Casey Mcquiston has become an autobuy author for me, absolutely adored this book, it made me hungry and wanted to try all the food they were eating but above all, the love between Kit and Theo and how the looked at each other, I've always liked multiple pov in books but in this one reading thru Kit's pov was so delightful, can't wait to have my copy of this book!

I'm so grateful to Netgalley for this ARC! I have loved all of Casey McQuiston's books, but they've really outdone themselves this time. This book is a sweet tale of finding your favourite person again, with characters and a love that are so real it makes the reader ache. I had a hard time finishing this book, only because I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Theo and Kit. It was a pleasure to meet two characters who are so complex, so real, and so genuine in their queerness. I can't wait to buy this beautiful book in August.

Casey has done it again!!!!!! I’ve fallen in love with these characters, with the settings, with the decadence of this novel! Perhaps McQuiston’s best work to date.

Prepare to be swept off your feet and taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with "The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston. This book is an absolute gem, filled to the brim with humor, sensuality, and an abundance of pop culture references that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

From the moment I delved into its pages, I was completely captivated by McQuiston's trademark wit and charm. They have a knack for creating characters that feel incredibly real and relatable, and in "The Pairing," they have truly outdone themselves. Theo and Kit, our lovable protagonists, stole my heart with their quirks, flaws, and undeniable chemistry.

McQuiston masterfully weaved together a tapestry of themes, including found family self-sabotage and childhood friendship, adding layers of depth and complexity to the story. And let's not forget the incredible representation of bisexual and non-binary characters, which is portrayed with authenticity and care.

One of the highlights of this book is the dual POVs. Getting to see the world through Theo and Kit's eyes was an absolute treat. From Theo's feelings of displacement to Kit's journey of self-discovery, every chapter felt like a revelation, pulling me deeper and deeper into their captivating story.

And oh, the plot! "The Pairing" follows the story of Theo, a sommelier, and Kit, a pastry chef, whose paths cross once again when they embark on a vacation they had planned together years ago. What ensues is a delightful blend of romance, rivalry, and self-discovery as they navigate the ups and downs of their past relationship while trying to outdo each other in a culinary competition. Their journey is filled with twists and turns, laughter and tears, and enough delicious treats to make your mouth water.

I adored every moment of "The Pairing" and found myself completely swept away by its beautifully crafted imagery of Europe. Casey McQuiston's writing is effortless and immersive, making it impossible to put this book down.

"The Pairing" is a deliciously stunning read that will leave you craving more. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of a heartwarming romance filled with laughter, love, and plenty of delicious treats. Trust me, you won't be able to resist falling head over heels for Theo and Kit's enchanting journey.

A romance novel about two bisexual exes who get paired up for a food and wine tour across Europe? I was hooked from the start. I’ve read McQuiston’s work in the past and enjoyed it thoroughly, but this is undeniably their best. Everything McQuiston excels at in writing romance is pushed to the ultimate level in this one in the best possible way. You can tell this was well-researched by how detailed the settings were (and the food!), which only made the book much more immersive.

Kit and Theo are captivating, fully-fleshed from the moment they grace the page, and the chemistry they share with one another is indicative of the history they share. I haven’t read characters with such insane chemistry in a while, and it was addictive from the start, and you can’t help but root for them! The bisexual representation also meant a lot to me as a bisexual woman, especially because I haven’t read many books with it, and it made me feel seen and acknowledged to read characters that were so proudly bisexual. This was an absolute blast to read and I tore through it in days, always eager to find out what happened next. Theo and Kit are on a trip of a lifetime in this book, and reading it feels like you’re on it with them, too.

This was fantastic, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy come August.

I absolutely loved this new book from Casey McQuiston and I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out.

I felt like I was in Europe myself, experiencing the foods and drinks there. I enjoyed reading about Kit and Theo’s dynamic and how they got back together and built their future together. I just wish there was more development with the side characters.

This is the hardest kind of review to write because I both recognize the work of this book, the place it will have for other, however, I personally found it quite lacking and struggled to get through it for the sake of writing a review. This will still have a place in my recommendations just for the reader I know it will fit.

Their best book yet! Love the use of food and drink pairings with each chapter. A story that any reader can connect with. Perfect book to take on a summer vacation or to share with friends.

Look, upfront, this book is exactly my cup of tea. A dual perspective romp through Europe for three weeks, starring two childhood best friends-turned-lovers-turned-exes who haven’t spoken for four years. This book is excessive in the best way - the descriptions of food & drink are on another level, the feelings are overflowing alongside the wine.

I can’t wait to re-read this book in August with the rest of the world.

i will not be rating or reviewing outside of netgalley as long as st. martin's press is still under boycott.

I am generally not a fan of second-chance romance, but Casey McQuiston sold me on the delightful and tender story of Kit and Theo finding their way back to each other. Kit and Theo not only find their way back to a romantic relationship but in the process rediscover both their friendship and things about themselves. Casey McQuiston does such an amazing job showing the emotions of the characters as well as the places they are visiting and the food and drink they are experiencing.

