Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4. I was really excited for this book, and I really wanted to like it— and in general, I enjoyed it— but I don’t think it’s up to par with the work of McQuiston’s that I’ve read in the past. It was well written, had that classic McQuiston charm and wit, but was lacking in a few key areas.

From what I’ve read, and heard, this is the spiciest McQuiston book yet, and I think that was both a good and bad thing. Good, because the majority of the spicy scenes were quite well written— they felt realistic but still “sexy.” Bad, because it felt like McQuiston kind of sees Europe as some kind of bacchanal for folks in their mid to late twenties. Every city Theo and Kit went to had some eager, young, and hot person who wanted to bed one or both of them— and it just felt gratuitous and unrealistic at a certain point.

In general a lot of Theo and Kit’s problems just didn’t feel relatable, or felt like “rich kid problems.” Like, I’m sorry you won’t accept a loan from your super rich sister to keep your side hustle going while you live in Napa Valley as a sommelier— yes this is definitely super relatable to me, for sure. For a book that felt like a “come, experience this world with me,” book, the characters did not lend themselves well to that experience.

This book was meant to be savored. I wish i read it over the summer because it feels like the first time you sunbathe. The peaceful warmth of the sun kissing your cheeks. Mcquiston has clearly grown as a writer, while still lovingly filling pages with witty banter and humor. I had so much fun with this one.

Review currently withheld due to SMP marketing boycott via Readers 4 Accountability. https://r4acollective.org/

The Pairing by Casey McQuistion was not what I expected when I first started this book. I'm not that surprised, though. Casey McQuiston is very much a hit or miss for me. I either LOVE her work or do not get it at all. I thought this would be one I would love but it fell short for me. I didn't like the characters and I wasn't invested in their story. I really liked the premise of the story. I liked that we had two bi characters. I just didn't care about them so the story didn't work, either. I know there's going to be a lot of people who LOVE this and I'm excited for them to read it and I will definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a queer romcom.

I just read the Best ARC Ever, I feel like I could float away on a cloud of focaccia, vino, & heart eyes!

An absolute triumph of a romance novel! Theo-and-Kit, Kit-and-Theo: best friends forever, and then lovers...until suddenly they weren't. When they are accidentally reunited on a gourmet grip across Europe, they grapple with the pain of their parting, their eternal horniness for each other, and the struggle to fit their feelings into their renewed friendship. Delicious food and drinks pair together every place they visit, and perhaps Theo and Kit can pair together in delicious love again too.

Peak bisexual chaos. Queer relationships abound! The food descriptions and locations are amazing but what got me the most was the quiet moments between the two main characters.

I am a big Casey McQuiston fan and had high hopes for this book, which I listened to on audio.  In my opinion, The Pairing did not measure up to McQuistonś previous works.
Told in Theoś POV, the beginning really dragged for me.  It was about traveling, booze, hooking up and more booze.  Don´t get me wrong, I usually love these books, but there did not seem to be any real substance.
The second part of the book picked up a little and was Kitś POV.  He seemed more solid and interesting.
I really wanted to like this book more, I gave it 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.  I will be reading more of Casey McQuistonś books,because this is not a typical work for her. 
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book.

Overall hot and fun! The food chit-chat was a little much, and I did find myself wanting them to mention drinking a cup of water. I thought Theo's sections were a bit whiny, but Kit really came through. Maybe it is not a literary triumph, but it is an excellent little gay vacation book!

Another addicting read from Casey McQuiston, and probably my favorite so far. The characters were incredibly well-developed and the dynamic felt so fresh. It was absolutely delightful to see gender and sexuality presented this way within the romance genre. As a genderqueer person myself, Kit’s description of his attraction to Theo was so immensely affirming. All in all, the genuine understanding Theo and Kit had for one another with their history made the sexual chemistry and the consequential tension incredibly palpable.

I did feel that the pacing was impacted by the lack of development in supporting characters, it made the moments without both of the protagonists less engaging. That said, it was still an overwhelmingly fun read and it left me wishing for more in the best way.

I have never in my life been more thrilled to receive an ARC then when I got this book. I've loved all of Casey's work so far and this was no exception.

In many ways, this felt like the book Casey has been waiting to write. Something about the prose and the setting and the characters feel like this is a book that has been brewing for some time. And it really works, I loved Kit and Theo and their relationship dynamic. I don't really think of myself as a second chance romance lover but this one did it for me.

The setting was also incredible, all the food and wine descriptions alongside the local sights. It really made me want to go specifically on that tour as it sounded incredible (although it would be so expensive in real life).

