i absolutely loved the forbidden hearts trilogy and since discovering it i have devoured everything alisha rai has published. i was so so excited when i heart about this one and i legit squealed when i got approved for the arc. i admit, i had high expectations and i was worried the book wouldn't live up to them. but it totally did, obviously. Rai writes fantastic, realistic characters and i am so here for it. i love how flawed they are, it makes it so realistic. Rhi is definitely a different kind of heroine, but i loved her and how strong she was. Samson, of course, was adorable and i wanted to put him in my pocket. you do feel a bit sorry for him when Rhi won't even give him a chance, but you know where she's coming from and that it'll all work out in the end. i will say, normally i hate the trope where the book starts off where characters have had a one night stand, but the readers don't get to experience that. i feel like we are just told there is a connection but we don't get to feel it- that being said, i also don't exactly want sex scenes in the first chapter because there is no way i'll feel any kind of connection that early, so there's no winning. but, Rai gets the balance right in this one, we get snippets of their night out but their relationship on the page, all the stuff that we get to see, is developed and built up perfectly, so we don't miss out on a thing. loved it. i admit, sometimes it can get a bit frustrating to pick up a romance these days and just have all of these current topics and issues brought up because i just want to read to escape and ignore all of those things, but again, Rai does it perfectly - in a this is how i feel about these topics without beating you over the head kind of way. i agree with all the things and it was a really authentic way to incorporate all of those topics, i think. it was an emotional read for sure. anywho. love the cover, i admit, i was a bit worried the cutesy cover would mean a different writing style or content, but i was not disappointed. can't wait for the next one!

Having heard a lot about Alisha Rai but never having read her books (I know, I know), I felt like I was jumping into the deep end with this book. Something about reading a story rooted in such a personal experience without reading her other work felt almost like a transgression.

The Right Swipe is a delightful book. There's growth. A lot of growth. A lot of humanity. There's no perfect hero or heroine, no one-sided morality. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it. It is so grounded in its own story that I can't compare it much to the few sports- or tech-related romances I've read, each lovely in its own way. This one just felt very honest and true to current times — an aspect I see threading throughout the romance genre like a conversation. This is an important part of that conversation, and I can't wait for Rai's next contribution to carry it forward even further.

Alisah Rai starts off her new series spectacularly! Rhiannon Hunter and Samson Lima are engaging characters that are funny and, at least in Samson's case, sweet.

I knew before I was even halfway into this book that it would be receiving five stars, and holy hell was I right. This book did not hold back any punches and it offered such a profound story about powerful women of color that also was so touching that I was weeping throughout the last 20% of this book.

My list of things I enjoyed about this book is vast compared to a nonexistent section of things I didn't enjoy. I'll try and write a brief (read: long) list of things I adored about this book.

The representation. This book is primarily about people and women of color, so the main character is a dark-skinned black woman, her best friend and assistant is an Indian lesbian, her other best friend and roommate is a thai-american plus sized woman with agoraphobic anxiety (!!!!!! i need a book about her), the love interest is Samoan, the love interest's two best friends are black, one of whom is a stay-at-home father. That's not even mentioning other side characters. So yeah, this book rocked. The way women of color uplifted and supported each other in this book was also so touching and empowering.

This book dealt with such a diverse and unique array of subplots and handled them all spectacularly. Even the trope of the love interest being a sports player had valuable discussion about mental health and retirement. This book also tackles women of color being in positions of power and how others perceive that, as well as the trust issues Rhiannon experiences.

It's hard to get me to genuinely care about side characters, but even the side characters in this book had full character arcs and contributed meaningfully to the story in their own wholesome ways. I hope this book gets developed into a long, drawn-out spinoff series because I loved all the side characters.

The romance in this..... OOF!!!!! And I'm talking both the angst, the pacing of it, the consent, the steamy scenes..... everything was spectacular. this is SOOO healthy but is never boring or robotic because of it. the characters are still sexy as hell and have genuine and cute and funny interactions alongside maintaining healthy boundaries and communication. LOVED rhi and samson together!

The only complaint that I had during the first half of this book--that Rhiannon's bitter and rock hard side seemed a lot more developed than her soft side--definitely went away by the last half of the book. It was so touching to see women championing other women and to see Rhi's growth in learning to trust and speak out against injustice.

This is NOT a book to miss and I cannot smash the preorder button on Amazon hard enough.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.
While I have been rec'd Alisha Rai a handful of times, this is actually my first book of hers that I'm reading. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The cover suggests that it's a cute romcom style story but it's a lot more than that. There is diverse representation across the board with the MCs and supporting characters. Rhiannon is a strong and tough character who can hold her own in the boardroom as well as the bedroom. Samson is more than just a big ex-football player. He has a big heart with a rough past. After these two hooked up and he 'ghosted' her, he returns a few months later and she's ready to close the door on him. Luckily for the reader, she gives him a second chance.
I have to admit that it took me a little time to actually get into this story. The hook was taking a little long to get there but once it did, I was into the story. Not only is the banter between the two MCs well done, the characters have depth to them when they're on their own. You're rooting for them to be together as well as succeed in what they're trying to accomplish. The supporting characters bring more to the table and build the story up, making you want to read more about them as well. The story is also heavier at times, dealing with sexual harassment/abuse and CTE but I think both are handled very well. This is not your average superficial romcom (honestly, the cover is cute but I don't think it's the best choice for this story). It actually makes you think about the choices people make. It's a good, solid book from Alisha Rai.

I could not get through this book. The writing felt very clunky and amateurish, like it was trying too hard to be cool and failing miserably. I had no idea going in that Alisha Rai was already an established author, I would have bet money that she was a first-time author getting her feet wet, based on the writing quality--or lack of it. Was excited to see multicultural characters, too bad the writing sells them short in personality. Will our library buy this? Yes, because of the likely demand for the cute premise and that means check outs for us. Will I actively recommend it to readers? No.

Alisha Rai is a one click buy for me every time she comes out with a book and boy did she not disappoint this time! I loved every moment of this book. The tender approach to mental health, workplace harassment and CTE was refreshing. Rhiannon was one of my favorite side characters from Forbidden Hearts and I loved how she brought this story to life. Their chemistry was so perfect and I couldn't wait to get to the end to get to their HEA!

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... !!!!

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.