My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to review.

Dev Dixit is a soap opera star and member of a famous Bollywood family who is approached by beauty influencer Jia Ahmed , who has been engaging in an online relationship with him. However, Dev has no idea who she is until Dev finds out someone he knows catfish him to Jia. Jia has her own issues. Her parents want her to meet a man and marry. Dev later comes back to apologize and Jia makes a very interesting deal with him that can benefit his public image and her parents. Can this lead to a real romance perhaps?

Charming romantic comedy but a but predictable.

First Comes Like is a book I've been anxiously awaiting for a very long time. We first meet its protagonist Jia in Rai's Forbidden Hearts series as the younger sister of past protagonist Sadia who's determined to forge her own path by leaving medical school to dedicate herself to her true passion. Jia is a beauty influencer with a YouTube channel and a large dedicated fanbase--she's passionate about makeup and skincare, and dreams of one day owning her own makeup company. She's a creative and charismatic character, and I'm so glad that she finally got her own story, after being featured as a side character in not only the Forbidden Hearts series but also the first two books of the Modern Love series. Although I'm fairly terrible at makeup, I enjoy watching beauty Youtubers, and I thought it was so much fun to have one as the main character in a romance novel--we get to see behind the scenes of what Jia's process is like and watch her struggle with a creative rut and fears that she's out of touch as an "older" influencer, and also see what some of her past content has looked like.

Like the previous two books in Rai's Modern Love series, First Comes Like deals with a modern dating conundrum--catfishing. (The Right Swipe was focused around ghosting, while Girl Gone Viral featured, well, going viral.) Jia thinks she's been talking to famous Indian actor Dev through his verified account, but when she finally tries to meet him in person, she realizes that he has no idea who she is--she's never actually spoken with him in the first place. Nevertheless, Dev is intrigued by Jia, and after a rocky start the two begin a whirlwind and very sweet fake relationship that quickly turns into real feelings. 

Everything I love about Alisha Rai was present in First Comes Like: a badass female protagonist, a strong friendship group that supports one another, complex and interesting family dynamics. I did find Jia a more compelling character than Dev, who has a quieter and less forceful personality, but I really liked their interactions and their eventual HEA. This is a great series that contemporary romance fans absolutely need to check out if they haven't already, and I can't wait to see what Alisha Rai comes out with next.

I received an eARC of First Comes Like from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Alisha Rai had me at the dedication - “For all the girls who are ‘too much.’ (Actually, we’re just right)”

Jia is a social media influencer who knows what she wants, but worries about her family's approval. Dev is a beloved actor and has strong convictions about his culture and his family's honor. A year ago, Dev slides into Jia's DM's on Instagram and the two continue communicating regularly, even though Dev lives in India and Jia in LA. When Dev makes the trek to America to star in a new TV show, Jia pushes to meet. She shows up to the launch party for Dev's show and much to her surprise, Dev has zero clue who she is. Turns out, Jia had been catfished by someone with access to Dev's social media. But after a paparazzi photo forces them to pursue a fake relationship, they both soon realize there might be more to this relationship than meets the eye.

I absolutely loved this book! First Comes LIke is light, fun and completely original. Dev screams sex appeal, but not in the traditional sense. He shows respect to Jia, lets her call the shots and is ever the gentleman. Through their relationship, Dev pushes Jia to gain more confidence, especially in her career. This is not your typical love story and that drew me to it. There is something so refreshing and appealing about the originality of Rai's story. I appreciated the insight into the Indian and Pakistani culture and how they handle relationships and marriages.

I cannot recommend this book enough! I loved the first two books in this series and First Comes LIke does not disappoint! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ACR from Netgalley.

Jai, an Indian-American influencer, thinks she is going to meet her match, Dev, an Bollywood film star living in LA, but turns out she is catfished by his family. He feels bad and decides to make it up to her. A whirlwind adventure awaits.