My only gripe with the book is the sheer amount of sex in it. It was like a crazy amount, not only for the practicalities of reading but also just like the actual idea that (if they were real) these people would be having that much sex. I don't know how to describe it but it felt out of touch with reality. Also it felt close to the edge of the stereotype that people who are bi will sleep with anyone and everyone. I'm not docking it any stars for this issue because I think it's more a personal preference than a literary critique but I did find myself wishing for approximately 50% less sex in the book.

I received an advanced copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really wanted to like this. I’ve throughly and genuinely enjoyed Casey’s other works but this was just NOT it.
I didn’t actually like either of the main characters and it just came off kind of tasteless. I will say, the second part was better than the first. I couldn’t stand Theo. I felt like the second chance aspect was just half baked…

Whew, what a Pairing indeed! This is shaping up to be one of my top reads of 2024. I always love Casey's stuff, but this was next level *chef's kiss*.

Theo and Kit have incredible chemistry, and even their occasional miscommunications and hang-ups are handled in such a realistic and raw but also mature adult way. And that's just the romance part of it! The food and travel descriptions alone are worth the binge read, but the way the book also manages to be both tender and incredibly horny are what rocketed this to a five-star read.

What a delight to read. I loved the chemistry between the main characters and genuinely was rooting for them from the beginning

I wish I could say that I loved it. It had some good imagery, but felt the same for every stop they made. It had potential, but ultimately I was a bit bored.

anything this author writes I will read. I enjoyed this one on the same level as red white & royal blue, and one last stop. It took me a little while to realize a character's pronouns, but was happy to see the representation!

I adore Casey McQuiston - I’ve read all of their books multiple times and absolutely loved every single one of them. I was so excited to get this book, since it was at the top of my most anticipated 2024 releases. This definitely felt like a love letter to the sights and sounds of Europe - especially the food and wine.

Theo, a Californian sommelier in training, and Kit, a French pastry chef, meet as kids. As they grow up together, they become close and they eventually date, only to break up right before going on a European food and wine tour. After a few years apart, they wind up on the same tour together coincidentally. On the tour, they begin to rekindle their friendship slowly as they find their way back to each other.

I think the author does a phenomenal job writing the scenic prose that describes the European backdrop of each of the towns they visited. Additionally, I really loved some of the side characters, like the tour guide, Fabrizio, and Theo’s sister, Sloane. However, I really struggled to connect with the main characters, especially Theo. I really couldn’t understand their perspectives and problems. I didn’t really relate to their nepo baby issues and associates drama, which was incredibly off-putting. I felt a slightly stronger connection to Kit, particularly in the second half of the book when we get his POV. I loved getting in Kit’s mind a bit more since they felt more fleshed out and less one dimensional. Finally, it felt like the plot stagnated just before the halfway mark and continued through for several chapters, just in a new city each time.

Overall, there were parts of this book I really enjoyed, and it was well written. I just wish I could connect with Theo and Kit more so I could feel more invested in them and root for their HEA. I left wanting way more out of the characters than I ultimately got. I’ll still read anything Casey McQuiston writes; this one just wasn’t for me.

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

I loved the scope of The Pairing and Casey McQuiston really makes readers feel like they are on this European trip with Kit and Theo. I was delightfully surprised by the switched POV but I feel like that gave the book a second wind and helped me really understand their relationship and what went wrong from both perspectives. My only real complaint with the book was that sometimes the descriptions of the food and wine felt a little pretentious and I felt like I wasn't sophisticated enough to get the foodie of it all rather than invited into the experience of the dish. When it came to Kit and Theo describing their identities and figuring that out though, I felt that Casey did an incredible job of breaking down those barriers for readers even if they haven't struggled with their gender or sexual identities.

**Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC**

One thing about me, I am going to read anything that CMQ writes. I absolutely love their books and this one did not disappoint. I have been waiting on this one since CMQ announced it, especially after hearing what it was going to be about. I adore Theo and Kit! The representation in this book is so well done. One thing; do not read this book on an empty stomach or else you will get hungry! I also was not expecting it to be as spicy as it was but there were times I was genuinely shook. This book is about growth, rekindling lost love, and finding oneself. If you read this book, I hope you fall in love with Theo and Kit like I did.

Mostly this book made me hungry. The descriptions of the food and wine and locations was all very tempting. I did spend half the book googling food and wine tours. The first half the book is one point of view and the second half is another. I liked the first half better because I liked being in that characters head better. It felt a little long but good for a lazy vacation read.

"The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston is a delightful blend of romance, friendship, and culinary adventures set against the backdrop of a European tour. As a fan of McQuiston's previous works, I found this novel to be one of her best yet. Theo and Kit's complex relationship, coupled with vibrant descriptions of European locales and mouthwatering dishes, make for a captivating read. McQuiston's trademark wit and warmth shine through, creating a charming and heartfelt story that will leave readers swooning. Fans of her previous books will not be disappointed, and newcomers will find themselves quickly falling in love with her writing.