Due to the ongoing marketing boycott of St. Martin’s Press, I will not be sharing my review of this book on social media at this time. This is very disappointing, because The Pairing is easily Casey McQuiston’s best work.

Two bisexual exes reunite by accident for a three-week food and wine adventure through Europe, where the kitchen isn't the only thing heating up!

Casey McQuiston does it again with The Pairing! It's funny, vulnerable, and tells a unique story of a love and friendship that knows no binary. I adored Theo and Kit's hilarious banter and terrible misunderstandings! The rest of the characters on the tour were well-developed and so charming. The descriptions of the food, wine, and locations are enough to make me want to book a ticket right now! I loved the book!

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and Casey McQuiston for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Casey McQuiston knows how to write cute, easy reads. It is nice to shut off your brain and eat up a sweet LGBTQIA+ romcom. It's refreshing that there are more options out there now for diverse books, and Casey is contributing to that. It wasn't the most spectacular book I've ever read but I did enjoy it.

Thank you to the publisher & netgalley for this Advanced Copy.
This story will make you hungry! It is a story of an European Food & Wine tour through italy & france. the characters are constantly eating and drinking the best food in the most picturesque places. I think the author does a great job of drawing the reader into the story and I really felt like I was there. I am not sure if the author did a ton of research or if they have actually visited all these places but I believed in the whole journey!
The romance itself was very sweet and our two main characters spent a lot of the story denying their feelings. I really dislike the miscommunication trope, but their big miscommunication happened before the book began. we got a short chapter in the beginning of a glimpse into the past, and then the bulk of the book is 4 years later.
Our characters didn't have a lot of growth on page, but rather they had grown individually during their time apart and now were trying to build a friendship with each other.
This is a second chance romance. It features LGBTQIA+ representation and a great outlook on how love transforms over time.

My favorite book by this author was Red White & Royal Blue, this one didn't quite live up to RWRB but I very much enjoyed the story.

I'm ready to book my ticket for this tour! I enjoyed the characters and the romance, but what I really loved were the descriptions of the places and the food.

Thanks to SMP and Netgalley for the ARC for a honest review.

We have Theo and Kit, bisexual exes who just so happened to reschedule the food and wine tour they were supposed to go on four years ago together but broke up on the plane ride to London. They see each other after four years on the bus heading towards Paris (why he didn't meet up with the tour in Paris since he lived there is a plot hole that I'm not going to dive into), and cue a nearly 400 page book on food, wine, sex shenanigans, and the most egregious use of the miscommunication trope I've ever seen.

I wanted to like this book. I was disappointed in Casey's last novel (the YA one), so I was excited to see that she had gone back to contemporary romance with adults. That being said, this book kind of fell flat to me. I really enjoyed Kit as a character, and I enjoyed reading about Theo coming to terms with their gender identity and finding out who they are as a person altogether on their own terms. However, the romance left very little to be desired since our two mains were sleeping with random people in half the towns there were visiting instead of having an honest to go adult conversation about what happened four years ago. These two are so emotionally stunted and no mature at all that they'd rather fuck random ass people and make it a competition than address how they're feeling. And apparently, these random people think that Theo and Kit are just so hot that they have no problems wanting to fuck them as well.

I don't know if this was supposed to be a raunchy rom com or a horny travel guide of the best foods and wine to eat and drink in France, Spain, Italy, and Sicily. I wanted more romance. I wanted to see why Kit and Theo worked as people, not two horny kinky demons who've known each other for nearly their whole lives so far. I also felt that Theo was insanely immature. They lose a client during the trip (why they didn't tell this client they were going to be on a 3-week long tour out of the country is beyond me), and instead of being a grown up about it and working on how to save this client, Theo freaks out and then essentially blames Kit for Theo being preoccupied with him. Theo also finds enjoyment out of being a sommelier but nothing every comes out of that. All the fucking pretentious talk about wine throughout this whole book, and it was for nothing. Okay, fine, sure. Theo found their dream and they're going to stick with it this time. Good for them.

