I went into this book knowing it was the second book in a series that I hadn't read the first one.

The first thing I did when I finished this book was put myself on hold for my library's ebook of the first book in the series, The Right Swipe.

I stayed up way too late reading this because I was enjoying it so much. It's just a lovely book. I really liked the diversity of the characters. We've got Indian Sikh, Thai American/white American, African American, Pakistani American, and a minor gay character. And yet, it didn't read as DIVERSITY, it just reads as a lovely romance.

I loved the previous book and was beyond excited to see Katrina was getting a book. Sadly, this was a let down for me.

I loved Katrina and Jas. I love their history and how in tune they were with each other. They’ve both been pining away, but unfortunately, there was no chemistry at all. Of course I loved seeing the the other ladies and Doodle was the absolute best. I could have done with about a million more scenes with the dog.

Plot wise, it was a struggle. The actual background story for each of them is given in bits and pieces in passing conversations. We don’t get the full story {but still a very vague idea} until nearly the end. The tension slash build up was non-existent and that includes the romance part of it.

Overall, there was so much potential, but for me, the story lacked a spark and direction. If there is another book in the series, I’ll be reading it.

**Huge thanks to Avon Books for providing the arc free of charge**

Alisha Rai's latest novel is a great romance with the modern twist of viral celebrity and the effect it has on people's lives. I read this in one sitting by the pool, and it is the perfect read for the summer. Fantastic characters and an intriguing plot make it impossible to put down!

I read "The Right Swipe" two weeks ago and I was so excited to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I love how developed the character's backstories are, and Alisha Rai does a great job of pulling you in with every page. "Girl Gone Viral" dives in to heavy topics, such as PTSD and trauma, and Alisha does a great job of that while keeping the book light and the romance fresh. It was a great escape read during this time of quarantine. I hope there is another book in the series! (Maybe with Jia as the main character...?)

I loved this cute romance tale. Forced to hide after going viral, Katrina is taken by her handsome bodyguard to his family farm. This story wins you over quickly and has you cheering for the two main characters to FINALLY get together. The way the story addresses mental health is wonderful and I would like to see more of this in other stories. The writing is good and I love a slow burn romance and this an example of a great one.

Girl Gone Viral is the first book I’ve read from Alisha Rai and I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the very beginning. This story goes to show that dating in the modern age is not always the easiest or what you expect.
Katrina is the hopeless romantic. She is shy, works hard, but loves to do things for her friends. Though she also has her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. I loved how that part was written in the story. It wasn’t overlooked or romanticized in any way. It was real and honest. Plus Katrina had a great group of friends who were supportive of her. She is a former model, but still keeps a bodyguard with her. A bodyguard that she is also crushing on. But who can blame her? Jas, like Katrina, is also going through his own struggles he is trying to overcome from past events.
This was definitely more of a slow burn romance. Going into the book I really didn’t know what to expect, but I enjoyed this story. The chemistry between the main characters was great and the secondary characters were great and added to the overall story.

A slower burn than it's predecessor, readers will love the intimate portrait this book paints of its two main characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Right Swipe was one of my favorite books of last year, so I feel Girl Gone Viral had some big shoes to fill coming after it. And while there are things I enjoyed about this one, I didn’t feel like it had the same “spark” that the first book did.

The premise is great, especially since it does tap into both last year’s #PlaneBae controversy and Rai’s own experience the negative aspects of viral fame. And the inclusion of Katrina’s experience with panic attacks as a result of past trauma and how the experience of going viral magnified the issue was well-done.

However, the execution of the plot ends up falling flat. This is an incredibly slow burn, and it feels at times like nothing is happening. And the romance has so much potential, being somewhat friends-to-lovers, as well as the fact that he’s her bodyguard in a somewhat intense situation. However, I never really felt believed in their relationship or rooted for them.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped, but I feel like there’s the bones of a good story here, given some of the topics it touches on. If you don’t mind a slower paced contemporary romance with a focus on the world of “modern romance” (dating apps and social media), perhaps you’ll enjoy this more than I did.

After Katrina’s much older husband dies, she develops feelings for her bodyguard. While he reciprocates, both are too conflicted to act on their desires. But, an impromptu extended trip to the country gives her the push she needs to make the first move, which could jeopardize their working relationship as well as their close friendship.

