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.

The speed at which I raced to snag an ARC of Casey McQuiston’s new book, The Pairing, can only be beaten by the rate at which I fell in love with the main characters. This delicious romance follows Kit and Theo, two exes who accidentally reunite on a European food and wine tour they were supposed to take together before their relationship imploded. Drowning in unresolved tension and desperate to show one another that they’re so totally over each other, the two strike a ‘numbers’ (read: sex) competition in the hopes that they both make it to the end of the trip with their dignity intact. Everything totally goes according to plan, and all is well (read: everything definitely does NOT go according to plan, and...well, all miraculously does end up well…sorta).

I was excited about this book because Red, White, and Royal Blue is one of my top 3 LGBTQ+ books, and McQuiston is a master at breaking my heart and creating characters I would die for. Not only does this book fit the bill, but dare I say it, it does so even more than RWRB. Kit and Theo were charming, funny, and incredibly sexy. Their banter and wit were so smooth and effortless. These characters felt so real; I wanted to be their best friends and shake their dumb little heads. I absolutely loved the representation that these two characters embodied. The structure of this book was fantastic. The pacing perfectly parallels how I imagine a European food & wine tour should feel: leisurely and decadent. The dual POV was excellent at allowing us to get the full shape of Kit and Theo. It was set up in such a powerful moment that I quite literally tossed my iPad (thank goodness for my case, eh?) to the end of the couch, only to scramble for it seconds later because I needed to know what happened next.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was how illustrative all the descriptions were. I was completely ravenous the whole time, and I had the insane urge to book a flight to every single location on their tour. Okay, in all seriousness, I absolutely ADORED the descriptions of all the food, drinks, and locations. McQuiston did a masterful job of ensuring that the exposition enhanced the story instead of being overbearing.

This book is for people who read RWRB and wanted it to be just a little bit dirtier. It is for people who see food and drink as foreplay. It is for people looking for books with rich LGBTQ+ representation. I devoured every second of this book and will be racing to the bookstore when it is released. 10/10, def recommend.

A million thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the privilege to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at around 20%

I'm having a hard time with this one! I've loved Casey's other books, but I just can't get into this one. Maybe I'll try another time.

This book is one of my most anticipated releases this year, and it did not disappoint!!! I absolutely loved this book and found myself savoring every moment.

We meet Kit and Theo as they've just broken up right before their planned European vacation. Fast forward to four years later and they end up on the same vacation together. We get to see how intense it can be to run into an ex and how much they both still care about one another. To prove to themselves they can still be friends they start a friendly competition to see who can hook up with the most people while both secretly long for each other.

I love that we got the first half of the book from Theo's perspective and the second half from Kits. I thought the story telling weaved together so smoothly. You really get to understand how both characters feel and why they make the decisions they make. The way you get to see how Theo and Kit grew in their time apart and how it makes them even better for each other now is magically done. I love that these characters got to grow into themselves in their time apart and then continue to grow with each other.

If you love a second chance romance and LGBTQIA+ reads this book if definitely one I would recommend you pick up. I am still smiling in the joy of it.

LOVE a second chance romance, love grow adult cvonversations about relationships and what they mean. Love the steamy parts. Love every single one of the characters. God this was just such a good read that was so fun but not only a light beach read and dealt with some important and heavy subjets

This is not your typical romance. Two exes end up on the same food and wine tour through Europe and decide to engage in a hookup competition. I enjoyed the travel and food elements. I liked the main characters but found their lack of communication very irksome. I understand that second chance romances come with a lot of baggage to overcome, but it was just too much. I appreciated that the book didn’t equate love with celibacy. While I enjoy romances where the characters haven’t had sex with other people since they met, it’s a nice change for the characters to not only have other experience, but be able to appreciate the other person’s experience. I thought the dual POV format worked really well—the first half is from Theo’s POV and the second half is from Kit’s POV. Overall, I enjoyed this book and devoured it quickly, but it’s probably not one I would reread.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Theo and Kit are childhood best friends and former lovers. After a terrible fight and subsequent breakup on the way to vacation in Europe, they have each forged their own lives: Theo in the U.S.; Kit in Paris. But they encounter one another four years later... using the non-refundable trip voucher for the European tour they were about to take when they split.

There's a lot of great things about THE PAIRING, particularly it's bisexual characters and the book's frank look at sexuality, queer love, gender norms, and gender fluidity. There's also just so much damn description. If you want endless talk about food and wine and the European countryside, you'll love THE PAIRING. If you are looking for some actual plot or forward momentum, you're less in luck.

