The Next Big Thing: The Sunrise Beach Series Book One

by Erin Scoggins

“Scoggins has crafted a delectable confection replete with sassy prose, sweet descriptions, and genuine emotion...”— Kirkus Reviews

From 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.

Genres: Romance

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Erin Scoggins writes heartfelt small-town romances and lighthearted Southern mysteries where love is messy, community is everything, and laughter is always on the menu. Erin lives in North Carolina, and when she’s not writing, she’s wrangling three teenagers and dreaming up plot twists over a plate of chicken and dumplings.

Visit her at www.erinscoggins.com for book news and shenanigans.

Reviews

[~Shawna the crazy coffee reader~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so incredibly adorable with that amazing small town charm filled with anecdotal stories that makes me hope for Lollys story.

Cora our FMC is very likable and determined. She has had a lot of bumps in the road but her life has been planned down to her excel sheet color coded tabs and she won’t be veered off course for long. At least that’s what she thinks. Then everything goes sideways and she ends up in her hometown trying to save her grandmothers cafe after she passed away. Oh and a handsome chef that can flirt with the best of them is eyeing her like she is water and he hasn’t had a drink in ages.

Jack is our MMC and he is amazing. Hot, smart, loyal, and determined to save the cafe. Growing close to Cora wasn’t part of the plan but it happened along the way. Now he needs her to realize that her original plan needs to go up in flames and she should stick around for the cafe and him!

This was honestly so cute. I loved all the secondary characters that were there throughout the story. The escapades they got up to was so funny and out of left field that I was massively entertained each chapter I read.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora, a food influencer, is forced to go back home after losing her job. She plans on selling her grandmother’s cafe and using the money to move on but Jack, a chef, wants to keep the cafe and bring back her grandmother’s beloved recipes. Cora and Jack form an unlikely team to save the cafe and end up catching feelings in the process.

This book is witty and funny and I really wasn’t expecting to literally “LOL” but I did! I loved the group of matchmaking neighbors, the slow burn romance, banter and learning more about Cora’s grandmother as the book continued. Reading this book felt like watching a comfort show!

[Wildrose Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Next Big Thing” by Erin Scoggins ☀️🍽️🌺🐶📚❤️ @erinscoggins
📘 Format: e-Book
📚 Pub Date: 04.21.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars


“The Next Big Thing” by Erin Scoggins is a heartwarming story about a small town girl living in the Big City who learns about second chances, belonging and that sometimes what we think we want out of life isn’t actually what we need.

Cora is a food trend forecaster living in the big city when her personal life explodes in spectacular fashion. Left with no job and no boyfriend, she decides to return home to Sunrise, North Carolina, with the intention of quickly selling her Grandmother’s restaurant that’s been shuttered since her Grandmother’s sudden death months ago. Due to unexpected circumstances, Cora learns that she has a 30 day deadline to wrap up loose ends in Sunrise.

Jack, a local man with a bad-boy reputation has been cooking at the restaurant and he challenges Cora about her dreams for her future. He dreams of the town of Sunrise keeping her Grandma’s restaurant, “The Salty Spoon” as the heart of the community on Main Street Sunrise.

While back in town, Cora learns about small town support, and that family legacies are kept alive in small towns. Interwoven throughout the story are themes of second chances and not judging others based on the past or their family of origin.

With plenty of twists and surprises, “The Next Big Thing” delivers a compelling story with huge heart and plenty of humour.

I recommend “The Next Big Thing” by Erin Scoggins.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Erin Scoggins, and BooksGoSocial for access to this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

 
#TheNextBigThing
#ErinScoggins
#NetGalley
#BooksGoSocial

[Shaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun and cute rom-com including a handsome chef, a delightful small Southern beach town, and a cafe in need of saving. Cora is an up and coming food trend forecaster in NYC. Unfortunately, she cannot cook to save her life and the fire department knows her by name! So when her good for nothing ex swoops in and steals her work, she finds herself out of a job, and with no friends around. Then she gets a letter from a lawyer telling her there is an important legal matter to settle regarding her late grandmother’s estate and business in South Carolina.

