I really really enjoyed this!

This fits a cute Casey McQuiston Romance in every way.

Theo and Kit were both lovely relatable characters you couldn't help but root for. There's a good and juicy amount of angst through the book which I enjoyed.

I can understand if many people don't like the overall premise, a competition where ex's sleep with other people to realize they really only mainly want each other, but personally I found it both entertaining, funny, and sexy. I was in to it.

I really liked the romance between the characters, once I understood why their initial breakup happened it just made me root for them even more. Their dynamic was on point. I loved the buildup and feelings release there.

The sideplots of their family dynamics, and lives since they broke up are interesting too. I really felt for both of them as black sheep of their respective families.

And the food in this book! I needed to try all the things and drink all the wine. I was so hungry at times with this book.

I personally really enjoyed the nonbinary rep and discussion in this book too. It's not something seen often in a traditionally published romance so I hope many people can get something out of that where they might otherwise not find it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

I just binge read this in 1 day while listening to Chappell Roan. The book captured my attention and I couldn’t put it down. I just fell into the world of Kit and Theo. Also, love the Bi x Bi and enby rep! The structure of the novel is a bit odd, at times hard to follow, especially around POV changes but the structure of seeing glances into their story at stops along their tour makes the book unique.

4.5 stars

god i cried my eyes out at this. theo was so painfully relatable and the relationship they had/have with kit was the literal definition of soulmates. where does one acquire a kit of their own because i want one too please.

i'm so glad the breakup wasn't just a miscommunication because i hate when it's just one person's fault. i liked that it was actually kit who messed up and validated that theo had a right to be upset.

all the supporting characters were great and the casual queerness of them was even more wonderful.

i've read all the author's other books and i think this one has become my favorite.

thank you to Netgalley as always for the ARC!

After enjoying each of Casey McQuiston’s previous books, I am disappointed to report that The Pairing really missed the mark for me. Upon beginning to read, it was quickly apparent to me that I was not vibing with the story and its plot. If had not kindly been given a review copy, I likely would have DNFed. DNFing a tried and true author?! Let me explain why.

The book centers around two exes (Theo and Kit) who have accidentally wound up on the same European food and wine tour. In an effort to prove they’re over each other, they start a hookup competition. In my head I was thinking a CMQ novel! A second chance romance! Traveling through Europe! What I was not factoring in was that I don’t drink wine, I have a very picky palate, and would never embark on a food and wine tour myself. Why is this important? Because unfortunately for me, I quickly realized the names of said wines, foods, and ingredients were so detailed and so frequent that they were going over my head and not holding my interest.

Already on shaky ground, I continued reading, only to repeatedly find that the jokes (to me) weren’t funny. This (as is much of my feedback) is likely personal preference, but when the humor is not hitting in a rom com, it does not lend to a very enjoyable reading experience.

The author has stated that The Pairing is their sluttiest book yet, and the before mentioned hookup competition is stated in the blurb. Going in however, I was still unsure what exactly this would look like. The resulting continual hookups with others, despite being privy to both MCs POVs and knowing they are madly in love with each other… just didn’t do it for me.

Then there was Theo’s swimming backstory... I would like to preface this next part of my review by acknowledging the fact that this will be incredibly specific feedback, that will likely feel inconsequential to any other reader. But to someone who competitively swam from grade school through college, and was injured during their first semester and then unable to compete during their first collegiate season… the inaccuracies took me completely out of the story.

It is established early in the book that a large part of Theo and Kit’s friendship (and later relationship) is focused around food. They try every restaurant/food stand in their town and then later travel all over the state searching out new food to try. Theo is also a self-proclaimed house party king, inviting schoolmates over when his parents are out of town. Then, 15% into the book suddenly there is mention that Theo was scouted to swim in college at UC Santa Barbara. I paused while reading to scratch my head. They not only swim, but are so good that they were scouted by a Division 1 school??? And we’re just now mentioning it?

I don’t expect every author to be an expert on every topic nor do I expect every aspect of a rom com to be entirely realistic… but what I presume was meant to simply be a few details in a character’s past, part of their story yes but otherwise not terribly important, suddenly pulled me completely out of the book in confusion.

There is no world (in my opinion) in which someone is good enough to be scouted by a D1 school AND when they were younger be driving all around the state of California trying new foods/throwing house parties. Why? They wouldn’t have the time! The only activities they would have time to be doing are going to school and going to practice (and sometimes going to practice twice a day).

