This book had many things going for it: a solid premise, good writing, original story, relevance to modern issues, diverse characters. I appreciated all these things, but I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters or the story at any point in the book. I think my biggest stumbling point was that I didn't like Rhi very much. I understood why she would feel cautious and weary, but this seemed to lead to a righteousness about being unfair to Samson that didn't sit well with me. Then there was Samson. He was perfect. Too perfect. He was so careful, he seemed to be following a script on how a guy must react and behave, He was so understanding of Rhi's issues that he didn't seem to have any deep feelings of his own. Yes, you're a good guy, and yes, you're allowed to protest when you are treated unjustly. All this translated into a lukewarm chemistry that made me feel neutral about the characters as a couple and at a solid three for the book itself.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rhiannon Hunter is a successful business woman who is also leading the charge on revolutionizing the app dating scene with her company Crush. After ending her previous relationship with the man who also happened to be her boss at the time, Rhiannon was harassed out of her job. It wasn't easy to get started - what with the false rumors her ex spread about her - but once she created Crush, Rhiannon vowed to triumph over her oppressor with success. To say the least, trust doesn't come easy for Rhiannon. That's why every now and then she'll employ the use of her own app for a hookup. That is, until the last guy ghosted on her.

Samson Lima's name is a legacy not only did both his uncle and father play professional football, but Samson did as well. That is, until he walked off the field in frustration over the way the league was handling head injuries - or how they were not handling them. After having his team and fans turn on him, Samson put his focus on caring for his uncle who was beginning to show signs of brain injury from all his years in the game. Now, back in the spotlight, Samson has been tapped as the new face of Matchmaker the original online dating company. Besides a hookup a few months ago, Samson has been out of the dating scene for quite some time.

When Samson and Rhiannon run into each other at the launch party for Matchmaker's new campaign, Samson immediately wants another chance with Rhiannon, and Rhiannon wants to buy Matchmaker. Rhiannon isn't used to giving people second chances, but maybe all is take is the right person.

This is my first book by Alisha Rai. While I know of and am somewhat familiar with her previous series (of which apparently Rhiannon make an appearance) I am apparently late to the party. But I really enjoyed The Right Swipe so you can bet I'll be picking up more of her books soon.

I really loved the perspective we, the readers, get on the side of survivors of harassment. Probably one of the first thoughts that people have upon hearing someone come forward with accusations is "why wait so long, why now?". I think that Alisha Rai really gives us a good answer for that. Although no one ever owes someone an answer, I think it's important for people to understand where someone who has been through trauma is coming from, and we see it clearly in what Rhiannon has experienced with her ex, and how that trauma informs the way she handles herself in the present. How it's kept her from trusting, it's kept her from business opportunities, it's kept her - in part - from living fully. But the decision to speak out is a singular decision and should never be forced upon someone.

In a roundabout way, we see how Samson has struggled with his decision to speak out when he walked off the field in protestation of the NHL not taking brain injuries seriously. It definitely impacted his career, but probably more notably, it impacted his name, his legacy which is heartbreaking. But it is one of the potential risks when you speak out about something you believe in. Little does Samson know that his actions have done more good than bad.

My favorite part of The Right Swipe was the fact that never once were Rhiannon's feelings or actions made to seem wrong or incorrect the way women are all-too-often made to feel on a daily basis. Too emotional, too "crazy", too irrational. Instead of getting upset with Rhiannon when her past informs on her actions in the present, Samson remains patient and calm with her. Seeing things from her side which also, sometimes, letting her know why she may be incorrect with her thinking. I loved that there's never any fingers pointed as who's right and who's wrong.

It's a sweet love story about giving second chances and standing up for yourself and others. There were so many great secondary characters I cannot wait to see who gets their own book next!

I have yet another romance recommendation for you guys! Can y’all tell I’m a little bit obsessed with them lately?! I’m not sure if it’s this time of year, but I’m loving all things light and fun right now and while this has plenty of lightness it also had some serious depth as well.

I want to start by saying that if you’ve been looking for a diverse romance read, look no further. The representation here is wonderful, it’s chock full of bad ass, boss bitch women of color who are of all shapes and sizes and I’m am so here for that! There was an underlying feeling of feminism and straight up girl power here that I absolutely loved, Rhi herself had her shit together, despite her struggles in the romance department, and I love nothing more than a strong, female protagonist. Samson was a fabulous hero, he was an actual gentleman and his baggage was minor and adorably endearing, nothing problematic with either of them. Their chemistry was also smoking hot and this one definitely had some spicy sex scenes 🔥 🔥 🔥

Romance fans won’t wanna miss this one and I’m so excited it’s the first in a new series because I need a book about Katrina ASAP!!

