I am sort of at a loss for how to review The Pairing. It is a love story between two people, Kit and Theo, who broke up right before a food tour of Europe, only to be reunited years later on the same tour before their voucher expired. I loved these characters. They were so well-developed, so multi-dimensional, so honest. I laughed out loud so many times - big guffaws. It made me hungry with the food descriptions. I loved the romance. But it was also a bit long and seemed a bit repetitive. And while I loved the romance, the competition between Kit and Theo on the trip made my romantic heart hurt and I may have said argh a few times. So take that for what it is….

Casey McQuiston is one of the few romance writers that I enjoy reading and as always, her book did not disappoint. This story follows Theo and Kit, childhood best friends and now estranged exes who find themselves on the same European food and wine tour, an experience they'd booked together years prior but didn't think the other would be on at the same time.

The set up? Ridiculous, I love it. It's a very sort-of cute and corny way to introduce the characters and their personalities. I instantly loved both of them and really enjoyed getting their backstories of what they'd done throughout their years apart to bring them to the present in Europe. Also I just have to say, I started reading this book HOME from my trip to Italy (I never read book synopses before I start them) and this whole story made me just want to get on a flight back to Europe immediately.

This book is spicy! I hate spice without plot, but luckily that was never the case here. Theo and Kit were so complicated and had so much depth, I loved watching them grow and learn throughout this book. The side characters were also very fun (albeit a little over-the-top) but I think they really added some light-hearted energy to the story. This was the perfect summer romance read and I really enjoyed it!

I have loved Casey McQuiston's previous books, but this one was not for me. This was a second chance romance on a whirlwind trip through Europe. I didn't have any attachments to the two main characters, Theo and Kit. In the previous books, the supporting characters played a big part in the story and in this book that wasn't the case. It was really a struggle for me to finish the book. I really didn't care if they got back together or not. I had to switch from the audiobook to the book because I didn't enjoy the narrator for Theo.

My ranking of their previous books are: 1. One Last Stop, 2. Red, White, and Royal Blue, 3. I Kissed Shara Wheeler.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital copy of the audiobook.

The pairing by Casey Mcquinston
Publication date: August 6th 2024

I got the ARC of the audiobook on netgalley thanks to macmillan audio.

The poetic and descriptive writing is chefs kiss omg. This book is so funny and witty I feel like I know Theo.

-we love forced proximity and second chance they are stuck on a European trip together
-the way Theo describes Kit makes me fall in love with every detail about him you fall in love with him through them😭🥹

My thoughts while listening to the book:

-this book had me feeling like i’m on trip in Europe this book is perfect for the summer
-Ouuu this book making giddy and tingling
-They are literally competing who can get someone while fighting the feelings they have for each other 😩
-Their sexual tension is TENSIONING 🤪
-One BED TROPE HELL YEAH 🥳
-The spice is spicing 👀
-This book did feel a little long but I still ate it up wow
-“i’ve never loved Theo more than in this moment. Love took root in me before I learned its name….” 😭
-the meaning behind pairing the title 😭
-this book was beautiful I feel like I came back from a trip from europe wow

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I will forever and ever be a Casey McQuiston fan. This book, sadly, will be lowest in my rankings from them. The premise is fantastic. Two exes go on a wine and food tour of Europe four years after their split. I am here for the second-chance romance. What I'm not a fan of is the lack of communication about their real feelings and waiting so long to talk about what happened that fateful day 4 years ago. That being said, the sex positivity is great and I love the unapologetic queerness in the book. I do wish there wasn't as much hooking up with other people during the tour but that is most likely just a personal choice. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around "I love you but I'm going to go do this with them over there." The queerness, though, and the discussions around how they both changed was everything and the reason this book was saved for me. If you are a foodie, you will salivate at all the descriptions of their meals and snacks throughout their journey. It felt very European throughout, providing the best escape from my own couch here in the States. The audio for this one was very well done. Reading it in this format puts the reader right in the scene with the accents and personalities of all the characters on the tour.

Overall, this wasn't a top read for me but I still enjoyed it and loved certain aspects. I will always be wanting the next Casey McQuiston. One of my favorite things about their books is how very different (and yet fantastic) each one is. I cannot wait to see what's next.