When she arrives at her beloved Lolly’s cafe, The Salty Spoon, she finds a bigger mess than she anticipated AND a ridiculously hot chef cooking jam in the cafe kitchen. Together with three of Lolly’s friends, Cora and Jack, the chef, work hard to save the cafe from the hands of the greedy local investment banker. There’s actually a lot more to it than that, but hopefully that’s enough to draw you in!

If you like yummy Southern food, hot men making it, witty banter, walks on the beach, goofy small town antics, and slow burn, no spice romance, I think you’ll love this book! It was cute and funny and had way more plot than I was expecting! My only qualm is the overuse of the word banter. There was plenty of showing, so you don’t also have to tell us that they were bantering. 🤣

And now I’m hungry for fried chicken and biscuits!

[herbookcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book beautifully portrays the development of a sweet romantic relationship, with a touch of mystery that kept me intrigued throughout my reading. I absolutely loved Cora; her kindness, authenticity, and the fact that she isn’t afraid to show her flaws (like her cooking skills!) made her such a relatable and endearing character.

I also really appreciated Jack. He was generous with his time and remained respectful in his reactions to the decisions Cora made at the beginning of the story regarding the restaurant. You could understand his frustration, yet he still tried to stay calm and be there for others, and for her.

Overall, it was a light and enjoyable read, perfect for summer; ideally by the pool with a refreshing lemonade!!

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a sweet, cozy small-town romance with a strong family focus 🫶

I really loved the storyline around saving her grandma’s restaurant—it gave the book so much heart and made the stakes feel meaningful. The community aspect was also a highlight, you can tell how much love was poured into the town and its people.

That said, I didn’t fully connect with the characters as much as I wanted to, and some emotional moments felt like they needed a bit more depth. The pacing was a little uneven at times, and the third person POV made it harder to really feel immersed in their story.

Overall, it’s an easy, enjoyable read with cozy vibes.

[Marissa (holdme.thrillme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes I’m just in the mood for cozy romance and this book hit the spot! It has:

✅ Amazing food
✅ Small town
✅ Senior citizens on a mission
✅ Romance (no spice)
✅ Witty banter
✅ Beautiful cover
✅ Honeysuckle (the smell is so nostalgic for me)

This is pretty much everything you need in a romance if you ask me! I loved Aggie, Bea, and Winston and their hilarity. And then there was Jack ❤️ This book will warm your heart and make you hungry while also laughing, which is really the ideal combination.

[Noell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah! The chemistry between Cora and Jack was off the charts! The witty banter and the flirting were totally swoon-worthy. And we cannot forget about Governor Sam (IYKYK), Bea, Aggie and Winston! Gosh, I would love to meet them all!

If you love small town romances, witty banter, a little mystery, and a slow burn, you must check out The Next Big Thing! It will have you cackling along with the residents of Sunrise.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.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!

[Clo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this eARC!

Cora Lockwood spends her days in New York City, working as a food trend analyst. She predicts what trends will be happening soon, and she is good at her job. Well, until she gets fired from her job. Looking for a quick fix up before returning to NYC flux with cash - she decides to make a quick sale on the cafe she inherited from her grandmother, Lolly. However, Jack, the chef of the Salty Spoon, has other plans. He wants Lolly's legacy to remain. As a mysterious lien against the cafe rears its head, they find themselves working together to try and stop the Cafe being taken over by another and demolished.

The Next Big Thing is a lovely cosy romance with a good exploration into grief. The grief isn't an overwhelming sadness, more of exploring the stories and tales of a lost loved one. It has chosen family, small town where everyone knows what you do tropes which work nicely in my opinion. It is also worth a mention of a trigger warning for attempted sexual assault - it doesn't take up a lot of space in this book but something to bear in mind if it may bother you.

I found the relationship between Cora and Jack to work well - I wasn't rolling my eyes at anything that happened - it didn't rush into a romance but neither was it slow and drawn out. As well as this, I also enjoyed the relationship between Cora and her Grandmother's friends - especially how they all looked out for her, and as well, their developing relationship with Jack too.

