Loved this! I love Casey McQuiston books and this was no different! I thought the main characters had great chemistry and I couldn’t put it down. Would for sure recommend and will be adding to our library.

This was my most anticipated read of 2024 and I already can’t wait to read it again when I get my physical copy in August. There’s something about the way Casey Mcquiston writes, I can’t explain it, but they are a genre defining writer of our generation for SURE. I truly felt I grew to understand Kit & Theo so deeply throughout the book. Reading the book made me want to get up and start baking immediately and try all of the flavor combinations described. I just adored every second of reading this book, even while screaming at the characters to communicate their feelings to each other!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC of The Pairing in exchange for an honest review.

RWRB is one of the books that made me fall back in love with reading, and CMQ's style shines through just as poignantly in this novel. The heart, the one-liners, the history, the FOOD, the WINE, the travel, the culture, the... ~romance~. I finished this book and immediately wanted to restart it (a highest praise). The duel narration done in this way was new and so, so frustrating as a third party reader (as it is intended to be, I believe). Getting to know one character so fully and then quite literally flipping the script was heartbreaking and beautiful, and allowed to reader to fall in love with both characters as the hero, and the object of desire.

I could see the amount of research and soul-searching that went into not only the setting of this novel, but the characterization as well. I have told all of my peers about this book (as if they weren't already excited enough), and I cannot wait to discuss it. It is spicy and sweet in all the right ways. Thank you, thank you, thank you, CMQ!!!

While I appreciated the queer repress always from Casey this book just wasn’t for me. Way too much description of where they were going and what they were eating rather than truly building on the characters themselves. Just wasn’t really for me.

Two bisexual exes end up on the same European food and wine tour years after their break up and a hook up contest ensues. However, sleeping with attractive strangers is not enough to distract from the lingering feelings they still harbor for each other.

As a devoted Casey McQuiston fan, I was so excited to receive an e-arc of their latest book, but despite the many positive elements of this book, it didn’t quite click for me. My main concerns lied with Theo’s character. There were many moments where their struggles with feeling overshadowed by their famous family and dealing with self-doubt and sabotage really shined, but for the most part I found them to be a very frustrating protagonist. My main issue with this book was that it asked us to sympathize with the plight of a nepo-baby a little too much for my taste. Theo gets themselves into professional situations that could be fixed by a phone call because of their resources and connections which makes it hard to really care about the stakes of their situation. Their constant innuendo-filled banter also got old. At first, I found it fun and silly, but it eventually started to feel like overkill.

There were many elements that did really work for me that I want to highlight. First, I really enjoyed the dual perspective, especially the fact that it was split half way through the book instead of alternating chapters. I felt like it really gave us a chance to get to know both characters and understand how they think. The supporting cast really added to the story, especially Fabrizio, and gave the story a lot of entertaining subplots. I also really appreciated the emphasis on how much Theo and Kit’s friendship meant just as much as their romantic relationship because it really strengthened their bond in my eyes. Finally, I really enjoyed how Theo’s gender journey was handled in the story. Theo already had a lot figured out prior to this moment, but the moments that we were privy to were really supportive and beautiful.

Despite not totally connecting with me, I would recommend this book to fans of queer romance and lovers of witty innuendo-filled banter, and for anyone curious, my official ranking of Casey McQuiston Books is now 1) Red White and Royal Blue 2) I Kissed Shara Wheeler 3) The Pairing 4) One Last Stop.

Casey Mcquinston has done it again. This is my favourite book they have written. The romance is addicting, and the humour between the two leads draws you in for more.

Such a fun, complex, emotional rom com. Cant wait to read it over and over again, CMQ never misses!!

McQuiston at their decadent, heart-destroying peak. They probably should not have been allowed to write a second chance romance; it's simply too much for mere mortals to withstand. Read with an extra box of tissues for crying purposes.

THE PAIRING was an exploration into identity, love, friendship and gender roles more romance writers should take a huge cue from. Nothing about this should work from a traditional romance novel point of view, and pushes boundaries that McQuiston’s previous works did not explore. Above all, it is sexy. It’s sexy because these characters are intimately familiar with each other and respectful of boundaries and preferences. It’s also sexy because of the gorgeous, lush European settings, descriptions of foods and wines an average American only dreams of enjoying. The sexiest thing of all is the cast of characters we get to meet. They are generous with their love, affections and big feelings (a bit too much sometimes), and you get to feel the warm emotions of Kit and Theo and Fabrizio and their various tour mates. This is ultimately a romance novel that treats its characters as humans in a story instead of pawns in a fantasy and for that I highly recommend!

For some reason, the Table of Contents is at the end of the ARC, and I kept waiting for the POV shift that the beginning seems to promise. By the time I got to it, I felt like I'd read 90% of the story. I was around, maybe under, 50% done.

