I found this book to be okay. The romance story is good however it drags from the beginning to the end. There should be more happening in the book besides this constant back & forth in Marcela’s head about trust & vulnerability.

Marcela & Theo find themselves in the same situation of unrequited love however only Theo is willing to open up. Since trust & vulnerability run high Marcela seems only willing to let go when she is in her element in the library. It feels like she spends most of the book trying to destroy relationship happiness without giving it a try. It was difficult to stay engaged in the book.

One the other hand, Theo is often led by his insecurities & emotions but he does open slowly to Marcela. With Marcela as a librarian she is a closed book. An interesting dynamic runs between them. Watching Theo slowly open up is nice.

Also, I feel Ben should be a stronger character. As I read, whenever he did appear, it always seemed as if he had more - should have more - to explain or do, but it always feel flat.

It is an okay book I would not put it at the top of my recommendation list.

I loved this book SO much! Based on the premise and the hype I was pretty sure I was going to love it --- so sure that I pre-ordered a copy prior to reading the arc. This was such a unique storyline and the twists and turns were so well done. I found myself really able to relate to Marcela and the way she felt about herself and her fears surrounding love. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationship between her and Theo grow and deepen and change. Theo was so easy to love! Being a library geek myself, I loved that Marcela was a librarian and the glimpse into library life we got through her job. Her BFF Angela was a breath of fresh air, and it is always nice to see diverse rep (across the spectrum). The story kept me guessing and I enjoyed how it illustrated that things aren't always as they seem on the surface (or from only one perspective). Such an utter joy to read and I am so excited to soon have a physical copy for my shelf. I very much look forward to reading future books from Gabriella Gamez. Massive thanks to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy --- all opinions are my own.

There is something magical about two people using the other to distract themselves from a broken heart just to fall in love with each other! I am very proud of Marcela for pushing her feelings for her best friend aside to protect his relationship from his brother. Super super spicy and I was impressed with the chemistry between the characters!

This was incredible. I do wish it was a bit spicier tbh (for a no strings attached relationship, I was expecting a little more). But a romance set in the stacks??? This was binge worthy and I can't wait to post on my bookstagram on release day!

I loved this book. It’s everything I want in a romance book and more. Great writing, realistic and relatable characters, and romance done without being cheesie. Loved it!!

i loved this!!! a fake/somewhat forbidden dating of a best friend's brother? it was delightful. there was so much depth to these characters emotionally that i immediately fell for them. Marcela and Theo are both in-love with a couple that is recently engaged, and they somewhat use each other to get over them. but as they start to spend more and more time with eachother, they realize that they have a lot more in common then having unresolved feelings for someone they can't have. Marcela and Theo's love story is a fun ride of watching two people slowly fall in love. it is a friendship that is built off of honesty (for the most part), trust, and vulnerability. They open up each other on such an intimate level that is has you swooning and just begging them to give in to eachother!! this was an outstanding debut novel and i cannot wait to read more from this author.

This debut had a lot of potential, and I'm looking forward to checking out more from the author in the future - but, wow, was this a messy romance! I knew that going in, but it was even messier than expected, and all that drama overshadowed the romance for me. But I loved the fresh feel and originality of the storyline. I can truly say that I have never read a book quite like this one, and I loved that it spun a tired trope in an entirely different direction. I bet there will be many readers who love the unpredictability of it, and there was so much other good stuff going on. So it wasn't a total win for me, but it certainly wasn't all bad either.

The story follows Marcela, a woman who has been in love with her best guy friend for years. Though he's been in a relationship with another woman for much of that time, Marcela always assumed that they would find their way together eventually. But when he gets engaged, Marcela realizes that it's officially time for her to move on - which is easier said than done. So when Marcela overhears her bestie's brother giving himself a pep talk before confessing his feelings for his brother's new fiancée, Marcela intervenes. She's only met Theo once or twice, but he doesn't deserve the embarrassment of being rejected, and she can empathize with his feelings. One thing leads to another, and suddenly Marcela and Theo are starting up a fling of their own. If they can't have the one they want, maybe they can rebound together and make it out the other side without too much emotional damage. Except... things don't go according to plan.

If you live for the drama and don't mind a messy road to happily ever after, then chances are that you might enjoy this. I liked Gamez's writing style and the unique vibes. We've all read books where the heroine has been in love with her best friend for years, and I adored the fact that Marcela's story doesn't take the usual path. I also really liked Theo once I got to know him and his backstory. It was easy to empathize with both of them, and it made sense that they would bond over those experiences. There was just a LOT going on, and I felt like the romance was shortchanged because of it. I wanted more of Theo and Marcela connecting because they were right for each other, rather than because of the situation. But there were a lot of strengths to the story too, so I'd check out more from the author in the future.

Librarian Marcela and ex-NFL player Theo think the best way to get over their first loves, who happen to be engaged, is to start a no-strings-attached relationship. What could go wrong if no feelings are involved?

