This book earns four starts for the amazing writing and the awesome location/food descriptions. I didn't love the main characters as much as I wanted to, but it wasn't enough of an issue to make me not enjoy this book a lot. I think this is a great summer read, especially if you want to read about travelling around Europe.

2.5-3 stars for the first half, 3.5 stars for the second half.

A fun, indulgent beach read, though definitely my least favorite of Casey McQuiston’s books. I’ve four-starred all of their other books, but this one didn’t quite do it for me like their others did, especially the first half. It gets better in the second half—a deeper dive into the character dynamics, better banter, and more of the yearning that McQuiston is known for. The yearning teeters between delicious and ridiculous—you’ll have a character breathlessly waxing poetic about Botticelli and Rilke, but it’s hard to take this earnestness entirely seriously in a frothy beach read with dick jokes. Yes, I know highbrow art and dick jokes are not mutually exclusive (see: Shakespeare), and I normally like books that are both funny and serious, but this one didn’t quite gel for me.

The settings are vibrant but very much portrayed from a tourist’s-eye view. Nothing against tourism, I enjoy being a tourist, but for foreign settings I find it more interesting to read a local author’s perspective. Similarly, the book relies on cartoonish portrayals of bilingualism.

In general, I don’t automatically hate fictional characters just because they’re rich—in fact, I often enjoy reading about rich characters—but I found it hard to sympathize with these characters. Theo has been rich their whole life, they have their dream job and a loving family who offers to give them $200k at the drop of a hat, they’re conventionally attractive enough to sleep with almost anyone they want. Kit is like “oh no I feel ennui while working as a pastry chef and having a whole stable of fuckbuddies and living in the Paris pied-à-terre that I inherited from my uncle.” Both main characters are effortlessly hot rich white 20-somethings who almost never experience rejection. If you enjoy escapist fiction about aspirational characters, you might like this book; if you want your characters to be more relatable, this one’s probably not for you.

Every time I am reading a Casey McQuiston book I just want to climb inside and live there. Although I didn't fully connect with the main characters and found them somewhat annoying, I admire how Casey effortlessly represents fluidity in gender and sexuality across all their characters. They do such a fantastic job or representing queer joy and fun! I wanted nothing more than to be there with Kit, Theo and the gang as they ate, drank, and shagged their way around Europe!

(I was so excited to receive an arc of this book as it was one of my most anticipated releases of the summer! Thank you so much to the publisher!)

The first half of "The Pairing" is a montage of European cities, food, booze, casual sex, etc. It's charming, but not very memorable.

Theo and Kit were fine — lovable but not the most memorable characters. I think my primary issue with this book is that all of the emotional development and intimacy happens off page. They're already in love, broken up and still hung up on each other before we even meet these characters. There's an entire lifetime before this the readers are not privy to and it's not adequately captured in the story for us to catch up. Instead, we're just expected to know how much they love each other and why without enough development to really merit it.

Their sex bet also failed to serve their arc and instead just cheapened everything. Also, lots of weird "Call Me By Your Name" references?

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was very excited to read The Pairing (release Aug 2024). Theo and Kit have been best friends since they were children. Eventually they pair up and it is great for a while. The two break up on a flight to Europe where they are going on a food and wine tour of France, Italy and Spain. Theo returns home and Kit continues on to family in Paris. Four years later they both use their expiring vouchers for the tour they never went on and end up together again. Kit has gone to culinary school and is a pastry chef in Paris. Theo returned to the restaurant they worked in since being 19, and is a talented bartender and is hoping to pass the upcoming sommelier test.

This should have been right up my alley. Food tour going through some of my favorite cities and countries in Europe. But I was so bored during the first half of this book. I can tell McQuiston did a lot of research on food and wine and differences in flavors for differing regions. But all that only works if I like the main couple. The two realize fairly early on that there was a lot of miscommunication during their break up. But instead of working on a more mature friendship they decide to have a contest to see who can hook up with the most people during the trip. It is all consensual but is childish and made me like the pair less.

Theo comes from a wealthy and famous family and her unwillingness to accept help from them even gets called out by her sister. Theo has symptoms of being ADHD but I don’t think it was ever mentioned as a reason they can’t see things through to completion. Theo's “woe is me” complaining is tiresome because their family is loving and supportive. Kit is more likable personality wise but he still is willing to let there be misunderstandings and participate in the hook up contest.

The last 30 percent got more interesting and I liked where the story ends. I’ve given high marks to McQuiston’s previous books but this one wasn’t quite there for me. I did like some of the other people on the tour that brought a little humor to the story. And I liked the bisexual and non-binary representation MCs.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was not a fan of this book. I didn’t find the relationship to be particularly compelling. I wish there was more of a look into the first time they tried a relationship. In addition I felt like this book lacked the fleshed out characters (both side and main) that other books by this author have had.