The story focuses on multiple conflicts, all of which are relatively easily resolved without the main characters expending much effort. Katrina’s coffee shop visit and encounter with a stranger who asks her out is live tweeted and goes viral, potentially compromising her deep-seated need to stay out of the public eye. Jas is estranged from a family member and dealing with an incident from his military past that traumatized and seriously injured him. Fearing Katrina could be revealed as #CuteCafeGirl, he takes her to his family farm, forcing him to interact with his family.

Both Jas and Katrina suffer from PTSD. Their struggles with the disorder are well shown, and add depth to their characters. I enjoyed seeing Katrina continue to push herself, by venturing out in the world, using tools (e.g. therapy, worry stone, breathing techniques, comfort objects, cooking) as coping mechanisms, and frankly sharing her limitations with trusted people.

I really wanted to love this book. I loved the concept and the multicultural characters, but overall the book didn’t meet my high expectations. The cast of characters is huge and largely underutilized. All the conflicts keep the romance on the back burner. Katrina seemed to simultaneously act like an old woman and an inexperienced teen. I didn’t buy her relationship with her wealthy, much older husband. Nor did I buy Katrina and Jas’s sexual inexperience. Most of the issues between them seemed to be resolvable with a simple conversation, and I never felt their happier ever after was uncertain. There are some cute moments and humorous bits, for example when the couple text messages each other and when Katrina interacts with her therapist.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

TW: past tense parental psychological and emotional abuse, crippling panic disorder and panic attacks, PTSD, nightmares, and war flash backs.

Utterly beautiful! This story was just so touching, and emotionally raw and vulnerable and strong, with such a major focus on mental health, support systems, and therapy positivity! I’m blown away by the respectfulness that the author shows towards her MC’s, both of whom suffer from PSTD and other mental health issues. The first chapter immediately starts the therapy positivity and the rest of the book showcases the female MC’s struggles and triumphs with positively supporting and grounding herself through her panic attacks and intrusive thoughts. The male MC struggles with PTSD from his time in the army and active duty and he has such beautiful character growth as he recognizes his need for help and learning to ask for it. We see how his PTSD effects his family and the weight lifting relief that asking for help can have on everyone involved.

I could cry with happiness from this story! At its heart, it’s an uplifting romance with a hopeless romantic MC, deliciously slow burn with a side of pining for each other. And as much as I love that side of the story (and I loved it A LOT), my heart is stuck on the mental health positivity of it all. I pretty much went into this book blind, not having read the first book yet, so it was all completely unexpected and yet I can’t help but feeling a weight of mine own being lifted. I don’t suffer from the same struggles that the characters do, but I recognized the relief they felt in being validated and the love from their support systems, and this is what we need in more stories! I have nothing but complete and utter love for these characters and this story!

P.S. a small side note because this is the second book in this stand alone series — I have not read the first book (yet) but I did not feel like my enjoyment was lacking in the slightest from not having read the first book. There are overlapping characters from book 1 who play a pretty important role in this book, but enough of their backstory was touched upon that I got enough of what I needed to enjoy Girl Gone Viral. Do not feel discouraged to not read both, but if you read this one first, like myself, you’ll probably want to go back and read book 1, which I will hopefully be doing soon!

Cozy, soft, sweet... Girl Gone Viral may be the perfect romance read during this chaotic, crazy coronavirus time. Katrina and Jas perfectly illustrate how, when it comes to modern love, safety and comfort are every bit as necessary as passion and chemistry. Reading their story was like finding yourself snuggled in the softest, warmest cashmere wrap; something we all need while anxiously glued to the news at home. This story had everything you need to stay at home: heat, humor, food porn, and even sourdough starter (really).

As her longtime bodyguard, Jas' job is to protect Katrina from modern day ills like unwanted viral attention, doxxing and blackmailers, but this is a really a timeless tale of two wounded souls searching for sanctuary and finding it with each other. I loved that both Jas and Katrina were such thoughtful people pleasers for each other.

Katrina and Jas' slow burn dance around each other was one of the longest slow burns ever. Clumsy and sweet, theirs was an epically slow burn of shy and sweet.

Hiding from the world on Jas' family's peach farm, Katrina and Jas are juggling multiple balls: hiding their crushes from each other, meddling family members, doxxing threats, blackmail, PTSD, panic attacks. Their cottage becomes a safe nest where they hide from the world together, much like how most of the world is right now.