I work at a library and was so excited when I saw that The Next Best Fling is book #1 of the Librarians in Love series. I thought it was a good debut novel by Gabriella Gamez. This is one messy story, full of drama, complicated family dynamics, toxic relationships, but also includes some cute and hilarious moments, fun banter, and a bit of spice!

Marcela is a curvy woman who expresses her body insecurities throughout the book. This could be a difficult topic for some as it includes her history of dealing with fat phobia. She shares the body insecurities and fears she gets during times of intimacy, but we also see her embrace her curves and the beauty of her through Theo’s eyes.

There are repetitive conversations, including miscommunication, between characters throughout the book and I just wanted to shake some sense into them, but I did think the characters were able to demonstrate a good amount of personal growth. There was one scene in particular, that I really hoped was heading in a particular direction that didn’t, but I will not spoil if for you and I will hold onto hope that it could occur in future books.

I think Theo will be added to many book boyfriend lists!

(3.5 stars rounded up)

I’m very much looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Gabriella Gamez for this e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Next Best Fling is a great read. Marcela's in love with her best friend Ben and has been for years. When he announces his engagement to Alice Marcela's heartbroken but knew it was coming. Enter Theo, Ben's older brother and ex-NFL football player. Theo and Ben have a tenuous relationship at best, Alice was the girl next door when they were kids, and Theo thinks she's the one that got away. What's the best way to get over the love of your life marrying someone else? A rebound, of course. I don't want to spoil the book, but someone definitely catches feelings and it gets even more complicated from there. There's drama, a good bit of spice and plenty of humor. This was a delightful read, yes there are some heavier issues that are addressed, it's done gently as can be, and we also get to see the MCs be supportive of each other during those times. Highly recommend!

This book is messy. But the heart of this book is beyond words wonderful.

While being a romance, there was a general idea of what the plot would look like, the nitty gritty of the story was completely original and its own. I loved the layered of both Marcela's complicated baggage and Theo's baggage and seeing how they would cope and grow. Their problems and love both felt well paced to me and the ups and downs made sense rather than feeling like they were just included for the plot.

I had two small problems: I found it hard from the very start to even see why Marcela liked Ben (lets be honest the name doesn't help. Who doesn't have a guy names Ben in their past that has caused so much grief?). Second small issue is when Marcela's friend is getting mildly harassed by Ben to get Theo and Marcela to stop dating and instead of seeing this as a huge red flag in Ben's behavior (when the friend already doesn't like Ben) she instead thinks Ben might be right and pushes Marcela to question Theo and his motives? It just didn't make sense for the character and still snags on me when I think back on it.

I loved the many ways this book could only be this book by this author, and by that I mean you couldn't just pull parts of this book and plop it into another it all holds together very specifically rather than just broad paint strokes. The incorporation of the location (San Antonio, Texas) was so well done. I love when a book really commits to a city and makes it shine instead of just "could-be anywhere"-ville. I adored Marcela's mother and I loved that we saw her culture shine through.

I think that this is a solid debut, and I think as the author continues to write this series will get even better and I can't wait to read more.

"The Next Best Fling" by Gabriella Gamez is an absolute delight! From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was swept away into a world of charming characters, swoon-worthy romance, and unexpected depth.

Marcela, our spirited youth librarian protagonist, stole my heart with her infectious passion for her job. There's something undeniably endearing about her dedication to fostering a love for literature. And then there's Theo, the handsome and genuine hero who captures your attention with his honesty and warmth.

What I truly adore about this book is its ability to blend light-hearted cuteness with meaningful exploration of serious topics. Marcela and Theo's journey isn't just about butterflies and romance; it's about confronting insecurities, embracing change, and discovering the courage to follow your heart. And let's not forget the rollercoaster of emotions brought on by the ups and downs of character growth, especially Ben's (Theo's brother) regression, which adds a relatable layer of complexity to the story.

Marcela Ortiz has been infatuated with Ben Young for almost a decade, so when he gets engaged, she wants to want to move on. Unfortunately, things aren't that simple. When she overhears Ben's older brother, Theo, rehearsing a speech to confess *his* feelings for Ben's fiancée, she knows exactly how he feels and knows that it would be a huge mistake and he'd never forgive himself. Marcela takes a drunk Theo home, and he sleeps it off on her couch. When they arrive at brunch together, everyone assumes they hooked up. Theo and Marcela agree to let everyone keep assuming that, and they also agree to be rebounds for each other. The two are (mostly) very honest and open with each other, and the relationship starts feeling like something more.

The Next Best Fling was such an enjoyable book! I'm a public librarian, so it's always fun to see how accurately authors depict us, and Gabriella Gamez did a pretty great job. I really enjoyed how the roles were reversed - Theo was the one chasing after Marcela and the one who was confident they could make it work. It's unclear who fell first, but Theo fell harder. Marcela was so relatable, and Theo is like...the perfect man - their chemistry was instantaneous and palpable.

