Rhiannon and Samson met on a dating app, that she’s the owner and created of, and they hook up. After making plans to see each other again, Samson ghosts Rhiannon (but with good reason!). Fast forward, Rhiannon sees Samson for the first time in months at a work function working for the competitor and their paths end up crossing more than they expect. The synopsis of this book sounded right up my alley and I was really excited to pick it up. But it fell somewhat flat for me. I was expecting another 4-5 star book like The Kiss Quotient and while it held a lot of the steam factor, the story overall just wasn’t as great as I hoped.
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I really liked the “we’re not going to fall in love” premise of the book (in which they ALWAYS fall in love), but Rhiannon’s character bothered me a lot. She seemed very immature in so many ways, and acted somewhat childish. I expected her character to develop a bit, but she just didn’t. While I liked them as a couple, it also was hard for me to enjoy the story as much when she was overreacting about everything.
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I took away a star because of Rhiannon’s character, and a half star because the story just didn’t develop like I had hoped it would. It was predictable but I still enjoyed it for the most part. I could easily see this becoming the next rom com movie to come out... and I’ll probably still pick up the 2nd book in this series 😉
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Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai is an adult contemporary romance which I received as an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) from @NetGalley (& Harper Collins!) in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. (Release Date | 06 August 2019)

SYNOPSIS | Rhiannon Hunter has revolutionized romance in the digital world by creating an app where you swipe right on a person you want to get to know better/hook up with (similar to Tinder). The idea is to not fill out the lengthy, archaic, personality tests of some of the rival dating companies, but instead to empower people to swipe & take a chance. However, Rhiannon uses her app for a one night stand with a gentleman she later discovers is Samson Lima (a retired pro American football player). He ghosted her, she is bitter and then she finds out that he is the face of the new marketing campaign of a rival dating company that she is looking to buy.

MY THOUGHTS | I have been having a difficult time with romance lately and I am not sure if I have become more picky, or if I am just not picking up stuff that is hitting the spot. My main criticisms for this book is that I really struggled with the amount of times that Rhiannon's clothing was mentioned. I get it, she is a super chill girl who feels comfortable in sweats and a hoody, but I don't need reminding in every single chapter. I also wasn't a fan of her relationship with Samson (& I really need to feel invested in the romance to root for it). It reminded me a lot of Fix Her Up (which I also didn't really enjoy!).

The Right Swipe is a fun and self-aware romantic comedy. I liked the discussion of modern dating in particular online dating from both a woman and a man's perspective. I am thrilled that people of these characters were people of color which did not need any explanations and just are people. I found Samson's football career to be interesting and I'm glad that Rai did talk about CTE, a topic that is not very much discussed in sports books that I have written. The second chance romance was sweet as both characters had to overcome their own insecurities and hang-ups, but I was expecting a bit more heat to the romance.

4.5 stars. This was a delight! I loved the main characters. The romance deals a lot with trust and vulnerability. The secondary characters were fantastic too. I am so happy to see that this is going to be a series and some of these secondary characters are going to get to tell their stories! This is smart and funny and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I already have book 2 (Girl Gone Viral - Spring 2020) on my reading list. (Language, sex)

This is a really fun contemporary romance. FYI the doors are open in this one so proceed accordingly if you’re prone to blushing like I am. I loved the characters and their backstory. They grew and progressed and had great chemistry. The plot was fun and quick paced and just exciting enough to fall into that escapist reading that sometimes is exactly what I want to read. It also tackles some timely issues really well and I appreciated the sensitivity and personal growth that the characters acknowledge about each other as they progress. That isn’t always the case so it stood out in a really great way.

Strong characters add power to this romance novel. Rhi knows what she wants from a relationship and her career. When Samson walks into both she thinks she has all the answers, but she has to learn to trust herself and more than her inner circle to get what she wants. I enjoyed the story and characters. Not sure I could relate to either lead, I think I liked the side characters more.

A great romance about a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur coming into her power both professionally and personally.

Sadly my first Alisha Rai book might be my last. The promise of a cute story was lost with an unlikeable heroine and overall unengaging story. I will not be sharing on my blog.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this early copy!

I read this early copy mainly because of the Dragons & Tea Book Club. The love interests and the main plot were well-written and kept me hooked until the end. However, I found the sexual content was just not for me.

3.5 Stars out of 5 Stars. Full review to come soon.

3.5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

Where to start, where to start....
Rhiannon (Rhi) and Samson hooked up thanks to a dating app, had a wonderful time, and wished that they could see each other again but come to find out one of the parties felt ghosted. Rhi and Samson meet again during a work event and both feel uncomfortable about seeing each other again. This now starts a series of events that place the two of them back into each other's orbit. Rhi came off as this overly strong character that I felt NO vulnerability from. She harped on how she was wronged by an ex without giving a full explanation for the issues until the end and the issue felt like another social issues that didn't need to be added. Samson was dealing with the backlash from his career decisions, grief, and family dynamics. I appreciated the issues that were tackled within this story but I felt that they were too much and not focused.

This specific video review will be included in the August 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Alisha Rai does women's fiction? The book is focused on two main characters involved with online dating apps, but it feels much more like a tech start up story with romantic elements than a true romance. While it's good to see women in tech leadership, I went in with different expectations and came out a little disappointed.

LOVED this book. It was smart, empowering, ethnically diverse, cute premise, flawed-by-likable main characters. Basically it had everything that makes a fun read. I had never read this author before, but this book made me want to check out her other books.

