The Right Swipe

by Alisha Rai

Overview

“The Right Swipe is everything you want in a Summer read: fun, clever, and so, so sexy.” — Popsugar

Alisha Rai returns with a sizzling new novel, in which two rival dating app creators find themselves at odds in the boardroom but in sync in the bedroom.

Rhiannon Hunter may have revolutionized romance in the digital world, but in real life she only swipes right on her career—and the occasional hookup. The cynical dating app creator controls her love life with a few key rules: 

- Nude pics are by invitation only 

- If someone stands you up, block them with extreme prejudice 

- Protect your heart 

Only there aren't any rules to govern her attraction to her newest match, former pro-football player Samson Lima. The sexy and seemingly sweet hunk woos her one magical night... and disappears. 

Rhi thought she'd buried her hurt over Samson ghosting her, until he suddenly surfaces months later, still big, still beautiful—and in league with a business rival. He says he won't fumble their second chance, but she's wary. A temporary physical partnership is one thing, but a merger of hearts? Surely that’s too high a risk…

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062877864
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/06/2019
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	377,835
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Alisha Rai pens award-winning contemporary romances and her novels have been named Best Books of the Year by Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Kirkus, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. When she’s not writing, Alisha is traveling or tweeting. To find out more about her books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit www.alisharai.com.  

Editorial Reviews

08/09/2019

Rhiannon Hunter faces a unique challenge as the creator of Crush, one of the most popular dating apps on the market: she was ghosted while using her own app. And her date is now representing one of her competitors, Matchmaker. As for Samson Lima, a retired pro football star, he's representing Matchmaker as a favor to his aunt, one of the company's owners. He's never used a dating app except for one time when he met an amazing woman, but a family emergency kept him from their next date, and she blocked him. When the two meet again, Rhi is trying to buy Matchmaker and her trust issues keep Samson at arm's length. But Samson is willing to use any play in his book for a second chance. VERDICT Best-selling author Rai ("Forbidden Hearts" series) taps into the modern dating-app scene with hilarious, horrifying, and relatable results, blending contemporary social issues, such as sexual harassment in the workplace and CTE brain injuries in sports, into the story. For all libraries.—Melanie C. Duncan, Washington Memorial Lib., Macon, GA

Library Journal

The plot…feels propulsive and complex…Much rests on [Rhiannon and Samson's] memories of the strong chemistry they discovered in their first night together. At first this feels like a bit of an emotional shortcut, but the real depth—and much of the book's joy—comes from the natural growth of their mutual trust and connection. It's especially intriguing to watch Rhiannon open up. She's prickly and often emotionally closed-off, but vulnerable, too. She slips between stereotypes, always more complicated than she seems.

The New York Times Book Review - Jaime Green

★ 05/20/2019

Rising romance star Rai (Hurts to Love You) brings a perfect relationship to life in this luscious contemporary series launch. Rhiannon “Rhi” Hunter is a successful dating app entrepreneur hell-bent on succeeding, though workaholism is detrimental to her dating life. Samson Lima is a former football star who’s drawn into the dating business by his aunt, who’s shy and needs her company, a rival to Rhi’s, to have a new public face. Rhi and Samson’s paths cross at a conference, and they’re both shocked to recognize each other: they hooked up several months prior, and Samson ghosted on the promised second date. As the onetime lovers are drawn into closer proximity, their chemistry sizzles on the page. Both Rhi and Samson are learning how to enjoy life and balance each other beautifully as they face realistic conflicts and tantalizing romance and sensuality. This winning novel will enhance any romance reader’s collection. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Alisha Rai delivers compelling emotion, fascinating characters and edgy romance in a razor-sharp, thoroughly modern voice that readers will adore. I sure did!” — Jayne Ann Krentz

“I absolutely loved it… volcano-hot sex and cackle-worthy dialogue…I highly recommend this!” — Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine

“Rising romance star Rai brings a perfect relationship to life in this luscious contemporary series launch... As the onetime lovers are drawn into closer proximity, their chemistry sizzles on the page. Both Rhi and Samson are learning how to enjoy life and balance each other beautifully as they face realistic conflicts and tantalizing romance and sensuality. This winning novel will enhance any romance reader’s collection.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The Right Swipe is everything you want in a Summer read: fun, clever, and so, so sexy.” — Popsugar

“Top-notch romance.” — New York Times Book Review on The Right Swipe

“Rai turns up the heat and finds the funny in modern dating, from almost-dick pics to glitter grams and ghosting. But it’s not all steamy, as the characters have issues with trust and love, making them vulnerable both to each other and the public. Taking the dating app business to another level, with a dose of girl power, sexual politics, and one eccentric red-headed aunt, Rai scores a touchdown.” — Booklist

“Rai addresses heavy issues without sacrificing passionate sensuality or emotional connection... a high-tech romance that proves respect is the most potent love drug. — Kirkus Reviews

“Alisha Rai — hands down, one of our favorite authors in the genre — manages to do something fresh every time she lowers her hands to a keyboard, and The Right Swipe is our favorite yet. It’s smart, empowering, juicy, and exploding with voice. We love getting lost in her books and this one is the perfect pick for these warm and indulgent days of summer! We absolutely adored this book!” — Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners

“[T]he perfect combination of sweet, sexy, and laugh-out-loud funny.” — Bustle (Bustle Book Club Pick - August)