This was a fun second chance romance that paired food, wine, travel, humor, and spice. These characters are unapologetically queer and horny. I was rooting for these characters the whole time, even though I was mainly thinking just stop miscommunicating/not communicating and just admit your feelings already! This book had a lot of pining so if you enjoy that you will love this one.
I did find the fact that the book was split up into 2 POVs but instead of alternating it was 1 for the first half and 1 for the second a bit jarring, but that is probably because I knew one of my favorite narrators was narrating the second half and I just wanted to hear him haha. But that being said, I get why it was done that way and I think that it did work for the story because alternating would have definitely taken away from the impact of the second half. It's just not a type of dual POV that I see very often. Also the second half was definitely my favorite half of the book. It was just great getting into Kit's head after being in Theo's.
Overall another good queer book from Casey McQuiston

Audiobook specific: both narrators were good but Max Meyers is definitely a favorite to listen to.

Content warning: spicy content, death of parent, grief

Thank you to @macmillainaudio for an ALC. All thoughts are my own.

This book definitely delivers on the horny in Europe promise here, because that’s what you’ll get here. I do wish we had more of Theo and Kit’s relationship before the breakup and a little more depth. Theo is a bit insufferable at times, and didn’t love their nepo baby bit. Loved the travel writing of it all with the food and drink talk, and overall pretty solid.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

Casey McQuiston knocked it out of the park with this one! I fell in love with the two chaotic bisexuals fumbling their way through the narrative. Theo and Kit are complicated, compassion, and so hot. The smut scenes in the book were on point and the descriptions of food made me drool ( funnily enough, these takes are interchangeable). The narrator for each characters perspective also did a great jobs of adding a personal touch to the inner monologue.

I loved this book so much I went out and bought a special edition! Sexy and fun ride with really great characters. Highly recommend!

Casey McQuiston first captured my heart with their debut novel, Red, White, and Royal Blue. I was completely enamored by the story of the American President's son falling in love with the British Prince. The cleverly plotted forbidden romance, along with a diverse and brilliantly crafted supporting cast, made the world feel incredibly real. Naturally, I eagerly anticipated more from McQuiston, but their next book, One Last Stop, didn’t quite meet my high expectations. McQuiston returns now with another new novel, The Pairing, a globe-trotting second-chance romance.

Kit and Theo have known each other since childhood. As best friends, their bond eventually blossomed into a romantic relationship. However, their romance fell apart during a trip to Europe, culminating in a nasty breakup on a plane that ended any chance of a future together. Part of the fallout included canceling a planned European food and wine tour. They went their separate ways, left with nothing but a voucher to reschedule the nonrefundable tour.

Four years later, Kit and Theo are living completely separate lives. Theo returned to the US, working as a craft cocktail mixologist while studying to become a sommelier. Kit stayed in Europe, attended pastry school, and became a pastry chef in a world-class Paris restaurant. The wounds of their past relationship have started to heal as they focus on their individual careers and casual relationships. But when they both decide to redeem their food and wine tour voucher at the last possible moment, Kit and Theo are suddenly thrust back into each other’s lives.

There’s a lot happening in The Pairing that should have made me enjoy it. Casey McQuiston forces her protagonists into a second chance at love by placing them on a weeks-long tour, where they have no choice but to interact. Theo knows wine, and Kit knows food. It's a perfect match, leading to the pair coming together naturally during this food and wine expedition. McQuiston's novels have always been inclusive, and this one is no exception. Both characters are pansexual, and one is revealed to be nonbinary. I loved how McQuiston effortlessly switched to using neutral pronouns for this character after the revelation. It truly is that simple, and it baffles me why or how anyone could have an issue with using someone’s preferred pronouns.

Unfortunately, that’s where the positives ended for me. Kit and Theo decide to challenge each other to see who can sleep with the most people during their tour. This premise felt contrived and out of character for them. The competition aspect seemed off and made the plot feel repetitive. Each new section was another city, filled with more descriptions of meals and the sexual conquests of the main characters with the ever-willing locals. This pattern persisted for most of the book, and by three-quarters of the way through, I was just ready for the story to end.

Most disappointing, though, were the main characters themselves. All their troubles stemmed from a simple problem: they didn’t talk to each other. Miscommunication caused their breakup and continued to hamper their supposedly rekindled feelings for each other. Ultimately, The Pairing features a clever setup that never fully comes together into an emotionally satisfying whole. While I appreciate McQuiston's knack for writing diverse characters into romances, I’m starting to think their debut was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment that may not be captured again.

