This one started off slow for me, but it grew on me the further that I got.

Representation in books matter and I really enjoyed how McQuiston portrayed Theo and facilitated the conversation of their identity. This all brought the book together and made so much make more sense.

This has a lot of the miscommunication trope which honestly frustrates me a lot, but I'll never stop reading it in romance novels. I enjoyed watching Kit and Theo fall back in love with each other.

This is one of those books that once you start reading, you're not stopping until the end. My sleep sacrifice was completely worth it.
The chemistry and yearning between Kit and Theo was palpable, and the decadent setting was fantastic. Would highly recommend this book for fans of slutty bisexuals (affectionate) who are longing for their own HEA.

I have read all of Casey McQuiston's books, and this is definitely a close favorite! (Red, White and Royal Blue will always be my favorite book!) I loved the characters and their journey. I felt like I was right there traveling with them, and now I need a European vacation, stat! :D

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a delightful and heartfelt tale of love, self-discovery, and second chances. The story follows Theo and Kit, former lovers who unexpectedly reunite on a European culinary tour, where old sparks reignite amidst mouthwatering cuisine and breathtaking scenery. McQuiston masterfully brings the settings to life while seamlessly exploring themes of gender identity and bisexuality in a thoughtful and authentic way. Though some plot points are predictable, the book’s irresistible charm, witty dialogue, and emotional depth more than make up for it. Overall, The Pairing is a captivating and feel-good read that beautifully balances romance with meaningful themes.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a fun and heartfelt story about love, self-discovery, and second chances. The novel follows Theo and Kit, former lovers who find themselves on a European culinary tour, where old feelings resurface amidst delicious food and beautiful scenery. McQuiston does a great job bringing the settings to life and weaving in themes of gender identity and bisexuality in a natural and meaningful way. While some parts of the plot are predictable, the book’s charm and witty dialogue make up for it. Overall, The Pairing is an engaging and entertaining read that balances romance with deeper themes.

I love Casey and this book was no exception! It was such a fun concept and I felt like I was on the tour right along with the characters.

The Pairing is an absolutely delightful book. Theo and Kit are two of my favorite messy queers I've read about in a long time. This book is just very very funny. as well with lots of lovable side characters. You root for Kit and Theo from the beginning, and even though it's a romance, I still had a moment of "they do end up together, right?" I really loved reading Theo's journey both with and without Kit. These characters are fully formed individuals who now nestle deeply inside my heart, alongside Alex and Henry from Red White and Royal Blue. Another masterpiece from Casey McQuiston. Hands down.

4.5 stars rounded down!
Oooh I really enjoyed this one. I devoured it in 24 hours and it would've been faster if I wasn't trying to be a responsible adult going to bed at a reasonable time. I LOVED Kit and his half of the novel was incredible. If everything had been from his POV, this would've been 5 stars. But while I liked Theo, I just didn't like them quite as much as Kit. Especially at the beginning, they were VERY bitter. Not saying they didn't have a right to be, but it started to get annoying and I'm glad their attitude took a turn when it did. Beyond that, I just resonated with Kit's poetic voice more. I'm glad that Theo's half was first because I still liked their voice and didn't know what I was missing yet. The story itself was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed fantasizing about these destinations while I ignored the grey sludge outside my window. McQuiston does such a good job with the sensory details, and this includes descriptions of the food. Oh my goodness, the FOOD! My mouth was watering. And I just adored the meaningful connections our MCs made on their journey through Europe.
Any other critiques I have are very minor-- I think McQuiston tends to use a lot of Millennial slang that can be a little cringe, and even though I think it's sometimes done ironically, the cringe remains. (Slay!) And similarly, the idea of a bodycount competition across Europe was just not my vibe. This is where I reveal what a wet blanket I am-- it's so dangerous to just go home with random people in Europe. I just kept thinking, this is how you get yourself in a bad situation.
But all of these complaints are pretty nitpicky, and they're overshadowed by a seriously fun romance and story. I absolutely recommend this one and I will be purchasing my own shelf trophy to transfer my annotations.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a heartwarming and witty romance that centers on two individuals who are unexpectedly thrown together in an unconventional setting. The story follows a young woman and a charming, enigmatic stranger who are paired up for a series of challenges that force them to confront their differences and grow closer. McQuiston’s signature humor, vibrant characters, and delightful chemistry between the leads make this an engaging read. Filled with quirky moments, emotional depth, and a slow-burn romance, it’s perfect for fans of romantic comedies that balance humor and heart.

Casey McQuiston’s The Pairing: Special 1st Edition serves up an emotional rollercoaster filled with humor, heart, and delicious food and wine. Theo and Kit, once childhood best friends and passionate lovers, are now estranged exes—each nursing their wounds after a brutal breakup during a dream European food and wine tour. Time apart has allowed them to move forward in different ways, but when the voucher for their ill-fated trip is about to expire, they both decide to take the trip solo. Little do they know, fate has other plans, and they find themselves on the same tour, forced to confront their unresolved chemistry.

