This one was low-key disappointing. I was so excited to read this story and it ended up being so underwhelming. I wasn't a fan of the romance, but I did like Kit, and I kept reading because of him.

Pub Date Aug 06 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and the author for giving me the chance to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was so good! There so many queer characters who are unapologetically themselves and who support the others around them. There is bisexual, lesbian, gay, nonbinary/trans, and poly representation. It was everywhere and I was obsessed with it. I also love the development of the main characters. Theo and Kit both grow before the book starts and during the book. I relate to Theo so much. I loved reading about their journey and their struggles and how they overcame them. It was a beautifully read, as long as you can get over the French being there all the time.

Casey McQuiston's 'The Pairing' is a deliciously enticing romance that intertwines the complexities of love, identity, and friendship with a sexy European twist. Set against the backdrop of Spain, France, and Italy, McQuiston weaves a captivating narrative that follows two compelling protagonists, Theo and Kit, as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship. This books reads like champagne in France and Chianti in Paris. Delectably delicious, what sets 'The Pairing' apart is McQuiston's ability to infuse humor, culture, and depth into every page, creating characters that feel authentic and relatable. There were numerous times I wanted to reach Into the book and hug Theo.
The chemistry between Theo and Kit is 🔥🥵 like only McQuiston can do.

With its witty dialogue, beautiful European backdrop, and heartfelt moments, this novel is a delightful addition to McQuiston’s backlog of incredible books. McQuiston has once again proven themselves as a master storyteller, delivering a captivating and unforgettable read that will leave readers swooning for more (and booking their next trip to Europe)!

First of all, I was so incredibly excited to see a new Casey McQustion book coming out. Even more excited to get my hands on it early. This book is in one word: horny. It's also romantic, deep, heartbreaking, and all about finding yourself and making your way back to someone. I loved this book. Kit and Theo are incredible characters and I loved their journey (and their HEA)
This book might be my new favorite Casey book.

SOBBB this was so wonderful - sexy, erotic, sex-positive, emotional and queer. So wonderfully queer.

What can I say about this book? I absolutely loved every second of it. I am a fan of Casey McQuiston’s writing, and have read everything of theirs I can get my hands on. When
I had the opportunity to read this book early, I was thrilled. Reading the story of Kit and Theo was an emotional journey, but worth every ounce of suspense, heartache, and frustration waiting for them to finally get their shit together.

Reading a queer love story written by an actual queer person is such an incredible experience. Casey captures the way real queer people navigate the world, how we see media, the silly and sometimes complex conversations we can have only with other queer people. Or at least how my friends and I interact. They just get it. The way that Casey handles Theo’s relationship with gender, how they come out to Kit, and how they choose when and who to come out to captures so much of my own personal journey it was really special to read. I loved their choice to have Theo come out to Kit during Kit’s POV, because it felt right that Theo didn’t have to worry over when to tell him. And that we got to see Kit noticing those little changes in Theo so that when they finally
did come out, Kit thinks oh, obviously. I never thought I’d read something I resonated with so deeply in novel.

Being a fan of Casey’s books since their first published novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect when they kept teasing the slutty horniness and sexual content of the book. It starts out in pretty tame “fade to black” territory but oh my god, Casey can write beautiful sex scenes. They’re just the right amount of detail, no cringey euphemism, and sensual. I finished the book a few days ago and had to sit and digest for a few days before I could write this review.

After reading this book, I am dying to take a food and wine tour of europe. The months Casey spent researching this novel were well spent. The descriptions of food and drink, not only in terms of describing the setting but also in relation to Kit and Theo’s game were so fun to read. I was left
craving food I had never previously known existed.

All in all, it was an incredible read, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy that I will reread many times over.

THE PAIRING: REVIEW
Author: Casey McQuiston

Publication Year: 2024

What it’s about, per Barnes and Noble:

“Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other’s lives once and for all.

Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It’s in the past.

All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.

It’s not until they board the tour bus that they discover they’ve both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they’re trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It’s fine. There’s nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?

But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can’t have.”

A spoiler-free review:

If you grew up drinking fine European wines and eating pastries, or surrounded by cooks and sommeliers, this is the book for you. If you’re a slutty bisexual, this is also the book for you.

