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Librarians in Love #1
The Next Best Fling
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.
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.
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2024
About the author
Gabriella Gamez
1 book286 followersGabriella Gamez is a Mexican American author from South Texas. She writes about incredibly messy, well-meaning women trying their best and accidentally falling in love. When she’s not writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee, wasting too much time playing video games, and obsessing over other people’s books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,045 reviews
March 5, 2024
Good grief, this was fantastic!! Emotionally rich, swoony, spicy, just the right level of angsty for me, so much personal growth, two main characters who make each other better and give each other patience and support when they're struggling, a couple I rooted for so easily and loved finding their way to happily ever after.
Content notes: parental abandonment (past), codependent/toxic friendship, fatphobia (past and on page).
Content notes: parental abandonment (past), codependent/toxic friendship, fatphobia (past and on page).
April 28, 2024
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.
Tropes & What to Expect
💞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 🥹 she is such a relatable FMC to her being a book lover and her daddy issues/abandonment 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 so 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!!!
“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.
Tropes & What to Expect
💞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 🥹 she is such a relatable FMC to her being a book lover and her daddy issues/abandonment 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 so 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!!!
July 7, 2024
Omg, this book was 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.
The chemistry between Marcela and Theo is palpable from the start, but what sets their relationship apart is its authenticity. Their connection feels real and raw, grounded in mutual respect and genuine affection. And as they navigate the murky waters of attraction and uncertainty, you can't help but root for them every step of the way.
I devoured this book in one sitting, completely swept up in its heartwarming charm and irresistible romance. Gabriella Gamez's debut novel is wonderful, and I'm already itching to dive into whatever she writes next. Trust me when I say, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good love story. So go ahead, grab a copy, and prepare to be enchanted by the magic of Marcela and Theo's story. You won't regret it!
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.
The chemistry between Marcela and Theo is palpable from the start, but what sets their relationship apart is its authenticity. Their connection feels real and raw, grounded in mutual respect and genuine affection. And as they navigate the murky waters of attraction and uncertainty, you can't help but root for them every step of the way.
I devoured this book in one sitting, completely swept up in its heartwarming charm and irresistible romance. Gabriella Gamez's debut novel is wonderful, and I'm already itching to dive into whatever she writes next. Trust me when I say, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good love story. So go ahead, grab a copy, and prepare to be enchanted by the magic of Marcela and Theo's story. You won't regret it!
July 12, 2024
The Next Best Fling follows Marcella and Theo as they use each other to get over their unrequited feelings for another couple. I'm not usually one for too much drama, but I absolutely loved it in this book! The messy and chaotic energy worked so well with the romance and how Marcella and Theo fell in love. I loved that once Theo got over his feelings for Alice, he was 100% in with Marcella, the man was so sweet and willing to do anything to make her happy. The story flowed so well and while there was quite a bit of back and forth, I think it worked out so well in the end with how Marcella came to realize her feelings.
Read For:
📚Fake Dating📚
📚Friends to Lovers📚
📚Best Friend's Brother📚
📚Librarian FMCs📚
📚Grand Gestures📚
📚Fake Dating📚
📚Plus Size Rep📚
📚Cinamonroll MCs📚
📚Friends w Benefits📚
~Many thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read For:
📚Fake Dating📚
📚Friends to Lovers📚
📚Best Friend's Brother📚
📚Librarian FMCs📚
📚Grand Gestures📚
📚Fake Dating📚
📚Plus Size Rep📚
📚Cinamonroll MCs📚
📚Friends w Benefits📚
~Many thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2024
2 “open communication got us nowhere” stars
༺♥༻ Overview
This was a lovely book, a quick read with an interesting concept - we want different people but in the process found each other. Honestly, this might be a new trope I would like to read more, thanks to the author! 😊
However, while the book was enjoyable in the beginning, it slowly faded out and I realized I was just skimming words at some point.
༺♥༻What to expect
📬pining for other people
📬Open communication, but not at the same time??
📬Endless monologues
📬kind of relatable FMC
📬Funny, cute, banter with some chemistry
༺♥༻Characters
💞Marcela (aka Marce) & Theo
Marcela was such a sweet character, her feelings and emotions were valid and totally relatable and she is a librarian!!! her book clubs and the passion for her work and books is sooo relatable as I hope is to many bookworms! But as the book slowly progressed I started getting annoyed at her constant Ben, Ben, Ben. It started getting a bit redundant 😭 I understand what she was feeling but I started to get frustrated when she didn’t communicate and I had no idea WHY?! 😭😭
Theo was also a sweet heart, his openness was so endearing! I believe it truly saved their relationship lol. Also the “i can’t promise I WON’T develop feelings for you” at the start of their rebound-ship was such a breath of fresh air! You usually read oh I will never develop feelings for you blah blah men 🙄 also the DATE was sooo sweett but ofc everything went downhill because every time they try to have a good time SOMEONE happens.
Marcela and Theo were both wonderful characters but often their behaviors and actions seemed childish like constantly walking away at every important conversation 😭😭 like nooo sit, talk!! There was always open communication but when that leads to nowhere, thats practically the same thing as miscommunication. Anyways they were cute together.
💞Others
Ben uhhh was a well written asshole. His relationship with Theo was confusing as hell like oh Alice was in the middle of their feud but oh no, not really. like wtf 😭 Every time he talked to Marcela, I wanted her to tell him to shut up. My eyes literally saw the back of my head every time he entered the scene.
