A fun, flirty take on 21st century dating. The characters are well developed and complex, the plot well paced and appropriately smutty. A fun quick read for any chick lit fans.

This was totally fine! I really don't have much to say about it. It was less raunchy than some of Rai's other books that I've seen, which makes it easier to sell to patrons because you never know how explicit they want their romance to be. I'm a little over emotionally unavailable female protagonists, but this was totally fine.

I didn't finish this but I'm rating it up because I appreciate Alisha Rai as a Twitter personality and I think she's a great writer, it's just that I've read enough of her books now to determine that they're just not my cup of tea.

I love emotion and angst, but they're a certain brand of emo that I don't care for. Like.. lots of pride and defensiveness going on.

I really liked this one. The characters were all so well drawn out and the story was complex enough that it held my attention throughout. It was interesting to read about the world of app dating, and I love Rhi’s drive to conquer the world. 4.5 stars from me!

Alisha Rai’s Forbidden Hearts trilogy was a very angsty, heartfelt set of diverse romances that I really enjoyed and when this book was announced, there was no way I wouldn’t read it. And getting approved for this ARC made me all kind of giddy and I’m so happy that it was all I expected it to be and so much more.

Rhiannon is an extremely whip smart, successful entrepreneur who comes across as abrasive and cynical but she has good reasons to be so. Being a black woman has never been easy for her, right from being bullied in an elite private school because she was from a poor family to being in the highly misogynistic tech industry; so, she has learnt to be tough and never show emotion or vulnerability and that’s the way she can achieve success. Also having been in an emotionally abusive relationship before which adversely affected her professional life too, she has decided to not to ever hookup with anyone more than once and her immense trust issues prevent her from wanting to have any sort of relationship.

Samson is a retired NFL linebacker and the current spokesperson for Rhi’s competitor dating website. He is a sweet, softhearted guy who doesn’t have much experience in dating, because he spent most of his past 5 years taking care of his uncle with Alzheimer’s and ALS. He is also still struggling to deal with the grief over his uncle’s death and also the loss of his parents years before; all this grief leaving him feeling lost and unsure of his future.

I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. Once Rhi forgave Samson for ghosting her due to extenuating circumstances, it was evident that they had real chemistry and were quite comfortable being around each other. Obviously, Rhi’s trust issues and need to be in control ensure that she comes up with rules for their professional and personal interactions, but it was amazing to see Samson accept all of them as par for the course and not ask her for justification. Their relationship is mostly based on mutual respect and they really support each other in their decisions and career aspirations and it was truly wonderful to read. Rhi is actually slightly more judgmental and comes to instant conclusions without thinking through sometimes when she believes her trust has been broken, and that was my only point of contention with her. But it was also true to her character and it just took her a long time to open up and trust him and show her sensitive side. Samson is much more thoughtful and patient and willing to give her the time to work through her issues.

There are also some excellent side characters here and I loved how each of them played important roles in the plot. Katrina is Rhi’s most vocal supporter who doesn’t hesitate to point out flaws in her reasoning and encourages her to be more open to relationships. Lakshmi is her awesome badass assistant and I think Rhi and her made for this amazing workplace duo who can do anything they set their mind to. Samson’s aunt Belle is an eccentric woman but strong in her own ways and I loved her dramatic gestures as well as her sound instincts and advice. It was also nice to see Gabe again.

Alisha writes such smart and thoughtful romances, I’m in awe of her. This book is definitely less angsty than the Forbidden Hearts trilogy but it really suited my tastes. She completely subverts the concepts of an “alpha” male character or the “strong” female character, by giving us realistic reasons for the way they are who they are. We also get some very funny but interesting discussions on the traditional old fashioned dating websites vs the modern instant world of dating apps and hooking up, the ever changing lingo of the internet dating world and how these two ideas are not necessarily opposing. The author also gives a lot of depth to the story and characters - In case of Rhi, by showcasing the adverse effects of sexual harassment in the workplace and how employees get gaslighted by the powers that be when they dare to report and the importance of investigating such allegations seriously and believing the victims; In the case of Samson, we see his struggle to reconcile his love for football with the adverse longtime effects of concussions and CTE on players and their families and what he can do more to ensure that sufficient support is available and hopefully, ensure the safety of the players. All of these aspects make for a fun and sexy romance novel with a realistic portrayal of modern love and an important take on contemporary issues.

