First Comes Like

I really loved the characters. The Muslim rep. The diversity. An insight into the Bollywood industry. I loved it all.I loved Dev (total cinnamon roll hero) and I loved Jia. The way she left voice notes for future self was epic and very useful for her mental healthThe only reason why this isn’t a 5 for me is because it was a steady book. I didn’t get that high feeling at the end of (oh my goodness). There was steady conflict throughout the novel but I would’ve liked a big one at the end. Also would have liked a bit more at the end but really, it’s nice, sweet and fun read.

What a delight First Comes Like was, to read!Having enjoyed the first two of the Modern Love series, by Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral, I was chomping at the bit for this next instalment in the series.This time we focussed on Jia, a Social Media influencer and successful vlogger, and her love life choices.It was a breath of fresh air to have a heroine with a headscarf, but that not to be the main point. Heaven knows women of all backgrounds have love lives and similar feelings, but they are not often all portrayed in mainstream writing.Jia is a girl on a mission; She's already gone against her family's wishes by moving out, after quitting her medical degree, to be an influencer.But deep down, Jia still has her family ideals and morals ingrained within; mindless flirting and sex before marriage are a no-no.This is why she is heartbroken when an online connection that felt real ends up being far from it.Even worse, it was with Dev Dixit, from a hugely popular Bollywood family.Enter the brooding hero, who, it turns out, didn't even know he was meant to be that particular romantic hero.Recently moved to the USA, to try and cross over to the Western screens, with a newly acquired young niece under his care, Dev is struggling to keep afloat, and the appearance of this beautiful headscarf-wearing woman throws him.Tackling a few issues within the story, including cultural clashes, classism, as well catfishing, First Comes Like is a fantastic read, and a feel-good one, to match!Many thanks to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.