Ok, so I was really looking forward to this - I love a fake relationship romance - but this was just not it for me. The hero and heroine have a lot of unresolved issues and it felt less like they were together because they wanted to be and more like they had bonded over their shared mutal pining for someone else. Add to that the fact that the heroine has been pining over the same guy for nearly a decade without realising that he's a narcisist. And that's hard to read. So sadly not for me, but I can see that it's worked for other people.

I really really enjoyed reading this book and I loved Marcela and Theo. I love that every song from the playlist has a little backstory. Im a little sad that the story wasn’t told in dual pov because I wanted to read Theo’s pov so much! The writing style was fast paced and I’m really excited for other books from this author!

Thank you Netgalley and Dialogue Books for this arc.

3 stars

I started this book really excited because it's a plus-size Latina heroine! But unfortunately I didn't like her or more so... there was so much drama around her that I couldn't focus on her 😭
Also, the chemistry between our MCs wasn't there. I didn't buy their love story until almost the very end.
Still, I like the writing, and some of the side characters were entertaining, so I'll definitely be reading more of this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

What a complicated mess Marcie and Theo are in - she wants the Groom, He wants the bride and now they find themselves in a fake relationship trying to sabotage a wedding!

Marcie has crushed on her bestie forever but now that he's getting married to someone else, she realises this is her last chance. She's going to have to pull up her bigger girl panties and seize the day/the man!

Theo is larger than life. He was a star football player and used to getting what he wants. But Fate does not take want into consideration - you get who you need and it would appear that destiny has decided Marcie and Theo are perfect for each other.

Marcie is sweet, loyal and has put everyone else before herself. But when she gets that bee in her bonnet she just can't see reason - she's determined to get her man! Theo could lose his family if he declares his feelings for his brothers fiancé but is she worth the heartache? But when his brain and heart finally get on the same page and he realises that Marcie may just be his ACTUAL dream woman - he's all in! He knew the perfect way to declare his love for Marcie - get her favourite books, signed by the authors and keep up a steady supply!

Absolute gem of a book!

Love librarians, and the best friend pining for their best friend is one of my favourite tropes, even when it doesn’t work out for them and is written as a plot point for the Mc’s to find each other. This book wasn’t quite the lighthearted romance I was expecting, (hard when the two main characters are both pining for other people!) but I still really enjoyed it. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the read.

The Next Best Fling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶🌶/5

Marcela is in love with Ben. Theo is in love with Alice. Ben and Alice are getting married. Theo is also Ben's brother. Marcela stops Theo from telling Alice his feelings at their engagement party and through a series of misunderstandings and intense mutual attraction, Marcela and Theo begin a fling to help them keep themselves in check during the engagement.

I haven't read a love triangle in a long time and it was messy. However it's only messy because I was rooting for one character the whole time and it takes a while for the FMC to see that. But a big tick for character development. Theo is super hot and had so much natural chemistry with Marcela that the angst and tension between them was so much more. Gamez also managed to tap into some of the major insecurities that come with being a bigger girl so well, especially around dating and intimacy, which hit the heartstrings more than I thought they would. Theo and Marcela were each others biggest cheerleaders in the end and the banter between them through the book was so good that I really went through a full range of emotion with this read.

Thank you so much to Dialogue books for the ARC! This was one I was incredibly excited to get my hands on !!

What an amazing debut novel!! Loved the chemistry between the characters and the deeper elements to the story too. Looking forward to future books by this author!

4.5 STARS

This was definitely one of the best romances I’ve read this year so far! I really liked the writing style and the main characters were great. I was invested in their story and could barely put the book down. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!

What starts off as a fake fling for Marcela and Theo soon becomes real, but are they still both too hung up on someone else? A great read, hope there will be more books for the other characters in this book.

I devoured this book in 24 hours. I was glued to the pages wanting to get more of Marcela and Theo. Their dynamic and chemistry was just so full of chemistry.
The way they both share their interests and the other makes it their mission to care and implement it in their lives. You can honestly tell that these two complement each other perfectly.

I loved Marcela’s love for books and libraries as I am a complete library addict. Such a cute read, a page turner and would definitely recommend to try out!

Thank you to netgalley to allow me to review this book 📖

This was supposed to be a fun lighthearted read that turned out messy…..
What made me out of my mind WAS THE BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AN FORTH between the supposed feelings the fmc had for someone else, it was so annoying i was reading 2 pages of progress just for the next 10 to be about those feelings again I GAVE UP WHO ALLOWED IT
the mmc was a doll, he should find someone better than the FMC because he was not appreciated dude

So sad to give this one just3⭐️

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the arc

Release Date: July 9, 2024
Date Read and Reviewed: July 10, 2034
Ratings: 2⭐️

°

I was really excited about this one and MANIFESTED IN GETTING AN ARC.