To wrap it up, I’ll only say that if you love reading romances with smart characters, you should check this out. Obviously if you are an Alisha Rai fan, you can’t miss this book. It’s sexy, it’s fun, it’s engaging and it’s full of empowering characters. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one a lot. And I can’t wait to see who the next book will be about ... is it gonna be Katrina... I will definitely kill for the one about Lakshmi and Tina... !!!!

Romantic ~ Timely ~ Entertaining

tl;dr: Entrenpreneur finds man she thinks was a cad works for her rival firm.

Rai's The Right Swipe has all that you expect of her romance: good writing, hot guys, smart women. This is ostensibly a sports romance, but it is so much more. This book also finds itself incredibly topical. Started before the Me Too movement, this romance novel takes on the challenges working women face in society. The treatment of this heady topic is done extremely well, being interwoven into the plot. I found this book a refreshing kind of romance with well-rounded characters, believable situations, and crisp dialogue. Additionally, the characters don't play into stereotypes of their careers or genders. Super-win for Rai. Will satisfy the "but romance needs to be well=written crowd." Will satisfy the sports romance folks. Will definitely satsify the strong female protagonist folks.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Right Swipe was one of my most anticipated books of the year, so of course I had to start reading the second I got my hands on it. Even though it was four months before release day.

I think I was expecting a Rom Com, either because of the cover or because of the setting in the world of online dating. And it does have its moments - eccentric aunts are good for comic relief. But I had forgotten how intense Rai's books are and that she weaves important issues into the stories, in this case concussions in football players and sexual harassment in the workplace. (I'm not sure how I forgot that. The mental health issues she addresses in the Forbidden Hearts series all came back to me as soon as I started to think about it.)

I was already intrigued by Rhiannon after meeting her in Hurts to Love You, which is her brother Gabe's book. (He makes an appearance in The Right Swipe as well, though you wouldn't need to read the previous book to follow the story.) Rhi turned out be just as strong and independent as I was expecting, but with a lot more baggage. She has serious trust issues. Samson has some issues of his own though they're a little more subtle, but he's a great book boyfriend. I loved them together right from the beginning, even though it takes a while for Rhi to give him a chance

What struck me most though is the found family elements of the story, as opposed to the actual family drama in the previous series. I love the supporting cast, which has me excited about where the series might go next. There's even another character set to crossover from Forbidden Hearts. I can't wait!

I hadn’t read any of Alisha Rai’s books before this one. I’ve had at least one on my to read list for a good while, but never got round to picking it up. But all that’s going to change now. Because The Right Swipe was one hell of a good romance.

The Right Swipe centres on Rhiannon, the CEO of her own dating app company Crush, who wants to buy a rival company out after the death of its CEO, and Samson, an ex-pro American football player and nephew of the rival company’s new CEO. Oh, and he and Rhiannon hooked up a few months earlier and then he ghosted her (for a completely understandable reason, sure, but Rhiannon doesn’t know that). And then they meet each other again at an event.

What I loved most about the book was the characters. They’re all so easy to like and empathise with, if a little stubborn and frustrating at times. (But what’s a romance book without that kind of frustration.) And they were effortlessly diverse (this is the standard I’ll be holding other authors to now thank you). I’d have to say Samson was probably my favourite – it’s so refreshing to read a romance without the alpha male trope – but Rhiannon was definitely up there too (and Lakshmi! Can I get a book about her and Tina? Please?).

There were a couple of things I liked less about this (not disliked though, just. Liked less). One: it’s a long book. You know how I feel about long contemporary romance books (it’s just me! No patience!). And I did get a tiny bit bored around halfway to 60% through. But then it picked up again so that wasn’t a big thing. So yeah. I (personally, as a personal thing) just found it a little long a book. Two: it’s not really a slowburning romance in the sense that there is absolutely nothing approaching sex until most of the way through the book. They start hooking up probably about a third of the way in. The slowburn was more about getting to trust each other. And Alisha Rai did it so well. But also part of me wished there was more build-up of the tension and that they didn’t actually hook up for ages.

