The Pairing is messy, complex and, often, unbearable relatable to the queer experience.
While slow to build the dynamic between Kit and Theo was deniable sexy and enjoyable irreverent. McQuiston’s description of sex and love between two queer bodies is intimate and beautiful in a way rarely seen in fiction.

How cute! I liked this book but thought it might be a little long based on the genre and plot. Sometimes books can be shorter with the same feelings! Overall I did like it though and will probably recommend to selective readers.

Another hit from Casey McQuiston. If you liked any other book by this author then you should go pick up this book as soon as it comes out!

two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to an international hookup competition to prove they’re over each other.
I am dismayed. Casey McQuiston is my queen and yet this wasn't everything I dreamed. Which is okay! Some people will love this. It just wasn't the best for me.

I really enjoyed this one! The whole world of the book was pleasingly unrealistic in that dreamy vacation fantasy way, but I adored the dynamic between the two leads. Yay for bi4bi romance and interesting sexual dynamics not based on gender. It was a fun read and I enjoyed it more than One Last Stop and Red, White, and Royal Blue.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is an indulgent summer read! (I realize it's publishing in August, so prioritize it on your TBR when it comes out!)  And by indulgent, I mean indulgent- the food descriptions, the art, the lust for life, the impulsive choices.. decadent, emotional, raw indulgence.  
The ever changing setting of a European food and drink tour moved the story along beautifully.  The travel companions added/tour guides/locals added nuanced interactions that helped us learn about the MCs more than internal dialog.  The format of the chapters being the places they visited and the pairings- love that.

Do I dare say, in a highly favorable review, that this might not be for everyone?  That's okay to say, right?  Art, food, lust, books- it's all subjective.  I do believe I can say- if you love You, Again by Kate Goldbeck- you will vibe with this.  If you did not prefer You, Again, by Kate Goldbeck-- perhaps it's not for you?  That's for you to decide!

A story of childhood best friends turned first love then love lost and the get a second chance while on a European tour they were supposed to take together but ended up breaking up. The first half is from Theo's perspective. They self-sabotage by hooking up with other people and start a competition with Kit, their lost first love. I felt like I didn't get much from Theo's perspective but throughout the send half of the book a lot of questions were answered but I would have like to have their POV mixed up a bit. I really enjoyed Kit's perspective through the second half of the book although I felt the love between them but didn't see much about how they would make things work outside of the trip they were on together and then the book pretty much ended with something that felt thrown together. I loved the food and European details, would be a great book to bring while vacationing this summer. The broad cast of side characters were charming and fun.

I’m a big fan of Casey McQuiston’s work and this one did not disappoint! In the pairing, we follow Theo and Kit, a former couple who by chance have ended up on the same food tour of Europe. They were previously supposed to go on this tour together, but broke up right before the tour started. This was their last chance to use the funds from their original tour and not have them be wasted. The two end up overcoming some of their differences, start talking again, and eventually start a competition of who can hook up with someone else in each of the cities they go to.

The descriptions of the food and the cities make me want to go on this food tour so badly. I read the majority of this book on a plane and it made me want to immediately hop on another plane to go do a European food and wine tour. It just sounds so fun!

I thought the two main characters Theo and Kit were very relatable and I would want to be friends with them in real life. They were so cool, but they were also flawed and I just think that makes them that much more real to me. I like that we got chapters from both of their perspectives as well.

My biggest issue with the book is how much miscommunication goes on between the two main characters. This is even more frustrating when you have chapters from both characters. I feel like if some of that were eliminated from the book, I would’ve liked it even more.

The Pairing is a perfect compilation of longing, heartbreak, found family and a strong love of food and wine- it's a cultural adventure through Europe with the goal of drinking away one's problems. 

I can't quite decide if I loved this one or if it was a bit bland for me. It's a very classically millennial tale of the exploration of life while silently pretending your problems don't exist. 

Kit and Theo broke up years ago but still cling to the memory of their childhood together and their immense love and sexual chemistry. With the expiration date of a honeymoon-like trip previously panned together looming over them, the two unintentionally, and separately use their tickets on a European tour filled with good company and all the food and wine one could want. 

I think the book felt a bit optimistic to me, as a millennial/genZ in a world where young adults can no longer travel the world on pennies and backpack through Europe without a dime. As an American, the economy and financial/housing concerns feel a bit too real and the optimism and excitement about this getaway felt painfully unattainable. However, it was very much good fun. We have a huge cast of widely queer characters (very much a book in which everyone you meet is at least a little bit gay) and a competition between our leads that sparks all the horny queerness you can get your hands on. 

There is a lot of focus on food and a clear love of wine and pastries from the author. The story is very much a romanticized version of Europe with a very boisterous crew of odd personalities. Kit and Theo, with the intent of making it very clear to one another they no longer harbor feelings toward each other, come up with a fun sex competition to outdo each other in seduction. While they sleep their way through Europe, the memories and longing of childhood love overwhelm them and they have to decide if it's worth addressing their problems of the past. 

