The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
A review by naika
First Comes Like by Alisha Rai
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really enjoying First Comes Like until about halfway through, where it felt like it was losing momentum. (It also didn't help that the audiobook narration was meh at best).
The set up to the romance was interesting: a Muslim youtube influencer who is catfished by someone impersonating an actor from a well-known Indian family. Not knowing she is being catfished, Jia makes a move to meet Dev in person. Well of course, things ensue. But everything that followed the set up continued to feel like a set up for the relationship. Nothing truly convinced me that they were IN love. Feelings were brewing, but anything other than that felt a bit forced. The story went from a slow-burn vibe to "let's do everything now!" and it was startling. Even her family at one point was questioning how quickly things were moving.Â
I think what disappointed me the most is that this was not as dynamic, or as charming, as the previous books in the series. But the potential was there!
I am not Muslim, so I cannot speak to how accurate or sensitive the representation was. I defer to own-voice readers for that and have been scrolling through some of their reviews to get a better understanding.Â
The set up to the romance was interesting: a Muslim youtube influencer who is catfished by someone impersonating an actor from a well-known Indian family. Not knowing she is being catfished, Jia makes a move to meet Dev in person. Well of course, things ensue. But everything that followed the set up continued to feel like a set up for the relationship. Nothing truly convinced me that they were IN love. Feelings were brewing, but anything other than that felt a bit forced. The story went from a slow-burn vibe to "let's do everything now!" and it was startling. Even her family at one point was questioning how quickly things were moving.Â
I think what disappointed me the most is that this was not as dynamic, or as charming, as the previous books in the series. But the potential was there!
I am not Muslim, so I cannot speak to how accurate or sensitive the representation was. I defer to own-voice readers for that and have been scrolling through some of their reviews to get a better understanding.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use