The only thing that bothered me really was the ending - it felt slightly rushed and like some things got a solution straight away whilst another *event* was overlooked. Also that Cora spends the last week moping, until the money gets fixed for her, and then she gets crowned as the HoneySuckle Queen, even though she's barely been back in town for a month (and did I mention of that one month she spent the last week avoiding people and moping?!)

I did also wonder if we were going to get a deeper look into Jack too - how he felt about people in the town judging him off his family, and if he'd get a piece or two to say about that - but alas, it was only slightly touched on when he mentioned his restaurant. I would love a sequel exploring Jack in deeper detail! As well as this, the focus on food wasn't particularly strong. Cora is made out to have amazing taste in the beginning so I did wonder if we would explore the taste and food aspect - overall this didn't bother me much as the story worked very well without it - but worth a mention incase anyone might expect it!

Overall, I really loved this book. A nice cosy small town romance, throw in a villain, some mystery, some nostalgic tales and this is what you'll get! The romance was cutesy, a few kisses and longing gazes, but nothing in terms of spice! I have a couple of gripes with the ending, but not enough to sour the story for me. It's a nice, easy read, but worth your time! Erin Scoggins has written a lovely book, and I will be keeping my eye out for her in the future! :)

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kelley Abbas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me a small-town café, a broody chef, and a woman rebuilding her life, and I’m already emotionally invested. 😌📚

This book delivers charm, witty banter, and small-town atmosphere—with just enough emotional depth to keep it grounded.

Cora’s life implodes (as they do), sending her back home with a plan to sell her great-aunt’s café and move on. Simple, right? Except… the café is already occupied by Jack, a stubborn, bad-boy, chef with big plans and zero intention of leaving.

And thus begins:
✨ enemies to reluctant partners
✨ forced proximity
✨ slow burn tension
✨ and a lot of very good food

First of all, can we talk about the aunt?? Classic “inheritance with secrets” trope… but I have never read one where the aunt dies skydiving in her old age. Iconic behavior, honestly.

The cast of characters is fun, the town has personality, and Jack and Cora’s chemistry works—even with low spice. Jack cooking for her repeatedly?? I love a man who cooks.

I also really appreciated Cora as a character. There’s been some debate about her being a food forecaster who can’t cook, but as someone who also lacks culinary skill… I felt seen 😅 You can absolutely appreciate great food without being able to make toast.

That said—

The “save the café” plot had so much potential, but its resolution felt too quick and predictable. With only a month to raise $100,000 to pay off the cafe's debt. I expected higher stakes—messier problems for Cora and Jack to solve, more creative fundraising ideas, or obstacles that genuinely threatened their efforts. Leaving the climax less impactful and quite frankly memorable than I’d hoped. This missed opportunity kept the plot from reaching its full emotional punch.

But even with that, I genuinely enjoyed this. It’s cozy, character-driven, and leaves you wanting to spend more time in this world.

Tropes:

* Small town return
* Enemies to lovers
* Forced proximity
* Inheritance with secrets
* Slow burn romance
* Grumpy x sunshine (light)

Content Notes / Triggers:

* Death of a family member
* Betrayal (past relationship)
* Career loss / public fallout
* Grief & self-discovery

Favorite quotes:
“Loving someone doesn’t always mean holding on. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let them go.”
“The thing about love is that it doesn’t fix you. It just makes you brave enough to start fixing yourself.”

Final thoughts:
A feel-good romance with humor, heart, and community. I’ll definitely be continuing this series. Perfect for fans of Courtney Walsh, Katherine Center, and Sarah Adams.

Thank you to Erin Scoggins, NetGalley, and Harpeth Road Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cora has had her legs taken from under her. She is without a job and lost. So, she decides to go back to the place that always made her happy, Sunrise, North Carolina, where Lolly (her grandmother) has, upon her death, gifted her the Salty Spoon. The Salty Spoon was Lolly's cafe at Sunrise Beach. Cora's plans to swoop in, sell the restaurant and hit the road with her money are not going to go like she thinks. One of those obstacles is the broody man in town, Jack Harlow. It turns out he will just be one of many obstacles that she did not expect to encounter.