This was very much a horny book. I don't quite think it was for me in this aspect. Although there were plenty of closed-door moments as well, we have lots of spice and graphic detailed sex scenes that really paint a picture of their excursions. The romance in this part wasn't lacking, either. As a romance reader in general, I'm a huge fan of the mutual pining trope and we get all we can fill our hands with, in this book. 

I mentioned before that this is very much a millennial book and there are a few different ways in which I mean this. The cavalier attitude of just getting through life despite the world being on fire, the queerness of the book, the casualty in which gender and attraction is discussed. I absolutely loved this aspect of the story. It was very clear while also not shoving down your throat the little normalities of how we see gender and how it is fully a construct of society. That one's identity is more than gender roles and oh how beautiful this representation was!! Absolutely loved with my whole heart. 

The storyline and the wine and food aspect of this book wasn't quite for me. I'm not a big outdoorsy person and this book is definitely for those who desire exploration and adventure. The queerness and horniness was represented in a way that normalized sex without demonizing it, and the spice was solid (however it was the emotional and sexual longing that did it for me). l really liked the structure of the book and how the story weaves back and forth while remaining linear but switching POV's.

Overall I liked it but it wasn't a love for me. I think I have to sit on it for a while to determine my final thoughts, but as always, I'm a big fan of Casey McQuiston and love their storytelling. Will absolutely read anything they write!

Thank you to NetGalley for my latest read in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I'm betraying one of my favorite authors when I review this book... but unfortunately The Pairing was not for me. I DNFed this book at 34%. On paper the premise of this story sounds AMAZING: food, wine, Europe, summer, exes to lovers?! In reality I found this story flat and overly descriptive in every single chapter. Theo and Kit have been broken up for four years and wind up on the same wine and art tour through France and Italy. I found myself feeling no stake in the story; I was not invested in the slightest in their outcome. In their previous books, McQuiston brings in the best cast of characters that make the story what it is. In this book there was nothing about the tour group and friends that made me care about the sequence of events. For some people this may be the perfect summer read, but I am personally going to skip this one!

I am a big fan of all of Casey McQuiston's other books and so I was very excited to get a chance to read their latest release a few months early. I liked the idea of using all the romance tropes, like childhood friends to lovers, second-chance romance, close proximity, and slight enemies to lovers, all in one book. Plus who doesn't like the idea of a romance forming over an incredible food and wine tour across Europe! And while I think the effort and research put into the food, wine and location elements was extensive and very well-done, I feel as if it ended up taking more center stage than the romance or even the characters to an extent. I couldn't get myself to really connect or vibe with either main character, so it was a bit difficult to really cheer for them or their romance because ultimately I was having a hard time understanding *why* their re connection was necessary. That being said I still think McQuiston has a talent for writing messy, flawed characters who come together not to fix each other, but to enhance each other. I might not like Theo and Kit as much as other characters she has given us, but I know there are many people who will love them and their story so I have no issues suggesting this to people. I'll likely still be purchasing it for our library because I know we have fans of McQuiston's other books and it will be a great addition to the LGBTQ+ book collection we are growing.

Casey never misses!!! One Last Stop was literally the book that got me back into reading and I will forever be so grateful for it and it will always hold such a special place in my heart - so every new Casey release just makes me so happy. I absolutely fell in love with these characters, I will think about them forever. Book of the summer!!!

The Pairing by @casey.mcquiston

What happens when two bisexual exes find themselves on a 3 week European food and wine tour together 4 years after their breakup?

Well, it’s complicated.

Theo was still finding themselves when their relationship with Kit ended on a transatlantic flight. In many ways, so was Kit. They parted ways and tried to map out their separate lives after being so thoroughly embedded in each other since childhood. By the time Theo and Kit lock eyes on the tour they had intended to take together years ago, both have made strides towards fulfillment, but neither have been able to get over the other. In an effort to reignite their friendship and ignore the complications, they start a sex bet: book up with the most people, win bragging rights. But we have established this is a complicated relationship, and when feelings boil to the surface, Theo and Kit are forced to dissect what happened between them all those years ago.

One of the most enjoyable elements of The Pairing was the mouthwatering descriptions of the food and wine devoured by our characters. Casey, please, for the love of all, write a European travel guide. I want to explore desserts, pasta, and fine wine with you as my leader!

Thank you goes to @netgalley for the advance copy of this delightful read!

While I absolutely adore Casey McQuiston, this book didn't seem to have the heart that the rest of their books have. I don't think this book was bad by any means, but I just don't think that this one is going to be everybody's cup of tea. I wanted to love this so bad, and my expectations were SKY HIGH, and this just didn't meet them. That being said, Casey is still one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more of their books in the future!

