Ok soooo. I don't love it but I don't absolutely hate it.
I can't exactly point out what it was that makes this a 3 star. I just wasn't as invested in this romance as I have been in her others.
Maybe it was all the miscommunication or maybe the fact that hook ups were of extreme importance. Wasn't for me but it may be for you.
I did love the pansexual, bisexual and non binary representation though

I’ve read all four of McQuiston’s books and I believe this one just dethroned Red White & Royal Blue as my favorite. Casey can’t write a bad book, I’m convinced.

The pairing tells the story of two bisexual exes that accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and create a competition to hookup with people to prove they’re over each other even though they definitely are not.

In this story, we follow Kit and Theo as they navigate their feelings for the other despite their history and watch as tensions grow. This book has 5 star sexual tension and was much spicier than I expected. It also has great bisexual and queer representation and I enjoyed the way the characters cared for each other throughout the story and how they came to terms with their feelings.

This was an angsty bisexual sex-fest! With an array of sexual orientations and gender expressions being represented, this book really took the explicit content and ran with it (and did so every which way you can imagine!). It made sex empowering in a way you don’t see in many mainstream books. I can’t recall the last time I read something so sex positive and lacking shame. But it’s not just the sex that shines through, it also depicts an honest and sincere love of food, drink, and exploration. It felt romantic, indulgent, and almost gluttonous.

Having been to many of the locations in this book, my enjoyment and experience reading this was greatly enhanced by having been there. But that’s not to say that you have to have visited Europe to understand the book. CM does a great job of setting the scene, giving historical information and context of the locales, and richly describing the atmosphere, food and culture.

As usual, McQuiston’s writing was fun and plucky, with lots of witty banter. The opening MC, Theo, was everything I hoped for from a book like this—weird, imperfect, insecure and totally badass, all rolled into one layered and complex human. At the halfway point we switch to Kit’s POV, and this is where things started to fall apart for me, and it started to feel a little dull and repetitive. It went like this: New city. Will they or won’t they? Miscommunication. Food, booze, sex, repeat. Frankly, I was bored.

Kit’s voice didn’t really ring true for me either. He felt exaggerated and contrived. He didn’t feel REAL. (I did this on audio and I still haven’t determined if it was the way he was written or the way the narrator performed it, but either way I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first half.)

Overall, despite it being about 100 pages too long, this book felt solid to me. With an over-the-top plot that was somehow made very credible (McQuiston’s specialty), and very genuine observations about love, loss, failure, and the difficulties of navigating relationships and adulthood, this book did what it came to do. I liked it, but didn’t LOVE it.

I could eat this book for lunch. CMQ has created a portal to a European holiday. This book is scrumptious, decadent…. Exquisite. From the sweet pining plot, to the rich descriptions, to the cast of lovable characters- this book is a delight from beginning to end. I love bisexual representation where the characters actually have on page queer relationships. I also think Mcquinston did a really great job of exploring Theo’s gender and creating conversations about gender identity throughout the book. I’ve never read a dual perspective book where the perspective switches halfway through but I really liked that. Another banger from CMQ!

Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio for an advance copy of this book!

If you are looking for a book to take you into another place, this may be the one for you. McQuiston is able to use their talent of words to make you feel as if you are traveling throughout Europe. Oh and the food. How I want to eat so many of the meals that were describe. You could tell that McQuiston did their research and likely travelled to all the locations mentioned just to make sure that it felt authentic.

I thought the format of this book was unique compared to not only other books they have done but other contemporary romances. The first half of the book is told from Theo's point of view and the second half is told from Kit's point of view. And I love how the chapters were broken up by different pairings with the city they are in. With that being said, the chapters are very long as they broken up by the time spent in country. As much as I was happy that it was descripted it just felt like it was taking forever.

"It's not just that I want him. It's that he taught me what wanting was. Anyone would have a weakness for that."