This book is full of southern sass and charm, which made this reader grin and laugh out loud many times. This is a David and Goliath type story. You will just to have read it to more fully understand. There are family feuds going back decades, old money and even older grudges.

The characters are what made this book a complete hit for me. Aggie, Winston and Bea are your average small town meddling friends whose intentions are pure, but sometimes misunderstood. I cannot forget to mention Governor, a Saint Bernard who has taken up residence on the porch of the Salty Spoon like he owns the place. He added another touch of charm. As they each reminisced about Lolly, I fell a little more in love with this small beach community.

Cora a/k/a Chef Chaos and Jack are polar opposites in many ways, but none is more obvious than their skills in the kitchen. Cora is a hazard waiting to happen. Cooking and Cora should not be used in the same sentence. Whereas, Jack is king in the kitchen. He is every woman's dream, a man who can cook and loves doing it. Their banter back and froth was electric and the chemistry was ever present.

This charming story won me over as soon as Cora arrived in Sunrise. As the characters were introduced in Sunrise, and the Salty Spoon was revealed, I was hooked and never quit reading. The smile stayed on my face long after I closed my Kindle. This is a perfect beach read, so much so that I longed to feel my toes in the sand and to feel the ocean breeze.

Thank you to Books Go Social, Harpeth Road Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Larissa Benfey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cozy, addictive, heartwarming rom-com. I read it in basically one sitting and had a smile on my face the entire time. I definitely connected way too hard with the main character (as someone who can’t cook to save her life too—to the point, in fact, where it endangers others), which made it incredibly easy to settle in and just enjoy the ride.

I especially loved the unexpected mystery subplot woven in—it, along with the main plotline’s ticking clock, added just enough intrigue to keep the pages turning without ever losing that lighthearted, feel-good tone. The whole book is packed with things I adore: it’s funny and sweet, there’s great forced proximity, found family, charming secondary characters, and an equally charming small town. It’s one of those stories where the setting feels like a character in itself.

The dynamic between the FMC and MMC was such a highlight. She’s witty and smart and funny; he’s swoony, fully in the FMC’s corner, and very much a bad boy who’s secretly a cinnamon roll (my absolute favourite). I loved the way they gradually, subtly became teammates—so in sync, and so ready to go to bat for the other when it mattered most. Their flirty banter was great, and their emotional build felt earned in a really satisfying way.

One of my favourite elements, though, was the sense of community. I love the catharsis of watching a community come together and rally behind one of their own, and this delivered on that in such a heartfelt way. It’s a great reminder of the importance and love of community, and it added an extra layer of warmth to an already charming story.

Overall, this was just a hopeful, feel-good read that delivered exactly what I wanted from it: a sweet escape (pun intended, I guess). For vibes, enjoyment factor, and pure reading experience, it’s a solid 4.5 stars in my books (more puns? sure). Rounded to 5 for NetGalley and Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[rue ♡ what rue reads]

DNF @ 65%

DNFing a book, especially one I was excited to get to, is always disappointing. Ultimately, I just could not connect with the story or characters and have learned not to force myself through a book I’m not enjoying, though I always aim to give books a fair chance.

I do want to share some of the bigger reasons I chose to DNF:

📝 The FMC, Cora, doesn’t know how to cook. Not a cute “oh everything I make comes out wrong” but a “I burned toast so bad the fire department came out” and that made it really hard for me to buy into her job as a trend spotter in the food industry.

📝 Every time there was a moment where Cora and Jack interacted, the moment would switch to their internal dialogues where they were just going on and on about how hot they found each other or how much they wanted to kiss/do more with the other. This was especially distracting when they would be in the middle of an emotional moment.

📝 Cora was given a month to save the cafe…. 3 weeks in and she still hadn’t done anything except bake cookies that she sold as dog treats during a fundraising bake sale. Mind you, they needed to come up with $100K… I couldn’t buy into her need to save the cafe because she spent so much time ogling Jack or chasing small town gossipers for stories of her grandmother’s past.

