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Gabriella Gamez
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The Next Best Fling (Librarians in Love) Kindle Edition

by Gabriella Gamez (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 957 ratings
See all formats and editions
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.  
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  1. Book 1 of 1
    Librarians in Love
  2. Print length
    377 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Forever
  5. Publication date
    July 9, 2024
  6. File size
    1.4 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. “Call me whatever you want,” he says against my lips. “As long as I get to call you mine.”
    Highlighted by 141 Kindle readers
  2. But I can’t pick and choose which parts of myself are worthy and which aren’t, not the way other people feel like they can when they comment on my body. And why should I? Why should I be expected to carry the weight of other people’s disdain for the body I live in?
    Highlighted by 139 Kindle readers
  3. I’m able to love my body so much more when I’m not bombarded with the reminder that there are plenty of men who don’t.
    Highlighted by 137 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Funny, smart, and spicy!" ―Abby Jimenez, New York Times Best Selling Author

"Palpable tension. Charming characters who self-reflect. Laugh out loud moments. A plot with so many emotional layers. The Next Best Fling has absolutely everything I want in a romance book. Bravo."―Mia Sheridan, New York Times bestselling author

"Sweet and funny, with just the right amount of spice, Gabriella Gamez’s delightful debut is everything you can want in a romance."―Farrah Rochon, New York Times bestselling author of Pardon My Frenchie

"THE NEXT BEST FLING is my favorite kind of romance—heartfelt, humorous, and pitch-perfect hot. I fell head over heels for Gamez's portrayal of deep personal growth, of love that supports and celebrates every step of that healing journey."―Chloe Liese, USA Today bestselling author of Only and Forever

"A saucy twist on the fake-dating trope in her fun and flirty debut."―Publisher's Weekly

Hot chemistry and emotional depth.―Library Journal

About the Author

Gabriella Gamez is a Mexican American writer from South Texas. She has Bachelor’s in English, works as a Library Aide, and is studying Library Sciences to become a Youth Librarian.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CMQCVG9L
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Forever (July 9, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 9, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 377 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 957 ratings

About the author

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Gabriella Gamez

Gabriella Gamez

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Gabriella Gamez is a Mexican American author from South Texas. She is a former library assistant and has a bachelor’s degree in English from UTSA. When not writing, she can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee, wasting time playing video games, and obsessing over books.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
957 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's romance and found it enjoyable. They described it as a cute, romantic story with steamy bedroom scenes. The pacing was described as lighthearted with some silliness. The characters were well-written and relatable. Readers appreciated the heartfelt writing style and chemistry between the characters.

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RomanceEnjoymentCute bookPacingCharacter developmentSpice levelHeartfelt writing
13 customers mention "Romance"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the romance in the book. They found the story relatable and enjoyable. The plot was described as parallel, unrequited love. Readers appreciated the contemporary romance with steamy scenes and giddy feelings.

"...Librarians in Love series #1. Contemporary romance. Cinnamon roll hero. 1st person, present tense from Marcela’s POV...." Read more

"...Lol Overall, it was still a cute story and I’m glad I picked it up." Read more

"...The Next Best Fling is a cute story. You'll definitely be rooting for our ragtag duo." Read more

"This whole story was so dang sweet. Marcela takes her space and her mental health seriously. Theo is open and honest with her...." Read more

8 customers mention "Enjoyment"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it a fun and relatable read with cute characters.

"I liked this book, not a fan of only single point of view , but it worked for this book ...I liked FMC , she was plus size and smart and kind .....I..." Read more

"4/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️ This was a very fun read, but the relationships are MESSY!! Seriously, soap opera level family dynamics here...." Read more

"...Marcela is an absolute delight, and her character development and growth is *chef's kiss*; it's so well done and the fact that she actually truly..." Read more

"...But overall great book! Really enjoyed reading it." Read more

6 customers mention "Cute book"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it romantic and encouraging, with sexy bedroom scenes. Theo is described as adorable.

"...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." Read more

"So this book was really cute. There are many things I really liked about it. I liked that it’s based in San Antonio, which is where I live...." Read more

"...They were SO cute together...." Read more

"...It is so swoony, a little messy (in a good way) and is open door. I can not wait for the next book in this series!" Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the pacing of the book. They found the feelings messy and relatable, with some lightheartedness mixed in. The characters were described as tender and spicy.

