I went into this book certain I was going to love it. This has been one of my most anticipated reads for 2024 since seeing it announced. When I got approved for an ARC on Net Galley I couldn’t have been more stoked.

Unfortunately, I hated nearly everything about this book. Were it not for the fact that I was reading this as an ARC, there are so many moments I would have DNF’ed. It’s a painful book that inspired such rage that the below like five page essay of ranting is somehow my abbreviated review:

Justice for Kit for accidentally falling in love with the world’s worst person at the age of 8 and not ever learning his lesson despite constant proof how utterly shit Theo is. Grow a spine, buddy, and run away from the terror that is Theo. I believe in you. At a certain point I was convinced he wants to be a tortured poet and a self harmed by convincing himself he loves Theo.

This book makes me feel like a character from the tv show The Good Place (spoiler alert for the show) where I went in thinking I was in the good place (a perfect book by McQuiston) but was secretly in the bad place in disguise the whole time (whatever this book was).

It’s an unbearable exploration of 2 people sexing it up across Europe as a replacement for therapy and a handful of honest conversations. Not to mention, the ending couldn’t feel less earned because they act like messy college freshmen the entire story and I’m supposed to believe they settle into a lovely HEA in the French countryside after? Mhm, okay. I give them 6 more months tops before spiraling into relationship-dooming chaos.

Theo’s self-obsessed, woe is me attitude combined with their utter unwillingness to question their continually wrong assumptions drove me bonkers throughout the first half. Their continual ability to manage to make the absolute worst choice possible in every given situation was frustrating, and their incredible main character energy was draining to suffer through. I would hate to interact with Theo IRL.

Though I found Theo insufferable before the plot even began (and even more once it did), at least I clung onto the fact that Kit messed up enough to cause the breakup ONLY to find out that Theo yet again was such a useless person that they were actually the cause of the breakup. When I found out they had booked a flight back to America for both MCs, sent what they thought was Kit’s ticket but was actually their own, then fucking blocked Kit when he didn’t show up without ever fact checking or having a single conversation with him, I was about to throw my kindle out the window. I had finally started to turn the corner on the book a few pages before because I was enjoying the periphery so much, but nope. Not after that. I refuse.

Kit deserves better. Theo is a useless trash person who deserves way more pain and suffering than they experienced over the four years apart. When Theo asked Kit “does that sound like something I would do?” (About breaking up with just a photo of a plane ticket) and Kit replied “honestly, yes.” I cheered. Like fuck yeah, call Theo out! But like call them out and never forgive them. I don’t begin to understand what evil Kit did in past lives to deserve to be in love with Theo. Late in the story Theo has this whole breakdown about how they are such a fuckup and instead of being moving and powerful I was just cheering going “yes you are!! Now get over yourself and also maybe get out of Kit’s life”. Theo consistently stands in their own way, whines about it, and then despises anyone who tries to help. So fuck off. It’s really hard to be sympathetic to them (especially when taking into account the whole Nepo baby element that I am not even touching in this review).

Despite my hatred of what we learn in the breakup conversation, at least I thought we were finally getting somewhere in the relationship and yet 3% later Theo was already avoiding conversations and self growth by trying to find someone else to fuck. I hate it here. All facets of Theo’s character taken into account, I can’t fathom what remotely Kit sees in Theo to make him love them.

Kit’s character fell flat at times with his breezy yet quirky perfection. His was a little too “manic pixie dream Mary sue”, a cardboard cutout instead of a dimensional and engaging character. But by comparison to Theo, I couldn’t complain.

Beyond Theo’s utter garbage personality/decision making/behavior, I didn’t even enjoy the plot of the story. Dear god. This book gave me so much second-hand anxiety, I couldn’t stop putting the book down to take a lap. It’s a car crash I could only watch through the cracks of my fingers.

The sex bet of the premise that had sounded fun as a blurb came across as the worst kind of disgusting objectification and made me pity all the innocent bystanders impacted by Kit-and-Theo’s sex by proxy. I felt uncomfortable and anxious the entire time, and I honestly wish Theo had made good on their threat at the start of the book to jump into the Seine.