Unfortunately, this romance novel wasn't for me. In my opinion, the characters were JUST PATHETIC. I couldn't feel any chemistry nor care about them. They're just that UNLIKABLE.

Thank you Forever for the e-arc opportunity via Netgalley.

The Next Best Fling is an adult contemporary romance by Gabriella Gamez. Marcela has been pining over her best friend for years, and it’s only when he gets engaged that it finally hits her that she needs to move on. Former NFL player Theo has been longing for his childhood best friend, and on the night of his little brother’s engagement party, he is going to confess his feelings for the bride until Marcela stops him. And in doing so, she is presented with an opportunity. Theo is in love with the bride, and Marcela is in love with his brother, but he needs help to hide his feelings, and she desperately needs a distraction from this terrible situation they are both in. But one kiss shared between them opens them up to both craving more, until the distraction descends into something more headier and perhaps, maybe, something more real than either of them were prepared for.

I found Marcela to be so relatable. She loves her books and food, but she’s also stuck in her love life, held back by her longing for Ben, her best friend. Once she moved past that need to please him and started to see who he really was, which was such a glorious journey, she was then held back by her abandonment issues. This was a huge hang-up for her, this fear that it was almost better not to start something real and serious because she didn’t want to be a cause of pain to whoever she ended up with, but she also didn’t want to feel that deep hurt again, and I get it, I really do. I think a lot of us have issues due to our parents, but I was begging her to try, and the little steps forward and then a few back—an almost tug of war between what you want and what your niggling fear is demanding you don’t—is what makes this book so intriguing. It was such a wonderful growth period for Marcela, and of course, this worry won’t ever completely disappear for her, but it was lovely to see her try. I didn’t only relate to her for this but also to her issues with her body. The day-by-day battle of I look good to one little thing throwing you out of whack—the scene I’m thinking of in particular—had me begging Marcela not to let it ruin things, but the way Theo handled it made it such a wonderful moment, right before the spice hit. Aside from the trauma and fear, I loved how Marcela was warm, funny, and giving, and her passion for her job was enjoyable. I even loved it when she spiralled, especially after the drunk text moment, because most of us have been there, right? There wasn’t a moment in this book that I disliked this character. I understood where she was coming from, and I was frustrated by how she let her fears win sometimes, but it made the ending all the sweeter. I especially loved how she made progress with her Mum and allowed her in more.

Even though this book was only from Marcela’s POV, you still get such a great sense of who Theo is. To begin with, you greet him with the apprehension that Marcela has, but he’s like this big softy full of vulnerability and fear, despite his former NFL player appearance. He is so open and honest with Marcela and everyone in this book, and he truly listens and pays attention to Marcela, reading her so well. It was so clear to me that Theo fell first. I think he was falling for her before they slept together, but even through the spice, he was still paying close attention to her, willing to give her space when needed but hoping she wouldn’t need it. The only time I was angry with Theo was in the ten-day gap, but I loved them on the page together; they gave so much cuteness and this friendly flirting that the lines between friends and something more seemed to always be blurred. My love for Theo grew continuously. At one point, he was fighting for her by fighting her fear, and my heart was both breaking for him and blossoming from his actions. Not long before that, my heart was in my throat for how he could have reacted to a revelation, but like the gentle giant he is, he reacted with compassion and understanding. The two are so alike while both seemingly to be different, which makes what they have seem so easy at times and so much harder at others due to both their fears. I also loved how Theo is an all-or-nothing kind of person, but when he was giving his all to Marcela, he still waited, almost with a small gap of trepidation because he knew she wasn’t there yet. This was such a new behaviour for him, but he wanted her, and he was willing to go at her pace, which made me love him even more.

This section is just for the side characters and key moments. I hated Ben, and that hate just grew, so I’m glad with how this book ended for him. Alice, I wasn’t too sure of the entire book. There were moments I liked her, but it was only in the ending that I liked her because she was honest, which she should have been much sooner. When it comes to Angela, I wasn’t too keen on her, to begin with, but I warmed up to her massively as the book progressed, and I’m kind of hoping the next book in the series is hers. Now for those key moments, I love when a first kiss—a kiss that should be pretend—absolutely changes everything. I was literally chanting in hushed tones, ‘Just keep kissing’. Do you love a grand gesture? This book has two! I was dying with how much I loved both of them; the mixing of both their worlds was beautifully done, and his grand gesture had me grinning from ear to ear with how much like a couple they behaved, but I’m going, to be honest, I knew exactly what was in that box, and it was killing me at how long Marcela took to open it. The spice in this is a very nice heat. I wanted more (I always do), but in the beginning, I felt like I was being hampered, but the wait was definitely worth it!