A book set in my hometown!? Hell yes!
I will say this had a very slow start for me but I loved the female lead so much! She is plus sized and doesn’t care at all what anyone has to say about it!
Listen this was MESSY and I was here for it and the spice was SPICY

Gabriella Gamez did the damn thing with this book!!
I wasn’t sure if I was going to love this or not because I’m not typically a lover of complicated love triangles (or squares as this would be I suppose lol) but this was done in such a way that I ended up binging it to find out what would happen next!
Marcela is exactly the kind of sassy, hilarious, relatable kind of fmc I love to see and to top all of that off she’s Latina and plus size so even more reasons to love her! She’s so relatable in her dramatics and her daddy issues 😂 her love of books, and empanadas- can’t forget those!
I’m not going to lie she did irritate me but only in the way that I was like “just let him love you girl!!!!”
And the “him” I’m referring to?
Only the most adorable, sweet, and romantic mmc ever Theo Oml what a man! The way he is with her made me literally cry! Ugly cry not just a tear or two😭
I just couldn’t get enough and I can’t freaking wait to get a physical copy because I will definitely be rereading this over and over!

Thank you to netgalley, and forever (grand central publishing) for this e-arc opportunity! And of course thank you to Gabriella herself for writing this adorable amazing read! 🩷

I loved this book! First off, a San Antonio, Texas, location! Ahhh. I don’t see many sets in my city. It was so, so good. I loved the drama of them being in love with an engaged couple. The writing was so intriguing and entertaining. I couldn’t stop reading. The chemistry was done so well. They had so much fun together. Theo was so easily lovable, romantic, and sweet. The characters had such great growth and development. Toward each other but also towards knowing their own worths. I absolutely loved this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Swoony and Spicy? A little? Character growth? A TON. Things that bothered me? Just a few but they were biggies.

Loved the bookish/library representation and the plus size FMC 👏

I wanted to love the premise, but it just wasn’t for me. It was like way too much drama and pining for others and it took away from Theo and Marcela’s relationship. Which, also felt a little too insta-love for me and I didn’t like the double love triangle? Or love square? Or love diamond… whatever you want to call it I didn’t enjoy.

This book was great. There was lots of angst, the right amoung of spice and I thought the character develpment was great. I am a sucker for a best friend's brother so I was stoked that this was incorporated. Highly recommend!

The Next Best Fling
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Okay I want to start by saying that if you hate the miscommunication trope, like have a really hard time reading those stories this one may not be for you, there was a part of me that felt like we could have had one awkward conversation and moved on lol BUT with that being said I throughly enjoyed this book! I absolutely loved Gabriella Gamez’s writing, she made me forget all about my disdain for miscommunication, I had a lot of fun with this one and keeping my eyes open for more books by her! I read the first three chapters and was hooked, ready to see what came next! Gamez wrote a book with loveable characters, funny banter, and is just an overall fun easy read, and we get some spice! It was giving me Funny Story ish vibes so if you were a fan of that definitely check this one out! We get a single POV and ya’ll know I always love dual POV better and I would have loved to hear from Theo more, but Gamez wrote in a way that I didn’t necessarily miss it like I sometimes do. There was one character who was not lovable 😡 Lets call him He Who Must Not Be Named and leave it at that. I do feel like if Ben and Marcela dated longer in college I would have understood the torch she was holding for him, but ugh I just did not see it!! I would say this is an easy romance, but we still do get those deep feelings, those moments that push us out of our comfort zones, and are introduced to people that completely change our lives for the good and the bad. “I don’t want to be the kind of person who’s too afraid to try.” LOVE THIS 💕 AND we get a playlist at the end!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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Also sis says she has a flat booty, but cover art is saying otherwise 😂
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Thank you so much NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever Publishing for this e-arc. Mark your calendars for July 9th so you don’t miss this librarian’s love story!

Spoiler ** he buys her all signed books and special editions to refill her library and if that’s not the greatest act of true love.. I don’t know what is.

I loved this book, thought it was well written and enjoyed the plot. Loved it

The next best fling 3.75⭐️3🌶️

Contemporary romance
Plus size Latina FMC
Blond MMC
Texas setting
Best friend’s brother
Rebound relationship
Fake dating
Toxic friendship

This was a solid debut contemporary romance! I’m excited to see where the author’s writing goes from here!!

The characters were fun. I enjoyed the retired-footballer and plus size librarian vibe. Some of the side character’s presence could have been stronger. One small character, the kid from the library, seemed like came out of nowhere with very little context then disappeared again. I would have loved that character to have been a little more established.

I didn’t enjoy the toxic friendship. It made me question the FMC’s judgement throughout. But she also didn’t trust her own judgement… so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

The themes were really great and well explored. I enjoyed the relationships diving deeper than fluff and digging into, and addressing, insecurities in themselves and each other.

The timeline sped by with big breaks in the plot. I’m not a big fan of “10 days later”.

But overall I liked it and I’m excited to read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own