Often McQuiston’s writing felt tailor made for me, which sort of made everything so much worse because it spotlighted every issue I had with the plot. In the scene setting descriptions and little moments where we just lived with the characters, I found myself loving the writing so much it reminded me why I was originally so amped to read this. Then we’d return this bacchanalia “everyone is hot and wants to have sex with everyone else” plot and I’d be reminded how much I don’t care for Theo and especially how little I care for Theo and Kit to get back together.

(Side note - I don’t understand why everyone in the world is so DTF literally everyone else. And how the MCs are so sexually appealing that literally everyone in the world wants to fuck them.)

Every time I felt like the book finally was about to progress, Theo managed to do something to make me despise the plot even more. This was rough in the first half, but even more heartbreaking when it happens in Kit’s POV. I wish this book was all Kit POV, with the same premise but about him finding someone who deserves him. Someone new or maybe Maxine - she seemed wonderful. Hell, I’d even read a book solely from Theo’s POV watching Kit fall in love with someone else. I’d enjoy their pain and suffering at least.

Even beyond the absolute mess of a plot, I don’t entirely believe them as a couple. I don’t understand why they should end up together. This book relies too much on “just trust me bro” that the friends to lovers made sense in the past, and therefore I should want a second chance romance to succeed. But this book neither builds the rekindled romance nor fully shows the journey of friends to lovers of the past beyond “we were both in love with each other and didn’t want to admit it but then one night got tipsy and kissed, then we were in a perfect relationship”. Unless they’ve regressed significantly over the course of their breakup, there’s no way their previous relationship could’ve been healthy. It obviously sustained itself on sex and codependence.

To make matters worse, it’s like McQuiston heard the cries for more smut and completely missed the point. So thanks, but hard no thanks. I’m not here to read about their constant horny and kind of demeaning never-ending sex adventures with others unless it actually felt like there was a point. I’ve read some far wilder smut, but the moment it struck me the MCs first time back together was going to be in a threesome with what was supposed to be a suave, worldly rich man (but who actually came across as a creep), I was tense AF over the development especially since the story up to that point didn’t exactly build my trust that it would be handled well. Despite not actually having the aforementioned threesome, somehow it was worse than my fears. (Tbf I think it might’ve been actually better if they had the threesome, since sex seems like the only way Theo knows how to communicate). Instead we had to suffer through the fucking peach moment!!! And our reward for suffering through that scene was Kit taking the relationship 2 steps forward, one step back then Theo slamming their progress into yet another brick wall.

(Brb throwing up over the phrase “Kit laps at the peach’s livid center.” This book might have managed to put me off smut (and peaches) for a long while. Impressive since I really thought I was immune after the number of the insane things I’ve seen authors throw in smut.)

To be positive about one element of the story beyond McQuiston’s engaging writing, was my love and appreciation for how every once in a while we would dip into explorations of gender that felt poignant and meaningful. Kit recognizing so much of Theo’s identity before being told was a beautiful moment showing how much he truly SAW Theo.

A second positive is that I really loved Palermo Day One (though not Day Two). Too little, too late for the relationship to feel earned, but there was so much heart and romance tinged with almost bittersweet vulnerability that is McQuiston’s writing at its finest, underscored by smutty smut I didn’t expect from them (though with a jump scare reminder of the peach scene tossed it). If this chapter was the thesis for the book, this could’ve been a solid 4 star read for me. But its beauty instead underscored just how much the rest of the book WASN’T this.

TL;DR - 1.5 stars rounded down because this felt like an exercise in masochism to finish, but dear god do I still love Casey McQuiston’s authorial voice.

I’ve always considered myself a big CMQ fan and have a huge bar for their work and damn did this completely demolish any expectations I had. This is not just the best of their work, but one of the best books in this genre I have ever read (and I’ve read many). The Pairing is remarkably nuanced, told through the lens of two deeply developed characters. The entire world comes to life through McQuiston’s vivid sensory depictions and characterizations. It made me feel all the things from grief to joy to love to hunger to wanderlust. Five stars, ten out of ten call it what you want this book is absolutely fantastic.