The Right Swipe in three w

The Right Swipe is a fantastically fun, sexy, uplifting story of finding love in the modern age. Alisha Rai knocks it out of the park with her first Modern Love book, balancing flirty fantasy with deeply emotional, very real world issues.

Rhi is my favorite kind of heroine. She’s intelligent, strong, successful in her career, and has a huge heart. She’s worked hard to make her dating app one of the most successful in the country and to make her company the best and most diverse. This is no easy feat for a black woman in a white male-dominated field. Rhi’s had to work ten times harder than her rivals and I was cheering for her professional success. I loved Crush – heck, I want to work there. I was also rooting for Rhi to find love with Samson. But she has been badly burned personally and professionally by someone she trusted and because of this she has built walls to protect herself. It’s not easy for Samson to get her to give him a second chance after he ghosted her (for reasons which make sense) but Samson is pretty impossible to resist. The former linebacker is a total swoon-worthy sweetheart. Kind, sexy, handsome, and not always smooth – how could I not be charmed? He’s a good man to the core, one willing to walk away from a stellar career in defense of a friend, a man who drops everything to care for a loved one…he’s the picture perfect example of a hero without being cardboard perfect. Samson and Rhi have fantastic chemistry. They made me smile, sigh, and cheer for them every step of the way. Though they plan on keeping things strictly physical, it’s clear to all that they’re a perfect match in bed and out. And as a side note, if anyone thinks explicit consent can’t be sexy, they absolutely need to read this book.

The Right Swipe dazzles with the chemistry between its leads and a diverse, wonderfully endearing supporting cast, all of whom I would love to read about more. But this bright and charming tale also features very real issues. Rhi faces both overt and subtle sexism and racism in the workplace. She has also been traumatized by a predator in more ways than one and this book addresses sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement. Samson’s storyline shines a light on CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in the NFL in a very heartbreaking way. Ms. Rai treats these subjects with the honesty and respect they deserve, weaving them into the story in an organic way and adding depth to the story and its characters.

The Right Swipe is a modern romance in every sense of the word. I absolutely adored the characters, banter, romance, the gentle good humor, and the edge of realism woven into the fantasy. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next Modern Love book!

The Right Swipe is probably one of the best contemporary romances I have ever read. I did not devour it in one sitting (and honestly ONS/second-chance romances are not my favorite trope), but it is meticulously crafted and very well written. One of the things I liked the most about it the way Rai took an industry go-to (and almost cliche) in having an ex-football playing hero and used him to have a real and nuanced conversation about CTE and the problems football players face. This book is a masterclass in how you can write a contemporary romance with important social themes (workplace harassment, CTE), a diverse cast of characters, and explicit consent.

I did not realize that this ties into the Forbidden Hearts series until it became super obvious at the end, so this definitely works as a standalone, but having read them will provide a teeny bit more context to Rhiannon's backstory.

Review was written in exchange for a free arc from the publisher via NetGalley. (posted to Goodreads)

This book blew me out of the water! Incredibly diverse with a kick ass main character and what a genuine romance. I loved all of the characters in this book and the plot went way deeper than I was expecting it to and I really enjoyed it. Definitely a new favorite!

Unfortunately this one wasn't what I expected. The cover suggests romcom which this definitely isn't. What's more I hated the heroine, she was bitchy and she always put work first. While the hero was sweet I couldn't believe how he still wanted to be with her even though she treated him so badly. I couldn't stomach it.

Alisha Rai, man. I've been seeing her books and hearing her name for ages, but this is the first book of hers I've finished. I'm pretty sure it's one of the rare romance novels I'll actually re-read. This book has everything about contemporary life - the struggles of app-based dating (ghosting sucks! so do unsolicited dick pics!), #MeToo, CTE in football players, and plenty of diverse characters who have an impressive solidity to them.

It's feminist AF, with each character having complicated emotions. Plus all of the side characters are given unusual reactions to this situations - something that so rarely happens. Rhiannon leans on her friends more than her new lover, which is realistic and actually very adult of her. The sex scenes are pretty adult too, with lots of consent to amp up the heat. I found myself getting a little watery when Rhiannon or Samson opened up (not only to one another - often to family or friends).

In short, if you're looking for the reasons that romance is a literary genre that should be taken seriously, look no further.

Received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rhiannon and Samson are two damaged people. Their story is one borne in the age of technology and fast responses. The story brings up issues that are common in our current society and deals with them in a positive and uplifting manner. The two characters along with their friends are using their struggles to make the world a better place. You will enjoy the stories strong bonds of friendship and families. There are some steamy and fun scenes that will fulfill your fantasies. A great story with lots of heart.

