Spicy and swoon-worthy, The Next Best Fling is a complicated and messy romance, in which two lonely hearts pining for people they shouldn't fall into a mutually beneficial no-strings-attached relationship in an attempt to get over the people they wish loved them back. This was such a fun and quick read that I refused to put down until I finished the last page. Our characters Marcela and Theo go through so much in the book dealing with toxic relationships, heartbreak, feeling inadequate, abandoned, and hopeless but on the flipside we see them overcoming all of those and learning that it is not okay to let others treat you badly because of their insecurities. I loved this book and I loved Theo, best book boyfriend ever!

Marcela, a beautiful, curvy, Latina woman is still in love with Ben, her best friend and previous short-term boyfriend who called off their relationship nearly a decade ago, but keeps her close as a friend. Marcela fantasizes about Ben coming back to her when and if his relationship with Alice falls apart, but that seems less likely now that Ben and Alice are engaged.

Theo, Ben's older brother is in love with Alice, his childhood crush and next-door neighbor, but Alice and Ben are now getting married and he has to do something to stop it. So Theo plans to come clean and try to break up the couple at their engagement party, but Marcela sweeps in and stops him from making a huge mistake, but now everyone things that he and Marcela are hooking up. The two decide to make the best of the situation and mutually agree to be each other's rebound to get over their broken hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Next Best Fling. This book was very cute. As a fat Hispanic woman who is also from Texas, I loved the representation and reading about someone who is very similar to me. I love the conversation around keeping books for teens diverse at high school and libraries.. I love how they well Theo communicates even if he does hold back a secret.

I do not like how whiny Marcella gets. She repeats the same point over and over again if she can’t trust him and they don’t belong together. This point continues to drag throughout the book, and it’s the only big point and conflict which if it is going to be then it’s got to be more than whining.

The biggest reason it’s 4 and not 3 was because of how well the representation and conversation about diverse books was.

Marcela is hung up on Ben who is recently engaged to Alice. Marcela has been pining after Ben for many years. Enter Theo, Ben's brother, who has been pining for Alice since childhood. Marcela and Ben come together to get over their respective relationships.
I really enjoyed the characters and setting. Living in Texas, the nods to Whataburger, HEB, and a few locations throughout the state was a gerat treat for me. I love the representation of bookish girls and our signed copies and home libraries.

While I enjoyed the set up and the emotional journey of Marcela and Theo, the third act was a challenge for my personal taste. I found some of the charcter decisions a little jarring from earlier behavior. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gabrielle Gamez for the opportunity read this book. Excited to see your future work.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez was a sweet romance novel that is going to be enjoyed by many. I loved that it was plus size representation, as well. I think this is a perfect summer rom-com that will keep you hooked while reading it. The characters were cute, a little angsty and overall truly enjoyable.

This book was so sweet. It was a really quick and easy read, and as a plus-sized girl, I loved the representation. I found Marcella to be really challenging to understand at times because I was so desperate for her to say what she meant. I think the book balanced what could seem like miscommunication and emphasized our truths are our own to share.

Theo is a total dream boat. If you catch me drooling over blonde book boys, look the other direction. I loved his complex relationship dynamic with Ben and Alice (shout out to Alice for being a supportive girl’s girl in the end).

Overall, I had so much fun reading this and it was something I didn’t want to put down. If I had the time, I probably would have read it in one sitting.

This book is so cute. Its style is a be more tell than show at places where the exposition could have been a conversation, but it’s so adorable I’m not even mad about it. I enjoy the MCs and the fact that the girl isn’t another skinny white chick who think she’s big. I thought it went a little too back and forth with the "will they won't they." The guy she was in love with in the beginning was a total narcissist and had so many red flags it was a little unbelievable that she would like him to begin with - he gave serious ick to the point where it was obvious he was just a conduit to his brother which didn't seem as realistic.

I think this would have been better as a duel POV book instead of a single POV book as written. The jokes are funny, the spice is sexy, recommend to anyone who enjoys romance.

this book was honestly everything i needed after a stressful week of testing 😪 it was steamy, fun, and so romantic and the perfect romcom, filled with drama and grand gestures… and typically i’m not a grand gesture kind of girlie but i was kind of swayed.

the plot was like an exciting soap opera and i thoroughly enjoyed the realistic growth of the characters and seeing them grow on their own and together. the final climax actually had me on the edge of my seat and it was a joyous experience.

thankful for the arc and had so much fun reading it!!! 🩷☺️

This was a fun read. It was sweet, romantic, and had the right amount of angst and steam. I had a great time getting to know Marcela and Theo. The story kept me hooked and rooting for these two throughout. This was a great debut and I am excited to see what Gamez does next!