"...The characters are deeply relatable. The feelings are messy and real. And there's some silliness, some lightheartedness...." Read more

"...😅 The relationship between Marcela and Theo is equal parts tender and spicy, and the angst, while plentiful, is never over the top. Overall a delight!..." Read more

"Super cute read, loved the MMC and the FMC was very relatable although I didn’t agree with some of her choices...." Read more

"...The healing moment at the end between Marce and her mom. It's angsty, steamy, and brought back all the novela feels!" Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the characters well-written and add variety to the story.

"...are her feel seen and that it made her character grow and be confident . Will be reading more from MS Games" Read more

"...I hit that five stars so fast. The characters are deeply relatable. The feelings are messy and real...." Read more

"...ate this book up - the representation, the writing, the plot, the characters - all swoon-worthy & perfect...." Read more

"...But I enjoyed it all the same. The characters were good,the characters development was better. And the spice was good and not excessive." Read more

4 customers mention "Spice level"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's spice level. They also appreciate the chemistry between the main characters.

"...Seriously, soap opera level family dynamics here. Loved the chemistry and vibes between the FMC and MMC though. They were SO cute together...." Read more

"...And the spice was good and not excessive." Read more

"...😅 The relationship between Marcela and Theo is equal parts tender and spicy, and the angst, while plentiful, is never over the top. Overall a delight!..." Read more

"...The romance was sweet and a little spicy, just how I like them!" Read more

3 customers mention "Heartfelt writing"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing heartfelt and realistic. They say the book is kind, romantic, and encouraging.

"...worked for this book ...I liked FMC , she was plus size and smart and kind .....I loved that MMC !..." Read more

"...It’s romantic, encouraging, and has a few very sexy bedroom scenes to ramp up the flames." Read more

"I loved this. Heartfelt and realistic. I dont know how anyone could think Ben was anything other than a douchebag...." Read more

FMC is Me, I am her!
5 out of 5 stars
FMC is Me, I am her!
I just about ate and devoured this book in 1 day. Adult responsibilities kept me from reading this in one sitting, but you better believe I picked it up every chance I got during my breaks.The Next Best Fling by @gabbywritesalot was absolutely perfect! I was extremely excited for this book for a multitude of reasons. Primarily, the FMC is a plus size Mexican American heroine (present!) and takes place in San Antonio, TX, which is just 30 minutes from where I grew up and have lived for the majority of my life. It was nice to hear about some of the places I frequented growing up, such as the Riverwalk, LA Cantera, and UTSA- although I didn't attend UTSA, (TXST), one of my besties did!So much of the FMC resonated with me- it was like looking in the mirror! If you're looking for a book with all the flirty banter, giddy feels, some steam, off the charts chemistry between the MFC and the MMC-ex NFL player, then look no further!The Next Best Fling⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶.5 to 🌶🌶♡ librarian x ex-nfl player♡ damaged friends with benefits♡ fake dating♡ messy love quadruple♡ most romantic grand gestures♡ single POV
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Top reviews from the United States

  • susy R
    4.0 out of 5 stars First book by this author
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this book, not a fan of only single point of view , but it worked for this book ...I liked FMC , she was plus size and smart and kind .....I loved that MMC !are her feel seen and that it made her character grow and be confident .
    Will be reading more from MS Games
    One person found this helpful
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  • Madison W Fairbanks
    5.0 out of 5 stars Next Best Fling
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    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.
    One person found this helpful
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  • L.H
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cute Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    So this book was really cute. There are many things I really liked about it. I liked that it’s based in San Antonio, which is where I live. When I grabbed this book at my local bookstore I didn’t realize that would be the setting. I like the author’s writing style and how she was inclusive of body types with this love story while also shedding light on how we feel about ourselves sometimes vs how others see us.

    Now, the reason I gave the book a 3 (really a 3.5) instead of 4 is because Marcela annoyed me so much. Lol I felt like her lies were unnecessary at times. I found myself rolling my eyes at her often. She spent all of this time, waiting on a man who was clearly not choosing her but when she finally met someone interested in her, she ran out on him (library date) I was really annoyed. I understand fear but come on girl. Lol

    Overall, it was still a cute story and I’m glad I picked it up.
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  • Patricia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Marcela & Theo are the cutest!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this. Heartfelt and realistic.

