“The Pairing” by Casey McQuiston 5/5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book and the audiobook!

“The Pairing” follows exes, Theo and Kit, as they accidentally reunite on a food and wine tour across southern Europe.

If you have been following me, you know how much I adore Casey McQuiston’s books. This book was (unsurprisingly) fantastic.

I LOVE Theo and Kit. I found myself so connected to both of them. All of the characters in this book, even the side characters, felt so human and real. This aspect combined with the stunning descriptions of European scenery and food made the reading/listening experience so immersive.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a beautiful, emotional, summery book! It comes out on August 6th!

Warning: This is the Horniest Book You Will Ever Read — because it’s horny for everything. It’s breathlessly horny — for sex and food and booze and wine and art and architecture and Europe and life.

THIS is a summer read. More specifically, it’s a European Food and Wine Vacation Summer Read. I should have waited until I was on my vacation in Italy to read it, because my trip is going to be the same… except fewer (no?) bisexual hookups and way more hiking.

BFFs turned couple turned exes end up on the same food-and-wine-tour-of-Europe together. Theo is a sommelier and bartender, Kit’s a pastry chef. They decide to have a friendly hookup competition.

I mean, this thing sucked me in with all the food and the wine and the booze and the Europe. Though I was mostly like, “OK, author, I know you only wrote this so you could expense this same exact trip…” I mean, why not, good for you….

Now, I know what you’re thinking — how can you have a romance when the people are hooking up with other people? I had the same question, since that’s not normally something I’d go for. But it somehow WORKS. Is it all vibes, no plot? Pretty much - but the vibes are vibing.

I’ve always liked this author and it was just more of the same here… funny and real and sexy and fun and joyful. It’s a lot. Like, god bless, Theo and Kit… have at it, kids. Frankly, it sounds exhausting to me.

(Got this early from NetGalley and waited too long to read it — it almost ceased to put the A in ARC.)

Theo has to be one of the most insufferable MCs I’ve ever read. I don’t mind an unlikeable MC, but I need growth. Theo doesn’t have that growth and is just…beyond intolerable. A whiny, woe-is-me nepo baby does not make me a sympathetic reader. Theo’s POV takes up the first half of the book, and I hated their internal monologue. So so much. 10/10 would not want to know this person in real life. While Kit’s POV is slightly better, it’s mostly him being horny for Theo and expressing those feelings by thinking about poetry that reminds him of Theo. I do not care enough about either of them to be invested in a HEA.

2.5 stars

I'm bummed I didn't love this because it was one of my most anticipated books of the year. However, this author has been hit or miss for me (loved RWRB and OLS but HATED IKSW). The whole first half of the book was maddening to me. It felt both pretentious and immature. Everyone wanted to have sex with the MCs, everyone was bisexual, nobody would have an honest conversation, it was just too much and felt incredibly repetitive. Then to find out this massive breakup was just a miscommunication?? And speaking of, in all their years of friendship and being together, they didn't have one mutual friend they both kept in touch with who would've heard both sides and been like "hey yall are being dumb!" Also, they are 28 now! That feels too old to me to be in a deep hoe phase and refusing to talk! Plus, so many people push the stereotype of bisexuals being slutty and this did nothing but perpetuate that more.

I will say, I much preferred the second half of the book maybe because it was Kit's POV. Had it started with Kit or even had a constant switching of POV, I think i would have liked it better. What saved the book from a lower rating was the hookup contest mostly ending at the 50% mark and finally getting Kit's POV.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

First 20% was great. I loved the whole tour of Europe setting. The plot was just redundant and we had to wait for them to visit cities to finally say it

I personally love all of Casey McQuistons books! I am a avid reader of LGBTQ+ fiction. This book is super cute! I love the story line of two exs meeting again on a vacation! I am not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, so if that is not your cup of tea this one may not be for you. It is also very spicy so you have been warned :)

I’ve seen such mixed reviews for this book that I’ll admit I was nervous going into it. I’m so happy that I didn’t let them cloud my enjoyment. This was so much fun!! Everyone who wished they were on their own euro summer needs this book in their life. It was so enjoyable but also had a lot of heart to it which is what I’ve learned to expect from Casey

Casey McQuiston just has this way of writing romance novels that completely sweep me away. They’re just full of rich atmosphere, complex characters, great chemistry, and unique plots. The Pairing follows two bisexual exes who are accidentally taking the same food and wine tour through Europe. To prove that they’re totally over one another they decide to have a contest to see who can hook up with the most people during the three weeks. Old feelings definitely aren’t going to rekindle between the two of them… right?

I love it when authors can make me love a book with tropes that aren’t my favorites. Second chance romance and friends to lovers never land at the top of my romance trope list, but I thought that this overall story just worked so well. I loved getting to see the glimpses of Kit and Theo’s relationship in the past and why they initially split up. It made it so rewarding to see how they had grown in the years that they were apart and how they could make their relationship work differently this time.

Kit and Theo were both individually compelling characters. The book is told in a dual POV with the first half being in Theo’s perspective then switching to Kit’s for the second half. I loved reading about Kit and Theo’s passion for food and drinks and getting all of McQuistion’s rich descriptions. The explanations of their different family lives and how that impacted them growing up added a lot to the story. I also really loved their chemistry and the different dynamics that were shown through their sex scenes.