I found myself skimming over more talk of wine pairings, as I just could.not.take.it.anymore. I get that there was a whole "vibe" for this story, but it was not one I enjoyed. I wanted to hear more about Theo and Kit, their past, and see them interacting in the present.

The two make a pact to see who can sleep with the most people on the trip, while ignoring their own chemistry. It takes a while to even get to this point, with so much lead up (have I mentioned the wine?). All the description makes it difficult to care for Kit and Theo as a couple, especially since most of their romance occurs before this story starts. Many of the side characters have little depth, serving just to act as a foil in the one night stand competition, and everyone seems young and ready to eat and party. There's no differentiation or room for anything else. A side plot with Theo's family being wealthy and famous seems unnecessary and irritating.

Theo and Kit's sexual tension and escapades are fun, albeit somewhat repetitive, much like the endless food and wine. I preferred the focus on gender positivity and Theo feeling comfortable in their body. In the end, though, I never found myself wanting to read this book, and often flipped rapidly through scenes. Hopefully others more into the European bacchanal style will enjoy it.

It is fairly common, I think, for books to romanticize life, and The Pairing is no exception. But there's something special about Casey McQuiston's writing that makes the rainbows-unicorns-sunshine-feeling bleed off the page, and for a little bit, makes real life seem just a little brighter. Perhaps it's the characters who are so raw and real and who you cannot help but root for. Or maybe it's the fast-paced plot paired with an abundance of sensory details that pulls you in and keeps you immersed throughout. Or possibly, it's the way queerness is so central to the story and is somehow portrayed in a way that simultaneously feels so normal and so beautiful. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that I really quite enjoyed this book.

Loved! Great characters and amazing travel writing, including the food. It transported you to some amazing locations, and I loved the unique relationship between the two main POCs.

A solid four star summer rom com/beach read for me. This is a super fun and sexy trip though Europe with loads of scenery, food and drink descriptions, art, and a pretty broad spectrum of queer intimacy. This mixes up a fair number of standard rom com tropes and doesn’t have a big surprise at the end, but it’s different enough that it doesn’t feel like a mix of other books just scrambled up and republished.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

As a massive Casey McQuiston fan, I absolutely devoured this book. Theo and Kit are officially forever on my mind. If you want a book that transports you to a summer in Europe with all of the satiable parts of rekindling a lost relationship - this book is for you. Be right back while I book a guided trip through Europe with my ex for the summer! (Kidding…kind of).

Wow. I feel so privileged to have read this book. This is Casey McQuiston's best work in my opinion. This is a heart wrenching slow burn romance about long-term love and a second chance romance. The characters were so tangible and I felt such a connection to them and was rooting for them both individually and as a couple throughout the entire book. I loved how in addition to the main characters re-finding a relationship, they also learned to love themselves and understand themselves.
The story pacing was perfect and I loved hearing about Europe and all of the food and drinks. I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to everyone, it is one of the best books I've read so far this year.
Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

US pub date: 8/6/24
Genre: romcom (second chance romance, childhood friends, enemies to lovers, queer)
Quick summary: Theo and Kit were best friends turned lovers with a deep connection, until a miscommunication derailed their European food and wine tour and broke them up. Four years later, they both end up on the same tour and end up in a hookup competition to convince each other they are over the past...

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really enjoyed the food and travel element, and I think other readers will also enjoy the armchair travel. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with Theo and Kit as much as I had hoped - they spent so much time hiding/denying their emotions. The hookup bet could have been fun, but it required so much suspension of disbelief, as basically every person they met on the tour seemed to be bi/interested in one or both of them. At 432 pages, this book just had too much gamesmanship and not enough emotional depth for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think that many contemporary romances require a certain ethical suspension of belief in order for me to get behind the conceit, and I've found this especially with Casey McQuiston's books. Basically, the question that I have to ask myself is as follows: is the fun of this story enough for me to get over my qualms or issues with the premise? With their other novels, all of which I've read, I've mostly had enough fun to ignore the things that didn't work for me. With The Pairing, I was never having as much fun as I wished I was, and I found the way the sex bet was written to be a bit creepy, to be honest. I love sluttiness, but something about the sex bet was giving hints of like 2000s frat scoreboard for me, and the queerness of it didn't shake the sliminess. Also, this was very clearly Europe through an American lens which is fine, but it felt more like stereotypes of places than actual places and so the scenery didn't woo me like it was supposed to.

What I did really like was seeing Theo and Kit through each other's eyes, because love is nice, and being seen by someone who loves you is nice. Also the descriptions of food and wine. It made me wish I understood anything about wine other than my own personal scale of drinkability.

(2.5 stars rounded up!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!