This is the first time that I’ve read an ARC and knew from the beginning that it would be a Five out of Five star read. I fell in love with the way Gabriella Gamez writes four pages into The Next Best Fling. This book took me through a whirlwind of emotions. I was rooting for Theo and Marcela the entire time. I felt their pain, passion, fear, anger, humour, joy, heartbreak, and love. I felt anger towards other characters in the book, and the last 20% of the book had me so gripped that at one point, second-hand anxiety had me verbally exclaiming ‘No’ very loudly in a very quiet, busy waiting room. But the ending was worth the ups and downs I felt for Marcela. I don’t think there has been a character I have related to so much but also wanted to scream at for allowing her fear to ruin things, but maybe that’s why I loved her so much because I got it. I was also surprised by the lovely hit of spice (not too scorching), but as the greedy person I am, I always crave more, not that any more could fit in with this never-dull book. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the Librarians in Love series.

I’d recommend My Next Best Fling to everyone who loves contemporary romance. With an almost friends-to-lovers/friends-with-benefits/fake dating vibe, it’s fairly hard to label this one with tropes, but it has two main characters who think they are in love with two people they shouldn’t be and turn to each other to help themselves through it. Theo is not only a former NFL player, but he’s the swoon-worthy, surprisingly soft, book boyfriend of your dreams (or mine, at least). Marcela is living my dream as a librarian and is so relatable, not only about her feelings when it comes to relationships and love but her body image as well. Her pushing through her insecurity was so touching, but boy does Theo make her feel sexy. I felt all the emotion in this book, and the last few chapters made all the pain and worry worth it for that wonderful HEA. Gabriella Gamez may be quickly making her way to my favourite author list, and I’m off to buy the paperback of this debut so I can reread it in the future.

I want to thank Dialogue Books for allowing me the opportunity to ARC The Next Best Fling via Netgalley. The quotes I have used may not be in the final released copy of this book.

This was a fantastic read. If you loved the new Emily Henry book, Funny Story you would love this as well. The trope is similar.

I loved this book so much. It was such a fun read that made me laugh as well as getting deeper. Theo is so freaking adorable and probably one of my favourite book boyfriends. He should be the poster boy for healthy communication. His honesty was refreshing. The way he dealt with Marcela's insecurities was so cute. I also adored Marcela but her character is more frustrating. I loved her passion for books and her job but her self sabotaging was painful.

The plus size representation was done beautifully. Marcela is gorgeous and confident but she's still human and has insecurities and confidence wobbles. It felt very realistic and it wasn't her whole personality like in some books. The way Theo worshipped her and helped her confidence was swoon worthy. There are some great side characters and I need to be besties with Angela. I really hope we get her story next because she's so lovable. I also adored Marcela's mum. Ben however is trash. I did love that despite all the various drama there was no pitting the women against each other. There are a few twists and turns that I didn't expect from a romance. Such a great read. I look forward to more from this author.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous as well

This book really hit home with me with the abandonment issue and the insecurity, so it was a bit painful to read. I liked how the main characters connected over their pining for unavailable people. Their connection was unexpected but they encouraged and supported each other to be better. Also, the chemistry between them was great. I liked how the author incorporated the minority representation and what public libraries can offer to the community. The twists and turns of the story near the end surprised me a bit, but it was good, because it showed that not everything is sunshine and rainbows and things are sometimes hard and complicated.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

REVIEW
cw: body-shaming, parental abandonment, toxic friendship and controlling behaviour

Librarian Marcela Ortiz has been in love with her best friend Ben Young for as long as they've known each other. When he tells her he's going to propose to his girlfriend of almost a decade, Marcela decides enough is enough. She needs to move on. Ex-NFL player Theo is Ben's older brother. When Marcela intercepts Theo's drunken attempt to break up the engagement by declaring his love for Ben's fiancée, people wrongly assume the two are hooking up. What starts as a convenient white lie quickly turns into something more. But are they both merely on the rebound?