📝 I didn’t get this far, but I’ve seen many reviews state that there is a SA attempt that happened and then got brushed under the rug. While I didn’t read it myself, so I can’t speak on it, I figured other potential readers would want to be aware of this.

I really, truly wanted to like this book but unfortunately I am not the target audience. I hope this book finds success with the readers meant for it.

==

🫑: unknown
🤬: none (that I read)
⚠️: death, SA

Thank you NetGalley, Erin Scoggins, and Booked with the Emilys for the #gifted ARC. All opinions are my own and honest.

[charmette.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Next Big Thing, by Erin Scoggins, is a small town, slow-burn romance featuring Jack and Cora. It is the first book in the Sunrise Beach series. The book follows the predictable Hallmark movie plot: big city career girl returns to her small town and ends up falling in love.

Cora loses her NYC food reviewer job and is really depressed. She decides to sell her grandmother’s cafe in the small town where she grew up to help her financial situation. When she arrives at the cafe, she discovers Jack, a chef that her grandmother was training, cooking in the kitchen of the cafe. Next, she learns that the evil rich family in their town has a $100,000 lien on the property. With the help of Jack and her grandmother Lolly’s friends, she sets out to raise the money to save the cafe.

This book didn’t work for me. First, Cora needs to raise a lot of money, and three weeks into the month, she has had one bake sale to raise funds? She is too busy hanging out with the locals and finding out about her grandmother’s past to actually solve her own problems. The small town residents are sweet but a little too much. All of the characters felt a little cliche to me, and the plot felt really predictable.

Cora and Jack’s love story never really took off. The author explained their attraction and feelings towards each other more than revealed them, and I didn’t feel any chemistry between them. I also had a hard time understanding how a successful food critic could also be someone who is unable to cook at all, and who regularly starts fires when she attempts to cookl. If you are looking for a light read that feels like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie, then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Books Go Social and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Library of J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small Town Charm & A Handsome Chef - What's Not to Love?
The Next Big Thing by Erin Scoggins - ⭐⭐⭐⭐️

You probably don't know this about me yet, but small town romances? They have my whole heart. So when I tell you this one had me from the very first page, just know that's not something I say lightly. ☕✨

Meet Cora (love the name btw) - a woman who runs her entire life on colour coded Excel tabs and absolutely will not be thrown off schedule. Relatable? Not even a little bit for me personally, but I admired the dedication. 😅 Life, however, had other plans. One thing leads to another and suddenly she's back in her hometown, fighting to keep her late grandmother's café alive. The carefully built plan? In shambles. The warm, nostalgic small town setting? Absolutely everything. 🌸🌼

And then there's Jack. Oh, Jack. 😍❤️‍🔥 Smart, loyal, ridiculously attractive, and just as invested in saving that café as she is. Watching these two orbit each other while pretending they weren't completely falling was honestly so fun to read. He's the kind of male lead who makes you want to close the book, take a breath, and then immediately keep reading. What got me most was how he handled the tension between them - frustrated but never unkind, which honestly just made him even more lovable. 💕

The café setting brings so much cosiness and charm to the whole story, and a little thread of mystery keeps things from ever feeling too predictable. It's the kind of book that belongs in your hands on a hot summer day with something cold to drink. ☀️🍋😎

Did it hit 5 stars for me? Not quite. But was it a genuinely warm, fun and easy read that left me smiling? Absolutely. And I am already crossing my fingers for Lolly's story because I need it. 🤞

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Erin Scoggins in exchange for an honest review.💛🩷

[Eri Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankful to NetGalley and @erinscoggins for providing me with an early copy of the book to review!

The Next Big Thing follows the love story of Cora Lockwood and Jack Harlow (not the rapper). Cora was just fired from her job when she received a call that her grandmother's old cafe now belongs to her. Instead of attempting to build it up, she decides it's best for her to get a new start by selling the cafe and using the money from the sale to start her life over. She is to be in and out of Sunrise.