Marcela is in love with Ben, her best friend, who told her years ago that they were better as friends. Ben’s brother, Theo, is in love with Ben’s fiancée. Add in some fake dating and oh, this pulled me in like a warm hug 😊 And what a fantastic, well written story that made me visualize this couple and their journey so vividly.

Marcela, I adored - her passion for her job (librarian) was joyful to read.
Theo - was just wonderful.
Both of these characters were easy to like and root for.

What an amazing and fun to read debut novel this is from Ms. Gamez - I, for one, look forward to reading whatever she writes next.

And I agree with Marcela - homegrown tomatoes beat any grocery store tomato at all times.


Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the DRC

The Next Best Fling is such a cute novel with a plus-size girl librarian, Marcela Ortiz, and a hot ex-NFL player playing Theo Young, fake lovers to get over their long-term crush, but it turns into something fun and new for them. The spicy made me giggle and blush while reading, and it was sweet to see Marcela and Theo overcome their insecurities.

As a plus sized woman, I was enamored with the cover of ‘The Next Best Fling,’ but cautious on how body image would be handled. @gabbywritesalot completely blew away my expectations as it balances dramatic entanglements with a poignant exploration of self-love, trust, and the journey to find genuine affection amidst toxic bonds. The portrayal of Marcela’s body image was done with care and expertise, presenting plus-size insecurities with sensitivity and realism.

This book had all the makings for a great story and overall it was ok. although I really liked the main characters and the plot, it missed the mark for me. There was a bit of a love square going on and I was not loving that; it just felt a bit messy. I would read something by the author in the future though.

Sweet, Romantic, and Relatable

Out of all the main characters I’ve been introduced to, Marcella is the most relatable to me. Many of her fears are mine and I was gasping like it was a drama novel. The writing was more refined than some romances I have read and it was a nice pallet cleanser that didn’t feel like I was read something cheesy.

I read this as an advanced readers copy through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

I liked this one! It took me forever to get through - almost 2 weeks and felt the pacing at the beginning of the book was slooooooow but it paid off in the end. Seeing these two main characters work through their emotions and figuring it out was just so relatable. I also love books about librarians which is why this got moved up to the top of my TBR pile. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

overall, i loved the plus size representation in this book! it was extremely realistic as she struggled with her confidence.

for a debut book, this was really good! the long term pining truly killed me though. i did enjoy the progression of the fake dating. it didn’t feel rushed at all. pacing of the relationship was really good!

I do wish it was a dual POV because Theo bored me a bit and seemed a tad bit flat.

I am straight up begging all book lovers to read this, there are scenes that are written specifically to knock you off your feet by swooning.

I adored this. It was so earnest in its messiness, but also so steadfast in its promise to produce happiness. It's delightfully hilarious and adorably endearing, and at its heart are two people terrified of being hurt, of losing what and who they love, and how they hold themselves together through bad decisions and lots of kissing. It's so good.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc! This book was a fun, easy read! It kept me engaged, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the library representation! Can’t wait for others to get their hands on it!

Marcela and Theo are both trying to get over people who don’t love them back. They cdecide to ‘Fake Date’ to help Theo after almost ruining a wedding. The best way to get over someone is to get under someone new, right? It can be, just make sure to not catch feelings in the process.

I devoured this book so fast😭 I love the characters, the raw and honest way we got to see them handle their past and insecurities. I loved how much we see them grow as people and develop feelings for each other. Truly amazing!

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez is a delightful romantic comedy that offers readers a fun and entertaining escape. Gamez's witty dialogue and engaging characters keep the pages turning as we follow the adventures of the lovably flawed protagonist on her quest for love. While the plot may follow some familiar tropes, Gamez injects enough freshness and charm to keep readers invested until the very end. With its humor, heart, and steamy romance, The Next Best Fling is a thoroughly enjoyable read that earns its place on my bookshelf.