Also what I found so fascinating and I even was asking about this in a buddy read I did on this book, is how open everyone was with hooking up. They would each meet these people and suddenly they were being whisked away to go make out or more. I am not judging or anything but I just thinking are they not going to get to know each other, is the consent implied, is the nature of the relationship implied? It also made me chuckle that Theo agreed to do this competition when we knew that they were so in love with Kit. Heck even one of the conquests picked up on it. I felt bad for Theo as they just had no idea how Kit felt while they were thrust together on this trip.

Once we got to Kit's point of view, I could not believe how in love that boy was with Theo. I love the way McQuiston did a quick flashback to the start of the trip and picked up in real time. Kit's love for Theo was so unconditional. He loved Theo for who they were and did not want them to change. ""They showed me the galaxy then made me feel it. That's one of Theo's natural gifts, the way beauty moves through them like stained glass. It illuminates them and they transform it in kind." As much as I felt like I related to Theo more, I think my favorite chapters were told from Kit's point of view.

I paired my reading with the audio and I thought both narrators were SO good! Emma Galvin voiced paired perfectly for Theo and Max Meyers had the tone of voice that made Kit sounds so incredibly cool. I know McQuiston provided notes for both Emma & Max to help nail down their inflexions and cadence. Especially when Kit would talk about his love for Theo, those tender moments came out so beautifully from Max.

I believe this is McQuiston's spiciest book and it was so beautiful written. Overall I really enjoyed this book and think that McQuiston has this special talent of writing love between two characters. They also are SO good at side characters! In each of the books I have read by them, you find those side characters that will make you laugh and you just will want more of them on page. In this book was no exception.

Theo and Kit have split up. For good it seems, after being childhood besties, friends, and then in love together, they are over. In a dramatic fight on their way to an opulent European food/wine tour, they go their separate ways.
But the tickets were non-refundable, but... could be rescheduled. And so when the tour vouchers are about to expire, they both decide they better use 'em or lose 'em.
At the same time. On the same tour.
There was a lot I enjoyed about this book- the food/wine descriptions were opulent.. delightful.. made me want to go wander Italy, meeting people and enjoying new meals at different restaurants every day.
Fabio's enthusiasm for showing his tour guests around was fun to read.
Kit and Theo... not as much. They spent a lot of time getting in their own way.. self doubt, self sabotage... instead of just ignoring the emails from a demanding client and then throwing in the town, how about being upfront and saying I will be out of town for these dates.. and perhaps having cancellation fees etc in the contract esp for materials already purchased? They were not ready to run a business, and could have used family advice, even if they refused the money.
Kit was a little better, but still indulged in the bet about having more partners on their tour, but we really didn't get much from him until the second half of the book, and it was all intense longing for Theo.
It wasn't bad, it was a fun read overall, but it was not my favorite of McQuiston's titles.

HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE @casey.mcquiston EVER!!!

The atmosphere, the tension, the love, the quips…JUST EVERYTHING!!

Also listening to it via audio was seriously the way to go 1.) because it added a whole additional layer to the story and 2.) it ft. the author (which is secretly my favorite thing that happens in the audiobook world. A fun little Easter egg if you will)!!!

5✨

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the complimentary advance listening copy of this book!!! #MacAudio2024

Genre: contemporary romance

Before Kit and Theo split up, they had planned to take a multi-week food tour of western Europe. 4 years later, and at the end of the limit of the travel voucher, Theo takes a risk and hops on a plane, only to find Kit doing the same. Theo, the daughter of famous movie producers and sister of two movie stars, finds their own life a series of failures and is looking to reclaim joy through food. Kit has been working in Paris since he finished pastry school, but is looking for another spark. While it seems as though the only way these exes can get along is in direct competition sleeping with the attractive men and women of France, Spain, and Italy, their trajectory will inevitably bring them back together.

There's a lot going on in this book (in a good way) so there are a lot of components to unpack. I love Casey McQuiston's adult books, and this feels the most mature and most exploratory (both with the food tour plot literally, but also with experimenting with gender and sexuality and expression of self). It's both a comfortable and also a challenging read, because of the topics it tackles. The rich descriptions of food and wine are amazing, and I dare you to read it and not want to grab a fresh baguette with cheese and a glass of French wine.

