Theo and Kit were best friends in childhood, roommates in early adulthood, and romantic partners for two years. They haven’t spoken since they were blown apart by one terrible argument en route to Paris for a trip of a lifetime. Now, almost four years later, they each decide to redeem their re-scheduled trip voucher before the expiration date, not knowing that the other person had the same idea. First, they decide to stick it out and peacefully coexist as they travel together. Later, they set up a “friendly” wager for who can accumulate the most hookups along the way. As they get caught up in the romance of the tour - the food, the wine, the beautiful scenery, and the people - Kit and Theo begin to realize that this trip will bring more than either of them had bargained for.

I had fun with this story. Vacation romance tropes, if handled poorly, can come across as shallow to the reader. The Pairing sidesteps this issue by giving the main characters a robust shared backstory. Theo and Kit’s experiences in the present are deftly interwoven with memories spanning decades of friendship. I wanted to be sitting alongside Theo and Kit, not just for the escapist aspect of a three-week European food and wine tour, but because they were interesting yet flawed characters, each with a chance to tell their side of the story. I’ve written before about how dual-perspective romance novels can struggle with “hiding the mystery”. McQuiston handles this by giving each character 50% of the novel; Theo takes the first half, Kit covers the second. I liked how McQuiston handled the transition from Theo to Kit, but selfishly, I found myself missing Theo in the later chapters; I identified with them more, and it felt like they had more space for growth over the course of the novel.

What kept this from being a 5-star book for me was that I felt it took the escapist aspect a bit too far at times. This international trip likely cost thousands of dollars, given all the high-end food and wine the characters were drinking and the 15 separate stops across four countries. I needed to “turn off my brain” in order to believe Theo and Kit were able to afford such a tour in their early twenties, at the start of their careers. Also, I felt that it was unnecessary for every non-coupled side character to have a conquest of sorts during the novel. While these ancillary characters didn’t *need* to have their own arcs, I would have liked McQuiston to include more room for non-romantic growth in these side characters, for variety’s sake.

I read this book through both ebook and audiobook formats. Since the story takes place during an international tour, there were a lot of accents the narrators had to contend with, basically from the beginning: American English, London English, Scandinavian, Irish, Italian, French, and Australian, all within the first few chapters. The narrators seem to take it in stride. Emma Galvin’s tomboyish, gruff voice makes Theo instantly endearing. I rooted for them from the start. As a result, Max Meyers had big boots to fill, and he did reasonably well. His lighter, more musical timbre lends credibility to the sensitivity of Kit’s character. I think the book would be equally enjoyable in print or in audio.

This novel was advertised as “hot bisexual summer”, and I figured I was in for some surface-level, spicy fun. I’m pleased to say this book goes beyond that. In The Pairing, the connection between the two main characters felt more genuine than many of the hetero romance novels I’ve read recently, and that’s no bad thing. I think any fan of contemporary fiction wanting to dip a toe into queer romance will find The Pairing a great entry point to the genre. This was my first foray into Casey McQuiston’s work, but it won’t be my last.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Casey McQuiston, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the e-ARCs in exchange for an honest review.**

This was a great summer read. It made me want to travel. I thought the characters and I were besties. That’s how good Casey McQuiston writes character's. As always super diverse writing!

I just… want to believe mcquiston is more than a one hit wonder but haven’t seen any evidence of it yet, I loved her first book SO much and the rest have been meh, at best. This one included, perhaps I won’t bother with the next one,

I have never felt so seen in my life. Theo’s character spoke to so many aspects of my own queerness that I was weeping for nearly half the book. Casey McQuiston has a mastery of storytelling and relatability that is really unexpected. I cannot believe this book exists it’s SO GOOD.

I really wanted to love this book. I loved “One Last Stop” but I couldn’t get into this one as much. I feel like a lot of the back and forth could have been solved if they would have just spoken honestly with each other. It had potential, but I found the characters too bland and slightly annoying. Loved the representation though!

This book was so fun and sexy and had me blushing quite a few times! I loved the emphasis on food and drink and the European vibes were on point! It had the perfect amount of spice as well!