But, on the whole, it was a really great read. And has also given me the urge to bingeread some romances. My TBR says thanks.

3.5 Stars

This book had all of the ingredients for an epic tale of dating in the modern world dominated by dating apps and the pitfalls that come with it. As a person who constantly struggles with dating in the world of ghosting and *cough* eff-boys, I was really excited to see how this second-chance romance would unfold. By the end, I mostly felt like it was an "ok" read, but that emotional connection to the main character was missing on my end. I was more sympathetic to Samson's struggles than Rhiannon which completely surprised me.

Rhiannon Hunter has found success in the dating app scene by promising her customers full transparency when it comes to the intentions of their matches. Looking for love? Got you covered. Just interested in dating around? Perfect! A no-strings-attached hookup is the only thing you want? They've got just the match for you! Rhi herself uses her app for consensual hookups since that's the only thing she is looking for.

Samson Lima - a one time hookup - resurfaces as the new "face" of a rival dating service after ghosting Rhi and she is not interested in hearing his excuses. Spoiler alert: he has a good one. I didn't really connect with Rhi and there are a few reasons why.

Spoilers:

Rhi has made a name for herself in the dating app world and is now the CEO of a multi-million dollar company. She conveniently has a friend that is so beyond rich that she ponies up the money to fund it after Rhi was forced out of Swype - another dating app that she helped launch. While I was sympathetic to Rhi's horrific history with Swype and it's owner Peter, her motivation in acquiring Matchmaker fell flat. She just wants to be the best in the business and "success is the greatest revenge". I find it hard to swallow that Rhi is in the business of love and dating but was such a cynic herself. I didn't understand why this was her chosen profession if she was so against having a meaningful relationship herself. It didn't make sense that Matchmaker would be an enticing acquisition since it's motto focused very much on finding "the one."

The second problem I had with Rhi is that she's not very honest with herself. She says she's not hurt by Samson ghosting her all those months ago, but that's a lie. She can't even admit it to her friend because it somehow makes her seem weak. Rhi has a real issue with being perceived as weak - which I can get behind in the sense that women CEOs have a harder time proving themselves in a male-dominated profession - but she doesn't really depend on anyone to provide emotional support.

What really rubbed me the wrong way with her character was the forced conflict between Rhi and Samson. Every time Samson tries to explain himself, Rhi runs away before he can say a word or she cuts him off because his explanation can't possibly be worth her time. I'm all for misunderstandings heightening the suspense in a romance, but when one character is being willfully stubborn despite the opportunities for clarity, I immediately disconnect from them.

The problem is that we are supposed to see Rhi's side of things, but Samson's story is so much more emotionally satisfying that I couldn't help but be angry at Rhi every time she used him to get to Annabelle or dismissed his attempts at setting the record straight. This guy has so much love to give and Rhi just keeps stomping on him, because she's been burned once before and feels like she can never trust someone with her heart again.

In the end, I didn't really feel like Rhi deserved Samson though I was glad that she finally got the closure she deserved with Peter. Her emotional arc felt a little too late in the story for me to be truly happy for Samson and Rhi.

The Right Swipe is the perfect read for the modern dater. You will laugh, cry, and shake your first at how relatable the story is. This book is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Helen Hoang. And if this is your first foray into Alisha Rai, this is a great book to start with.

Rai's latest series tackles the intersection of technology and modern love, where an app developer and a rival company's spokesman end up filming a series of promotional videos and fall in love in the process. Rhiannon, Gabe's sister from Rai's Forbidden Hearts series, returns as the creator of Crush, an app that works similarly to Bumble, and has a brief fling with Samson, a spokesman for Matchmaker, that ended with Samson ghosting Rhiannon. When Rhiannon attempts to buy Matchmaker, she ends up reuniting with Samson, to Samson's delight and Rhiannon's reluctance. Fiercely independent and determined not to let a relationship interfere with her career, Rhiannon agrees to a relationship of convenience, not knowing that she's actually met a man who is her match. Meanwhile, Samson has to deal with his career and life choices after retiring from the NFL and caring for family members with CTE.
Going into this new series, I had to remind myself that this story arc seems, judging from the covers alone, to be less about the angst that made me love the Forbidden Hearts series so much, and once I let go of those expectations, I really enjoyed this book. Rhiannon's reluctance for a relationship is a bit trying at times, especially when the reader gets Samson's POV, and it is obvious that Rhiannon's assumptions about Samson are incorrect. Rai was obviously influenced by current events, and her discussions on the abuse and gaslighting of men in power and CTE within the NFL created complexities behind both of the main characters. Overall, this book managed to be a fun read while still having an emotional depth that kept things interesting.

