I hate DNFing ARCs, but I have to call this one at 27%. I’ve been trying so hard to get into it. There’s nothing technically wrong with the writing, but it wasn’t super engaging. I think being single POV hurts more than helps in this case. It’s a story that needs the MMC’s POV to make him more understandable and more likable.

The setup is that Marcela is in love with Ben, who’s engaged to a woman named Alice. Ben’s brother, Theo, is in love with Alice. There’s a misunderstanding that leads people to believe Marcela and Theo are hooking up, so they decide to fake date to distract themselves from their feelings for Ben and Alice, respectively.

Now, I LOVE fake dating, but having both MCs in love with other people just didn’t work for me. I wasn’t feeling the chemistry between Theo and Marcela. All I could think about was how they were both into other people and would end up settling for each other — which is not what I want to feel when reading a romance novel. If I had finished this book, I knew it was only going to end up as a 2.5- or 3-star read, and I have too many other books to read to invest time in something I’m not enjoying. I read about the first 100 pages, and they were a slog to get through.

However, I can see myself trying another book by this author. I think this is more of a case of this not being the right book for me than anything necessarily being wrong with the book itself.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

The Next Best Fling is a really cute romance with a good mix of drama wrapped up in a fake dating trope. I really enjoyed Marcela and Theo's relationship especially when they got out of their own way and am excited to see where the author takes the next book in the series.

This was a nice, quick read for me. Marcela has a problem: her best friend she dated briefly years ago is engaged to another woman. Obviously, she’s heartbroken but she’s not gonna do anything about it. Then we have Theo, the groom’s older brother who’s in love with the fiancée. Marcela overhears him practicing a declaration of love and stops him from doing so. But that leads everyone else to think they’re seeing each other. So they go with it.

Things were a bit messy considering the familiar relationships in the book, but I really liked the two together. They were easy to root for.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

This had so much trauma digging! It was a whole overhaul of moving from unhealthy to healthy from friendships to relationships.

I still loved it. Marcela has been in love with her friend Ben since they dated in college, only for him to say he didn't think they were comparable and he started dating her roommate. Nearly a decade later, she's still hooked on him and he relies on her too, including her opinion on the ring he picked out for his soon to be fiance. She's heartbroken but willing to do anything to make his wedding dreams a reality. This happens to take the form of emotionally detoxing with his estranged brother who is not so secretly in love with the bride to be. But as they continue to fake date and rely on each other, real feelings creep in and real revelations regarding her friendship with Ben.

I loved seeing how good replaced bad, how the true colors came to light, and how bride and groom handled it all. I wanted to cheer at some points.

#arc
#netgalley
#thenextbestfling

I love a fake dating, best friend's brother romance. Add in a sports romance element and I'm sold.

On top of including some of my favorite tropes, this book brought diversity without making it an example of diversity. It was so nice to read what felt like a heartfelt and honest story about a fully formed woman who was in touch with her culture. Adding in the touches of her family life and welcoming others through food was a very special moment. Many books that attempt folding in an ounce of diversity make it a teaching moment. As a society, we put so much pressure on underrepresented communities to educate the masses. It was nice that different cultures could just *exist* in this book.

Unfortunately, I found the pacing a little jerky. It felt like the mundane parts dragged and the exciting bits flew by. I wish we got to see more of the character's college and pre college life. These characters obviously had a strong foundation of friendship and shared experiences, I just would have liked to have experienced it with them. There were flashbacks in the way that we look back on things, picking apart the embarrassing bits. You know, those things that flash into your mind in the middle of the night and you physically shudder? The flashbacks however mainly focused on the FMC's insecurities. She was so strong and confident as an adult and in her career. It would have been nice for the flashbacks to show that or even better, demonstrate her growth over time.

3.5/5 ⭐️

This book was MESSY- like telenovela messy. I definitely enjoyed the characters and the idea of this book. It started a little slow, but picked up a lot in the second half.

Aspects of this book: fake dating, best friends brother, NFL player, librarian, Hispanic rep

I really enjoyed the representation that was featured in this novel. The plus sized representation and the feelings that Marcela went through with other partners just hit me straight in the gut because plus sized women deserve so much more than what society gives them. The romance between the two of them, and how he was unappolgetically attracted to her and eventually in love with her was everything. The queer representation for her friend was also lovely, and I'm happy to see it.

