Girl Gone Viral is part of the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai, and I think that writing about modern love is a good idea. Dating websites and apps have become such an important part of the dating scene these days and people really are finding true love in places that they never expected.

In Girl Gone Viral, Katrina isn't exactly leaning into social media. She's trying to avoid it. She's a young woman with a complicated past who inadvertently goes viral after a stranger from her favorite coffee shop posts about her online. It's a total invasion of privacy but the internet doesn't care.

It's a nightmare for Kat, but also for her bodyguard Jas. The idea of people finding out her identity immediately puts her on edge. All she wants is a quiet life where she can take care of animals and cook for her employees and friends. So Jas suggests that the two of them head up North to stay at his family's farm. They'll be safe from the public and Kat can take some time to unwind on her own.

Now, you might have some questions. Why does Kat need a bodyguard? How long has she had her panic disorder? What's the deal with Jas and his farm? Well, don't worry. All of that is revealed in time. I'll be honest that the description of this book really confused me but just keep reading because the story and Kat's past are explained little by little.

I liked that this story focused on mental health for both Kat and Jas. They were both going through some pretty tough things and it was very sweet how they were able to help each other. This is a bit of a slow burn romance because with Kat being the boss and Jas being her employee, both are reluctant to tell the other how they really feel.

But just be patient. This story is so sweet and as Kat and Jas opened up to each other, I grew to like them more and more. I may have squealed from the cuteness a couple of times while I was reading.

I highly recommend if you like contemporary romances with realistic characters. I mean, having a bodyguard isn't exactly realistic. But Kat's feelings and family history are complicated, and I think a lot of readers will be able to relate.

Loved this rom-com. Part of series but can be read as a stand alone. I flew through it and thought it was fun and well written. Can't wait for more!! Definitely recommend.

This book is a slow burn, which I know not everyone is a fan of, but here I thought it was done well. Both Katrina and Jas struggle with mental health issues (her with anxiety and panic attacks, him with PTSD) and I felt Rai did a great job at addressing these and showing them present in their lives instead of simply using them as a plot device.

Jas is Katrina's body guard and both harbor a secret crush/longing for the other. Their feelings slowly come to light after Katrina becomes an unknowing and unwanted viral moment and they choose to leave Santa Barbara for the quieter Nor Cal farm Jas' family owns. I loved the dynamic of Jas' family and honestly wouldn't mind a book about them. They were so real and you could feel the love and the frustration they had with each other.

While relatively long for a romance, Goodreads shows it at 400 pages, I felt this was a quick read as it was easy to get sucked into the story and their lives. I enjoyed the first book in this series as well, The Right Swipe, and loved catching up with those characters. I am eager to see what book three brings for Jia as she was certainly an entertaining and fun side character here.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought Kat was great and the anxiety rep was very true to real life anxiety. I did start to feel after a bit, for as much as she struggled with her past, it wasn't until over halfway through, you were given concrete reasons, instead of vague statements of an abusive dad. Obviously, not always needed, but the repetition of the vague references started to stand out.

Also, how could anyone not swoon over Jas?

I gave this a three out of five stars, I really enjoyed it but I didn't like it as much as The Right Swipe. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I requested Alisha Ravi’s books Girl Gone Viral and First Comes Love in the Modern Love series. I own the paperback copy of The Right Swipe, book one in the series, and I always planned to come back to read and review the rest of the series after reading the first book. But then I couldn’t get into The Right Swipe. It’s still on my bookshelf, I may give it another try at some point. But I’ve had Girl Gone Viral and First Comes Love lingering on my NetGalley shelf for awhile and I wanted to update both books and notate their reviews,

Super sweet rom-com filled with "I like him, but there's no way he could like me" and "I like her, but she doesn't feel that way about me". I really enjoyed how Girl Gone Viral hits on mental health issues. It's important for people with anxiety see a heroine grow and become stronger throughout a book where the issues are still in her present. It's something Katrina continues to struggle with. Jas is so kind and supportive it gives us hope that there is someone for everyone.

