What an epic European food and wine tour! I had the time of my life when I was living vicariously through Theo and Kit’s horny adventures. My mouth was literally watering while I was reading the descriptions of the delicious meals and I wished for the hundredth time that I could have become a fictional character for just one day so that I could experience everything Theo and Kit were experiencing firsthand. I just LOVE the bisexual/pansexual, trans and non-binary representation in this awesome story! Plus, I’m a huge sucker for humorous second-chance romances so I can boldly say that The Pairing ticked all the right boxes for me because the heat content was sky high. After reading this wonderful story, I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

A huge thank you to Casey McQuiston, St Martin Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced review copy of this delightful novel.

This week Casey McQuiston publishes their fourth novel, The Pairing, and it's coming at just the right time to round out summer reading, because this novel screeeams summer.

Theo and Kit are ex-best friends, ex-lovers, and now, as it turns out, accidentally fellow travelers on a three week food and wine tour across Europe. They both evidently used their last chance possible to cash in their vouchers from the trip they were supposed to go on together several years ago before they broke up during their cross-Atlantic flight. Theo flew home alone, Kit stayed alone in Paris, and they haven't spoken since.

But it's been years, and they have both totally moved on, right? Of course. (Not.)

I've loved following along with McQuiston's insta the past couple months as they countdown for this book's release. They've been sharing pictures of their research trips, places and foods Theo and Kit enjoy along the way, playlists to accompany the book, and lots of behind the scenes details, bringing their story even more alive. Because if there's one word to describe these characters and this book, I think that's it: Alive. The details McQuiston infuses into this text are so tactile -- you can see, feel, taste, hear, smell everything. It reminded me of a bit of Jenna Evans Welch's Love and Gelato books, even though those are YA. Theo and Kit, while they're in their twenties, are still very much figuring things out, so a lot of the emotions felt similar to me in that respect, in addition to the great European summer travel vibes. Where they differ greatly, however, is in the spice department. While I love an open door romance, I personally found McQuiston's latest to be a little over my spicy comfort level -- the graphic descriptions definitely carry over from the food and vistas to the bedroom (or not the bedroom as the case may be). If that doesn't bother you, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. Come for the delectable French, Italian, and Spanish food and drink, stay for the positive bisexual/non-binary steamy romance.

Also, shout-out to the tour's fellow travel companions who fill in the background of this story. This continues to be my favorite part of McQuiston's writing -- the side characters who tug at your heart and make you laugh and build the perfect background for our main characters. I honestly wanted more of them, and less of our MCs if I'm being honest.

Honestly, I wanted to like this more than I did. The first half was extremely repetitive and got so boring. From what I can tell, this was supposed to mimic Theo’s internal voice—pragmatic, detail oriented, etc. I WISH i liked it more. But Theo was an insufferable character and I couldn’t find it in me to root for them.
The second half was better. The miscommunication starting to resolve itself is a big part of it being better, but Kit was also more enjoyable. The whimsical, emotion based story felt like a breath of fresh air after the first 50%.
One thing I will say is Casey is a phenomenal writer. The writing itself wasn’t the issue with this book, and I truly think this book has some of my favorite moments in recent literature. One of these being Theo’s coming out moment. The way that Casey hinted at Theo’s Gender™️ through the first half but never outright mentioned it because to Theo, it wasn’t news, and shifting to this whole important scene because to Kit, it was. Kit’s reaction was also… perfect.
Another thing I liked was the dual POV but first-half, last-half style; I think it’s a unique way to go about it and an interesting way to learn more about the characters.
Book had a fun epilogue, fun plot points, and fun side characters. I can see people loving this book, but it wasn’t for me. HOWEVER! I do think it could be a really good movie…

The pairing tells the story of two bisexual exes that accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and create a competition to hookup with people to prove they’re over each other even though they definitely are not.

In this story, we follow Kit and Theo as they navigate their feelings for the other despite their history and watch as tensions grow. This book has 5 star sexual tension and was much spicier than I expected. It also has great bisexual and queer representation and I enjoyed the way the characters cared for each other throughout the story and how they came to terms with their feelings.

A deliciously romantic and sexy romp! The perfect read before my own trip to France and Spain later this Fall.

I adored this book, it made me feel all the feelings. I went into it blind but knowing that I love Casey McQuiston books. While I was reading it an ad from BoTM showed up with the tagline, Horny in Europe. Which is very accurate but the book is also so much more.

Theo and Kit had been best friends since they were young. Eventually they started dating and became lovers. They break up on a plane ride to a food and wine tour through Europe. They didn’t end up making the trip but four years later when their vouchers are set to expire they both unknowingly book the same trip at the same time. They don’t know how to be around each other anymore and end up making a wager to see who can have sex with the most people on the trip.

Throughout the trip you get more back story of Theo and Kit and the blanks of what happened and what’s happened since are filled in.

This story touched on all different kinds of love and intimacy and it was all amazing. It makes my heart so happy to get to see the story of two soulmates and how they both can stand on their own but are bring out so much more in the other when they are together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

I have loved everything that Casey McQuiston has written and The Pairing lives up to that designation.

