The Next Best Fling

Gamez puts a saucy twist on the fake-dating trope in her fun and flirty debut. Librarian Marcela Ortiz, 27, has harbored feelings for her friend Ben since college, when they briefly dated. When Ben announces his engagement to his girlfriend and Marcela’s ex-friend, Alice, Marcela realizes she needs to finally put her feelings to rest. Her solution appears the night of the couple’s engagement party in Theo Young, Ben’s hot NFL player older brother. Marcela prevents disaster when she stops a drunk Theo from confessing his own long-held feelings for Alice and, when the pair leave together, it sparks a rumor they’re dating. Marcela and Theo agree to go along with it, hoping to conceal their real feelings from both bride and groom. Fake dating leads to authentic chemistry and they agree to rebound with each other. As feelings change and grow, however, the lines of their situationship start to blur and the love quadrangle demands to be untangled. Marcela and Theo’s emotional journey to overcome past baggage and messy family dynamics adds depth to this swoony read. Marcela is the sole narrator, leaving Theo feeling a bit less developed by comparison, but he’s still a worthy hero. Readers will enjoy the ride. Agent: Samantha Fabian, Root Literary. (July)