If you can’t have the one you loved, fake date someone else. From the start Marcela and Theo seem doomed together, after all they’re both in love with one half of an engaged couple, but Gabriella flawlessly makes you fall in love not only with these characters separately, but also together in their fake relationship. I loved watching these characters develop throughout the story, but also found Marcela irritable towards the end of the book. Seeing a character with trust issues essentially self-sabotage herself made me relate with her to an extent but also made me just want to shake some sense into her. After reading this book I know one thing for certain: everyone needs an Angela in their life. Angela is the best friend who is your fiercest protector, but is also not afraid to put you in your place and I loved seeing that in a character. I cannot wait for Gabriella’s next book to come out.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fake relationship between two people who are in love with other people who happen to be engaged sounded interesting, but this ended up being messier than I even thought it would be from that summary. I never felt any chemistry between any of the people. The main characters Marcella and Theo had a push and pull dynamic that was just tiresome. Everything felt drawn out for no reason.

I really liked this book. I liked that it explored complicated feelings as well as relationships with families and friends. I really loved Marcela and Theo together. I thought they had great chemistry. The spicy scenes were really great. They way they communicated was fantastic. I wish we got a little more time with them when they knew their feelings for each other. I liked the journey of them figuring themselves and their relationship out but I just wanted a little more of them. Theo's grand gesture did make me cry. It was everything a big book lover wants. Overall this was a really sweet book.

What a cute book! Marcela is a librarian who has harbored feelings for her best friend for yearsss. When she attends that friend's engagement party, she stumbles upon her friend's brother, Theo, gearing up to confess his feelings for his brither's fiance. Drama! Marcela keeps Theo from causing a ruckus, and it's assumed that they started hooking up. So why not just go with the assumption and help each other get over the newly engaged couple, right?

There is a lot to love in this book: caring friendships, fake-ish dating, people trying to get their life together and be their best self, a date in a library, good best friends, terrible best friends, and a sweet ending. If you are looking for a sweet romance that gives a villain what they deserve, then you should pick up this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the e-ARC!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows two people who decide to start a fling to get over their broken hearts.

This book is described as spicy and charming but I didn't really find it charming, just spicy. There are plenty of people who like spicy books but I do not. I don't mind spice if there is more to the story than just spice but this one just felt too spicy for me.

It was not a bad book, it just wasn't my taste and I bet there is an audience for this book.

Holy cats, am I in love with Marcela and Theo!

The following brought me to this book:
- Location was not NYC
- Curvy FMC
- Cinnamon roll MMC
- A lot of spicy scenes
- Librarians were involved (I'm a librarian)

Marcela is in love with Ben who is engaged to Alice. Marcela stops Theo, Ben's brother, from declaring his love to Alice at Ben and Alice's engagement party. Marcela and Theo become each others rebounds on the idea that Marcela and Theo will put this love quadrangle to rest.

But there is so much more than figuring out love: we've got trust issues, body issues, hint of best friends to lovers, love bombing, gender and sexual identities, and familial relationships to start. You <i>kinda</i> know where the book is going or how the characters are going to react based on what you've already read but there were some scenes that really surprised me. For example, Theo knows Marcela's heart belongs to someone but he doesn't know who because she's never opened up to him about it for fear Theo will think badly of her. But when he finds out Marcela's in love with Ben, I expected him to cut her down, leave her jilted, anything to show his displeasure <i>but yet</i>, Theo lets Marcela have her big cry in his closet and they talk about it. Like rational adults. I was, for the lack of a better word, shocked about the turn out of that scene which is so sad that in today's world that simple kindness is surprising.

I was so into this book that I was reading it on my phone during the opening act when I was at the concert the other night. When we got home from the show, I did my nightly chores and told my husband I was going back to my book before bed. I was determined to <i>not</i> sleep until the book was finished. I have succeeded.

I read a lot of contemporary romances and most of them are good but Gamez really kicks it up a notch with her writing, pacing, and plotting. I knock off .25 (so 4.75/5 rating) off because near the end, while Marcela makes the right choice, how she gets there makes me want to throttle the ever living heck out of her. I get <i>why</i> Marcela is written that way but still, annoying.

I'm thrilled this is a series (advert at the end of the book says the next one is coming summer 2025) and I'm hoping Gamez will pick up Angela or Erica for the next "librarian in love." Based on the clues Gamez has dropped in <i>The Next Best Fling</i>, I'm thinking it's Angela.

Gamez's books is perfect for the Emily Henry or Ali Hazelwood fans in your life (or in your life).

