Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this ARC. This was one of the most gorgeous contemporary romances I've read ever. Two friends to lovers to exes--Theo and Kit--are on a culinary and drink bus tour in the UK in forced proximity. McQuiston's descriptions of the landscapes, architecture, landmarks and museums, food, and drinks were so lovely. The cast of tour companions weren't too many or difficult to follow. The complicated relationship between Theo and Kit (the book is split down the middle beginning with Theo's and ending with Kit's perspectives) and its developments made my breath hitch. I appreciated McQuiston's non-gendered descriptions of physical bodies and sexual intimacy and thoughtful use of pronouns. I won't forget this one.

WOW - this was so much fun to read. I read it in a weekend because I just had such a hard time putting it down. This might be my new favourite book from McQuiston. Theo and Kit are characters who play off of each other really well. You can tell McQuiston put a lot of care into figuring out their dynamic.

Due to the ongoing boycott of SMP & imprints, I will regrettably not be giving my feed back for this title. Which is unfortunate, for a lot of reasons, but one of them being because I have thoughts.

The Pairing, by Casey McQuiston, is a romance novel about lovers, food, and food lovers. After a traumatic breakup, Kit and Theo part ways and never actually take their European culinary tour through France, Spain and Italy. Four years later, knowing that the tickets will expire, both Kit and Theo find themselves on the same tour bus in Paris. Each chapter, set in a different city, features a different culinary experience as well as an exploration of Kit and Theo's former relationship and current status. In this way, the novel plays on the familiar tropes of friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers. The novel takes a turn into the unexpected, though, and heats up as Kit and Theo, both bisexual, compete to see who can take more lovers on the tour. Though the reader can comfortably predict the ending, (despite a few scattered surprises), with this novel- as in life- the joy is definitely in the journey.

Wow, what a getaway book. In the depths of a gross spring (second winter), this summer-set novel swept me away on a cloud of wine and Europe's finest foods. I so desperately need to know if the stops on the tour in the book are based on a real tour, because I would like to book it immediately. The whole book just felt gluttonous and indulgent; hedonism as a novel. I enjoyed Kit and Theo's romance, but I did feel like an essential part of the story was a bit missing: We know why they love each other, but why are they so good together? I also found that switching the narrator halfway through was a bit jarring; I appreciated being able to get a better sense of each of them through their narration, but by the end, it almost felt like I had read separate books. And there were a lot of secondary character names that were hard to keep track of at times. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend as an escape from reality.

Everything I didn’t even know I was looking for in a romance book. Plus now I want to travel Europe.

The writing is immersive and you’re transported to the world. I enjoyed Kit and Theo and would like to know them personally.

This was such an interesting story with dual narrators. I liked each of their points of view. It got a little messy and confusing sometimes but the author stayed true to the characters and her writing style. It was hard to distinguish the trans/bi character some of the time and what the thought process was with them.

Pairs best with: an Alsace Pinot Noir and Comté cheese

This book is coming at the perfect time for me. I read it on the plane to Italy, in my little hostel in Rome, on the bus ride along the coastline of the South of France, while planning travel to Spain, and it feels so entrenched in the food and just vibes of these places that I can’t imagine how it would have read even a few months ago. Don’t get me wrong, the relationship between Theo and Kit made me feel like running around screaming (in a positive way), but there was something so special about reading this and knowing what drinking Châteauneuf-du-Pape and pastis are like (I don’t recommend pastis, trust me). But I knew I would love this book before I read it because I have been waiting for Casey McQuiston to write a full book with a trans/nonbinary main character since their short story in ETERNALLY YOURS, and this fulfilled that wish for me. It feels the most personal, the most tied to specific locations, and like a book that I’ll read a little bit differently every time. It’s a discovery and a rediscovery at the same time, of self and identity, of a relationship, of what the future is going to look like, a love story in the truest sense as Kit and Theo fall in love with everything around them.

It’s a little bit hard to talk about THE PAIRING because so much of it is an experience. I do think it’s enhanced by having a sense of the places and the foods and beverages that are being talked about, but the bulk of the characters are there regardless. It’s funny at times and a little heartbreaking and steamy at different points, and sometimes at the same time. I didn’t personally connect with the sex scenes but I think they’re great explorations of Kit and Theo’s connection to each other and to themselves. Even as I went into this book having read little tidbits about it for months, there were still moments that surprised me, that developed more and in ways I might not have expected, that just told a fuller story than I even originally expected.