A spoiler-filled review:

I’ve read a few reviews that discuss the book’s repetitive nature of Visit New European City-Drink-Hookup and, while, yes, that can be a valid criticism, I believe they’re forgetting that Kit and Theo are on a tour of Europe that is basically Visit New European City and Drink. The real character development occurs in how they view each other from estranged exes to hookup competitors to once again romantic partners.

I will, for a moment, rag on Theo a tad. Their backstory and point-of-view is a bit tiring. I felt as if we never really get into the emotional mind of Theo; with Kit, we’re able to see how much he adores and misses Theo. He’s clearly in love with them still, but Theo reads as if they see Kit as someone familiar to have sex with, rather than someone to pursue a romantic relationship with.

Meanwhile, Kit:

“It’s been so long since anyone has held me like this. It’s been so long without them. I could cry with the relief of it. We stay there, not speaking and not letting go, until the cat in the window yells at us and Theo breaks off laughing. They make a joke in a shaky, too-loud voice and stagger away. But I feel their breath catch against me, and I see the strange brightness in their eyes when they pass through the glow of a convenience store window. When I return their ring, they slip it into their pocket without looking at it. They smile like it’s nothing. I don’t know if I believe it.“

“I’m going to say it as soon as I find the right words: I’m in love with you. I love every part of loving you, even the parts you don’t think you deserve. You are the love of my life.“

Also, the secondary characters sometimes felt just that: secondary. They were there but also didn’t add anything. I was sort of hoping I’d grow to care about other people on the tour, but I just didn’t find it in me. Their tour guide, Fabrizio, is somewhat a stereotype of an enthusiastic Italian – throwing in random Italian phrases alongside English. His characterization felt kind of one-dimensional and just wasn’t for me.

HOWEVER:

My favorite parts of the story were when they were in Italy. I’m Italian and grew up drinking many of the same wines and visiting the same places Theo and Kit do. To me, the sex scenes and romance are secondary to the wine tasting and pastry eating scenes.

“Orla drives us through the hills toward Siena, past the tower houses of San Gimignano and the walled palazzos of Montepulciano, along cow pastures and olive groves and patchy wheat fields. In the distance, copper and green hills fold over one another like mussed-up linens in a bed as wide as the sky.” What a stunning description of Tuscany. And then, of course, Theo’s line, “All Chianti Classico is made in Chianti, but not all Chianti is Chianti Classico.” That’s something I know I’ve said before.

Kit and Theo’s discussion of bisexuality and the fluidity of attraction resonated strongly with me. The stereotype of bisexuals being slutty is reclaimed by both of them. I feel as if too often we see bisexuals in media as either being purely in a gay relationship or straight relationship and then coming to terms with their bisexuality and that’s that. Here, we actually get to see Theo and Kit have fun being bisexual and confidently be with people of different genders, rather than solely experimenting or having a moment of realization. I, a proudly bisexual woman, felt represented.

Overall Review:

5 stars or 8.75/10.

I really loved Red White and Royal Blue, so I have continued to read everything Casey McQuiston has published since. Unfortunately, I feel with each publication have been diminishing returns; The Pairing being my least favorite of McQuiston's work. If I had to sum up my review in a sentence, I would write: "Casey McQuiston is super horny and figured out a great way to have their publisher cover a 'research' trip abroad." I slogged through the book; through a billion sex scenes and descriptions of longing feelings with zero communication to their counterpart; descriptions of beautiful European places and foods and wine which all blurred together and I started to skim because descriptions of beauty can only really be interesting for so long. I not even sure I was really all that invested in Theo and Kit's relationship, although the ending is sweet. I love seeing bi romance but this one didn't hit me in the feels the way I wish it had.

This was a really fun book! McQuiston's humor is one of a kind, witty and silly and familiar, like getting drinks with a friend. I laughed out loud several times while making my way through this book! And, of course, McQuiston's character work is wonderful as always. They write such nuanced, human characters, and the way that queerness is explored in this book through Kit and (especially) Theo was really incredible.

And speaking of Kit! What a wonderful character. He was sweet and sad and loving and flawed in ways that just made him impossible to dislike. He slipped into my heart right alongside other CMQ greats like Alex Claremont-Diaz.