The relationship between Kit and Theo is messy... it's second chance, and they are still so young, but it's fully believable. The reason for their breakup was a little tough to swallow, but its aftermath is very very realistic. I kind of love how this book breaks the cardinal rule of most romances - Kit and Theo spend a lot of time sleeping with other people -on page- in direct competition with one another to see who can get laid more on this food tour. And yet, it works, because of the type of people they are and the type of romance they have.

The Pairing is a very queer bi4bi M/NB romance with beautiful expressions of love, sex, and romance. And food. Truly, the food is the third character in this relationship, and it works well.

I read the ebook and listened to the audio. They are both excellent! The two narrators do a great job bringing to life Kit and Theo, and I love Casey's parts at the begiining of each chapter. The bits of music are also a nice touch.

The at times heart-breaking love story, descriptions of food and drinks and places, authentic LGBTQ+ representation, spicy bits, and characters that pulled me in created an experience I won't soon forget.

I've already ordered it in print, ebook, and audiobook for my library!

ONE BILLION STARS!!!⭐️

Holy shit I’m going to need to catch my breath real quick. This book was so horny, and yet, so romantic. This book was gluttonous in the best way. Bright colors, big feels, mouth watering food/drinks, stunning sights, so, so, SO GAY, and did I mention big feels? The hate, the lust, the LONGING! THE LOVE!!!
God this book was so beautifully crafted. Not a. Single. Flaw.

The Pairing swept me away on a whirlwind trip through Europe. I could taste the food and wine and picture the amazing views. And I made friends along the way.

We follow Theo and Kit, two exes who end up on a whirlwind trip through France, Spain and Italy together. They don't know whether to ignore each other, or hook up, or be friends. So they settle on the decision to have a hook up competition, like you do.

I ate up this book. If someone was to plan this exact trip to a tee I would be on it so fast. I really loved picturing all the scenery and galivanting through Europe. It brought me back to trips I've taken in the past in the best way.

I also loved getting to know the other folks on the trip, and that Kit and Theo met along the way. This is my favorite part of traveling and this book captured it perfectly.

Theo and Kit's relationship was an interesting one to watch. I liked that both characters felt very fleshed out and really did identify with both of them. I felt like their fellow travelers, cheering for them along the way and hoping these two crazy kids finally see what they feel for each other.

The perspective switch half way through was an interesting choice. Part of me feels like I wished there was perspective switches every chapter or two, but this did make for a different story telling technique which I enjoyed.

5 stars!

I had high hopes for this one, but I really struggled to get through it. If you detest miscommunication/lack of communication/lying as tropes then I would definitely skip this one. The second half was a bit better than the first half, but overall I was glad to be finished. I absolutely loved the European setting, and the background of wine and pastries......but the plot and character development just did not wow me. Maybe I will enjoy McQuiston's next one better.

What an incredibly heartfelt and inspiring story of love! I absolutely could not put this down. From the rich characters, the story arc and the journey of the plot it was simply unputdownable. It is sure to be yet another beloved book hit for the author and is equally love to see it also adapted for film as the storyline of travel would be so fun on the big screen. This has representation that is dearly needed and feels impactful in its timeliness. Speaking of time, the dedication to flashbacks were big for me here as I felt like it truly gave us a whole experience in understanding our MCs deeply and thoroughly. It might feel like a lag for others but for me it truly helped me understand these characters and their relationship in a deeper way that truly fed the plot for me. I think with such complex and complicated characters it’s vital! Overall I loved the journey and couldn’t have asked for more. It’s heart warming and full of hope and forced proximity heaven.

The narration was so much fun and truly added a special spice to the already rich storytelling and helped a lot with the POV switches. I think the audiobook will be key for anyone struggling with the pov differentiation.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to ARC read I was given both a physical ARC from St Martins Griffin and the ALC from Macmillan Audio & NetGalley

🎧 + E-book- The Pairing- a standalone

✍️ By Casey McQuiston- read Red,White, and Royal Blue & One Last Stop gave 4/5*

🗣️ Narrators: Emma Galvin & Max Meyers.The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Theo and Fabrizio.The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrators worked together well. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story . The narrators paused and announced new chapters with music and each location of the tour.

