Thank you so much to St Martin's Press for the advance copy of this book!

If you are looking for a book to take you into another place, this may be the one for you. McQuiston is able to use their talent of words to make you feel as if you are traveling throughout Europe. Oh and the food. How I want to eat so many of the meals that were describe. You could tell that McQuiston did their research and likely travelled to all the locations mentioned just to make sure that it felt authentic.

I thought the format of this book was unique compared to not only other books they have done but other contemporary romances. The first half of the book is told from Theo's point of view and the second half is told from Kit's point of view. And I love how the chapters were broken up by different pairings with the city they are in. With that being said, the chapters are very long as they broken up by the time spent in country. As much as I was happy that it was descripted it just felt like it was taking forever.

"It's not just that I want him. It's that he taught me what wanting was. Anyone would have a weakness for that."

Also what I found so fascinating and I even was asking about this in a buddy read I did on this book, is how open everyone was with hooking up. They would each meet these people and suddenly they were being whisked away to go make out or more. I am not judging or anything but I just thinking are they not going to get to know each other, is the consent implied, is the nature of the relationship implied? It also made me chuckle that Theo agreed to do this competition when we knew that they were so in love with Kit. Heck even one of the conquests picked up on it. I felt bad for Theo as they just had no idea how Kit felt while they were thrust together on this trip.

Once we got to Kit's point of view, I could not believe how in love that boy was with Theo. I love the way McQuiston did a quick flashback to the start of the trip and picked up in real time. Kit's love for Theo was so unconditional. He loved Theo for who they were and did not want them to change. ""They showed me the galaxy then made me feel it. That's one of Theo's natural gifts, the way beauty moves through them like stained glass. It illuminates them and they transform it in kind." As much as I felt like I related to Theo more, I think my favorite chapters were told from Kit's point of view.

I believe this is McQuiston's spiciest book and it was so beautiful written. Overall I really enjoyed this book and think that McQuiston has this special talent of writing love between two characters. They also are SO good at side characters! In each of the books I have read by them, you find those side characters that will make you laugh and you just will want more of them on page. In this book was no exception.

Theo and Kit have split up. For good it seems, after being childhood besties, friends, and then in love together, they are over. In a dramatic fight on their way to an opulent European food/wine tour, they go their separate ways.
But the tickets were non-refundable, but... could be rescheduled. And so when the tour vouchers are about to expire, they both decide they better use 'em or lose 'em.
At the same time. On the same tour.
There was a lot I enjoyed about this book- the food/wine descriptions were opulent.. delightful.. made me want to go wander Italy, meeting people and enjoying new meals at different restaurants every day.
Fabio's enthusiasm for showing his tour guests around was fun to read.
Kit and Theo... not as much. They spent a lot of time getting in their own way.. self doubt, self sabotage... instead of just ignoring the emails from a demanding client and then throwing in the town, how about being upfront and saying I will be out of town for these dates.. and perhaps having cancellation fees etc in the contract esp for materials already purchased? They were not ready to run a business, and could have used family advice, even if they refused the money.
Kit was a little better, but still indulged in the bet about having more partners on their tour, but we really didn't get much from him until the second half of the book, and it was all intense longing for Theo.
It wasn't bad, it was a fun read overall, but it was not my favorite of McQuiston's titles.

HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE @casey.mcquiston EVER!!!

The atmosphere, the tension, the love, the quips…JUST EVERYTHING!!

Also listening to it via audio was seriously the way to go 1.) because it added a whole additional layer to the story and 2.) it ft. the author (which is secretly my favorite thing that happens in the audiobook world. A fun little Easter egg if you will)!!!

5✨

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book!!!

I loved Theo and Kits story so much. It was so special to follow along with them as they got to discover these new versions of themselves and each other.

I'm bummed. I was hoping to like this book as much as Casey's other books, but this book was not it for me.

Maybe it's because I've never traveled. Maybe it's because I'm not a foodie. I'm not sure.

This book was so wordy. Unnecessarily wordy, in my opinion. I think it would've been the same book with 1/3 less words. At least.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF 20%

I really really tried to read this book, but I could not vibe with it at all. I LOVED Red, White and Royal Blue and was hoping the writing style and connection was going to be similar. The only connection was the food and wine. I’m really sad because I was really looking forward to this story.

