Let’s round up to 4.5 stars because this is a PERFECT romance novel that you need to read by a pool or on your summer vacation! Theo and Kit 🥰🥰 i loved everything about this . The settings dropped you right in, the side characters were so endearing and felt REAL, a second chance romance for the ages!

There were things I enjoyed about The Pairing—McQuiston's writing most of all—but the things I didn't started to stack up until it's all I could think about. As much as McQuiston really marinates the story so you get the full, completely saturated experience of a hedonistic food-tour through Southern Europe where almost everyone is queer, at some point it simply becomes too much. By the third or fourth (explicit) sex scene, I said out loud "I don't want to read this" and then skipped through the rest of them.

McQuiston also knows their audience and wrote a plethora of romance tropes to further the story—second chance love, friends to lovers, one true pairing, forced proximity, only one bed—but then hinges the main conflict on a (rather innocuous) miscommunication. Okay fine, but Theo and Kit are childhood best friends? How are they this bad at talking with one another? Casey really said "you know what they say! Assume means making an ASS out of U and ME" and then made them both in love with either each other anyway.

All of this might have been fine but I just didn't really like Theo as a character* or Theo and Kit as a couple. Their entire courtship happens off-page so all we really get are morose flashbacks about their break-up in between how sexy and virile everyone is. McQuiston changes the POV from Theo to Kit about halfway through (about the point at which I could no longer stand being in Theo's head), but the book still drags on for, like, 150 more pages until a resolution happens. I'm not sure fans of Red, White & Royal Blue are going to love this one.

* they are the eldest child of a pretty successful Hollywood family but refuse to accept financial help when offered because "it was their right to be miserable." However, doing something to prove a point makes Theo seem insufferable and, as their sister points out, comes off as "morally superior".

I am hesitant to provide genuine feedback on this book due to the current SMP boycott. This review goes directly to the publisher, so I hope that will help them realize that they need to take accountability for their actions and their employee's racist remarks. It has been too long without any form of acknowledgement. And that is quite ridiculous in my opinion. It is damaging the authors, as they are not getting honest reviews of their books and are not getting the traction they deserve, due to the lack of response on the publisher's part. I will not be able to discuss this book with anyone, and therefore why would I share a review with the publisher?

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this early!
This plot is definitely not my favorite. I don't love miscommunication as a trope and this is just packed full of it. Theo and Kit's relationship is really developed off the page in this second chance romance, and while their breakup is brutal to them emotionally, I don't really think its well developed for the reader. This is really a bunch of vignettes steeped in food and sex and, while that's great, I personally need so much more to connect to a story. The chemistry is there but it doesn't feel real, the sexcapades around Europe just become farfetched as the book progresses, and I found myself skimming. Alot. I know I'm a bit prudish when it comes to stories but the intricate and robust sex scenes weren't actually my problem: its the substance inbetween.
I'm giving this 2 stars for two reasons only: 1) This is dual POV and Kit's chapters are REALLY superior, and I did find myself enjoying them more than the rest. 2) This is about as Queer positive of a book as I could possibly find. It is a wonderful representation for the LGBTQ+ community, in that none of the representation felt unnatural or forced. It just IS queer, and lovingly so. I also really loved how the pronoun transition that happens in the second half is just so fluid. That is deserving of a star, even if the plot is completely failing for me.

This is my second Casey McQuiston book and while it did not live up to RWARB I did enjoy it. I found the plot a bit boring at times but the spice made up for it.

I really enjoyed this book! I wish I was reading it on a beach in Italy with a beveragino. It’s horny and summery and I liked the way the two parts were structured. We lost a little bit of steam in the back half but overall this is probably my second fave CMQ.

I am a huge fan of Casey McQuiston’s previous but unfortunately this book was not it for me. I found the pacing to be extremely slow. The book has far too many detailed descriptions of the locations, drinks, and food to the point it becomes boring. I just could not find myself invested in Kit and Theo as a couple, and I love a second chance romance. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed this more if it was a movie or limited series where you can see the visuals rather than read the lengthy descriptors.

CASEY NEVER MISSES! This book was was lush and gorgeous and horny as hell. It is the absolute perfect summer vacation read and will leave you in turns breathless, desperate, and melted upon your furniture of choice. I love my sweet slutty bi dumbasses Kit and Theo with my whole heart and groin. I love the questions the story raises about who you are and who you become with and without someone. I love the slow burn, the unusual dual POV (it switches halfway through) that gets you in the heads of both main characters while still maintaining a ton of tension and just enough mystery to keep you wondering what's going to happen and what the other one is thinking. I love the magnificent, hilarious, diverse cast of characters. I love the lush descriptions that just keep delivering and making you sigh with how you can taste and feel and smell and see everything. And I laughed my ass off the whole way through. I was cackling so much I drew attention so I let my partner know it was the new CMQ novel and she said "I should have guessed." Thank you Casey for bringing so much horny laughter to my life.

