Alisha Rai

Alisha Rai is an American author of contemporary, erotic, and paranormal romance novels. She advocates for greater diversity in the romance genre. She began publishing her work in 2009, focusing on e-publishing. She shopped her books to traditional publishers, but she was repeatedly told that romances with non-white characters would not sell. Over her career, she expanded into different publishing methods. Her Forbidden Hearts series and her novel The Right Swipe are published through Avon Romance. Rai's book Serving Pleasure, was the first self-published book to appear on The Washington Post'''s annual list of best books of the year.

Rai has been on the receiving end of online harassment.

Her first young adult novel, While You Were Dreaming, was published in 2023.

Themes Rai's book The Right Swipe explores aspects of modern dating, specifically online dating and dating apps, along with the contentious research into the effect of concussions on athletes. The book includes feminist and intersectional elements, with the heroine being a woman of color who is a CEO of a Silicon Valley company that employs a work force made up largely of women.

Rai began creating stories at the age of 13. 2017 - Hate to Want You - Entertainment Weekly's 10 best romance novels of 2017 2019 - The Right Swipe'' - New York Public Library Best Books for Adults 2019