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.

I think this is one of those books that some people will adore and others will not. I enjoyed parts of it a lot, I really loved the concept, and the writing was truly beautiful. The food and drink and all of the atmosphere of the tour were great - but there was soooo much of it! I could have done with fewer food and drink descriptions and more secondary character development. All of the side characters had so much potential but they were half-formed caricatures. I also felt like the sex competition was really immature and made me root a little less for the MCs’ reunion. I did love all of the beautiful queerness in the book and the friendships that grew. I think I would have liked it better with more focus on the friendships, less on who can bang more people they don’t even really want to bang.

If you really like bougie food and drinks like a whole lot, you’ll probably love this book. I did enjoy it and I’m glad I read it, but I think it could’ve been more.

This book was beyond incredible. RW&RB will always hold a very special place in my heart, but even I have to admit that this book has a level of emotional depth and storytelling that makes it Casey's best (in my opinion, anyway). I think I cried for the middle third, not because I was sad but just because I had so many feelings. This book covers love, friendship, lust, fear of growing up and does it all with such grace and wisdom. I kept saying Casey is in their Emily Henry era because this story has so much depth and complexity that it reminded me of an EH book, but it is also just quintessentially CMQ — sexy and fun and queer and hilarious.

3.75 ⭐️

I adore these little freaks, but can they take a BREAK!
The writing was beautiful and the setting was so majestic, but I think this was just a bit too smut-intense for me personally! Other than that this was such a cute summer book that had me wanting to book another euro trip and enroll in pastry school! Ty to NetGalley for providing me with the arc!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm a big fan of Casey McQuiston's books and was very excited about this one. I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed.

Around 1/3 of the way through, I started to get bored. It felt like the story could have resolved then and been fine. I honestly hated the hookup competition plot point. It felt so juvenile and, while I get that was the point (we adults do silly things when faced with difficult moments), I could've done without it. Also, how do you find that many partners that immediately want to hookup and also are hot and queer? And on an exhausting tour???? The wine and food tour was such a fun concept. I wish it could've just focused on that and re-falling in love with someone from your past after growing up and apart. The parts of the book that did focus on this were good. It could've been such an excellent novel for near 30 year olds, finding our way in the world.

Maybe I missed more thoughts from Theo about their gender identity when the book was from their perspective. The pov changed and it felt like it mattered more to Kit than Theo themself. Maybe an intentional thing. Idk :/ I just think this one wasn't a favorite.

Also, Van Gogh wasn't French.

🎧 + E-book- The Pairing- a standalone

✍️ By Casey McQuiston- read Red,White, and Royal Blue & One Last Stop gave 4/5*

🗣️ Narrators: Emma Galvin & Max Meyers.The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Theo and Fabrizio.The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together well. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story . The narrators paused and announced new chapters with music and each location of the tour.

📃 Page Count:  432

🏃🏾‍♀️Run Time: 14:14

🗓️ Publication Date: 8-6-24  | Read: 7-31-24  

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, LGBTQIA+

Tropes:
❤️BFFS in love
❤️friends to lovers
❤️forced proximity
❤️1st POV
❤️European tour
❤️found family

⚠️ TW: Both H&h sleep with other people


💭 Summary 💭: Theo and Kit have broken up and went their separate ways while on a plane to start their European tour of France, Spain, and Italy. A terrible misunderstanding kept them apart for four years Kit staying in Paris and Theo back to LA. They both decide to finally go on the tour before their vouchers expire. When reunited old feelings come back, but they agree to a hook-up competition.



Heroine: Theodora"Theo" Flowerday- from a famous family where her parents and sister are actors and writers in entertainment.

Hero: Kit Fairfield- his mother died when he was thirteen. Fell in love with Theo and hasn't gotten over it.

Side cast: Fabrizio- funny tour guide; Sloane- Theo's sister a multimillionaire;


My Thoughts: This was OK for me. I didn't care for Kit's POV which started around 48% because he didn't show as much emotion as Theo. They both slept with other people when they claimed to still be in love. I wasn't into the hook-up competition because I like my main couple crazy over each other. Things were messy with the threesomes and both trying to sleep with the same people.

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄

🌶️: Spice 3/5 open door
🎧:Narration  3/5, didn't like Kit
😭: Emotion 3/5
❤️: Couple 3/5
⭐️: Rating 3.5/5 *

DNF at 25%

Just not for me. I’ve read “Red, White, and Royal Blue” and did enjoy so had hopes for this one. The writing really wasn’t for me and came off in a trying to be quirky cringe millennial way. I could see others enjoying this book especially if you enjoy chaotic bisexual romances.

This was one of my favorite recent reads. The romance and back story between Kit and Theo was so well done and the food and drink descriptions were so beautifully done. I was skeptical when I heard the it switches from Theo to Kit’s perspective half way through the book because I often don’t love that but McQuiston really made it work.

I absolutely love Casey McQuiston books, but this one was just okay for me. I don’t mind a messy relationship, but this may have been just too messy for my taste?

I also wish that we had more in the past with the characters or really see their love, it was told more than shown.

This was my first Casey McQuiston novel and I enjoyed it immensely. The Pairing is an immersive reading experience with absolutely exquisite storytelling. You can almost believe you are on this trip with Theo and Kit as the descriptions are so detailed for the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of what they are experiencing in the story. As a second chance romance between two best friends that become more and then break up, not to see each other again for four years, the feelings of friendship and heartache are strong. At times I held my breath, unsure which direction their relationship would take. It’s a really unique premise for the two of them to enter into a competition to sleep with other people while they are traveling. It made me worry for their feelings but it was handled so well and in the spirit of these characters. This book is so sex positive and with varied queer representation. It’s a beautiful story with the side characters as loveable as the main characters, each person burrowing their way into the reader’s heart. It did feel a bit over long but that is personal preference.

Casey McQuiston’s new novel is absolute perfection. It is indulgent and glutinous and truly beautiful. Vivid descriptions of food, drinks, and European landscapes is the backdrop for two people finding themselves and following their hearts.

Theo and Kit are two people who grew up together and because of that never truly grew apart. Throughout the novel you can tell how they shaped their lives around each other whether consciously or not. They are two people with very real flaws and the need to become the best versions of themselves to try and right wrongs from their past.

Casey McQuiston's prose is unlike any other and I know I will be thinking about this book for years to come.

I never realized how much I needed a second-chance romance with dual POVs by Casey McQuiston until it was right in my hands. This book exceeded every expectation, and I can't stress that enough.

The adventure of Theo and Kit’s three-week tour through Italy, France, and Spain was an absolute joy. I felt as if I was right there with them, exploring every city. It was especially thrilling to recognize some of the locations from my own travels—Barcelona, Florence, and Rome. Casey’s vivid imagery and masterful use of metaphor are among my favorite elements of their writing. The comparison of Theo's "great unfinished love" with Kit to Gaudí's relationship with the Sagrada Familia took my breath away.

"The Pairing" had me laughing out loud (classic Casey), but it also brought me to tears, made me reflect deeply, and nearly inspired me to book a European food tour just to experience the richness of life. Theo and Kit’s love is the kind that I aspire to have one day, even if I don't have a childhood best friend-to-lover-to-stranger to reconnect with on the beaches of San Sebastián. The way they speak about each other had me in constant emotional upheaval. And Theo’s journey with gender representation was beautifully handled—seeing Kit transition from she/her to they/them after Theo came out had me weeping.

Here’s to Theo and Kit and their slutty European escapades. Thank you, Casey, once again, for creating such a remarkable love story.