I have been a Casey McQuiston fan since Red, White, & Royal Blue.

While I didn’t love Theo and Kit as much as Alex and Henry I did enjoy this one.

Immersive reads have basically become my personality at this point but for this one I highly recommend the audio. I really enjoyed Emma Galvin and Max Meyers narration a lot and at times when the story was dragging I turned to the audio and that got me out of the slump.

I am bummed I didn't read this when I was in Europe last month. This would have been fun to read along with while I was also in Italy and France.

One of my favorite things about romance reads is getting dual POV. Theo and Kit are both characters you’re going to love for their own quirky ways. They both struggle with things we all do and it was very refreshing the way McQuiston explored those themes.

Now I want to eat all the european treats I miss so much!

Thank you @stmartinspress for the early reading copy and @macmillan.audio for the early listening copy

3.85 stars

Casey McQuiston is one of my favourite authors and their newest release contains even more joy and adventure than I was expecting. The title is a terrific play on words for this multilayered story about romantic/friendship relationships. And it also contains a food and drink pairing for each chapter's stop on a European tour.

The story is about two friends who have been estranged for almost 4 years and then accidentally reunite when they need to use up a travel voucher for a trip they bailed on. The book includes an adorable map, and while it wasn't in the audio arc I listened to, it is available on Casey's Instagram and hopefully will be included as a PDF in the official audio release because it really adds another dimension to the story.
This was different kind of story than the other books I've read by Casey McQuiston, but just as good - not as swoony or sunshiney but more contemplative and angsty.

The audiobook narration by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers was fantastic, with musical interludes and food and wine pairings provided by the author!

I really enjoyed The Pairing by Casey McQuiston. I had only read one of their backlist (One Last Stop) before starting this one but it definitely made me want to check out their older books as well!

I really liked getting to know both Kit and Theo and found I liked the story from Theo’s perspective more than when it was told by Kit. It was a bit jarring when the book changed perspectives halfway through and I’m not sure it really added much to the story to do this but it was an interesting way to tell the story. I also liked Theo’s narrator a lot more than Kit’s.

This one has really descriptive sex scenes, so if that is something you don’t like, this one might not be for you. As someone who reads a decent amount of romance, even I was like “wow there is A LOT of very descriptive sex.” So be prepared for that.

I did really like the author’s writing style and how she told the story. The food descriptions were amazing and made me want to go to each of the locations and enjoy all the meals. I think the book could have benefited from a bit more editing as it felt kinda long to me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I loved the dual narration, very good representation. Cute rom com with travel!I really enjoyed this and cannot wait to have it in our store

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a pretty relaxing and quick read. The relationship and issues between the two main characters were believable and relatable. Another good one by this author!

This is a really good example of a book I started, “punished” by ignoring it for awhile, picked it back up still feeling so-so on it, and then ended up iking by the end? One thing is for sure, I will definitely remember the vibes of The Pairing which I believe is McQuiston’s overall intent. File under super slutty travel bisexual book with tons of food and beverage references.

So why the mixed feelings? This one was slow to start for me. As an ALC I knew I would get dual narration, but the first half is single POV from Theo Flowerday, and it wasn’t until I got Kit’s POV that I felt the story took a more romantic turn. I think with travel novels, there’s always a bit of repetition or at least it can be difficult to be inventive with the plot and the food/drink pairing with each locale helped tell more of the story as I read more. Initially I was turned off by the idea of two exes entering an almost competition-like race to see who can hook up more. Maybe that’s my age, but it didn’t seem like the best way to get over someone, and I started out not liking Theo. McQuiston, however, worked their magic and amped up the chemistry between Kit and Theo as they spent more time together, creating a love story slowly simmering under all those messy feelings.

I also now have to thank McQuiston for a scene with a peach that will live rent free in my head, and some of the hottest orgasm-giving without kissing or penetrating—when Theo makes a rule, Kit knows how to follow it to a T. So if you’re looking for lots of open creativity with your MCs, plenty of food and drink, a cast of characters where everyone’s queer and it might not be a surprise that your tour guide would want to sleep with you, you’ll probably enjoy the way this book tries to do something new. McQuiston after all, knows how to write romance that challenges the genre.

