All in all, The Next Best Thing was a light and fun read, but lacked some of the emotional punch I was looking for. As the main characters hashed out the “lovers square,” that defined their relationships, too many of the issues relied on the miscommunication trope, rather than any deep conflict. While this has hints of being a sports romance, the football factor remains mostly past tense, so for those looking for more sports action on page may be disappointed. I appreciated the curvy girl representation and all of the library love. The grand gestures that play out, are truly swoony! Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Books for my gifted ARC!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Marcela Ortiz is in love with her best friend, Ben, and has been for years. Unfortunately for her, he's just gotten engaged, and she has to put on the pretence of happiness for him, and try to move on. So when at the engagement party she overhears his brother, Theo, drunkenly plan to announce his feelings for the bride, she knows she has to stop him from making a mistake which will destroy all of their lives. Bringing Theo back to hers to sleep off his drinking, they cause a scandal arriving at brunch together, and decide to go with the flow and pretend there's more to their night together than there actually is. The plan works perfectly, until the fake feelings and romance start to develop into something a lot more real, and it's hard for them to decide whether to take the leap, or if it's just a rebound waiting to fail?

I loved this book! It grabbed my attention from the first pages, and I couldn't put it down until I knew whether Marcela and Theo had a happy ending or not. Marcela being in love with her best is not a new plot idea, but the fact that she didn't go for him in the end, and instead found that his brother was his better in every way, and loved her as she was, not wanting her to change at all, was refreshing! Theo was honestly such a sweety pie, and he fell for Marcela hard, and did not shy away from his feelings in the slightest. The fact that he was so open and honest with Marcela was perfect, and the way he waited for her to be comfortable enough to open up made it all the better. This was one of the best romances I have read in a long time, and when Gabriella releases her next book, I will immediately rush out to get a copy!

I really enjoyed this book. Being honest though, it almost lost me a few times with all of the miscommunication. Even though I caught myself rolling my eyes quite a few times, I liked reading the relationship building between Theo and Marcela. It was cute. Kicking my feet, blushing cute.

I've been in a BAD reading slump and this book INSTANTLY took me out of it from the start. The dedication was *chef kiss*! This book has it all: fake dating, a strong female mc, who is plus size as well as a BIPOC. I could not read this book fast enough! There are the typical things found in a plus size romance (they're worried they don't look good, etc.) but this book did an excellent job addressing these subjects/conversations and they felt REAL. And did I mention the tension between Marcela and Theo? *fans self* The entire book was enjoyable as much as it was relatable. Marcela being a librarian was the cherry on top. And the fact that she wasn't a "typical" librarian (you know- they have glasses and cardigans and do nothing besides read) was refreshing. This romance starts as a fake dating opportunity for Marcela and Theo after Marcela catches Theo about to ruin her best friends' engagement happiness.... who also happens to be the man she's secretly loved for almost ten years and is also Theo's brother. Did I mention that Theo wanted to ruin his brother's engagement because Theo himself is in love with the bride-to-be? Marcela stops Theo and finds out about his love for his brother's fiancée and later decides it's best if they have a fake relationship to keep themselves out of trouble. Problem- she doesn't tell Theo about her secret feelings for his brother. And even bigger problem- she can't really tell what's fake and what's real anymore as they continue. I mean- what would an ex-NFL star see in her after all? Overall, this is a very fun and quick romance to read that I highly recommend! #NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARC #Romance #TheNextBestFling #GabriellaGamez

As a librarian, I couldn't resist the first book in a series called "Librarians in Love," obviously. I really liked the premise here - female main character Marcela (a delightfully nerdy librarian!) is in love with her best friend, Ben, who opens up the story by getting engaged to his long-time girlfriend Alice. Marcela is heartbroken but seems to be ready to at least try to move on. Ben and Alice ask her to pick up Ben's older brother Theo, an NFL player that Marcela has only met a few times before, but who is coming to town for an engagement party. At the party, Marcela overhears Theo rehearsing a speech in which he declares his love for Alice and begs her not to marry Ben. Trying to spare her friend the pain and to keep Theo from making a huge mistake, she talks him out of it and lets Theo sleep off his tequila on her couch. At the engagement brunch (lots of engagement events in this one), Theo and Marcela show up together, and late, and everyone assumes they hooked up. They decide to engage in a classic fake dating ruse to make sure their feelings for the bride and groom stay hidden, but they end up liking each other a lot and things progress into more of a friends with benefits situation. All the while, Ben is constantly warning Marcela to stay away from Theo, and we get a sense that he's actually kind of a horrible friend, constantly manipulating Marcela and sabotaging her romantic relationships. I don't always vibe with a friends with benefits setup, but I thought that Gamez wrote this one really well - these two damaged, heartbroken characters jumping right into a real thing would have been pretty unbelievable. One of my favorite things about this was seeing Marcela and Theo actually work through some issues on the page - body image issues for Marcela (again, not helped by Ben, who is awful) and a lot of family and career stuff for Theo. Also, I think this had one of my all time favorite first dates in it? It made me think of big grand gesture first dates from 80s rom coms. I can't wait to read more from this author!