༺♥༻Plot & Writing/Pace
The concept was interesting but the plot wasn’t as tied together and there was way too much drama, really felt like a thriller than a romance the way was heart was beating so fast, nervous- wtf was going to happen next 😭 Sometimes too much drama takes away from the enjoyment of the book as was with this one. There could have been so many things gone wrong with a rebound-ship and the author definitely hit every point 😭
In regards to the writing, in the beginning there was some unnecessary commentary about her making her breakfast, like excuse me, I don’t care 😑 Also half of the time, I couldn’t imagine the scene and their actions.
The ending was a bit unsatisfying for my tastes. I wanted Marcela to throw things at Ben which she kind of did with her words. Yayy she grew!! Overall, a good debut for the author. Just a bit more work on the writing and balancing plot.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC! This review contains my honest opinion where the words are mine and mine alone!
♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡ ♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡ ♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡
oooo a "we want different ppl" trope interestingggggg
༺♥༻ Overview
This was a lovely book, a quick read with an interesting concept - we want different people but in the process found each other. Honestly, this might be a new trope I would like to read more, thanks to the author! 😊
However, while the book was enjoyable in the beginning, it slowly faded out and I realized I was just skimming words at some point.
༺♥༻What to expect
📬pining for other people
📬Open communication, but not at the same time??
📬Endless monologues
📬kind of relatable FMC
📬Funny, cute, banter with some chemistry
༺♥༻Characters
💞Marcela (aka Marce) & Theo
Marcela was such a sweet character, her feelings and emotions were valid and totally relatable and she is a librarian!!! her book clubs and the passion for her work and books is sooo relatable as I hope is to many bookworms! But as the book slowly progressed I started getting annoyed at her constant Ben, Ben, Ben. It started getting a bit redundant 😭 I understand what she was feeling but I started to get frustrated when she didn’t communicate and I had no idea WHY?! 😭😭
Theo was also a sweet heart, his openness was so endearing! I believe it truly saved their relationship lol. Also the “i can’t promise I WON’T develop feelings for you” at the start of their rebound-ship was such a breath of fresh air! You usually read oh I will never develop feelings for you blah blah men 🙄 also the DATE was sooo sweett but ofc everything went downhill because every time they try to have a good time SOMEONE happens.
Marcela and Theo were both wonderful characters but often their behaviors and actions seemed childish like constantly walking away at every important conversation 😭😭 like nooo sit, talk!! There was always open communication but when that leads to nowhere, thats practically the same thing as miscommunication. Anyways they were cute together.
💞Others
Ben uhhh was a well written asshole. His relationship with Theo was confusing as hell like oh Alice was in the middle of their feud but oh no, not really. like wtf 😭 Every time he talked to Marcela, I wanted her to tell him to shut up. My eyes literally saw the back of my head every time he entered the scene.
༺♥༻Plot & Writing/Pace
The concept was interesting but the plot wasn’t as tied together and there was way too much drama, really felt like a thriller than a romance the way was heart was beating so fast, nervous- wtf was going to happen next 😭 Sometimes too much drama takes away from the enjoyment of the book as was with this one. There could have been so many things gone wrong with a rebound-ship and the author definitely hit every point 😭
In regards to the writing, in the beginning there was some unnecessary commentary about her making her breakfast, like excuse me, I don’t care 😑 Also half of the time, I couldn’t imagine the scene and their actions.
The ending was a bit unsatisfying for my tastes. I wanted Marcela to throw things at Ben which she kind of did with her words. Yayy she grew!! Overall, a good debut for the author. Just a bit more work on the writing and balancing plot.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC! This review contains my honest opinion where the words are mine and mine alone!
♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡ ♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡ ♡❀˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹❀♡
oooo a "we want different ppl" trope interestingggggg
July 9, 2024
If you knew your friend was crushing on a taken man.. what would you do?
When I first started reading Gamez's contemporary romance - I didn't expect to feel the way I did about the main character!! Marcela is an amazing librarian, friend and loves to read.. but she definitely has her issues to work out. Getting to know her and see her growth is what made me love this book!
When I started reading, I almost didn't like her. If you have a crush on a taken man and you remain in his orbit - you're doing yourself and the other couple a disservice. It's pretty point-blank for me, really. People will end up hurt for no reason!! When I started reading, I felt frustrated with her character because the solutions seemed so black and white to me: make other friends, branch out, and create healthy boundaries, right?! However, she quickly turned around and became one of my favorite on-page librarians I've ever read!
I'm also incredibly happy with the ending. There was so much that I wanted to happen, and I felt like all of it happened exactly the way it should have!!! The other characters experienced growth, and the one that's a bad guy that I felt needed to be exposed to in my GUT?? They got EXACTLY what they deserved. Literary justice is one of my favorite things of all time, and Gamez does it well!!
**Thank you, Forever, for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
When I first started reading Gamez's contemporary romance - I didn't expect to feel the way I did about the main character!! Marcela is an amazing librarian, friend and loves to read.. but she definitely has her issues to work out. Getting to know her and see her growth is what made me love this book!
When I started reading, I almost didn't like her. If you have a crush on a taken man and you remain in his orbit - you're doing yourself and the other couple a disservice. It's pretty point-blank for me, really. People will end up hurt for no reason!! When I started reading, I felt frustrated with her character because the solutions seemed so black and white to me: make other friends, branch out, and create healthy boundaries, right?! However, she quickly turned around and became one of my favorite on-page librarians I've ever read!
I'm also incredibly happy with the ending. There was so much that I wanted to happen, and I felt like all of it happened exactly the way it should have!!! The other characters experienced growth, and the one that's a bad guy that I felt needed to be exposed to in my GUT?? They got EXACTLY what they deserved. Literary justice is one of my favorite things of all time, and Gamez does it well!!