It’s purely from the strength of McQuiston’s prose that my rating isn’t lower. For a book that claims to be about indulgence and feeling, I never once felt drawn to Kit or Theo, or to their relationship with each other. The book also lacks the kind of strong ensemble cast that I feel like McQuiston excels at, and instead there are a bunch of half-baked stock characters who appear and disappear with no real rhyme or reason. There’s a lot of pretty prose about the sights and smells and tastes of Europe but it feels like there’s something missing at the center. I wanted to like this book so badly and ended up feeling let down and honestly kind of annoyed the whole time. 3.5 stars rounded up for fun banter.

Withholding my review during the SMP boycott. Will edit and update this once SMP addresses the concerns of readers and reviewers.

This story was pure indulgence and decadence all the way through. Reading, it really felt like I was tromping through Europe, tasting the most delectable foods, drinks, and people alongside these two mild-disaster bisexuals. The food, wine, and emotion all over this book makes it truly feel like a full-sensory experience. I wanted to taste what Kit and Theo tasted, see what they saw, and feel what they felt, and with Casey's writing, I did. The aching of emotion was just as visceral in the smuttiest of scenes, or the most heartfelt romantic confessions. With how they write about queerness and gender, Casey McQuiston has this way of not only making their words aim directly for the center of my heart, but also plucking thoughts out of my own head and spelling them out in ways I never could manage. I can't wait to get a physical copy in my hands so I can highlight all of my favorite lines and feel all of Kit and Theo's chaos and emotion again.

I was quite literally captivated by Kit and Theo’s story from the get go. You’re talking childhood best friends, turned lovers? Count me in. I think I squealed out loud too many times to count while reading this book. also need to note the ANGST in this book was out of this world I was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to get together. Casey Mcquiston does it again, folks. A 5 star for me.

Oh this review hurts as RWRB’s number one fan..,

(+)
- Sagrada Familia love <3
- San Sebastian love <3
- Making me want to move to Italy
- Food descriptions
- Banter is great as usual for CMQ

(-)
- Second chance romances where we’re told that they were in love but never shown why are my biggest pet peeve
- The main conflict behind their breakup was immediately resolved, all the growth happened off page
- No substantial supporting characters like in other CMQ books, they all felt like caricatures or just there for backstory. When they named someone a few chapters later I couldn’t remember why they were important / who they were. I never got to know the two main characters’ families, even though they were supposedly a big part of their identities
- Honestly… I didn’t care for the two main characters either
- Jumping between locations so quickly!! No time to explore much plot beyond moving from museum to market to restaurant and repeat in a new city
- For being the author’s “spiciest book yet” I was bored with the romance and spice

I absolutely loved this story, as I have loved all of Casey's books. In particular there are a few things that stood out to me:
1. Theo and Kit - I loved the history of their relationship and how they fit together. They are a great example of a fictional couple that isn't just "meant to be" because it works for the story, but that their actual personalities, strengths / weaknesses, etc make them a wonderful pair.
2. The SCENE - it is a European summer fever dream with food and wine abound. If I can't go on this actual European tour in the near future I will riot.
3. The Queerness - I don't even know quite how to describe this, but Kit and Theo are so wonderfully queer, and a celebration of everything that is queer and it was so fantastic and affirming to read a story that captures this so well.

In summation, A+, highly recommend.

In news shocking to no one, I loved this. Casey is in their prime. Theo and Kit are my friends now, I know them and I love them. This book is tastefully slutty.. get it? Anyway, the food, the sights, the longing, the yearning, the self-reflection, watching these characters really come into themselves was a delight. This is the most mature of McQuiston's books so far in my opinion, and not just in content or because it is "spicer", but because of how real the problems Kit and Theo have are and how the respond to them. I love love loved this book. I will post a full review closer to the publishing date.

My most anticipated book of the year did not disappoint! While no characters could top Alex and Henry, this is the best writing I’ve seen from Casey McQuiston. The story was the perfect amount of heartwarming and sexy. I loved the premise, loved the characters, and loved the setting. This book was just so so fun to read!

Wow! Where do I even start! This is only my 6th read of the year and I can tell you right now it’s probably going to be one of my favourites. The Pairing was already on my highly anticipated reads list this year because Casey’s first book Red, White and Royal Blue has been one of my all time favourites since it came out and this book did not disappoint!

The set up is great, a pair or ex’s ending up taking the same three week European food and wine tour after breaking up right before they tried to do it four years prior was bound to lead to all sorts of fun. But the writing and telling of this story was absolutely gorgeous, it made you feel like you were there and crave the characters surroundings and food and drink. I’ve been to some of the places featured in the book and Casey has done a fantastic job of putting the feelings of being in those places to paper. I’d describe this book as lush, it was sexy, indulgent and fun in all the right ways.

I loved both Kit and Theo and their love for each other. It felt special watching them reconnect and reintroduced themselves even though they had years of history behind them. I think Casey did a beautiful job bringing the reader along in their relationship.

I’m so excited for this book to come out in August and I fully intend to make my friends read it when they can because like a good meal, this book is best shared.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Casey McQuiston for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.