This started off as a great read, but the last half wasn't my favorite. Honestly the whole situation was kind of toxic and I didn't love how Theo and Marcela got together and handled everything. Initially, I liked how Theo and Marcela were both aware of needing to move on and they found comfort in each other. However, Marcela grew to be a frustrating character. There was transparency from Theo but Marcela was so focused on choosing to blindly read into his words and she was overcomplicating things. There was a lot of miscommunication at the end of the book and it was starting to get silly. I think it would have helped if we saw their relationship develop more, especially beyond a physical level. Marcela felt like a very juvenile character and my biggest issue with her was how messy she was making everything. There's not much to the plot but it started to feel like they were running in circles at the end and it would have been less frustration if there had just been more communication between all the characters. Theo was a great character and I love how clear he was about his feelings/stance but the excuses Marcela was trying to use were disappointing. Overall, there were lots of red flags in the characters and I wasn't invested in the story enough to be convinced about their relationship. Even at the end, it still felt like a rebound relationship and the character development wasn't enough. There were definitely some cute moments though! I wouldn't have minded if we got to see the librarian side of Marcela more.

Before I picked this book up, I was in a HUGE romance slump. I was DNF-ing romance after romance & I had only enjoyed one ALL YEAR. I had decided to take a break from the genre for a while, but I randomly picked this book up and I’m so glad I did. This book has renewed my love for romance🥰

This is the perfect romance read! It had everything I ever want in a love story. It had lovable main characters, so many adorable moments, lots of pining, and even drama👀

I loved the characters so much. Marcela and Theo were so great. They had such amazing chemistry. Their relationship had such depth. And the characters individually, had so much depth as well. ALL of the characters were so well developed to the point where I understood everyone, both the good and the bad parts. Theo has made his way into my book boyfriend hall of fame. From his grand romantic gestures to how attentive he was to her feelings. He was the perfect man.

Fake dating is my favorite trope and this was fake dating done well. The scenario which caused the fake dating felt so natural to the story. And this book had a third act breakup that made perfect sense. It wasn’t just some miscommunication where grown people don’t know how to explain their emotions. There were layers to it that they really had to sort through in order to come back together.

I feel like this review doesn’t even begin to convey how much I loved this book. This story had me cheesing and giggling at all the cute moments & beautiful confessions. It had me cussing people out. It had me tearing up. It just took me through so many emotions, in the best way. It was literal perfection from beginning to end. This book is for the real lovers! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: abandonment & fatphobia

Thank you to netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed the story and the plot of the story.

When I first started this book I wasn't sure if I'd like it. The main character, Marcela, has been in love with her best friend, Ben, for years and when he proposes to his girlfriend, she's heartbroken. Her close girl friend suggests she have a "fling" with someone -- which is totally out of character for Marcela. In walks Theo, Ben's brother and rival. What better person to have a fling with than him?

I thought the idea of their fake dating/fling would be a flimsy way to start a real relationship -- because, let's face it, we all knew this was where the story was going. However, the way the author described their feelings and hesitations was very well done.

The twisty climax was similar to what I thought it would be but more unfolded than I expected.

I'm hoping this author continues writing about this universe - I'm assuming this will be a series based on the "Librarians in Love" subtitle. I'm anxious to read her next book.

Thank you NetGalley for the awesome ARC! What a fun read! I wanted to continue hanging out with Marcela and Theo by the end. Marcela was super relatable and although she could be frustrating and naive, her character felt real and familiar. I love that her Latina-ness was just a part of who she was and not a plot point. What a great next step in normalizing representation.
Story-wise, the action felt well paced and the spice levels just right. I was rooting for Marcela and Theo and felt the story ended perfectly. Looking forward to reading more from the talented up & coming writer, Gabriella Gamez and hope this book gets some marketing support.