**Thank you, Forever, for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
July 6, 2024
The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez
Librarians in Love series #1.
Contemporary romance. Cinnamon roll hero. 1st person, present tense from Marcela’s POV. Own voice, Mexican-American heritage.
Ex NFL football player Theo Young has retired and is back home in San Antonio, Texas expecting to coach football at a local high school. After a few drinks at the engagement party for his brother and fiancé, Theo decides it is the perfect time to tell his brother’s fiancée that he has loved her all since they were kids and won’t she reconsider marrying him instead of his brother?
Librarian Marcela Ortiz has been secretly in love with her best friend since college. Now that he’s engaged, Marcela knows she needs to move on. When Marcela hears Theo muttering to himself about confronting the bride-to-be, she takes action and gets him out of there to sleep off his drinking. They both seem to be in the same position - in love and needing to walk away. They take advantage of rumors to first, appear to be together, and then second, to find they have a lot in common and maybe actually act on their sizzling chemistry.
Neither Marcela nor Theo have been in a long term romantic relationship. Both have self confidence and self-image problems to work on, more so for Marcela as a curvy woman.
Marcela and I have a lot in common with the second bedroom library, donating books, excited to talk about books, Goodreads usage, and of course, body image. I liked how she overcame the uncomfortable and learned to be okay with herself although it was a little inconsistent in the story. I was happy when she started to realize that her friendship with Ben had problems.
Theo is adorable. He’s an athlete, looking forward to slowing down, and wants to please and make Marcela happy more than anything else. “He breaks out in a smile that rivals the sun.” He’s not afraid or hesitant to show his emotions.
It’s romantic, encouraging, and has a few very sexy bedroom scenes to ramp up the flames.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Librarians in Love series #1.
Contemporary romance. Cinnamon roll hero. 1st person, present tense from Marcela’s POV. Own voice, Mexican-American heritage.
Ex NFL football player Theo Young has retired and is back home in San Antonio, Texas expecting to coach football at a local high school. After a few drinks at the engagement party for his brother and fiancé, Theo decides it is the perfect time to tell his brother’s fiancée that he has loved her all since they were kids and won’t she reconsider marrying him instead of his brother?
Librarian Marcela Ortiz has been secretly in love with her best friend since college. Now that he’s engaged, Marcela knows she needs to move on. When Marcela hears Theo muttering to himself about confronting the bride-to-be, she takes action and gets him out of there to sleep off his drinking. They both seem to be in the same position - in love and needing to walk away. They take advantage of rumors to first, appear to be together, and then second, to find they have a lot in common and maybe actually act on their sizzling chemistry.
Neither Marcela nor Theo have been in a long term romantic relationship. Both have self confidence and self-image problems to work on, more so for Marcela as a curvy woman.
Marcela and I have a lot in common with the second bedroom library, donating books, excited to talk about books, Goodreads usage, and of course, body image. I liked how she overcame the uncomfortable and learned to be okay with herself although it was a little inconsistent in the story. I was happy when she started to realize that her friendship with Ben had problems.
Theo is adorable. He’s an athlete, looking forward to slowing down, and wants to please and make Marcela happy more than anything else. “He breaks out in a smile that rivals the sun.” He’s not afraid or hesitant to show his emotions.
It’s romantic, encouraging, and has a few very sexy bedroom scenes to ramp up the flames.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
July 1, 2024
Final Thoughts
This was a really fun read, lots of giggling, great chemistry, our MMC is a giant teddy bear (Theo-bear?) of a man who is great at being open and communicating with or FMC. I loved their relationship and thought it felt very real and natural.
What I loved...
- MMC & FMC are 30+
- FMC is curvy/plus-sized (although the specifics are a little ambiguous)
- FMC is a librarian and a book lover
- the banter in the beginning of this was 🥵
- MMC is a big boy NFL player and everything about him sounded sexy tbh
- chemistry between the MMC + FMC is 🔥
- he buys her books... do you really need any other reason to read this
- her best friend, the one she is in love with, is an absolute piece of trash (and yes I'm counting that as a positive!)
What I didn't love...
- The pacing at the end of the book - it felt like more than one chapter at the end could have been cut out.
- our FMCs confidence was wavering at best and I was very frustrated multiple times in regards to this. I understand that in the real world our confidence can waver but I felt like there were way too many wavering moments for a romance heroine, I want my plus-size/curvy queen to feel real (read: have not confident moments) but I also want her to be a role model (read: have the confidence that perhaps some of us in the real world are still working on)
Final score 4.5⭐️
- despite the pacing issues at the end this was a really great read and have more to offer than your average romance!
Spice: 1 🌶️
- there is maybe 2-3 explicit scenes and they are very tame
6/30/2024 Thoughts
Can’t decide how I want to rate this so I’m going to sleep on it. I loved the first 90% of this book and thought for sure this was a 4.5⭐️ romance but then the last 10-15% of the book happened and it feel like a waste of my time.
I’ll sleep on it and come back to this in the am.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This was a really fun read, lots of giggling, great chemistry, our MMC is a giant teddy bear (Theo-bear?) of a man who is great at being open and communicating with or FMC. I loved their relationship and thought it felt very real and natural.
What I loved...
- MMC & FMC are 30+
- FMC is curvy/plus-sized (although the specifics are a little ambiguous)
- FMC is a librarian and a book lover
- the banter in the beginning of this was 🥵
- MMC is a big boy NFL player and everything about him sounded sexy tbh
- chemistry between the MMC + FMC is 🔥
- he buys her books... do you really need any other reason to read this
- her best friend, the one she is in love with, is an absolute piece of trash (and yes I'm counting that as a positive!)
