I really tried to get into this story but unfortunately it was my cup of tea. The prose was disjointed for me and probably it's not the right book for me. However other readers might like it and it's just me.

This was really sweet, well written, and enjoyable to read. Definitely the strongest romance that Casey McQuiston has written so far.
The only reason I don’t give this 5 stars is because the story tried so hard to convince me that the main characters were conventionally attractive and their only flaws were “too romantic” and “too emotionally guarded.” It just didn’t make for memorable leads. That’s just a nitpick in what was otherwise a really fun read.

I've never wanted two people to be together but also stay as far away from each other more than now. I don't know how I feel yet, but I will say it's crazy that CMQ fans are critiquing this novel for being unrealistic. Their work is fun to read because they're idealistic. RWRB was set after the 2016 election with a woman president... and Texas flipped blue in it. Anyway, I'm gonna process how annoying and messy Theo and Kit were. But also how much I love that they're different from most book couples????

Theo and Kit, two exes with a complicated past, were once childhood best friends, then crushes, and eventually in love—until a messy breakup tore them apart. Four years later, each decides to redeem their unused vouchers for a European food and wine tour, thinking they’ll travel solo. But they end up on the same tour bus, embarking on a three-week journey through the most romantic cities in France, Spain, and Italy. What starts as an attempt to prove they’re over each other turns into a playful hookup competition, but as they explore stunning locations, indulge in delicious food, and savor fine wines, they begin to wonder if their story is really over.
I’ve read all of Casey McQuiston’s books, and while The Pairing wasn’t my favorite, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. I found it a bit hard to believe that all of Europe seemed to be attracted to Theo and Kit, and I liked Kit more than Theo. The vivid descriptions of the places they visit, the food they taste, and the wine they drink really brought the story to life for me.
The audio version, narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers, was well done, with both narrators bringing the characters and story to life. Thank you St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted copies.

Theo and Kit started out as childhood best friends. Then they were each other's secret crushes, and they fell in love. They even discovered that they were bisexual and confided in each other about it. Theo came out later than Kit.

Now they are estranged exes. Theo and Kit break up on a flight for a European food and wine tour. At night, Theo works as a bartender, and during the day dreams of becoming a sommelier. Theo can taste the most subtle flavors in wine, like wood or leather, and has lots of casual lovers.

Kit, who grew up in Europe before moving to America, takes the flight they were going to be on and uses it to move back. He becomes the top of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Kit is an amazing pastry chef. He knows what flavors go together in pastry, like Theo knows what wine goes with what food.

He occupied any free time with one of his many casual lovers. All that is left of the past is an unused European tour voucher which was almost at its use within 48 months voucher expiration date.

Four years after the breakup, it seems like a good idea to take the trip separately. When they board the tour bus, they discover they had the same idea by sheer accident. Now they are trapped with each other for 3 weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy.

A big reason they had wanted to do this tour was that they were and are big Anthony Bourdain fans. They want to explore like he would have.

Theo and Kit decide to be friends on the tour and enjoy themselves. It's fine, there's nothing left between them, so much nothing in fact, that when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can get their hot tour guide to sleep with them, Kit is game.

Why stop there? Why not have a competition to see who can sleep with the most people while on tour? What could go wrong?

I love the LGBTQIA+ representation in this book, specifically as it pertains to bisexuality and gender identification. There are not enough books with these topics in them. As a member of the community, I place special importance on this. I also appreciated the fact that consent and respect play a significant role in the story. Their connection is not flawless, but I think it was essential to show the different aspects of the connection and the negative components that led to the breakup.

Another thing I love about this book is the descriptions: sight, sound, taste, etc. You name it; it is there. The one critique I have for this book is that I wish there were more travel and a few fewer sex scenes, but that is my preference. I will read from this author again because they write very well, and the way they write spice is not too over the top for me.

THE PAIRING was a beautifully written tale with two amazing main characters you can’t help but cheer for. The settings felt vividly real and as much part of the scene as the people - and the moments of sentimentality versus humor were well blended.

Really enjoyed this latest one by Casey McQuiston. It could have ended perhaps a touch sooner but otherwise a great read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read and review THE PAIRING.

I really enjoyed this book, Kit and Theo were 👌🏻I enjoyed their dynamic, and learning a bit about their history as we followed along with them in present day.

The twist on dual narration was cool, although I might have enjoyed a bit more back and forth. I didn’t love the miscommunication, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.

What I loved
-childhood friends to lovers
- second chance romance
-loveable side characters
-delicious food descriptions
-great banter
-excellent spicy bits

I requested this book before I was aware of the St. Marten's Press boycott. While I loved the book, I refuse to share my full review until the boycott is over. #SpeakUpSMP

This book is armchair travel at its finest. The food and wine descriptions were amazing, and the sights of Europe as well. The main couple’s chemistry was great, and the closed door scenes well written. I thought the representation was great of nonbinary too. McQuiston has done it again!!