I had my issues with Theo, though, which made certain sections of the book harder to get through. They just never seemed to really deal with their personal issues with accepting help or support from other people. Once the cause of Theo and Kit's initial breakup was revealed, I saw Kit's mistakes, of course, but felt it still reflected back mostly on Theo. They exhibit this same behavior to Sloane, and again to Kit, throughout the book, but their character arc largely ignores this in favor of them believing in themselves. Which, of course, is part of it, but it seemed a strange redirection, especially coupled with the final-quarter drill to set Kit as the one with a problem with delusions of grandeur without follow-through - something we only ever really hear about Theo exhibiting before this. It seemed like perhaps the POV switch shook some things up with direction.

Overall, though, I had a great time with this one and am so pleased for another McQuiston book to enter the world.

I love me a story like this! It kept me captivated from the first chapter. I just think a wide variety/range of people will really enjoy this! I recommend.

Stopped reading partway through because the cocktail/wine descriptions were too vivid for me as a sober person. This is probably a huge plus for the vast majority of readers who do drink, though!

2.5 stars rounded up.

Sigh. This book. I wanted to love it so badly. Bisexual exes who reunite after years apart on a wine and food tour through Europe? What a set up for a novel. But the execution fell totally flat and it's because for the most part, I did not like Theo & Kit at all.

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: horny. This book 100% reminds me of those Reels where chefs try to over-sexualize everything they're doing in the kitchen for the views. It felt like a book that was trying so hard to be carefree and sexy at the sake of literally everything else.

First of all, I wish any of my European experiences involved hot single pansexual people willing to hook up after a single glance in any city I went to. Sadly, not the case and as a result all of the side characters (actually let's call them conquests because that's all they really were in this little game) had no character at all. Such a wasted opportunity to have funny antidotes and more personality in this story.

The first half of the book is written in Theo's POV and the second half through Kit's instead of the more traditional format of alternating chapters. And while I agree with most readers that Kit's POV was much easier to read than Theo's, I still don't enjoy a book where the full first half is an actual slog. I felt like so much of the emotional connection happened off page and what we were left with was some sloppy sex and inability to two adults to have honest conversations. The miscommunication trope run rampant over this entire plot, including playing a key role in the initial breakup. When that story was finally revealed and discussed it was a definite "are you two freaking kidding me right now" moment.

Not even the lush scenery and delicious eats could save this one. So sad.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Pairing.

To start, I love the name of this book, and the character names are well chosen.

This book has a quality that no matter where you are in the book a picture has been painted. The descriptions of the setting are immaculate and it in not confusing moving around from city to city.

This book makes me want to go on a bus tour and never return home. The Pairing will give anyone the travel bug.

I think the characters were missing a depth to them. I wish that there were flashbacks used instead of information dump at points with character backstory.

I liked the split in narration, however, by the end I was thinking it would have been more interesting to have an every other chapter split rather than a half and half split. I personally liked Kit’s narration better than Theo’s and would have been more entertained with a different split.

I think this book does a good job of giving character perspectives that have not been in many romance novels. I do have concern with Theo being apart of the 1% in regards to money, and the utilization of Theo being “broke”. I think there could’ve been a more impactful way to indicate Theo’s mental struggle with accepting help, and did not fancy the broke storyline personally.
I think my concern also lies in Theo not being as relatable to a lot of people that will read the book, and I think that will make a hit or a miss for this book in the public’s perspective.

Overall, I did tend to grow bored about midway, but by the end I was loving it again, and despite areas in the book that weren’t to my taste I think this book is well done, and will give a comfort to the LGBTQIA+ community in seeing more characters that are in ways like them! Now, I am off to book a vacation to Paris.

the imagery of the european vacation with all the flavors and sights was my favourite part of the way this author writes!
it was just stunning and i felt like i was there tasting everything with them
with that being said i really liked reading a book about a bisexual couple, i can’t believe in all my years of reading romance i have never even read one book abt one of the mcs being bi, i really appreciated that, it was a unique book that for sure stands out to me
i think that kit was the most loveable character from the book while theo felt a little bit short there was something missing that didn’t make me connect to them as much but i still wanted kit to be happy so i was rooting for both of them
there were some grammatical errors in spanish and french that made me cringe lol but i hope they get fixed before the publishing date

3.5/5 Stars
*ARC Review*

Having loved Red, White and Royal Blue for a while, I was excited to jump back into Casey McQuiston's light and hopeful queer romance world. The Pairing had such a fun concept with two exs forced together on a wine tour of Europe and engaging in a sex competition while harboring feelings for one another. It was fun to journey with Theo and Kit as they found their way back to each other, but unfortunately, there were some aspects of the book that left me feeling lackluster.