Thank you Forever Publishing for giving me the opportunity to enjoy Marcela and Theo. I loved their chemistry even though they were each others rebounds that started as fake dating. I LOVED everyone's reactions to them dating, especially Ben and Alice. Marcela is a Mexican plus size librarian, which I loved, there are only a few times I get a glimpse of my culture and/or my appearance in a book. The Mexican culture is well described and written. I enjoyed Marcela's family so much. In the other hand, Theo is an NFL player who recently decided to retire. They might be pinning in each other's love interest but these two had more chemistry with each other than they ever had with their love interest.

In overall, it was a sweet reading with enough spice to make it great.

Marcela has been in love with her best friend Ben for as long as she can remember and Ben is now newly engaged to Alice.... and when Marcela meets Ben's brother Theo and finds out that he's been in love with Alice all along, we've got a love square on our hands as both Marcela and Theo decide to rebound with each other. Marcela is a librarian and has been in love with her best friend Ben for years, they once dated in college, but after an incident where he couldn't lift her because she is "heavier" he told her they were better off friends. Marcela has been secretly harboring a crush and desperately hoping that Ben will return her feelings, yet when he tells her he is proposing to his long time girlfriend Alice, Marcela can only wish and hope that the engagement is called off. When they ask her to pick up Ben's estranged NFL Player older brother, Marcela can't help but say yes. Yet to her great surprise on the night of the engagement party she overhears a drunkTheo getting ready to ask Alice to call off the wedding and to leave Ben... and to tell her he's been in love iwth her ever since they were young. Marcela stops Theo and he opens to her... yet she doesn't tell him that she's also been obsessed and secretly in love with Ben... that they are both going through the same pain and twisted love. Instead Theo and Marcela begin to feel a spark between each other and decide to rebound with one another and to try out a non serious relationship to just see if they can help each other move on. Yet Ben is determined to keep Marcela away from Ben, and as Theo's feelings become more real Marcela's guilt at keeping her secret love for his brother gnaws at her.... and when it all comes out i the open can she finally admit that she might actually be in love with Theo and that he is the one for her or will her insecurities make her lose her chance at the one guy who's willing to see her for her and love her. Messy relationships, complicated feelings, and secrets all come to a head in this complex romance. It's such a fun and messy read and would absolutely make a fantastic rom com movie. I had fun reading it and I adored Theo so much, he really adored Marcela and wore his heart on his sleeve.

Release Date: July 9,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Rating: 4.5/5

❀ Thank you Forever Publishing and Gabriella Gamez for the ARC. ❀

When I say I devoured this book I mean I DEVOURED this book. I read it in a day and a half. I was glued to the pages wanting to get more of Marcela and Theo. Their dynamic and chemistry was just so freaking good! The way they both share their interests and the other makes it their mission to care and implement it in their lives. You can honestly tell that these two complement each other perfectly.

The plot also had me intrigued with everyone’s reactions to Marcela and Theo “dating.” Loved the themes in the book and that they were actually acknowledged. There’s even an ace side character! I also loved Marcela’s love for books and libraries (HE ASKS HER FOR A RECOMMENDATION). Such a cute read, a page turner and would definitely recommend to try out!

❀ Tropes: Friends-to-Lovers/ Fake Dating/ Best Friends Brother/ Forced Proximity/ Rebounds-to-Lovers/ No-Strings/

❀ Themes: Plus Size FMC/ Mexican FMC/ Interacial romance/ Librarian + Ex NFL

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.5)

Librarian Marcela Ortiz has loved her best friend for years, but when he gets engaged, she knows it’s time to move on. Theo Young, ex-NFL player and brother of her crush, complicates things. Pretending to be a couple, they discover a rebound romance filled with chemistry, complications, and unexpected feelings.

“He wants the bride, she wants the groom. But what if all they really wants… is each other? Blegh.”

There were parts I really connected with the characters amongst moment that simply fell flat. Because of the emotional angsty drive of pining for someone you cannot have, it was easy to feel sympathy for both Theo and Marcela and root for them to find joy. Marcela was also a fantastic representation of what it looks like to embody self confidence yet anguish at knowing others likely see her differently. Theo lost me partway through the book. Him and his brother, Ben, consistently gave off loosery vibes and I couldn’t get over how insecure they both acted because of jealousy. This is a romance of unassuming connection after restless infatuation.