I did like most aspects of this book, but I felt like something was just missing. It could be that I wasn't into the whole "she loves the groom, he loves the bride" story line. I felt like the premise just wasn't what I expected it to be. I did love the bookish themes and the surprise Theo gets Marcela; I thought that added a lot to the book.

I found this to have somewhat teenage drama vibes but with spice. I wanted better communication towards the end there. But it was an easy read to get through and I would read the next in the series.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Oh love love loved this!! This was spicy goodness with a heartwarming undercurrent. I’m always a sucker for a curvy fmc (love seeing myself represented) but when you couple it with a hot former nfl player!? Goodbye I am deceased. I loved the deeper themes to this story along with how the FMC and mmc worked together to do better and be better together. Highly recommend!

Overall this book was a good read. It had strong character building, emotional establishment, and growth from both main characters. The theme of the book was drama. There was a lot of complication and mess. It added to the story but as a personal reader I didn't love that both characters were so ensconced in heart ache for someone else.

4.5/5 ⭐️

What a great read! This was cute, fun & had just the right amount of spice. The characters were super likable & relatable and I really enjoyed the story overall. It gave me early 2000s romcom vibes and I loved it!

I really like Marcela & how relatable she was! Loved that she was a book lover as well. I was also able to relate to a lot of her insecurities not because I experienced them myself, but because the author did a great job of getting me to put myself in her shoes and see things through her eyes as I was reading.

I really loved Theo’s character. I loved how open and honest he was right from the beginning of their arrangement and how he wasn’t afraid to share his feelings and be vulnerable with her when things started to change. He really was so kind and not at all the person people were making him out to be. Both characters really had amazing growth and I really appreciated that.

Overall, incredibly happy I got to read this and totally recommend adding it to your TBR!

- Thank you Gabriella & NetGalley for the ARC! This is my honest review!

a big thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the prepub of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marcela is a teen librarian in her hometown library. She has been pining for her best friend, Ben, since he broke her heart in college saying they are better off friends. So when Ben announces he is marrying his girlfriend of many years Alice (who used to be her friend) Marcela has to pull it together. But then Ben's brother Theo shows up and wants to ruin the engagement party by stealing the bride to be away. Instead Marcela stops him from making that mistake while drunk. When the two show up at brunch the next day together everyone thinks they hooked up. They end up using that as a cover and falling in love in the process.

I'm a bit harsh on romance books, but this is a cute one. Not sure how believable it is that a former NFL player would fall for a curvy teen librarian... This book reminds me too much of my life in small aspects. Over all its a good romance.

Marcela Ortiz has been secretly in love with her best friend, Ben, for a decade. She knows that now that Ben is engaged, she has to move on. On the night of Ben's engagement party, Marcela catches a drunken Theo, Ben's brother, on the verge of confessing his love for Ben's fiancée. Marcela convinces Theo not to make this big mistake and takes him home to sleep it off. When people think that they hooked up, neither Marcela nor Theo correct them. They realize that this situation could help them mask what is really going on. Marcela and Theo go from fake dating to rebounds and something more that either of them ever expected.

I loved this book! I was a little wary that I might not like a romance about two people in love with other people. I wondered how the story would be believable enough that Marcela and Theo would fall out of love with Ben and Alice and fall in love with each other nearly at the same time. Gabriella Gamez is a talented writer, finding balance in a story that could have been too much. Marcela and Theo's situation was deliciously messy and I ate it up. From the first few chapters, I was hooked, needing to know how their story would play out.

The journey that Marcela and Theo went on together was not easy. They had to process lots of emotions as they got to know each other. They didn't know what they wanted from each other when they first started, but it felt too good to stop. Sometimes in life, you just have to go for it and have faith that things will work out in the end.

My favorite character in this book was Theo. He was vulnerable, honest, insightful, thoughtful, and kind. But he wasn't a saint, either. Theo had a complicated relationship with his brother and he wasn't always on his best behavior around him. He had very human feelings about their relationship and sometimes he couldn't help but resent his brother. The layers Gamez gave to his character gave me the depth I crave in books.

I am so impressed by this debut novel! I can't wait to see what Gabriella Gamez has coming next.

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥

The girl in love with her best friend and the best friends brother who is in love with his brothers fiancé… can’t get more telenovela than that.

I loved this book, I loved the FMC and the MMC together and I especially loved how they brought out the best most honest side of each other. They both showed a lot of character growth. I loved how the plot progressed and I loved the ending.

I don’t not like Ben. And I grew to like Alice.