I just don’t know that this book was for me. I didn’t hate it. There were definitely moments that made me emotional, but overall it felt a little childish. Theo and Kit clearly cared for each other and it just felt ridiculous for them to traipse through Europe trying to sleep with as many other people as possible. The side characters and some of the hookups felt more mature than they were, and for a story where they are supposed to have grown to a point that they could now be together and make it work, I just wanted to shake them. I did like Kit’s perspective much more than Theo’s. It felt healthier, but not by a lot. Like I said, I didn’t hate it, but this was not really what I wanted out of this story.

I thoroughly loved this sun-drenched and decadent second-chance romance. Kit and Theo are reunited on a food and wine tour of Europe five years after their relationship imploded and left them living on different continents. They have both grown and changed in different ways, and I enjoyed how they found their way back to each other while trying a little too hard pretending that they were over it.

Casey McQuiston is an auto-buy author for me, and I have genuinely loved everything that they have written. Thankfully, The Pairing was no different. Highly recommend this one and can't wait to see what Casey writes next.

The Pairing is a queer romance from author Casey McQuiston that captures the magic of food, travel, and love!

This was such an interesting book! Making it all take place on a food tour in Europe made me want to travel! I could almost taste some of the dishes they had, though I don't drink so a lot of the wine content was not interesting for me. But overall these were two very different people who grew into themselves as they had to look back at what went wrong in their past relationship. I'm usually not a fan of second chance romances, but I'm glad I gave this a chance!

The one thing I didn't understand was why the book started with the past, but then stuck to present for the rest of the book. Just seemed to interrupt the flow and I think it would have worked better as flashbacks within the present.

Still, overall this was a fantastic queer love story!

ARC provided by Netgalley.

The Pairing was so fun and cute. I recommend it for fans of Casey McQuiston, romantic comedies, and stories full of queer characters.

Dull as dishwater, but I can see how others will eat it up. The story feels paper thin with no actual stakes for the characters.

This was a DNF for me as I accidentally downloaded an e-book instead of an audiobook. Thus, I cannot give any feedback.

I will read everything Casey writes. This is a love letter to food and travel told through a steamy romance. What could be better? This book will make you laugh out loud. Casey;s character development is second to none, not only for the main characters, but all the side characters. I wanted to go on the tour with the them.

Thank you for the opportunity to review! Really enjoyed getting to read this, have loved everything from this author. Creative and inspiring - looking forward to more.

At its core, The Pairing is a book about two endearing idiots who take their sweet time realizing that they still love each other. The chemistry between Theo and Kit is simply off the charts. Watching them dance around their feelings, with that ever-present tension, is nothing short of a delightful agony.

McQuiston takes us on a sumptuous tour through Europe’s most iconic cities, offering a culinary experience that would make even Anthony Bourdain envious. The vivid descriptions of food and the passionate way it’s woven into the story add a rich layer to the narrative, making you want to book the next flight out and embark on your own edible adventure.

Compared to McQuiston’s previous works, The Pairing feels fuller of body, with a more mature and complex narrative.
One of the novel’s standout features is the dual perspective. Getting to see through both Theo and Kit's eyes deepens the emotional impact. The way Kit thinks about Theo? Absolutely staggering. It’s a masterclass in capturing the longing and affection between two characters.

On a personal note, this book inspired me to seek out a similar tour of places I’ve always wanted to visit. And yes, I’m absolutely trying to make agrodolce now—I’m a sucker for a good sour/sweet condiment!

If this book were a dessert, it’d be a mille-feuille—delicious, complex, and bittersweet. The Pairing is a feast for the senses and the heart, and I’d absolutely watch the movie adaptation.

Hmm.. I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. I fell absolutely head over heels in love with Alex and Henry when I read Red White and Royal Blue. I’ve read every other book Casey McQuiston has written since then in the hopes of being swept away the same way I was with their first book. Unfortunately, nothing has quite lived up to that for me. I had high hopes at the start of this book. Theo and Kit‘s fun sassy banter had me hooked. But the book just kind of fizzled from there. The big focus on the hook up competition took away from the swoony romance I was hoping it was building up to. And the ending had my head spinning, but I can’t say too much without giving it away. Overall, I thought it had a lot of potential but fell flat.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This is somewhere between a 3 & 4 star, but I’m rounding up because I love Casey.
I really enjoyed getting the two different POV & definitely thought it was interested that we switch POVs halfway in - not by chapter. My main hesitation with this, was Kit’s POV. I know he is supposed to be this art history, baker, in touch with his emotions, whatever guy… but oh my god it was so WORDY. I seriously skipped multiple pages of his just to get back to the story.
In Theo’s POV we get just a very horny story and know they’re struggling with their emotions and in Kit’s we just get so many words describing some painting or sculpture or architecture that I really don’t care about…
BUT - that doesn’t take away that I still really enjoyed this story. I loved them finding themselves and the second chance.