I have been waiting and waiting to see Casey's portrayal of a nonbinary character and of course they fucking delivered. I LOVE that we see to some extent the difference of Theo figuring out who they are and how they express that to other people--especially with Kit, someone they were so close to before, who they haven't spoken to in several years. I love that we got to see so many gorgeous takes on what sex can look like between two partners with different genitalia, and how wonderfully Theo and Kit communicated and connected on this topic. I hope Casey writes a million more nonbinary characters because we NEED AND WANT this kind of representation in romance. It's so important.

My only complaint is I guessed the way the book was going to end at, like, 27% through, when they talked about there being no one to take over the bakery. This is not really a complaint but maybe it could have been left slightly more mysterious, lol.

What a fucking blessing to be alive at the same time as Casey McQuiston. Thank you for bringing so much joy to my life. In conclusion, read The Pairing because IT'S ABOUT THE GAY YEARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU <3 to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC, I am so grateful!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

20-something exes Theo and Kit find themselves on the same tour bus, having both redeemed vouchers for a trip they’d booked together (pre-breakup) before the trip credits expired.

My favourite parts:
This book nearly made me buy a one-way ticket to France and embark on the western-European food and wine tour of my dreams. Major props to the author for setting the scene SO beautifully, with rich descriptions of fine pastries and local desserts, savvy wine-o knowledge, and savoury tasty morsels from small town trattorias, while describing the scenic stops along the tour. I really liked Theo and preferred the first half of the book from their perspective, struggling to find their way into a career they excel at and love, while also coming into themself and their identity.

My less favorite parts:
There were quite a few things that I didn’t love in this story, but one of the main issues was that I felt no chemistry between the main characters. Also, I really dislike the trope in romance books where one minor miscommunication sparks the main conflict, and this story was no exception... just have a *single* conversation and this whole mess wouldn’t have to happen!! For two characters so in love and in tune with each other (and who have known each other for so long), the conflict didn’t feel believable, and the whole friends/lovers/evolving relationship could have been more complicated for better emotional payoff. The ending was predictable and cute.

Read this if you want a surprisingly sex-filled frolic through the streets of Western Europe and a lil second-chance-romance action 🍷

I made it to just over half way through the book before I realized I simply did not like this book. This is very unfortunate for me, as I have really enjoyed Casey's books in the past and I was SO excited for this one - I even have it pre-ordered! This just felt so draggy to me. I get its about a food and wine tour but I'm not sure how many more in detail descriptions about food and wine I could have mentally handled. I was bored, to say bluntly. The relationship between the characters should have already had chemistry built, considering it was a second chance romance, but I felt zero chemistry or passion between them the whole time. I want to root for the couple to get together, and I wasn't rooting for them at all. I wasn't rooting for them to stay apart either, I just felt indifferent towards the whole thing.

I enjoyed “Red White and Royal Blue” and quite liked “One Last Stop”. Unfortunately I gave up on “The Pairing” after the first random hook-up about 15% of the way through. I found it hard to engage with this book and couldn’t really care less what happened to the two protagonists.

I never thought I would see the day that I would review one of Casey's books with less than a three. First, let me say that I have an unbelievably profound respect for them as an author but this book and I just
...did...
...not...
...vibe

In contrast to their other stories, this book is straight up sad. It's weighed with careless, completely avoidable heartbreak and so much angst-filled yearning. At times it felt like it was just going on forever with too little of the witty, humorous moments of levity.

Where was the rich tapestry of supporting characters? Each one more interesting than the next? And while I would take a bullet for most of Casey's MC's, I'm not even sure I like Theo and Kit.

~sighs~

but I can't bring myself to end this on a sour note. There are three things about this novel that I really enjoyed:
1) I loved getting to see and explore all of the unique and exquisite European locales the tour group visited
2) WARNING SPOILERS (slightly)
The narrative switches between the MC's roughly halfway through the book adding a nice shake up to the storyline and an interesting layer to the character development
3) Fabrizio—I have no notes

Thank you Netgalley MacMillan audio and st Martin's Press for the read now earc & alc my opinions are my own. Not sure how much every book Casey writes is absolutely the greatest book then they write another. This felt like the same world as rwrb and could envision this on screen and expect to see rwrb characters on the mega yacht. They write the most incredible thoughtful and delightful characters and stories and I am sure people feel seen by their books. I will absolutely be adding a copy to my forever shelf. It was so hott!!!

***ARC Review—all opinions are my own***

WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK.
The Pairing has everything we’ve come to know and love from a McQuiston book and more. Atmospheric, immersive, funny, romantic, slutty to its core.

