I do not even know where to begin with this! I never thought I would love a book by Casey McQuiston more than I loved One Last Stop, but they have done it again. The Pairing is smart, sexy and indulgent.

The Pairing tells us the story of Kit and Theo lifelong best friends and former lovers. While on a transatlantic flight to the food and wine tour of their fantasy the two have a brutal break up and exit each other's lives forever.  Time apart has done the two of them very well, Theo has found a calling of bartending and studying to become a sommelier with the occasional lover here and there. While Kit who has never returned to America becomes the God of sexual conquers in his pastry school in Paris and eventually the head pastry chef at one of the finest dining establishments in Paris. Sure, they still think of what they had with the other on occasion, but it's also the furthest thing in either of their minds as they discover themselves. 

When they both independently decide to use the tour voucher, they received that was good for 48 months after the tour they missed they never thought the other would have the same idea. 

So here they are, ex lovers, ex friends, essentially no one to the other trapped on the same tour for 3 weeks. In an effort to hide all emotions the two enter into a friendly competition of who can better sleep their way around Europe, but somethings you crave more than once....

This story blew me away. The sexuality this book oozes from every aspect is done in such a brilliant way! My jaw was on the floor throughout a lot of this book. The sensuality of cooking and art and cocktails mixed with the history of your old best friend, there is something so romantic about the idea. I was so absorbed into this world; it was all I could think about. I wanted to get on a mountain top and scream at everyone to read this book.

While its main themes are heavy into the culinary world, art history and classic literature it also spans the theme of what sexuality and gender are. McQuiston is no stranger to these themes as their YA debut I Kissed Shara Wheeler explored the same themes, The Pairing does so in a more concrete way. These are two characters so aware of who they are physically and emotionally, and they are not afraid to show it or explore it. This book is full of gorgeous prose and passion, and I could not get enough of it!

I recommend this read to anyone who especially misses Anthony Bourdain, lovers of White Lotus, foodies, wine lovers, lost and exploring queers, anyone experiencing gender dysphoria and lovers of smut!

The Pairing is out August 6th, preorder your copy now! I sure did!

Thank you Netgalley and McMillian Audio for this digital arc!

The white guy dies first tells 13 horror stories from 13 authors of color who all survive. My favorite thing about these stories is the amount of ancient folklore and horrors that were involved. Yes they are blended with some modern monsters, but they all end the same…the white guy dies first. 

Of all 13 stories my favorites are:

The Golden Dragon in which a group of bored rich white kids try to manipulate and assault a Korean American family.  It’s a revenge tale with a ghostly twist and it was done so intelligently and with such appropriate humor!

Best Served Cold is a tale of an indigenous family trying to overcome their generational trauma through healing. In their healing practice they lean into indigenous culture that they’ve had taken away from them or that their parents want no part of. It’s an indigenous creature story that will keep you craving more in the most horrific way. 

Everythings Coming Up Roses is the journal entries of a sweet girl and all her happy thoughts about her garden. The format of this one makes it a quick and powerful read. It’s predictable, but the character will keep you there because she’s just so damn likable. 

And my final favorite, Wasps! 

Wasps tells the story of what a family will do to end the gentrification of their neighborhood and keep the house that’s been in their family for years. It’s a very good for her story with a very likable cast. 

I enjoyed mostly all of this collection of stories. They’re gorey, detailed and hold nothing back which a great horror story should do. I recommend this collection of stories to anyone who loves cultural folklore, the movie fresh, revenge tales gone right and female killers. 

Thank you to netgalley and Tor Publishing for the arc! The white guy dies first comes out July 16!

I like this so much better the second time around!

I have tried for hours to get myself into these stories and I simply cannot. I understand what Lima was trying to say in telling these stories, do I think it was the right choices? No. Did some of it work for me? Yes. 

I liked Rapture and Ghost Story and Antropófaga and really loved the alt chapters. 

I loved the depiction of the devil in this, in one of the book blurbs this collection is suggested to lovers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and I can see why. The devil is sleek and mysterious not the evil deviant the writer thinks he’d be. 

But other than that it was all very lackluster to me. I do also feel this is marketed as the wrong genre? It didn’t feel very horror to me, but I understand why it could be viewed as such?

Thank you netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this arc. 

The night guest is a fast paced Icelandic horror novella that will have you on the edge of your seat. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. 

It has a lot of great commentary on the female experience especially in medical and mental health spaces. The writing is quick and punchy yet wildly impactful. Most chapters are only a sentence or two long, but it works in this format. It’s put together so strongly you won’t even realize you’re reaching the end until you get to the final page!

I recommend this read to anyone who loves female rage, dark thrillers and mysteries. 

This arc was provided by Netgalley thank you!

Thank you Simon and Shuster for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Unfortunately I did not make it past 25% of this book. I could not get into it. I was super interested in the plot, but felt no connection to the story at all. It felt so dry and very stream of conscious which I can normally do, but I think the lack of depth of thinking made this one difficult for me to follow further.