This was my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it! The characters were what kept me engaged, especially Sam & Katie. There was a lot happening within the pages, but the characters stayed the same throughout.

There were a few characters I could've done without, or have heard about briefly rather than them popping up again and again. But overall, it was a good story! The perspective took me a little getting used to, with it constantly changing. But after the first couple of chapters I had it figured out. There were also a lot of BIG events throughout this book, and I feel like I never saw them coming, which is a good thing, but at the same time I felt it was a lot for one book.

Overall, a good story with fun characters that kept me entertained!!

Thank you so much @negalley & @sourcebookscasa for the early copy! This book is OUT NOW!

A really challenging read for me.

The beginning kicks off with a school shooting. There are tragic deaths. And the story just picks up and moves past it as if it is just a daily occurrence.

So my thoughts are that either the author treats this as the real tragedy this has become in America, mass shootings every day with everyone just picking up and going on like nothing really happened. Or this author just wanted to pack a ton of shocking items into one book without letting the characters or the readers cope with the event before moving on to the next shocking event.

I was unimpressed with the cavalier handling of this event that I really just couldn't go on. Maybe it's just me but if the MC is going to be in the center of a school shooting incident, then I think that should span more than a chapter or two - like perhaps the whole book.

I put the book down and haven't picked it back up and don't really want to.

I wanted to like this and I did like parts of it, but I found myself frustrated by the time spent on the ex fiance of the heroine. Every time the ex has scenes, I wonder how/when his storyline comes back into the main story to affect the heroine. It never does. It's a boring storyline that just seems to float along alone without any relevance to anything. So, I came away irritated rather than moved by the story.

I absolutely loved the premise of "The Next Best Day". What a wonderful story of hope and optimism in the face of darkness.
First, she's left at the altar as her fiancé marries for money and leaves her to pick up the pieces at the church. Then she survives a shooting in her school after she protects two of her students with her own body. Too scared to go back to school, too scared to live in her apartment and the town that she's lived in, Katie looks for a job in a small town.
She settles in her job as a teacher, living across from the local sheriff, a gorgeous widower with twin daughters who are in her class. Are things finally looking up for her? There might be a few more t's to cross and i's to dot before it all comes up roses but if anyone deserves love and forever it's Katie.
Nobody does small towns as well as Ms. Sala. I'm looking forward to all the stories that are there to be told in this new town.

What a wonderful story of surviving and living. I was heartbroken when Sharon Sala ended the Blessing, Georgia series but this book (hopefully the beginning of a new series) restored my faith in her. Set in Tennessee, Katie moves to Borden's Gap after her wedding is called off and she is shot by a shooter in her school. Suffering from PTSD Katie moves into a small house across the street from Police Chief Sam and his two daughters. I loved the romance and the interaction of the young twin girls and Katie. A book I've had in my TBR pile for awhile and can't believe I waited so long to read.

Be ready to feel empathy and love for Katie since chapter one!!!! And by 8% in, I was already crying hahaha!!!! I was sobbing!!!!! I loved that feeling so much.

One of the things about romance is that since almost the beginning you know who will end up with who hahaha and you start to ship them like a crazy fan and you know they will end up together but you still want to know all the gossip hahahaha. And I'm telling you, here's a single dad!!!!! That made me smile. Nothing better than single parents in stories because I feel that give so much hope to all the single parents out there who's dating lives aren't as easy as it is for childless people, so I seriously loved that too in this story.

Also, I alenjoy a good steamy romance but in this it wasn't necessary because it was also important to keep the remarks on single parents. I felt here it was important the way this was handled.

Complaints? You can bet I have hahaha. Even if I truly enjoyed that there was a mix of romance but also important topics... there were characters that were completely unnecessary. I will say that thanks to some info we get to see karma working it's magic but that part was even hard to believe, I mean there's a part of the story that it's just too much and absurd; if you know me, you know absurdity isn't my thing. I like realism and a couple things happening in the book were just not it. Now, the book felt long at times and other times it felt the pace was fas but I'll admit it was actually unnecessarily extended.

But, final decision? I recommend it!!! I really liked it, truly enjoyed it and once it wrapped me in I was all in. You'll fall for the kids, you'll fall for the characters, you'll fall for the small town vibes... And I also loved the fact that it wasn't a slow burn!!!!! Romance was there every second and in such adorable way!!!

