Estranged childhood friends-turned-lovers-turned-exes, Kit and Theo, unknowingly book the same European food and wine tour four years after they were originally supposed to take it together. They went from being childhood best friends to lovers to never speaking again, and now they’re stuck together on a tour bus for the next three weeks.

They’re full of hurt and pain, longing and tension, and four years’ worth of memories they didn’t make together.

This one has two tropes guaranteed to make my heart hurt—friends to lovers and second chance romance—so going in, I already knew I was going to spend a good chunk of the time with an ache in my chest.

Oh my poor heart.

The writing is beautiful.

The location descriptions made me want to pack my bags.

I loved the focus on seeking wonder and the bits of humor peppered throughout.

And don’t even get me started on how the food and drink descriptions had me salivating.

This one is dual POV, and whereas most books written in that structure have alternating points-of-view throughout the story, this one is written with the first half from Theo’s perspective and the second from Kit’s.

That change in perspective was a game changer for me.

Oh gosh, I sure do adore Kit.

There are definitely moments and decisions made that feel less than mature, but ultimately, I could see where each character is coming from and I was happy with the ending.

Additional highlights: all the Anthony Bourdain references, the other people on the tour, and Fabrizio, the gregarious tour guide

I received an advance copy of the ebook from St. Martin's Press. All review opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐️

4.5 stars



I absolutely LOVED the time I spent with this book. Normally I read over the course of a few days -- this book so delighted me that I spread it out over the course of two months. It is an absolute feast for the eyes, with so many incredible-sounding foods and wines that I am still furious I cannot eat right away. (Don't worry, I'm a fantastic cook, I'll be attempting a bunch of them.)

While this book is being described as the ~slutty bisexual summer~ romance novel (don't worry, it is all that), I feel like a more accurate way to describe this book is ~horny for life~. There is so much almost tangible joy and celebration of all that makes us human -- food, travel, sex, connection. (Connection, connection, connection!!)

And while I didn't love all aspects of this book (Theo's nepo baby struggles were such an eyeroll), I still adored it. I am waiting on my pre-order to arrive, and I fully plan to buy several copies for friends' birthday and holiday gifts. I so strongly recommend this book -- it's a romance novel, but it's also something special beyond that. Do yourself a favor & check it out.

Casey has such a talent for creating characters that are so real and I absolutely loved being in the world of The Pairing.

I love that it's written through the point-of-view of Theo and Kit. My favorite was pastry chef Kit because I constantly saw and smelled the pastries.

Enchanting. Beautiful imagery. Perfection.

I love Casey McQuiston’s books so this was a highly anticipated read but this one didn’t live up to my expectations. I really struggled getting through this one.

I liked the travelling adventures and shenanigans Theo and Kit did throughout the book. And some of the cuisine and wine that was described from across their Europe travels sounded so delicious.

Kit and Theo seemed to have a few things in common, like their hairstyles, being in the food & drink industry, and being totally in love with each other but their characters were honestly a bit immature despite the promise that they had both grown up. They were also so obsessed with one-upping each other in their sex competition that it made me lose interest in whether they got back together. Separately though, their characters had promise.

Overall, this was an alright read. I felt it could have been shorter because it lagged in the middle and got boring and repetitive. Also, there were so many descriptions of the food, the places they visited, and the people they interacted with, that it was a lot of information to process and didn’t really feel necessary.

That being said, I will still look forward to reading more books from Casey.

The Pairing is Casey McQuiston's third adult romance, and the story is told from both POVs, with Theo narrating the first half of the book, and Kit narrating the last half. CMQ has been quoted saying they are "Trojan-horsing a trans romance" with this book - one of the characters is non binary and the other is cis, and both are bi. CMQ has also said they wanted to flip the "bisexual slut" cliché - what if they really are bisexual sluts? Is that really so bad?
I love CMQ's voice and style of writing, and it really shines through in descriptions of art, landscape, and food. I did feel that this book was lacking some heart, but I admire the intention of celebrating all queer love and stories (not just the easy to digest, cis gendered, coming out stories). If the Olympics is making you dream of Europe, pick this up. This is absolutely their spiciest book yet, so if you want some spice in your life, pick this up. It's out now!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary 
Kit and Theo have been friends since they were small, so things felt very natural when their friendship turned romantic as they approached adulthood. They planned a trip to Europe, during which they would enjoy a 3-week tour through France and Italy. But a relationship-ending fight on the plane had them requesting vouchers for a future trip, and going their separate ways for good. Four years later, the vouchers are about to expire, so they end up on the same tour, unbeknownst to each other. What ensues is a lot of food, wine, reminiscing, and a competition to see who can sleep with their sexy tour guide first. But why stop with Fabrizio? They decide to make it a Euro-tour of hookups, but will they be able to stay away from each other amongst the flirting and temptation? 
 