That becomes complicated once she encounters Jack Harlow. Brooding, handsome, and a great cook, Jack Harlow spends a lot of the book getting to know Cora and trying to get her to keep the cafe.

In the meantime, Jack and Cora become closer day by day with feelings beginning to brew between the two. Before they know it, they're almost kissing and noticing how attractive one another is!

Now for my thoughts on the book: I enjoyed this read a lot. I have a soft spot for romcoms and tend to read through them very quickly. This book being no different as I read through it in a matter of two days. I found myself getting attached to every single character in the book and rooting for both Cora and Jack to finally just kiss! I think all of the characters were written very well, with not a single character feeling like they were left high and dry in terms of characterization. You really do get a feel of the small town-esque atmosphere as well.

I would 100% recommend this book to my friends who likes authors like Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. I feel this is a very cute book with lots of good feels spread throughout the pages. I usually read darker books myself, so it was a nice palette cleanser from that. I wish I could live in Sunrise with all of these characters! ❤️

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into The Next Big Thing by Erin Scoggins expecting something fun and buzzy, and it absolutely delivered on that front. This book has that addictive, “just one more chapter” energy where you keep telling yourself you’ll stop, and then suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you’re still turning pages. The premise feels very of the moment, sharp, a little chaotic, and full of ambition, and I loved how it leaned into that instead of trying to be overly polished.

What really worked for me was the pacing and the voice. It’s quick without feeling rushed, and there’s a confidence in the writing that makes even the messier moments feel intentional. The characters are flawed in a way that feels very real, sometimes frustratingly so, but that’s also what made them interesting. I didn’t always like every decision being made, but I understood them, and that kept me invested.

That said, I do think this is where it loses that fifth star for me. Some of the emotional beats didn’t hit quite as hard as I wanted them to, especially when the story leaned into bigger stakes. There were moments that felt like they should have landed heavier, but instead just kind of…passed by. I also wanted a little more depth in certain relationships, there’s so much potential there, and it felt like we only scratched the surface.

Overall, though, this is one of those books that’s just easy to devour. It’s entertaining, a little messy in the best way, and very readable. If you’re looking for something that feels current, fast-paced, and character-driven without being too heavy, this one absolutely hits.

Thank you to netgalley, the author, and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a good, old-fashioned contemporary romance story, this is the book for you.

The Next Big Thing starts off with our FMC, Cora, who is a food forecaster for a food magazine. While she thinks she is going into a meeting for a promotion, the meeting turns sour. Afterwards, she gets a letter from a lawyer regarding her late grandmothers restaurant. It has been willed to her so now she has to go home to figure what to do it.

When she arrives, she is shocked to find someone cooking in the abandoned kitchen. Enter our MMC, Jack, with a troubled past but a person her grandmother loved. They had big plans for the restaurant but now that is all up in the air.

To save the restaurant, they have to come up with a large amount of money in a month or the restaurant will be taken away. As they try to come up with ways to save it, more questions about grandma Lolly's past come to forefront. If they can figure out Lolly's past, maybe it can help save Cora and Jack's present.

This story truly has everything you want in a contemporary romance, minus the spicy parts. •Reluctant allies to lovers
•Tension and yearning
•Side characters you will absolutely fall in love with
•A fluffy dog
•A common goal to fight for
•YA Kitchen scene

As a side note, Jack is absolutely swoon-worthy in this story. He is loyal, funny, a smooth talker and would do anything for Cora. He is the exact type of MMC I love to see in contemporary romances.

If you want a good, old-fashioned swoon-worthy contemporary romance, I would definitely recommend The Next Big Thing.




Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC. My reviews are my own, shaped by the story and shared of my own accord.

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a career-ending betrayal by her boyfriend, Cora Lockwood returns to her hometown of Sunrise, North Carolina, with one goal: sell her late grandmother’s café, The Salty Spoon, and move on. However, she finds the kitchen already occupied by Jack Harlow, a stubborn chef determined to keep her family’s legacy alive. Their plans collide when a looming loan and a circling developer threaten the property. With only thirty days to decide the café's fate, Cora and Jack become unlikely partners, navigating late-night cooking lessons and a growing attraction that proves to be the hottest thing in the kitchen.

