If you're looking for a queer, horny, European summer romp then look no further. This book is a shallow but fun little palate cleanser. The food and wine references are a bit gratuitous and most of the book is pretty over the top, but I'm surprised there are so many negative reviews for this, as it seems clearly what it is marketed as. I did find Theo's character to be rather annoying and self-absorbed, but you now what, queer people can be annoying too, and you gotta love the annoying gay visibility.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC!


Spoiler below ----

I think the part I was most confused by was that Theo had a non-binary coming out. They were so clearly nb to me the entire time, that I had a harder time reading them as a woman at the beginning of the book. The actual coming out to Kit was heartwarming and lovely, but they were just so obviously non-binary the entire time that I wished it had been addressed earlier.

I’m a super fan of RED, WHITE, & ROYAL BLUE; I enjoyed ONE LAST STOP and obsessed with I KISSED SHARA WHEELER. So when Casey McQuiston announced their next book, THE PAIRING, I was excited. It’s been a long time since an author I adore has disappointed me.

The plot was so repetitive. The plot was so repetitive! Did I mention that the plot was so repetitive? I expected some of the same occurrences, given that they had a bet about who could sleep with more people on a European tour when they really just wanted to be with one another. But it felt like nothing new. And they were in different countries with different people! The only parts I loved were their conversations with other tour group members about life, love, and relationships.

Typically, I become a big fan of one or more of CMQ’s characters. Sadly, I found I did not want to be friends with any of them, which I think made a big difference in my liking the book. I made it to the 47% part before I DNF’d it. By that point, I loathed being in Theo’s head. I learned from a friend that the narration switched to Kit shortly after, but I was so not invested in Theo’s side and had no urge to see if Kit might invest me in more. There is not enough time in the world to read books you aren’t head over heels for.

I hope I adore whatever CMQ puts out next, like the first three books, because this one was not for me.

PS - One positive note: The narration of the audiobook was excellent. I had a tough time reading the arc, but it was much better to listen to because of the superb narration. I wish I were listening to a better story with that narration.

Thanks, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for the arc and ALC!

Thanks you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Arc for my honest review.

Another WIN for Casey McQuiston.

Absolutely loved the between chapter Pairings by the Author such a cute touch!

First half is done in Theo pov 2nd half is done in Kit pov and its perfection.
I will say I thought this was just another male/male love story but man was I so glad to be wrong! In the 2nd half we learn that Theo is non binary bio female they/them and Kit loves them so deeply and accepts them for all they are.

The story is one of heartache and relearning love, Theo and Kit have been best friends since a very young age, on night they decided to see what it would be like if they dated. They had bought tickets for a vacation around Europe and a mistaken chance of communication caused them to break up. Theo went home and Kit went to Paris. They both held on to the ticket promising to go on their own, and when the tickets were about to expire they both went and ended up on the same tour, same bus, same row. They go thru the tour to end up becoming friends again and even go as far as create and who can get more action game…that they both cheat at! Theo runs their own rolling bar in a bus they transformed while Kit became a pastry chef and they blend with each other so perfectly! They end the story with LOVE and redemption!

Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me, after loving their previous work. The characters’ voices felt juvenile (both the prose and the audiobook narrators) and the references to food and wine felt very forced. Wanted to love it, but unfortunately, it’s just 3 stars for me

I'm so disappointed that I did not love this highly anticipated novel. I previously read McQuiston's Red, White & Royal Blue and recall thinking it was sweet, charming, and witty, so I expected The Pairing to be similar. Unfortunately, this book did not have those characteristics.

Basically, two exes (nonbinary Theo & MMC Kit) accidentally reunite when they book the same European food & wine tour. We discover that the reason they broke up hinged on a serious miscommunication/technical error, with each character thinking they were ghosted by the other, which is my least favorite romance trope.

Additionally, Theo (they/them) is one of those annoying ultra wealthy & privileged Gen Z kids who is forcing themselves to forgo monetary help from their family, despite owning a failing business and being all stressed out about it. They act like this is the same as someone who is genuinely required to survive on their own with no backup. I can't stand these self-imposed martyrs and I find it hard to relate to a book in which one of the main characters is unlikable.

