This book is a total VIBE! I’m a huge McQuiston fan and they do not disappoint in this newest novel coming out August 6th!! Theo and Kit each narrate — Theo for the first half and Kit for the second half. Getting to hear things from both perspectives is amazing and while there is definitely miscommunication… it’s actually more of a “what if” sort of feel and learning. I love the way McQuiston incorporates descriptions of food, wine and places! It was so easy to picture and even imagine how things would taste! This book is definitely SPICY!! I spent a lot of time smiling and chuckling while reading this!

Deeply emotional and beautifully written, the most unique romance I've ever read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Okay, I should have known based on the premise alone that this book was not going to be for me but I've loved Casey's other books so I wanted to give this one a try. I should have trusted my instincts. That doesn't make this a bad book, all of the 5 star reviews indicate that, it is just not for me and is not the kind of romance I enjoy reading.

One of my favorite things about Casey's previous books was how quickly I loved each character (and the side characters) and wanted nothing but good things for them as they figured out their lives and romantic entanglements. Unfortunately I didn't really like Theo or Kit all that much. I do love that we go both of their prospectives but I just didn't find myself really rooting for them or wanting them to be together.

The hardest thing for me was definitely all of the hooking up with other people Theo and Kit did for the first half of the book. I dislike romance books where the main characters are dating and or sleeping with other people outside of the endgame pairing (unless the characters are poly but that is totally different). It's not that I don't approve of casual sex (though my poor demisexual brain has a hard time understanding why strangers get people so horny) but it's hard to enjoy or read those scenes because they feel so pointless. Why do I need to read about Theo and Kit sleeping with other people when I just want them to be together and figure their shit out! We do get this in the second half but by then I just didn't care anymore.

I did give this book 3 stars because the descriptions of the cities and food and wine all over Europe was absolutely the best part. You can tell a lot research went into that part of the book and I really felt like I was there enjoying all those places with Theo and Kit.

So yeah, this book was just not for me but I think if casual sex, messy characters, beautiful descriptions of Europe are your thing you will enjoy this book.

It took quite a while for me to begin to enjoy this book. The second half was much better than the beginning. Definitely my least fave of CMQs books so far but overall still ended up being a decent read.

Ahh, Casey McQuiston does it again! In fact--and I can't believe I'm going to say this--but I liked it better than Red, White, and Royally Blue. And I looooved that one.

McQuiston's latest, The Pairing, is the most fun I've had with a contemporary romance in months. The food, the spicy scenes, the pining. All of it was excellent. I think this might be my new fave of this author!

I really enjoy Casey McQuiston books. I always know they are going to be good. That being said, this is my least favorite. I enjoyed the second half much more than the first half which is really boosting this rating. I think it just felt a little too repetitive? Go to new city, eat, drink, hook-up, repeat. I like the idea more than the execution. But Theo and Kit are sweet and complicated and flawed and very human.

CMQ had me at Sluts in Europe, and this book delivered so completely.

It also made me hungry, so, you know. Have something tasty nearby when you read. But the sheer gender of the book, the eroticism, the sensations and emotions evoked in every line drip just like Kit's fancy honey. It's funny and sweet with a heavy dash of pining that made me long for something I've never even had (is there a word for that?).

I'm already looking forward to reading this again because it made me feel all the feels, and those are the best kinds of books. Casey is a master of words and this is indeed a masterpiece.

I had no idea what to expect with this books besides I’m trying to read more Queer reads, and The Pairing definitely fit the bill. I had the eBook and audio and read both ways. I liked how it was split into both POVs. I did find it weird that each character had their own narrator but then used that narrator to pretend to be them too. I didn’t really care for their voices either.
I did find the story super fun and I love the idea of travelling and doing foodie tours, it made me hungry and want to do the same tour. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers slow burn story. I enjoyed the no reservations, let loose vacation that resulted in our characters figuring out what they need in life.
I’d recommend this to other readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for my copies.

CMQ done did it again. I find myself saying "This is their best so far" at every new release.

Authentically honest, incredibly witty, and occasionally spicy makes this a fantastic Summer Read..

Still flabbergasted at getting an ARC Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!!

I wanted to like The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, but it didn’t resonate with me as I had hoped. While the book had moments of promise, it ultimately fell short of my taste.