And I can’t talk about a Casey McQuiston book without talking about the writing and the deeply saturated queerness. Just as so much of this book is the experience (and the way it’s written, just the way art is talked about makes me feel a little bit like I’m losing my mind in the best way possible) so much of it is feeling. I have never had a POV change hit me quite so hard in a romance book, and I feel like I’m being consumed by the story being told. And all of it is just so queer. Obviously a romance between two bisexuals is going to be incredibly queer, but I think it’s both such an accepted fact of Kit and Theo and something that’s interwoven and increasingly revealed as they fall back in love (but did they ever fall out?) To some degree it is a specific brand of queerness, one that has sex at a pretty central role, but I don’t think that’s all it is. It’s also very gender, which is the best way I can describe it before just letting you experience it yourself.

I’m not sure this book was quite what I expected, and I’m not sure what future me will think when I reread it. In some ways reading this book feels more real than the actual places I’ve visited outside of it, and it also feels a little bit like a fever dream. I’m in love with it, but I’m also not quite sure what to do with it, and I think that’s the best possible recommendation I can give.

first of all. the last time I cried this hard for this long while reading was probably when I read a little life. and to be clear, this book is NOT that vibe. It just wrecked me in an entirely different way. the number of times the breath was absolutely knocked out of me by casey’s writing?? INNUMERABLE. god I love them. Thanking my LUCKY STARS I got the ARC of this because there is no way I would have made it to August without this in my life. so good so good so good even though I nearly died from all the angst and feelings and REQUITED-NESS. this took years off of my life and then gave them back. thank you. goodnight. If I had to nitpick ONE thing about the book I just wish the background characters would have been slightly more developed because that’s something that I really really love about Casey’s other books. But this was PERF. I love this book.

“sometimes I think the only way to keep something forever is to lose it and let it haunt you.” OKAY!!!! SUPER COOL!!

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Another amazing book by Casey McQuiston! maybe their best one yet!? though to be honest I cant decide. the characters were so unique and felt like real people who I would love to be friends with. the places the story took us and the food and drinks described made me feel like I was on vacation my self! if this isnt already on your TBR add it now because it is a must read for sure.

This book really did not do anything for me. The writing style is the main reason I read Casey McQuiston's books (that and the friendships) and I did not personally vibe with it this time. This was of course impacted by the fact that it was first person rather than third, and I understand that, but it did personally impact my enjoyment because it didn't feel as unique or as strong as their usual writing style. The rest of my critiques may also have to do more with personal preference than anything "wrong" with the book, but they are my honest opinions.

I did like the relationship and shared history between Theo and Kit, and I liked them well enough as individuals (and their relationship!). I struggled with just about everything else outside of it. Every single person is apparently insanely hot and can get any stranger (who also all seem to be super hot) they want to have sex with them anywhere, and the entire time I was like ?? does this actually happen? Beyond that, the pattern of "new place described pretty similarly to the previous places, extensive descriptions of food and wine, somehow everyone is beautiful, sex" did get a bit repetitive, despite the shift in POV halfway through. I also did not connect with the side characters, and usually McQuiston is pretty good at writing standout side characters I can get invested in.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as jealous of a book as I am of The Pairing! Eating and drinking your way through Europe with a lovable cast of characters! What a treat. I so enjoyed this book. It’s funny, full of heart, and had me taking notes of what pastries and drinks I need to try. The love story was strong, but didn’t feel cloying so worked even for a person who doesn’t read a ton of romance. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy through NetGallery. I‘ll be recommending this one this summer.

A mixed review from me this time. I've previously enjoyed many of the author's books. Mostly, I struggled through this one. Premise was good. Characters as individuals without some of their obsessions had merit to a degree. Yet the thing I focus on is how non-stop sexual they were... both Kit and Theo were obsessed with one-upping each other, and every person they met was hot, horny, and bisexual. This was really less about proving how they'd grown up in the years since their relationship ended and more about how many times you can nail a stranger in Europe. I skimmed so many scenes because it was the same thing over and over again. Had it been 30% shorter, a few of the supporting cast would have stood out, and I would be cool with each having 2-3 hookups over the course of 3 weeks on tour in Europe. Unfortunately, I felt the repeat button happening too often, and in the end, I didn't really care if they got back together. All that said, the progression of feelings, the description of food/wine, some of the sex scenes, were appealing. I'll still read more from the author but hoping the characters and plot have more substance.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! Casey McQuiston literally NEVER lets me down. This book is so gorgeous. It has every bit of humor and charm that you would expect from Casey but I really think they took their writing to the next level with this book. The LONGING in this book is almost heart wrenching. Kit’s POV was everything I wanted and more. The Pairing is definitely the spiciest book they’ve ever written but more than that, it’s extremely sensual. Honestly, sometimes books that have spice scenes for the sake of it give me the ick but this book was sexy in all the right places. As you go through the book you learn more about Theo and their gender identity and it’s so emotional but the way the pronouns switch so effortlessly in Kit’s POV made want to SOB. This book is for the people who were obsessed with the Lizzie Mcguire movie growing up. The romance, the emotion, the humor, the food. The Pairing is a 6 star read for me and I can’t wait to reread over and over again.