TW !!!!!
School shooting
PTSD
Abuse of a child (mentioned. Not explicit)
Domestic violence

*4.5 stars*

Sweet small-town romance rooted in reality…

This author is my go to for uplifting stories and is firmly on the top tier of my re-read shelf. I don’t hesitate to snap up a new title and Katie and Sam’s story was exactly what I wanted. And needed…

What happened to Katie could have been torn from the headlines. Harrowing is the mildest word I can come up with. She was strong and had a plan to get herself out of the spiral she was in. Even as she struggled her independence shone through as she picked up and moved to a new town, a new home, a new life…

When she and Sam connected, with his adorable twins at the center, I began the cheering early. They connected right away and Sam made it clear what his intentions were. And slowly, trust built… Soon, they needed each other spiritually, physically, in all the ways that mattered. They became a family…

Not shying away from harsh reality, this story held the best and worst of humanity. Thank goodness the good won out…

I love Sharon Sala's story as they're always well plotted, poignant and heartwarming. I loved this one, loved the atmosphere and the well written characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Things I liked:
*Katie’s story- it was devastating but so much better than Mark & Megan’s story.
*Sam was the perfect person for Katie- they complimented each other well
*the romance between Katie and Sam and how they involved the twins.

Things I didn't like:
*Mark & Megan's characters
*Having to read their stories, I didn't really care about their stories- like an afterthought

I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for allowing me to read this book and give my honest opinion. I am a huge fan of Sharon Sala. Her last series about Blessings, Georgia is a series that I have reread so many times, even though I know everything about it. This is another one of her fabulous books about a small town in Tennessee. I would highly recommend this book if you want to read something smooth and good.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

Why can’t I give this 10 gold stars is beyond me!!!!

OMGoodness! To say that this book is enthralling is an understatement! I was hooked right from the beginning. The characters and the plot were so believable and well written that I was just drawn in. This emotional tale needs to come with a word of warning to have some tissues near by. There were times when I just couldn’t stop crying my eyes out. Then there were times when joy filled my heart. What an emotional rollercoaster of a ride this was.

Katie McGrath is a true survivor. She was found as an infant in the garbage and age out of foster care. She put herself through college and now teaches first grade. She is getting married and things are looking so good. That is, until she receives a phone call just minutes before the ceremony. Her groom is already in Vegas on his honeymoon with another wife! A few months later Katie is taking her students to the cafeteria for lunch when gun shots sound in the school. Katie rushes her students into the nearest room when happens to be her BFF’s, Lila. Two children are missing and Katie turns back to see one of the two had fallen. Katie runs to save them and ends up getting shot!

Sam Youngblood, is the chief of police in a small rural town in Tennessee. He is a widower (his wife died on the same day that he become a father!) His twins girls are exceptionally bright and loving. Sam is doing a fantastic job of balancing his job as a single father and that of a law-man.

Katie escapes Albuquerque with her PTSD. Knowing that she could never teach again at least at the same school. She moves across the street to Sam and his girls.

I loved how the author wrote this in a multiple POV format. There are several characters that have their story told here as well as the two main protagonists. That was wonderful to have so I the reader didn’t have to wonder as to their fate.

I highly recommend this story to anyone. Any sexy moments were alluded to.

Thank you NetGalley, Sharon Sala and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the copy of the book The Next Best Day. This is my personal review.
The life of a schoolteacher is never the same day to day. One day Katie McGraths life changed in a way she never imagined. The life changing day made her leave her job in Albuquerque and head to a small town in Borden’s Gap Tennessee. She is back in her teaching mode and along with that she finds a life she craved and the happiness that comes with it.
Sam the town sheriff never thought he would find love after losing his wife and was left to raise his two daughters alone.
The chemistry and emotion that was between the two made this a romance book you will be so glad you picked up to read.

A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one. A clever, engrossing story with fabulous characters.

The Next Best Day by Sharon Sala, is a wonderful heartwarming & heartbreaking story. Katie McGrath has had a tough life; she was an orphan, moving from foster home to foster home until she aged out of the system. After putting herself through school she became a recognized and honored first grade teacher. She had made a life of her own in Albuquerque, New Mexico; having close friends and a man of her dreams. However, the man of her dreams was not who she thought, as he married another woman, his bosses’ daughter, the night before he was to marry Katie. Determined to show she was okay, she returns to work only to be confronted by a school shooter, while saving two students. Suffering from severe PTSD she decides she needs a change and takes a teaching position in the small town of Borden's Gap, Tennessee. This is the fresh start Katie needs in order to move on with her life and forget about the tragic events that led her here. Katie has no desire to get into another relationship; wanting to find peace and enjoy a quiet life. Fate has other plans for her; Sheriff Sam Youngblood and his two young twin daughters. They live across the street and their life is good but a piece of their puzzle is missing. With a lot of hope, laughter, strength and love Katie, Sam and his daughters will find their way, becoming the family that they both need and deserve.

Ms. Sala takes this story toward a happy ending, only to pull back the covers, revealing that evil does not only exist in large cities, but can, and does, also reside in small towns. Because of things in her own past, Katie is able to recognize when a student is struggling, hiding from others, afraid to let others know what is happening. It is truly heartbreaking and shocking, but bad things do happen to good people and children. It does not distract from the story, instead it adds another layer to the life Katie has survived. I highly recommend The Next Best Day to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

(Not weird at all,” she said. I call that soul memory.” Sam blinked, shifting focus from the house to her. “What?” “Soul memory,” she repeated. “Where your soul remembers something from another life and gives you the longing without you knowing the reason why.”)