I loved how Katrina and Jas dealt with their own personal crises on their own and together. There were fist pumps when Katrina faced off with her blackmailer and smiles/tears when Jas finally came clean with his family. But most of all, giggles when Katrina and Jas were alone.

Perfect eyebrows and all, Jas and Katrina create a beautiful safe world for them and their story has the most adorable rom-com sign-off. Happy book noise.

I loved this book, and it saved me from a weeks long reading slump when I haven't been much interested in anything. I like this book even more than the first in this series. The characters felt real and like friends I'd want to have in my own life. They had their problems, they had things that made them different, they had things they struggled with, and they were supportive friends (and then lovers). I am a sucker for the friends to lovers and staying in the same house together with romantic tension troupes, which this book did perfectly. It was light and happy, while also depicting serious issues including PTSD, privacy on the internet, and how to open up vulnerably and communicate with those who care about you. The story and characters were so real and modern in what they had to deal with, how they talked, and how they interacted with the world. This book was just what I needed right now and I can't wait to read more by this author.

This book is a total slow burn between Katrina and Jas. She is his employer, and they have known each other for a long time. These feelings are unexpected for her and have been building for him. I like that she’s in her mid-thirties and he’s 39. A big theme of the novel is that he knows pretty much everything about her (except her feelings for him!) and he has to open up so she can get to know him, which is difficult for him. Food as an expression of love plays into this, as Katrina tries to learn his favourites.
Katrina strikes up an innocent conversation with a man looking for an empty seat at a cafe, only to have it go viral when the couple next to them live tweet it and embellish. Her picture, fortunately, does not show her face. She used to be a model until she stepped out of the spotlight. She was later kidnapped and physically assaulted so her husband would pay a large ransom. Obviously, she does not want to be recognized publicly and has had years of panic and struggle to even leave the house, so she wants to flee when it goes viral.
Jas joined her late husband’s security team after his medical discharge from Iraq. He was shot by a fellow soldier, who was charged but got out early. He is in touch but apart from his family, which is a main point of the novel, as they go to his farm (he was given his family’s original home farm on their estate; they are fruit farmers, primarily peaches). He struggles because his grandfather wanted him to take over but he was not interested; his stepbrother is running the farm and loves it.
Katrina and Jas go to the farm for privacy, which is not for long with his family, especially his adorable and hard headed grandfather, and they get closer and finally start to acknowledge their feelings for each other as they work on some of their personal challenges.
Alisha Rai is such a master at characterization. I like that the character’s challenges and their romance are not things to fix them. Instead, they are to grow and adapt as they need to. She continues to be one of my favourite contemporary romance novelists with this fantastic book.

After reading Right Swipe I couldn't wait for Katrina to get her HEA. This was way more serious and a slow burn than even book one. Don't get me wrong its a great book but not light and funny. There is PTSD, anxiety, emotional/psychological abuse, war crimes, and panic attacks just to name a few of the tough topics in this book.. Jas her bodyguard comes into play once they get alone at his family's farm down south--I was hopeful that more chemistry would happen during this time but not really.

The writing is done well just wish the story was a bit different. The slow burn also took away from it all. The side characters are great and added some more in, which is nice to have returned ones. I will for sure read more of this series!

Overall, 3 stars and 2 steams.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sequel to The Right Swipe, thought it can be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed The Right Swipe, so I had hope hopes for this book. There were several aspects of the book that I really liked. I liked the bodyguard romance, the slow burn, and how Katrina deals with her anxiety. Jas was very sweet, and I liked their romance. I even liked getting to know more about his family, but I felt like it kind of overshadowed the main point of the story.

There were also lots of questions that were never answered through this book. Why was it such a big deal that she not have attention on her? What will come of the controversy in Jas’ past? Not to mention all of the unanswered questions I have about Katrina’s deceased husband and their relationship. Along with this, the reason Katrina went viral was kind of silly. It’s an anonymous picture of her and a stranger just sitting at the same table in a cafe. That seems like a weird thing to go viral for.

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book, if there is a third one in the series, I will definitely pick that one up.

3.5 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

Meh, it was ok, kind of slow moving. Girl Gone Viral is story about Katrina and Jas her bodyguard. Katrina has an innocent conversation with a guy sharing her table at a cafe that goes viral by a eavesdropping table neighbor. Her bodyguard, Jas takes her away to his family farm to escape and encounters his own family drama from his days in the military and not taking over as heir to the farm. The relationship between Katrina and Jas was more client/job and didn't appear to be more as I couldn't feel the romantic love between the two more like friends.

