This book unfortunately has wasn’t for me!
I did love the plus size rep in here, but the 2 main characters together I did not
Love

There were depths to the plot that could have been explored more, but I felt like each plot line had a satisfactory ending with no major plot holes.
I loved this book. I loved the very raw and honest way Marcela was presented. Only having Marcela's POV A throughout the book might have added to some of my confusion. It would have been great to get some from Theo or maybe even Alice as well.
I'm going to recommend this to my library, and I will probably buy my own copy after it's released. My personal library isn't as big as Marcela's but I do have a couple of favorites' shelves.

When Marcela’s long-time crush and best friend announces that he is proposing to his girlfriend, she has to figure out how she’s gonna move on. As she begins sorting out her own feelings, her best friend’s brother, Theo confesses his feelings about his brother’s fiancée. Marcela & Theo start their relationship as a cover, but the unlikely pair find that they have more in common than they think. I really enjoyed this fake relationship, best friend’s brother, contemporary romance novel. The banter between the MCs is so pure and makes the reader vote for them. I definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and forever for the e-Arc my opinions are my own. This was a fabulous debut. Loved the spice and the characters were well developed. I loved the representation in the book. I find miscommunication in books frustrating and find myself yelling at the eReader and the characters. Excited for the next book in the series.

Suggest pickingnit up.

Perfectly cute rom com. Not quite enemies to lovers, little love quadrilateral happening. Good spice. Their relationship didn't always feel totally healthy to me to be totally honest, so I had a tough time sometimes during a lot of their talks with how the conversations went. I think I liked the MMC more than the FMC. But cute overall. 4/5

This had the potential to be super messy and angsty in the best way and while it was a little bit, it wasn’t enough of what I was expecting.

I liked the FMC and I liked how she progressed and was able to realize certain aspects of herself and her friendship and what she should/shouldn’t stand for.

The MMC? I literally did not care. I don’t really mind whether something is dual POV or single or multiple, but this book felt incomplete being single POV. I think this is a case where it would’ve been beneficial to get his POV and his thoughts and feelings.

There’s a fun playfulness between the MCs that I really enjoyed and we do see them become friends and let that grow into something more, and there’s so many cute, swoony moments.

I liked the side characters and I think the story progressed well. I don’t want to spoil anything so all I’ll say is certain reveals/realizations felt disappointing but I do like how the FMC handles things a lot.

So I think this is the case of great idea, not my favourite execution but it was still fun and an easy read!

4.25 stars. This is such a fun debut! Messy, but fun. The MCs are both in love with a part of a recently engaged couple, and, after some misunderstandings, decide to have a fling as a distraction. They end up with some pretty intense chemistry. I loved the grace they give each other with their mistakes, both past and present. And there’s a love letter! I always love a love letter.

I liked the premise of The Next Best Fling, but I found some of the characters fairly draining to read and felt like the end stages of the book dragged along. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

There seemed to be some kind of disconnect here for me and this one. The chemistry just wasn't present and there didn't seem to be enough plot-wise to keep me interested. Still well written and great for representation, just wasn't for me.

This was a fun read. I found myself in moments of giggling and periods where I was just smiling because of the sparks between the characters. I adore a book where the male main character falls first. That said, this is a book filled with some angst that stops it from being an overly "fluffy" read. The relationships between main and secondary characters with complexities and created in a genuine way. I'm not usually a huge fan of the fake dating trope but found that the author did a great job navigating it without overly falling into some of the traps I've seen in other authors.

I freaking loved this book! It had me swinging my legs and giggling because it was so freaking perfect. I loved every moment between Marcella and Theo because they were genuinely written so well but also their love was so pure and perfect.

I love the fake dating trope in any setting and I loved how well Gabriella wrote it in this book. I was absolutely hooked with the tropes and premise of this book, I cannot stop thinking about this. It was so perfect and cute. Definitely one of those feel good romance books you pick up when the spring flowers start blooming.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

All the angst! When I read the description I was wondering how will this very unusual love square will end. I had to find out! I’m so happy that I got to read this book early. The secondary characters really make this book more interesting; from the FMC’s best friend, the best friend/brother and the fiancé. The dynamics of all these overlapping friendships, histories, relationships feels like a genuine friend group who navigate life together. Theo and Marcela are the perfect couple because they make you forget the reason their not together is a really good reason to stay apart. Just a great, funny, emotional read (the brothers relationship is COMPLICATED).

Marcela, the FMC is in love with her BFF, Ben. She’s been pining after him firmly from the Friend Zone for a smooth decade. Ben has gotten engaged to Alice, a mutual friend to Marcela. Ben’s brother, Theo, has some residual feelings for Alice, his brother’s fiancee.

Marcela & Theo decide the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else and they’re each other’s next best fling.

What in the QUADRILATERAL hell, y’all? This wild ass Love Square!