Language: PG13+ (13+ swears, 1+ "f"); Mature Content: PG13+; Violence: G+
I can't identify what about this book felt wrong, but I was getting vibes that I didn't want to be reading it, so I stopped. My gut tells me it was for implications of mature content later in the book, but I don't know that for sure since I only read the first couple chapters. The mature content rating for what I did read is for innuendo and mentions of sex.

Girl Gone Viral was a breath of fresh air, funny, and deserves more attention. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and cannot wait to read more by this author.

I really enjoyed Alisha's last book, The Right Swipe, so I was looking forward to this one. This book did not disappoint! This was one of my first bodyguard romance books and it will not be my last. I also typically read books where a male is the boss and the female is a secretary so I liked seeing a female be the boss this time. Jas was such a loveable character and you were fighting for them to be together. I definitely recommend this book!

Synopsis:
Katrina King is an ex-model who loves to stay out of the spotlight. One day she is at a cafe where an attractive man decides to share who table and they have an innocent conversation. A patron at the cafe takes a picture and it goes viral as #CafeBae. Katrina has worked hard to keep a low profile and now she is overwhelmed as people try to figure out the identity of #CuteCafeGirl. Jas, her bodyguard, takes her to his family's remote property to keep her safe. As they spend alone time together, they realize there is more than just an employer-employee relationship.

Katrina, the introverted and slightly reclusive side character from other Rai works, gets her own book. And a handsome bodyguard! Rai's shared universe is always worth a visit, and her skill in developing backstory and characters with depth? Strong showing here. This is another worthwhile outing.

Cute story, and I liked that the main characters each had their own personalities and flaws. 80% in there was a lot of descriptive sex, and I had been enjoying that this story wasn't focused on that. Not a bad thing, but not what I expected. Also my older rural library patrons wouldn't be enthused for the same reason, so I'll have to pass on adding this one.

Girl Gone Viral 🐶📸

Thank you to @avonbooks for the gifted e-copy of Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

I have been reading these books in the reverse order from how they were written for no reason whatsoever and I absolute adoreeee this romance series!
This book follows Kat, a very private girl, as her life is catapulted into the spot life against her will.
Kat’s long term body guard, Jas, is there to both save the day and to look like an absolute hunk while doing it.
This friends to lovers romances was sweet and steamy and filled with mental health subjects that gave the characters so much more life than typical romances.
I loved watching Kat find her back bone and I adored Jas being there to help her thru it all.

Thank you again @avonbooks for the copy!

Alisha Rai knows how to write pining and longing. Katrina is an ex-model, reclusive, and very private. While coming to terms with her anxiety and focusing on her mental health, she becomes the victim of a viral hashtag. She is unwillingly attached to a stranger that the internet is convinced is her soulmate. Meanwhile, her true romantic interest is her long time bodyguard, Jas. In order to escape the spotlight and feel safe, Jas takes Katrina to his family’s farm in Northern California. There Katrina is able to gain perspective about her anxiety and insecurities.
This novel truly felt like a love letter to NorCal. Rai also writes about mental health with the perspective that it is a process and with such honesty.

This was a cute romantic comedy that includes social media and all of the chaos that comes with going viral, where everyone in the world thinks they know everything about you.

Super cute book. Loved the story and the plot line. You didn’t want to put it down till the end. Definitely one to add to your to be read list if you enjoy chick lit.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Katrina and Jas were lovely together. The plot definitely took a back seat to the characters in this one, but I enjoyed spending time with the characters so much that I did not mind at all. As soon as I finished this one, I went out and bought the next in the series!

I never knew I was the type to be into a bodyguard romance, but here we are. I think it's my new favorite trope and I am in search of more. I think I liked this a little better than book one. I felt like the tropes felt less forced and the writing flowed for this couple more for me. Rai is funny with fresh dialogue and I look forward to the next book in the series to see if it's even better.

It saddens me to only give this three stars. I love Alisha Rai with all my heart, but I think my expectations tripped me up here more than anything. I liked her earlier, darker romances, and this was much nicer than I expected. The story was just a tad bit slow for me, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the male and female leads.

Excellent friends-to-lovers romance with a sweet as opposed to steamy vibe and side of forced proximity!