Theo then injures their shoulder at one of the first meets of the season, and… then drops out of school. As previously mentioned, swimming and an injury during freshman year is eerily similar to my own experience (which is no fault of the author)… but to read that Theo then just drops out of school in the aftermath?? I simply could not buy it. If you’ve spent the years training to be competing at that level, that sport is your life. The ONLY plausible action in my mind is to do everything in your power to get back in the water. Of course Theo is fictional, and is not me, and the author is at liberty to write their characters however they choose, but the other details that we know of Theo’s past coupled with the details of a past in competitive swimming, are not a great pairing.

Although, I did not love all aspects of the plot, the humor, or Theo’s background, I still read this book quite quickly. Somehow through it all, I was still rooting for Theo and Kit’s relationship and kept turning the pages waiting for them to find their way back to each other. All in all, though this may not have been the book for me, if you’re looking for a sex positive book with queer rep and enjoy food, wine, and travel then this may be the book for you. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for early access to a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

The book started off well and ended great, but there was a large lull in the middle. Although I really liked the characters, I just feel like they didn’t do much in the middle of the book and found them bland and boring. By the end I fell in love with them again and couldn’t wait to hear how it ended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was a total fever dream but it was a good fun romp (pun intended).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really all over the place. A beautifully written love letter to food and travel is sprinkled among 1001 graphic sex scenes of every conceivable type. The plot is lacking, the character development is spotty, the miscommunication is infuriating, and the overall result is tedious. I’m a fan of the author’s other titles, but this story’s singular focus on erotic sex became repetitive and boring.

If you're yearning for a Europe girl summer spiced with a touch of post-breakup fever, then Casey McQuiston's "The Pairing" is your ticket to a whirlwind romance. Meet Theo, the embodiment of anxious exes we all know too well, and Kit, effortlessly unraveling everything in his path. McQuiston's narrative flows effortlessly, drawing you into a world where you'll immediately find yourself smirking or laughing out loud at the banter between Kit and Theo.

But this isn't just any love story; it's a bisexual dream. With a perfect twist waiting around the corner, McQuiston keeps you constantly on edge, nervously rooting for both characters. And oh, the food! "The Pairing" will make you want to devour every dish in Europe and maybe even sign up for a wine class—crazy, right?

What sets "The Pairing" apart is its surprise dual perspective, giving you intimate access to both Kit and Theo's inner worlds. You'll find yourself unable to put the book down, desperate to know what fate has in store for this captivating duo. In the end, McQuiston delivers the perfect queer love story, one that will literally rip your heart out with its emotional depth, yet leave you feeling like you can finally breathe again—a true breath of fresh air.

Loved, loved, loved this book! I had such a hard putting it down. I picked it up every chance I got to read a few pages or few chapters. Theo and Kit's story was so sweet and frustrating, lol. So many times I wanted to yell at them! The author seamlessly weaved their back story into their current adventures touring Europe. I felt like at no point did the story drag on, there was just enough information! I also loved Red, White and Roysl Blue. So I will definitely read anything that Casey McQuiston writes!!

Five starts for The pairing by Casey McQuiston

The Pairing is as enchanting and wonderful as the setting and the characters in the book.

The book follows Kit and Theo, ex lovers, as they both find themselves in the same France, Spain and Italy organized trip.

The writing is magical and the different cities on the tour stood out as characters themselves. The chemistry between Kit and Theo is palpable and irresistible.

This book is as wonderful as Casey's other books!

I would recommend the book to anybody that loves sapphic romances.

LOVE!

Really enjoyed the tour of food and wine and this book. Found myself craving food and reflecting on the places covered in this book that I had visited with nostalgia. Enjoyed the two characters back and forth ingredient game which was a cute thread throughout. This book reminded me of Casey's book One Last Stop in the descriptions of food, only this one was more of EVERYTHING. I felt like there was a lot of depth to the two characters and I really got to know them throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Casey McQuiston & SMP for a digital ARC of The Pairing in exchange for an honest review.

Another stellar book by Casey McQuiston!

Theo & Kit have an epic breakup on their transatlantic flight to their dream European food & wine tour. Needless to say, they did not go on the tour. They left each other in the dust and went on about their lives separately. However, with the 48-month voucher about to expire on at that European food & wine tour, they each, unbeknownst to the other, decided to take that tour, alone. So, now they get to spend 3 weeks together. This is going to be fun!