“One of the very brightest romance writers working right now develops sizzling romantic tension...” — Entertainment Weekly

“If your “Tinder thumb“ has gone numb, or you feel the familiar creep of romantic insecurity, certain you’ll die alone, Alisha Rai will make you believe in love again... Brilliantly self-aware—seriously, I cringed seeing some of my own dating faux pas on the page—and filled with a raw tenderness that’ll have you reaching for the nearest box of wine, The Right Swipe is an unflinching look at what it takes to find love in the 21st century.” — NPR.org

“Best-selling author Rai taps into the modern dating-app scene with hilarious, horrifying, and relatable results, blending contemporary social issues, such as sexual harassment in the workplace and CTE brain injuries in sports, into the story.” — Library Journal (starred review)

"The Right Swipe is a fun, hilarious and touching modern romance...  Anyone who has been in the dating world in the past 10 years will find something to relate to in this book, and will also fall hard for this love story." — Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Royal Holiday

"This hilarious, heartfelt new novel from Alisha Rai is the perfect way to add a little warmth to a chilly fall evening." — Today.com 

“An ideal gift for the reader who loves comedy and emotional complexity, and who knows all too well the unique challenges of dating in the modern era.” — Washington Post (Best Romances of 2019)

"This steamy book is downright raunchy at times... the story is strongest when delving into communication and vulnerability..." — Library Journal

From the Publisher

Rai turns up the heat and finds the funny in modern dating, from almost-dick pics to glitter grams and ghosting. But it’s not all steamy, as the characters have issues with trust and love, making them vulnerable both to each other and the public. Taking the dating app business to another level, with a dose of girl power, sexual politics, and one eccentric red-headed aunt, Rai scores a touchdown.

Booklist

Alisha Rai — hands down, one of our favorite authors in the genre — manages to do something fresh every time she lowers her hands to a keyboard, and The Right Swipe is our favorite yet. It’s smart, empowering, juicy, and exploding with voice. We love getting lost in her books and this one is the perfect pick for these warm and indulgent days of summer! We absolutely adored this book!

Christina Lauren

One of the very brightest romance writers working right now develops sizzling romantic tension...

Entertainment Weekly

The Right Swipe is everything you want in a Summer read: fun, clever, and so, so sexy.

Popsugar

[T]he perfect combination of sweet, sexy, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Bustle (Bustle Book Club Pick - August)

Top-notch romance.

New York Times Book Review on The Right Swipe

Alisha Rai delivers compelling emotion, fascinating characters and edgy romance in a razor-sharp, thoroughly modern voice that readers will adore. I sure did!

Jayne Ann Krentz

I absolutely loved it… volcano-hot sex and cackle-worthy dialogue…I highly recommend this!

Sally Thorne

Rai turns up the heat and finds the funny in modern dating, from almost-dick pics to glitter grams and ghosting. But it’s not all steamy, as the characters have issues with trust and love, making them vulnerable both to each other and the public. Taking the dating app business to another level, with a dose of girl power, sexual politics, and one eccentric red-headed aunt, Rai scores a touchdown.

Booklist

"This hilarious, heartfelt new novel from Alisha Rai is the perfect way to add a little warmth to a chilly fall evening."

Today.com 

If your “Tinder thumb“ has gone numb, or you feel the familiar creep of romantic insecurity, certain you’ll die alone, Alisha Rai will make you believe in love again... Brilliantly self-aware—seriously, I cringed seeing some of my own dating faux pas on the page—and filled with a raw tenderness that’ll have you reaching for the nearest box of wine, The Right Swipe is an unflinching look at what it takes to find love in the 21st century.

NPR.org

An ideal gift for the reader who loves comedy and emotional complexity, and who knows all too well the unique challenges of dating in the modern era.

Washington Post (Best Romances of 2019)

"The Right Swipe is a fun, hilarious and touching modern romance...  Anyone who has been in the dating world in the past 10 years will find something to relate to in this book, and will also fall hard for this love story."

Jasmine Guillory

2019-05-27
First in a very contemporary new series by a writer known for her expansive view of what a romance novel can do.

Rhiannon Hunter is an ambitious entrepreneur, having created a successful dating app that gives women safety and control, but she wants more. If she can acquire Matchmaker, a more traditional dating service, she can exponentially grow her business and reach. But then Matchmaker announces its new spokesman: former pro football player Samson Lima. Samson was a dating-app hookup who left Rhiannon wanting more, but he ghosted her after one night. Samson never meant to hurt Rhiannon, and he's determined to win this "interesting, demanding, adorable puzzle of a woman" over. A patient, loving, and caring man, Samson finds that his interest in Rhiannon competes for emotional bandwidth with the problem of living down his legacy as a traitor to his sport. To protest the league's careless handling of traumatic brain injuries, which deeply impacted his friends and family, Samson walked off the field in the middle of a game. At loose ends, he agrees to co-host an ad campaign with Rhiannon and learns just how much harassment and abuse she's had to endure as a black woman coming up in the tech startup world before #MeToo. Rai (Hurts To Love You, 2018, etc.) addresses heavy issues without sacrificing passionate sensuality or emotional connection. Although Rhiannon seems more guarded, Samson is just as fearful of vulnerability, and their path to lasting love is a slow but satisfying one.

An ex-football player woos an entrepreneur in a high-tech romance that proves respect is the most potent love drug.

Kirkus Reviews