    I dont know how anyone could think Ben was anything other than a douchebag.

    Marcela didnt have me convinced at first but Theo? A freaking stud!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    4 ½ Stars

    I loved this book so much! Marcela is a very relatable FMC. She has some internal struggles with her self-image like most of us do. She knows her worth, but sometimes she lets the doubts creep in. It was refreshing to see a female lead who was normal. She wasn't super rich or super poor. She's from a broken home but has a great relationship with her mom. She works a regular job.

    I love love love Theo! He is the cinnamon roll MMC that we all need. The way he supports Marcela and doesn't let her hide from him is boyfriend goals. I thought he'd bail on our girl a few times, but he continued to surprise me.

    There were a few predictable parts, but nothing that took anything away from the story or that I found super annoying.
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  • Jessica G.
    4.0 out of 5 stars WOW! This is messy!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    4/5 ⭐️
    3/5 🌶️

    This was a very fun read, but the relationships are MESSY!! Seriously, soap opera level family dynamics here. Loved the chemistry and vibes between the FMC and MMC though. They were SO cute together.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Becky R.
    3.0 out of 5 stars The Next Best Fling
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    They are both trying to get through this engagement party. Each "in love" with a part of the happy couple, they form an alliance of sorts. Get through this without being the one to stop it.

    Unfortunately, their plan isn't quite as solid as the gossip. The Next Best Fling is a cute story. You'll definitely be rooting for our ragtag duo.
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  • Allie Lawler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easiest 5-Star of the Year
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    ⭐️: 5/5
    🌶️: 3/5
    Format: 📱

    I read this in one sitting after downloading it the second it became available on kindle, and I'm so glad I did. I hit that five stars so fast.

    The characters are deeply relatable. The feelings are messy and real. And there's some silliness, some lightheartedness. The plot kicks off with that "there's no way this would happen in real life" rom-com sort of way, but then before you know it, the way Marcela and Theo interact with each other transforms something you'd do, you'd see in the people around you. And it's not insta-love. They work at it. It's validating and empowering.

    The way Marcela thought about herself felt so significantly like me that it caught me off guard. Reading her inner monologue, traveling the journey with her as she battled her own thoughts and feelings to work out her issues--it literally felt like this book was therapy for me. I put it down and missed it.

    Basically, read this. Now.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Angst, chemistry and heat
    Reviewed in Canada on January 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Just the right amount of angst, drama, chemistry and heat made this a very enjoyable book to read. I loved that Marcela is a librarian and that the author has done a wonderful job of getting across her love of books and reading. The characters are complex and the relationship between Theo and Marcela melted my heart. I am definitely looking forward to book 2 in this series.
    Report
  • Jen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A new auto-buy author
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Super fun, lovable and relatable characters, and well written!
    Report
  • Glasgow Food Geek
    3.0 out of 5 stars A fun light read that'll leave you smiling!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This debut romance serves up the perfect mix of humor, heat, and heart! 🔥

    Meet Marcela: witty librarian, secret piner, and our relatable plus-size Latinx heroine. Enter Theo: ex-NFL hottie and big brother of Marcela's crush, who comewith his own share of family baggage.

    Their fake relationship? Let's just say it gets REAL. Fast. 😏

    Loved:
    • Body positive rep 👏
    • Steamy scenes that'll make you blush 😳
    • Authentic family dynamics (the good, bad & messy!)

    The chemistry between Marcela and Theo sizzles, but it's Marcela's journey of self-discovery that really shines. a charming story about finding love when (and where) you least expect it. Perfect for fans of fake dating tropes.

    It's a fun light read that'll leave you smiling!
    Report
  • Robin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, compelling and fun - read it in one night!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The Next Best Fling is so much fun to read. The author, Gabriella Gamez, has provided a unique twist on the fake dating, brother’s best friend, and so much more. It was sexy, funny, and so much more. And, it had libraries, and books and librarians, oh my! Do yourself a favour and put this book on your TBR list immediately. 😊
    Report

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