I loved this one! I flew through it, eagerly devouring Rhi & Samson’s story. While this one gets STEAMY and the chemistry is hot, there’s definitely a lot of focus on the non-romantic plot, including Rhi’s time in the tech world and how her past has shaped her. This is the 3rd tech-related rom-com I’ve read in the past month, but it felt fresh & unique. While Rhi wasn’t perfect (who is?!), she’s a bad-ass female protagonist and I was rooting for her the whole time. I very much enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to read what Alisha writes next!

I found book to have real life scenarios about today’s dating world. Honest and heart warming. Showed family values, while also allowing characters to have relationships. Fist pump to women for stepping forward about sexual harassment. I rooted for Rhi to follow her heart,

I stayed up way too late at night to finish this book. I had the usual, "one more chapter" mantra in my head, but the book was just too good to put down. I will definitely being reading more of Alisha Rai's books in the future. The Right Swipe is about Rhiannon Hunter, creator and owner of the dating app Crush. She is interested in buying a dot com competitor, so she crashes their party, only discover their new spokesman is non other than Samson Lima, retired football player and the man who ghosted her after one passionate night together. Samson is shocked when he sees Rhiannon, (who he knows as Claire,) in the crowd and looks to reconnect with her, but she will not make it easy. Rhiannon has trust issues due to a past relationship, but Samson is patient, but when she assumes the worst about Samson, she walks away. The chemistry between Rhiannon and Samson is HOT and despite some missteps, I was rooting for them to find common ground the entire book. Although this is a romance and and HEA is always guaranteed in a romance novel, I was a little nervous at the end, wondering if they ever would get together. Not only were Rhiannon and Samson strong, amazing characters, their friends and family were also wonderful. I loved Rhiannon's relationship with both her mother and brother, and wanted more exploration of their dynamic. I look forward to future books in the Modern Love series, so many options (and a few I am hoping will be.) I am recommending this book to everyone I know who enjoys romance novels.

The Right Swipe has all the right stuff, plus the distinction of being totally unique. There is so much going on in this book to hold one's interest! First, the right stuff - Alisha Rai obviously spent a lot of time building authentic characters who are sometimes quirky while still relatable. For example, Rhiannon (and her need to wear hoodies) can be REALLY hard to like, but as we get to know her we see that experience has made her cautious, driven, and guarded.

Samson (who in my mind looks like Tony Gonzalez!), has many layers that make him such a magnetic, appealing person. He has integrity, loyalty, and admirable principles. We, the readers, can see that Rhiannon and Samson are perfect together, and observing them discover that truth was a real joy. The supporting characters, like Dean, Harris, Katrina, and Aunt Belle are equally interesting and round out what is already a great story.

Lastly, Alisha Rai has my respect for crafting a story where the characters are socially and racially diverse, and does so in a way that is subtle but meaningful. There wasn't any preaching in this book. No matter your racial or social background, these characters are people we can all relate to. Humanizing our differences, and creating a story about common ground, is admirable and uplifting.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this ARC. This is my honest review.*

I enjoyed The Right Swipe. The pacing of the novel was excellent. I hate books where the characters fall in bed right away. Even though their relationship was based on a hookup I appreciated the way that the author built up the chemistry between Simon and Rhi. The supporting characters were robust and I hope to see follow up books featuring Lakshmi, Tina, Noah, and Trevor.

As someone who found love online, the plot of this story hooked me right away. I thought the push and pull people find with modern dating via apps was very accurate. The MC's though were so different that whatever romance was supposed to be present was overshadowed by their blinding character differences. I dont think I would swipe right on this one.

This book was refreshing and fun! It's not a "fluffy" romance, this book is filled with SMART characters who are professional and intelligent. The "steamy" scenes aren't smutty, and the characters even enjoyed being together just as much as sex. This author - and this series - is definitely something to keep on my radar. Highly recommended!

Dang it, Alisha Rai! She gets me every time. THE RIGHT SWIPE hit all the right notes; starting with one of my new favorite heroes, and ending with a beautifully complex, yet fast-paced romance novel. The story follows Rhiannon, a guarded dating app CEO and kick-butt girl boss, and Samson, my new book boyfriend, errr, I mean, former NFL star, rival dating app spokesperson, and Rhi’s one time, one-night stand.

I knew from meeting Rhi in Ms. Rai’s previous series that she would be a tough cookie, and she was. She is a dominant personality and needed someone patient and understanding enough to keep coming back. She found that in my new dream man, Samson. He really made the book for me. He was in no way a doormat, but he was a gentle and self-aware beta hero dealing with his own life problems.

What I unexpectedly enjoyed most was Ms. Rai’s ability to craft two individual story arcs, one for Samson and Rhi, and intertwine them just enough to make me keep turning the pages. Both Samson and Rhi had to grow separately to be truly prepared for a long-term romantic relationship by the end of the book. The story was set in a rich and vibrant world but wasn’t bogged down by the details and smaller storylines within the larger arc.

While I loved the individual story timelines, I wish Samson and Rhi had a little more “together” page time at the end and most pivotal scenes in the book. The last 20% of the book felt a little too much like Rhiannon’s story, and not Samson and Rhiannon’s romance. Samson was also SO kind and giving to Rhi throughout the course of the book, I would have liked to have seen a little more reciprocal kindness from Rhi, even if it was her own particular brand of kindness. I think the story would have really benefited from an epilogue. It would have given me just a bit more closure at the end.

Overall, this was a fantastic start to a new series. Ms. Rai weaved current events and a modern flair into a complicated romance path between two people damaged by past hurts. Also, where can I find a Samson… no, really??

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**