I thought Theo was incredibly well developed, not just falling on the trope of thinking about everything as food but also by viewing the world through cinema. While erudite, neither character was insufferable. Each POV was unique in its style and clearly distinguishable and the switch was a delightful twist that helped keep things interesting. Even background characters were well defined and given vivid descriptions. These characters aren’t perfect but that just made me love them that much more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this ARC. This was one of the most gorgeous contemporary romances I've read ever. Two friends to lovers to exes--Theo and Kit--are on a culinary and drink bus tour in the UK in forced proximity. McQuiston's descriptions of the landscapes, architecture, landmarks and museums, food, and drinks were so lovely. The cast of tour companions weren't too many or difficult to follow. The complicated relationship between Theo and Kit (the book is split down the middle beginning with Theo's and ending with Kit's perspectives) and its developments made my breath hitch. I appreciated McQuiston's non-gendered descriptions of physical bodies and sexual intimacy and thoughtful use of pronouns. I won't forget this one.

WOW - this was so much fun to read. I read it in a weekend because I just had such a hard time putting it down. This might be my new favourite book from McQuiston. Theo and Kit are characters who play off of each other really well. You can tell McQuiston put a lot of care into figuring out their dynamic.

Due to the ongoing boycott of SMP & imprints, I will regrettably not be giving my feed back for this title. Which is unfortunate, for a lot of reasons, but one of them being because I have thoughts.

The Pairing, by Casey McQuiston, is a romance novel about lovers, food, and food lovers. After a traumatic breakup, Kit and Theo part ways and never actually take their European culinary tour through France, Spain and Italy. Four years later, knowing that the tickets will expire, both Kit and Theo find themselves on the same tour bus in Paris. Each chapter, set in a different city, features a different culinary experience as well as an exploration of Kit and Theo's former relationship and current status. In this way, the novel plays on the familiar tropes of friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers. The novel takes a turn into the unexpected, though, and heats up as Kit and Theo, both bisexual, compete to see who can take more lovers on the tour. Though the reader can comfortably predict the ending, (despite a few scattered surprises), with this novel- as in life- the joy is definitely in the journey.

Wow, what a getaway book. In the depths of a gross spring (second winter), this summer-set novel swept me away on a cloud of wine and Europe's finest foods. I so desperately need to know if the stops on the tour in the book are based on a real tour, because I would like to book it immediately. The whole book just felt gluttonous and indulgent; hedonism as a novel. I enjoyed Kit and Theo's romance, but I did feel like an essential part of the story was a bit missing: We know why they love each other, but why are they so good together? I also found that switching the narrator halfway through was a bit jarring; I appreciated being able to get a better sense of each of them through their narration, but by the end, it almost felt like I had read separate books. And there were a lot of secondary character names that were hard to keep track of at times. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend as an escape from reality.

Everything I didn’t even know I was looking for in a romance book. Plus now I want to travel Europe.

The writing is immersive and you’re transported to the world. I enjoyed Kit and Theo and would like to know them personally.

This was such an interesting story with dual narrators. I liked each of their points of view. It got a little messy and confusing sometimes but the author stayed true to the characters and her writing style. It was hard to distinguish the trans/bi character some of the time and what the thought process was with them.

Pairs best with: an Alsace Pinot Noir and Comté cheese

This book is coming at the perfect time for me. I read it on the plane to Italy, in my little hostel in Rome, on the bus ride along the coastline of the South of France, while planning travel to Spain, and it feels so entrenched in the food and just vibes of these places that I can’t imagine how it would have read even a few months ago. Don’t get me wrong, the relationship between Theo and Kit made me feel like running around screaming (in a positive way), but there was something so special about reading this and knowing what drinking Châteauneuf-du-Pape and pastis are like (I don’t recommend pastis, trust me). But I knew I would love this book before I read it because I have been waiting for Casey McQuiston to write a full book with a trans/nonbinary main character since their short story in ETERNALLY YOURS, and this fulfilled that wish for me. It feels the most personal, the most tied to specific locations, and like a book that I’ll read a little bit differently every time. It’s a discovery and a rediscovery at the same time, of self and identity, of a relationship, of what the future is going to look like, a love story in the truest sense as Kit and Theo fall in love with everything around them.