I will say that it was hard initially to get into. The initial info dump was a big hurdle and didn't truly explain anything that was happening in the story. We just know that Theo has an almost expired voucher and an unwillingness to lose/compromise. Over the course of the book, you learn about everything that went wrong between Theo and Kit and how it's shaping everything that is happening right then. The dual POV of this book is amazing, with Theo in the first half and Kit in the second half, providing a lot of.really great insight into both characters.

It was an excellent book, especially if you like descriptive prose and amazing characters

DNF’d. just wasn’t for me unfortunately. The american visit europe trip is overused. was extremely hard to get into.

A truly sad DNF for me. I love Casey and their wit and characters are usually exactly what my queer heart wants and needs, but this one just wasn’t working for me. Probably because I’m an asexual person and the plot of this book was horniness. 🤷‍♀️ the language was also excessive. I have a pretty high tolerance but this was rough. I’ll be back for more with their next book, though!

Lush, decadent, and brimming with atmosphere; The Pairing is a feast for all your senses.

Theo and Kit broke up a few years ago, after a huge blowout fight. They haven't spoken since. That's why Theo is at a complete loss when they board the bus to begin their European tour and see none other than Kit himself. Theo is definitely over Kit, and proposes a hookup competition between the two of them to show it. What could possibly go wrong?

I felt like I was experiencing every city on the tour with Kit and Theo. Casey McQuiston has a fabulous sense of place. I enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters, but also the side characters were amazing. This book is extra steamy and queer, with a little something for everyone. I did feel like it was a tad overly long, but that's a minor complaint. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the review copy.

This is the first McQuiston book that I struggled with. The characters were difficult to relate to, the food descriptions were fun at first, but then became too much and overpowering even for a foodie such as myself. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief that nearly every person the main characters met in Europe were young, attractive and attracted to both of them, To end on a positive note, the nonbinary representation was done really well and was the high point of the book.

I'm a Casey McQuiston fan and I had high hopes going into this book. I applaud anyone who tackles thematic content around worthiness and gender identity. I expect many will enjoy the bopping around Europe aspect - it's a fun summer read idea and I liked hearing about the different locations. Unfortunately though, I never felt connected to the characters. I wanted to really like it but I couldn't get settled in. There were countless side characters that I found hard to follow and didn't lend much to the story.. It felt at times that the story was just try to get from one sex scene to the next without much in-between. I struggled to get invested.

Sometimes I think we just meet books at the wrong time. At another time, I could have been along for the ride so I hope readers give it a chance.

Bi-sexual exes Kit and Theo coincidentally book the same European Grand Tour. A sexy romp encompassing the most romantic of cities. While secretly yearning for each other, instead of discussing their break up,these MCs choose to have a sexual competition of hookups. I had a hard time with this because of the deep feeling these two had for each other and many of their issues were caused by misconceptions.
What I absolutely enjoyed was the story told in halves. The beginning travel in Theos voice and the second part, Kits. You really got to know Theo without any physical description while Kit is initially fleshed out. The second half of the book all the pieces come together, their long history and Kits real feelings. Add in the details of food, drink and Art along their journey. Especially descriptions of things I’ve experienced - delightful! Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Griffin.

What a decadent book! The descriptions of the food and the intimacy were so delicious. The setting sets the story up to be a feast for all readers. I really loved this book. I feel as though the story and setting were the most wonderful part of the book and it almost made the characters themselves take a back seat. I don’t want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers but the way the story goes into gender was perfect and authentic and beautiful. I did like one character more than the other, but the enjoyment I had being immersed in the culture and cuisine of Europe overshadowed pretty much both of them!

Don't read this one if you’re hungry…. 4.5 ⭐️

I dnf'd this. I love Casey's writing however this story wasn't for me. I thought it was going to be like a Queer Eurotrip with food and a Sex game. However there was no communication between the characters on their relationship. And i loved that both were Bisexual and that one was Nonbinary. Unfortunately it feeds into the stereotypes of Bisexuals being overly sexual and every corner. It also seemed like every character they came across was Bisexual and free for love. I know in different Countries They are more open but this seemed like it wanted to shoved the Queer identity in our faces. As a Queer male myself It just felt a little too overpowering and not in a good way. I know there is an audience for this but Unfortunately I am not the Audience. I still will read more Casey in the future.

3.75 stars

This book was a complete journey, a horny chaotic, gluttonous journey.

A second chance romance, with a lot of growth from both partners, Theo and Kit have a chance of finding their happiness together.

I absolutely want to go on the food and wine tour they were on, the author did a fantastic job of giving us the full experience of it. Their secondary characters were absolutely fabulous in this book as well.

This book is set up a little differently for a dual POV, but I feel like it gave the reader and extra sense of each character.

This was a completely different read than what I expected from Casey McQuiston, but one I still enjoyed.
It’s a second-chance romance, with the two leads finding themselves booked on the same European tour.
Kit and Theo were fun to spend time with, but the real treat in reading this book was how much of a sensory experience their journey was—full of gorgeous descriptions about food, wine, and scenery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC. This is my honest review.

