As much as I adore Casey McQuistons other titles this one wasnt really for me. It was an okay read but I didnt really connect with either character and felt their backstories/plot a little lacking. The spice and food seemed to take up the primary focus and while the settings and everything were amazingly written (I felt like I could easily be on the tour with them), it didnt really stick out to me as a whole.

Two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not.

Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all.

Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past.

All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.

It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?

Loved it. I thought it was a great read.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I picked this book up as a "read now" option on Netgalley in the hopes I would like it since I've liked a previous book from this author. I haven't been able to read any of their books since RWRB which is so disappointing and this book was no different. I did really like the concept of this book, but I felt like the execution was not great.

I didn't enjoy how we didn't get to read from the other main character's POV until the "bet" commenced, I didn't like how the bet was approached, and I didn't like the writing style. The details of the bet was definitely... a choice. I've now liked two books and disliked two books from this author. I try to stick to a three-book rule for authors, so the next book will be a game changer for me and this author's books.

I'm sure there are a group of people out there who LOVED this book, but I wasn't apart of it. I didn't feel like the characters were developed enough (something that could have helped was having the other main character POV before 50% into the book!!!) And I hate when all the development and emotional baggage that the characters experience are experienced OFF THE PAGE and i'm just supposed to know what they are feeling and how much they love each other. Truly detest that.

I loved that this book was SO QUEER, but it really failed me on all other fronts. I hope other readers connect with it more than me.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Look, I love Casey McQuiston's writing but I was so not into this book. Asshole sluts in Europe just do not do it for me, I suppose. I appreciated the queerness but i don't know this just seemed way more unrealistic than Casey's debut where a queer Mexican kid thinks Texas will turn blue. There are not that many hotties down to bone, I feel. Travel groups are mostly people you do not want to bone, in fact. And the romance? Inadequate.

i absolutely love this author, they are amazing.

i loved how the dual pov and how Casey used it in this story. It was really heart warming to see Theo and Kit reconnect surrounded by fun locations and food! I also really enjoyed all the quirky side characters that were in their tour group.

it was a really beautiful story about gender identity as well and i loved how they used the dual pov to reveal certain things about the characters.

3.5 Stars for The Pairing.

I love that I know what I am getting with a Casey McQuiston novel. I know I will get a heartfelt love story, with good queer representation, and an ending that will leave me happy. The Pairing held up to my level of expectations.

I received the eBook through NetGalley and got the Audiobook from MacMillan Audio and I ended up listening to the audiobook.

The narrators were great, and I felt really represented the characters well. Though the book was dual POV, it was not set up in the traditional way with alternating chapters. It was split into halves with each character getting to give their side of the story and experience within half the book, thus allowing you to compare the scenes of the book from both sides. Very fun way to go about it. The audio also had fun little European song intros for each chapter, which added to the experience.

As for the story, it starts out with a pretty big misunderstanding. I am not usually one for the misunderstanding trope, but it was way in the past, so it didn't bother me in that respect. This is very much a story of first loves and wanting what's best for each other, even if that means saying goodbye.

The connection between Theo and Kit was very real, best friends, turned to lovers, then separated over several years, they are brought back together by the trip they never took. A tour of Europe provides much in the way of hooking up by many, but also a rekindling of a relationship long in the making. Worth the read

I had high expectations for this one and i let me down. I wish it would've had better banter, conversation and deeper love. I just didn't really like the plot or writing style in this one.

Things I LOVED about this book: A non-bianary character, as one of the main characters and the ability to listen to their perspective and their romantic interest perspective. A forced proximity second chance romance, Theo and Kit have grow up together, dated and broken up and live across the world from each other. A pre-planned trip around Europe forces them back together and to face the feelings they had along.
I adore Casey McQuiston's voice for the queer community and this book definitely does what all their other books before have done before for me.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Griffin for this free book for honest review.

An absolutely delightful romp. No notes. Casey McQuiston remains an autobuy must read author. This was spicier than other books from McQuiston and I kicked it off my fingers like fried chicken. Good soup.

Thank you for the ARC of this book. In the past I’ve very much enjoyed Casey McQuiston’s books this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to be able to read and review this book!

5/5 ı loooved this!

This book is best described as self-indulgent. Kit and Theo spend the entire book bemoaning life choices while eating and sleeping their way across Europe on a bougie food tour.

While I enjoyed Kit and Theo as characters, the European setting felt a little too self-indulgent for my taste. I can sniff out an American glamorizing Europe the same way I can smell out an author writing a small town who's never left New York City- it's not my favorite look. It just felt very "hot, rich kids with hot, rich people problems" and out of touch with reality. I don't know how else to word it. Honestly, I kept the 3 stars only because I have to admit McQuiston can write a damn description and one-liner like no one else.

Romance has never been my genre, either, so I admit that might be part of the issue.

While I loved Red, White & Royal Blue and thoroughly enjoyed I Kissed Shara Wheeler, this one and One Last Stop were misses for me. Hopefully, I get along with their next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this title. I didn't really connect with the characters like I thought I would. I will be looking out for the next title from Casey McQuiston.

this is such a lovely escape from reality -- a second chance queer romance that's spicy and slow-burny and soooo swoony!!! i can't decide who i am crushing on more -- kit or theo, and their chemistry not only with each other but with (apparently) every hot european they meet in their travels was HOT. casey writes queer love like nobody else!!!

These two might be the last real lovers on this planet. They are real yearners. But! They are also real liars. Because in no way shape or form do I believe for a second that everybody in Europe is this rich and fuckable.

Regardless, Casey McQuiston has yet another masterpiece on their hands. No one is surprised.

This is spicier McQuinston's other titles, but so much fun to read! Super into their love story and the way it was told. Highly recommend.

I was so happy to receive an arc of this book! This was a very fun queer book that I will be continuing to recommend for a long time. Thank you netgalley.

I could not get into this story. I appreciate that it will resonate for others, but it was not for me.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and have a good time! However, I felt the main premise of the characters Anton each other but entering into a competition to who could sleep with more people so out of the team of my own reality it did take suspended disbelief. I felt that the tour director was cheeky and charming and enjoyed the reveal of his wife at the end who was just as lovely.

3.5 stars
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 💫

What a romp! Unabashed, erotic, and most importantly fun, I was rooting for Theo and Kit the whole time. Theo in particular spoke to me as a character. Casey McQuiston is an auto-read for me.