Thank you @foreverpub @netgalley for the eARC 🤍

Perfect for you if you like:
Love squares + family drama + unrequited love
Characters dealing with jealousy and insecurity
Lifetime movie vibes (or my Best Friend’s Wedding)

Similar to:
Savor It by Tarah DeWitt
When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein (Did not finish 😬)
Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey

⛔️chapters 18, 22 & 31 contain explicit romance scenes (open door)
⚠️explicit language, previous parental abandonment, toxic friendships, fatphobia

Poor Marcela trying to do the right thing only to get caught up with Theo double the trouble but thank goodness it worked out for the best.

Gabriella Gamez’s debut novel, The Next best Fling is an addictive and fun rom-com and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

The cover is what drew me to this book. I’m pretty sure any romance bookworm swoons at the idea of the hero kissing the heroine against a bookshelf at a library. If you like your romances on the slightly more angsty, drama-filled side, this book will be for you. I like this book, even though love triangles or, in this case, a love square are my least favourite tropes. There is some major pining going on in this book. Both Marcela and Theo have deep, unrequited feelings for Ben (Theo’s brother and Marcela’s best friend) and Alice, who are newly engaged. As you can imagine, this book has plenty of drama, which I think is to be expected when a romance has a love square in it. I thought Gabriella did a great job at taking the love triangle/square trope and making it her own unique thing. There are some predictable moments in this book, which isn’t a bad thing. But she also added this uniqueness to the story by taking a couple of the characters and putting this spin on them that I wasn’t expecting. Their character started out very stereotypical and changed into something more as the story progressed.

I loved Marcela; she is a gorgeous, curvy heroine who adores books and eating delicious food. Marcela feels stuck in her life because she is still harbouring some major feelings for Ben. This secret crush means she hasn’t been able to form any deep romantic attachments with any other guy. Well, that is until Theo walks into her life. Marcela is a relatable and real character. Anyone who is curvy (and fabulous) probably knows how strong those insecure feelings can be when it comes to how we feel about our bodies. I know I am one of them. Marcela’s struggles with loving her body was so relatable to me, and I loved how Theo made her feel like an absolute goddess. Marcela’s growth in this story is centred around her feelings for Ben and her growing feelings for Theo. Sorry, I know that is slightly vague, but I can’t really go into too much detail about Marcela’s growth without giving away spoilers. But I can say I loved her journey and I was rooting for her the entire time.

Theo was a delight right from the beginning. I thought he was going to be this cocky broody football player, but he wasn’t. He was a big softy with a giving heart and so unsure of what his future would look like. He definitely falls first and harder when it comes to his relationship with Marcela. He truly adores her, and his grand gesture at the end of the book made my heart melt.

The romance in this book is chaotic and messy at times but in a good way. There are a lot of big emotions in this book and that often means things aren’t going to be neat and tidy. I like Theo and Marcela together; they may have fallen in love with each other a little too quickly to make it believable. If you are a fan of fake dating, best friend’s brother, cinnamon roll hero, he falls first, love squared, and pining, then you will enjoy this story. When friends and family believe that Theo and Marcela are in a relationship, they decide that pretending that they are in a relationship might be the best way to get over the feelings they have for Ben and Alice. They become friends, and that friendship turns into a friend-with-benefits situation. Theo and Marcela have great chemistry, and even though I felt that the whole falling head over heels in love with each other happened a little fast, I was ok with it because I wanted them to be together. The spice is great, and the sexual tension between Theo and Marcela is built up perfectly.

The Next Best Fling is a sizzling romance that will satisfy any romance bookworm.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced reader copy.
I love the best friend's brother tope, and I enjoyed this book; I just don't think I will keep thinking about this one.

I badly wanted to love this story because it sounded right up my alley. However, it took me way too long to finish it because it didn't hold my interest as I'd expected. I kept putting it down. It started out strong, I mean a fake relationship between two people who are in love with other people who happen to be engaged? Perfect scenario. I just never felt the chemistry between Marcella and Theo. Both of them drove me crazy in different ways with the push and pull that just became tiresome. I did, however, get the ending I'd wanted and expected but the lead up felt like the words were just being added to increase word count rather than having any real meaning. 3.5 stars

✨𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀✨
• fat girl rep!
• Mexican librarian FMC
• NFL player
• fake dating
• best friend’s brother
•pining for someone who doesn’t want you back
🌶️🌶️🌶️🫑

✨ 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨
Marcela loves Ben, who is getting engaged to Alice, and she finds herself stopping Theo, Ben’s brother, from confessing his love to Alice, which suddenly leads to a whirlwind of fake dating, and rebounds, aimed at getting over the engaged couple.