While I did have an excellent time reading this book, I didn’t love it quite as much as Casey McQuiston’s other two adult romance novels. The overall story and romance in this book was lower in stakes since it didn’t have the super high concept of Red, White & Royal Blue or One Last Stop. So because the plot was a little more simple I didn’t feel like the book needed to be as long as it was, there were some small moments where it felt like it was dragging a bit. But for the most part I really did love the book. I’m always going to be excited to pick up whatever Casey puts out next. Beautifully written novels full of queer people finding love and getting their happily ever afters? Hell yeah.

Love Casey McQuinston. I will always read whatever they put out. I love that they always incorporate queer love and situations that all humans deal with.

Review withheld due to ongoing boycott of all Macmillan books. Review will be updated once the boycott has ended.

YES! Thank you, Casey McQuiston! This is much more Red, White, and Royal Blue than lesbian ghost sex on a train! And I loved it so much!!

Unfortunately, this book was a big fat DNF for me. I’m so bummed because I loved this author’s other books, but this was just so slow, boring, and the characters were both so unlikeable. I read about 60% and had to give it up.

This was a delightful surprise; I have loved Casey McQuiston's novels in the past, but wasn't as sure about this one at the beginning. It, at first, read a bit more Emily in Paris than I could handle. However, the story gets much more lived-in and charming the further it goes. As with Casey's other novels, the characters outside the main relationship are some of the best parts. Altogether a very fun read for summer: best enjoyed outside, preferably on a European vacation!

This was such an amazing ride from start to finish. This book captivated me and I’m so excited to start drawing these characters. CMQ brought everyone to life and I’m leaving this book happy, hungry and wanting to experience everything everything everything!

The Pairing Review 🍷🍶🥐🍾🧄🥖

4⭐️
3.75🌶️

The only CMQ book that I’ve read in the past is Red White & Royal Blue; The Pairing is completely different, made me feel different emotions, and solidified CMQ as a great author of queer romance.

If you know me, you know that I am an absolute sucker for a good second chance romance, and that is exactly what The Pairing is. Mix that with three weeks in Europe, incredible descriptions of food, and longing looks? I’m sold.

Until I was about 60% into the book I was a little confused by what was going on with Theo’s gender identity and sexuality: the story is intended to be that way for the purpose of a coming out moment. If you’re confused, keep going, it will be explained.

I felt like some elements of this story were heavily over-described and took too long to happen. This book easily could’ve been 50-75 pages less to make the story flow just a tad bit nicer.

Overall, this was a really nice read that gave the best summer abroad vibes, and I’ll be sure to recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Casey McQuiston, and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and enjoy this advanced copy.

This was a beautiful, emotional, fun and funny European vacation of a book, you could almost taste and savor the flavors they were enjoying, and I was routing for the characters from the first few pages, the book was full of the magic of possibility, of fate bringing someone back in your life and your problems being just one conversation away from being solved, it was romantic in a way that broke your heart and put it back together again, it was a queer normative book which I loved so much, everyone they encountered being bi/pan probably wasn't realistic, but I loved it anyway

McQuiston always manages to write the perfect romances. This is my new favorite among their books. I loved the second chance romance between the dynamic main characters. The food descriptions made me want to book a flight to Europe.

CMQ made the wait worth it.

I had hyped this up so much in my mind that I was deeply concerned that it wasn't going to live up to the idea I had in my head.

But Kit and Theo were EVERYTHING. I loved every single moment of this book.

Theo was so relatable. I loved their chaotic queer energy and determination to not be a fuck up.

Kit was such a beautiful soft boy with wonderful feelings and ideas. He was like walking poetry.

The dynamic of these two together. Even when they don't want to be around each other, their chemistry literally jumped off the page.

I loved this book and I cannot wait to reread it.

Ps this book also taught me I am so NOT a foodie hahaha

"The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston is a delightful and emotionally charged journey through some of Europe's most romantic cities, masterfully blending humor, heartache, and rekindled romance. Theo and Kit, once inseparable, find themselves on a collision course with their past when they both decide to use their long-forgotten European tour vouchers separately—only to end up on the same trip.

McQuiston's writing shines with wit and charm as the estranged exes navigate stunning views, delectable cuisines, and an unexpected competition that reignites old sparks. Theo's transformation into a confident bartender and aspiring sommelier contrasts beautifully with Kit's rise as a celebrated pastry chef in Paris, creating a rich tapestry of character development and growth.

The playful wager to woo their tour guide adds a fun and sexy twist, but it's the underlying tension and unresolved feelings between Theo and Kit that truly captivate. As they travel through France, Spain, and Italy, readers are treated to lush descriptions and a poignant exploration of what it means to rediscover love.

"The Pairing" is a must-read for romance enthusiasts, offering a perfect blend of humor, sensuality, and heartfelt moments. McQuiston expertly crafts a story that reminds us sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

This novel is perfect for fans of Casey McQuistion. The main couple is adorable and well-drawn. The second chance love story is crackling with longing. Plus, fans of travel and food will love this one. It's McQuiston's best since Red, White, and Royal Blue.