There were some aspects I enjoyed: the charming European tour vibes, the mouth-watering descriptions of foods and wines, and the consistency in detailing the characters. The author clearly did her research in bringing the story to life, and even as a non-wine drinker, I felt like I understood a lot of what the characters experienced on this tour. The nostalgic element of rekindling old friendships was a nice touch, and while I am normally not a fan of second-chance romance, I had no problem with it here.

However, the book had several drawbacks for me. I found myself wanting every single smut scene to be over as soon as it started; none of them were sexy to me, and all felt awkward and very weird. I was also hoping for more European adventures. While there were brief glimpses of bike rides and beach days, the majority of the story focused on the characters hooking up in ways that didn’t appeal to me and being horney for eachother.

The characters themselves were a mixed bag and I didn't love either of them and they were just meh. Theo, who I wanted to like cause they were funny, came across as selfish and acting like a frat boy who refused help from anyone—overall, a Nepo baby. Kit, while initially promising and sweet, turned out to be a pushover (and a sub in bed) and was just not sexy to me. Despite these issues, Theo and Kit are the perfect pair for each other, balancing each other out with their contrasting strengths and weaknesses. I loved how the author demonstrated that. This was a well-written couple just not personally my type of couple I enjoy.

I was on the verge of giving up on the book on several occasions. When it switched to Kit's POV, that was my saving grace to continue this book. His perspective kept me reading a bit longer, offering a more romantic and engaging narrative that aligned better with my reading style. I wish the book had bounced back and forth between the two perspectives to better show the growth of their relationship and their growing love for one another. Despite this improvement, I still had to force myself to finish the book.

This book might be a great fit for fans who enjoy steamy romance with a European travel backdrop; it just didn’t work for me.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Casey McQuiston for this early copy!

I absolutely adore Red, White, and Royal Blue! So, when I saw this available to request on NetGalley, I HAD to request it! The synopsis definitely drew me in. When I found out that it was a friends to lovers second chance romance, I was pumped!

I rated this book 3 stars because I honestly see so much potential in the storyline. In theory, I should’ve loved this book. But, I DNF’d it pretty early on. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad book, I just don’t think it’s the book for me. I unfortunately wasn’t able to connect to the characters no matter how bad I wanted to.

A lot of people are going to love this book, but unfortunately I’m not one of them. And it makes me extremely sad.

Casey McQuiston is an amazing writer and I will continue to read everything they write.

Here’s my mixed review. I've enjoyed many of the author's previous books, but this one was a struggle. The premise was good, and the characters had potential beyond their obsessions. However, the overwhelming focus on their sexual encounters was off-putting. Kit and Theo were constantly trying to outdo each other, and every character they met was attractive, horny, and bisexual. The story seemed less about their personal growth since their breakup and more about their numerous sexual encounters across Europe. I ended up skimming many scenes because they felt repetitive. If the book had been 30% shorter, with a more distinctive supporting cast and fewer hookups, I would have enjoyed it more. Sadly, the repetition made it hard to care about their reconciliation. Despite this, I appreciated the development of their feelings, the vivid descriptions of food and wine, and some of the sex scenes. I'll continue to read the author's work, hoping for characters and plots with more depth in the future.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. The extremely long chapters and it felt like nothing was happening. I wasn’t able to finish this one. Thank you for the opportunity!

Theo and Kit broke up on a transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, but the time apart has done them both good. Theo has found confidence as a bartender and an aspiring sommelier, while Kit has graduated as a pastry chef and works in one of the finest restaurants in Paris. They each have an unused voucher for the European food and wine tour that is valid for 48 months from the original date and it's about to expire. They each decide that now's a good time to take this trip - separately. But when Theo boards the tour bus and finds Kit on it, realizing they both had the exact same idea and are now trapped together for the next three weeks, it gets a lot more complicated.

THE PAIRING is a pleasantly surprising story that takes course over three weeks in various European cities along a food and wine tour. Each chapter of this book features a new location with new foods and wines to lust over. The settings and imagery of each location is expertly described, leaving a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The food and wine pairings are well-researched, exquisite, and honestly sound divine. I liked how each pairing evoked memories in some manner for the two MCs and served for some lusty banter between the two as they regressed into old habits of one-upping the other with food or drink creations.