What I didn't love...
- The pacing at the end of the book - it felt like more than one chapter at the end could have been cut out.
- our FMCs confidence was wavering at best and I was very frustrated multiple times in regards to this. I understand that in the real world our confidence can waver but I felt like there were way too many wavering moments for a romance heroine, I want my plus-size/curvy queen to feel real (read: have not confident moments) but I also want her to be a role model (read: have the confidence that perhaps some of us in the real world are still working on)
Final score 4.5⭐️
- despite the pacing issues at the end this was a really great read and have more to offer than your average romance!
Spice: 1 🌶️
- there is maybe 2-3 explicit scenes and they are very tame
6/30/2024 Thoughts
Can’t decide how I want to rate this so I’m going to sleep on it. I loved the first 90% of this book and thought for sure this was a 4.5⭐️ romance but then the last 10-15% of the book happened and it feel like a waste of my time.
I’ll sleep on it and come back to this in the am.
Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2024
3.5⭐️ There were parts I was absolutely swoony for. And some aspects I didn't love. RTC
June 1, 2024
3.5 stars...rounded up. I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. I believe this is the author's debut novel. There were many things I liked about this book....the banter, and flirtation were on point. The intimate scenes could have been a bit more intimate..ha! I loved the depth and layers to this book. There are some family dynamics and toxic relationship work that comes into play. As we grow, I think we all need. to confront those routines and beliefs we have that can be damaging to ourselves. I LOVE that the women did not get catty or turn on each other. As a curvy woman myself, I understand the insecurities one can have. I felt like the mentions of it were realistic, and that it didn't take up the whole book or her personality. One thing that is huge pet peeve for me in romance novels is the self sabotage storyline. This is why I knocked it down to 3.5 for me because I just feel like there was already enough drama going on. It wasn't really necessary. Overall, a great debut!
June 15, 2024
*2.5 Stars*
The premise of this story was what made me want to read it. I really liked Marcela, a plus sized Latina, who works as a librarian. Her colleague and bestie Angela was great too and I enjoyed their friendship.
Sadly this story didn’t work out for me. This is just a me thing. I was very excited for Marcela and Theo but their chemistry was lacking so their connection felt flat. I wasn’t invested as I had hoped and I didn’t like the side characters. Too much drama and I felt the story went in circles. Especially one character took too much focus and affected my overall experience.
This is the author’s debut and the writing was ok. The story wasn’t working for me. It happens but I’ll try another book of hers in the future.
2.5 Stars
*The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The premise of this story was what made me want to read it. I really liked Marcela, a plus sized Latina, who works as a librarian. Her colleague and bestie Angela was great too and I enjoyed their friendship.
Sadly this story didn’t work out for me. This is just a me thing. I was very excited for Marcela and Theo but their chemistry was lacking so their connection felt flat. I wasn’t invested as I had hoped and I didn’t like the side characters. Too much drama and I felt the story went in circles. Especially one character took too much focus and affected my overall experience.
This is the author’s debut and the writing was ok. The story wasn’t working for me. It happens but I’ll try another book of hers in the future.
2.5 Stars
*The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
February 26, 2024
If you like messy complicated drama (live a CW show 😏), then I’d definitely recommend this book!
Despite how complicated things were for the characters, I really appreciated how Theo and Marcella wanted better for themselves, even if they didn’t know the healthiest ways to get there. I liked the empathy they showed one another, it’s nice to see that in books.
I also LOVED the bookish aspects and the representation we got with Marcella’s character!!!! (Like loved x12788)
I’m excited to see where things go in book 2!
Thank you so much to Forever Publishing for my ARC 🥰.
3/5⭐️
Despite how complicated things were for the characters, I really appreciated how Theo and Marcella wanted better for themselves, even if they didn’t know the healthiest ways to get there. I liked the empathy they showed one another, it’s nice to see that in books.
I also LOVED the bookish aspects and the representation we got with Marcella’s character!!!! (Like loved x12788)
I’m excited to see where things go in book 2!
Thank you so much to Forever Publishing for my ARC 🥰.
3/5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2023
I'm actually obsessed with this.
Marcela is in love with Ben, her best friend who's recently got engaged to another woman. Theo, Bens' older brother, is in love with his new fiancée. Yes, it's messy.
In between the popcorn-worthy (yes, I actually made popcorn) drama, there's a tender love story about trust, self-love, escaping relationships that have become unhealthy, and what true love really looks like.
While not the center of the story, Marcela's relationship with her body was a running theme throughout it. One of my consistent complaints with "plus size romance" is how it either overdoes the fat-shaming or refuses to acknowledge those insecurities that a lot of plus-size women face when entering the dating scene. This book does it perfectly, in my opinion—while there are some moments that Marcela doubts her own sexiness, the narrative (and the love interest!) reject it without making her feel irrational for feeling that way. The whole way it was handled felt so validating as a plus-size woman myself!
On another note, I would die for Theo Young.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. And thank you to the publisher for the eARC <3
Marcela is in love with Ben, her best friend who's recently got engaged to another woman. Theo, Bens' older brother, is in love with his new fiancée. Yes, it's messy.
In between the popcorn-worthy (yes, I actually made popcorn) drama, there's a tender love story about trust, self-love, escaping relationships that have become unhealthy, and what true love really looks like.
