Meeting your dream guy because you’ve been catfished by his dead brother? Not exactly what Jia Ahmed, beauty expert and social media influencer, expects from life. Busy being the career woman that her family has all kinds of opinions on, she doesn’t have time for men, least of all ones who catfish her. Even if she kind of fell for him.
Dev Dixit, soap opera star about to make his break in the US film industry, is used to drama. But when a woman he’s never met accuses him of wooing her online, that’s a plot twist he’s never expected. Though the misunderstanding is quickly cleared up, there’s something about Jia that Dev can’t get out of her head. When paparazzi blast their private business for everyone to see, Dev and Jia end up fake dating to calm down the rumours and reassure their worried families. But as everyone becomes enamoured with their relationship, so do the two of them…and the two ask themselves – could a catfish situation turn into…true love?
First Comes Like was the softest of Rai’s beautiful Modern Love series. While Jas and from the previous instalment Girl Gone Viral remain my favourite couple, I was swooning all over the place while following Jia and Dev’s romance. Other reviewers have termed this a ‘cosy read’ and I can only agree as there is something about Dev and Jia as characters on their own but also as a couple that just gives you all the soft, fluffy vibes. Reading this felt like wrapping a soft blanket around yourself.
One aspect I always love to see in romance is family and friends being included in a seamless way, which was definitely the case here. Dev takes care of his niece after the death of his brother and watching their relationship blossom (with the occasional hiccups because hello, puberty) made my heart ache. Dev’s a serious guy to begin with, but beyond that silent, strong demeanour lies a man who would go to the ends of the earth for his loved ones. Similarly, Jia lives with the two protagonists from the previous novels (Rhiannon and Jas) and their interactions always put a smile on my face. Unconditional love and support are the pillars of the relationships between them and it’s so refreshing to read about.
I loved how we got two people who are famous in their own ways and how being in the spotlight has affected the way they think and interact with others. It really showcased how fame can kind of blind you to reality (like Dev’s co star portrays perfectly) and how it can mess with your perception of yourself.
Obviously, I can’t speak for the authenticity of the Muslim rep but I felt like it was handled in a beautiful and genuine manner. You could tell Rai put in a lot of effort to respect and uphold the cultural aspects of Islamic courtship. I loved how this book made intimacy all about the feelings and the bond you create over time rather than physical closeness. It gave Dev and Jia’s romance that much more depth.
In all honesty, the fake relationship (which is usually my highlight) was somehow the thing I cared least about in this book? And that’s not because it wasn’t fun but because I feel like the strength in First Comes Like lies in the discussions of faith and self-worth. I also kind of wanted a bit more angst or pining, but that’s totally a personal preference.
First Comes Like is a tender and sweet romance about two people in the limelight that turn a catfish situation into happily ever after. Perfect for fans of the fake-dating trope, social media connoisseurs and lovers of Bollywood!
First Comes Like is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 16th 2021.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes…
Beauty expert and influencer Jia Ahmed has her eye on the prize: conquering the internet today, the entire makeup industry tomorrow, and finally, finally proving herself to her big opinionated family. She has little time for love, and even less time for the men in her private messages—until the day a certain international superstar slides into her DMs, and she falls hard and fast.
There’s just one wrinkle: he has no idea who she is.
The son of a powerful Bollywood family, soap opera star Dev Dixit is used to drama, but a strange woman who accuses him of wooing her online, well, that’s a new one. As much as he’d like to focus on his Hollywood fresh start, he can’t get Jia out of his head. Especially once he starts to suspect who might have used his famous name to catfish her…
When paparazzi blast their private business into the public eye, Dev is happy to engage in some friendly fake dating to calm the gossips and to dazzle her family. But as the whole world swoons over their relationship, Jia can’t help but wonder: Can an online romance-turned-offline-fauxmance ever become love in real life?
