Girl Gone Viral
Author: Alisha Rai
Reviewer: Jen
Rating: B+
What I’m Talking About:
Katrina is a very private person, dealing with anxiety/depression/PTSD. When her innocent, shared-table cup of coffee at a local cafe is live-tweeted as a meet-cute, Katrina panics. The event goes viral and the guy is lying about their non-existent situation. Luckily her best friends and bodyguard, Jas, have her back.
Girl Gone Viral is a delightful, slow-burn romance about two lonely souls reaching out and taking something for themselves. Jas and Katrina are both givers – giving so much of themselves to help others. And they genuinely enjoy helping others; making others happy (more so Katrina than Jas). But when it comes to their own lives and love, each stays quiet about their desires for the other, not wanting to disturb the bonds they have formed. The author does a great job with both characters’ back stories, giving solid justification for their tentativeness on asking for more than friendship.
When Katrina’s security is in jeopardy, Jas gives her just what she needs, distance from the situation. He takes her upstate to his family’s private estate. This distance combined with the seclusion for the pair, and the proximity of a meddling family, allows Katrina to let her guard down just a little bit. She is also able to let go of the unhealthy, hyper-monitoring of the viral situation threatening her peace. The living conditions also set up the perfect conditions for romance to final emerge. It’s sweet and cute how the couple, tentatively at first, explore their mutual desires. Both are nervous, but want the same things. And Katrina stands up for herself. I love that she won’t just accept affection from Jas; she wants a real relationship: mind, body and soul.
This was my first read by Ms. Rai, and I’ll certainly be looking for more. I enjoyed the slower pace, the sweetness of the romance, and the bonds the couple formed. Girl Gone Viral was the perfect read for these uncertain times.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Jen
About the Book:
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…
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Publisher: Avon
Series: Modern Love #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format(s): paperback (400 pages), e-book, audiobook
Book Source: Edelweiss
Purchase Info:
Amazon (affiliate link)