I had a lot of issues with this book, but the biggest one for me was that Casey NEVER mentions these dumb ass tourists (minus Fabrizio) drinking a stitch of water while they traipsed across Europe in AUGUST. Has Casey been to Europe in August? I can't speak for France or Spain, but Rome and Naples and Sicily are unbearable in August. I've lived in Sicily AND Naples in August. These dumb asses would have died of dehydration before they left Barcelona.

This felt like a love letter to Europe's food and wine and queerness as a whole I wish it would have been a love letter between our two leads instead.

If i had one word to describe "The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston it would be 'divine'. When I saw that I had been approved for an ARC of this book I already had high expectations. I adore McQuiston's writing and couldn't wait to get my hands on 'The Pairing' and it did not disappoint!

Picture this: Theo and Kit, once madly in love, now find themselves reluctantly reunited on a European wine tour, four years post-breakup. As they navigate the picturesque landscapes and historic cities, their unresolved feelings simmer beneath the surface, threatening to reignite the flames of their past passion.

McQuiston's storytelling shines brightly in this tale of love lost and found. Despite my usual hatred of the miscommunication trope, I found myself utterly mesmerised by Theo and Kit's chemistry. McQuiston's trademark wit dances through every page, effortlessly drawing readers into the lives of characters who feel as real as old friends. Theo and Kit are the beating heart of this story, with their quirks, flaws, and undeniable connection making them impossible to resist. From their endearing banter to the tender moments that tug at your heartstrings, you'll find yourself rooting for this dynamic duo every step of the way. I saw so much of myself in Theo's stubborn, sometimes self-destructive nature, while also relating to Kit's tenderness and love of art and literature.

But like any love story worth its weight in romance, "The Pairing" isn't without its flaws. Around the halfway mark, the plot hits a bit of a snag, with repetitive scenarios and casual sex scenarios that fall flat after the third or fourth city. While I'm all for embracing sexual liberation, the execution in this instance left me feeling bored and ready to move on.

Despite this minor hiccup, "The Pairing" was a five-star read for me. With laughter, love, and plenty of delicious surprises awaiting you. So, grab a copy, settle in with your favourite snacks, maybe on a trip of your own, and prepare to fall head over heels for Theo and Kit's enchanting journey through love, loss, and everything in between.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Publishing for the ARC of this book.

I adore Casey’s writing but The Pairing felt more complex, much like the tastes of food, wine, and cocktails they describe throughout Kit and Theo’s tour of Europe. The characteristics of their writing that I’ve adored in other books, remain there - the banter, oh god, the banter. But in The Pairing, the spiciness is ratcheted up to 10. No more fade-to-black or shifting the gaze of the camera to the trees. Also, the descriptions - not only of food and drink (although those… I would say not to read this on an empty stomach but it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t, whatever state you’re in, you will be hungry throughout reading) - but also of Kit and Theo’s internal experiences. I found myself highlighting passages, which I have not done in previous CMQ books.

A good story, with witty and fully-formed main and side characters, with gorgeous prose. Cannot wait to reread it!

5 stars

This book broke my heart and put it back together over and over again. From the incredible food descriptions, the settings, the chemistry between the characters- this was a truly delightful book.
I was so drawn into the journey these characters were on, both in their relationship and their literal tour of Europe. I couldn’t get enough of the food tastings, the iconic landmarks, but I also couldnt get enough of Kit and Theo.
This is a perfect summer book about second chances, finding yourself, and delicious food

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Publishing for the ARC!!

I was about 25% into this story when it dawned on me that I hated The Pairing.

I can't even tell you how much I was anticipating this story. I'm a HUGE Casey McQuiston fan, and One Last Stop basically changed my life, so I assumed (foolishly, oh so foolishly) that I would love The Pairing. But I was incredibly, devastatingly wrong.

Look, I think there is going to be a group of readers who adore this and think that I'm so boring and millennial for not loving the food-porn-orgy that makes up this book, but I really, truly just did NOT like it. I didn't like it so much that I would be cooking dinner or brushing my teeth, and my mind would be like AND ANOTHER THING with all of the reasons that I didn't like this story. It took me ages to finish it, and I skimmed the last 20%, that's how badly I wanted it to just be over.