The Pairing is a summer story, a second chance romance, an ode to food and wine and travel and love.

Theo and Kit have been friends since childhood--a friendship that grew into love, romance, a relationship. A relationship that abruptly ended on a plane on the way to their dream vacation, a food and wine tour in France, Italy and Spain. Four years later they're somehow on the same trip, having used their vouchers before they expire, and find themselves thrown into each other's orbit, seat-mates on the bus from the very first day.

How do they navigate the feelings that simmer below the surface-- the anger, the longing, the yearning, the confusion, the attraction? Avoidance is a challenge, ignoring each other nearly impossible. So they declare a truce of sorts, diverting their brewing tension into a competition that brings them even closer to each other as the trip progresses.

The first person narrative is engaging, intense, and very personal. Whose version is the accurate one of this story? Of these memories?

Theo and Kit are layered characters, characters who slowly unwind the tightly controlled layers of themselves as they spend more and more time together. They're challenging, flawed, messy, entrancing, vivid. We learn— and they learn— so much about each other as they traverse the big cities, the small towns, the stunning vistas, glorious art, heady wine and spirits, and mouth-watering culinary treasures.

I couldn't help googling art, locations, food, while I was reading this book. There is such a lush richness that imbues the book. It's a meal itself, in courses, with a story that lingers long after you close the book.

The romance sizzles. It's such a deep exploration of self, of love, of happiness, of contentment, of vulnerability. All with a backdrop of such richness, a vivid background that dazzles and envelops the characters, allowing them to expand and grow as the story progresses.

Such a rich and satisfying book. Lush, layered, vivid. Definitely a happy ever after and a visual, sensual, emotional journey.

I so want to travel after reading this!

My thanks for the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Sweet and steamy! This was such a lovely pre-summer read. Even though it's a departure from McQuiston's usual voice, their familiar wit shines through. I love that they're trying new things--this one definitely landed.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf this at 67%. I loved the book immediately and all the way until the halfway mark, but then it felt as if the characters weren't really learning anything or progressing. It made me not really care how the story ended which was upsetting because at first I was really rooting for Theo and Kit. However, I did love the lovely descriptions of food and places and everything was so vivid!

It is physically causing me pain that I did not like this.
Let’s start with the good things:

McQuiston does queer relationships and identities SO well. Also, the sex is always top notch. The ending was sweet.

Now for the not good things:
THIS WAS PRETENTIOUS AF. Look. I’ve been to Europe. I get it, it’s great. But I did not need 400 pages of words describing foods and wines that I’ll never eat and places I’ll never experience. Because that’s all this was. An ode to Europe, which is fine. But that’s not what I want from a McQuiston book. There was so little dialogue actually happening to develop the characters and just pure “everything is so European and beautiful!” It suck’s because their characters ARE SO FREAKING GOOD.
Also everyone in Europe is bisexual and ready to have sex at a moments notice?
I got so tired of all the hooking up and neither of the MC’s actually talking about their feelings. You already know I don’t do miscommunication so this was truly hard on me. It took me 4 days to read this, which in normal peoples terms is about 2 weeks. I kept wanting to quit, but I pushed through because I love this author. The ending did redeem it a bit, but I just couldn’t care enough. I skimmed a lot of this and still felt like it was too much.

I know people will love this. It’s written beautifully. It just wasn’t for me.

Also, the jokes about fucking Anthony Bourdain after his death just didn’t sit right.

THE PAIRING ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5. Theo and Kit have been friends forever, and eventually lovers. When they break up, and go their separate ways they both have a European Vacation credit to use in 4 years time. When they both end up on the same tour years later, they start a hookup competition through Europe, are they truly over each other? So I absolutely felt the genuine, complicated love with these characters. The description of food through different European cities was mouth watering. My main gripe is I felt the book just went on and on and on. Also the hookup part of it all just wasn’t it for me, the love that tethered these 2 was so undeniable that I felt it could have just focused on that. Overall, a good “pool” book IMO, something to read in the summer lounging by the pool. Would I reread, like Red White and Royal Blue? Nope. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.