On top of that, the novel was over 400 pages of food and alcohol descriptions paired with tons of random hookups. The hookups did not really advance the plot at all and just felt gratuitous. Overall, the book would have benefited from editing it down by 100 pages, as it became tedious and I did not care if the MCs ended up getting back together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

This book was refreshing in a way that was unexpected. Unfortunately for me, I kept feeling like this book was another American and Foreigner like Red, White, and Royal Blue but without the patriarchy to get in the way. It felt like this book was trying to have those qualities but smush the two characters together on a week long food tour around Europe. I enjoyed the premise and the characters of this book, but I think it was my personal downfall that would not let me enjoy this book fully because I was comparing it to Red, White, and Royal Blue. Also, another personal downfall because I went into this book completely blind - but I did not like the storyline of them competing to make each other jealous by sleeping with other people. I feel like that type of storyline could be for me in a different situation, but overall I do not gravitate toward those kinds of plot lines because I would rather it be a slow burn for the two characters to get together without sleeping with other people or have them already together in a fake dating situation to make others jealous. Overall I loved the LGBTQIA+ representation, there is no one who does queer novels quite like McQuiston. But as far as her books go I think this one is my least favorite. I still highly recommend if you love this type of plot line, are a foodie, or love saucey LGBTQIA+ romance.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy of this one!

If you are a foodie who loves queer romance stories, stop what you are doing and read this now. Warning though, this book is extremely horny and I cant believe how many hookups took place in 3 weeks. I am not going to lie, I didn't really care for the fucking competition (pun intended) nor am I a foodie, so I didn't really care so much about the food and wine talk, but it didn't ruin the book for me by any means. I really love Theo and Kit as characters, they are so perfectly imperfect (Kit may lean more towards the perfect side, and Theo did drive me nuts sometimes). The angst and yearning in this book is so real. I found it quite funny, I truly feel like I could be friends with these characters.
I did enjoy the non-binary rep, however if im perfectly honest I went into this thinking it was a gay romance and it took me a while to; 1. realize Theo was not a cis male, and 2. the gender discussion didn't even happen during Theos POV and I really feel like something like that should have come up before the half way point.
But yeah, I will definitely be reading more from this Author.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review :)

I think our MCs were narrated perfectly in this book! The only suggestion I would make is if you are making a travel romance book where you are going to encounter people of different nationalities it might be worth it to utilize voice actors with that accent. There were some characters who felt over the top in a way that was making fun of the accent! The book itself was fun, steamy + I think the travel elements made the book flow nicely!

I loved Casey McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue. It's so rare that I give a contempory romance 5 stars, but her first book deserved it. I tried reading One Last Stop, but couldn't connect with the storyline. I was excited when I learned that the author released another book and thought I would give her another shot. The Pairing just didn't do it for me either. I did not like the main characters and because of that, I had a hard time enjoying the book. I thought they were too entitled and annoying. I guess I want to like the characters that I am reading about and couldn't wait to finish this one. The narrator was also difficult to listen to. Her voice kinda grated on me., much like the characters.

3.5 Stars.I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers. Their narrations were very good in this dual narration audiobook. The voices were distinct. There was some music and pairings of food and wine at the beginning of each chapter, which really didn't do anything for me. I also sped the audio up to 2X. Otherwise I would have been listening for what would feel like weeks.

I struggled through the first half of the book. To be honest, I probably missed something, but I could not figure out what gender Theo connected with or what their sexuality was. It made it confusing for me. I'm not sure Theo was any clearer on that than I was.

This was a second chance trope. The two separated years earlier because of some miscommunication. They didn't communicate at all after that, until they showed up on the same tour that they were supposed to have gone on together years before. I had a hard time buying the fact that there had been no communication at all in that time. Not even an angry text??? Most of the plot centers around who's going to get the most action while they are on this tour. That part was kind of yucky for me. I just wasn't a fan.

Anyway, the author gave me my HEA. That was a long time in coming, but it came, so I'm happy.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating THE PAIRING by @casey.mcquiston and it did not disappoint!

I loved the setting on this one - a three week food/wine tour through France, Spain, and Italy. The tour provides a steady cast of characters and plenty of beautiful locations as we follow Theo and Kit’s unexpected reunion and their ultimate quest to find their connection again.

This is a story about friendship, forgiveness, growth, and new horizons. The unexpected paths we take in life and finding our way to who we are supposed to be. And finding our way home.

Many thanks to @macmillan.audio for sending me a copy of the audiobook! This was a fun one to listen to. I bought a physical copy as well and followed along there at times as I listened, I just love Casey McQuiston’s writing style.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a delightful and emotionally rich romantic comedy that explores themes of love, self-discovery, and the transformative power of food and travel. The story follows Theo and Kit, two bisexual exes who accidentally book the same European food and wine tour four years after a brutal breakup. What ensues is a journey filled with stunning landscapes, luscious flavors, and a rekindling of old flames.