The Next Big Thing is a lighthearted, quick and easy read that is perfect for curling up in an armchair. The story follows Cora as she returns to Sunrise to handle the estate of her grandmother, Lolly—a woman who was clearly a pillar of the community and the heart of many local stories.

The plot picks up pace when a hidden loan stalls the sale of the café, forcing Cora to work alongside Jack Harlow. I really enjoyed the banter between the two and the authenticity of their "messy kitchen" dynamic. It’s a warm, cosy, slow-burn romance that feels very natural. While the story didn't necessarily provide big shocks or surprises, its charm lies in its simplicity and the "hug-in-a-book" atmosphere. It’s a lovely, feel-good story for anyone who enjoys small-town settings and food-centered romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Erin Scoggins for the opportunity to read this cosy title.

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Next Big Thing by Erin Scoggins is a cute and cosy romance set in the charming town of Sunrise, North Carolina. Cora Lockwood is forced to return to the small town she left behind decades ago as she needs to sell the Salty Spoon, the cafe her grandmother left her when she passed. The timing is less than ideal but at least it gives her a chance to flee from the rubble of her career as a food forecaster which was tanked by her horrible ex. The move will buy her some time to figure out a new plan, and the sale of the cafe will provide some funds, or so she thinks, but of course things are never that simple. It turns out that her Grandmother took out a lone from a local business man, and a very unlikeable one at that , and now he is looking for his money back or he takes over the cafe instead. While the whole town tries to help Cora fight back, it is local "bad boy" Jack Harlow who dreams of bringing the business back to life.
This book is sweet and cute with a believable slow burn and lots of fun banter and flirting and delivers on its promised small town charm but there was not much to make it stand out in a crowded market, the characters are fun but not particularly memorable and though the idea of trying to save the business had promise, it was all wrapped up a little too conveniently and frankly with not a whole lot of involvement from the characters it was supposedly the most important to.
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[CLayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. It’s a delightful little story set in a charming small town centered on Cora, who comes back home after inheriting her grandmother’s café with plans to sell it and move on. But of course, things don’t go quite as she expects, and she finds herself drawn into the warmth of the community, the quirky folks her grandmother loved, and maybe even discovering there’s more to life than she initially thought.

I genuinely enjoyed reading this one. The supporting characters really helped bring the story to life, adding that cozy, feel-good charm that makes you want to curl up with it. My only real challenge was with Cora herself; it was a bit hard to fully connect with her since she sometimes seemed a little too trusting and didn't become at all capable as the story progressed, as I’d hoped.

That said, the story was still fun enough that I didn’t mind some of the more far-fetched moments. A few plot points, like the convenient financial resolution near the end, felt a little too tidy, but they still fit the overall cozy tone of the book.

The whole feel of the story reminded me of a Hallmark movie sweet, cozy, a little predictable, and just perfect if you love stories about new beginnings, small towns, and lovable community characters.

I received an ARC through the author @erinscoggins and @Bookewithemily and am glad to share my honest thoughts about it.

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌼 The thing about love is that it doesn’t fix you. It just makes you brave enough to start fixing yourself. 🍪

When life gives you a second chance, don’t fight it, just accept it... it might turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you ✨

This story follows Cora — a confident, sassy, strong-willed food forecaster from the big city 🏙️ ☕🥧🍴 who, after a painful betrayal and losing her job, returns to her hometown to sell her grandmother’s café 🧂🥄
There, she meets Jack — a handsome, tattooed, grumpy (but secretly soft 😏) chef 👨‍🍳🔥 who is determined to bring the café back to life in honor of someone who was important to him 🥹
What I loved in this book 💕
🏡 the small-town vibes: cozy, warm, and full of life 🌸
👵 Grandma Lolly’s friends: chaotic, hilarious, unapologetic and a bit crazy 🤣
🍝 the cooking classes and painting scene 🎨🐕
💬 the banter and all the little scheming 🤫
But... I have mixed feelings 🤔
Because the story focuses much more on Grandma Lolly — her life, her impact on the entire town and its inhabitants, and how deeply she’s missed 🕊️ than on the romance itself 💕The relationship between Cora and Jack feels a bit underdeveloped and only really picks up towards the end 😒
I also struggled a bit with the 3rd person narration. It made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters 😕
Overall. It’s a sweet, cozy, and heartwarming story about love in many forms, friendship, second chances, and not judging people too quickly 🥹
Even though I expected something deeper and more emotionally intense, it still left me with a warm feeling 🫶🏻