Why did I pick up this book? 
I was gifted an advanced copy, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I requested this advanced copy, though, because I have really enjoyed McQuiston's other books! 
 
What did I enjoy about it? 
This book was so incredibly descriptive, I felt like I was on the tour. From the sights, the sounds, the food and drinks, it was a book for all senses and made me want to go back to Europe (and my twenties) so badly. I loved that each city was another step for Kit and Theo, as if each new destination was moving them closer together. The dozens of side characters were also such a treat!  

What did I not enjoy about it?  
While the descriptions were beautifully written, it made the story drag a bit. There were many moments I would find myself wanting to skim to get to some plot development because there was almost too much description of every morsel they ate. I also felt as though this four-year conflict between the pair was resolved unrealistically quickly and simply.  This is the person you love/loves you most and you hurt each other, then one conversation and it's fixed? Hmm.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy! This was a great summer read! I adored both characters and their relationship. The setting was spectacular and reading about all the food/wine was a treat. The story had a lot of heart as both characters knew so much about each other but still kept discovering more about each other when they reconnected. This was a really solid read!!
Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher!

This was a fun and sexy story. I loved traveling through Europe with the characers and seeing the hijinks they got into. There was strong character development and I thought the ending was well done.

Casey McQuiston is the GOAT of writing the best characters & friend groups! I'm obsessed every time. Kit, Theo, & the rest of their European tour companions were no different. They were all so much fun, especially Fabrizio! This book truly felt like a love letter to food & drinks. I don't think I've ever been more hungry while reading a book lol. The push and pull between Kit & Theo had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt like I was turning each page faster than the last. I felt every single emotion so strongly & really related to both Theo & Kit in many ways. I literally stared at the wall for 20 minutes after finishing the book because I just didn't know what to do with myself now that I was done.

I really felt like I was traveling through Europe with their group & it made me so nostalgic for my own tour through Spain & Italy a decade ago.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Casey McQuiston for sending me an early copy!

The Pairing has McQuiston's classic playfulness, which makes it a summery delight to read. Picturesque settings and a deliciously nonplussed protagonist engage the reader from the first page, and the author's quick wit keeps the pace moving. My only critique was that it was not clear from the early chapters that Theo was nonbinary, especially because they referred to themself as someone's "daughter" at one point. However; I appreciated having the dual perspectives in a nontraditional format, and I felt it gave the story a new dimension. Fans of A.R. Capetta's The Heartbreak Bakery, Casey McQuinston's other works, and Rainbow Rowell will love this Queer European romp.

I've been a fan of Casey McQuiston's since RWRB and found I've been chasing those feelings since. The Pairing comes very close to that, but is its own beautiful thing. I absolutely loved Kit and Theo's story. Reading this book truly felt like being on a tour of romantic European stops with them. The food, locations, people, and culture were all highlighted so beautifully and it's very obvious that McQuiston did their research.

These exes are not lacking chemistry and their attempt to rebuild a friendship in pursuit of peace was so entertaining as it was filled with hijinks and exploring Europe together.

I will read anything by CMQ and am so happy I got the chance to review this one.