Genre: contemporary romance

Before Kit and Theo split up, they had planned to take a multi-week food tour of western Europe. 4 years later, and at the end of the limit of the travel voucher, Theo takes a risk and hops on a plane, only to find Kit doing the same. Theo, the daughter of famous movie producers and sister of two movie stars, finds their own life a series of failures and is looking to reclaim joy through food. Kit has been working in Paris since he finished pastry school, but is looking for another spark. While it seems as though the only way these exes can get along is in direct competition sleeping with the attractive men and women of France, Spain, and Italy, their trajectory will inevitably bring them back together.

There's a lot going on in this book (in a good way) so there are a lot of components to unpack. I love Casey McQuiston's adult books, and this feels the most mature and most exploratory (both with the food tour plot literally, but also with experimenting with gender and sexuality and expression of self). It's both a comfortable and also a challenging read, because of the topics it tackles. The rich descriptions of food and wine are amazing, and I dare you to read it and not want to grab a fresh baguette with cheese and a glass of French wine.

The relationship between Kit and Theo is messy... it's second chance, and they are still so young, but it's fully believable. The reason for their breakup was a little tough to swallow, but its aftermath is very very realistic. I kind of love how this book breaks the cardinal rule of most romances - Kit and Theo spend a lot of time sleeping with other people -on page- in direct competition with one another to see who can get laid more on this food tour. And yet, it works, because of the type of people they are and the type of romance they have.

The Pairing is a very queer bi4bi M/NB romance with beautiful expressions of love, sex, and romance. And food. Truly, the food is the third character in this relationship, and it works well.

A childhood friendship, then an adult relationship, all ends when Kit and Theo ended up splitting up on their way to a guided European food and wine tour they’d both saved up for. They haven’t so much as laid eyes on each other since.
It’s been four years, and the voucher for the non refundable ticket is about to expire so Theo decides to finally take the trip alone.
Boarding the tour bus, grabbing the last open seat and it’s next to - surprise! - Kit

Sooo I think this one is going to be divisive

They called this book ‘sluts in Europe’ and if you can enjoy it just for that you’ll love it. The travel descriptions, food and drinks, sooo much flirting, interesting side characters - it’s fun!

But - if you are a person who only wants the MCs to have eyes (and hands, and…etc) for each other, then you are likely not going to enjoy this one.

I think I have fallen on the ‘very strong like’ side of the rating spectrum
Throwing away almost two decades of connection over one fight and a misunderstanding that could have been cleared up in a moment - such a waste. And sometimes their pining for each other seemed So Obvious, I wanted to shake them for throwing themselves at literally anyone and everyone else
But with that said I *do* like myself some angst with a happy ending, and I was *fully* invested in their story. This was the sluttiest sad pining ever, and the spice was there for sure.
I was entertained by their flirtatious (and more) antics, but that never stopped me hoping they’d find their way back to each other (even when I wasn’t sure what that would look like)
This was an emotional journey - the second half more than the first - and I enjoyed it!

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the arc

Theo and Kit are childhood best friends and exes that end up on the same food and wine tour of Europe. Theo and Kit are real and messy and make mistakes. They were really refreshing characters to read about. I enjoyed seeing them fall back in love with each other throughout their adventures.

There is the typical banter and humor you would expect from McQuiston but this is a much different book for them. You can tell that they have really grown a lot as a writer.

There were some issues for me regarding the pacing, particularly in the first 30%, and some of the food and wine descriptions became a bit repetitive. The writing was stunning but as someone that’s not an adventurous eater, I had a really hard time imagining the foods they were eating (and that’s a huge part of the book!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of The Pairing in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant about The Pairing after Casey McQuiston’s last adult novel, One Last Stop, didn’t land with me, but I’m very happy I gave it a chance!

As with their previous novels, McQuiston plays fast and loose with realism in The Pairing, this time portraying a utopian Europe where everyone is horny, queer, and disarmingly perceptive. But this time, it worked for me — the heightened depictions of sexuality and food mirroring the heightened emotions with which protagonists Theo and Kit navigate the world and their relationship. And yes, all those heightened elements can be a bit much. But while Theo says some truly cringe-worthy things, and Kit verges dangerously on manic pixie dream boy, they so earnestly adore each other that it made me want to adore them too. 4*

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this e-arc.

This was a good read! I definitely assumed this was going to have more sex based on previous reviews. I am not mad at it though! I was lucky enough to have my birthday fall around the time I was reading this and got to go out for some fancy French food, because this book made me HUNGRY! 🤣 I was already a fan of Casey McQuiston but there is some objectively great writing in this book. Other reviewers may feel some components in this book were a little farfetched or they really had to suspend their disbelief, but it's fiction! Maybe for once in a long while I was in just the right mood, but I really enjoyed the authors descriptions of the food, the art, the settings...it all sounded great to me. By the time we got to the end of the story and Theo and Kit decided not to continue their relationship, I was fine with it. It made sense that they would have some kind of growth from this experience and work on themselves when they had that closure. I also didn't mind that Theo shows up just as Kit comes to the realization that he needs to make a mad dash to the airport, and I think usually this kind of switch would throw me. I just genuinely enjoyed the ride and I don't have any real complaints. I will definitely be reading more of their books. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!!!

