I was really excited about the third book in the Modern Love series, especially after reading the second book earlier in the month. This story follows Jia, the insta influencer, who falls in love with a guy she's never met and then finds out she's been catfished. Dev is a Indian soap opera actor who comes from a famous family of actors and actresses - and he has no idea who Jia is when she approaches him expecting him to know her and love her.

I really wanted to love this story and root for Jia and Dev. I think it's nice how it worked out in the end, but I just...meh. Jia reads extremely young at (26 or 29? I can't remember) and I think the previous book set that up as well as it being continued in this book. She's super naive. So when Dev and her pursue fake dating, it seems kinda skeevy and like he's taking advantage of her. And she thinks that at multiple points too, as does her family and friends. I can't speak to the cultural aspects of arranged marriages and how involved Indian and Pakistani families are and I actually really enjoyed the family moments, but I will say I'm not a fan of the instalove - especially with no action at all - no kissing or anything. I felt there wasn't enough substance with these characters like there was with Rhiannon/Samson and Katrina/Jas, so I didn't feel as connected to them. I was also bummed that the CTE work was MIA in this story. I do sort of hope for more in the series, but I hope it gets back to more of that first book vibe. I loved the first book so much. I will also say that I appreciate so much that the first couple isn't rushing towards marriage like so many of these adult rom-com series do. They'll be like first book couple is married and has a baby now. This one is like I haven't moved in with him yet and not doing the whole marriage thing. I love that.

First Comes Like is the third book in Rai's Modern Love series. What I enjoy about this romances is the global thinking of romance novels. I appreciate the multi-faceted, multi-national perspectives.

I love the Modern Love series and this newest installment is a perfect addition to a great series. We met Jia Ahmed in book 2 of the Forbidden Hearts series (Wrong to Need You) and Jia is featured in Rhiannon and Katrina's books as their friend and roommate.

In First Comes Like, Jia has been having online and text conversations with Dev Dixit for a year and wants to finally meet him in person. Dev is a well known Indian soap actor from a Bollywood family and he is in LA shooting a new show. Unfortunately, when Jia searches Dev out and he doesn't know who she is, she realizes she has been catfished. I was worried about the catfishing theme but Rai did it so well and it didn't take them too long to figure it out and get passed it. Then came one of my favorite tropes, fake relationship, which I love love loved. Dev is literally the perfect cinnamon roll - he is so sweet and thoughtful. He is family oriented and his slow love for Jia is beautiful. I also really loved Jia - her insecurities felt real, she was strong and powerful. This is just a super sweet book. Some people might be thrown off by the lack of steamy times, but it fits with the characters and I loved it.

Thank you Avon for an ARC to review!

I'm a huge Alisha Rai fan, so it's no surprise that I absolutely loved her latest book focused this time on Jia. It's a slow burn romance between Jia and Dev with some of the best romance tropes: fake dating and only one hotel room. Throw in families forgiving each other for past hurts, and this book was basically made for me. I cried happy tears multiple times while reading. It was a truly wonderful book, and I'm very hopeful we'll get a book about Jia's twin Ayesha in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Influencer Jia has secured an invite to an exclusive party to meet Dev, the handsome actor who slid into her DMs and with whom she's been falling in love via text message. And Dev.....doesn't know anything about any of them. As usual, Alisha Rai's characters plots are practically ripped from the headlines. They seem realistic, believable, and you always root for her charming, charmingly flawed, characters.

I did have a problem with the sort of is it/isn't it nature of the mysterious Covid-like illness that befell Jia and her sister on the opposite coast, at the same time. Vague allusions are made to a "tough time" in the country and in the medical field, but no other indications that it was a pandemic (there are parties, drinks out, flights from India, and no masks or social distancing). I would have preferred if the whole pandemic were ignored if it's not going to be an actual plot point...Jia could have had the flu. I don't think you can have there be both a pandemic and not a pandemic. It strains credibility.

It's not a deal-breaker on this book though. Rai continues to bring a joie de vivre to her writing, a sweetness and optimism to her characters, and an up-to-the minute contemporary feel to her plots.

First Comes Like was a charming story about second chances and embracing what life throws at us. It's an action packed fast read - I devoured this book in one day! I just couldn't stop reading and I adored reading Jia and Dev's chemistry. Talk about instant and sizzling! This dual POV story allows readers to get to know both Jia and Dev better. To see the ways that Jia feels "too much" and how that phrase affects her life. I hate that phrase! To see the ways Dev struggles with raising his niece and envisioning a future in Hollywood.

Jai stole the show. I knew she would because not only does she have a savvy business sense, but there were so many pieces of her character I adored. I loved that she records affirmations for herself, that she feels that people do not take her seriously - all of it hit a bit too close to home! As I kept reading, my instant love for Jia only deepened. At the same time, I began to love Dev. His interactions with his niece were instant swoon for me, but I began to love how feminist Dev was and the impact of his past.

