My The Pairing: Special 1st Edition Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Pairing: Special 1st Edition by Casey McQuiston is a wild, wine-soaked second chance romance about Theo and Kit. They’ve been best friends, lovers, and now, after a disastrous breakup on a flight to what was supposed to be their dream European food and wine tour, they're estranged exes. Four years later, both decide to finally use their expired tour voucher—thinking they’re going solo. They end up face to face on the same three-week luxury tour bus, winding through France, Spain, and Italy, surrounded by endless food and drink. What starts as an awkward reunion quickly turns competitive when they make a bet: see who can hook up with the most people (including their hot Italian tour guide). Both Theo and Kit are trying to prove they’ve moved on, but every meal, every city, and every drunken confession makes it harder to keep their true feelings buried. The book moves between Theo’s and Kit’s points of view as both grapple with their past together and their uncertain future, all set against decadent European backdrops and a cast of found-family travelers.
Why I Love This Book
I love how lush and sensual The Pairing feels—every chapter is packed with vivid descriptions of food, wine, and the cities swooping past the tour bus window. I felt like I was on vacation with Theo and Kit: the jet lag, the hangovers, the craving for another espresso or another messy kiss that probably shouldn’t happen. The chemistry between them is undeniable: sharp, messy, sometimes bratty, and every bit as angsty as I want from exes who still ache for each other. The competition is hilarious and sexy, but it also hurts in the best way—there’s so much history and longing beneath every snarky joke, every jealous glance. I appreciate the queer representation and seeing bisexual, nonbinary characters living their truths without apology. The writing is funny and clever, and I kept laughing at the banter while also getting hit by moments of real heartache. The book isn’t perfect—sometimes Theo or Kit frustrate me, and their avoidant moments ring painfully true. But that’s exactly why their reunion feels earned. The European tour, with all its food, found family, and unexpected comfort, is a dreamy escape, and I closed the book feeling both wrung out and sated.
Who Will Like This Book
If you want second chance romance packed with snark, sexual tension, and reckless competitiveness, you’ll have fun here. This book is for people who love food, travel, queer love stories, and watching characters mess up and make up—sometimes more than once. If you enjoy dual POVs, complicated exes, and lots of pining, this will scratch the itch. The hookups (with each other and others) are frequent and spicy, the humor is sharp, and the setting is pure wanderlust. If messiness, jealousy, or exhibitionist hijinks make you squirm, or if you hate main characters who avoid direct communication, you might get frustrated. There is explicit sex, talk of casual relationships, and plenty of drinking and debauchery—this is an open-door, adults-only, queer rom-com.
⚠️ Trigger warning: The book contains explicit sex scenes, discussions of casual hookups, substance use, references to homophobia (mostly in the past), and some frank talk about failed relationships and mental health struggles. There’s a big focus on bi and nonbinary identity, and queer found family vibes throughout.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, queer romance, bisexual rep, nonbinary rep, second chance romance, exes to lovers, forced proximity, travel romance, food and wine, Europe, found family, enemies to lovers, dual pov, open-door romance, explicit, competitive romance, humor, exhibitionism, friends to lovers, messy characters, series, reunion, wanderlust, slow burn, HEA, indie romance, kindle unlimited
Steam Level
The spice is frequent and seriously hot—high-heat, open door, with a playfully competitive edge and some exhibitionist vibes. No fade to black here; the steam is every bit as detailed as the food and wine descriptions. If you want a romance that’s messy and explicit, this will deliver.
