Adored this book! I do not read many romance books but Casey McQuiston is an auto-read author for me at this point. The Pairing was no exception! This was so sweet and had an ending that was just so satisfying. I'm so glad this was an Illumicrate Afterlight selection this year so I could have a physical copy for my shelves. I have already lent it out several times to many people who loved it just as much as I did!

Casey McQuiston’s “The Pairing” offers a fresh take on the second-chance romance genre, centering on Theo Flowerday, a sommelier-in-training, and Kit Fairfield, a French pastry chef. Set against the backdrop of a three-week European food and wine tour, the novel explores themes of love, identity, and the complications of past relationships.

Theodora “Theo” Flowerday, the eldest daughter of Hollywood directors Ted and Gloria Flowerday, has spent their life avoiding the shadow of their famous family. Rejecting the label of “nepo-baby,” Theo has worked hard to establish their own identity, refusing help from their successful actress sister, Sloane. Since childhood, Theo and their best friend, Kit Fairfield, have been inseparable. At twenty-two, during a Halloween party, their friendship takes a romantic turn when they share a kiss. This marks the beginning of a complicated, intense relationship. After two years of dating, they embark on a three-week European food and wine tour, only to break up mid-flight, leaving their relationship fractured.

Fast forward four years, and Theo, now twenty-eight, is living in California. They work as a bartender at a Michelin-starred restaurant while preparing to take the sommelier exam. With only a month left to use a food and wine voucher before it expires, Theo books the tour, hoping it will help them move on from Kit and the unresolved feelings that still linger.

Meanwhile, Kit has built a life in Paris as a pastry chef at a renowned pâtisserie. In the years following their breakup, Kit has avoided confronting his emotions for Theo, focusing instead on his work and casual relationships. But when he decides to join the same food and wine tour, he’s stunned to find that Theo is his travel companion, seated next to him on the tour bus.

What follows is a complicated and often humorous journey as the two former lovers are forced to confront their unresolved feelings. Determined to prove they no longer care for each other, Theo and Kit strike a truce and make a bet: whoever hooks up with the most people during the tour wins. Since both are bisexual, they set out to charm potential partners—male or female—in each city they visit. In every location, they attract attention, but as the days go on, their attempts to move on from each other only make their emotional and physical attraction more undeniable.
One of the novel’s unique elements is McQuiston's use of alternating perspectives. The first half of the book is told from Theo’s point of view, and the second half shifts to Kit’s. This structure gives readers an intimate look at both characters’ thoughts and desires. However, while the alternating points of view add depth to the narrative, the focus on their physical escapades sometimes overshadows the emotional core of the story. The bet between Theo and Kit, though initially playful, becomes a repetitive plot device that distracts from the more meaningful aspects of their reconciliation.

Another issue with “The Pairing” is the lack of communication between the two characters, which persists for much of the novel. While the miscommunication and emotional distance in their breakup at twenty-four is believable, it becomes frustrating to see both characters, now in their late twenties, still struggling to express their feelings. The novel would have benefited from a more balanced exploration of their emotional reconciliation alongside their physical connection.

Moreover, while McQuiston does explore the complexities of attraction and intimacy, the novel’s emphasis on casual sex and the absence of any mention of safety precautions feels irresponsible, particularly for a story that otherwise handles relationships with nuance. If the book focused more on the emotional journey and less on the sexual dynamics, it could have become a deeply satisfying culinary and romantic experience, rich with flavor and heart.

This is a fun book for those missing European summer exploration and the wild stories that come from the people you meet along the way

Nah. This didn’t work for me. I don’t know if it’s the book or if I’m just chasing the high of RW&RB and this just didn’t compare.

hate hate hate hate hate

as someone to whom casual sex is a foreign concept, i hated the majority of this book. call me old fashioned but i really don't want to read about the love interests in my romance book fucking other people for 300 pages. sorry.

also, i would still be holding a grudge. theo is a better person than me. kit ur insufferable. <3

Casey McQuiston you've done it again! They have an innate ability to curate longing and love in a way that is immersive and contagious. Know readers who are a fan of Red White & Royal Blue and One Stop will enjoy this

DNF @ 66%

While a food and wine tour of Europe is the perfect setting for any book, let alone a romance, the setting couldn’t offset how annoying these characters are. 🙈 I usually fly through romances and was reading this book sooooo slowly. I didn’t pick it up for multiple days and then had to talk myself into doing so - a big sign I should have DNF’ed even sooner than I did. The narrator switches from Theo in the first half to Kit in the second and it changed from enemy exes to “I am so obsessed with this person” so quickly, which is my absolute least favorite. It became completely intolerable. I really should have known better because second chance is not a trope I particularly enjoy, but I had really high hopes for this, especially given it was on the NYT 100. But I simply can’t go on and spend another moment with these characters. Womp!

This was my first book by Casey McQuiston and I give it three solid stars. Casey is such a descriptive author and I truly felt like I was traveling through Europe and could see and taste the food and wine and of course loved the pairings. However, this book was kind of boring to me. This is a second chance romance book told from two point of views. The first part was told from Theo's point of view and the second half of the book was told from Kit's point of view. There is definitely character depth and angst, You get their backstory and also live through their many hook ups while figuring out their lives. This book had plenty of spice and I am not sad that I read it, perhaps I have just outgrown alcohol filled hookups throughout Europe.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re looking for a new RWRB, this is not the book. But that’s not a bad thing, because even if it’s completely different, this book is SOOOO good. It’s a lot of fun and sexy and casey have the ability to make you feel like you’re the one traveling europe in this tour. The construction of the characters is next level, is impossible not to fall in love with them (Kit could be the love of my love I’m pretty sure).
Casey have done it again. Definitely a must read.