I did however want to beat them both over the head with a mallet a la whack-a-mole. Sure I am an onimpotent being reading their story and knows the better parts of whats happening between the two of them without them knowing, but still. The amount of miscommunication and lying by omission is very high, and it was a little too much for me. Though I did appreciate the swoon-y-ness that Theo presented.

Also that cover though...

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Grand Central for an e-copy.

If you ever thought you were in trouble, there is no way to top Theo and Marcela's situation.
She's in love with the groom, he's in love with the bride. What could be worse? He's the groom's brother and she's the groom's best friend. They fall in love while trying to avoid ruining the wedding.
I was honestly a little skeptical about The Next Best Fling, I was wondering how the switch from being in love with the groom to his brother would be and Gamez did it surprisingly well. The reader can tell the switch when the switch to the love interest happens and isn't left wondering if either is still in love with their first love. It was a little less smuttier than I thought it was going to be, with the title being The Next Best Fling, but it was still incredibly romantic and had great movement throughout the book. It was an enjoyable read, however did take me a moment to get into it but I would definitely read again.

4.0 Stars - Marcela has had feelings for her best friend Ben since their college days. However, after almost a decade, Ben has proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Alice, leaving Marcela heartbroken. When Ben's brother, Theo, comes to town for the engagement party, Marcela discovers that he has been in love with Alice for years. Together, they decide to help each other move on from their unreciprocated love by fake dating.

I loved their honesty, accountability, and kindness towards each other. Theo is an amazing book boyfriend, taking time to learn Marcela's likes and planning the world's best date. The book normalizes women's struggle with maintaining a body-positive attitude and highlights the fear of being vulnerable. It's an enjoyable reading experience with difficult sibling dynamics.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A very cute debut from Gabrielle Gamez. I think there could have been more tension in the relationship if they had held off on the physical relationship longer, and so it just felt fast at the beginning. But then it became a really interesting exploration of how to sort out feelings for two different people (for both of them). I was really impressed at how Gamez didn't default to the easy third-act breakup that I was sure was coming--she preempted it earlier and made a much more nuanced final third of the story.

Thanks to Forever for the ARC.

Thanks to Forever and Net Galley for my advanced copy.

I loved this book! It was a fun new take on the classic fake dating and hookup tropes, and the added messiness of the love square situation made me keep flipping the pages. Theo’s openness inspires me to be more open with those around me, and Marcela’s insecurities hit home as well. I loved that they KEPT fighting for each other, working through their problems and insecurities, talking things out like adults.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and Hachette book group for the chance to review Gabriella Gamez’ debut The Next Best Fling. This is book one in the “librarians in love” series, and I already cannot wait to read the next one! Marcela has been in love with Ben forever. The only problem is, Ben is getting engaged to Alice. When it comes time to celebrate the engagement, Ben’s brother, Theo reveals that he has actually been in love with Alice for quite some time.

Theo and Marcela undertake a fake dating scenario, then just a very casual thing. I’m a sucker for grand gestures, though, and Theo is a total sweetheart despite what his brother might say.

This book was sweet and spicy, and I loved all of the book references. Theo grow so much as a person, and Marcela gets to learn who she really is. I loved every minute of it!

I will be honest, I struggled to get into the book at the beginning. It was overall a good book, very cute. I was very happy how it ended. It could have been such an angst book and I think it was well controlled. I loved Theo’s letter, I was a little disappointed how long it took Marcella to open her eyes to how real their relationship was, but she got there in the end. I would recommend it, it was well written and a cute book, I know ladies who might enjoy it more than I did.

This book! It was such a lovely story from my new favorite Latina / South Texas author!!

As Gabriella wrote a-la Lifetime movie tagline - He wants the bride, she wants the groom. But what if all they really want. . .is each other?

Marcela has been in love with her best friend Ben since college - now, 10 years later, he is proposing to his long time girlfriend, Alice, leaving Marcela with a broken heart. When Ben's brother comes to town for the engagement party, and Marcela finds out he has been in love with Alice for years, they decide to help each other get over their long time love ... by getting under each other.