This book was everything – heartfelt, funny, romantic, steamy and so charming!

Told from multiple POVs with more pop culture references than you thought possible.

I love McQuiston’s continual inclusion in her writing & she does it so well!

I can’t wait for the next book & will highly recommend this one!

European food and wine tour. Bisexual exes. Travel and trying to prove they are both over each other? Check, check, check! Casey McQuiston does it again with a gem of a book that was a true delight from start to finish!

DNF @32%

I want to start off by saying I think this is a good book, I just don't think it's for me.

The beautiful and delicious descriptions of the places in France and the food the characters are consuming would make for such a better experience if I was interested in it and had the ability to visualize while I'm reading. And I do not. I also don't know what half the foods being described even are, which really pulls me out of the story.

I LOVE both Theo and Kit. Their characters feel so real and unique. I love that we have two bisexual characters, one being non binary, that representation matters! But the breakdown of their relationship was based off of one massive miscommunication, which is a trope I dispise and it has me more annoyed with this book than it deserves.

Rather than cause myself to feel slumpy, I am going to set this one aside. But please please don't let my review sway you from reading it if it sounds like something you'd be into!!!

Reading the story of Theo and Kit in The Pairing was a delight from start to finish. Their pain and angst and love were palpable, as were the gorgeous descriptions of France, Spain, and Italy. Europe (and its food and drink) felt like a third character! The Pairing was a lovely reminder of how people grow and change and still find each other in the end. Highly recommend!

The Pairing is such a triumph - a decadent, sexy tour of indulgences and the promise of second chances; I was rapt. McQuiston has always excelled at creating characters who feel like a new best friend in stories full of prose so beautiful you have to stop and highlight and screenshot lines, but nowhere has that been put to better use in their oeuvre than in The Pairing. It's impossible to not be immediately in love with Kit and Theo, to not be deeply invested in what they've left behind and what lies ahead for them. The premise sounds so gauzy and light - two exes who end up on a vacation together after 4 years apart and make a little bet about who can woo the most locals along the way, but it becomes the vehicle for this beautiful exploration of sexuality, identity, the dreams we keep and set free. The book sings - there are these big moments of bacchanal where the food the drink, the scenery are all so much but they put in stark relief moments of quiet introspection, of pining, of being surround by everything but wanting the one thing you can't have. This book is truly brilliant as it brings the journey of this tour and the journey of Kit and Theo's relationship together - you'll want to read past your bedtime and maybe have a cry with the best glass of wine you can possibly find or go sneak away to the French coast to drown yourself in sea foam or pastry - whatever you pick, you'll certainly be moved.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC! Like most, I first experienced Casey McQuiston with Red, White, and Royal Blue and have enjoyed reading her books ever since, The Pairing included!

If you've been missing the magic of Red, White, and Royal Blue - you will love The Pairing! This book took me on a lovely trip through Europe's food and wine scene which I got to enjoy vicariously through two young, queer characters who are figuring out themselves and their relationship along the way. The descriptions of meals and locations were delightful and the spicy scenes were... spicy!! I enjoyed this book a LOT and I will be recommending it!

Damnit McQuiston, quit writing more characters for me to fall in love with. I mean, for real. It's just unfair. There is definitely a pattern when you read a Casey McQuiston story and this one follows along quite well. 1) two people who fall/fell head over heels for each other but there's something keeping the apart. 2) a very fun cast of side characters that are just as loveable and quirky and diverse and unique (this time they don't resemble the found family as much as previous but they're still fun and I'm glad to have them along) 3) the YEARNING 4) the smutty mcsmutterson sexy time and this one has PLENTY of that! New to this offering is the mouthwatering descriptions of the sites, plates, and drinks of 3 weeks in the Mediterranean and hot damn that is just as horny-creating as the smut. Gah. I was to eat and drink all the things. Anyway. They are an auto-buy author for me, and although I was able to snag this on NetGalley (thank you, publisher!) I will absolutely be buying and reading this one again when it publishes in August 2024.

This was a fun story. I really enjoyed that it takes place in different parts of Europe. I felt like I really got to know the places and the characters.

While I enjoyed the main characters, I also really loved the side characters. There were so many different personalities!

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.