It’s a little bit hard to talk about THE PAIRING because so much of it is an experience. I do think it’s enhanced by having a sense of the places and the foods and beverages that are being talked about, but the bulk of the characters are there regardless. It’s funny at times and a little heartbreaking and steamy at different points, and sometimes at the same time. I didn’t personally connect with the sex scenes but I think they’re great explorations of Kit and Theo’s connection to each other and to themselves. Even as I went into this book having read little tidbits about it for months, there were still moments that surprised me, that developed more and in ways I might not have expected, that just told a fuller story than I even originally expected.

And I can’t talk about a Casey McQuiston book without talking about the writing and the deeply saturated queerness. Just as so much of this book is the experience (and the way it’s written, just the way art is talked about makes me feel a little bit like I’m losing my mind in the best way possible) so much of it is feeling. I have never had a POV change hit me quite so hard in a romance book, and I feel like I’m being consumed by the story being told. And all of it is just so queer. Obviously a romance between two bisexuals is going to be incredibly queer, but I think it’s both such an accepted fact of Kit and Theo and something that’s interwoven and increasingly revealed as they fall back in love (but did they ever fall out?) To some degree it is a specific brand of queerness, one that has sex at a pretty central role, but I don’t think that’s all it is. It’s also very gender, which is the best way I can describe it before just letting you experience it yourself.

I’m not sure this book was quite what I expected, and I’m not sure what future me will think when I reread it. In some ways reading this book feels more real than the actual places I’ve visited outside of it, and it also feels a little bit like a fever dream. I’m in love with it, but I’m also not quite sure what to do with it, and I think that’s the best possible recommendation I can give.

first of all. the last time I cried this hard for this long while reading was probably when I read a little life. and to be clear, this book is NOT that vibe. It just wrecked me in an entirely different way. the number of times the breath was absolutely knocked out of me by casey’s writing?? INNUMERABLE. god I love them. Thanking my LUCKY STARS I got the ARC of this because there is no way I would have made it to August without this in my life. so good so good so good even though I nearly died from all the angst and feelings and REQUITED-NESS. this took years off of my life and then gave them back. thank you. goodnight. If I had to nitpick ONE thing about the book I just wish the background characters would have been slightly more developed because that’s something that I really really love about Casey’s other books. But this was PERF. I love this book.

“sometimes I think the only way to keep something forever is to lose it and let it haunt you.” OKAY!!!! SUPER COOL!!

This book hooked me in from the first chapter. I loved the character development and how the story progressed.

Another amazing book by Casey McQuiston! maybe their best one yet!? though to be honest I cant decide. the characters were so unique and felt like real people who I would love to be friends with. the places the story took us and the food and drinks described made me feel like I was on vacation my self! if this isnt already on your TBR add it now because it is a must read for sure.

This book really did not do anything for me. The writing style is the main reason I read Casey McQuiston's books (that and the friendships) and I did not personally vibe with it this time. This was of course impacted by the fact that it was first person rather than third, and I understand that, but it did personally impact my enjoyment because it didn't feel as unique or as strong as their usual writing style. The rest of my critiques may also have to do more with personal preference than anything "wrong" with the book, but they are my honest opinions.

I did like the relationship and shared history between Theo and Kit, and I liked them well enough as individuals (and their relationship!). I struggled with just about everything else outside of it. Every single person is apparently insanely hot and can get any stranger (who also all seem to be super hot) they want to have sex with them anywhere, and the entire time I was like ?? does this actually happen? Beyond that, the pattern of "new place described pretty similarly to the previous places, extensive descriptions of food and wine, somehow everyone is beautiful, sex" did get a bit repetitive, despite the shift in POV halfway through. I also did not connect with the side characters, and usually McQuiston is pretty good at writing standout side characters I can get invested in.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as jealous of a book as I am of The Pairing! Eating and drinking your way through Europe with a lovable cast of characters! What a treat. I so enjoyed this book. It’s funny, full of heart, and had me taking notes of what pastries and drinks I need to try. The love story was strong, but didn’t feel cloying so worked even for a person who doesn’t read a ton of romance. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy through NetGallery. I‘ll be recommending this one this summer.