The Pairing markets itself as both a sexy romp through Europe and a second-chance romance, but it fails to effectively pull off either genre. Although the premise is intriguing — two bisexual exes accidentally reunite on a food-and-wine tour after years separated — the meat of the story gets lost in repetitive, gratuitous descriptions of food, wine, and sex. While the prose is beautiful, the book fails to answer some key questions. Why do Theo and Kit love each other? Why do they care about each other? Overall, The Pairing does not catch McQuiston at their best, favoring style over substance.

Casey Mcquiston has done it again. She made falling in love with Kit and Theo's story seem as easy as picking a delicious wine or dessert. I will definitely be adding this to my reread list. Her descriptions of the food and destinations were poetic and powerful.

Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of my favorite books, so I had to get my hands on a copy of this ARC! However, I quickly found myself not liking this one as much as Red, White, and Royal Blue. I love Casey McQuiston's characters in RWRB - they all feel like real people with flaws and insecurities. And the world feels deeper than just the main two characters. All the side characters feel well developed and fleshed out - with their own goals and experiences. The Pairing, in comparison, just fell a little flat. The characters just didn't seem that well developed - the main ones, but especially the side characters. However, I'm still going to try whatever McQuiston writes!

I think the only two ways I could have loved this story more would be if 1) I got Kit and Theo’s POV for every single moment or 2) I was literally there with them. I don’t even know what to say. I liked this from the start, back when I was just thinking that Theo and Kit were infinitely cooler than I could ever be and that the setting made me want to hop on a plane to France. But by the end, I was so invested in them individually, them as a couple, every single person on their trip, every other person in their lives, everything they were sightseeing and eating. I was empathetically feeling these fictional characters’ feelings an unhealthy amount, but it’s because they were so relatable. I felt so seen in different parts of these characters and these stories despite being nothing like Kit or Theo in actuality.

Seriously though, I do wish the POVs were rotated a bit more, because I missed getting Theo’s thoughts the second half of the trip. But other than that, I’m so happy we got to spend time in Kit’s head for so long too.

Casey McQuiston has a way of making me think everything will be okay in the world and in my life, even if just while I’m reading their work. It’s just an escape from reality, but it’s one that leaves me with so much hope and new will to live and to try. That’s something so special about very few books for people and I’m so thankful for it.

The Pairing is the perfect read to savor by the pool or on a beach. And if you're not on a vacation of your own, it'll absolutely transport you. Kit and Theo are two exes who find themselves on the same tour across Europe. The first half of the book is in Theo's POV, and the second half is in Kit's POV. Both are engaging and nuanced, and I enjoyed piecing together their "whys." Why did they break up in the first place? Why did they choose to go down this path? Why do they see themselves in a certain way? The book is, in a word, sumptuous. The Pairing is full of gorgeous descriptions of food and wine, scenery, and beautiful people. I loved the secondary characters and their personalities, too! This is such a special book, and I know readers are going to love Kit and Theo's adventures.

I'm sure this book is for someone. Someone who has watched Call Me By Your Name enough times to have the lines memorized, someone who gets lost in the flavours of food and wine and the romance that seemingly floats around all the highly erotic crevices of Europe. I'm sure this book is for someone, and they will treasure the experience of reading it for a long time: unfortunately I am not that person.

There's a few reasons, the biggest one being I'm not necessarily a fan of reading gratuitous casual sex that doesn't have much meaning (apart from yearning for someone you wish you were with), or a relationship driven head-first by wanting to make love to someone. Not saying that is not something that's possible, it's just not something I care for, and for most part in this book, that is all I got. I was repeatedly told to believe in the love Kit and Theo had for each other, but it was mostly substantiated by them thirsting for each other. I saw glimpses of what I wanted to read about more (their past relationship, the way they navigated everyday life, the fall out and its repercussions outside of them realizing it was a misunderstanding), but I never got as much as I wanted. And as a Casey McQuiston enjoyer (idk what they put in r,w&rb that makes me lose my mind), I just think not every book by an author will hit you the same way, and that's okay.

What I did truly appreciate about this book was the subtlety in which LGBTQ+ representation was handled: in that it was not the main plot point of the book. There were clear conversations about it, but it was never the standout, and instead a mellow undercurrent, which I appreciated a lot. It felt everyday, and normal, like it should. Props to Casey for that, they did a fantastic job.

I do find it hard to believe that things just fell in place for our main characters everywhere in Europe (everyone's bisexual, incredibly interested in both of them, and immediately catering to their needs? Pretty privilege is everything, I guess, but it did feel like I had to suspend disbelief for most part).

Overall, I'll say this book will appeal to some people thoroughly, and maybe others not quite as much. Sadly, I lie in the latter group. Am still looking forward to what Casey has in store for me next!


(honest ARC review)