I also was really glad I received an early listening copy because both Emma Galvin and Max Meyers did a phenomenal job of narrating. I especially loved Meyers as Kit and felt like he really embodied Kit’s responsiveness to Theo. The ALC also had Casey McQuiston narrating food and drink “pairings” at the start of each chapter which was a nice touch. All opinions are my own.

The Pairing is another beautiful write by Casey McQuiston about learning to accept help and learning how to help those you love, in a story of unexpected reconnection and lost time.

This book was an excellent fresh story. Lots of love between characters of different sexualities without any fanfare. The narration was good I liked the different pov voices and the narrator’s did a great job. In saying all of that, this was not my favorite Casey book. She has wrote a few books that I could not put down. This one did not have that feeling for me. I didn’t hate it, I just don’t think it will leave a lasting memory in my brain.

I have enjoyed all of the Casey McQuiston books that I’ve read, except for this one. The two main characters just felt very un-relatable and pretentious. They sort of talked about themselves as if they knew they were super attractive and important and could get anyone they wanted and they just felt extremely off-putting. Felt like two characters that just had a lot of growing up to do.

The story itself was also extremely slow and boring. I didn’t care about what was happening. Lots of fancy food and drink talk that I wasn’t interested in. I can definitely see this being some people’s cup of tea but it just wasn’t mine.

As for the narration, I loved the first half but the second half wasn’t as good. However, I didn’t enjoy Kit’s POV nearly as much.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this audiobook.

Absolutely delightful. It was a perfect blend of sexy melodrama, agonizing pining, and bisexual rizz. It was just so fun to read. I’m in awe of the author’s use of sensual and anatomical language that was beautiful and descriptive while upholding each of the love interests’ gender identities.

Spice: 4/5 - repeated acts with explicit language and a variety of acts
Audiobook narration: 5/5

I already pre-purchased a copy of “The Pairing” for my personal collection and the main reason being… Theo and Kit are masters at what they do. The way Casey McQuiston described all the pairings was scrumptious. The flavor profiles of all the European foods, pastries, drinks and wine will be sitting on my shelf to revisit at any time. But also, the pairing of Kit and Theo added so much satisfaction to the book. I appreciated the first part of the audiobook being read by the author, I was able to really connect with Theo. Although I understand why the second part (from Kit’s perspective) was read by someone else, I was sad to hear Casey go.
This is by far my favorite book by this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy ahead of the release date.

This book made me hungry . . . I’m starving Casey, feed me!

I love the symbolism/allegory/metaphor of pairs, be it food-and-wine or people pairings. and how the theme of wine and food is not only carried throughout the novel, but also steeps into character development and the dynamics. Take the various pairings and flavors of food and wine, for example, sweet, bitter, savory—and between Theo and Kit there is a similar variety of flavors to their memories. Some are sweet, some are bitter, savory and spicy—which creates a really cute and smart theme overall.

I enjoyed all the details there were to discover in learning about Kit and Thwo's personalities. It felt like there were all these little details and everything really fit into building these backstories for the characters. For example, how Theo is a swimmer, and how she feels about her family, and how she worked her way up for her job, and all her trauma. And Kit with his tattoos, the recipes he likes, and what he’s dreaming about, and what sort of food they bought, and how they try all these different foods. All of these intricate details paint a really cool multi-dimensional full-portrait of a person that has all these layers, details, interests . . . just like real people. So these characters felt very, very real. And when Kit was talking about Theo's layers and it was around the cathedral like an epiphany . . . it's just beautiful! I loved these characters, and I loved getting to know them.

I also really, really loved the romanticism of a food and wine tour in Europe! Second chance romance on an epic once-in-a-lifetime vacation . . . it's perfection!

And can we talk about the cover art? It’s so cute. I am obsessed! It’s so bold! It’s so fun! I can’t get over the hidden symbols… the cities, the croissant, and the wine, the obscuring of the faces… it’s just really adorable and a perfect portrayal for the light, bubbly fun that lays within the pages of this book.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, which added so much nuance to the story. Everything was told in the voice that it was meant to be told in, the way that it was written, with all the right inflections and emotions as it was meant to be. It was very cool to hear the story in the author's voice, I loved that aspect of this audiobook. It was a pleasure listening to her story it was funny and engaging and kept me entertained. I also really like this author's writing style. She’s funny, quick, witty, and a little sarcastic.

