Where to Start with Alisha Rai
Alisha Rai is a trailblazing figure in contemporary romance, celebrated for her high-heat, emotionally resonant stories that place diverse and intersectional characters at the center of the narrative. If you are new to her catalog, the best place to begin depends on your favorite romance subgenres:
- For Modern Tech-Savvy Romance: Start with The Right Swipe. As the first book in the acclaimed Modern Love series, it focuses on tech industry professionals, modern dating apps, and self-discovery. It is a perfect introduction to Rai's contemporary voice.
- For High-Drama Family Sagas: Start with Hate to Want You. This book kicks off the Forbidden Hearts trilogy, delivering a classic second-chance romance wrapped in small-town gossip and a decades-old family feud.
- For Action-Packed Caper Suspense: Start with Partners in Crime. This marks the beginning of the Daughters of Crime series, blending romantic tension with a fast-paced Las Vegas escape and criminal family secrets.
- For Young Adult Readers: Start with While You Were Dreaming, a charming YA standalone romance centered on mistaken identity and teen crush dynamics.
The Modern Love Series
The Modern Love series focuses on high-powered professional women navigating dating, modern careers, and lasting friendships in the digital age. While these books are companion novels that can technically be read as standalones, reading them in order is highly recommended to follow the overarching character arcs and friend groups without spoilers.
- The Right Swipe (2019) – Follows dating app CEO Rhiannon Hunter and former football player Samson Lima.
- Girl Gone Viral (2020) – Centers on Katrina King, a reclusive woman whose life is upended by a viral tweet, and her bodyguard, Jas Singh.
- First Comes Like (2021) – Focuses on beauty influencer Jia Ahmed and soap opera star Dev Dixit.
The Forbidden Hearts Series
This series features a deeply emotional, soap-opera-esque narrative centering on a tragic accident that shattered the Kane and Chandler families. Because of the heavy emphasis on the ongoing family drama and the resolution of the central mystery, these books should be read in strict publication order.
- Hate to Want You (2017) – The second-chance story of Nicholas Chandler and Livvy Kane, who have a secret annual rendezvous.
- Wrong to Need You (2017) – Follows Jackson Kane and his late brother's widow, Sadia Ahmed, as they rebuild their lives.
- Hurts to Love You (2018) – The romance between quiet heiress Eve Chandler and Gabe Hunter, Livvy's protective half-brother.
Daughters of Crime / Romantic Suspense
Rai's romantic suspense titles merge lighthearted capers with deeper family intrigue, centering on women with ties to criminal enterprises. They feature a great mix of high-stakes danger and romantic tension.
- Partners in Crime (2022) – Mira Chaudhary and Naveen Desai are forced to go on the run together after a kidnapping attempt.
- Enemies to Lovers (2026) – The second major entry in this romantic suspense saga.
The Campbell Siblings Series
This series focuses on the complex, highly passionate romances of the Campbell family. It features high heat levels and strong-willed protagonists.
- A Gentleman in the Street (2014) – Centers on self-made billionaire Akira Mori and Jacob Campbell, the guardian of his younger siblings.
- The Right Man for the Job (2015) – Focuses on Connor Campbell's journey to finding love.
Novellas and Early Indie Releases
Before transitioning to traditional publishing, Alisha Rai built a dedicated following through self-published novellas and indie series. These earlier works are generally much higher in steam and feature creative, boundary-pushing premises:
The Pleasure Series
Focuses on the Malik sisters and their restaurant family. The second book, Serving Pleasure, made history in 2015 as the first self-published novel to be named to The Washington Post's Best Books of the Year list.
- Glutton for Pleasure (2009) – Devi Malik's story, featuring a high-heat ménage relationship.
- Serving Pleasure (2015) – Follows Rana Malik and her relationship with her artist neighbor, Micah Hale.
Karimi Siblings / Veiled Series
An early series following the Karimi family. These stories have been re-released under alternate titles over the years.
- Veiled Desire / Falling for Him (2009) – Follows Leyla Karimi and Dr. Mason Barrett.
- Veiled Seduction / Waiting for Her (2010) – Follows Sasha Karimi and Dr. Maira Khan.
Bedroom Games Series
A fast-paced, high-heat trilogy following Wyatt Caine and Tatiana Belikov in Las Vegas, often sold together as a single complete edition.
- Play with Me (2013)
- Risk and Reward (2013)
- Bet on Me (2014)
The Fantasy Series
A collaborative duology co-written with author C. Prestige, exploring secret identities and political family dynamics.
- Be My Fantasy (2016)
- Stay My Fantasy (2016)
Early Paranormal Series
Rai also dabbled in paranormal romance early in her writing career, creating small-scale supernatural worlds.
- Never Have I Ever (2010) – Part of the werewolf-focused Reynolds Pack series.
- Night Whispers (2012) – Part of the ShadowLands series.
Standalone Novels
Rai has published a few standalone books outside of her core contemporary and romantic suspense series:
- Cabin Fever (2009) – An early erotic romance standalone.
- While You Were Dreaming (2023) – Her young adult debut, offering a diverse, modern take on the classic mistaken-identity romance trope.
What to Know Before You Start
When diving into Alisha Rai's library, keep a few things in mind. Her early indie releases (such as Glutton for Pleasure and the Bedroom Games series) feature exceptionally high steam levels, erotica elements, and non-traditional relationship dynamics. Her traditionally published books with Avon (the Modern Love and Forbidden Hearts series) maintain a healthy amount of steam but place a stronger focus on emotional realism, intersectional representation, and contemporary social themes. Rai frequently explores serious topics, including mental health, depression, family trauma, and consent, ensuring her characters feel grounded in the real world.