The book follows Theo and Kit, best friends to lovers to exes who haven’t seen each other in 4 years and are suddenly on a three-week food tour across Europe TOGETHER. Surrounded by sexy people, art, and food, the heady, wine-drunk haze of European decadence leads these two pining ex-lovers to compete for number of hookups. Because fucking other people will make them not want each other, right?

Wrong. Y’all. This romance is everything. It’s messy and complicated and gorgeous and so damn hot. There are parts that get frustrating, but they never feel that they’re dragging out too long. The pacing worked really well. Personally, a good bi-for-bi romance is everything I could ever want and goddamn if this didn’t deliver (and take it some directions I wouldn’t have imagined 👀).

I think in general McQuiston’s strong points are atmosphere and characters and although Theo-and-Kit is at the center of it all, Theo and Kit are the reason it’s such a good story. The book starts off strong with Theo’s perspective and changes to Kit halfway through and I adored them both equally. They’re both such strong, likable, complex characters—inextricably intertwined but also wholly independent in their desires and fears. It’s so easy to settle into the intimacy of their minds and you really want to get to know them both as characters. Their interwoven stories create a beautiful picture of queerness that highlights the complexities of love in tandem with self discovery, with gender and sexuality and all the anxiety and want that comes from growing into onesself.

And all this while being a hilarious and fun read that had me biting my lip to keep from giggling out loud.

While I couldn’t pick a favorite McQuiston book, I believe this is their most well-written one yet. In between the dirty jokes, queer culture references, and expertly crafted descriptions of food and drink were heart-wrenching lines and stunning metaphors.

This book is a love letter and a masterpiece. You will feel hungry, horny, and heartbroken. When I get my hands on a finished copy I want to reread immediately and underline in pretty colors, draw hearts in the margins, and get lost in the immersive world and minds McQuiston has built for us all over again.

I have loved all of Casey McQuiston’s books to date, so I was so excited to get a review copy of their newest book. It does not disappoint!

The setting was amazing. It made me so envious! And so hungry! I want to do the same food & wine tour through France, Spain, and Italy. But only if Kit and Theo and their fellow travelers can join me.

I loved the two main characters so much. They were so cool, but also so real as they traveled through Europe, working through their issues while sampling the best local cuisine and culture. I loved the frank discussions of gender and sexuality. This book actually helped me understand more about what being bisexual and nonbinary means.

The romance was a slow burn with lots of tension and plenty of spice. But there was also so much emotion. Their relationship was just beautiful.

I loved this book so much that I’m definitely preordering a paper copy for my shelf when it releases in two months!

Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy.

This book was simultaneously a hit and a miss for me. The first half failed to get me really invested, and it was pretty redundant for a while. It took me until the second half to really be invested in Theo and Kit as a couple. The POV switch truly saved this book.

Where this book shines, though, is the descriptions of food and wine, and so so much yearning. This book pairs excellently with a glass (bottle) of wine while reading in the sun.

The Pairing was delicious, delightful, and very spicy. Reading McQuinston is often like reading glorious silly queer brain candy, but the travel and food writing and romance in this one is like, a multi course meal. Yes, it's a little self indulgent but queer readers deserve it as a treat! Excellent summer/light read but very gloriously spicy for those handselling. Good for folks who like McQuinston's previous work, Alexis Hall, Taylor Jenkins Reid, even Anthony Bourdain foodie types looking to branch out!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC ♡ I devoured this.

Casey McQuiston on a European Vacation! This was such a fun and sexy book - I loved the main characters and the development of their friendship and relationship. I loved the supporting cast, they were vibrant and vivid and added so much to the story. And I LOVED the European travelogue - there should definitely be a vacation tour tie-in because I would go in an instant. Their descriptions of the travel and the locations made me want to hop on a plane immediately. Such a great read!

No author gets me like Casey McQuiston. I never fall in love with characters more than I do with their books.

This is their spiciest book yet but amid all the spice is so much emotion and so many beautifully written pieces. I highlighted so much of this book because I couldn’t help myself.

One Last Stop is still my favorite and I really teetered between a 4 & 5 for this book. Going 4.5 rounded up to 5 because I liked the ending 🫶🏻

Read this if you loved Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!!

It should come as no surprise that I will read anything by Casey at this point, I love their work! I didnt love this one as much as the other books but it was really good. The imagery of the European places and overall scenery descriptions was so beautifully done. It felt like I was there tasting everything. I really liked reading about a bisexual couple and one of the main characters were nonbinary<3 I really liked both main characters but for some reason kit stood out to me more. I didnt really connect with them as much as I wanted to tho but that’s just a me thing. I also didnt connect with the story itself as much as I wanted to, it just wasn’t that gripping to me but it was good. Second chance is always a good trope for me

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for providing me with an arc!!