You have to read this book! The Next Best Day had so much going on within the story. At first I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it. But, I LOVED IT! Yes, some parts of it were a bit cheesy but, oh my gosh…..please don’t stop reading it. The story just gets better and better and better.
Main character, Katie McGrath, is a survivor. Her life started out as a abandoned baby, foster care, jilted by her fiancé at the alter and being involved in a shooting at the school where she teaches 1st graders. She has never felt like anyone could or would love her. Can she find peace and love for herself?
This was such a emotional read for me. By the end of the book, I was in tears. Such a heartfelt journey of healing and moving forward.
I hope this is the beginning of a series?????
I HIGHLY recommend this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, Sharon Sala, for the wonderful opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the chance to read The next best day by Sharon Sala. This was a fast read for me, a story that was a bit intense with the main character, Katie not just being jilted at the beginning of the story but also having to deal with being shot while saving her 1st grade students at a school shooting. Having PTSD, she realizes she can no longer teach at the school, so she moves away, and tries to being a new life in a small town in Tennessee. One of her new neighbors turns out to be widower Police chief Sam Youngblood, who has twin daughters, and Katie will have to have courage to not only return to the classroom but also to open her heart to Sam.
This story kept me wanting to read, with some intense scenes, which I was not expecting. I truly love how Katie interacted with her students and Sam's daughters. The relationship between Katie and Sam was emotional.
The only problem I had with the story was the side plotline of Katie's ex, Mark. He eloped with his bosses' daughter the night before his wedding to Katie, and then finds out later the perfect family he married into, isn't so great. This didn't really add to the story other then continuing show him what an jackass he was. Otherwise this was a fabulous read, and I totally recommend it.
Warning triggers: school shooting; spousal abuse; child abuse.

I love Sharon Sala’s books. They’re like relaxing into a comfy chair with your favorite drink and a fire in the fireplace. She specializes in cozy stories with really likable characters who overcome various setbacks while falling in love. She tends to interweave several plotlines, but there is a rather extraneous one about the heroine’s former fiance. I kept waiting for there to be some scene between him and Katie, but it just continued on a parallel path that led nowhere.

.I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The Next Best Day
by Sharon Sala
Pub Date: 08 Nov 2022

This book was as uplifting as it was heartbreaking. The author managed to bring about some really dark topics but gave us light at the end of the darkness.

I loved the relationship that grew between Katie and Sam...throw in his adorable twins and awwwwww, tons of sweetness. The only real complaint is the side storyline of Mark (Katie's ex-fiancé and his drug dealer wife.) I almost feel like that detracted from the main storyline. And even though Mark was trying to find personal redemption with his family, there was no closure or forgiveness even attempted with Katie! I wish there was an additional scene with him trying to make amends and that he was made to pay for all his betrayal. He got off way too easy for being such a slime ball...lol

Loved the town, Katie's best friend (she should get a book!), the romance...that was all great!

A product of the foster care system, Katie McGrath fought hard to overcome her rough start. Though proud to have achieved her dream of becoming a teacher, being shuffled from home to home as a child has taken its emotional toll. She loves being a teacher to groups of excited, inquisitive children. She just wishes she can find someone to lover her. After suffering through first a personal tragedy and then a larger community tragedy, Katie realizes she needs a fresh start. That's how she finds herself starting over in the small town of Borden's Gap, Tennessee.

Katie quickly finds her place in her new home and settles in as the new first grade teacher. Yet she carries the scars of the events she left behind. She takes comfort from her neighbor, chief of police Sam Youngblood and his two young daughters. Sam suffered his own tragedy when his wife died in childbirth. Now, ready to try for love again, Sam and his daughters give Katie a soft place to land, and hope for a future she wasn't sure could be hers.

Sharon Sala welcomes us to the town of Borden's Gap, a small town that warmly welcomes a newcomer and accepts her as one of their own. Katie finds just who and what she needs as she seeks to heal . This is a story of survival and finding the strength to overcome past anguish. I had tears in my eyes and a warm feeling in my heart through the last chapters of the book. Filled with emotion and laced with hope, love and triumph, this may not be a Christmas story, but it's perfect for the season.

Although I miss the small town in Georgia that Ms Sala has written about, this new series gives us the same small town feel. It is set in Bordens Gap,Tennessee and features Katie, a first grade teacher who is new to Bordens Gap and moves across the street from Sam, the local police chief and his 6 yr old twin daughters. In true Sharon Sala fashion, once you become involved in the story, the small town and their characters come to life. What a sweet enjoyable read filled with hope and good feelings!