Reading this book definitely made me long for a European vacation. McQuiston's writing shined in describing the foods and sights of all the tour stops, and I was engaged in all the beautiful environments Theo and Kit found themselves in. I enjoyed all the side characters on the tour as well, and found Theo and Kit sweet and lovable protagonists I wanted to root for. Be aware, there is a lot of sex in this book (a given with the description), but I felt it veered on the side of playful and fun as opposed to egregious and off putting. I was really enjoying the book, and ready to give it an even higher rating until a change in the perspectives really threw the story off course for me.

Halfway through the book, the POV changes from Theo to Kit and never goes back. I liked seeing what was going on in Kit's head, but I found myself wanting to return to Theo's inner world. When the switch happens, Theo is just on the edge of dealing with their internal conflicts about their family and their feelings for Kit, and it sort of feel like a loose end once we are permanently in Kit's mind who is dealing with issues of his own. It just deflated all the tension in the middle of the story as it felt like we were starting over with Kit. Plus, since we never go back, I felt like we didn't get the resolutions I was hoping for especially in regards to Theo and their sister, Sloane. This also left me wanting more from an ending that I probably would have liked if the story was only in Theo's POV.

I still think The Pairing is a cute and light read, and would recommend it for the right audience. I was just personally left wanting more from the story, and it's just not going to be one of my favorites like Red, White, and Royal Blue is.

TW: death of a parent, suspicious peach activity.

Sensual foodies, chaotic bisexuals and travelers unite for a story that pulls you across Europe in a beautiful depiction of what it means to give yourself the freedom to choose your own path, give your heart and everything you have over to your dreams, and sometimes to love. Casey McQuiston can't miss with Theo and Kit. This book was horny as hell and definitely on the more adult side of author’s works but I took it in stride: I can usually appreciate some good smut and it didn’t overwhelm me nor did it feel repetitive or boring - no, it certainly wasn't boring. I loved every minute of this book and I was so grateful for the opportunity to receive an ARC.

Theo and Kit are wonderful. Relatable in their fears and dreams and resplendent in their actions and choices. I loved their deep connection and the growth they make throughout the book. Seeing bits of their past connect with their present was so comforting and heartbreaking. The side characters were also clever and fun and the depiction of locations was gorgeously crafted while the food and wine pairings took my breath away.

This story isn't just about horny bisexuals eating food and romping through a tour of Europe, though at surface level, that's exactly what it is. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it had characters with depth and such a strong desire to be seen as they are. I thought the pacing was great and consistent and the POV swap gave me absolutely everything I desired from these characters. It made everything feel much more complete. While reading this I felt something very reminiscent of how I felt reading Red, White & Royal Blue - but these characters were refreshing and wild in a way I adored and admired. The age of these characters was also perfect for me, I found it so easy to connect with their thoughts and feelings.

Very nice book by CAM. A progressive love story that is diverse in its cast and its settings and tropes. This is an excellent follow-up to red white and royal blue and one last stop

Oh I loved this one! Casey McQuiston is a confort author because her storytelling always just feels so cozy and precious. I loved these two characters and their love story. The journey from beginning to end was thoughtful, creative, and insightful. I will always champion diverse and relatable romances and that is what McQuiston writes best! This was superb and I’m looking forward to the print edition even more now!

I really loved both of Casey McQuiston's past books, so was super excited to read the eARC for this one. I appreciated the first half being narrated by one of the main characters, and the second half being narrated by the other main character. I did find Theo to be a bit immature, so was glad their half was first. Kit's perspective was a lot easier to read. The tour, food, and wine descriptions were excellent - it made me want to visit France and Italy! What detracted from the characters love story was their orgy-tour of Europe. It didn't feel believable that that much random sex would be had, but maybe I am just out of touch with youth these days (haha). I loved the gender fluid exploration - more books written about that please! Overall, this was a 3 star read for me.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

one of the horniest books i’ve ever read lol but it was overall a fund time. i love the descriptions of all the food!