I tried to get into this book and I gave it a fair chance of a few hours but I could not get into it. I kept not understanding the point of the book. I found the female narrator unenjoyable. I simply couldn't get through it and did not enjoy it. I've loved McQuiston's other books so this was a big letdown for me. I'm sure this story is for some people -- those that like food, travel, and bisexual stories (which I often do) might really enjoy it--but it wasn't me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Pairing is a second chance romance between Kit, a Parisian pâtissier and Theo a Sommelier. Kit and Theo met as friends and finally confessed their love in their teens and dated until breaking up in their early twenties. The trip that ended up being the final straw in their relationship is what ultimately brings them together again when they both choose to use their vouchers in the last available month. They then travel Europe tasting food, drinking good wine and getting to know each other again.

This is a duel POV but instead of alternating chapters, it is Theo's perspective for the first half of the book and Kit's for the second. The story of their relationship ending unfolds throughout the book while you see them realizing they never fell out of love. You get to meet a cast of really fun characters and if you love food and wine descriptions in your books, you are going to love this! This book is also very LGBTQIA friendly and VERY sex positive if those are things you're seeking!

Unfortunately, I did not love it. The belabored descriptors of food and wine felt like an obnoxious interruption to the story rather than something that added to it. You also get the impression at the start of the book that Kit has done something unforgivable and terrible with the way Theo is responding to them. But you soon figure out that Theo is honestly just immature. Or that's how they read to me. The chip they carried on their shoulder about being a nepo baby while also hyper-fixating on how terrible and irresponsible they are did not make for a fun reading experience. I didn't crave Theo finding a partner, I craved them finding a therapist.

While Kit was more enjoyable as a human his chapters were almost too sappy. McQuiston really leaded in to all the Italian art theme because Kit's chapter long internal dialogues about how amazing and perfect Theo was after readying them from their perspective did not read as accurate.

I'm already not the biggest fan of second chance romance but when your relationship ends basically due to a miscommunication, I am going to have a lot of opinions. Theo's pride kept them from ever talking to Kit after their breakup due to one tiny thing and that was a wild thing for me to wrap my head around. While trying to be friends at the start of the tour they also agree on a 'sex bet' (you read that right) where they would each try to sleep with more people than the other and maybe I am too precious about my romance because my god, I hated that. I don't like reading about characters banging characters that they aren't in love with.

Finally, the ending felt so rushed. They were never fully in their happy moment of the book, they were always trying to sabotage themselves until randomly at the very end Kit sees a goofy note his mom left her brother and that's when he decided a relationship should be fought for. At that point I honestly thought they both deserved better.

This was the audiobook version, so I wanted to make some notes about the production. I hated the weird musical interludes between chapters. It felt like another way the book was trying to be all 'look at me, I am so artsy'. I also hated Kit's voice actor. Sorry to that person but they spoke with this weird affect that would be more like a formal royal announcer than a cool, super hot, bisexual Parisian man. I ended up switching to the physical copy about 75% through because I hated his voice for that character.

This book was a fun vacation, second chance at love romance. I super enjoyed the setting and descriptions of all of the amazing food and drinks. However, both characters annoyed me a bit at times because they acted so childish. This took me out of the story and then it took me a while to get back into it. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What I loved:
The alternating points of view of this novel.
The pairings of alcohol/food and cities.
The foodie tour.
The awkwardness of two people who broke up after a miscommunication who wind up on the same tour bus.
Fabricio - he was delicious and the plot twist with him was delightful.
The bus driver - adorable.

I absolutely liked this novel until the end. I would have liked it without the bow that tied it all together. BUT! It was a fun journey through wine and food and love.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐭𝐨𝐨, 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐞—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭.

I listened to an audio ALC of this book as well as an E-ARC and I have to praise the amazing narrators. The Narrator for Kit especially is so phenomenal and I really enjoyed both of their performances.

I am so conflicted with my rating for this book and let me tell you why.