The Right Swipe was AMAZING! This is truly lovely romance writing that millennial can get into!! I could not put this book down. It had heart, it had steam, it had me laughing! I just love Alisha Rai. She totally perfected this!

I didn't want to put this one down. I already want to read the next book in the series which hasn't even been announced it. The characters were fantastic and their chemistry was a delight. I appreciated that Samson wasn't an "alpha" character due to his build and background as a former football player. I appreciated that Rhi wasn't merely a "ball-buster" because she ran a successful company. Each had their strengths and weaknesses and it simply elevated the story. Alisha Rai writes with such heart and passion and we're all better people when she shares her stories with the world.

I love Alisha Rai and would definitely recommend this book to others but I think I just couldn’t connect to the characters. She is absolutely an auto buy for me because her writing is uniformly excellent but I didn’t feel the need to sit in this book and/or immediately reread like I usually do.

Alisha Rai has done it again with The Right Swipe. It hooks you and drags you in with the first chapter. After that first chapter I’m thinking…OOH this is going to be good!!

Rhiannon is a computer app designer who hooks up anonymously through her Bumble type app with ex-football player Samson. Next thing she knows he’s the face of the matchmaking company she want to buy.

The Right Swipe has so much great story going for it:
Internet/App dating
Modern dating customs
CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in football and the damage it does to players and their families
The #MeToo movement
The struggles of women and minorities in the tech industry
Romance
Great, believable characters you can really care about.

Wonderful book, really enjoyed it!

FYI. Rhiannon was a minor character, Gabe’s sister, in Hurts to Love You (Forbidden Heart series).

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC

This book was so great! I got an advanced copy from Netgalley. I appreciated the relationship between the protagonists and how much they respected each other’s work and dreams. It was a fun bonus that we got to see a few characters again from Rei’s Forbidden Hearts series. I love the way she writes family relationships and friendships. Already can’t wait for the next one in this series!

I loved Alisha Rai's Forbidden Hearts trilogy, so I was super excited for this new book. The heroine of The Right Swipe is Rhiannon, the CEO of dating app Crush (and Gabe's sister from the earlier books). Rhiannon was forced out of her position at a rival company and has some (totally fair) lingering bitterness and trust issues. She's interested in purchasing Matchmaker, a more web-based dating company, but is alarmed to find out that a guy who ghosted her is now working for that company'. I loved Rhiannon - she's prickly and smart and loyal and funny, and it was so wonderful to read about an ambitious woman in her mid-30s who has it together professionally. I also loved the hero, Samson, who was a pro football player who quit over the league's unethical stance on CTE and concussions. The two of them are absolutely charming together, and their relationship was just lovely. (Rai also writes about consent really, really well, which I appreciate.) I also loved the Crush storyline, and the way Rai highlights issues of gaslighting and toxicity through the truly terrible things that both characters' previous employers did to them. This was absolutely wonderful and I can't wait for the next in the series - hoping it will feature Katrina and Jia.

Rhiannon is the driven, successful CEO of a popular dating app. Samson is a former NFL star who walked off the field in protest over untreated player head injuries. He's also the nephew of a rival dating service owner, and he's just agreed to be their new spokesman. But what no one knows is, Samson and Rhiannon also had an anonymous night together that ended badly. Now they're being thrown together again as Samson's aunt considers selling her business to one of several competitors.

This was a delightful book, warm and full of wit, with satisfying redemption for both protagonists. It's been a while since I read Alisha Rai's previous series, and I didn't realize until 2/3 through that Rhiannon's brother Gabe is the same Gabe from Hurts to Love You (which is a terrific book, too).