I enjoyed this series so much! The main characters and love stories were all so different from book to book and while I think Girl Gone Viral was my favorite, it was a close race between all three. Jia was both strong and sensitive, a combination that made her so easy to root for. And Dev was such a gentlemen: strong, protective, and soft inside. They made a really nice couple. I hope the next book features Lakshmi's love story, but if the series is over, I will still look forward to Alisha Rai's next book.

I loved this book so much! The characters have great chemistry and the pacing was great. I need more Alisha Rai novels in my life.

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the gifted copy of First Comes Like by Alisha Rai!

Well I didn’t want that to end...it ended so endearing and unexpected considering it all started out as a CATFISH! I said in the beginning that I wasn’t a fan of the fake relationship trope because I could see the train wreck coming but in this case it delivered a true romance that I’m sad it’s over! I want more of Dev and Jia NOW! I found myself overjoyed for them both having found something real, something they didn’t think possible.

The chemistry between Dev and Jia was undeniable, they talked like they were meant to be together and truly understood one another. Dev,a true gentlemen and Jia, an impulsive jokester. I loved both characters.

I wish they would’ve stood up to their families more BUT I really appreciated them both honoring their culture and cultural norms.

The pacing was great and I only felt like I wanted to rush through the “almost scandal” because I wanted to see how they’d recover, which I might add, they recovered beautifully. Don’t even get me started in the girlfriends and the family support! LOVED LOVED LOVED both Dev and Jia’s support systems as they each figured out the mess they both made.

My favorite character (aside from Dev ad Jia)?! A tie between Adil Uncle ( the caring and understanding uncle) and Lakshimi (the frenemy by default)...and Jia’s sisters too! So many likeble characters in this book!

The bad side to reading a great story is a book hangover and now I’m suffering! I love the feelings romance reads gives me. This is my first book by Alisha Rai but will certainly not be my last!

First Comes Like, publishes February 16, 2021! If you like swoon worthy romances among “fake lovers(even if you don’t)” this one is for you!

What should I read next?!

After the success of "The Right Swipe," I know "First Comes Like" is on many people's list of 2021 anticipated releases, and I'm here to tell you that unlike most of 2020, this book won't let you down; Alisha Rai has done it again! Ms. Rai truly captured society's current state when it comes to sensitive societal and political issues and handled them with complete and absolute grace, while also writing a memorable and heartwarming love story. This is a story of family beliefs, traditions, relationships, and romance in an an ever-evolving and changing world.

When it comes to the romance - Jia and Dev have a SPARK that cannot be denied. While this is no love-at-first-sight plot, it is a fast-moving love story filled with enough antics and humour for those looking for something on the lighter side, while also providing enough angst and relational challenges for those looking for a deeper story that tugs at their heartstrings.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to see the romance book community go crazy over it!

Many thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Once again, Alisha Rai did not disappoint! I really liked this book and the diverse cultures and experiences it represented. And it was fun to get a glimpse into the lives of characters from previous titles as well.

This book was adorable, and surprisingly hot despite the fact that the two main characters don't even kiss until one of the last chapters! An excellent addition to Alisha Rai's Modern Love series, and bonus points for having diverse relatable characters. 4/5 stars only because there were too many loose ends. All signs are pointing to a Lakshmi/Tina pairing (F/F) for the next installment!

This was a very sweet book about catfishing gone bad. The characters were fun and I enjoyed seeing glimpses of the other Modern Love characters. However, I wasnt into the insta-love in this one and was left feeling a little unfulfilled. I cant comment on the cultural representations because I dont know enough about them but I sure am glad to see more diverse romances.

In recent years, Alisha Rai has become a must read romance author for me. Her modern love series (The Right Swipe, Girl Gone Viral and now First Comes Like) are some of my favorite romances and I look forward to each new release. Following Rhiannon & Katrina's stories in the first two installments, we now move to Dev & Jia. If you've read the first two books, you might be expecting a ton of steam in this one, but this deals with the issues of virginity and marriage, so it is light on steam. This was a very tender story and gave me a lot of insight into Muslim culture - now of course, this is not something I have first hand experience with, so cannot opine on the accuracy, but I did love to find a Hijab wearing heroine in this! I will definitely be eagerly awaiting Rai's next installment.

A little different take on a “fauxmance” I enjoyed this book. It was primarily fun and light, but it had enough depth to keep me interested. Bollywood fans and fans of Insta influencers will enjoy this one.

