The Next Big Thing by Erin Scoggins: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

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 fate: 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.

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.

Book Review

Oh, how cute this one was! Right from the start, Cora's cooking skills (or lack thereof) and all that comes along with that, had me laughing out loud... and those smiles didn't stop there. This story in many ways felt like the perfect Hallmark story... all the small-town charm and unique characters, an attempt to save her grandmother's cafe, and a handsome chef, of course. There were even hints of mystery as they uncover secrets as to why the cafe was in jeopardy to start with. Jack and Cora had great chemistry that I couldn't help but enjoy. Their story was a slow burn and had such a great feeling of community and home. This is the first book I have read from Erin Scoggins, but I find myself looking forward to seeing more from her in the future. 

The Next Big Thing is a closed-door romance with kisses only. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/41d2Y9z