In "The Pairing," Casey McQuiston whisks readers to an indulgent emotional journey across Europe with exes Theo and Kit and their tumultuous relationship. The action comes alive across France, Spain, and Italy, with lavish descriptions of food, wine, and landscape.

It does a great job of representing queer characters and fluid identities, so in terms of inclusivity, it's very refreshing. The plot's a bit self-indulgent with the food tour and the reproductive hookup competition; it gets a bit repetitive. The switch to dual perspective midway through the book was interesting, although maybe a bit too infrequent.

Though at moments it does rely on the miscommunication trope a bit too much, the characters' growth and beautiful depictions of the European settings make up for it. All in all, "The Pairing" is a treat for queer romance lovers and second-chance love stories aficionados.

3.5 stars rounded up! Fans of Casey McQuiston, bisexual disasters, and foodies will all really love book. It is decadent, horny, self-indulgent, spicy, and very queer. If that sparks your interest, you will have a great time. If not, I would shy away from this book.

Overall, this was a fun read. The writing is lovely, the yearning is real, and the European food tour is all its cracked up to be. I did grow to love both of the main characters, though the beginning was a little rocky for them.

Mostly, I think this book could have been about 30% less. The page count was too long, the food tour and hookup competition did start to get repetitive, and personally there's only so long I can read about (view spoiler) .

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Pairing swept me away on a whirlwind trip through Europe. I could taste the food and wine and picture the amazing views. And I made friends along the way.

We follow Theo and Kit, two exes who end up on a whirlwind trip through France, Spain and Italy together. They don't know whether to ignore each other, or hook up, or be friends. So they settle on the decision to have a hook up competition, like you do.

I ate up this book. If someone was to plan this exact trip to a tee I would be on it so fast. I really loved picturing all the scenery and galivanting through Europe. It brought me back to trips I've taken in the past in the best way.

I also loved getting to know the other folks on the trip, and that Kit and Theo met along the way. This is my favorite part of traveling and this book captured it perfectly.

Theo and Kit's relationship was an interesting one to watch. I liked that both characters felt very fleshed out and really did identify with both of them. I felt like their fellow travelers, cheering for them along the way and hoping these two crazy kids finally see what they feel for each other.

The perspective switch half way through was an interesting choice. Part of me feels like I wished there was perspective switches every chapter or two, but this did make for a different story telling technique which I enjoyed.

5 stars!

Well... where to start with this review? This is about two bisexual exes on a food & wine tour trip in Europe and their really horny for people and each other. And the consumption of acholic beverages. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the second chance and right person, wrong time tropes but this also my archnemesis THE MISF*CKINGCOMUNICATION trope in it from the start. I despise that trop with fiery passion.
The aspects of this story I enjoyed was all the food and drink description, the tour guide Fabrizio (the true hero of this story), and also Kit. He was pure golden retriever goodness. Theo was a hit and a miss. Wished there was more backstory on them becoming more of their true self and being comfortable in their nonbinaryness.

The Pairing is the indulgent, debauchery soaked new title from renowned author Casey McQuiston. It follows former flames Theo and Kit across a multi-week European vacation, where they are forced to face the choices that led to their breakup and the unresolved feelings that have refused to subside.

Kit and Theo’s complexity, and the way they assess the world around them, creates chasms of nuance for readers to dissect. They both possess a fluidity to sexuality, highlighted by their innate queerness and malleable desires. Through Theo, CMQ also creates a layered example of gender fluency. As characters, Theo and Kit are messy, chaotic and wholly relatable. Their self-destructive tendencies, while aggravating from an outside perspective, are understandable given the soul-deep connection they share and how impactful the severing of that connection was for each of them.

When it comes to smut, I am a more the merrier type of person, so I ate up Kit and Theo’s horny pining disguised in the form of a sex competition. I can see why some readers might be averse to the two love interests hooking up with other people, but in my opinion CMQ makes it clear that despite their dalliances, both characters are besotted with each other. The juvenility of the competition showed just how disoriented Theo and Kit are when it comes to their relationship. It is fitting that they would choose to do silly, regrettable things when faced with their ex love.