[Nisha Joshi (swamped, will review whenever possible) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A romance with its heart in the right place.

The Story:

Cora is a food forecaster in New York. She predicts the popular dishes of the next season and restauranteurs simply lap it up. The only catch? She cannot cook to save her life - and that includes making toast.

When she unexpectedly loses her job, she moves to Sunrise, to her grandmother's cafe. To her surprise, there is already someone there - a handsome hunk named Jack. And he is a great cook too!

But all is not well in Sunrise. A developer wants the property the cafe stands on and Cora will do anything to save it. But can she do it within a month? And there is also the issue of the handsome man, who is making space in her heart.

My Thoughts:

I liked this lighthearted book. It has all the trends of Hallmark movies - city girl meets town boy. Plus, there were those added threesome of Aggie, Bea, and Winston. Those three stole my heart more than Cora and Jack ever did (though they were good, too). I want separate spin-offs for those three!

The small-town dynamics, that I always enjoy, were quite evident in this book. The small gestures that people in tightknit communities often show are depicted beautifully.

But most of all, I loved Lolly. We never meet her throughout the book, but she would be an awesome grandmother to have.

4.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Pinki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Star

The next big thing is a foodie, small-town romance featuring Cora Lockwood, who lost her job as a food forecaster. She returns to her hometown, Sunshine, with a plan to sell her grandmother’s café and start anew in New York City. Meanwhile, Jack is determined to save the café and preserve Cora’s grandmother’s legacy. Little does Cora know what awaits her in Sunshine, and they have only one month to find a solution.

The plot of this book is Hallmark-movie-like. I enjoyed following Cora’s journey. Although she initially had no attachment to the café, aside from her grandmother’s memories, she later realised how important it was to Jack, the town, and herself. The romance between Cora and Jack developed slowly; they took the time to truly understand each other, and I appreciated their playful banter. The side characters also added depth and colour to the story. Additionally, the book addressed the theme of dealing with grief.

The thing I didn’t like about the book was the ending. I felt it was rushed. I also didn’t get why the villain of the story walked away without facing any consequences.

Since the book had a hallmark movie-type plot, the plot was very predictable.

Overall, it was a quick and fun read. It was fast-paced. This book is a perfect palate cleanser. I would recommend it if you are looking for fluff and a small-town setting.

[Caroline’s Page~Turners · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora Lockwood, a renowned chef, loved her life and was at her happiest when she was in the kitchen. However, her world crumbled when her boyfriend betrayed her, leaving her with nothing but the memories of a life she once knew. Feeling like she had nothing left, she returned to her hometown of Sunrise, North Carolina, and decided to sell her grandmother’s café.

Upon her arrival, Cora discovered that The Salty Spoon café had been taken over by chef Jack Harlow. While he was eager to make the café a success, Cora had her own plans. When she learned that a developer was interested in purchasing the café, she faced a crucial decision. Jack’s interference made it increasingly difficult for her to make the right choice.

“The Next Big Thing,” a heartwarming tale by Erin Scoggins, follows Cora’s journey as she bounces back from adversity and embraces new opportunities. Cora’s passion for cooking was infectious, and I was captivated by her determination to succeed.

The banter between Jack and Cora was a delightful source of amusement throughout the story. Their chemistry in the kitchen, as they collaborated to create the most flavorful dishes, was simply enchanting. I highly recommend this wonderful book to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming and inspiring read.

Get your copy today!!!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.