In "The Pairing," Casey McQuiston delivers yet another sparkling and heartfelt tale that explores love and connection in the most delightful way. Set against the backdrop of a quirky culinary competition, the story follows two rival chefs whose undeniable chemistry simmers just beneath the surface. McQuiston's trademark wit and charm shine through as the characters navigate their competitive spirits and personal insecurities, resulting in a delicious blend of humor and romance. The culinary descriptions are mouthwatering, and the witty banter between the leads keeps the pages turning. With its rich emotional depth and an irresistible cast of characters, "The Pairing" is a feast for the heart that left me savoring every moment long after the last page!

I enjoyed this book but I kept finding myself looking for more! Casey McQuiston's previous books have been so incredible that I just came into this book with really high expectations that just ended up not being met. The main characters and the "competition" that occurs in the beginning of the book just felt super juvenile to me. It was hard to believe these characters were adults. I did enjoy the European setting, especially with all the city hopping. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to their childhoods and seeing how their relationship changed, but also stayed the same. I really appreciated the nonbinary representation in this book, it is very refreshing for a popular contemporary romance novel! Overall, I enjoyed this book felt that it was lacking in certain areas.

i love everything CMQ writes! thank you for the opportunity to read this book, sorry it took me so long to update!

The Pairing offers an intriguing premise which initially really interested me! The story unfolds in a captivating way, and the exploration of love was one unlike any ive read before.

However, I found myself wishing I could connect more deeply with the characters. While their journeys are compelling, there were moments where I felt a bit distant from their emotions and struggles. I wanted to feel their experiences more vividly and understand their motivations on a deeper level.

Despite this, the overall concept is refreshing, and I appreciated the way it challenges traditional notions of love. If you enjoy inventive narratives and thought-provoking themes, The Pairing is definitely worth a read!

As a big red white and royal blue fan this book was the perfect cure for my RWRB hangover, and I loved every second of it. Loved the banter and bisexual representation

If The Pairing has a mission statement, I imagine it would be “SLUTS FOREVER!” tagged in neon on the biggest yacht in Monaco. Casey McQuiston’s fourth romance is a novel of excess: a whirlwind of long, sticky summer days, dirty jokes, and hand-painted frescos. It’s the author’s most ambitious work yet and certainly their spiciest (genre-speak for most sexually explicit). At its core, romance is pleasure-reading. The Pairing is a paean to the genre, a celebration of pleasure in its many forms––art, wine, food, sex––and a portrayal of queer intimacy that expands the possibilities for romance as a genre.

Honestly, I think I should've DNFed it.
I also think it should've been shorter.
The best part was the end, but it took too long to get there.
I have learned that no matter how much I try to convince myself, CMQ is not an auto-buy author for me. 🙃

Essentially 300+ pages of a nepo baby circle jerk. Main characters need to be unique and sympathetic, not copy-pasted rich kids. The main couple spent more time sleeping with other people and the third act didn't rectify that.

not my cup of tea unfortunately.. .the second half dragged and i didn't like the mcs much. i felt that a lot of their development happened off screen, which is something i really dislike in my romances. also, as a european who's been lucky enough to visit a lot of the places mentioned in this book, a lot of things were very... stereotyped.

thank you netgalley and st. martin's press for the arc.

Just a little too slow paced for me, someone who likes character driven novels and more cozy reading for vibes and not plot would probably enjoy it more.

This book is not for everyone. It’s slutty and smutty and shallow - much more shallow than McQuiston’s other books. It’s an adventure through Europe that’s kind of fantastical with all the sexual adventures interwoven as well.

I thought I liked Theo but eventually grew tired of their “woe is me, I’m a nepo baby” routine. I was still rooting for them though. Kit was adorable and sweet and I appreciated his character more.

Maybe my least favorite trope is the whole “lack of communication” thing, so I was irked by that.

But the thing is… I really enjoyed this book. I read it quickly and wanted to be reading it whenever I wasn’t. So five stars. I love Casey McQuiston books. Her characters are always witty and interesting and the tension is always high. I know everyone won’t like this book, but I sure did.

I love Casey McQuiston, but this this book was not for me. I tried, but just couldn't finish it. It just didn't have the same feel as her other books.

As always...Caset McQuiston has a takent of writing stories because this story was really great. It pulled you in while adding some comedy pieces to it. Not only does it have romance in the story but it also has culture and food involved. I feel like she has this theme of always mixing in romance and laughter which is always refreshing. If you ever need a quick read then this would be perfect!

Casey McQuiston does it again! I loved this almost as much as RWRB. Give me all of Casey's incredible well written disaster bisexuals any time.