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

This was a fun and adventurous read that certainly satisfied some of my wanderlust but it was also emotional and sweet and deep. I really found the exploration of the character's feelings and doubts about themselves interesting to read and Casey McQuiston handles so many different character moments with ease and gentleness. I found some of this to be a bit too spicy for me personally but I was able to skim a few of those parts ;)

This novel is so beautifully decadent… delicious, even! The language is evocative without feeling excessive, and the characters are two perfectly flawed, wonderfully queer people just trying to find their way in the world. I loved the way the forced proximity trope was handled in this setting, and I loved being able to go on this trip with them. Kit reminded me that I need to live my life finding wonder in all things, and Theo… Theo helped me finally put words to the reasons I’ve never left my hometown, and showed me some things I hadn’t recognized in myself. This was just such a beautiful story, and I can’t wait to read it again.

Also — I need Calums content!!

Casey McQuiston’s ‘The Pairing’ was a queer romance that captured the beauty of travel, good food, and community. As a foodie and avid traveler, I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the food and wine that the characters explore throughout Spain, Italy, and France and I definitely bookmarked several locations to visit on my future travels.

One of the standout elements of the book was the inclusion of a non-binary character, whose gender identity and pronouns were thoughtfully addressed, and their journey felt incredibly authentic. The romance between Kit and Theo was so loving and tender, and they might be my second favorite Casey McQuiston couple (August and Jane 4ever!!!!) .

Overall, 'The Pairing' was a delightful read and I look forward to Casey McQuiston’s next book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seeing a lot of the stuff being shared leading up to the release of this book, I began to worry that maybe this one wasn’t going to be my cup of tea and now, after having read it, it turns out I was right. I know that there will be loads of people who love this book, but it wasn’t for me. There’s no doubt that Casey did their homework with all the rich descriptions of the various places in Europe where these characters visited and the copious amounts of food and wine they consumed - it could very nearly double as a travel guide for these places. But there were soooooo many of them that it made the story drag and the plot became buried beneath pages and pages of exposition. Perhaps if I were a little more worldly or a foodie (or a beautiful and perpetually horny European), I would have appreciated it more but it was all lost on me. But again, these are very much “me” problems and if someone who’s into that sort of thing picks up this book, they’ll probably enjoy it more.

The romance didn’t really hit for me either. All of Kit and Theo’s prior relationship happens off-page, before the story starts and we’re just told how much they loved each other and how hard their breakup was for each of them. But, once they were reunited, even though they were extremely sexually compatible, I struggled to see what else their relationship offered. I actually bought into their friendship more than I did their romantic pairing. Second-chance romances are a tricky thing.

One part I did particularly like, though, was when Theo came out to Kit with their new pronouns. I loved the way they framed it and how easily Kit made the mental shift to accept Theo as they were. That was probably the scene that drew the most emotion out to me while reading.

I have a lot more I could say, but it’s nothing that hasn’t already been said in other reviews I’ve seen so I’ll leave it at that. It’s a little bit of a bummer that I couldn’t connect with it but it wasn’t wholly unexpected.

First Impressions: Tourists
What’s Your Type? Second-Chance Romance, Queer Romance, Sleeping Your Way Through Europe, So Much Tasty Business, Seriously, So Much Tasty Business
Meet Cute: Is This Seat Taken?
The Lean: Second—and First—Chances
Dirty Talk: Taste the Continent
We Need to Talk: Packing My Passport
Was it Good For You? Endless Fondue

First Impressions: Tourists
This cover is striking, and I dig the map-print shirts. But I can’t help but wonder why Steve Harrington modeled for it?

What’s Your Type?
Second-Chance Romance
Queer Romance
Sleeping Your Way Through Europe
So Much Tasty Business
Seriously, So Much Tasty Business

Dating Profile
Theo Flowerday is the eldest child of a famous Hollywood family and the only member who isn’t in the limelight. Content with life working as an assistant sommelier and cocktail bartender, Theo is happy with life and a long list of casual lovers.

Kit Fairfield thinks Paris is the right place for him and his life as a pastry chef. Half-French, he too has experienced his fair share of sexual partners and lives a life that delights the senses.

Meet Cute: Is This Seat Taken?
Four years ago, Kit and Theo broke up after twenty years of being best friends and many years of being lovers. They haven’t spoken since that fateful day when they argued on their way to a three-week food and wine tour of Europe, and Kit moved to Paris while Theo went home to California. Theo decides to take the very last opportunity to go on the tour and gets a huge surprise when Kit’s on the bus, too.