Through secret hook ups, YA book clubs, high school football games, sunday hikes, and not-s0-secret make out sessions, Theo and Marce create their own love story, flaws and all. I loved the honesty and transparency with each other - how they kept each other accountable, how well they communicated (most of the time), and how good they were to one another.

This Texan / Latina / Plus size girl approves! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC for this title.

This romance is filled with tension, heart ache and find understanding with another soul. The main character Marcela is stuck in love with someone she can never be with and in doing so she holds herself back and makes mistakes. I was so frustrated by her actions many times because of how she never choses herself and continues bad habits that enable her own misery through unrequited love. But I will say I have been there, and this was such a good representation for it and we can see ourselves reflected in her. I enjoyed seeing her find her own and finding her worthiness, while helping someone else find theirs. I enjoyed the family conflicts and the honesty that that the MMC has that lets something that is seemingly a bad idea be something that is healthy and healing.

I would give this a 4.5

This one was messy but fun haha. I love the plus size rep. Anyone who loves an old school romcom drama with faking dating will be pleasantly entertained

The chemistry was off the rails with Marcela and Theo. I was rooting for them from the beginning. The author does an incredible job with these characters’ story, the topics mentioned were written with sensitivity and the romance was messy but very raw.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I immediately sympathized with Marcela and her unrequited feelings for her college best friend/crush, Ben. But, she pulled herself together enough to try to be happy for him. Inside she was dying and wanted anything for a distraction. Enter Theo, older brother of Ben. He has been in love with Ben’s fiancée since forever as well. So Marcela and Theo decide to fake date to help each other out with their respective love losses, and give them cover for their families.

Of course, with fake dating always comes real feelings getting involved. Marcela realizes what a catch Theo would be, and his attraction to her can’t be denied either. But Marcela doesn’t know how she can trust Theo’s feelings since this is all supposed to be fake. Plus being a full figured woman, she has some insecurities about her body. Theo, however, is very patient and does his best to reassure her. Things do get very messy all around, but this one has a very good ending!

I recommend this one for a good old fashioned rom-com with librarians, plus size and Mexican representation, with light spice.

Thanks to @gabrielle and @readforever for the eARC through @netgalley.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez. This book had me from the cover art. A plus-sized main character who actually looks plus-sized on the cover!!!!! Love it! Marcela has been in love with Ben since college. Ben’s brother, Theo, is in love with Ben’s fiancé, Alice. Marcela and Theo hatch a plan to get over their unrequited love by helping each other rebound.



Things I love about this book:

Marcela- she is a great, flawed, growth-in-progress character. So stuck on the idea of Ben from college and not allowing herself to move on because the fear of being disappointed.

Marcela’s realistic body acceptance struggles. She mostly accepts and loves her body. Doesn’t always. Has realistic reservations about sex and nakedness. I so identify with this from when I was in my twenties.

Theo!

Theo!

Theo! Strong, athletic, emotionally aware and communicative- wow! Plus he handles his attraction to Marcela so genuinely.

A little spice. And the sex scene emotions were so raw and beautiful.

Women supporting women, not competing



Things I didn’t like:

Ben- ugh. I just couldn’t get why everyone liked him. The worst. Though backburnering people is a thing, it’s sad for someone to do that for so long at this age.

Theo played for the NFL shouldn’t he have more money than he did. I looked up the minimum NFL salary is 700K per year (for the first year), he could afford an Air B&B, so this convenient plot line of him staying with Ben and Alice made no sense.

The Next Best Fling was so cute- I read it, and then re-read my favorite scenes. A great first novel, can’t wait to read Gamez’s next one! 4.25 stars Thanks to Net Galley and Forever Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited about the premise of this book, but it never sucked me in. Not sure if it was my mood or if this just wasn't the book for me. The storyline sounded interesting at first, but the execution felt repetitive. There wasn't much other substance there besides the fake dating relationship, which made me get tried of each of the leads pining after the unavailable characters and caused me not to really believe in the relationship because it didn't seem like the leads were actually connecting with each other.