A fun rom-com. It is the 3rd book in the Modern Love series by zalisha Rai. You don't need to read the previous books to read this. This has it all... meddling family members, friendship, and the paparazzi

Although I haven’t read the first book in this series, I really enjoyed the second, so I was really excited for Jia’s story! I was even more pulled in by the fake dating premise. First Comes Like shows what happens when a fake relationship becomes real.

A beauty influencer, Jia Ahmed is finally about to meet Dev Dixit, the famous actor whom she’s been talking to online for months. Or so she thinks: it turns out whoever Jia’s been talking to was not Dev himself. After a picture of them makes headlines, he agrees to fake a relationship with Jia; for him, it’s to make up to her about the fake messages, and for her, it’s to keep her family from nagging her. However, the lines between fake and real become more and more blurred.

Fake dating stories can rarely go wrong in my book, but I particularly loved this one! There’s also a catfishing aspect to the story, so the fake dating is partially to save face from that. The book feels very evenly paced, both plot- and relationship-wise. Also, while this book is part of a series, you can read it as a standalone without missing anything.

The romance was so soft; I really liked how Dev is so respectful of Jia’s boundaries as well as does his best to understand her and her line of work. As an influencer, many people are flippant about Jia’s choice of career, but he supports her. The two of them had such chemistry, and I really loved reading about them!

I also liked the character arcs throughout this book. Jia has often been told that she’s “too much” and as a result becomes less and less sure about herself. However, she comes to realize that being “too much” is just who she is. She doesn’t have to tone herself down for anyone else. Meanwhile, Dev is taking care of his niece after his brother died, and he grows to understand what it means to be a parent after having a complex relationship with his family over the years. It was also interesting reading about his struggles to break out in the American television market after being a famous television star in India.

First Comes Love was a loveable romance about a fake relationship to save face after a catfishing incident. It was fun and sweet, and I had so much fun reading it! I definitely recommend First Comes Love if you enjoy fake dating stories or soft romances!

Instagram influencer Jia has been DMing with Bollywood soap star Dev for months and it's finally time to meet him in person. Jia works up the courage to approach him at a Hollywood party...but he doesn’t know who she is. After figuring out she's been catfished, Jia is devastated, but it turns out Dev can't stop thinking about her and this fauxmance might turn into a real romance.

I loved meeting both Jia and Dev's families and all the cultural background that was ingrained within the story, but to be honest, I felt a little indifferent to both Jia and Dev. I appreciate that this book takes on a more conservative approach to love where there's no touching, kissing, or sex before marriage because I think we need that representation in the romance genre, but the build-up was lacking. Jia and Dev went from too scared to even hold hands or be alone together, to perfectly comfortable being married and getting it on. I would have loved more pine-ing and tortured moments throughout the book.

Overall, the pacing just felt off in this story, particularly toward the end. The book didn't feel completely finished - I was shocked when there wasn't an epilogue wrapping things up because there were a few too many loose ends for me.

This book was so good, I didn’t want it to end! This is book number three in the Modern Love series. These books can be read as a standalone, but is better enjoyed apart of the series. Instagram influencer, Jia, meets Dev for the first time, unfortunately he’s not sure who she is. That’s when they realize she was apart of a catfish scheme. They decide to engage in a fake dating scheme, each for their own reasons.

This book was so good, Dev was so swoon worthy, and totally the perfect book boyfriend. I loved the cultural background in this story, and how they respected each others beliefs. The chemistry between the two characters was undeniable. I only wish there was more of their relationship in this story. I just loved both of them so much. If you’re looking for a slow burn romance, I highly recommend this one!

In the third installment of the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai, we follow Jia and Dev. Jia is a Muslim YouTube and Instagram star with followers in the millions and Dev is the grandson of Bollywood royalty and a famous soap opera actor in his own right. We start their story with Jia getting ready in the bathroom at a club, anxiously reapplying her lipstick. She's there for one reason and one reason only, to meet Dev, a man she has had a texting relationship with for around a year. When Jia approaches him at the party, her world is turned upside down when he admits he has no idea who she is. Heartbroken, Jia returns to her home with Katrina and Rhiannon to drown herself in ice cream.