📃 Page Count:  432

🏃🏾‍♀️Run Time: 14:14

🗓️ Publication Date: 8-6-24  | Read: 7-31-24  

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and Macmillan Audio for this ARC and ALC ❤️! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, LGBTQIA+

Tropes:
❤️BFFS in love
❤️friends to lovers
❤️forced proximity
❤️1st POV
❤️European tour
❤️found family

⚠️ TW: Both H&h sleep with other people


💭 Summary 💭: Theo and Kit have broken up and went their separate ways while on a plane to start their European tour of France, Spain, and Italy. A terrible misunderstanding kept them apart for four years Kit staying in Paris and Theo back to LA. They both decide to finally go on the tour before their vouchers expire. When reunited old feelings come back, but they agree to a hook-up competition.



Heroine: Theodora"Theo" Flowerday- from a famous family where her parents and sister are actors and writers in entertainment.

Hero: Kit Fairfield- his mother died when he was thirteen. Fell in love with Theo and hasn't gotten over it.

Side cast: Fabrizio- funny tour guide; Sloane- Theo's sister a multimillionaire;


My Thoughts: This was OK for me. I didn't care for Kit's POV which started around 48% because he didn't show as much emotion as Theo. They both slept with other people when they claimed to still be in love. I wasn't into the hook-up competition because I like my main couple crazy over each other. Things were messy with the threesomes and both trying to sleep with the same people.

Range of emotions: 😬🤔🙄

🌶️: Spice 3/5 open door
🎧:Narration  3/5, didn't like Kit
😭: Emotion 3/5
❤️: Couple 3/5
⭐️: Rating 3.5/5 *

I absolutely love Casey McQuiston books, but this one was just okay for me. I don’t mind a messy relationship, but this may have been just too messy for my taste?

I also wish that we had more in the past with the characters or really see their love, it was told more than shown.

Loved the narrators!!

Casey McQuiston is never a disappointment! This book was amazing in every way. Theo and Kit are the main characters. They end up on the same trip and the rest is history. Very intimate and detailed. Loved every second of it.

Feeling very mixed about this story. Second chance romances are always a hit or miss for me. This one takes it to a whole different level with exes hooking up with different people was a bit much for me. I did enjoy the dual POV and the start of each chapter with the pairing and setup for the chapter. The story felt just a little repetitive as well. I did enjoy the ending and how they finally got their HEA.

Emma Galvin and Max Meyers did a great job with the narration. Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio for a copy of this.

I had high hopes for this book and unfortunately it didn’t quite hit the mark. 😕

There were things I liked about it: 1. All the food and wine descriptions. 2. All the touristy things. 3. 💕Kit💕
But there were things I didn’t like: 1. The POVs being half and half; I think the story would’ve really benefited from the POVs alternating as that would’ve really helped the pacing and the flow of the story. 2. The hook up competition part of the plot was just kind of immature and a lot of the scenes that went along with that plot point felt really unrealistic. 3. 🙄Theo🙄 - they were absolutely insufferable and I found them exhausting. (However I really appreciated the gender identity rep they brought to the story.)

As a whole this book was fine but I can’t say it’s a new favorite from Casey McQuiston by any means.

2.5 stars. This just wasn’t great and never grabbed my attention. It sounded so good, I love a second chance romance, but this one just wasn’t it. This author has been hit and miss for me in the past, so I was hoping this one was more of a hit.

Basically we follow two exes, they were childhood besties who fell in love and became an item, they split up after a European trip and went there separate ways. Now it’s a few years later and they both end up booking the same wine tour. Instead of splitting between chapters and getting the different character’s POVs, we don’t get the other MC’s POV until halfway through the book. I think it would have helped having it sooner. Lots of European adventures! The bit with them making a bet to see who could hook up with more people while on vacay together, and then having the deets of that playing through, was a choice…

I received an audio ALC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.