I have loved Casey McQuiston's book, so I was highly anticipating The Pairing. I had to make multiple attempts to finish this book. I had a hard time liking or even caring about the main characters. I will not be posting about this on my social media accounts, as I reserve those spaces for positive reviews only.

UGH okay I was all set to really enjoy this book. It's very much gay chaotic good, and it's everything it sets out to be. Theo and Kit, two very horny exes who broke up 4 years ago, end up on the same Eurotrip food tour, which they planned to go on when they were together, and they both had the idea to use their voucher for the trip before it expired. They travel through Europe, eating and drinking and oops they still are into each other, but to get around that, they decide to have a competition to see who can sleep with the most people. Not my favorite trope, because they should just stop being idiots, but it was fun, and the food and drink descriptions were amazing, and it really felt like I was on this tour too.

Theo and Kit spend so much time circling each other and not talking about their feelings, but eventually they open up to each other, and they're able to talk about their breakup, and they're even able to talk about still being in love with one another.

And then this horrible thing happened where I was 30 pages from the end and they'd just had sex, and I <i>knew</i> what was about to happen, but I thought maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't, but it did. The third act break-up. Not only did it happen right after they had sex, but it wasn't even a fight. The way it's written, Theo and Kit just looked at each other and were like "yeah I love you but we obviously can't be together" and then they end the tour and go their separate ways. Just so there can be a grand gesture. And it makes me so mad! What is the point of doing that! It's not a good relationship tactic, and it's not fun to read. Not to mention the fact that I put the book down after the third act break-up, and then had a dream that my boyfriend broke up with me, which I did NOT enjoy.

I guess some readers enjoy, or don't hate, the third act break-up. But it's just so maddening, and it negatively impacts my feelings about the book.

3.5 stars! I put off reading this longer than I needed to considering I ended up enjoying it. Overall really liked the characters and the travel component. I wish they would have admitted their feelings earlier!

This book was so much fun. Extremely good descriptions of food, a steamy romance, and international hijinks were only a few of my favorite things about it. 10/10.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was ok. I LOVED this author's previous novel One Last Stop, but this one didn't hit as much for me.

there were a lot of things that I did enjoy about this book - especially the travel and foodie elements!! casey mcquiston knows how to develop details & background to make the reader wish they were really there!

however, the two main characters didn’t do it for me… they were both very immature and chose to sleep around europe tag teaming with the love of their life? even though they won’t admit it? it was just a little far fetched for me; especially since if that’s a reaction to a breakup, then perhaps you’re not mature enough to have one in the first place…

as always though, the LGBTQ+ representation was excellent & I’m a huge champion of more of that please!!

thank you st martins press for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review! 🩵

rating: 2.5 stars
wine pairing; amalfi coast sparkling prosecco

I was a big fan of red, white and royal blue and love that the author isn't afraid to tackle characters with different backgrounds, especially highlight LGBTQ+ characters. This book, for me, fell flat on the character development. I wasn't particularly rooting for them as a couple or them as individuals and I hoped that I would have been. I look forward to what else this author writes, this one just wasn't on the mark for me.

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

As a huge CMQ fan i was excited for this one, but i have to say it was definitely not my favorite of theirs. I didn't hate it by any means, it just was a bit repetitive at times (which i understand is going to be the case when the entire setting is a food and wine tour). thankfully, i really enjoy hearing the culture and descriptive explanations of all the foods and drinks, so i didnt get too bored with it, but it was a lot of the same. I will make note that it did take me FOREVER to get through (LONG chapters and nothing dragging me back to want to rip through it).

I enjoyed the characters and especially their growth through the book ( I wont lie i found Theo slightly annoying in the beginning). I will say, slutty bisexuals traveling the world is a great premise and i did overall enjoy it more than i didnt, and of course as a CMQ novel there were some incredible quotes - WHICH Theo's coming out scene to Kit was written so beautifully and i really loved that.

This review is kind of all over the place but so were my thoughts. So.

Thank you St Martins and CMQ for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Reading a book following two bisexuals on a European food and wine tour, sign me up. But after getting into this book, I found it way too long. It didn’t need to be this long. You could have cut out half of it and the story still would have flowed. 2 people who have a bet to see who can hook up with the most ppl, is not my idea of a good time.
Rating it a 2.5, but rounded up

A summer vacation European tour that includes wine, complicated love, and experiences that will last a lifetime.