Things I loved about this book:
Jia is such a wonderful main character!! She is funny, insecure, full of bravery, smart, stylish, and loving.
Dev is another fantastic male main character in this series! These men seem too good to be true. He is loving and doting to his niece and uncle, and he is caring, kind, and thoughtful.
The side characters, Adil Uncle, Shweta, Luna, Ayesha, all of Jia's family really. They were so fleshed out even given limited page time. Refreshing.
The romance. THE ROMANCE. I can't put into words how amazing their romance is. Yes, there are almost all of my favorite tropes in this story (fake dating, only one bed), but the best part is that it doesn't include one of my least favorite tropes and one that is currently oversaturated in the romance market: miscommunication.

There was a tweet a while back that talked about the tired use of the third act breakup and honestly, I agree. It is tired, overdone, and unoriginal. There are so many ways for drama to occur that don't include miscommunication and this story proves it. Throughout the story, they are communicating their wants, needs, and expectations and while they may not always communicate well in the moment, they readdress and bring up the things that bother them! They're honest about their hurt feelings and allow the other person to explain themselves instead of just assuming and running away. Like seriously!!! That's incredible! Obviously, there is tension and drama and uncertainty, but it feels more grown-up and less childish. Given that I'm reading an adult romance, I expect the main characters to behave as such and they do, but this is all too uncommon.

I really could go on and on about what I loved about this book. I read it in two days because I was just so enthralled by their love story. I was frustrated when I had to put the book down. I really loved this trilogy as a whole and I hope it continues on with Lakshmi's story in the next book!

I enjoy everything that Alisha Rai does. I've always left her books feeling comforted and happy. This book was no different. It wasn't my favorite out of the current series, but it continued in the thread of interesting, multidimensional characters just trying to live their life to the best of their ability.

I liked both Jia and Dev, and I loved the cast of characters they brought with them, both new and old. I love that their lives and values are different than other characters, both in the same series and in the wider genre still.

The book had two missteps though. One, it felt a bit rushed, especially the end. The relationship itself was a bit rushed, but ultimately that was a good thing. It was something that could have been played with, a bit of a change from other recent contemporary romances, but the book ended before she could explore those themes!

Two, the book was clearly in edit when COVID happened and it was edited into the book. It FELT like it was edited into the book. Not only was it a little clunky, but it really brought down the parts that referenced it instead of adding to the experience. However, there are only a couple references to it, and once it was past it was fairly easy to forget it happened.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I had expectations of a fun, light read in the rom-com genre. Unfortunately, after the first two chapters, I didn't find myself connecting with the love interests in the story so I decided to pass. Did not finish.

One of my favorite series in 2020, I was very excited to receive an ARC of the third book. I appreciate that the author takes on different cultures and ethnicities and shows the reader what they mean. I did miss some of the quick wit and one liners that were present in the first two books but overall a great read.

My thoughts:

Oh my word, this was simply delightful! This is my first book by Alisha and while it is #3 in the series, it can totally be read as a standalone (which I loved) and the reader will miss nothing. I really fell in love with Jia and Dev's characters, who totally came to life through the audiobook narrators and I would totally recommend listening to this one for the full experience.

Just when we thought the days of catfishing were over, this book takes a traditionally embarrassing situation and spins it for the good, with lots of hilarious and adorable experiences along the way.

My very favorite part was the fact that these were multicultural characters who were incredibly real, down to earth and honest with their intentions, even in spite of their highly public personalities. I really appreciated that Dev was a famous actor, yet didn't realize or understand his affect on women. And Jia is an influencer, yet was super relatable and strong willed. These characters could have been written so many different ways, but I love that Alisha made them REAL. This is not your typical romantic comedy and for all of the right reasons! I highly recommend this book to my friends who are looking for a light, fun and meaningful read.

This installment in the modern love series was very cute, just the right vibe to brighten up the dreariness of January. Like with the previous books, I love Alisha Rai's strong female lead and the attention that she places on sisterhood (blood-related or not). I also found the dynamic between Dev and Jia very sweet, with all the drama that they faced being in different parts of the entertainment industry.