This book wasn’t for me but I’m sure that many people will absolutely love it.

such amazing details it made me feel like I was really there. yet another hit by Casey McQuiston so happy that I got to read this book.

A quintessential bisexual / food/ European summer book! 

I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a fun summer read. The setting takes place across Europe, as we follow the main characters through several different countries on their three week food tour.

You can tell CMQ is a fan of good food and good drinks, because the care that goes into describing them is so clear. I feel like I was a long on the food tour, and I’ve definitely gotten some new food bucket list items from this book!

This is a bi-for-bi romance, and despite being only moderately spicy, it’s probably one of the horniest books I’ve read all summer. The two characters quickly find themselves in a body count competition, and we’re able to follow loosely along side that, while also seeing the pent up desire and angst between the two MCs themselves. And, the balcony scene?!!

This was such an enjoyable read with the picturesque setting, the spicy undertones, and lovely characters. I’ll be recommending this to all of my friends!

I didn't really know anything about this book going into it so I had no idea what to expect. What I got was an interesting read about two best friends that became lovers that had a falling out and then ended up on the same European culinary tour together. I'm not going to lie, I was jealous at the all the incredible stops on the tour, but I was not impressed by how many times there was an error in booking and Kit and Theo had to share a room/bed or something else that kept them in close proximity. I was a little exhausted by all the sexual adventures, but it did bring around the eventual HEA so I guess all's well. The audiobook is an interesting way to enjoy this story and is narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers.

Casey McQuiston has done it again! The queer representation, vivid imagery, and powerful emotions make every new CM book a treat, and "The Pairing" is no exception. This novel made me want to travel and fall in love all over again. A heartfelt thank you to Casey for being the literary genius they are and blessing us with this masterpiece!

"The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston is a delightful and witty romantic comedy that seamlessly blends humor, charm, and a touch of nostalgia. McQuiston’s latest novel follows exes Theo and Kit as they accidentally book the same European food and wine tour four years after their painful breakup. What starts as a setup for a hilarious and competitive hookup challenge quickly evolves into a heartwarming exploration of their past and present feelings.

I adored the way McQuiston captured the complexities of Theo and Kit's relationship, from childhood best friends to estranged exes, and how their time together on the tour allows them to reconnect in unexpected ways. The vibrant settings of France, Spain, and Italy are brought to life with mouthwatering descriptions of food and wine, making me feel like I was right there with them. The competition to win over the charming Italian tour guide adds a playful twist, but it's the moments of genuine emotion and growth that make this book truly special.

McQuiston’s writing is sharp and funny, and the chemistry between Theo and Kit is electric and real. The characters are so well-developed, and their love for each other feels genuine, drawing the reader into their world and making you care for them from the very beginning. The vibrant settings and detailed descriptions of art, architecture, food, and wine create a rich backdrop for their rekindled romance.

The competition element adds a layer of fun, but it's the heartfelt moments that make "The Pairing" stand out. Theo and Kit’s journey from estranged exes to rediscovering their deep connection is beautifully portrayed. McQuiston's ability to balance humor with genuine emotion is masterful, making this book impossible to put down.

If you're looking for a romantic comedy that’s as satisfying as a glass of fine wine and as charming as a European getaway, "The Pairing" is the perfect pick. This romantic tour is brimming with lush descriptions and rekindled love, making it an ideal summer read. It was so captivating that I found it nearly impossible to put down!

Casey McQuiston has done it again! The queer representation, the imagery, the emotions....I always look forward to a new CM book and am never disappointed. I didn't find The Pairing to be lacking in the least. This book made me want to travel and fall in love. A big thank you to Casey for being the literary genius they are and blessing us with this masterpiece!

I loved this book!

I really liked both Kit and Theo as characters. We get Theo’s perspective for the first half of the book before switching into Kit’s and both were distinct and enjoyable. Casey McQuiston is an expert at writing well-rounded characters and these two were no exception. Theo was wisecracking, stubborn, and crafty, loved wine and sex, tried to avoid feelings (especially bad ones), and feared giving up something familiar even for the possibility of something better. Kit was thoughtful and eager to please, loved exploring new things, food, art and sex, and sometimes got so lost in chasing a dream that he forgot to account for reality.
We really got to see and understand both of these characters’ motivations, interests, quirks, and flaws. I loved that neither of them were perfect or static; they made mistakes but tried to do what was right and by the end they had both grown while also remaining flawed people. They felt very real and it made them so easy to relate to and care about. Both of them were also dealing with questions about whether the lives they were living were the lives they actually wanted and as someone who often feels like I have no clue what I’m doing or where I’m going, I loved watching those storylines play out. I do have to say, while I loved both Theo and Kit, Kit was my favorite. He was just so incredibly sweet, romantic, and kind hearted and I absolutely adored him.