It's beautifully written. Like, viscerally, soul achingly beautiful. You can see and taste and smell and feel every location that travel to, everything they eat and drink. You can feel the emotions from at least one character to the marrow of their bones, and it makes your chest ache.

Now, part of why I'm so conflicted is that the set up of this book is miscommunication. And then it devolves into other miscommunications as they travel around. It's also second chance, friends to lovers and I don't like any of those tropes.

I struggled with the first half of this book which is told by Theo's POV. The first half of this book the two MCs meet again after having broken up years ago and going on this trip around France, Spain, and Italy on a tour bus. They are eating, drinking and fucking their way around the countries.

However, where Kit seems to be conflicted and almost heartbroken around Theo, Theo treats the first half of the book like a vapid horny teenager. Literally everyone finds everyone attractive and Theo gets whatever they want in the way of women, men, and getting on yachts. It just didn't endear Theo to me at all and it tends to drag with conquest after conquest.

The second part of the book is told by Kit's POV and this is definitely where it picks up because he's utterly infatuated with Theo. There is pining and romance and tenderness and love and it made me want to root for them. Unfortunately every time Theo opened their mouth in response to something sweet he said or some tender moment with self deprecating humor it really took me out of those scenes and made me not like Theo at all.

Even towards the end Theo says "I love how good he is to me. I love how good I am to myself when he's around." but Theo never says that they are good to HIM. Because they are not.

I believe this book could have easily been 100 pages shorter, as it drags on a bit, even though I did enjoy all the places they visited. The book made me hungry with all the amazing descriptions of the food and all the gorgeous architecture and art.

There was so much to enjoy and yet so much that also feel flat for me. So I think I'm giving it 3 stars. Maybe 3.5. I just wish Theo met Kit with the kind of incredible compassion and love that Kit brought to Theo and I would have rated higher. I'm just kind of bummed because the writing is seriously so beautiful.

The audiobook was really well read. But I was not a fan of the book. I am not impressed by conflicts that only exist because two characters spend 400 pages not admitting that they like each other.

"The Pairing" by Casey McQuiston offers a mix of romance, humor, and the most incredible food descriptions you have ever read. This book tells the story of two bisexual exes who accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and create a competition to hook up with people to prove they’re over each other, even though they definitely are not. This book has five-star sexual tension and was much spicier than I expected. I enjoyed the way the characters cared for each other throughout the story and how they came to terms with their feelings.

If you loved Casey McQuiston's other works, "Red, White & Royal Blue" and "One Last Stop," this is just as good. I also loved the pansexual, bisexual, and non-binary representation that was portrayed with kindness and even humor.

Thanks you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!

It's hard to rate a Casey McQuiston so low but for a long time my rating was even lower. I really hated Theo for the longest time and I think what made me dislike them so much was the fact that we spent the entire first half in their perspective and the entire second half in Kit's when things were arguably getting better. Theo's POV spent a long time in the spiteful, self-hatred, despair while Kit got to spend it in the "I'm still in love with you" hopeful side of things so the relationship to the reader felt very unbalanced. For the longest time I kept wondering why these two loved each other because we were never shown that from their earlier relationship and I guess since it's a second chance romance, we get to see the second part but the other problem for me was EVERYTHING was about sex. Even when they have the big confession scene, what's the first thing to be done? Sex. So many conversations were about this that I just didn't connect because that's not a reality for me at least and I was left just annoyed with how horny everyone was all of the time and barely doing or thinking about anything else. I loved RWARB and One Last Stop and Shara Wheeler so much because they made me feel the feels for the characters both in their relationship and in their own character arcs but this just didn't hit the same. I still enjoyed it a lot but I can't even justify 4 stars right now because of how long it actually took me to give a damn about them, especially Theo which sucks because by the second half I understood Theo so much more but that's only because I was experiencing it from Kit's side, not Theo's, which is not how I feel like I should have related. Their desire to not be the family screw-up is something I really resonate with and I wish we had experienced their true feelings more on their povs. So I feel like this book would have been a lot better if we had been switching POVs throughout, rather than a first and second half. I feel like that alone would have made this another McQuiston 5 star for me but it wasn't.