There’s a strain of romcom shenanigans that delights in extensively mortifying a perfectly ordinary heroine. You’ll find none of that nonsense here.

You will find the heightened reality and tropey goodness you’re hoping for. There’s no real road map for smart choices when you end up fake-dating your one-night stand so your rival online dating sites can milk the publicity. Heroine Rhiannon is smart and ambitious and makes a lot of very understandable mistakes: she clings to her trauma coping mechanisms, she is prickly and suspicious, she has real baggage imperfectly wrestled with at the start of the story. But the narrative is not interested in punishing her for these faults, the way some romcoms might be (looking at you, Bridget Jones).

Rhiannon is one of Rai’s signature heroines: a mix of banter and broken edges, always human and relatable and deeply, deeply loveable. The quintessential best friend, the one you root for even when she’s kind of fucking it up.

Our hero, strong, steady former pro football player Samson, has plenty of wounds of his own—deep losses that still hurt and that call him to prevent other people from suffering in similar ways (family members lost to CTE and ALS). It’s a brilliant contrast with Rhiannon in so many ways: she was attacked by someone she loved and trusted who proved predatory, while Samson has had one loved one after another taken from him by accident and illness. Both characters wade into the waters of grief, but they’re approaching it from different sides of the river. It’s an extraordinary, subtle fountain of conflict that is almost more than the romance can bear.

Almost being the important word. As with Rai’s fiercely tender Forbidden Hearts series, so many of this book’s characters are all trying to take care of one another as best they can: a listening ear, a grounded focus to stem a rising panic attack, thoughtful advice and support at the lowest moments. Rai crafts a space of kindness and acceptance to offset an often vicious world: her protagonists don’t have to change their essential nature, they only are pushed to find better ways of being in the world. There’s a sharp meta edge to the story, an awareness of the way our culture frames romance and the ways in which that either buoys or fails us. There’s an extended dialogue on the definition of fuckboy that alone is probably worth the price of the book.

The Right Swipe has a lot going on in one book. Rhi is the successful CEO of a dating app (think Bumble) that she founded. She’s been pursuing the reclusive owner of a more traditional dating site, Matchmaker (think eHarmony/Match) in the interest of purchasing it and expanding her brand.

When she goes to a Matchmaker party in hopes of connecting with the CEO - she is shocked to see the new spokesperson for the site is Samson - the man she had one great date with months ago - and then he ghosted her.

This book covers a lot of topics - the business dealings between the various dating companies, professional football and CTE, sexual harassment, speaking up and believing women when they do. All of these topics were handled well - but I did feel it pushed the romance to a smaller role side plot rather than the key focus. This isn’t necessarily bad - but good to know if you are going into it expecting a more traditional romance where their relationship is really the bulk of the story.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rhiannon Hunter broke off from her old Dating App company to start her own, changing the ever growing technological world of dating. Rhi only Swipes Right for Occasional hook ups and that's it. She controls her dating life with a few key rules: Nudes are only okay if asked for, If someone stands you up there are no second chances, and protect your heart (never sleep with the same man twice). But her latest match, Samson, an ex-football player, ghosted her and now has suddenly reappeared. They both can't stop thinking about that magical night. Samson happens to be in business with a rival, and proposes a project together that will be good for both companies. It's one thing to keep it professional in the street, only physical in the sheets, but what about when the heart gets involved?

The Right Swipe is a modern twist on dating in the 21st century. I was pleasantly surprised with this book! Alisha Rai did an amazing job creating strong characters who I connected and sympathized with. Don't let this book fool you, it touches on some more serious topics as well. I loved Rhi and I was rooting for her the whole time to open her heart up! I love "Temporary Relationship" themes in Romance novels. I also love a good strong female lead!

3 stars: I'm an Alisha Rai superfan, so it's hard for me to say that I didn't love this. I didn't hate it either, but a lot of didn't work for me.

What I loved: sex-positive, feminist main characters. I've read a lot of books about modern dating lately, and I liked how Rai presented a world in which dating apps were for everyone. In a lot of books the main characters are using the apps to find "the one," which is great, but women/people are often just looking for hookups, and Rai depicted that well.

I also liked the CTE/sports aspect of the plot; it once again shows how much thought Rai puts into her characters and her books. So many sports romance have football player main characters, but without discussing the realities of that lifestyle. I also appreciated the lack of judgement in Rai's writing.

