The Next Best Fling (Librarians in Love, #1)

by Gabriella Gamez

For all the readers, educators, and librarians fighting the good fight to get diverse books into the hands of those who need them the most. I hope we win.

“You cannot put an obscure quote from An Ember in the Ashes in your Tinder bio.” She rolls her eyes at my pout. “Read the room, Marcela.”

I still had someone left who cared about me. Love the person who stays.

We get lots of kids from the neighboring high school who know exactly which books they’re looking for, and the disappointment on their faces when we don’t have what they want sticks in my brain more than the excitement when we do. I’ve made it my mission to buy as many of these books as possible for our collections. I don’t just want more kids to read—I want them to see themselves in the books they’re reading. If I can do anything to help influence that, I’ll fight in any way I can to make it happen.

I’m tired of punishing myself for all the ways my body will never be perfect.

Are you avoiding me? The message comes via Instagram DM

Naur I hate Ben like a lot

“Okay, if you’re gonna be like this we might as well call it now.” Something in my voice makes him look up. I cross the room to the front door, whipping it open so hard it bangs against the wall with a loud crash. I cross my arms over my chest, eyes pinned on Ben. His eyes widen again in that deer-in-the-headlights way. “Go on,” I say, not buying his expression for a second. “You don’t want to support me? The person you’ve called a friend for nearly ten years? Get out.”

Andale

“What kind of person do you think I am?” He shakes his head, rubbing a hand down his face. “I’m beyond pissed at you for lying to me, but I’m not a saint, either.” He takes in a giant breath, and when he speaks again, there’s a measure of calm in his tone. “Come in. Let’s talk about this.”

“I’m no saint, believe me. I was just the chubby girl with no friends her own age. All my friends growing up were teachers, library staff, and fictional characters.” I ignore the way his eyes go soft. “I practically grew up in the public library, but not everyone has one within walking distance. It’s especially important for kids that age to have a wide selection of reading material, and to be able to see themselves in the books they’re reading. They need that more than I do.”

Cool brb crying

Ben has been the source of pain for all of us for too long. Theo’s NFL dreams, cut short. Alice’s career, stalled. My romantic relationships, a fucking joke. For the first time, I’m finally seeing him clearly. And I don’t like it one bit.

Bro Ben sucks

I let go of the cardboard flaps with a gasp. Inside the box, face up, is a hardback edition of An Ember in the Ashes with the latest cover. Theo was paying more attention than I thought when he asked about my favorite books. He even remembered when I complained about cover changes, and my disinclination to buy the new covers to match despite how much it bothers me. I find the second book in the series buried beneath other books. In fact, the entire box is filled with books from my Buy Again shelf on Goodreads. There isn’t a single book missing from that list.

He is a good man Savannah

I’ve never seen anyone as passionate about something the way you are about sharing your love of reading. I was in awe of you the night of your first book club. No one talks about books the way you do. It kills me that a woman with your strength ever felt so isolated growing up, but I suppose I have a lot of books to thank for turning you into the person you are now.

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.

Oh Theo