This story combines comedy, spice, and emotional depth to create a beautiful new twist on the rebound romance trope. The plot centers on two characters: Theo Young, an ex-NFL star who is secretly in love with Ben's fiancée, and Marcela Ortiz, a librarian harboring unrequited love for her best friend Ben. At Ben's engagement celebration, their worlds collide as Theo, drunk, nearly ruins the celebration with his revelation. When Marcela steps in, what appears to be accidental meeting during a family brunch develops into a fake relationship that both parties utilize as an escape from their unfulfilled romantic loves. This book was quite cute!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story didn’t work for me. But I would read more from the author. I just struggled with the plot of this one.

Cute, steamy, entertaining, real and heartwarming.

Best friends older brother, unrequited love, fake dating and shotsssss baby.

In this one we have a plus sized librarian who has been in love with her best friend for as long as she could remember and her bff’s older brotherrrr, who also has his own ties to this tangled web lol. They both attend the engagement party of his brother and after a drunken night of confessions, are thought to have slept together 👀 so they run with it lol. Good lord I love fake dating.

I’m a mid size girlie and dang if this didn’t tug at my little ‘fluffy’ heart strings loool I highlighted so many parts of this that felt like they fell right out of my head and heart.

This one was about being open and vulnerable and accepting what comes and knowing what you deserve.

It was cute and quick and steamy and I definitely recommend 📚 thankful to NetGalley for this read!

Happy Friday y’all! And here’s to two reviews in one week! Woohoo! As I mentioned in my other review this week, I read two eARCs at the beach- Like Cats and Dogs was the first one and The Next Best Fling was the other one, so now it’s time for my review of that one! Exciting news on The Next Best Fling- it’s been out since July 9th, so as soon as you’re done reading my review, you can go out and grab a copy to read! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever for letting me read an eARC of this one.

The Next Best Fling 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: Two broken hearts decide that the best way to get over their first loves is with a no-strings-attached relationship in this spicy and charming debut romance.

Librarian Marcela Ortiz has been secretly in love with her best friend for years—and when he gets engaged, she knows it’s long past time to move on. But before she gets the chance, she has a bigger problem to contend with in the form of Theo Young, ex-NFL player and older brother of the man she’s in love with. When she discovers Theo’s plans to confess his feelings for his brother’s fiancée at their engagement party, Marcela is quick to stop him—despite how tempting it is to let him run away with the bride-to-be. She manages to convince Theo to sleep off his drunken almost-mistake at her place and when they arrive at a family brunch the next day together, everyone wrongly assumes they hooked up.

Since Theo needs a cover for his feelings for the bride and Marcela needs a distraction from her unrequited feelings for the groom, they decide to roll with the lie. Until one late night at a bar, they take it a step further and discover a layer of attraction neither realized existed. Soon, they find themselves exploring the simmering chemistry between them, whether in library aisles or Marcela’s bed. There are no boundaries for the rebound relationship they form—just a host of complicated feelings, messy familial dynamics, and uncovered secrets that threaten to tear them apart before they can even admit to themselves that their rebound is working. Maybe a little too well.

The Next Best Fling was so incredibly adorable- it was such a fun summer/beach read. I really loved Theo and Marcela as main characters. They were flawed and had baggage, but were willing to try and work through things and become more emotionally available for each other- and man, their interactions were so cute. I also was pretty hooked from the beginning as soon as Marcela had a quote from An Ember in the Ashes in her dating app bio, so I’m kind of biased there. I have zero experience being in love with my best friend who is dating/engaged to someone else, but Gabriella Gamez wrote Marcela’s unrequited love in such a relatable way. Our side characters were also really fun- I really wanted to hate Alice, but I had no reason to hate her, and honestly couldn’t. I had every reason to hate Ben, and I did. I loved Angela- the best friend a girl could have! And Theo- what can I say about Theo. He’s such a great, complex male love interest and he does so much for Marcela (and she does so much for him too, of course). Pacing and plot wise, things were really great- I was never bored or ready to move on. I also really liked how we got a glimpse into Marcela and Angela’s lives at librarians. I also love seeing programs they run etc (a part of me imagines that I would have been a librarian in another life). Overall, I really loved this book and I cannot wait for more books by Gabriella Gamez/more books with these characters! Definitely pick this one up today.

I loved this one. Though I have to say I did find the part about Marcela taking library books out of the library without checking them out hard to believe, as I've never meet a librarian who did that. At least myself and my coworkers wouldn't do that. I loved the banter between her and Theo as well as her friendship with Angela. I also love how Theo treats her even when they were faking. I honestly think he fell first. And I knew by the third chapter how much of jerk one of the characters was and I don't think that they would change.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Next Best Fling" by Gabriella Gamez is a fresh take on the rebound romance trope, offering readers a delightful mix of humor, spice, and emotional depth. The story follows Marcela Ortiz, a librarian nursing unrequited love for her best friend Ben, and Theo Young, the ex-NFL player who is secretly in love with Ben’s fiancée. Their worlds collide at Ben’s engagement party when Theo, in a drunken state, almost jeopardizes the event with his confession. Marcela intervenes, and a seemingly accidental pairing at a family brunch leads to a fake relationship that both use as a distraction from their unfulfilled loves.