This is hands down one of the best books of the year I've read. This epic love story soans decades. Casey McQuistion delicately addresses learning disabilities, fear, the struggle of self worth and acceptance. When 2 souls are meant to be the tale is woven beautifully and is absolutely exquisite. The narration bring another level to this amazing novel

I absolutely loved this book! I won’t be able to stop thinking about it.
The amount of care and detail that Casey put into every line of this book was extremely noticeable. I mean I could taster everything the two of them ate, like I was right there with them!
I absolutely adored Theo, they were such a delight. So fun and they knew who they were and weren’t afraid to take up space in the world. Their humor and confidence was truly inspiring.
This is hand’s down Casey’s best book yet, I mean, wow! It was sexy and lovely

The pacing was a bit slow with this one, but I enjoyed it overall. Red White and Royal Blue is still my favorite by this author!

Prior to their newest release, I had read two of Casey McQuiston’s books and loved both. I was excited to read their third adult novel, The Pairing, out this week.

This one is a second chance romance between two childhood best friends, Kit and Theo, who had dated before a bad breakup four years ago. On the cusp of taking a European food tour, they went their separate ways and never spoke again. But they both had vouchers to take the tour within 48 months, and both happen to have booked it now at the same time. Kit and Theo will have to spend a few weeks together. Awkward due to their breakup… but maybe a chance to mend things and become friends again. Or a chance to have a sex competition, whatever! But is that all a distraction from the feelings they still have for each other?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Second chance romance
- Childhood best friends to lovers to exes to lovers
- Forced proximity
- First-person POVs (both Theo and Kit)

What I Liked:
- Settings in England, France, Spain, and Italy. I love travel and any books set in other countries. (Especially Spain, since I lived there for a year!) I enjoyed following the main characters on a tour across these countries, seeing the sights, taking in the culture, and practicing the languages.
- Food! Did I mention that it was a food tour they’re on? There are plenty of descriptions of local cuisines, desserts, and drinks that will make your mouth water.
- Bisexual characters. Both Kit and Theo are bisexual, and they have insightful conversations about their sexualities. They also have a lot of fun with their sex competition, sometimes going after the same people.
- One of the characters is nonbinary. This is revealed later in the book, so sorry for the slight spoiler. Regardless, I don’t read nonbinary main characters often, and it’s nice to see the representation here, as well as the characters’ discussions about gender identity.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- So much drinking. I don’t drink so I can’t relate.
- Kind of too much sex? I’m not a prude, and I like my spicy romances, but this book sometimes feels a bit too hyper-fixated on the characters’ horniness and constant need for sex. It could have used more breathing room from that to balance it out.
- Slightly juvenile? All of Casey McQuiston’s books have a certain youthfulness to them that makes them feel somewhat New Adult as opposed to just Adult. Not a problem at all, but not quite what I usually want from otherwise adult characters.

Audiobook
Emma Galvin and Max Meyers narrate as Theo and Kit, respectively. Theo is given an energetic, strong voice, while Kit has a softer and more whimsical tone; both match their characters perfectly. They don’t necessarily sound how I would have imagined in my own head (in terms of vocal inflection), but the voice actors do bring the characters to vivid life here.

Final Thoughts
The Pairing is a great book that will appeal to foodies and people who like wine, anyone who loves travel and likes books set in Europe, and fans of second chance romances. It has a youthful energy, and with the sex competition between Kit and Theo, it’s on the spicier end of spectrum. I liked the characters and overall enjoyed the whole story, even if some elements weren’t entirely to my taste (pun intended).

This book is so delightful! The humor had me absolutely cracking up laughing and the characters have so much depth, I felt like I knew them. This book was also such a treat for the senses with Casey’s writing beautifully describing the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of each new destination. I could taste the warm crusty bread and smell the salt air in this book.

Theo and Kit’s romance made sense. From the beginning you just knew these two were meant for each other, and even though this has the dreaded miscommunication trope in it, the storyline around this actually made sense in a way that you could see happening in real life (read: not just two people never asking the one question they want answered). This book sings with queer joy, and I would HIGHLY recommend listening to it as the duet narration is perfectly executed as were the music cues for each new destination.