In The Pairing, McQuiston's wit and flair for contemporary dialogue shine, delivering moments of humor and emotions . As well as, the chemistry between the protagonists is apparent!

However, the pacing feels inconsistent, with some plot points overly drawn out while others are rushed. While the book keeps McQuiston’s charm, it lacks the pull of their earlier works like Red, White & Royal Blue.

**2.25 stars**

So totally not for me.

(P.S.: I’ve never been to Europe but I am pretty damn sure that 99% of the population there is not dtf everyone they see and mega rich)

That was fun! I don't read a lot of romance, but the idea of a hookup off set in Italy appealed to me. The writing is frothy and fun- McQuistion will continue to be an author I keep my eye on!

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Getting to know yourself romances hit such nostalgic feelings and this one doesn’t disappoint.

I do feel that a reread would need to involve a lot of cheese.

Rating: 4.25; Enough travel, delicious food, and creative drinks to make anyone envious; The Pairing has got it all when it comes to a sunshine European romcom.

This book was SO FUN. Casey McQuiston wrote cities and towns bright and full of charming characters; it was almost enough to convince me to put the book down and buy a plane ticket right then and there. You can see the intensive research in the way that the cities felt tangible and very distinct.

The food and drink descriptions were plentiful, but that is where the book lost my interest. There were SO MANY descriptions. And, duh, this book is literally called The Pairing. I hate when food and drink take a spotlight in a book, so the fact that I consider this to still be fantastic speaks volumes about how great everything else was. If you like food and drink descriptions, you'll LOVE this.

The romance was very fun and, as usual, McQuiston totally delivered in the comedy aspect too. It was on the steamy side, pretty typical of a CMQ book. If you're looking for a true summer romcom, look no further. This is it.

I loved this! I haven’t been a huge fan of their previous books but this one really worked for me. I loved the queerness of both the characters, and it just felt like something different to what I have read before. I would highly recommend!

I am a fan of Casey McQuiston so I was excited to be able to read and review her new book.

That being said, this was not my vibe. I enjoyed the travel aspect and the way these two people find their way back to each other. I found both our leads to be interesting flawed and earnest characters who made me want to root for them. McQuiston found a way to bring them together in the little unforgettable moments of travel. It made the story more special.

My favorite was them diving into their breakup while riding in a car to Rome; while the driver, who does not speak much English, points out cows. Perfection.

I was just not a fan of the way the intimacy was written. I read a healthy amount of spicy books and I have found that I am particular about how I want them written. No I will not go into detail because there is nothing wrong with the scenes they just crossed a few of my personal ick lines. There is also a lot of intimacy scenes, which might be a pro for some potential readers.

That should not stop someone from reading this book. It was fun, it was adventurous, and it will make you pine for the perfect wine. the perfect pastry, and the perfect person. If I could rate it on story alone it would be a 4.25. But alas I need to rate the whole book so. 3.0 it is.

I really enjoyed reading this book! Kit and Theo have a once in a lifetime kind of love...until they get into a brutal fight on a flight to their month-long European vacation. Kit abandons Theo at the airport and Theo flies home alone. 47 months later, they both unknowingly cash in their non-refundable voucher and end up on the same month-long food and wine tour. Kit & Theo spend the trip trying to prove to one another (and themselves) that they are over what happened four years ago....but are they?

As a fan of Casey McQuiston's work, I was so happy when I was accepted to receive an e-ARC of The Pairing. I was excited for what I expected to be another witty, fun romance, but unfortunately, The Pairing fell short of those expectations. It left me feeling disconnected from both characters and, overall, uninterested.

The premise and plot of the novel were what originally drew me in—a second-chance romance on a European food & wine tour. That sounded fun! Exciting! However, I found the execution of the romance lacked the heart I’ve enjoyed in McQuiston’s other work. The emotional relationship between the two characters took a back seat to the physical, and I struggled to invest in either character.

I really loved the food tour element and the idea of traveling around Europe. The descriptions of the scenery, food, and pairings were great. Unfortunately, here’s another "however" from me: sometimes it was just too much. For example, the detailed explanation of what "tannins" are is not something I want in a romance novel. A lot of the explanations felt like overkill.

I believe one reason the chapters were extremely (almost unbearably) long was due to the over-explaining. The character development and plot progression simply didn’t happen on every page—or even on every other page. For a romance reader who is focused on the romance and relationship, much of this novel is easily skimmable.

Something I both love and hate about this novel is the 'Free Love' theme everywhere. Everyone was so willing to have sex with everyone at all times. It felt extremely unrealistic, but also sparked some great, thought-provoking conversations during book club about orientation and sexuality.

Go into this knowing you’re getting something unique—not just in McQuiston’s writing, but in subject matter as well. I can understand the high ratings, but I did find it extremely boring due to the disconnect I felt with the characters.

2.5 stars.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Casey McQuiston is a favorite, go-to author for me and The Pairing was a no brainer to read. Queer love is a big theme in The Pairing and the characters were quite interesting in this novel. It is set up differently than many novels where one character narrated the first part of the book and another the seconda part. This left it feeling a bit one sided in parts. However the love story itself was exciting, dramatic and creatively written.

Kit and Theo are childhood soulmates and sweethearts. They have fallen in love and have a beautiful vacation planned. Then they break up. Unknowingly they both embark on the food and wine filled trip individually and of course are pushed together, at least specially. The fun and chaos that ensues is wild, a little crazy and a whole lot of fun!

While not a typical McQuiston style in regard to writing, it is still a wonderful read! Characters are fun and if you like queer romance this one is for you!

I love Casey McQuinston but sadly this one just didn’t work for me. It seemed like I would love it because I love books about travel and food, but just didn’t quite connect with the characters.