While not the center of the story, Marcela's relationship with her body was a running theme throughout it. One of my consistent complaints with "plus size romance" is how it either overdoes the fat-shaming or refuses to acknowledge those insecurities that a lot of plus-size women face when entering the dating scene. This book does it perfectly, in my opinion—while there are some moments that Marcela doubts her own sexiness, the narrative (and the love interest!) reject it without making her feel irrational for feeling that way. The whole way it was handled felt so validating as a plus-size woman myself!
On another note, I would die for Theo Young.
Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. And thank you to the publisher for the eARC <3
July 5, 2024
Ehhh... it wasn't horrible but I was also I bit bogged down by the messy messy back and forth.
They chemistry just was NOT there for me. What was even drawing these two together besides mutual pain and pining?
It got exhausting going on the ring around the rosy.
I would read this author again, but this book just felt very unsatisfactory by the end.
3.5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
They chemistry just was NOT there for me. What was even drawing these two together besides mutual pain and pining?
It got exhausting going on the ring around the rosy.
I would read this author again, but this book just felt very unsatisfactory by the end.
3.5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
August 19, 2024
if his idea of a romantic date is to take you to dinner at your employer, RUN
i kid, a little, but overall this was uneven for me. the single POV meant that i didn't really get to know the hero and the fact they both were in love with someone else at the start made the HEA definitely feel more like a HFN. We spent a LOT of time having Gabi explain herself to other people and not her love interest and that made the plot drag, and the spicy parts felt almost cut in to have them, not as integral to the romance. In fact if I am remembering correctly the first time they are intimate there's a weird fade to black and we miss a lot of it off the gate. I don't like that.
Any way, eh. I'd try more from the author but this wasn't an instant hit for me.
Also, again, he took her to dinner at the public library during close which i guess worked for the heroine but for me, NOPE (this is a me issue).
i kid, a little, but overall this was uneven for me. the single POV meant that i didn't really get to know the hero and the fact they both were in love with someone else at the start made the HEA definitely feel more like a HFN. We spent a LOT of time having Gabi explain herself to other people and not her love interest and that made the plot drag, and the spicy parts felt almost cut in to have them, not as integral to the romance. In fact if I am remembering correctly the first time they are intimate there's a weird fade to black and we miss a lot of it off the gate. I don't like that.
Any way, eh. I'd try more from the author but this wasn't an instant hit for me.
Also, again, he took her to dinner at the public library during close which i guess worked for the heroine but for me, NOPE (this is a me issue).
June 10, 2024
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
this was a miss for me. i was really excited about it because it was about a librarian, marcela, who falls in love with her best friends brother, theo. but there were too many aspects of the book that i didn't enjoy that disappointed me overall.
marcela is the epitome of the 'not like other girls' trope and i couldn't handle it. she acted very immature and juvenile for her age. that fact that she was pining for almost a decade over a man who was in a relationship but also a complete asshole? girl GET UP. i couldn't believe that she remained friends with (and fell for) a manipulative narcissist for most of her adult life. girl.
from the get go, theo had no personality. he literally spoke to her in "grunts"??? and he was also pining after his childhood friend for years. like what???? aside from that it was obvious that he definitely had alcohol problems. most of the book he was drunk, she was, or they both were. there was instalove between them but zero chemistry. they were brought together by circumstance but didn't actually fit each other's personalities.
the drama and the conversations were annoying. the amount of miscommunication made me roll my eyes multiple times. the plot keping going on and on in circles, repeating itself until i honestly almost dnf'd the book lol. i really did enjoy the plus size rep in this and the fact that marcela was a librarian!
this was a miss for me. i was really excited about it because it was about a librarian, marcela, who falls in love with her best friends brother, theo. but there were too many aspects of the book that i didn't enjoy that disappointed me overall.
marcela is the epitome of the 'not like other girls' trope and i couldn't handle it. she acted very immature and juvenile for her age. that fact that she was pining for almost a decade over a man who was in a relationship but also a complete asshole? girl GET UP. i couldn't believe that she remained friends with (and fell for) a manipulative narcissist for most of her adult life. girl.
from the get go, theo had no personality. he literally spoke to her in "grunts"??? and he was also pining after his childhood friend for years. like what???? aside from that it was obvious that he definitely had alcohol problems. most of the book he was drunk, she was, or they both were. there was instalove between them but zero chemistry. they were brought together by circumstance but didn't actually fit each other's personalities.
the drama and the conversations were annoying. the amount of miscommunication made me roll my eyes multiple times. the plot keping going on and on in circles, repeating itself until i honestly almost dnf'd the book lol. i really did enjoy the plus size rep in this and the fact that marcela was a librarian!