What I didn't love: the characters all fell flat to me. Or perhaps they were TOO much. Samson was too nice, too understanding, too perfect. And Rhiannon was too much his opposite. Once the story progressed, I understood Rhiannon a little more, but I still felt like they were foils for each other. Rhiannon was slightly more interesting than Samson and that's because she had some flaws. But even the side characters were too much of one things--too eccentric, too stylistic, too whatever. They felt more like ideas of people than actual people.

I also didn't love the romance--it never made me feel anything. I love romance books because they get my heart and my head involved, and while I think Rai did a great job of making me think about certain issues, I never felt like I connected to anything. I didn't laugh, I didn't swoon, and I didn't feel all that sad for anyone either. Unlike in Rai's other books, I never got the sense of friendship & family & humanity.. I never forgot I was reading a book.

All in all, I finished this book pretty underwhelmed. If this is your first Rai, and you felt similarly, I highly recommend trying out another one of her books!

PS: If you've enjoyed the steaminess of her other books, the heat level in this drops significantly but not to zero.

**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.**

"Every time you hurt someone, you break off a little piece of them. Not only do they have to live with that broken piece, then the next person who comes along has to figure out a way to spackle that spot. Your behavior has ripple effects."
The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai is a steamy, contemporary romance. The book is about Rhi and Samson. Rhi and Samson met on Rhi's dating app - Crush. They hooked up, he ghosted her, she thought of him as dead. They meet up again and their attraction is still there. I loved the dating app aspect of this book. I loved these two characters and their stories. They both had aspects of their background that are very serious issues. Rhi was harassed out of her last job. Samson is a retired football player who's father and uncle both have had brain damage from playing football. I really enjoyed how Alisha Rai brought up these topics. It's important to bring them up and see how characters deal with them.
A wonderful read and I highly recommend this book! Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollins for giving me an Advanced Reader Copy. This book will be available for purchase on August 6!

For Alisha Rai fans who might be nervous about a different direction indicated by that (adorable) cover, don’t worry. This book still has all the Alisha Rai elements you know and love. The Right Swipe has the right amount of angst, sex, social issues (like consent and CTE), diversity, a strong, wry heroine and a professional football player. What’s not to love?

This book was just OK for me. The main character was a bit much for me. She had a very strong personality which I can appreciate but this was a little too much for me. I appreciated the modern dating aspect but it was tough to get past the main character.

I'm enamored with this book! The perfect blend of romance, humor, and social commentary for new and contemporary romance readers. I was thrilled by the diversity of the main characters and can't wait to read more from this author.

Trigger warning: Sexual harassment/coersion
SUCH a good book! I loved the normalization of POC characters. I really liked that CTE was talked about from such a place a vulnerability and readers are able to see a glimpse of how impactful this condition is and how something needs to be done to protect the players. This is why books are so important - they allow us to learn in ways we otherwise may not bee able to.

Rhiannon is an amazing woman and I was able to relate with so many things in her life.

3.5

A story of an independent woman and finding love in the modern world. But it also delved into how it is being a business woman surrounded by men.
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Rhiannon meets Samson Lima through her own dating app but after “ghosting” her she doesn’t want anything to do with him ever again. However, circumstances push them together. This book shows just how much the dating world is changing. Rhiannon has a jaded view about love and throughout the book we see her struggle. She slowly begins to see that Samson just might be the real deal. If you’re looking for a book about finding love in the modern world you might like this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my review copy!

I was really excited to pick up The Right Swipe, after binging my way through Rai's Forbidden Hearts series earlier this year, especially after I found out that the heroine in Right Swipe was tangentially related to the hero in Hurts to Love You. I was *not* disappointed!


Rhiannon Hunter is a badass entrepreneur who started her own company and developed a dating app geared toward females (built to help navigate and mitigate all the hurdles that come with dating while female). She's looking to buy out another, older, dating company after the death of one of its founders when she runs into Samson Lima, whom she'd previously had a one-weekend-stand with a few months previously.


Things happened directly after their hook-up and what Rhiannon and Samson had been optimistically hoping might turn into a romance crashed and burned after Rhiannon believed that Samson had ghosted her. Now they're thrown back together for an ad campaign after it turns out that it's Samson's aunt who owns the company Rhiannon is trying to buy. Samson wants to win Rhiannon back, but Rhi isn't sure she wants to give him another chance due to the nastiness that was her previous relationship.


This book was AMAZING and exactly what I've come to expect from Rai: Snappy dialog, a diverse cast, a plot that doesn't shy away from discussions on real-world issues (being a black woman in a heavily white male industry, the importance of Consent in relationships, both sexual and otherwise), and super steamy sex scenes.

Five out of five stars! Would absolutely recommend!