Jia and Dev are both really great, both of their perspectives are fun to read and they each have compelling problems. Dev’s issues with his family are intense and his feelings about loss are dealt with in a really complex way. While a lot of romantic heroes are shaped by tragedy, Dev finds a healthy way to deal with his losses and makes the people he loves his priority. He’s also not afraid to watch YouTube videos about makeup, and supports Jia unconditionally. He puts Jia first, and tries to make things as easy for her as possible, which really wins him points. In terms of their relationship, they have the same level of fame, at least in the US, which means that power imbalance isn’t a factor. Readers might be wary of the famous-dating-non-famous trope, but in this case they just reach different audiences, and both are independent and capable of making a living. Neither is particularly star-struck by the other. Their age difference is also reasonable, he’s a little older than her, but they’re both successful and know what they want from a relationship. The only imbalance that might bother readers is that Jia is sexually and romantically inexpeirenced, while Dev has had relationships and liaisons in the past. While it is realistic for a religious woman in her late twenties to wait for intimacy, it does seem very zero-to-sixty in some ways. Jia claims to have never been attracted to a man in the way she is attracted to Dev and never to have been tempted sexually before meeting him. This seems a little weird considering she isn’t exactly cloistered - she lives independently and went to college, even to medical school for a while. The idea that she never met anyone that she was interested in sexually from her teen years to her late twenties just seems a little unrealistic.

Jia’s issues with her parents also seem a little glossed over in the book. She has the reputation in the family as being a flighty character, despite all of her decisions leading to success. All her relatives treat her like an unruly child, despite her being a self-reliant woman. It’s really infantilizing for them to get on the phone to “discuss” her actions and tell her how she’s doing everything wrong in her life. This is excused by saying that they love her, and they do threaten people on her behalf, but they still act as though Jia can’t run her own life. Dev stands up for her with them, but he shouldn’t have to - they should value her regardless of a man telling them she has value. Jia also describes her family as “not too conservative”, but her parents both complain about how their daughters didn’t have arranged marriages.

While the story is really strong from the beginning, the end is pretty anticlimactic, and doesn’t feel as polished as the rest of the book, leaving a lot of threads unresolved. There is also a secondary character who is introduced for a single scene and is totally forgotten after that. The catfishing also seems a tad out of character; Jia, while fanciful, is timid about being involved with men. The messages between Jia and Dev get really romantic, and it seems odd for her to allow it to continue considering her inexperience and discomfort with dating. The beginning is also vague and a little murky; if a reader hasn’t read the previous books in the series, jumping in with this one might be a little rocky.

I reviewed this title for Booklist. Thank you for sending it to me! I love Ailsha's books, and I like this one even better than the previous. Jia was always a favorite of mine for doing her own thing, and to match her with this actor prince was too much fun.

3.5 stars. This was a sweet story about Jia and Dev. They were nicely rounded out characters that kept my interest throughout the book. However, I think I would have liked to have seen a little bit more drama. It'd have been nice to see them struggle a little more on their journey to their HEA. I also would've liked some more interaction between Jia and Luna. I felt empathetic for Luna's struggle with feeling like she was just a nuisance. (I did appreciate the scene where her and Dev confront this insecurity of hers though). It was completely understandable when she felt reservations about having Jia enter the family when she herself felt like a new member still. Having Jia spend more time with her would have made sense at that point.

Things that I loved about this book were the Jia's friends and Dev's interest and respect for Jia's work. It was endearing seeing him watch all her videos and purchasing her recommendations for himself. And Rhiannon and Katrina are always fun to read about, but I also liked the bonding that Jia and Lakshmi did. It's always great when writers break through the "enemy/bitchy female" trope, and show you the person beneath.

Jia and Dev offer up a sweet low-angst read for those fake-dating trope lovers!

There has finally come a day when we can read a fun, (like, actually) contemporary romance novel featuring a strong female Muslin Hijabi lead and a hot Indian man.

Jia Ahmed is a beauty influencer, too busy defying her family stereotypes and being awesome to be in a relationship. But then she falls in love with a man who slid into her DMs - an ultra famous Hollywood star Dev Dixit. Only he didn't, as someone catfished that woman using his name. And so a major drama ensues with all its craziness, online and offline.

Woah! You're telling me we can have people of color star in a book about fame and influencers?! This was just wonderful and I loved these characters with all my heart. To me, this is an indicator of an excellent romance: rooting for both of the main characters and wanting them to get together real bad. And what's more, there are some important topics handled with lightheartedness yet proper attention and seriousness: catfishing, racism, mental health (panic and anxiety), grief and family conflicts.

This may have been my first book by Alisha Rai but it will not be the last! Gosh, I can't remember the last time I had this much fun with a romance book, but this one gets a huge YES from me.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m so glad I finally got to read Jia and Dev’s story.

While I did quite like this book, it fell a little short compared to the others in the series for me. I think it was because a lot of it was stressful? Or maybe I wasn’t a fan of the cat fishing trope...not sure.

Regardless, I adore Jia and am envious of how self assured she is. She’s so unapologetically herself and I’m super jealous of it. Dev, while kind of naive in the ways of many kinds of relationships, was very sweet and always meant well. It was also nice to see the male lead not be stereotypically muscly etc for once.

All in all a good read! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!