But this is what I forget with McQuiston: they don't write light, breezy books. They write solid, meaty books, and it's all a pleasure. This book is a tour–through places, through meals, through hearts. It's meant for long summer days when you want something more than light and breezy. It's queer sex and queer mess and queer love.

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for access to this E-ARC! Loved this so much! The characters were so cute together and their communication was perfect! New favorite.

'The Pairing' is one of the most engaging reads I've ever had. From the jump, a vibrancy of the senses is so all-consuming and intoxicating. Theo and Kit's dynamic of falling together, falling apart, and reuniting unexpectedly may seem simple, but with characters as rich and lived in as these two, there's only ever decadence oozing off of the page. With the complex explorations of sexuality and gender, Casey's provided such a wealth of comfort and knowledge, a sense that, even if you don't relate to these characters specifically, there's love and hope for you out there. Truly, nothing makes me happier than lived in, lavishly layered characters and by placing them in an tipsy, lust-filled cuisine-to-die-for hookup trip of a lifetime, well, you're in for the ride of your life just like Theo and Kit.

European food+ wine tour was a fun aspect. Overall a fun read with humor and pop culture references but fell short in the romance aspect for me.

Casey McQuiston does it again! I have no idea how they keep one-upping themselves in terms of how banging their books are. CMQ's ability to keep creating such rich characters is astounding. Four books in and not a single flop. Iconic behavior.

This book is HOT HOT HOT. It really leans into the slutty bisexual stigma, of which, as a bisexual myself, I am a big fan. There are a lot of sexy moments and tender moments. It gets pretty sentimental about the loss of friendship and romantic love. It was incredibly heartfelt and touching.

I'll admit that the food tour across Europe was a bit overdone. There were too many lush descriptions of the locations and the food and wine that I ended up skipping most of them. Unless you are a huge foodie or have been to these places yourself, I find it hard to care about that.

But the best thing about this book was Kit, one of the love interests. I don't want to get too spoilery but he absolutely ADORES Theo and it was so amazing to see a non-hyper femme character be worshiped by their love interest. The way he would speak about Theo will break your heart (in a good way).

If you can't tell by this glowing review, this book is 5 stars and I encourage everyone who is even remotely interested to give it a shot.

Another absolute banger from CMQ. They really understand how to weave magic into their stories. I could taste and feel every detail. The food and wine really is a third main character. As for Theo and Kit - I love them and they fully stressed me out with their pining and angst. I’m not a huge fan of second chance, especially when there was a break up, but these two really earned it. This book was a whole experience - one that will definitely capture the heart of any CMQ fan! Thank you to CMQ, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before publication.

This is a really sweet book full of adventure. It really activated my 5 senses and I was transported to Europe. It was a bit slow for my taste and description heavy which had me lost at some points. I can see others loving it but it fell a little short for me

This book is a sumptuous feast of a romance as it follows ex-lovers Kit and Theo on a romantic wine and food tour through Europe. I want to be on this tour for the rest of my life, it sounded incredible. I would not recommend reading this book on an empty stomach. Beyond the insanely delicious food descriptions, this is a craveable and bingeable romance and CMQ's best, in my opinion. The steaminess and the pining and all the romantic details are top-notch. This book just catapulted itself to the top of my favorite CMQ books - I absolutely ADORED it.

Casey McQuiston is the only author I love enough to pre-order their new book without even knowing what it's about. That's why I was SO excited when I learned I could get an advanced copy of The Pairing through NetGalley - a special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review the digital ARC!

The Pairing did not disappoint. Casey's writing is as magical as ever. They have a way describing emotion and love in a way that scratches an itch I never knew I had. Theo and Kit's journey is steamy, realistic, and at times a very sun drenched fever dream. Reading this book made me realize why I love art so much.

Casey McQuinston does it again!!! One of my favorite authors, who never fails to deliver, shares the story of Kit and Theo. Obsessed with their reconnection and travels!

Five stars. Five full-bodied, juicy, tart, heady, melty, sun-soaked stars, with hints of black peppercorn and saddle leather.

“…the most fuck-off magnificent morsel…”

The Pairing is, by far, the most gorgeous, decadent, mouth-watering food and wine adventure imaginable. But more than that, it’s a gorgeous, decadent, mouth-watering exploration of PEOPLE (and yes, I do mean this, ya know… biblically).

“There is perhaps nothing as true, as enduring, as fitting a tribute to the Renaissance as being so horny you could die on the streets of Florence.”

Kit and Theo are the exes you didn’t know you needed- talented but relatable, slutty but heartfelt, flawed but so perfect. Casey has once again knocked it out of the park. Side characters, people watching, the most stunning details- I’m simultaneously speechless and overflowing with adjectives.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for access to an advanced copy. I feel lucky as heck to get to share my feelings about this book.