Set against the stunning backdrops of France, Spain, and Italy, the novel is a delightful blend of romance, wit, and sensuality. The tension between Theo and Kit is palpable, and their witty banter and competitive spirit spark the pages with energy. What begins as a lighthearted rivalry—with a wager to seduce their hot Italian tour guide—soon unravels deeper feelings neither of them is ready to confront.

McQuiston’s writing excels in capturing the complexity of relationships, with a focus on personal growth, healing, and the undeniable pull of love. The tour through some of the most romantic cities in Europe provides the perfect setting for Theo and Kit to rediscover themselves—and each other.

The Pairing is a vibrant and engaging read that blends humor, passion, and second-chance romance with McQuiston's signature charm. Fans of witty, heartfelt rom-coms will savor this story of love rekindled in the most unexpected of places.

My friends had mixed feelings on this one so I tried to keep an open mind when reading it. the misscommunication in this book was infuriating lol it was ok and interesting and i can see how people both loved and did not love this book. thanks so much for the ARC for this. i will have to give this author another shot!

This book was long. Very long. Too long? It felt like a run on sentence going nowhere. Unfortunately I wasn’t a huge fan— neither really liked nor disliked.

This is my favorite of Casey’s books so far. While it has a bit of a miscommunication which is my least favorite trope, it also has so many of my favorite things: childhood best friends to lovers to enemies to second chance romance, travel, food and wine, and a MC with ADHD. This is a book for all of the senses; McQuiston takes great care to describe the flavors, textures, scents, and colors of each setting just as they describe the wines. This book will give you wanderlust like you wouldn’t believe!

Casey McQuiston is one of my favorite authors and I will read whatever they write. They just have a very compelling way of writing characters you want to be besties with and worlds you want to live in. And The Pairing continues that streak, following Kit and Theo, two exes who end up on the same European food and wine tour (it’s a long story) and wind up reconnecting along the way.

The care and research that went into writing this book is clear from the very first page. McQuiston does an amazing job of setting the scene, offering detailed descriptions of cities, food, and people that make you feel as though you are also on this tour. I’m usually someone who prefers dialogue over description, but McQuistion’s prose is so beautiful that I was fully captivated, even when reading page after page of scene-setting descriptions. I also really enjoyed that the POV of the story switched halfway through, changing from Theo to Kit at a very pivotal moment which heightened the emotional stakes.

I’ve given all of McQuiston’s prior books 5⭐️, and while I really loved this story, it really hurts me that The Pairing wasn’t a perfect book in my eyes. It’s beautiful and lovely and has some great emotional scenes, but I just needed like 10% more plot and 5% less vibes and pining. Don’t let my review dissuade you though, as I’m sure anyone who loves vibey, evocative writing will fall in love with The Pairing.

The Pairing is out now. Thanks to St. Martin’s for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the imagery Casey provided to their readers in this book. It took me right back to the markets and the buzz of travelling through Europe!

However, I dnf'd this book. I might go back at a later point to finish, but I am not big on the miscommunication trope or the hookup competition personally so once I put it down around 35%, I just wasn't in to picking it back up again. Personal preference, nothing wrong with the book!

For the purpose of this portion of the review I will give it 3 stars.

DNF @ 40%

Why am I reading a romance where the two MCs are intimate other people?

The miscommunication also drove me crazy. They didn't talk for 4 years because of a fight and miscommunication. Ugh.

I enjoyed parts of this book. The settings were very well flushed out, and I enjoyed the relationship between the MCs. But eventually I got tired of the changing locations and all the characters popping in and out. I also felt it difficult after a time to connect with the characters after their goofy sexual interactions with others and each other. It was hard to fall in love with them in the end.

I had very high hope for this becuse Red, White, and Royal Blue so so much. The descriptions of travel and food were so nice. Unfortunately, those descriptions were the best part of the book.

"If I can give my whole heart to love without fearing the cost, I will regret nothing."

All I have ever wanted in life is a book that makes me feel the way that Red White and Royal Blue did for the very first time. I've been chasing that high since I read it, and who better to continuously try with than Casey McQuiston? I always learn something about myself every time they write a story, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

This book was no different, and I find myself reflecting on it often. The characters and their journey as ex lovers, but more importantly, ex friends, to strangers. It's devastating to not really understand how you got there, and it's more so to find out that maybe if you had just listened to that other person, you never would have ended up with the life you live now. But maybe these two had to be apart to realize that they were only ever meant to be each other's?

Whatever it might be, Casey spun a beautiful love story into an impossible situation, and I'm still not quite sure how they managed it. How can something going so wrong... go so right?

3.75 stars.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is totally charming, fun, and an easy read. I enjoyed the atmosphere that was created, the banter between characters, the love of Theo and Kit. The travel paired with wine and food literally had my mouth watering. I have to say I loved Theo's perspective more than I liked reading from Kit's perspective. I found Theo to be more relatable in their character development. My main dislike was that the story feels like it's been dragged out. There are pages you can skim and still feel the story that has been written.

Overall, I really enjoyed it!