Theo and Kit were once childhood best friends, then lovers, and now estranged exes. After their relationship ended disastrously on a flight to their dream European tour, they went their separate ways. Theo became a confident bartender and aspiring sommelier, while Kit thrived as a pastry chef in Paris. Both decide to use their expiring tour vouchers separately, only to find themselves trapped together on the same tour bus for three weeks. To cope with the awkwardness, they engage in a hookup competition, which leads to unexpected emotional revelations and a rekindling of their past romance

I loved how this story explores the idea of second chances in love and life, showing how time apart can lead to personal growth and new perspectives. Both Theo and Kit undergo significant self-discovery, particularly in terms of their sexual identities and personal ambitions.

I'll never forget that this book's vivid descriptions of food and wine and McQuiston’s portrayal of queer love is both heartfelt and nuanced, celebrating bisexuality and the complexities of queer relationships.

McQuiston’s writing is engaging and witty, with a perfect balance of humor and emotional depth. The dual perspective narrative allows readers to deeply connect with both Theo and Kit, understanding their motivations and vulnerabilities while creating relatable, multidimensional characters and a plot that feels both timeless and modern.

The Pairing is a must-read for fans of romantic comedies and queer romance. It’s a story that celebrates love in all its forms, the joy of self-discovery, and the pleasures of good food and wine.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

Casey McQuiston has done it again. This was a delightful romantic comedy with bisexual representation. I loved the chemistry in this novel. I also thought that both narrators did a great job and I liked both voices! With that being said, One Last Stop is still my favorite Casey McQuiston novel.


What a delightfully cute summer read, sure to put a smile on your face! Highly recommend!
—


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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The dual narrators are fun and embody the characters so well! They both do a wonderful job of giving characters their own personalities and it's so cool to see how each narrator interprets each character and reflects that in their performance.

The Pairing was just not it for me. Sadly, there seems to be a disconnect between McQuiston's first two books (which I loved) and their last two.

I'm all for an author trying different formats, but unfortunately, the split in narration in this dual POV romance just didn't work. Instead of gaining more from the second perspective, it felt like I was starting over, learning a character all over again. This shift happened during one of the steamiest scenes, and it felt like a cold shower, immediately zapping the lust and longing.

The beginning of the book was set up in such a way that there wasn't enough on-page time between Theo and Kit, causing me to no longer feel the romance and chemistry between them; I longed for the heat I had just previously felt during The Beginning (Theo's Version).

Who edited this story? "A/the bit" was mentioned three times in the first 12%, once more by 20%, and at least twice more during the whole book (that I caught). There were two uses of the word "androgynous" in the first 14%.

I feel like this story was really missing the found family aspect that I've come to love and expect from McQuiston; this one just didn't have that solid friend group foundation to hold the whole story together. It was almost there towards the end of the book, but by then, it was too late.

This book was far too long with juvenile, immature characters and miscommunications that didn't need to occur.

There were a few good moments. I laughed a few times. I loved the representation as Kit understood Theo's identity change from she/her to they/them.

As for the audiobook, I enjoyed McQuiston voicing parts. I didn't love the narrator used to voice Theo's character, and I can't exactly pinpoint why. I preferred the narrator for Kits perspective and the added emotions and expressions they brought to the story.

Overall, I was expecting better things. This book was missing the joie de vivre I had expected from pairing a food and wine tour against a gorgeous setting!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.

If it weren't for narrators Emma Galvin and Max Meyers I would have DNF'd the book. The Pairing, the story, was a massive miss for me; but Emma and Max made it tolerable and I was able to finish. I hate leaving any book without finishing it so I always appreciate a good audiobook to help me get through.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

I really enjoyed this story! While it definitely had its moments I wasn’t here for and it took me longer to read than the authors previous works, I still found this enjoyable even through the miscommunication trope that tends to be a dealbreaker for me. I was just invested in the characters and how their little challenge was going to pan out!

4-4.5! This was super fun for me to read! I really liked seeing the all of the locations and the food associated with it. I love when food is included and described in books, but it makes me super hungry all of the time lol. I liked the relationship but of course the age old miscommunication trope. I liked seeing both POVs and the switch half way through the novel was something I haven't read before and enjoyed!

DNF at 65% I can’t stand Theo. This whole book is based on a miscommunication trope that is solved in the first half of the book. Are all Europeans this horny? They’re just so annoying I can’t stand it anymore

I wound up having to DNF this novel. Which is genuinely hard for me to do. I was expecting a light-hearted novel from Casey McQuiston like some of her other ones but this wasn’t it. I sped through the audiobook on 3x speed for the majority of it because it was so repetitive and honestly a bit vulgar.