalley
The Next Big thing was a book that felt like it came out of a 2000’s romcom movie in your typical small town story with gossip and friendship. It was pure fluff and really wholesome. The writing was really easy to follow along. I loved the dynamics between the characters, platonic and romantic. It briefly touches on themes of grief but nothing that takes away from the romantic comedy vibes, but enough to add character to the story. The banter in the book was done really well given that I didn’t cringe nor did I think that it was done too much that it’s annoying, instead it was nice to see the characters relationship develop. Overall, this was a really nice book to read and I can’t wait to read more of the authors stories and even a whole book just about Lolly’s past!
The Next Big thing was a book that felt like it came out of a 2000’s romcom movie in your typical small town story with gossip and friendship. It was pure fluff and really wholesome. The writing was really easy to follow along. I loved the dynamics between the characters, platonic and romantic. It briefly touches on themes of grief but nothing that takes away from the romantic comedy vibes, but enough to add character to the story. The banter in the book was done really well given that I didn’t cringe nor did I think that it was done too much that it’s annoying, instead it was nice to see the characters relationship develop. Overall, this was a really nice book to read and I can’t wait to read more of the authors stories and even a whole book just about Lolly’s past!
March 16, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The story follows Cora who, after losing her job in the city, returns to the town where her grandmother grew up. Her initial goal was to sell her grandmothers cafè and return to her city life but after a series of events she finds herself asking the help of the towns residential bad boy, Jack, to save the legacy her grandmother left her.
This was such a cute small town romance full of laughter and banter. The main characters had immaculate chemistry and the side characters were the best.
Definitely pick this up if you’re looking for a simple, cute and full of love small town summer romance.
The story follows Cora who, after losing her job in the city, returns to the town where her grandmother grew up. Her initial goal was to sell her grandmothers cafè and return to her city life but after a series of events she finds herself asking the help of the towns residential bad boy, Jack, to save the legacy her grandmother left her.
This was such a cute small town romance full of laughter and banter. The main characters had immaculate chemistry and the side characters were the best.
Definitely pick this up if you’re looking for a simple, cute and full of love small town summer romance.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my gosh—this felt like a Hallmark movie in book form. It was such a comforting escape, and while I wish the villain had faced a bit more comeuppance, this is the first in a new series, so I’m hopeful that’s still to come.
Cora moves through the stages of grief in a way that feels honest and grounded, and the genuine affection she inspires from the town is incredibly charming. Jack is the perfect swoony hero, and their story is easy to root for.
All in all, a sweet, feel-good read that left me smiling—and wishing for another visit to Sunrise, NC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Cora moves through the stages of grief in a way that feels honest and grounded, and the genuine affection she inspires from the town is incredibly charming. Jack is the perfect swoony hero, and their story is easy to root for.
All in all, a sweet, feel-good read that left me smiling—and wishing for another visit to Sunrise, NC.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½
This was a sweet small-town romance with a strong focus on family and saving her grandma’s restaurant—which I loved!
The community aspect really stood out, and I liked how much heart the story had. You can tell how important the restaurant is, and that gave the plot a really nice emotional foundation.
That said, I did feel like it was missing a bit of depth in the characters and emotional moments. I liked them, but didn’t fully connect the way I wanted to. The pacing was also a little uneven in places.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read with cozy small-town vibes, and I’d be interested in seeing where the series goes next!
This was a sweet small-town romance with a strong focus on family and saving her grandma’s restaurant—which I loved!
The community aspect really stood out, and I liked how much heart the story had. You can tell how important the restaurant is, and that gave the plot a really nice emotional foundation.
That said, I did feel like it was missing a bit of depth in the characters and emotional moments. I liked them, but didn’t fully connect the way I wanted to. The pacing was also a little uneven in places.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read with cozy small-town vibes, and I’d be interested in seeing where the series goes next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you’re looking for a cozy, Hallmark-style read, this is exactly the kind of book to pick up.
Cora cannot cook to save her life. Her cooking is so bad that she’s on a first-name basis with the firefighters.
Jack, on the other hand, carries a chip on his shoulder. Life hasn’t exactly dealt him the easiest hand.
This is a story about finding your place, finding your people (even if they’re a bit weird) and, along the way, finding love. While keeping the memories alive…
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!
Cora cannot cook to save her life. Her cooking is so bad that she’s on a first-name basis with the firefighters.
Jack, on the other hand, carries a chip on his shoulder. Life hasn’t exactly dealt him the easiest hand.
This is a story about finding your place, finding your people (even if they’re a bit weird) and, along the way, finding love. While keeping the memories alive…
Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing an eARC to review!
March 20, 2026
Erin writes a hilarious tale of second chances, found family and transcending family history in this romantic comedy. Cora and Jack, with the help of friends, neighbors and a dog named Governor Sam, must race against time to save Cora’s grandmother’s cafe from the town investment banker. Will they succeed and maybe cook up a little love along the way? You’ll have to read to find it! I laughed, I swooned, and I want a Saint Bernard named Governor Sam!
Read
March 20, 2026Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
I enjoyed this book, the story kept my attention enough to read this is one sitting. The characters were fun and the feel of the small town came through the pages for me. There are a few things that I wish the author would have done a little bit differently, but overall I would read this book again. I personally don't need trigger warnings for my books, but I do know that some people do, so maybe that should be included at the beginning.
I enjoyed this book, the story kept my attention enough to read this is one sitting. The characters were fun and the feel of the small town came through the pages for me. There are a few things that I wish the author would have done a little bit differently, but overall I would read this book again. I personally don't need trigger warnings for my books, but I do know that some people do, so maybe that should be included at the beginning.
March 21, 2026
A small town cafe is about to be bought out by a big corporation and only the ruggedly handsome bad boy chef can help the dead owner’s granddaughter save the cafe???
Cute hallmark movie book!!
I enjoyed the characters, their attraction felt gradual and authentic. Appreciated the lack of smut! Don’t like how a lot of romance books these days feel unnecessarily lustful. This was good clean fun!
Only criticism is that some parts felt very exposition heavy.
Cute hallmark movie book!!
I enjoyed the characters, their attraction felt gradual and authentic. Appreciated the lack of smut! Don’t like how a lot of romance books these days feel unnecessarily lustful. This was good clean fun!
Only criticism is that some parts felt very exposition heavy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from netgalley
it was a fun read and I liked the story. but it was a little dry.
it was a fun read and I liked the story. but it was a little dry.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews