I'm a huge Alisha Rai fan, and I've been so excited for Jia's book in the Modern Love series. Unfortunately while I liked this one, it didn't live up to (admittedly sky high) expectations. What worked for me? Jia and Dev are both great characters. I've really liked Jia since she was introduced in Rai's Forbidden Hearts series. She's the baby in a family with 5 sisters, almost all of whom are overachievers (and doctors). Jia dropped out of med school to become an influencer - she has a popular Youtube channel where she does makeup demos and reviews. She's been very successful, but has seen engagement drop since a recent longterm illness (obliquely referred to, but definitely...covid). She also always feels like she's disappointed her parents and doesn't fit in. Meanwhile Dev is a wildly popular soap opera star from India who comes from a family of Bollywood stars. He moves to LA for a fresh start and to work on a TV drama I pictured as This is Us. (I've never actually seen that, it's just what I imagined.) Anyway, Jia thinks she's been talking to Dev via text for months, but when she introduces herself in person and he has no idea who she is, she figures out she's been catfished. This was a great set up, and again, I loved the characters. I also loved seeing Jia's close friends Rhiannon and Katrina, who were featured in the first two books in the series, and both Dev and Jia's families were a delight. (Dev's relationship with his niece and his uncle were especially sweet.) But I felt that the pacing was a little off in this book - the ending felt a little rushed, and a few story lines felt unfinished to me. I also love Rai's angsty books, and this one was very low angst. Which is certainly nice - it's a stress free read - but I wanted at least a little more angst. This was a good read, and I'd recommend all of Rai's books, but this was my least favorite of the series. It's still a great series, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that there will be fourth starring Lakshmi.

First Comes Like is the third book in the Modern Love series by Alisha Rai. But we met our heroine Jai all the way back in the Forbidden Hearts series, with her sister Sadia in Wrong to Need You. Jai, our famous and beautiful heroine, has been teased through other books as a gorgeous woman and entrepreneur with a mind of her own. Our hero Dev is a certified Bollywood star that has moved to America to film a show for a streaming service.
Cat-fishing, mistaken identities, and some super- like vibes later we have a romance that is sweet and cute.

Those that are a fan of Rai's steamier reads like Serving Pleasure or Forbidden Hearts series (a personal favorite) might be disappointed in the lack of angst and steam. But this book is a delightful and diverse romantic romp. Jia is sunshine incarnate. She is that bright orange dress that looks amazing on you when you question your all black wardrobe choices. Dev is a cinnamon roll hero that will sweep you off your couch (I mean he is a Bollywood star).

It is also the perfect romance to give to new romance readers or even share with your mom. You've been bugging your mom to read more diverse books, throw this at her face.

Readers will fall in love with Jai's sunny disposition and Dev's charm. Enjoy!

I know there is an audience for this book. It wasn't really me. The story was cute enough, and the characters were okay, but I didn't find anything to connect me to them as I have in the others in this series. BUT I LOVE that the cover looks like it does and that the characters are who they are. Representation matters, and I was happy to see it here, but it didn't live up to the first two in this series.

First Comes Like starts as a story of friendship amid social media and Bollywood fame and grows into a sweet romance. Alisha Rai throws the reader into the middle of social media influencer status with Jia Ahmed. Jia is a smart, careful businesswoman in the unforgivingly fast-moving digital world. And we, readers, fall in love with her because she is as insecure as we are, and as easily duped. Alisha Rai introduces Indian culture via food, dress, and family. She guides the reader into the social media influencer’s demanding world, and she gives a glimpse into the movie-making culture. I usually don’t care for beards on men, but I’d love to meet Dev Dixit.

The catfishing aspect was a little much, as was the sexual relationship which went from 0 to 60 as soon as they got married. I know that part of the story reflected the cultural background of the characters, but it left me wanting more in a romance novel. I wish there had been a greater build-up of that part of their interactions.