The first half of the book is told in Theo's POV, which while I enjoyed, was overly sexualized and filled with their self-sabotage. The latter half of the novel is told in Kit's POV which I found to be refreshing. Each of the main characters is flawed, yet realistic and relatable, with excellent chemistry. I liked the varied sexual representations the characters display which feels to be written authentically and with care. The competition that crops up between the two is a lot of fun and quite spicy. The romance is ripe with pining and lust, but also a deep emotional attachment developed over years of friendship. I do think that I liked Kit's POV more-so than Theo's because Kit's POV offered more context to their shared past and the steps towards their possible future. The character growth and self-discovery of both characters is well-written and genuine. I liked seeing the conclusions they came to over the course of the story and absolutely adored the epilogue.

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin's Griffin, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.</i>

This is the first Casey McQuiston book that I didn't like. It was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it breaks my heart that I didn't have a good time with it. Some people will enjoy it because it has Casey's usual wit and compelling writing that draws you in from the very first page. The plot just wasn't my cup of tea.

In theory, this book should have worked for me because friends to lovers and second-chance romance are two of my favorite tropes. The idea of going on a food and wine tour through Europe sounds amazing. What I didn't like was that the book revolves around the main characters engaging in a hookup competition. I can't stand it when the main characters spend most of the book sleeping with other people if they're supposed to be in love with each other. It felt icky. They were using other people, not being honest with each other, and making the same mistakes over, and over again.

I'm so torn on how to rate this one. I think it's possible some readers will love it. I really didn't. There were times I enjoyed it and times I hated it, but mostly it was just not my jam. I think it works best as sort of a light vacation read, and there were so many aspects that almost worked for me or could have worked for me if they were just done differently. A low budget tour with more laughs would have been way more my cup of tea than all these rich people and this pretentious prattle.

Unfortunately, I did not like either MC much, and Theo especially wore on my nerves. I never felt these MCs could communicate. I never felt they grew. They kept making the same immature mistakes and jumping to conclusions and having misunderstandings and refusing to be honest with one another. I'm all for sex positivity and was fine with the hook ups, until one particular sex scene that was such a NOPE for me. The participants aren't being honest with one another and are inviting someone else to take part who they also aren't being honest with and it felt awful and so uncomfortable to read. Even the sex scenes between the MCs which had elements I find super hot were meh because I didn't like the MCs and felt they had no emotional connection.

This was a particularly frustrating read because so much about it was almost something I'd love. But at it was The Pairing was definitely not a match for me.

“Take care of good love when you find it.” ☀️

Coming out on August 6, The Pairing by Casey McQuiston follows two exes (Theo & Kit) as they accidentally end up on the same European food and wine tour—stuck together for three weeks after a catastrophic breakup in the middle of a transatlantic flight four years prior. And to prove that they’re over each other, they challenge each other to a hookup competition while on said tour. Surely nothing can go wrong, right?

If you’ve read anything by Casey, then you’ll already know that their books are filled with heart, and The Pairing is no exception. While this book will make you hungry—everything Theo and Kit eat on their tour sounds unreal—it will also make you laugh, cry, and swoon. All of the things.

Kit and Theo are perfectly imperfect, and they’re perfectly themselves. I loved being in both of their heads with the dual POV, and their voices were unique which made them feel even more real. They’re funny and natural, and it’s not hard to believe that they have a long and sordid history. And in between those moments of humor and lust and tension, there is honesty and vulnerability. There are open conversations about gender identity and sexuality; this story is a beautiful portrayal of being “outside the norm,” and these characters are going to burrow themselves in countless readers’ hearts. I, for one, want to hug both of them.

The way that Casey writes The Pairing is very descriptive. The places they visit, the foods they eat, and the drinks they taste are painted so well that it felt like I was right there on the tour with them. In fact, I often felt like I was intruding on Theo & Kit’s lives.

In any case, if you are in need of a messy, tension-filled second-chance romance, make sure you head to your local bookstore on August 6th to pick up The Pairing!

And a big thank you to St Martin’s Press and Casey McQuiston for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
Rating: 3 stars
Pub date: 8/6

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy and Macmillan Audio for my complimentary audiobook. #macaudio2024

I need to start by saying that I love Casey McQuiston and that Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of my favorite romances of all time. The Pairing is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

In The Pairing, Casey McQuiston takes readers on a bumpy ride through a European food and wine tour, where exes Theo and Kit unexpectedly reunite. Despite a messy breakup, they find themselves trying to mend their friendship by competing in a hookup contest to prove they're over each other. But as they travel through stunning cities and savor delicious cuisines, it's clear their feelings are anything but resolved.