What really captivated me about this novel was the food, drink, and setting descriptions. This is some of CMQ’s best writing. There is a vividness to the landscapes and a delectability to the provisions that cascades off the page. CMQ’s lush imagery evoked memories of my own European adventures and there were countless moments when I found myself tasting and scenting recollections of cured meats, leathery wines, and Mediterranean breezes. The prose is remarkable, a unique and singular experience in its own right.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely adored this book! Kit and Theo are everything and McQuiston did such an amazing job in creating a story that you immediately fall into and fall in love with.

To begin, the setting was immaculate. I truly felt like I was going through Europe with them on this adventure and getting to experience all of these cultures. Also the food and drink descriptions?! I immediately need to go on a tour like this and indulge because it sounded amazing. I love that in between each chapter, with each new location, there was a little message about that location. It really helped to set the stage for each place and really get into each place! I loved how all of the places were described, using the language fitting for the place, the food or drinks that matched, and the landscape that they were able to explore. Also! The people they got to meet in each locale! It was such a strength for this book and I really loved it!

I adored that the story was told dual POV with each character having a CHUNK of the book. Getting the beginning told through Theo and then the second half from Kit was something I'd not seen in a dual POV before, but it REALLY worked well.

Now Theo and Kit. Your honor, I love them. They are perfect and DOWN BAD for each other but as exes who had a really rough breakup, they are keeping their distance. The bet they had going on kind of broke my heart while I also wanted to cheer each of them on. The yearning they both had for the other and the feelings that they were hiding and putting into other people instead had me in shreds. I also loved how much we saw them rekindle their friendship first, which was what they started as in the beginning anyways. As someone who loves a friends to lovers, this was so wonderful to see them not only have originally been friends who became lovers, but in their second chance, they worked on being friends first again as they knew how important that was with them. I LOVED IT. Both characters also had so much individual growth and development. I love how McQuiston writes such solid, complete characters. They always have some lovable "flaws" and feel like such real people. Bravo on a great pairing!

The side characters were also a blast! I loved the people on the tour with them and how much fun Kit & Theo had in both people watching them and also interacting with them. Such a fantastic full cast of characters for this book!

Also the spice. While it isn't a spice heavy book, it definitely did the spice that it had SUPERBLY. Between the setting, the characters, the plot, and the spice, this was such a well rounded book!!

Overall a 4.5/5 for me.

Due to the St. Martin's Press boycott, I will not be publicly sharing my review until further notice.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of this book. This in no way affects my review, all opinions are my own.

Casey McQuiston is one of the few romance writers that I enjoy reading and as always, her book did not disapoint. This story follows Theo and Kit, childhood best friends and now estranged exes who find themselves on the same European food and wine tour, an experience they'd booked together years prior but didn't think the other would be on at the same time.

The set up? Ridiculous, I love it. It's a very sort-of cute and corny way to introduce the characters and their personalities. I instantly loved both of them and really enjoyed getting their backstories of what they'd done throughout their years apart to bring them to the present in Europe. Also I just have to say, I started reading this book HOME from my trip to Italy (I never read book synopses before I start them) and this whole story made me just want to get on a flight back to Europe immediately.

This book is spicy! I hate spice without plot, but luckily that was never the case here. Theo and Kit were so complicated and had so much depth, I loved watching them grow and learn throughout this book. The side characters were also very fun (albiet a little over-the-top) but I think they really added some light-hearted energy to the story. This was the perfect summer romance read and I really enjoyed it!

I think I should just get over this author's books. I had a great time reading Red, White and Royal Blue and since then, I've read most of McQuinston's releases and none of them kept up with RWaRB. The Pairing was not different. I didn't feel like I was getting what the synopsis told me so. I didn't fall in love with these characters and their story. It's a pity, because I was really looking forward for this.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I love a story of two people finding their way back to each other, and Theo and Kit are really interesting leads. The concept intrigued me, and I love everything Casey McQuiston. What worked for me was the way their story was written, with the flashbacks coming through throughout the story.

But, I'm going to be honest--this book reads like a book that was written with the intentions of being a Netflix Movie. You know what I mean, the rich detail, beautiful places, lack of interesting side characters. It's kind of like Eat Pray Love, but with hyper sexual gen-zers. I think the secondary characters are often flat, idealized versions of what the people are believed to be. As is, it's a fine book. But, it didn't have the level of interest and engagement I expected (especially because RWRB is one of my absolute favorite books.

My question for everyone: is Europe just full of ready and willing bisexuals?

I give this book 3/5 stars.