Well, The Pairing wasn't for me and I admit I was disappointed. Food, wine, Europe, sex...I mean what wasn't to love??! Yet, there was just too much: too much talk of food. And wine, Yes, the food and the wine were sumptuous and made me want to jump on the nearest plane to France or Italy, but the descriptions felt like they overshadowed the main characters at times.

And there was way, way too much sex. I get it. Theo and Kit, two exes who inadvertently take the same European wine/food tour 4 years after their breakup, make a pact (a competition) to see who can sleep with the most people on their tour across the European Countryside. But enough already. There was no character development, just young, hot, horny characters ready for a hook-up all over Europe. Instead, I wanted to know more about the history between Kit and Theo who knew each other their entire lives, were best friends, became lovers, broke up, and are getting a shot at a second chance romance here...

What WAS great about the book was how McQuiston wrote the bisexual characters, about gender identity, and identifying as non-binary. As someone with a kid who identifies as bisexual, I appreciate her thoughtfulness and care.

I was definitely expecting more from the book, but I'm certain other readers will enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A delightful book about a life-long romance between two unique people whom you root for. The star-crossed lovers, Theo and Kit, meet when they are 8 and then their lives move apart and come back together over the next 20 years culminating in a three-week food and drink tour of France, Spain and Italy. On the tour they reconnect after being estranged for four years and gradually, under the influence of hot sun and amazing food and wine, find their way back to each other.

The writing is excellent throughout and the food and wines are lovingly described--as is the art and the various settings for their stops on the tour. A few small quibbles: I did find the book a bit long. Did the tour need all those stops? They kind of ran together for me after awhile and Kit's efforts to confess his love went on too long. I also found the story hard to get into for about the first 5-10 percent--took me a while to get my bearings in the plot. The over-the-top descriptions of food, drink, and place, while lovely, do get to be a bit much when everything is aphrodisiacal and paradisical. Still, I do wish the author had taken me on her research trips! Great queer representation!

Mille grazie et merci beaucoup for a delectable ride with two creatively-imagined and well-drawn characters in settings to die for!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I vicariously ate and drank my way through France, Spain and Italy along with Kit and Theo in this epic, second chance love story from McQuiston. I’ve never been so hungry reading a romance 😊!

I honestly think that if Casey McQuiston organized a food and wine tour like the one Kit and Theo went on and sold it along with this book at release that they would have made some serious coin. I would have booked that baby so fast in anticipation of eating just a smidge of the amazing food and drinking some of the incredible vintages and spirits they describe in this book.

This book deserves the most epic charcuterie board to be devoured along with reading it as well as several bottles of wine to consume.

The travel, the food and the wine are honestly the highlights for me in this book. While the incredible detail may make a few readers eyes glaze over given the shear amount throughout the entire book, I actually sunk into every description, trying to imagine what they were seeing, tasting and experiencing.

Casey must have done some serious research or maybe they’re already a devoted foodie and art history lover because they did not scrimp on their descriptions to make you feel completely immersed as if you were on the tour right along with the group.

I seriously want to meet a Fabrizio in my life and have him lead me around Europe for three weeks. That is bucket list stuff right there that I didn’t know that I needed in my life.

So, if you’re looking for a book that will inspire your next trip to Europe then this is the book, which is why it made my list of must-read romance books of summer in 2024.

This book also made my list of most anticipated romance books of 2024 because it had been over a year since McQuiston released a new book, having been busy I’m sure with the Red, White and Royal Blue movie that released last year.

To say that I was over-excited for this book is an understatement.

I have to give McQuiston props that none of their books are copycats like the others. They’re constantly changing up their stories, characters and settings while continually making a name for themselves in queer romance.

Theo and Kit are bisexual childhood besties who had a major misunderstanding and fight that led to them cancelling their tour the first go-around and breaking up for four years.

I am a sucker for a second chance love story and I was totally pulling for these two who were obvious soulmates. You don’t throw that one-in-a-lifetime connection away so I was desperate for them to work things out.

Theo (short for Theodora) came across as someone who has ADHD to me and who struggled to find their lane but ultimately did with their passion for wine.

Kit was a pastry chef and lover of art who had the sweetest heart, so it was no wonder everyone fell for him so easily.

I loved how McQuiston wrote from Theo’s POV for the first half of the story but switched to Kit’s POV for the remainder of the book. I loved getting in both of their heads.

As for their little competition….I could have done without it quite frankly as I don’t think it added much to the story other than to make me think they were a bit immature.

Kuddos to them that they are pretty open to any and all partners but the tension between them was already there which is why I really didn’t see what this added to the overall progression of their reunion.

It also seemed a bit convenient that they could find a willing hook-up at the drop of a hat wherever they were but maybe I’m just naïve. That being said, I expected things to be a lot more explicit and a bit steamier than they were and since they weren’t I was able to just ignore it and wasn’t too put off by their competition as the story went on.

The resolution of their story arc however was wonderful.

Red, White and Royal Blue, will forever be my favorite McQuiston book, however if you love their work then this queer romance surely deserves a spot on your TBR list.

I cannot wait to meet Casey on their book tour!

*Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.