I'll admit that the second half was better than the first. Theo's part of the story was just insufferable. I hated how Casey McQuiston wrote their journey through Europe as just some bacchanalia of pansexual, carefree, good-looking young people who all wanted to bone. I've been to Europe many times, and I can tell you that travelling is not sweet-talking your way into a billionaire's yacht where everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) wants you. Why was every single person down to have sex after literally one second together, and why was everyone bisexual and younger than 35 and attractive?? There were no stories there, no meaningful secondary characters. Everyone was rich and charming and flawless and was down for everything. It felt vapid and pointless. I HATED it. Nothing was memorable. The food and wine descriptions felt well researched, but also just... pointless. It was hard to see how they were advancing the plot. I'm a total foodie, and I was bored by it all.

Also, I hated Theo's struggle with being a nepo baby. Readers will discover early on that Theo's family is wealthy and well-known. Not just their parents, but sisters as well. All exceedingly wealthy and accepting and generous. Which is GREAT. But it made Theo's "struggle" to get their business off the ground and establish themselves by play-acting as a poor person feel insufferable. Theo's sisters offered multiple times to gift them tens of thousands of dollars. And Theo keeps saying no... but the reality is that people struggling in real life would take money with no strings in a heartbeat. It really irritated me. Stop acting like you have no options when you have multiple loving and RICH family members to fall back on.

Finally, the romance...

I have a particular hatred for second-chance romances where all of the emotional development and intimacy happens off page and the readers are just expected to know how much the characters love each other and why. That's EXACTLY what we get here. They grew up together, they know each other, and then things fell apart. Now they are back together and the readers don't get enough time to figure out why. Yes, they are sexually compatible, but it seems like they are also sexually compatible with half of Europe. Plus, Theo and Kit just don't seem like a good match to me. I much preferred Kit, as a person, but they both act like teenagers with their sex bets and dares and lack of communication. They just both seem spoiled, and the romance did NOT sweep me off my feet. In fact, I don't even know if this book even is a true genre romance. It really didn't feel like it to me. It feels like a book that Gwyneth Paltrow would write if she was nonbinary and taking a food tour across Europe, documenting her "deep" feelings.

There was no humor. The side characters were less like developed people and more like boring sex pawns (that came to me while brushing my teeth this morning). The book lacked so much feeling that it left me feeling bereft.

Yes, I'm being dramatic, and yes, I loved that this book was SO QUEER, but it really failed me on all other fronts. I hope other readers connect with it more than me.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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This book was literally a journey, a roller coaster of emotions.

Casey, oh Casey. They never disappoint me but with this book they have outdone themselves. They created a real masterpiece. All those places and the food, the wines, the museums and all the descriptions of the paintings and sculptures were sensational.

And finally, Theo and Kit. OH.
A true love story. Dual pov is insane and so right because the reader can feel every single emotion that they feel each other in different part of the book.

Thank you Casey.

Kit and Theo were best friends since they were kids, then they fell in love. Unfortunately, they had a huge fight on their way to a European food and wine tour and broke up. Kit moved to Paris and Theo went back to California. Four years later they both decide to use their vouchers from that trip for the same tour and see each other for the first time since their break up.

As they spend time together on the tour, they tried to be friends again. Unfortunately, they find it hard when they’re both still nursing broken hearts. Theo in an attempt to get over Kit suggests a challenge to see who can have sex with the most people while on the tour, which Kit accepts. Unfortunately, it does nothing for either of them except make them jealous of who the other person is with.

"The Pairing," is a captivating story about the rekindling of a relationship between former best friends. The book is divided into two parts, with the first half narrated from Theo's point of view and the second half from Kit's perspective. While the dual point of view added an interesting dynamic, I found myself wishing for more alternating perspectives at times. The narrative truly came alive when Kit and Theo reignited their relationship, and it was evident that they were meant to be together. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "The Pairing" and would give it a rating of four and a half stars.

This was an interesting read. It was heavy—both in emotions and in words. So many words. There was an entire paragraph explaining the difference between French, Italian, and Swiss buttercream, all so, in the next paragraph, the exact color of French buttercream could be invoked.

