First Comes Like by Alicia Rai

This was a cute book and definitely hit me deep in the “things that stress out people who need social media for their success” category.

This book is a VERY. SLOW. BURN.

Like, the sex isn’t for 93%. But it’s for a good reason.

This story follows an orthodox Muslim woman, Jia, who is a social media makeup influencer. She goes to meet Bollywood actor, Dev, who she has been chatting with online, only he doesn’t recognize her. She realizes she’s been catfished and Dev helps her find out who did it. Meanwhile, they are photographed together which forces them to pretend to date, though they don’t pretend for very long before they are for real dating and engaged and married.

The book has a lot of cute scenes, locals, friends, and family. Just very little touching, sex, etc. —Ford

——————————————

I loved the first book in this series so much that I went back and read the rest of Alisha Rai's previous series, Forbidden Hearts, which coincidentally features Jia's sisters.

Reading this book, made me want to go back and refresh my memory about all of the other Muhamed sisters, I loved their stories when I read them. I loved Jia when I read them.

I also happen to be a big Bollywood fan so having a lead, who is a hot Bollywood star, made me nostalgic for all the times my grandmother and I went to see a new melodrama at the movie theatre. Shah Rukh Khan was her favorite, while I drooled over Aishwarya Rai. For this book, I cast Nikesh Patel as Dev, in my head and Jia in my head was Halima Aden. (I realize that in real life there is an age gap between the two of them)

I liked the clear lines of respect and understanding that flowed between Dev and Jia, once they got on the same page about who Dm'ed whom first. Their adherence to the moral centers is something that is not commonly represented in American romance, so it was glorious to see.

I didn't quite feel the intense pull that was keeping these two together, the need to be together was all in their words and not in their actions.

There are a few story strands that were left loose and I wish there were addressed more thoroughly. Dev's panic attack. Her need for validation. Their common need to communicate better. None really got resolved so the ending felt very rushed.

I wanted so much more of a conclusion than this had to offer, especially considering this is probably the last in this series. I kept reading for the continued stories of the characters I already knew.

I would absolutely recommend The Right Swipe and if you like the people in that one, keep reading Girl Gone Viral and First Comes Like.

If anyone is listening I NEED a Lakshmi story!! - Sky