I also loved the romance between the two of them. The tension and chemistry were so good, I was smiling, giggling, and squealing with delight all throughout the book. The words these characters used to describe each other and the love they shared, particularly in their heads although sometimes also out loud, were simply breathtaking. Their banter was incredible too. I loved that they understood each other so well from random inside jokes and humor to deep thoughts and feelings about gender, sexuality, passion, family, love, etc. Sometimes in stories, couples change each other for the better and I didn’t feel like that was the case here because each of them had done a lot of independent growing and changing during their time apart, but what they did do was make each other bigger and brighter. It was like their best qualities were sharper when they were together and being in each other’s presence made each of them appreciate the world around them more. I also thought they communicated well. Sometimes second chance romances brush over the cause of the original break up too easily and it leaves me wondering how their relationship is meant to work any better this time around but that was definitely not the case here. Theo and Kit talked in-depth about everything that had gone wrong between them, shared and listened to each other’s perspectives, and thought internally and also discussed out loud how they were going to avoid making those same mistakes again. I just loved seeing these two together and experiencing their love for each other.

That said, I do wish we could have seen more glimpses into what their relationship was like before the break-up, both when they were dating and when they were just friends. Theo and Kit talked about some of their favorite and least favorite memories throughout their history together but we got very few actual flashbacks or in-depth looks at how their dynamic functioned before their estrangement. I find that another common issue in second chance romances is that the author will rely so much on telling the reader that the characters have a history without actually showing it that the connection feels disingenuous and isn’t believable. Luckily, that wasn’t the case here either and I did fully believe that Kit and Theo were people who had known each other almost their whole lives and who loved each other more than anybody else in the world. However, even though I believed it, it was hard for me to understand exactly why they felt so strongly about each other without seeing the parts of their relationship during which those initial feelings developed. I think their journey towards falling back in love was depicted perfectly and, again, I did love them together; I just wanted to see and understand more about the way they fell in love originally.

Outside of Kit and Theo, there were some really fun side characters as well. I particularly liked Fabrizio and the “love polygon” between Montana, Dakota, and the Calums. None of these characters were the most complex or fleshed out, but none of them were quite significant enough for it to matter either. Most of these characters only existed in each other’s lives for the three weeks of the tour, so it made sense that they weren’t devoting too much time to getting to know each other. I would’ve liked to see a bit more of Kit’s best friend Maxine and Theo’s sister Sloane since they were more important in our main character’s lives but I still liked what we did see from them.

Going back to the tour, I enjoyed elements of that plotline. However, McQuiston goes into extreme detail about many aspects of their traveling, specifically the food, art, and wine that I often found boring. Travel, food, art, and wine are all very important to the story so I can understand why discussions of them existed but if you, like me, are someone without much of a knowledge base surrounding these topics, prepare for many long-winded and extraordinarily specific descriptions that are at times very confusing and difficult to follow. That said, while the descriptions themselves were slower and less interesting for me to read, I wouldn’t say it impacted my overall enjoyment of the book too much.

The storyline regarding Kit and Theo’s bet, on the other hand, was extremely fun to read about. I loved watching the tension, jealousy, and emotions heighten as these two attempted to hook up with everyone they could except for the only one they actually wanted: each other. Every hook-up was a simple one-night stand and the people they were with knew that going in so they weren’t hurting or using anybody else and I also liked that while the one-night-stands were briefly overviewed, the only explicit on-page sex scenes were those involving Kit and Theo together. This guaranteed that the focus of the book remained on the romance and made it clear that although both characters enjoyed the act of sex on its own it was an entirely different experience when they did it together because it became an act of love.

One minor issue I had with this book was that there were many references throughout to events that had taken place at earlier destinations on the tour and it was difficult for me to keep track of which things happened in which places. For instance during a heated moment between the characters, one might think something along the lines of “It made me remember that night in Paris” and I’d end up having to flip all the way back through the book because unlike the characters, I didn’t live through the events of the story and I couldn’t remember the specific things that occurred in each place they visited. This wasn’t a huge deal and it definitely didn’t impact my overall opinion of the book but there were quite a few times when I wished the characters could’ve just referenced the actual moment of significance rather than the city it occurred in.