Gamez’s debut is brimming with witty banter and heartfelt moments, as the fake relationship between Marcela and Theo evolves into something more genuine. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their journey from faux romance to real affection is portrayed with a blend of humor and poignancy. Despite some occasional missteps in their communication, the story’s exploration of personal growth and messy emotions feels authentic and engaging.

While the setup might initially seem like a typical romance, the book's nuanced portrayal of the characters' struggles and growth elevates it. Gamez’s writing shines in its ability to balance the lighthearted with the deeply emotional, making "The Next Best Fling" a memorable and enjoyable read for fans of contemporary romance.

There were some elements of this book that I enjoyed - I loved the librarian aspect and honestly, Theo. He was a great MMC. I just could not vibe with Marcela’s hang ups and her obsession with Ben, Theo’s brother. Immediately, he was red flag central and I loathed him. Everything wrapped up neatly at the end, and I liked that the miscommunication wasn’t taken overboard and what was in the story was done very well.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez is a charming and engaging read that offers a refreshing take on modern romance. The story follows Marcela as she navigates a whirlwind of unexpected emotions and romantic entanglements, all while balancing personal growth and self-discovery.

Gamez’s writing is sharp and witty, capturing the essence of contemporary romance with a perfect blend of humor and heartfelt moments. Overall, The Next Best Fling is a delightful read that fans of romance will thoroughly enjoy. It’s a testament to Gamez’s talent for crafting engaging and entertaining stories. I'm excited to read more of her work! Perfect for a light, cozy weekend read!

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez is a fun and spicy romance about two people trying to get over their first loves by faking a relationship—only to find themselves falling for each other for real. Marcela, a librarian secretly in love with her best friend, and Theo, an ex-NFL player with feelings for his brother’s fiancée, decide to pretend they’re hooking up. What starts as a cover-up turns into something much more, with plenty of chemistry and complications along the way.

The story is lighthearted and enjoyable, with lots of playful banter and steamy moments. Marcela is easy to root for, but since the story is told from her point of view, Theo can feel a bit distant at times. While the book doesn't bring anything new to the romance genre, it's still a solid read if you’re looking for something quick and fun.

Marcela has secretly loved her best friend, Ben, for nearly a decade. She knows it’s time to finally move on when he gets engaged. Enter Theo Young, the unrequited love’s NFL player brother. He’s returned to town and when Marcela accidentally hears him talking to himself about his own secret love for Ben’s fiancée, things start to get complicated

This book had so much promise for me! It started great with a fun setup and lots of banter and book talk but it lost me somewhere along the way. Theo and Marcela just didn’t do it for me and I wanted a little less drama.

What I liked (because there was a lot!):
-a librarian FMC
-book about books
-plus size rep
-best friend’s brother (in a twisted way)
-swoony moments and grand gestures

What I didn’t like:
-I couldn’t find anything redeeming about Ben. He’s clearly just manipulating their friendship and she hasn’t gotten over him in a decade??
-Lots of talk about honesty but neither of them actually wants to share all of themselves.
-Too much self sabotage. Nothing was ever good for long

If you like a messy romance with books and football and libraries, this one might be for you!

This was a really cute book! I ate it up… Marcela had been in love with Ben for almost a decade when he got engaged to his longtime girlfriend. The twist is that Ben’s brother Theo is in love with said girlfriend, now-fiancée, Alice. Marcela foils Theo’s drunken plot to try convince Alice to not marry Ben at their engagement party. Theo goes home with Marcela to sleep off the alcohol and because he is staying with Ben and Alice, so when they go to brunch the next morning together, everyone assumes they hooked up. They kind of run with the idea to try to get over their respective unrequited loves and then chaos ensues. Feelings develop, complications happen, truths come out. I was hooked and had to know why Ben and Theo had a strained relationship (before Alice even came into the picture) and why Ben was so insufferable. The writing was cute and funny and I enjoyed the side characters and representation. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

With its engaging characters and a plot full of unexpected twists, this book delivers a fresh take on the classic rebound romance trope, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

Marcela Ortiz, a librarian with a heart full of unrequited love, is a character that many will find relatable. Her years-long crush on her best friend reaches a painful climax when he gets engaged, forcing her to confront the reality that it’s time to let go. But Marcela’s journey to healing takes an unexpected turn when Theo Young, an ex-NFL player and the older brother of her best friend, enters the picture with his own set of complicated emotions.

