The Next Big Thing
Johanna Edwards
Berkley, Mar 2005, $13.00, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0425200280

In Memphis, Hood & Geddlefinger PR associate Kat Larson has met Nick Applby of London over the Internet. He believes that she is a size 4, but the 5'6" woman is well over 200 pounds. Desperate to lose weight before she meets her English hunk, Kat applies for a reality TV show, From Fat to Fabulous, in which the obese participants will be helped in losing weight. To her surprise Kat makes the show that has quite a prize for the winner.

As Kat and a few other women live under the lights of reality TV, the show's host Jagger is attracted to her and even kisses her; breaking the no fraternization rule. Kat feels pretty good and comes across upbeat until Nick learns what she is doing and joins her in a surprise visit to the show. Instead of a happy union, Kat is mortified with only Jagger providing her comfort, and soon learns what a shallow soul Nick truly is.

Gender bending the Big Loss, THE NEXT BIG THING is an interesting chick lit tale starring a delightful TV host, a wonderful female protagonist, and several full-sized competitors. The on and off romance between Jagger and Kat seems secondary as the tale provides the audience insight into the feelings and thoughts of the female contestants who, like the heroine, believes that a size 4 will solve their problems. Fans of contemporary women's issues will want to read Johanna's Edwards' insightful tale in which the grass is not always greener on the other side, but it is easier to dream that it is.

Harriet Klausner