This was a quick and easy read from a debut author who I would happily seek out in the future, although some areas could have been improved on to make the emotional beats hit harder. I liked Marcela immediately and loved her book addiction. Her enthusiasm with the book club was fun, and I enjoyed Andy's teasing. I loved her friendship with Angela, but I never got the same level of friendship vibes from Ben, which was supposed to be a huge plot point. We only got one proper scene between them before Theo arrived, and that was just them talking about the engagement. I'd have loved more scenes showing them as friends (like Angela) to actually be surprised by any of Ben's later behaviour. Marcela's body insecurities were relatable and well-written, and I liked her journey of acceptance and then self-appreciation.
I loved Theo. He was such a sweetheart. I loved his openness and honesty, although his barely explained disappearing acts were peculiar. Still, I loved their book passage re-enactment at the YA book club, and the date he arranged was adorable. I also LOVED how kind and reassuring he was to Marcela when she felt insecure about her body, and how patient he was with her over her conflicted feelings.
I loved Marcela's mum and would have loved more of her. She was hilarious but also gave great advice. I loved Angela, Marcela's best friend. Her candid revelation about her sexuality was moving and I hope we get her story in the future (I'm keeping everything crossed for her and Krystal). As mentioned, I never connected with Ben and liked him less and less as the story progressed. His controlling behaviour was really obvious and unpleasant, and I hated how much he manipulated Marcela. As for how he treated Theo? Wow! But chapter 30 was SO satisfying.
This book was heading for a solid 4-star review until the second half when I felt some of the chapters got quite messy. There were quite a few timeline fillers in the story, like Theo just disappearing for a couple of weeks, and days and days without either of them communicating. Then Marcela refused to look at the gift Theo left for her for what felt like aeons (although I LOVED what was inside when she finally opened it). So, I just wished there'd been a few more scenes between them (or even a text thread or two, or just a simple line about them continuing to do things together) before the declaration, as it was hard to feel invested in their deeper emotional connection (especially given how both started the story). Consequently, it ended up feeling a little too instalove.
That said, I LOVED the ending. It was so stinking cute.
Overall this was a sound debut, but though it had all the foundations of an emotionally rich romance, some parts felt incomplete or rushed.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. The Next Best Fling is published today*


Favourite Quotes:

Hiding your true feelings is easy when the person you’re hiding from has never really seen you to begin with.

This doesn't feel like pretending.

You’re a good person— a much better person than I can ever hope to be. You deserve so much better than a man who’s still pining over someone else, and when the day comes that you walk away from me for good, I’ll be cheering you on. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that you’ll find someone just as amazing as you one day. So, if all I am is a stop to you finding him, then I’m okay with that.”

“I must not be doing this properly if you’re still capable of complete sentences,”

“God, Marcela. How has no one snatched you up yet?” His breathing is heavy, voice shaky. “How are you all mine?”

“I used to think Alice was the only person for me, or that I wasn’t a relationship kind of guy. I thought I knew what real love was, and that no one else could measure up to how I felt about Alice.” He shakes his head. “I didn’t know a goddamn thing. Not before you. And all I had to do was be open to taking a chance.”

"If I could do everything about that night differently and still walk away with you at the end of it, I’d do it this second if it meant being worthy of you.”

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and I believe it's the author's debut novel. There were many aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. The banter and flirtation between characters were spot on, and the depth and layers within the story were impressive. The intimate scenes, however, could have been more detailed. The exploration of family dynamics and toxic relationships added a significant dimension to the narrative, highlighting the importance of confronting harmful routines and beliefs as we grow.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the positive portrayal of female relationships. The women in the story supported each other instead of resorting to cattiness, which was refreshing. As a curvy woman, I found the depiction of insecurities realistic and well-handled, without it dominating the character's personality or the entire book.

However, one of my major pet peeves in romance novels is the self-sabotage storyline, which was present here. It felt unnecessary given the existing drama, and this is why I rated it 3.5 stars instead of higher. Despite this, it was a solid debut and an enjoyable read overall.

Finally a body positive FMC that doesn’t border on a fetish! This was a funny easy read but I did knock off a star because I just felt like the storyline was littered with insecurities and acts of self-sabotage and it got a bit tiring after a while.

This is a brilliant debut from Gabriella Gamez. The characters were fully rounded, their connection felt genuine and everything about this book felt considered.

I found Marcela really relatable, from her love of books and strong friendships to her body insecurities and childhood abandoned issues. Despite that she is still a strong, fun person, and loyal friend and I loved that her entire personality didn't focus on her being a plus sized Latina. When she saves Theo from telling his brother's fiance he loves her, they unintentionally set the grounds for a fake relationship that will save face for both of them, but also develop into something genuine. Theo is the epitome of a cinnamon roll MMC, he's sweet and honest, especially where he's also dealing with the emotions that come with his unrequited love situation.

The chemisty between Marcela and Theo was palpable and although they navigated some deep emotions, the book managed to stay fun and lighthearted. The additional drama courtesy of Ben and Alice was loads of fun to read, especially as there were some twists I wasn't expecting.

This is such a fun wholesome book, with a nice dash of spice!

ARC provided by Netgally. This is my honest review.