I thought I was almost at the end of the book at one point, only to realize it was only halfway over, switching from Theo’s POV to Kit’s. By that point, the details of the food and the drink and the art and the history and the s3x just stopped mattering to me, and I started skimming just so I could be done.

I had issues with this book. Theo and Kit were both in love with each other, and yet they started a competition to see who could sleep with more people. It’s fine if they’re together and have an open relationship, but that’s not what happened here. This is two people pining for each other while purposely sleeping with other people and then bragging about it. I didn’t like that. I didn’t love the wordiness of the book, and I didn’t love the story.

I read this book in 3 days, but it felt like it took the entire 3 weeks of the tour they were on. Had I read every word instead of skimming the last 30%, I’m not sure I ever would have finished.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i was lucky enough to get an arc for one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 from Netgalley. although a lighthearted enough read that has great conversations about gender and queerness, its writing style hurt it. i feel like the first person and dual POV’s made the tone inconsistent. there was clearly a lot more research done into the food and wine and sights and smells of europe as the two travel together, but it’s confusing to an individual who hasn’t been there and comes across pretentious and cliche for those who have. in a stream of sex and alcohol and never any water, the tourists meet local characters. and without any central or side plot, they’re all a bit forgettable. lot of pop culture references (i am so mad about “Oh, slay.”) that I didn’t really understand. hate the miscommunication trope so much.

the book gets a lot better as the POV switches. the writing suits my style more, more flowery and less direct to reflect how Kit thinks. lot of casual sweet reflections of intimacy, i love food as a love language and there are some lines that are so clever in showing their history and how well they get each other.

overall an okay romance read. pulled on some fan fiction themes which i found funny.

This is CMQ writing through and through. So happy to see non-binary rep, queerness abound, and a book all about food and drink - what more could I possibly want? I did really enjoy this, although I felt like the first part of the book wasn't really my speed - I did enjoy it a lot more once the MCs started rekindling their romance. I'm just not that into reading about casual hookups, I guess. It was nice escapist romance, though, and both Kit and Theo captured my heart fully by the end.
I would have liked a longer epilogue!

This book took me on ride. I mean, OUFFF. First off, i am obsessed with Kit and Theo and their relationship. i knew in the first 5% that i was in trouble. Their relationship is one that i’ll think about for a long time. Friends to lovers is my favourite trope and reading The Pairing was just a fantastic way of being reminded of why. The fact that i unexpectedly started sobbing in the finale part really shows how invested i was.
The vibes were great, the writing was amazing, the characters are fun and the little competition they have going on is fun… and i’m just gonna say it, this book is soooo horny 😂 I love it.
I do think there’s some slower parts, which is stopping me from giving it a five stars, but i will have Kit and Theo stuck on my mind for a while.

This book is very hedonistic and indulgent as a food and wine tour as a twenty something would be. How I wish I had been a rich kid to be able to do something like this. I have to say that the food and wine tour itself was a work of art and I want to immediately jump on a plane to Europe and take it.

I understand the concept is that they are exes, but it felt a little lacking in moments of the two of them together that would encourage me to want them to find their way back to each other. I think Theo's part was interesting and I liked the journey that they took, but Kit's part seemed more interesting to me. There were also some very enjoyable side characters.

The prose and lyrical which worked well for this storytelling. I have read all of Casey's novels and this might be coming in as my second favorite after RW&RB. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Cute cute cute!!!! Casey McQuiston really knows how to write characters that get under your skin and side characters that make the novel well rounded and an extreme joy to read. This is a supremely adorable book full of representation and a sweet love story. Another home run by Casey McQuiston!

This is hands down my favourite Casey McQuiston novel. It was masterfully written and they structured the novel in a way that maximized the emotional impact of the plot. I now know why they have been so close-lipped about the main characters in this book because learning about them both was part of the beauty of the reading experience. I absolutely adored the setting and storyline, and I will nee recommending it to everybody because of how splendidly crafted this book was. Kit and Theo will now always have a place in my heart.

I had no doubt a book by CMQ would be great, but The Pairing exceeded my expectations!

I read this in two days and simply loved all the characters and all the travelling they did. All the descriptions of the places, food and wines made me feel like I was there with them. It really was so good!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

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