If you're looking for a vacation book, and love listening to people talk about wine and food and their past relationship exploits, this is the book for you. It is positively queer, filled with tension, extra spicy, and will probably make you salivate (in more than one way).

There's also a nonbinary perspective which I had yet to read before and now feel comfortable and more informed. It's sensitive but honest, and I love that McQuiston doesn't stray from these topics.

McQuiston clearly did their research and I appreciated the historical scenery and backdrop to this sultry European tour. Also, if anyone spoke French or just another language around me, I too would be unable to fall head over heels.

This book had such long chapters, it make them drag on so much. I enjoyed the characters a lot more than the story line, I thought there was way too much information on the places they traveled too and it made this book way longer than it needed to be. Not a bad read, but probably my least favourite from this author, only because I am not a fan of slow moving books.

Theo and Kit booked an extravagant food and wine tour around Europe but before they could even get started, they both thought they had left one another in the airport, a misunderstanding that led to the eventual break up of their relationship. They both had received a pass that they would have to use within a few years. After their breakup, they hadn't talked to one another since the airport debacle and when they re-booked their European food and wine tour they both end up on the same trip, again.

Both Theo and Kit agree to see who hooks-up with the most people while on this tour to save them from actually finding the love they had for one another still festering inside each of them. The more time Theo and Kit spend together, the more they realize that they might not be over each other after all and they must admit that to themselves or let it burn out since their lives are so very different.

This was the first MM romance book I have read but anything by Casey McQuiston is a win in my book. Although Theo (non-binary, trans F to M) had me very confused because the author didn't come out and exclusively say the gender or non-gender (which in my opinion is fine with me but had me questioning a lot since I was listening to this book on audio), but it was honestly so obviously romantic and painful to listen to both Theo and Kit have feelings for one another and not say anything until the very end.

Although, it is a very happy ending (IMO) there was a lot of dread for the reader because you didn't know where they both stood with one another. Obviously, you have to read this book and find out yourselves and I highly recommend you do so.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and giving me access before it was published.

CMQ knocks it out of the park again with Theo and Kit. I loved the central theme of food and drinks bringing people together. I loved the competitive nature between these two obviously still in love exes. The yearning and longing for each other was top tier. I also loved that the sex between these two queer characters, one of whom is AFAB, was also very queer sex and didn't default to heteronormativity for the spicy scenes. 10/10 as usual. CMQ is an auto-buy author for me and I would read their grocery lists.

I really enjoyed getting the full arc of each character through the dual POVs. I thought that helped with the tension as well! It was a fun mix of romance and travel - perfect summer pool book!

This was my least favorite of Casey McQuiston’s works. Unfortunately I had a hard time getting through it because I didn’t like/connect with either of the main characters. I still give it 3 stars for the story/writing - but second chance romances where the characters are terrible at communicating make me mad and I couldn’t get past that.

I am a huge Casey McQuiston fan and have loved every book they've written. As a fellow bisexual I was hoping to love this book but it fell flat for me. I didn't vibe with the main couple much and I hate when a second chance romance doesn't solve the issues of what made the couple end in the first place and it felt like they didn't have any chemistry at all.

Second chance romance isn’t usually my favorite but when it done well I’ll read it. And in this case it was done great! I loved both characters and the setting in Europe. I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a book with queer characters and loves rom coms.

Thank you NetGalley, Casey McQuiston, and St. Martin’s Griffin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Sadly, I couldn’t get into this one, and I’m not sure if or when I will pick it back up. I’ve seen some good reviews for it from my friends though, so if it sounds like something you’d like be sure to pick it up!

DNF @15%

I need more yearning. I think where The Pairing shines is in the youthful joy of drinking too much and flirting with everyone around you. And I love that this book exists for people who want to experience that through the pages of this book. It is not, however, for me.

I am normally not a huge fan of MM/MM books but I just adored The Pairing. I was amazed at the reviews because I thought it was cute! I mean they both had their issues but the whole point is to work through them and get to the good stuff.