The book sets up an enticing premise that I could not wait to dive into: a hookup competition between exes who are still pining for one another…in Europe?! That sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the story ends up being a whirlwind of superficial experiences, with the characters hopping from one meaningless hookup to the next while claiming to still be in love with each other. My poor romantic heart just couldn’t take it.

And while I laughed out loud a few times at Theo's antics, the portrayal of Europe as a utopia for young, beautiful people ready to party feels a bit over the top and unrealistic. Everywhere Theo and Kit go, there’s someone there who’s willing to sleep with them. Also, while the food sounds delicious, the whole first half of the book is about eating, drinking, and hooking up with strangers. That’s it, in that order. There’s very little substance to Theo’s character, and I found them to be a bit insufferable most of the time.

The second half switches to Kit’s POV, and I enjoyed his character a lot more. Unfortunately, the romance lacks the emotional depth that I expected. For a second chance romance to work, there has to be some on-page conversations about the past relationship and why it didn’t work, etc. Most of the relationship’s history and feelings happen off-page, making it hard to root for these two and connect with their love story.
While the idea of a second-chance romance is appealing, the lack of meaningful moments makes it fall flat. This book is getting great reviews, so you should still check it out and form your own opinion!

Read if you like:
*snappy one-liners
*bisexual representation
*books about food and travel

When you read The Pairing by Casey McQuinston you are not only get a love story between the main characters, but you also get to go on a beautiful trip throughout Europe exploring the country through the landscape, food, and native people who live there. It's a true sensory experience and you truly get the feel of what the characters are experiencing through the deep descriptions of everything going on around them.

Read this one for:
-Childhood crush
- Second chance
- Only one bed
- Lots of Queer rep
- Forced proximity
- Road trip
- Just a hookup

Kit and Theo had an intense breakup years ago and now find that they both decide to take the trip they booked years ago for a European food and wine tour. Now stuck on a tour bus and in close quarters at exclusive tastings and hotels, they are forced to be together again and confront their past and who they are now.

As they go on their journey eating and drinking their way through Europe, Kit and Theo begin to rebuild their friendship and start to trust one another again. Their intense chemistry and love for one another can't be denied even when they think they can play games with one another of just hooking up as not a couple.

There's a lot of messy mess before the two can be together. Both Kit and Theo had so much internalized about what they thought about the other and how they felt, that it took them awhile to let those walls down and be able to communicate their true feelings.

It was really unique to have the first part of the book in only Theo's POV and then the second in Kit's POV. I thought the narrators both did a fantastic job.

Thank you SMP and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

THE PAIRING was a book that, unfortunately, I don’t think was for me. There are a variety of reasons, which I’ll highlight, as to why that is. However, I think that this book had its moments and that just because it wasn’t a book that I fully enjoyed, that others will not. Therefore, my review is going to be as objective as possible, highlighting what I perceive to be positives and negatives of the book.

I think my biggest issue with the book is the book up narrative. As a romance novel, when two characters are clearly in love with each other like Theo and Kit are, you want them to be exclusively with each other or at least express that love through their actions. The hookup scenes were tough to read because of that. Additionally, Theo’s POV was pretty boring. It’s only when we switch to Kit’s POV that I became invested, which is about halfway through the book. I found the excessive drink and food descriptions to be draining and mostly skipped those after a while. And the narrative structure was repetitive with food and drink description, banter between Theo and Kit, hook ups with others. Repeat.

Now, with those negatives come positives. Some people might want to step away from the traditional romance novel ideology. Some may say that characters of Theo and Kit are bisexual and nonbinary messes in the best way. Through them, the author showcases the depth of human emotions and how MESSY love can truly be. That felt authentic. The SPICE was top tier. The food and drink specific descriptions are lush and vivid. You can tell that the author did a lot of research and that it creates this atmosphere that you can get lost in while you read. And the narrative structure created angst for those that enjoy.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me. But that doesn’t mean it’s not for others. If you like LQBTQIA+ centered romances with those themes, messy characters, spice, angst, and very detailed descriptions of food, drinks, and scenery, this is your book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.