Thank you for providing the audiobook in addition to the digital galley. I always prefer to switch back and for or read while listening to narration.

I already reviewed the content, so I’ll focus this review on audio feedback. I found the female narrator to be enjoyable and easy to listen to. The male narrator, however, was too performative and drastically changed Kit’s character compared to how he was portrayed during the first half of the book. I can see that he got cast because of how well he performs the accents and supporting roles, but his portrayal of Kit was way over the top,

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an alc in exchange for my honest review!

wow. what a disappointment. this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year! since i basically breathe red, white, and royal blue, i was excited for this one. but this didn't bring any of that casey mcquiston magic that i've come to love. it honestly felt like it was written by a completely different author. the characters were unbearably boring (also whiny and annoying with no character development at all), the dialogue was cringe, the plot was chaotic, and the pacing was so S L O W. a friends to lovers second chance with a sex olympics adventure through europe? right up my alley!!! but my god, nothing went right lol. one would have thought that a plot like that would bring a ton of fun and adventure but instead i was fighting sleep as i listened to these two characters unravel. also, you find out why they broke up pretty early on and it really didn't need to be that dramatic or cause for 4 years to get over. i can't.

this didn't need to be as long as it was. i had to force myself to get through this.

Great narrators and I loved the intro lines read by the author at the start of each chapter. After listening to the first half of the book from Theo’s POV, I struggled a little bit with Kit’s narration. Even though I knew it was Kit’s turn to narrate I sometime forgot who was speaking in first person. I love the choice to tell the story this way though, it makes sense.

As a personal preference, there was too much sex for me. I love Theo and Kit separately and together but I didn’t need all of the sex scenes. It was a lot.

The secondary characters were also wonderful and there is so so much queer representation. Casey McQuiston has this ability to write complex,loveable, charming characters and I always feel good when I’m done reading one of their books.

Thank you to SMP Romance for the advanced reader copy and to Macmillan Audio complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

The Pairing is a second chance romance between Theo and Kit. They were originally childhood best friends who became lovers. The two broke up right before taking a culinary tour of Europe together. And now, they have somehow both managed to rebook for the same trip years later just as their vouchers would expire.

What I loved about the book was the amazing food descriptions. This story made me want to travel through Europe, eating all of the amazing food at the same amazing sites. The chapters were fairly long, with each named for and lasting as long as the tour stop.

I love seeing a book that is bi for bi and also appreciated the trans rep, but for me, this one leaned into bisexual stereotypes too much. It seemed to play up the idea of promiscuity that I find far too commonly used as an insult. And that regularly took me out of being able to enjoy the story.

The writing was fantastic, and I appreciated that the dual POVs were split between the front and back half. And I appreciated the author's essay about their approach.

There was great narration by professional narrators, Emma Galvin and Max Meyers. I didn't appreciate the interludes from Casey McQuiston, as they were a much faster speaking rate. I prefer fiction to always be narrated solely by professionals.

3.75 stars rounded up

Just who does Casey McQuiston think they are and what right do they have to do this to me?

With descriptions of delicious pastries and sumptuous meals paired with masterfully described drink after drink as they slowly make their way through France, Spain, and Italy, my foodie heart was completely entranced.

This is the most sensual experience you can have out loud in public.

Theo and Kit were childhood best friends - inseparable - and then idealistic lovers, and then, during a transcontinental flight to enjoy three weeks traveling through Europe to enjoy food and drink, angry, misunderstood exes.

Four years later, their vouchers about to expire, the two have the same idea, which becomes apparent when they find themselves on the same tour bus. Take the tour they’d meant to take together on their own.

The time apart has given them a chance to grow up, to find success and to take lovers, to get over one another.

But Kit has never gotten over Theo, and Theo quickly learns they haven’t either. And so, thrown together, this sommelier and pastry chef, amidst the most romantic setting, they agree to…see who can have the most hook ups with people they meet on the trip.

I have loved many romance books, but this one is masterful. The narration is top notch - and includes a delightful surprise - and should not be missed. Theo is cheeky and messy, Kit warm and neat. Both are absolutely beautifully rendered, the sort of characters I begin to believe are real people who I root for when the story ends.

I’ll be buying a trophy copy for sure.

How do I feel about the book? I’ll quote Theo to answer: “I was born a dumb hot horny creature.”

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the eARC. This one came out August 6, 2024.