The Lean: Second—and First—Chances
When they realize they’ll be stuck together for three weeks, Theo and Kit attempt to be friendly. But their friendship quickly turns into a competition to see which of them can hook up with more people along the way—even though both of them want desperately to get back together. Although the competition soon leads them back to each other, the actual romance of the thing takes nearly to the end of the book to come (heh) to fruition. There is so much sex in this book, but the swoon takes a serious backseat, which disappointed me quite a bit.

Dirty Talk: Taste the Continent
So much of The Pairing boils down to the five senses and the gift that is good food and drink. The spice level of the book is high, in every sense of the term.

Ms. Perky’s Prize for Purplest Prose
There’s so much beauty in The Pairing, as one might expect from a book about a sumptuous European tour, but the descriptions of food and locales can veer toward purple territory at times.

We Need to Talk: Packing My Passport
As much as I felt like I needed a shower after reading The Pairing, it still made me want to take a tour like the one Theo and Kit go on. The food! The drink! The museums! The scenery! The architecture! I’d gain 15 pounds every day from all the rich eating and lose (some of) it thanks to all the walking.

Was it Good For You? Endless Fondue
I love Red, White, & Royal Blue and One Last Stop, so I was eagerly looking forward to The Pairing. Where McQuiston’s other books have a magical mix of swoon and spice, this book leans too heavily in the spice direction, at least for me. I saw a Goodreads review that described it as McQuiston’s “sluttiest book yet,” and this is an apt description. (No shame meant!) I wanted more than a few passages about the love shared between Theo and Kit and needed more than the physicality of their relationship to believe it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the ARC!

I have been a big Casey McQuiston fan for a while now and was so excited to see this approval ARC in my inbox. I appreciated Theo and Kit's journey back to each other and through Europe - the love story was woven through beautiful descriptive language about food, scenery and sex.

I think for me personally, I found the sex a little too much for my taste. I am not a prude, but there were certain scenes that made me uncomfortable. This is all personal preference, but I would have preferred a couple of trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you again for the ARC!

This second-chance romance definitely scratches a late-summer itch. Theo, Kit, and a delightful and wacky cast of characters take the reader with them on a fabulous (and delicious) European tour filled with McQuiston's signature mix of snappy banter and deep emotion. Theo and Kit's history is beautifully woven into the story, and each point of view has a wonderful and distinctive voice. Foodies, wine afficionados, and readers who love a spicy LGBTQ+ romance will all find something to love here.

This was such a layered summer read--a second chance full of McQuiston's wit and humor, lust and longing, and wine and SPICE! Kit and Theo are childhood friends turned lovers who endure a brutal breakup on a flight to their three-week European food and wine tour. Things are said, and not said, and they don't speak for years until they both use their travel vouchers and wind up on the same food tour. As they traipse their way through Europe drinking and eating, they continue to miscommunicate all while running a bet on who can sleep with the most people (to ignore the fact that they just want each other).

At times, I was frustrated by their inability to open their mouths and proclaim their love, but McQuiston mindfully develops their backstories and their baggage--Theo is studying to be a sommelier and feeling lost in their inability to make a profit off their cocktail bus business and avoiding taking money from their actress sisters and director father; Kit is a successful pastry chef who still smarts from the loss of his mother and his awkward relationship with his father. Because their formative lives were so entwined, it's easy to root for them, and their shared history creates such electricity of wanting...their sexual chemistry is just everything, and I was happy to go along for the ride. McQuiston's prose is gorgeous and decadent, just like the main characters, and makes me want to expedite my return to Europe. Foodies will enjoy this book as well, as long as they know they are in for trysts and threesomes and no vanilla sex. The side characters are charming and funny (that flirty Fabrezio!), but lack the true connection and depth I felt with some of the side characters in Red, White, and Royal Blue (long live the Whitehouse trio!).

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

I feel so sad that I didn’t like this book. Maybe it just didn’t vibe with my forte of romances in books and honestly, that’s on me. This has been marketed as a very sex-positive book and it is! Love that. However, it’s somewhat unrealistic in my opinion that everyone would want you all of the time, everywhere. Maybe I’m just not hot enough lol. Anyway, I’m forever a Casey McQuiston fan, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.