In Alisha Rai’s second novel in her Modern Love series, a live-tweet event goes viral for a camera-shy ex-model, shoving her into the spotlight—and into the arms of the bodyguard she’d been pining for.
OMG! Wouldn’t it be adorable if he’s her soulmate???
I don’t see any wedding rings [eyes emoji]
Breaking: #CafeBae and #CuteCafeGirl went to the bathroom AT THE SAME TIME!!!One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a hot guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire episode with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae is the new hashtag-du-jour. The problem? Katrina craves a low-profile life, and going viral threatens the peaceful world she’s painstakingly built. Besides, #CafeBae isn’t the man she’s hungry for…
He’s got a [peach emoji] to die for.
With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard, friend, and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to his family’s home. Alone in a remote setting with the object of her affections? It’s a recipe for romance. But after a long dating dry spell, Katrina isn’t sure she can trust her instincts when it comes to love—even if Jas’ every look says he wants to be more than just her bodyguard…
my thoughts:
“Girl Gone Viral” arrived in my life at the perfect time. It’s charming, humorous, occasionally serious, and I guarantee it will leave you with a massive, cheesy grin plastered on your face.
Firstly, I didn’t realize this was the second book in a series until I was a quarter of the way through. However, not having read the first book didn’t leave me feeling lost. In fact, it made me eager to go back and read the initial installment. The characters in this story, both main and supporting, were fantastic, and I’m keen to spend more time with them.
Katrina and Jas were wonderful protagonists. Katrina was incredibly easy to like and relate to. Her past trauma led her to live a very cautious life. She experienced anxiety and panic attacks that challenged her but never stopped her from moving forward. She possessed a vibrant personality and a genuinely good heart, even if she sometimes struggled to express her feelings. Jas was similar in his reserved nature—a somewhat closed-off individual with few friends but an immense capacity for love. Watching him learn to navigate friendships and relationships and open up to those around him was truly heartwarming. Together, they were utterly adorable. Their occasional awkwardness and shared difficulty in expressing emotions led to some genuinely comical situations.
I will admit, certain elements were a bit cheesy at times. The whole “#cafebae” viral phenomenon was certainly outlandish, yet in today’s world, it’s entirely plausible. While I found myself occasionally skeptical, I was also completely hooked by the premise. Honestly, if I were in Katrina’s position, I wouldn’t have been nearly as gracious toward those who thought it acceptable to broadcast her image online without any regard for her privacy or safety. She truly was a kind-hearted soul.
My primary critique is that I felt the characters’ backstories weren’t fully fleshed out. The narrative frequently hinted at traumatic past events, but these weren’t elaborated upon until late in the story, and even then, the explanations felt somewhat incomplete. Again, since I was unaware this was a sequel, perhaps more context was provided in the first book. I’ll need to investigate that.
Overall, “Girl Gone Viral” is an utterly charming contemporary romance that will leave readers searching for their own Jas or Katrina! I can’t wait to explore more of Alisha Rai’s work. If this book is any indication, I may have just found a new favorite author.