July 24, 2024
5 STARS!
I adored every single freakin' thing about "The Next Best Fling" by Gabriella Gamez. Fake dating! Plus size characters! Rebounds! Pining! Trauma! Connection! Spice! Angst! Messiness! Banter! Libraries! Mature conversations! Football! This book has everything I love all wrapped up in one delicious, scintillating, swoon-worthy package. Marcela and Theo are terrific characters with incredible chemistry. They feel realistic and lived-in, written in such a way that they feel like friends rather than fictional characters. I liked how their relationship developed slowly over time, and how they slowly (and quickly!) caught feelings for one another. I think this book strikes the right chord between being lighthearted and deep, tackling subjects and topics that won't please everyone (because some people are way too picky about their romance novels!), but certainly satisfied me. It takes a lot to surprise me, but a few things about this book made me drop my jaw. Protagonists actually *talking* about their problems?! Who could have thought!! I could not put this book down and finished it very quickly. An addicting debut novel from Gabriella Gamez! Cannot wait to see what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I adored every single freakin' thing about "The Next Best Fling" by Gabriella Gamez. Fake dating! Plus size characters! Rebounds! Pining! Trauma! Connection! Spice! Angst! Messiness! Banter! Libraries! Mature conversations! Football! This book has everything I love all wrapped up in one delicious, scintillating, swoon-worthy package. Marcela and Theo are terrific characters with incredible chemistry. They feel realistic and lived-in, written in such a way that they feel like friends rather than fictional characters. I liked how their relationship developed slowly over time, and how they slowly (and quickly!) caught feelings for one another. I think this book strikes the right chord between being lighthearted and deep, tackling subjects and topics that won't please everyone (because some people are way too picky about their romance novels!), but certainly satisfied me. It takes a lot to surprise me, but a few things about this book made me drop my jaw. Protagonists actually *talking* about their problems?! Who could have thought!! I could not put this book down and finished it very quickly. An addicting debut novel from Gabriella Gamez! Cannot wait to see what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gabriella Gamez, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
April 19, 2024
This is a really cute debut romance read but my gosh was it a bit chaotic and messy. The fmc Marcella has not yet gotten over her love for Ben who is engaged to another woman. His brother Theo is the mmc has always wanted to be with the woman Ben is engaged to and it's a hot mess lol. The main characters get together and start a no-strings-attached relationship to get over those they were pining over.
This book has angst, is a bit emotional, and very complicated. I liked the main characters for the most part but they annoyed me at times. Overall this was a good debut with steam, cute moments, and realistic characters and experiences. Honorable moment to the fmc who is a librarian and advocated for the library throughout the book. Thanks to Forever for this arc.
Read for:
- Plus size rep
- Latina fmc
- Librarian fmc
- Romcom
Rating 3.75/5 rounded up
This book has angst, is a bit emotional, and very complicated. I liked the main characters for the most part but they annoyed me at times. Overall this was a good debut with steam, cute moments, and realistic characters and experiences. Honorable moment to the fmc who is a librarian and advocated for the library throughout the book. Thanks to Forever for this arc.
Read for:
- Plus size rep
- Latina fmc
- Librarian fmc
- Romcom
Rating 3.75/5 rounded up
April 10, 2024
What if the love of your life is getting married to your ex-best friend and you catch his brother rehearsing a speech to ruin the wedding?
Read The Next Best Fling to find out more. Marcela and Theo are both trying to get over people who don’t love them back. They come up with a plan to ‘Fake Date’ to take the suspicion off Theo for almost ruining the 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.
Read The Next Best Fling to find out more. Marcela and Theo are both trying to get over people who don’t love them back. They come up with a plan to ‘Fake Date’ to take the suspicion off Theo for almost ruining the 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.
July 13, 2024
4.5 stars
I need a Theo like I need air <3
This book screams comfort, love, happiness, and emotional intelligence (!!!). Marcela and Theo are two beautiful characters whom I relate to more than I would probably like, but it feels so wonderful to find oneself amidst the pages of a book. Their relationship is the absolute best, and I enjoyed the bits and pieces of drama throughout the story. The book is super well written and so fun to read, as it is filled with humor and lots of relatable notions we carry about love and life. Go read this if you love a fun yet deep (and spicy) love story!
“Call me whatever you want,” he says against my lips. “As long as I get to call you mine.”
I need a Theo like I need air <3
This book screams comfort, love, happiness, and emotional intelligence (!!!). Marcela and Theo are two beautiful characters whom I relate to more than I would probably like, but it feels so wonderful to find oneself amidst the pages of a book. Their relationship is the absolute best, and I enjoyed the bits and pieces of drama throughout the story. The book is super well written and so fun to read, as it is filled with humor and lots of relatable notions we carry about love and life. Go read this if you love a fun yet deep (and spicy) love story!
August 28, 2024
I would love to go to war over third-act breakups. Especially when it’s not even the guy’s fault for once ???
Read
May 25, 2024I was trying to get past a scene in Gabriella Gamez’s The Next Best Fling for two weeks. At first I thought the problem was that I have been tired and my job is very stressful right now. I finally pushed through, got to the next scene, and realized I am not going to be able to finish this book. The primary antagonist is a narcissist. Gamez has written the controlling and manipulative dynamics of his relationship with the two main characters so well that it is triggering very bad memories for me. I have done this with one other book, Alexis Hall’s Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake. Unfortunately, with that read, I pushed myself so hard that now I can’t read Alexis Hall at all. I don’t want to get to that point with Gabriella Gamez, because I would like to read her next book.
Marcela has been in love with her best friend, Ben, for years. They dated for a while in college, but then Ben thought they would be better as friends. Ben’s brother, Theo, has been in love with Ben’s fiancé, Alice, since they were kids. Marcela stops Theo from confessing his feelings to Alice at Alice and Ben’s engagement party. Marcela takes him home and they agree to support each other. Ben does not want Marcela and Theo to get together, and their fake relationship to fling to romance sets Ben off on a path of self destruction.
Narcissists are hard to write, because they seem improbable to people who don’t have experience with a narcissist. The things they do seem far fetched, and that’s one of the ways they keep people trapped. In the scene that took me two weeks to read, Marcela and Theo kissed at a bar in front of Alice and her friends and decide to go back to Marcela’s to fool around some more. Ben calls them both, one after the other, to stop them. That behavior is unhinged. And, if you’ve been in a relationship with a narcissist, you will have your own moments of recognition. I don’t really believe in psychic powers, but a narcissist knows when their people are attempting to leave their orbit and will pull you back in.