While this book seemed to be built on the premise “What if EVERY character was a card carrying member of Team Bad Decisions?”, please understand I was SEATED until the last page. Lovers of MESS will do well with this one. A solid debut by Gabrielle Gamez! 3.5 stars

I read this in one sitting, it had the perfect romantic comedy aspects that I love. We follow Marcela and Theo as they help each other navigate heartbreak over their first love. They fake date to get through her best friends (MMC brother) wedding. I loved the drama that ensued as we learn more about the dynamic of the MMC and FMC and their connections to their first love. This book was MESSY! and i loved every second of it! Sometimes I just need a messy book to get me through the week. I also really enjoyed the discussions of libraries because the FMC is a librarian. (please go to your local library and get a library card). The MMC and FMC had great chemistry that grew as I continued reading!

What a fun romance full of angst and beautiful character growth! The Next Best Fling by by Gabriella Gamez is a fun rom com that will publish in July.

Thanks to @foreverpub I was #gifted a digital ARC of the book. And I devoured it in two days!

In this book, we’re introduced to Marcela, who has never gotten over being dumped in college and instead became best friends with the guy. Nearly a decade later, her best friend is getting married. Coincidentally, she discovers that his brother, Theo, is in love with his brother’s fiancee. Both nursing unrequited love, Marcela and Theo team up to fake date, but their chemistry leads to more. Can they ever find love with such a messy start to their relationship? You gotta read it and see!

This book explores themes of healing, boundaries and growth in such a beautiful way. I loved the journey these characters went on and thought the ending was perfect.

One unexpected delight? It’s set in my hometown of San Antonio, Texas! I loved seeing settings I’m familiar with like The Guenther House, the Riverwalk and the downtown library. It’s also got great Mexican American culture and plus-size rep.

You know who else this book is perfect for? Book lovers. Marcela is a librarian who loves YA fantasy novels and especially adores signed and special edition books. I absolutely ate that stuff up when it came up in the storyline!

This was such a cute story but also very refreshing. I loved how Marcela and Theo grew together and how realistic their love story seemed. I was on the edge of my seat in the second half because I couldn’t predict what Ben would do.

3.5/5

As stated in the book, this was exactly like a CW show and I was here for it. Girl getting over guy rebounds with his brother who is getting over his brother's fiance. Drama ensues!

What I enjoyed:
We love a he falls first story!
All of the character growth - was happy to see where some of the stories, like Alice's, ended up
Theo was hot and I appreciated how much he worshipped and loved Marcela and her body, unlike some other people
Please we need a story on Angela next, I loved her

What I was just okay on:
The characters seemed pretty young. I think they were supposed to be late 20s, but read like early 20s.
Holy moley, there is a LOT of drinking. Like how were the characters not hung over/throwing up all the time? I didnt love the "alcohol as a coping mechanism" scenes but I know that's very prevalent in society so it made sense, I just had a personal ick for it

Overall, would definitely recommend, especially to people who love he falls first, unrequited love/pining, fat representation, football romance, LIBRARIANS, and Texas

Swoony, a bit spicy, with characters to root for! I thoroughly enjoyed The Next Big Fling. It made me laugh and smile a lot while I was reading, which makes me love a book in almost any scenario. I enjoyed the representation as well.

This book was PHENOMENAL. I’ve read a lot of romance books and every time I thought I knew what was going to happen I was pleasantly surprised when it didn’t. I love being surprised in romance books. Fantastic debut novel. I highly recommend. I felt so connect to the FMC. I loved the support of libraries and the notes the author made about finding diverse voices to represent the teens they serve in the library. Representation is so important for everyone, but especially teens. Read this book if you’re looking for relatable characters

Tropes:
📚Fake dating
📚Banter
📚Ex’s older brother
📚Librarian x retired NHL player
📚No strings attach hook up
📚FMC and MMC in love with other people who are getting married (is this a trope?- idk but it was fire to read)

Overall rating: 5 ⭐️
Spice level: 2 🌶️

I am not a romance fan, but Gabriella Gamez made this book so relatable that I couldn't put it down! I love the San Antonio references as I live there and it made it easier to see the events happening. Marcela is trying to get over the love she has for her best friend--and ex--Ben who is about to get married. While trying to get over him, she finds herself in a sticky situation with his older brother, ex-NFL player, Theo. While they pretend to date and become friends with benefits for a time, their relationship is one of true acts of love, respect, communication, and support. I loved the growth between Theo and Marcela. How they learned how to communicate with each other with their needs and wants and the subtle support.
AND giving props to the author on her way of writing this plus size romance. She doesn't make Marcela less human for being bigger, but she doesn't make Marcela overconfident with her body. She's flawed and you can see and even relate to her when she questions her attractiveness and sexiness especially when compared to women who she deems look better than her. I feel like even if you don't like romance or "spicy" books, there is still a little something in here for you.