diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
index 69c2ae3..cd5d330 100644
--- a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/post/post_actions.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import '../../providers/api_provider.dart';
 import '../../theme/app_theme.dart';
 import '../sojorn_snackbar.dart';
 import '../reactions/reaction_strip.dart';
+import '../reactions/reaction_picker.dart';
 
 /// Post actions with a vibrant, clear, and energetic design.
 ///
@@ -137,6 +138,20 @@ class _PostActionsState extends ConsumerState<PostActions> {
     }
   }
 
+  void _showReactionPicker() {
+    showDialog(
+      context: context,
+      builder: (context) => ReactionPicker(
+        onReactionSelected: (emoji) {
+          _toggleReaction(emoji);
+        },
+        onClosed: () {
+          // Optional: Handle picker closed without selection
+        },
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
   Future<void> _toggleReaction(String emoji) async {
     final previousCounts = Map<String, int>.from(_reactionCounts);
     final previousMine = Set<String>.from(_myReactions);
@@ -219,7 +234,7 @@ class _PostActionsState extends ConsumerState<PostActions> {
           myReactions: _myReactions,
           reactionUsers: {},
           onToggle: (emoji) => _toggleReaction(emoji),
-          onAdd: () => _toggleReaction('❤️'), // Default to heart for now
+          onAdd: _showReactionPicker, // Show picker instead of default heart
         ),
         const SizedBox(height: 16),
         // Actions row - left aligned
diff --git a/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/reactions/reaction_picker.dart b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/reactions/reaction_picker.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a48552
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sojorn_app/lib/widgets/reactions/reaction_picker.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:google_fonts/google_fonts.dart';
+import '../../theme/app_theme.dart';
+
+class ReactionPicker extends StatefulWidget {
+  final Function(String) onReactionSelected;
+  final VoidCallback? onClosed;
+
+  const ReactionPicker({
+    super.key,
+    required this.onReactionSelected,
+    this.onClosed,
+  });
+
+  @override
+  State<ReactionPicker> createState() => _ReactionPickerState();
+}
+
+class _ReactionPickerState extends State<ReactionPicker> {
+  static const List<String> _commonReactions = [
+    '❤️', '👍', '😂', '😮', '😢', '😡',
+    '🎉', '🔥', '👏', '🙏', '💯', '🤔',
+    '😍', '🤣', '😊', '👌', '🙌', '💪',
+    '🎯', '⭐', '✨', '🌟', '💫', '☀️',
+  ];
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    return Dialog(
+      backgroundColor: Colors.transparent,
+      child: Container(
+        padding: const EdgeInsets.all(20),
+        decoration: BoxDecoration(
+          color: AppTheme.cardSurface,
+          borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(20),
+          border: Border.all(
+            color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.2),
+            width: 1,
+          ),
+          boxShadow: [
+            BoxShadow(
+              color: Colors.black.withValues(alpha: 0.2),
+              blurRadius: 20,
+              offset: const Offset(0, 10),
+            ),
+          ],
+        ),
+        child: Column(
+          mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+          children: [
+            // Header
+            Row(
+              children: [
+                Text(
+                  'Add Reaction',
+                  style: GoogleFonts.inter(
+                    color: AppTheme.navyBlue,
+                    fontSize: 16,
+                    fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
+                  ),
+                ),
+                const Spacer(),
+                IconButton(
+                  onPressed: () {
+                    Navigator.of(context).pop();
+                    widget.onClosed?.call();
+                  },
+                  icon: Icon(
+                    Icons.close,
+                    color: AppTheme.textSecondary,
+                    size: 20,
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+            const SizedBox(height: 16),
+            
+            // Emoji grid
+            GridView.builder(
+              shrinkWrap: true,
+              physics: const NeverScrollableScrollPhysics(),
+              gridDelegate: const SliverGridDelegateWithFixedCrossAxisCount(
+                crossAxisCount: 6,
+                crossAxisSpacing: 8,
+                mainAxisSpacing: 8,
+                childAspectRatio: 1,
+              ),
+              itemCount: _commonReactions.length,
+              itemBuilder: (context, index) {
+                final emoji = _commonReactions[index];
+                return Material(
+                  color: Colors.transparent,
+                  child: InkWell(
+                    onTap: () {
+                      Navigator.of(context).pop();
+                      widget.onReactionSelected(emoji);
+                    },
+                    borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                    child: Container(
+                      decoration: BoxDecoration(
+                        color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.05),
+                        borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(12),
+                        border: Border.all(
+                          color: AppTheme.navyBlue.withValues(alpha: 0.1),
+                          width: 1,
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                      child: Center(
+                        child: Text(
+                          emoji,
+                          style: const TextStyle(fontSize: 24),
+                        ),
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                  ),
+                );
+              },
+            ),
+            const SizedBox(height: 16),
+          ],
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}