I wanted to love this. It was set up for me to love-so much of my catnip. It wasn't a bad book. Instead I felt a little meh. I wasn't dying to pick it back up and it took me almost a week to finish which almost never happens for a romance. I would still recommend it, especially if you are interested in the plot.

The characters are interesting-especially in concept. Kat is a former model who is dealing with PTSD and anxiety. I like reading about characters dealing with mental trauma. Let's not analyze what that says about me. But there was so much to her past that it all couldn't be explored and I never fully connected with her. Jas is similar, but I was able to wrap my head around his psychology. I especially liked his interactions with this family. They were very organic and my favorite parts of the story.

The romance had potential, but I never got sucked in. I believe Kat and Jas grow to love each other, but I didn't feel it. There was also a lot of not talking to each other. I can excuse some of it, because of their pasts, but eventually it got annoying.

However, I think Alisha Rai addressed some important topics like social media/virility. I have no idea if she was inspired by this story, but a year or two ago there was a Twitter thread about people meeting on a plane. I'll admit, I was sucked in. I love a good love story. But those were still two human beings who deserve privacy. It's easy to assume people on the internet (and celebrities) aren't human beings who deserve privacy and have multi-dimensional lives. I'm glad Ms. Rai used this "mute-cute" story idea and turned it on its head.

While I was a little disappointed, I would check out another book by her. I just don't know where to start (again).

Maybe this was the perfect book to read during the Coronavirus pandemic! In the case of this book, it’s referring to “going viral” on the internet though. We have main characters Katrina and her bodyguard Jas. We know that Katrina has feelings for Jas, but it seems like a bad idea to fall in love with your bodyguard, shouldn’t you separate work and personal life?

Katrina is a former model, very wealthy thanks to her marriage to an older man. She’s now a widow and living a very low-profile life and suffers from anxiety attacks. A chance meeting at a coffee shop that is captured by folks at a nearby table propels her into the internet spotlight and she decides to escape city life for a while.

It’s pretty easy to tell where this one is going once Katrina and Jas are alone at his childhood farm. We learn much more about Jas’ life in the military and his issues with his family. This one was a quick little romantic tale with some depth, but a perfect read to distract me from the not-so-fun reality of life right now.

I haven't read The Right Swipe, which precedes this story, but it isn't really necessary to the plot of this book. I don't live in LA, so maybe I'm out of touch, but the premise that an encounter between two people in a cafe could go viral on a local or national level seems like a really big stretch to me to try and use it as part of the story line. Besides that, the story is great. It features fun, complex characters that are each battling their own demons they need to face, while realizing that both want more than an employer/employee relationship. Katrina married a rich older man while she was young to get out of the reach of a father that was controlling her. After having her life so tightly controlled and then being kidnapped she's become very private and susceptible to panic attacks that limit her willingness to interact with other people. Jas is her bodyguard, who has some family issues of his own, as well as a traumatic experience while serving in the military. When a shared table with a stranger at a cafe spirals out of control Katrina and Jas flee to his family's peach farm, where they realize that they both want more out of their relationship. While the lifestyle of the characters is incredibly different from mine, I really enjoyed them and the evolution in their approach to life throughout the story. Not overly cutesy or sappy, just warm, fuzzy and empowering.

Bodyguard Romance with a dash of forced proximity!

Jas and Katrina have loved each other from afar for years but are both too afraid to risk losing the little bit they have by asking for more...until she needs an escape and he needs to go home. I loved seeing them in the Little House because they finally showed each other their real selves and actually talked!

The exploration of privacy and social media was beautifully handled and something that needs to be talked about, just as the workplace harassment and complications from CTE in The Right Swipe.

One of my favorite things about the Modern Love series so far is that this growing found family is so supportive of each other without being unrealistic. They still snipe and ignore and tease but when it’s needed they are their for each other.

I also really appreciated that this book’s steam and sexy times fit the couple more than what I would normally think of as the “Alisha Rai” brand. If you’ve read past books you know that she can write a scene that will practically set your page/device on fire but with Girl Gone Viral the chemistry and sex felt more gentle, not less sexy just gentle, which I think is what these two characters really needed.

I can’t wait for the next Modern Love book!

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.