As a Latina, I loved the representation here. It wasn’t just the right amount. It wasnt over done or over the top thrown in your face. We love a bilingual mamacita. And I would also like to mention the asexual community representation too. I like how it was hinted at first and then it came full circle. Well done

Thank you for to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Different kind of librarian related romance that tugs on the heartstrings where it hurts! Gabriella Gamez creates a narrative through the world of Marcela Ortiz, a young adult librarian overly hung up on a decade old ex-boyfriend/best friend who crushes were hopes of possibly having feelings for her despite getting engaged to his fiance of 8 years. Marcela constantly hopes that Ben Young will leave his girlfriend in the hopes of choosing Marcela as his one and only true love, but when Ben proposes to his girlfriend and Ben's big brother Theo returns to ruin the couple's happy union, Marcela has to choose to do the right thing or her own thing. With the fear of Theo and Marcela's feelings for both parties being exposed, they both chose to have a rebound affair to help get over their forbidden love interests and possibly heal without catching feelings for each other in the end.
I think author Gamez really intended to land every punch about the struggles of unrequited love and helping the characters see the benefits of self-worth and healing for themselves. As I was reading, I recognized a lot of the toxic thoughts and anxious feelings Marcela went through because I had experienced those myself in past. The author really wanted to tug on the heartstrings of her readers and make them think about one's self-worth when it comes to love. I will admit that she succeeded because as Marcela and Theo were trying to heal from their wounds together despite trying not to end up together, it proved to be the best thing for them at the moment. They both were wounded and lost, but they were able to be there for each other and show what healthy love was. I will say though, I absolutely HATED Ben. Gamez created the perfect toxic ex/villain for this book that proved holding onto someone who always made you a second choice, is never worth wasting your time on. Alice deserved someone who would never hold her back, and Marcela DEFINITELY deserved better than what toxic Ben could ever offer her. Throughout the book, I thought it was a very anxiety induced read because I wanted to slap some sense into Marcela for overthinking things and hurting herself, but to be fair, that could have been any of us at some point in our lives. At least she had the chance to find out what the right thing feels like versus drowning and clinging to something fake forever. Overall, this heartbreaking and therapy healing session book was an awesome read with just the right amount of tame smut for the booktok girlies. I highly recommend this book!

I enjoyed this romantic comedy/drama. I could connect with many things regarding the main character. I enjoyed the way her character changes, but also the way the male protagonist dealt with her issues WITH her. I also liked the ending and how not everything ended wrapped up with a bow. Real life isn’t like that, so I appreciate that aspect. The family drama and the tension between characters was very well done.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘—REVIEW

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Any book that I read in 24 hours is highly recommended!! This was an addicting page turning read that had me neglecting my responsibilities and almost had me sweeping the dishes 🤭Grab a cozy blanket and popcorn because this was a complicated and raw romance that will have you rooting for the main characters.

<b><i>Tropes & What to Expect</b></i>
💞best friend’s brother
💞Plus size Latina FMC(she’s also a librarian and book girlie)
💞friends w/benefits/rebound relationship
💞angst/pining
💞90s romcom movie vibes
💞MMC is a ex football player
💞spicy scenes 🌶️

The Characters/Brief Synopsis
I adored Marcie 🥹 and she is such a relatable FMC to her being a book lover and daddy issues I thought I was holding a mirror to myself. She’s the selfless loyal friend who would rather let you ramble about nothing all day than talk about herself. She’s been secretly in love with her best friend for years but never mentioned it to him and when he gets engaged her life crumbles. Theo the MMC omg this man.. we’ll get to that later he is in love with his brother’s finance.. when Marcie overhears him about to confront them she intervenes and rescues the day. After spending time together they decide they can both use a little distraction..

Theo is such a cinnamon roll and wears his heart on his sleeve. Throughout the entire relationship he is honest about his feelings and does not hold back once he starts developing feelings. He communicates so well and is so patient with Marcie. Don’t get me started on the hand porn.. he would grab her wrist and kiss it, intertwine their fingers and kiss her knuckles. I never though I would be swooning and getting giggly over a hand touch 🫠🫠 and his romantic gestures 🥹🥹 this man was perfection

“You should never be without your favorite books. If you’ll let me, I’ll make sure each and every one of your all-time favorites are always signed by their author. Because you deserve to have special books in your personal collection.“ this quote alone had me wanting to get on my knees to marry him 🧎🏻‍♀️

Overall thoughts: Obsessed!! Add to your TBR 💖 It made me think of the movie My Best Friends Wedding which is one of my favs so if you’re fan of this vibe you will love it!!!