I can’t end this review without discussing the incredible queer representation. The discussions surrounding gender and sexuality are so real and raw and lovely and it was a joy to read. I loved that both main characters were bisexual and it was never presented as a problem for either of them in any way. It was just who they were and they were nothing but confident and proud of it. I can’t speak to the trans/nonbinary rep directly as a cisgender woman but I will say that as far as I know McQuiston was writing from an OwnVoices perspective and, regardless, the care and thoughtfulness they poured into it shone through every word spoken about the subject.

My final thought is simply that Casey McQuiston has grown so much as an author and it really shows. I’ve loved their writing since their debut but in this book they were on a whole new level. Each word choice and the way every sentence was constructed felt so intentional. I had such a clear picture of every character, setting, emotion, and event that occurred throughout the story because it was all described with such beauty and yet simplicity. It wasn’t overly flowery or purple prose but it was stunning. And yet at the same time there was plenty of cursing, sexual innuendos, and the kind of witty, silly humor that’s been present in all of McQuiston’s books so far. Whether you’re a fan of travel, art, wine, food, Europe, rom-coms, second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, queer representation, Casey McQuiston, or romance books in general, I highly recommend reading The Pairing.

Reading The Pairing feels like curling up under the covers after a day at the beach—the subtle scent of salt air, the sun’s lingering warmth on your skin, ears still echoing with the crashing waves. McQuiston dishes out a master class in sensory detail here, using nothing more than words on a page to send your heart thrumming into overdrive with emotion alongside the illusion of the beautiful sights, tastes, and smells of Europe.

"The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston is a delightful and witty romantic comedy that perfectly blends humor, charm, and a touch of nostalgia. McQuiston’s latest novel follows exes Theo and Kit as they accidentally book the same European food and wine tour four years after their painful breakup. What starts as a setup for a hilarious and competitive hookup challenge between the two quickly evolves into a heartwarming and hilarious exploration of their past and present feelings. I adored the way McQuiston captured the complexities of their relationship, from childhood best friends to estranged exes, and how their time together on the tour allows them to reconnect in unexpected ways. The vibrant settings of France, Spain, and Italy are brought to life with mouthwatering descriptions of food and wine, making the reader feel like they're right there with Theo and Kit. The competition to win over the hot Italian tour guide adds a playful twist, but it's the moments of genuine emotion and growth that make this book truly special. McQuiston’s writing is sharp and funny, and the chemistry between Theo and Kit is electric and real. If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that’s as satisfying as a glass of fine wine and as charming as a European getaway, "The Pairing" is the perfect pick!

What a perfect book to kick off summer reading. This romantic tour through Europe is brimming with lush descriptions of art, architecture, food, wine, and rekindled love. The characters are so well-developed, and their love for each other is genuine, drawing the reader into their world and allowing them to care for the characters from the beginning. It was so captivating that I found it nearly impossible to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review

Due to the ongoing strike of st. martins press i will not be reviewing this book and will only be starring it because i have to.

I just love anything Casey McQuiston writes. This one is full of adventure, food, travel, and second chances being better than the first. The forced and accidental proximity of Theo and Kit on their European food and wine tour was so enjoyable. No one writes Queer representation quite like McQuiston and I will always want more.

I'm going to be honest. I couldn't finish this book. I didn't love either one of the characters together and I was honestly just bored. I am so sad because I usually love all of Casey McQuiston's books but this one, I didn't. I am so appreciative of #NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC.

This was just not for me. The tropes and set up were not my usual cup of tea, but I had hopes that since I have enjoyed other books by Casey that maybe this would end up working out. Unfortunately, I found the characters unlikable and I was not rooting for them.

I can see how people might enjoy this one, but it is not one I will be recommending.

This was a fun book! I would rank this as my second favorite Casey book, after Red, White, and Royal Blue, which is one of my all-time favorites. Theo and Kit are bisexual ex's who reunite on a European food tour. Going in, I did not realize this was a dual POV book, so I was pleasantly surprised when we shifted to Kit's perspective halfway through. It was fun seeing Theo and Kit through each other's eyes and it allowed me to fall in love with them as their characters do.

There was a lot of talk of various food, wine, and cities, which ended up being both my favorite and least favorite aspect of the story. I loved traveling to new cities and experiencing the same passion for food and wine that Theo and Kit do. However, some places were introduced without much preamble, so sometimes I didn't even know which country we were in or which language I was reading. Similarly, a lot of foods were described using ingredients I had never heard of, which only made me more confused.

Overall, I thought the story was really cute, unique, and a lot of fun. I just wish they had edited it for uncultured Americans (like myself) to help describe or cut out all the European/foodie references that the average American doesn't know. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!