I did skip to the very end, and Marcela gets her happy ending with Theo. I can’t wait to read Gabriella Gamez’s next book, which I hope will not have a narcissist. Be kind to yourself and dnf books when you need to, and when you want to.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
Marcela has been in love with her best friend, Ben, for years. They dated for a while in college, but then Ben thought they would be better as friends. Ben’s brother, Theo, has been in love with Ben’s fiancé, Alice, since they were kids. Marcela stops Theo from confessing his feelings to Alice at Alice and Ben’s engagement party. Marcela takes him home and they agree to support each other. Ben does not want Marcela and Theo to get together, and their fake relationship to fling to romance sets Ben off on a path of self destruction.
Narcissists are hard to write, because they seem improbable to people who don’t have experience with a narcissist. The things they do seem far fetched, and that’s one of the ways they keep people trapped. In the scene that took me two weeks to read, Marcela and Theo kissed at a bar in front of Alice and her friends and decide to go back to Marcela’s to fool around some more. Ben calls them both, one after the other, to stop them. That behavior is unhinged. And, if you’ve been in a relationship with a narcissist, you will have your own moments of recognition. I don’t really believe in psychic powers, but a narcissist knows when their people are attempting to leave their orbit and will pull you back in.
I did skip to the very end, and Marcela gets her happy ending with Theo. I can’t wait to read Gabriella Gamez’s next book, which I hope will not have a narcissist. Be kind to yourself and dnf books when you need to, and when you want to.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
August 31, 2024
This was so cute honestly! I LOVED that she was a YA reader especially, that was so refreshing to see in an adult romance book. I will say, the miscommunication stressed me out at times, but overall it was handled really well.
August 21, 2024
الكتاب من الأول كان عادي ومو متوقعة الكثير منه، كنت أبغى حاجه سريعة وسهلة فقط. بس الكاتبه مصرة توجد عمق من العدم. باقي كم صفحة وتخلص الرواية وكلهم مشاعرهم واضحة بس لا البطلة قالت لا مافي. وقعدت تحط أعذار بلهاء: هي مو خيار ثاني، ما اقدر أصدقك وغيره من الكلام المكرر. ليش؟ بس كذا عشان تخدعك أنه في عندها سالفه ومغزى، ارحمي أمي محد بيقرأ كتابك عشان يطلع بشي بجانب التسلية وتضييع الوقت.
ما خلصتها🤗
ما خلصتها🤗
July 13, 2024
2.5 stars
This sounded like a fun take on fake dating and instead it's filled with loads of drama.
I liked Marcela and Theo well enough. They're both good people with big hearts and desperately in love with one half of an engaged couple. I did like the idea of them leaning on each other to get through it; however I never really got the feel of a connection between them. Oh and Angela was the best and Ben is straight up the worst.
Plot wise, it's sort of bland. There's a lot of push and pull, loads of inner monologue, and forever pining for the wrong person. I wanted chemistry, banter, and open conversations, sadly none of that happened.
Overall, it was a quick read with a lot of potential. It just didn't work for me.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
This sounded like a fun take on fake dating and instead it's filled with loads of drama.
I liked Marcela and Theo well enough. They're both good people with big hearts and desperately in love with one half of an engaged couple. I did like the idea of them leaning on each other to get through it; however I never really got the feel of a connection between them. Oh and Angela was the best and Ben is straight up the worst.
Plot wise, it's sort of bland. There's a lot of push and pull, loads of inner monologue, and forever pining for the wrong person. I wanted chemistry, banter, and open conversations, sadly none of that happened.
Overall, it was a quick read with a lot of potential. It just didn't work for me.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
January 22, 2024
Look - if I stay up past my bedtime to finish a book, you know it’s worth reading. In fact, I read this one all in the span of a few hours one evening. I adored Marcela’s underlying fierceness and hated how much she lost of herself in the name of her “best friend” and secret crush, Ben. Theo has definitely gone through a lot, between relationships with his family and persistent injuries as a football player, not to mention his one-way feelings toward his sister’s fiancee. While they both could have certainly been more forthcoming at various points in the story, it’s easy to see why they felt they needed to guard their hearts while their “fake” relationship started to become a thing all on its own. There were quite a few unexpected moments, enough that I couldn’t put down the book and needed to know how things ended.
If you liked the vibes of Kate Winslet’s character/storyline in The Holiday (especially hating Jasper Bloom obvi), if you like bookish characters (especially those trying to help increase diverse reads for teens!), and if you are looking for some characters who feel extremely real and messy, I cannot recommend The Next Best Fling enough.
Thank you Netgalley and @ReadForeverPub for the advanced copy.
If you liked the vibes of Kate Winslet’s character/storyline in The Holiday (especially hating Jasper Bloom obvi), if you like bookish characters (especially those trying to help increase diverse reads for teens!), and if you are looking for some characters who feel extremely real and messy, I cannot recommend The Next Best Fling enough.
Thank you Netgalley and @ReadForeverPub for the advanced copy.
February 19, 2024
I’m just too old for the Gen Z drama. The maturity levels of the main characters is pretty low. And they’re drunk most of the book.
DNF
DNF
July 10, 2024
I love that 2024 is turning out to be the year of AMAZING debuts! I immediately fell for Marcela, a plus size, Latina YA librarian working in Texas who has been hopelessly in love with her best friend Ben for years.
Sadly, when Ben gets engaged Marcela has to reconcile with her unrequited feelings AND help Ben's former pro NFL player brother, Theo with his longtime feelings for Ben's fiance, Alice.