Theo is a fascinating character, struggling with his forbidden feelings for his brother’s fiancée. When Marcela intervenes to stop him from making a drunken mistake at the engagement party, it sets off a chain of events that neither of them could have predicted. The two decide to lean into the misunderstanding that they hooked up, using it as a cover to navigate their own heartbreaks. But as they spend more time together, what starts as a no-strings-attached fling quickly evolves into something deeper and far more complicated.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster with a perfect blend of swoon-worthy moments and spice. It strikes just the right balance of angst, showcasing significant personal growth for both main characters. They enhance each other's lives, offering patience and support through their struggles. I found myself rooting for them effortlessly and was thoroughly invested in their journey to a well-deserved happily ever after

"The Next Best Fling" by Gabriella Gamez is a delightful blend of humor and romance, capturing the essence of modern dating with a refreshing twist. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the journey through their romantic escapades both engaging and heartwarming. Gamez's witty dialogue and unexpected plot turns keep the reader hooked from start to finish.

Fun, and honestly the type of representation we need!
I had a lot of fun reading this one, and it was nice to be able to see my culture in a romance book setting done so well.

A swoon worthy romance that felt real and true in so many parts. Marcella being hung up on her college boyfriend Ben for years is cringy but real. Her shared connection with Theo of wanting people that are unavailable is relatable. There were so many times I just wanted Marcella and Theo to talk their feelings out and realizing they were the ones holding themselves back. But they get there eventually. I love Marcela and her love of books and Theo's swoon worthy grand gesture. Talk about a keeper.

I absolutely adored this book. I loved that our FMC is a curvy girl and also that her job is being a librarian because honestly that’s my dream job.

The spice was really good and there was just enough to enhance the plot. I loved the chemistry between the two and how they developed their relationship.

I am so ready for the next book.

Did not finish

DNF 15% I put this down in March and have never picked it back up again so I think I'm throwing in the towel. I was super excited about a librarian romance but I should have looked into the plot more because I find the set up super cringe 😬 the MMC is in love with his brother's fiancee and the FMC is in love with the brother. The MMC actually contemplates breaking them up at their engagement party 🤢 nothing about this is appealing to me.

I really wanted to love this but it wasn't a super strong read for me. I found myself skimming through it as I got to the end and I didn't love that. The characters were just ok and the story line was just ok for me. I feel like some people will really enjoy this one, but for me, it just wasn't what I was looking for. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

MESSY. This book was MESSY.

But wow did Gamez capture how messy and complicated and real emotions can be, especially when it comes to love and relationships.

Marcella has never gotten over a man she casually dated from college who friendzoned her and has been her close friend for almost 9 years. As friends, she's been Ben's emotional rock and he's stayed by her side all this time which has deepened her feelings so she has loved him silently for years as he's been in a relationship with another. She's never attempted anything to take him away or cross boundaries, but she does yearn for him to finally see her and leave his girlfriend which she is incredibly guilty and ashamed of. These feelings have weighed her down for years as he keeps her close (even when she tries to distance herself) until his engagement makes her know she needs to move on from these heartbreaking, lonely and shameful feelings.

Theo is Ben's older brother who Marcella has seen at his worst and knows from Ben's stories. She's still surprised to see him at Ben and Alice's engagement party drunkenly rehearsing a speech to tell Alice (his childhood best friend) he's never stopped loving her and ask if she has any feelings for him, ever. Marcella takes him home, preventing him from giving his speech as she knows he'll regret it and she would too.

When they show up together at brunch the next day, everyone assumes they're hooking up. After seeing Theo's face around Alice and worrying about her own, Marcella lets them think it.

Theo is open book and Marcella confides she has unrequited feelings she is trying to get over too (though leaves out they're for his brother). They become friends and their attraction pushes them to move on with each other, knowing they're both in love with others. Even though they go in as casual it quickly shows that will be difficult.

I really enjoyed how open their communication was. Even when they didn't tell each other everything, and Marcella especially shut down, they could be so honest with each other. They pushed each other to be better without realizing it and understood each other in a way no one else could, even if it wasn't pretty.

The story is from Marcella's POV and her thoughts are messy and up and down and back and forth as she tries to figure out how to change, what her feelings are, who to trust, and how to trust and accept fear. I enjoyed how complicated it was because it felt real. If I got real romantic feelings for my rebound who is also my love's brother he doesn't say flattering things about and is trying to keep me away from, who also is in love with the woman already chosen instead of me before, I too would have trouble wrapping my head around everything and know what was going on in my head and heart and if I could even trust it when it's led me into toxic and heartbreaking situations before. And it may mean the relationships go forward then backward then forward then sideways and may take a while to get to the typical "happy ending" as I work my way to that point, as Gamez writes.

I'm so impressed by what Gamez has captured here and I couldn't put the book down. She allowed the story to be full of big and complicated and messy feelings to tell the story of these relationships of complicated and messy humans. The story felt complete at the end as she didn't hold back exploring their feelings and the complexity of the situation.

This definitely isn't a story of clear black-and-white anything, but that makes the happy ending all the happier for this hard-fought couple 💕

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Feat: love-square, friends-to-rebound-to-lovers, MESSY MESSINESS, plus-size FMC

TW: fatphobia, abandonment issues

4 stars
2 spice