Alisha Rai > Quotes

“Every time you hurt someone, you break off a little piece of them. Not only do they have to live with that broken piece, then the next person who comes along has to figure out a way to spackle that spot. Your behavior has ripple effects.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“Society tells women that they have to be responsible for the emotional health of their relationships and then tells them they're weak for feeling emotions. What kind of message is that?”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“You can do this, and if you can't do it today, you'll do it tomorrow. You are not a failure.”
― Alisha Rai, Wrong to Need You

“Let’s not get started on their uniforms. Superman’s stretchy spandex has nothing on Batman’s sculpted pecs.”
He glared at her. “You cannot bring fashion sense into a superhero discussion!”
“If they wear it, it’s fair game.” She folded her arms on the table.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“It's not a weakness to take care of yourself. Asking for and taking what you need to function should never be considered a weakness.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“No one's universally liked. Beyoncé isn't universally liked. Has that stopped her? No. Be like Beyoncé.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“Principles don't have borders.”
― Alisha Rai, Wrong to Need You

“You can be strong and have moments of incredible despair, when everything feels like it’s collapsing in on you, and yes, when you feel like you want to die. Those moments are not weaknesses. They are simply moments. And they are not you.” Maile”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“Trust is the only reason the world ever functions as it should. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, and I know that uncertainty is scary, but that's the only way you figure out who your closet people are.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“The world was unkind to women. It was devastating to women who didn’t believe in themselves.”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“Sometimes we think a person doesn’t need to hear something because it’s obvious, because they know what’s in our hearts. But that’s not how the world works. We have to say the things.”
― Alisha Rai, Girl Gone Viral

“Nobody spoke enough about how much bodies could be starved for platonic affection. She knew she gave off strong Do Not Touch vibes, but she needed occasional hugs too.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m getting down on my knees.”
His head butted against her stomach. Her muscles clenched, shocked at the touch, even through the layer of cotton.
“I’ve never begged a woman for anything before. Enjoy this.”
She tried to think of something sufficiently sassy. “Enjoy it? I can’t even see it.”
“It’s symbolic.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“In the deepest, darkest depths of her heart where she kept all her dreams locked up in a pink journal decorated with ponies and unicorns, she’d fantasized about declaring her love for Sasha Karimi for two years. In those scenarios, he generally fell to his knees in thrilled delight before he reciprocated the feelings and then they got married and had lots of babies and maybe a pet iguana and lived happily ever after.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“I mean you can be with the person, but still be yourself. You can be happy to be yourself. It’s very…nice,” her grandmother had said quietly. “When you’re with a person who is content to let you be. It’s the most peaceful thing in the world.”
― Alisha Rai, A Gentleman in the Street

“While he’d been tentatively considering a possible romantic relationship with her, she’d fallen in love with him.
He could barely speak. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Mason snorted. “Yeah, that’s right. Do you like Maira, check yes or no. Come on. You’re almost thirty, you’re old enough to go after what you want.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“I think it takes a certain kind of strength, when the world is hateful or mean, to come out on the other side with your heart and your kindness and your humanity intact.”
― Alisha Rai, Girl Gone Viral

“You can be strong and have moments of incredible despair. Those moments are not weaknesses. They are simply moments. And they are not you.”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“She’d rather make love to him then watch any movie. “We don’t have to. Did I do something wrong?”
That made him turn to her. “Of course not.”
“Oh. Then don’t you want to…” She trailed off, a blush rising.
“Are you kidding me? More than anything.” His expression softened. “But, Maira, I don’t want to rush you, make you do something you aren’t ready for.”
She stared at him. He was so pretty. Was he also stone-cold stupid?
How could he think she wasn’t ready for it? She’d already thrown herself at him. Twice now, if he counted the kitchen disaster.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“I have glitter in my hair.”

Tina grimaced. “Uh, yes. Would you like me to...”

“Help me remove the herpes of crafts from my hair?”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“It actually made it really hard for me to learn to interact with other people, having sisters. Because you can't really go from 'I'm going to kill you' to 'want some ice cream?' with anyone else in your life.”
― Alisha Rai, First Comes Like

“Had she wondered where the pain portion of that pleasure-and-pain cycle was? Oh. It was right here.”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“Find me the empty soul who doesn’t get emotional over While You Were Sleeping.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“I couldn’t let you be angry, or at the very least, I couldn’t let you show that anger. Because then you would be that angry Black girl, and everyone would dismiss your intelligence or worse, suppress everything that makes you you.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“It was so much easier to write people off. Much harder to navigate the gray areas of interpersonal relationships.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“Can you…make it different this time?”
“Different, how?”
“Different position, different…something. I want to learn it all.”
Whoa, pressure. When Maira’s genius brain wanted to learn something, she really applied herself.”
― Alisha Rai, Veiled Seduction

“It’s not a weakness to take care of yourself. Asking for and taking what you need to function should never be considered a weakness.”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe

“Because it was far easier to be kind to other people than it was to be kind to herself. I deserve compassion. Ugh. She did. She really did. Tani”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“Nothing's over 'til you quit.”
― Alisha Rai, Hate to Want You

“That’s fine. We do only the things we’re capable of doing”
― Alisha Rai, The Right Swipe