This was a bizarre love square, fake dating romcom about learning to love yourself and trust in the love of others and I absolutely ADORED it!
I can't wait for the next Librarians in Love book (hopefully starring Marcela's bestie, Angela). It can't go without saying that Theo is definitely TOP notch book boyfriend material, planning the PERFECT date for Marcela and wanting to share in and celebrate her passion for books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital and finished gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! Book lovers and sports romance fans don't want to miss this great debut that will have you swooning and that was also great on audio!
🔥Steam level: mild open door scenes
Fav quotes:
"And why are we suddenly playing this terrible game with my feelings? ...[choosing a favorite book]..."is like choosing a favorite child."--Marcela
"Call me whatever you want...As long as I get to call you mine." --Theo
Sadly, when Ben gets engaged Marcela has to reconcile with her unrequited feelings AND help Ben's former pro NFL player brother, Theo with his longtime feelings for Ben's fiance, Alice.
This was a bizarre love square, fake dating romcom about learning to love yourself and trust in the love of others and I absolutely ADORED it!
I can't wait for the next Librarians in Love book (hopefully starring Marcela's bestie, Angela). It can't go without saying that Theo is definitely TOP notch book boyfriend material, planning the PERFECT date for Marcela and wanting to share in and celebrate her passion for books.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital and finished gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! Book lovers and sports romance fans don't want to miss this great debut that will have you swooning and that was also great on audio!
🔥Steam level: mild open door scenes
Fav quotes:
"And why are we suddenly playing this terrible game with my feelings? ...[choosing a favorite book]..."is like choosing a favorite child."--Marcela
"Call me whatever you want...As long as I get to call you mine." --Theo
May 7, 2024
Dnfing this @ 42%. I made it so far so this is kinda ruining my brain rn but this book and I were NOT getting along!!!! I didn’t love the writing, the FMC was so annoying to me. And so nosy. And so annoying. And the mmc was just there? Like he was so boring to me. And they had zero chemistry (in my opinion) and read more like friends? And not love interests??? I don’t know, it was just not my favorite. But I loved the poc & plus size representation!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you NETGALLEY and Forever for this arc!!!
Thank you NETGALLEY and Forever for this arc!!!
June 29, 2024
3.75
I adored this. Highly entertaining, absolutely enjoyable, packed with feels and enough emotional rollercoasters to last me a month.
I don't always read M/F romances because I have a tricky relationship with seeing my body represented on page. But romances with great rep are the exception to that rule: a Latinx, fat protagonist? Who loves and respects herself, but still manages to be vulnerable and insecure and relatable? Who's also a librarian? SIGN ME UP.
I adored Marcela. She was the absolute best, and although I kinda wanted her to come clean with Theo from the start, I absolutely cheered for her, and her HEA, from the very first page to the last.
And THEO. God, what a freaking delicious morsel of a man. He made me swoon so freaking hard. How does one find a person like him?!!!! Somebody tell me.
I also LOVED their relationship and dynamic so so much. A hint of fake dating (and friends with benefits!), plus a whole lot of unexpected chemistry, attraction and feels. I loved how their relationship felt realistic and relatable, but also goddamn dreaming and swoony at the same time.
Their relationship was fraught with misunderstandings and insecurities at times though: I was on the edge of my seat in those moments, and let me tell you, I wanted to knock some sense into Marcela's head more than once. I still adored seeing everything unfold on page.
I mostly wanted to run over that weasel Ben though. I despised him with my whole heart. He was HORRIBLE, and I can't believe Marcela spent all these years pining for him. Alice I can believe, but BEN? Ugh. What a horrid little man. On the other hand, I loved all the other side characters and I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing a few of these faces again.
All in all, "Best Next Fling" was a hoot of a book, wholly heartfelt and swoony, fun and enjoyable. The perfect feel-good summer read!
TWs/CWs: fatphobia, toxic friendship.
I received an arc from Netgalley. This is my honest review.
I adored this. Highly entertaining, absolutely enjoyable, packed with feels and enough emotional rollercoasters to last me a month.
I don't always read M/F romances because I have a tricky relationship with seeing my body represented on page. But romances with great rep are the exception to that rule: a Latinx, fat protagonist? Who loves and respects herself, but still manages to be vulnerable and insecure and relatable? Who's also a librarian? SIGN ME UP.
I adored Marcela. She was the absolute best, and although I kinda wanted her to come clean with Theo from the start, I absolutely cheered for her, and her HEA, from the very first page to the last.
And THEO. God, what a freaking delicious morsel of a man. He made me swoon so freaking hard. How does one find a person like him?!!!! Somebody tell me.
I also LOVED their relationship and dynamic so so much. A hint of fake dating (and friends with benefits!), plus a whole lot of unexpected chemistry, attraction and feels. I loved how their relationship felt realistic and relatable, but also goddamn dreaming and swoony at the same time.
Their relationship was fraught with misunderstandings and insecurities at times though: I was on the edge of my seat in those moments, and let me tell you, I wanted to knock some sense into Marcela's head more than once. I still adored seeing everything unfold on page.
I mostly wanted to run over that weasel Ben though. I despised him with my whole heart. He was HORRIBLE, and I can't believe Marcela spent all these years pining for him. Alice I can believe, but BEN? Ugh. What a horrid little man. On the other hand, I loved all the other side characters and I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing a few of these faces again.
All in all, "Best Next Fling" was a hoot of a book, wholly heartfelt and swoony, fun and enjoyable. The perfect feel-good summer read!
TWs/CWs: fatphobia, toxic friendship.
I received an arc from Netgalley. This is my honest review.
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