There was one thing that made this work a bit less for me than the others, and it took a second to pinpoint. Just a few too many references to current events, in my opinion. The other two books have walked the line between incorporating modern elements while still managing to maintain the escapism that many readers look for in the romance genre. In First Comes Like, with the various mentions of COVID and a side character who clearly embodies a famous TikTok dancer, I felt that the author's focus on relevance detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.


(cw: grief, loss of family members, panic attacks, mentions of dieting/diet culture)

What do you do when the whole world believes that the man who catfished you is your fiancé? Jia and Dev find themselves in this situation and have to figure out how to navigate the expectations of family and maintain their reputations. Will they be able to calm their family's by fake dating or will it lead to more?

First Comes Like then came love. I really, really, really enjoyed reading this fun and flirty modern day romance story. Alisha Rai always aims to please with her whirlwind romances with plenty of likable characters, sassy, steamy, dialogue, and a few familiar characters from her previous novels. In this fresh new modern romance, we meet Jai and Dev, two individuals in the prime of their lives being thrown together by a few surprises!!!

THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK IN THIS SERIES!!! (As a side note, I hope that Jia's twin sister gets her own story). I really love books when the protagonists are just trying really hard to be good people and are good at what they do. Jia is a makeup youtuber/instagram influencer, and due to an illness her metrics are down. (I don't know when Rai wrote this, but this is the first book that mentions illness that could be COVID [she left out how she was sick]- so that was really interesting to see covered). And she's trying to get her numbers back up, but also she's trying to expand into her own makeup line. Dev is a big TV star in India, and has moved to the US to attempt a cross over career. But, the reason he moved is because his brother died and he now has custody of his niece and he wants her to have a normal life away from the fame of their family. He is trying so hard to be a good, fair, caring, understanding parental figure and I am HERE for it.

They meet (not under the best circumstances), they decide to fake date (for REASONS), they catch feelings (and are open and honest about that), but then are THRUST into an engagement. They work together to solve problems, they work on communicating their needs (there are some problems there they have to overcome). It's a super sweet story that I really loved.

Last week I used my @sudio headphones to finish First Comes Like, the third in the Modern Love series by @alisharaiwrites. This looked so cute that I decided to listen to it right away and I realized that I never listened to the second book. So you can absolutely read them separately!

I loved the fake dating trope in this novel. Jia has been catfished by who she thinks is Dev Dixit, a huge Indian Soap Opera star and tries to meet with him when he moves to LA for a Hollywood career. He has only a few months to earn his inheritance, but the conditions are that he must be married. They start to fake date to make both families happy and get some bonus points for their careers. I loved the mixture of cultures and learning about their big families. Dev’s brother has recently passed and he takes on the guardianship of his young niece, who he has moved with him to the US. Their relationship is one of the highlights of the book for me.

I loved this sweet story, it was a little farfetched, but well written and lighthearted and made me smile. I love that it had a strong muslim heroine and how it incorporated the couple's beliefs into the story, it was nice that they didn't rush into the physical aspect of their relationship and let it slow-simmer. This is my first book by the author (yes I know this is book 3 in the series) but it makes me want to go back and read the others!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

This book follows Jia. She goes to confront Dev at a party and finds out she had been catfished. One thing leads to another and they develop a friendship that turns into a fake relationship that moves towards something more.

I enjoyed getting to know Jia more and seeing how she approaches life and love. I liked how Jia and Dev complemented and supported each other despite the way their relationship starts.

This was a lovely third story in Alisha Rai’s Modern Love series.

I enjoyed The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral, so I was delighted to get an early release copy of First Comes Like by Alisha Rai. The Modern Love series by Rai gives readers a look into the lives into successful women who are navigating careers and love.

Jia Ahmed runs a successful business as a beauty influencer. What she doesn't expect is to be catfished by the attractive and famous Dev Dixit. What comes next is where the real story begins as she meets the real Dev and begins to figure out how their stories connected in the past and potentially the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.