✨ 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ✨
I loved getting the chance to experience a main character who was fat. I myself am part of that demographic so it was refreshing to see and imagine someone more like me. I also appreciate that being fat wasn’t her only flaw or that this book was in solely centered on that. Marcela is a normal complicated person with many facets to her.

There was so much more of the story as you go through. Deep layers of past events that shape you to who you are later in life, whether for the good or for the bad. Everyone in this book had more to them that met the eye.

This book is not only for the romance lovers, but for anyone looking for a mainly fake dating plot with more layers of depth to explore.

I honestly can’t believe this is a debut. It was so well done.

Marcela has been in love with her best friend for years but when he gets engaged to someone else she knows she needs to move on. When she’s asked to pick up his brother at the airport she can only remember his one drunken night and can’t help but dislike him.

Theo is retiring from the NFL after a repeat injury that isn’t healing properly. Deciding to move closer to family isn’t as innocent as it seems. When he attends the engagement dinner for his brother he’s close to confessing his feelings for the soon to be bride when Marcela stops him.

I loved how smoothly they both rolled with people assuming they were together. Theo was such a sweetheart and paid such attention to what she liked and saw her for who she is. They fit so perfectly together, even though their path to get there was bumpy.

I am a sucker for a book with a curvy FMC! I really enjoyed this once it got going. I love that Marcela is a librarian and loves special edition books. She is passionate about her job and reading which is something I can definitely relate to. I love the fake dating trope and usually hate miscommunication between the main characters but it was so nice that the MMC Theo never let Marcela off the hook when he could see she was all up in her feels. Perfect amount of banter, spice and swooning. Highly recommend!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Gabriella Gamez for the ARC!

3.25


This was messy, messy, messy. Marcela has been in love with her best friend Ben for ten years, but he just got engaged to someone else. Ben’s brother Theo is secretly in love with Ben’s fiancé. Messy.

There was not one single character who handled this mess well. You’re telling me over the course of ten years one of the friends of these people didn’t step in and manage this? Angela, I’m looking at you.

However, the messiness of this book was the best part. The text message debacle? Amazing. Marcela handing Ben his ass? Glorious.

I’m still trying to figure out if I actually liked any of these characters. (Well, I know I didn’t like Ben. We all hate Ben.) I just never felt like there was any growth for anyone until the very very end.

For example: Marcela is actually ridiculous. So incredibly indecisive. And I know see why she’s like that! I do! However, having the exact same inner monologue over and over again with no evolution until quite literally the last chapter gets old. For example again, telling multiple people other than Theo that you’re in love with him when you KNOW he’s been losing his mind for like a week, then deciding to finally tell him then chickening out and sleeping with him instead is really something. Give this man a break. Help him out here.

(Side note on Marcela being a librarian: what do you MEAN you take books home without checking them out? What about your circulation statistics? Your annual report??)

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!

What a great book! I kid you not. I had to wait hours at a dealership to get my car looked at. And this book right here took me away. I wasn't in a place with dozens of people I was with Marcela and Theo and their very, very complicated situation.

Marcela has been in love with her best friend Ben for years. (Let me tell you this author can write the longing!) When he announces he's engaged, we really hurt with her.

It's a secret, though, that she loves him, and she's stuffing it all down to support him. But when she overhears his brother Theo about to confess HIS love to the bride to be, she steps in.

And... a friendship is born. Kinda. Theo is experiencing a lot of life changes, poor dude. Marcela is an awesome librarian who is a steady friend.

These two are polar opposites but share a very painful problem that brings them together. What's going to happen when everyone else finds out about their new... relationship? Let me tell you some people get their comeuppance!

I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was fun, and I could identify so much with Marcela that it was insane. I can't wait to read book 2!

Thank you Forever Pub for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Wow! I really enjoyed this! I’ve been struggling to read ebooks, but I couldn’t put this down!

From Marcela and Theo’s meet up at her best friend (and his brother’s) engagement party, I was hooked. I enjoyed the unique concept of Marcela and Theo using each other to get over someone.
Thought they started off as rebounds for each other, they quickly developed into more. They both seemed to grow and change so much throughout the book. Theo is a new book boyfriend! From the date he planned and the surprise he had for her.

Marcela is a librarian and has some dreamy set ups (like a library in her second bedroom!) I loved the parts of her job and how Theo stepped in and helped with a reenactment.

I really appreciated how they worked through their issues despite having fears. I can’t wait for more books from Gabriella Gamez!