A mixed review from me this time. I've previously enjoyed many of the author's books. Mostly, I struggled through this one. Premise was good. Characters as individuals without some of their obsessions had merit to a degree. Yet the thing I focus on is how non-stop sexual they were... both Kit and Theo were obsessed with one-upping each other, and every person they met was hot, horny, and bisexual. This was really less about proving how they'd grown up in the years since their relationship ended and more about how many times you can nail a stranger in Europe. I skimmed so many scenes because it was the same thing over and over again. Had it been 30% shorter, a few of the supporting cast would have stood out, and I would be cool with each having 2-3 hookups over the course of 3 weeks on tour in Europe. Unfortunately, I felt the repeat button happening too often, and in the end, I didn't really care if they got back together. All that said, the progression of feelings, the description of food/wine, some of the sex scenes, were appealing. I'll still read more from the author but hoping the characters and plot have more substance.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! Casey McQuiston literally NEVER lets me down. This book is so gorgeous. It has every bit of humor and charm that you would expect from Casey but I really think they took their writing to the next level with this book. The LONGING in this book is almost heart wrenching. Kit’s POV was everything I wanted and more. The Pairing is definitely the spiciest book they’ve ever written but more than that, it’s extremely sensual. Honestly, sometimes books that have spice scenes for the sake of it give me the ick but this book was sexy in all the right places. As you go through the book you learn more about Theo and their gender identity and it’s so emotional but the way the pronouns switch so effortlessly in Kit’s POV made want to SOB. This book is for the people who were obsessed with the Lizzie Mcguire movie growing up. The romance, the emotion, the humor, the food. The Pairing is a 6 star read for me and I can’t wait to reread over and over again.

The Pairing is a summer story, a second chance romance, an ode to food and wine and travel and love.

Theo and Kit have been friends since childhood--a friendship that grew into love, romance, a relationship. A relationship that abruptly ended on a plane on the way to their dream vacation, a food and wine tour in France, Italy and Spain. Four years later they're somehow on the same trip, having used their vouchers before they expire, and find themselves thrown into each other's orbit, seat-mates on the bus from the very first day.

How do they navigate the feelings that simmer below the surface-- the anger, the longing, the yearning, the confusion, the attraction? Avoidance is a challenge, ignoring each other nearly impossible. So they declare a truce of sorts, diverting their brewing tension into a competition that brings them even closer to each other as the trip progresses.

The first person narrative is engaging, intense, and very personal. Whose version is the accurate one of this story? Of these memories?

Theo and Kit are layered characters, characters who slowly unwind the tightly controlled layers of themselves as they spend more and more time together. They're challenging, flawed, messy, entrancing, vivid. We learn— and they learn— so much about each other as they traverse the big cities, the small towns, the stunning vistas, glorious art, heady wine and spirits, and mouth-watering culinary treasures.

I couldn't help googling art, locations, food, while I was reading this book. There is such a lush richness that imbues the book. It's a meal itself, in courses, with a story that lingers long after you close the book.

The romance sizzles. It's such a deep exploration of self, of love, of happiness, of contentment, of vulnerability. All with a backdrop of such richness, a vivid background that dazzles and envelops the characters, allowing them to expand and grow as the story progresses.

Such a rich and satisfying book. Lush, layered, vivid. Definitely a happy ever after and a visual, sensual, emotional journey.

I so want to travel after reading this!

My thanks for the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Sweet and steamy! This was such a lovely pre-summer read. Even though it's a departure from McQuiston's usual voice, their familiar wit shines through. I love that they're trying new things--this one definitely landed.

Unfortunately, I had to dnf this at 67%. I loved the book immediately and all the way until the halfway mark, but then it felt as if the characters weren't really learning anything or progressing. It made me not really care how the story ended which was upsetting because at first I was really rooting for Theo and Kit. However, I did love the lovely descriptions of food and places and everything was so vivid!