This book was so fun to read, McQuiston created a second chance romance that actually allowed the MC's to become friends again and find themselves and what they each want individually before they are able to get back together. This is a great example of a healthy relationship in the LGBTQ community. It provided so many laughts, tender moments, and enough angst that you just had to keep reading.

I am not sure how to feel about this. I think I liked the premise more than what the end execution of it was. This is between 2.5-3 stars for me.

What a delightful treat of a book - indulgent, romantic, descriptive! Just like the trip that our main characters Theo and Kit take! I absolutely adored this book! It’s a lovely queer second chance, childhood best friends to lovers romance filled with Casey McQuiston’s trademark wit, humor and charm. Two bisexual exes take the same European wine and food tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition - hijinks and romance ensue!

Casey Mcquistons description of the food and wine was so flowery and evocative it had my mouth watering! Fair warning, this book will make you want to book a trip to Europe like YESTERDAY!

I also adored all the secondary characters - they lent some truly hysterical comedic relief to the story- shout-out to the Callums and Fabrizio!

My only criticism was that sometimes the pace of the story felt just a little too leisurely. Otherwise, what a wonderful read! 4/4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely adored this book! The author created such an immersive experience, not only in the sights, smells, and sounds of this European adventure but they describe the food and drink in such detail if left me starving and wanting more.
The way they also describe Theo and Kit's inner thoughts and emotions was well done and truly had me rooting for them. I'm not especially fond of miscommunication, but to me it worked well in this story. I think the evolution of the miscommunication helped Theo especially realize what they were truly feeling, about the past, present, and potential future.
Now, I will say that at times, as a non-wine drinker, the details of the wines became overwhelming and lost me a bit. I can see that as a downside to others who don't drink wine. But overall the details of everything is what made this an enjoyable experience.

Casey McQuiston will forever be a favourite author of mine. RWARB is a book that I adore so much, and I never thought that there would be another book that I would love more, and yet here we are.

The Pairing is exquisite. In so many ways.

Kit and Theo will go down in history as two of my all time favorite characters. Kit will do anything for Theo and vice vera. The pining, the romance, the slutiness, the joix de vivre in this book is everything. I loved the POV switch halfway through. To be able to be inside both of their precious heads made me love them even more. It was illuminating to be able to witness their problems and neuroses and see both characters really work through it all in the way they did. It's messy and sexy and emotional and I'm here for it all.

This book is decadent. It's about letting go and learning to live life to its fullest. It's about loving. Loving life, art, food, wine, the world and most of all learning to love yourself and the people closest to you. It's about making new friends while discovering the world and being as slutty and European as you can be. Because if not now, when?

This book, Kit and Theo will stay in my heart forever.

5 STARS is NOT ENOUGH. I GIVE THIS BOOK 100 STARS.

Thank you #NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the eARC. My opinions are my own. The PAIRING IS OUT 8/6/24! I have already pre-ordered the sprayed edges copy of this book and you should too.

I really enjoyed the overall premise here — 2 exes unknowingly end up on the same European food/wine tour and try to be friends. To help make things “easier” they start a hookup competition, even though it seems like they’re each pining for the other.

The story featured chapters in each new tour location, great descriptions of the food and drinks they got to have, and awesome queer romance rep. It was also pretty steamy, partly due to the nature of hooking up being a main plot point.

While I am definitely a CMQ stan, this one felt too long to me. Eventually I fell tired of the same type of situation happening over and over at each stop. That being said, I still enjoyed the overarching plot, McQuiston’s dynamic and enjoyable characters, and would still recommend this to friends!

I loved reading this contemporary romance with bisexual MCs, one of whom is non-binary. The trip around Europe was dreamy and I enjoyed how each section was a stop on the tour. A large plot point of the book is based around sex — which shockingly wasn’t my vibe. However, the queer spicy scenes between our two MCs were lovely.

This is a 3.5/5 star for me based on a slower pace and some of the plot devices — but it’s definitely a matter of personal preference and I’ll always be excited to read a Casey McQuiston novel. 😍

Read for:
🫶🏻 queer and non-binary representation
🥐 mouth-watering descriptions of food and drinks
🤗 second chance romance

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Casey McQuiston is such a comfort author for me that I would probably read their grocery list, so when I received an eARC of their new book, I literally screamed.

The Pairing features two bisexual exes who end up on the same European tour, four years after they broke up on the way to the same European tour. I really love that McQuiston focuses their books on the idea that people are messy, but they still deserve to be happy. Both Kit and Theo are very flawed characters and you get to see them work through why they broke up and the fact that neither of them really truly processed that not only was their partner gone but because they were childhood friend and their families were friends before they ever started dating, all of a sudden, there was a huge hole in their lives. This book very quickly sold me on these two characters and the emotions and baggage that comes with their situation. It also made me very nostalgic for my own travels abroad.

While I did really enjoy this book, I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. That being said, I could see this rating going up upon reread. I didn’t love the POV change halfway through the book and there were some small nitpicks I had with plot, writing, etc., but overall, I just thought this was a really fun book, and I look forward to reading it upon publication!

I usually adore Casey McQuiston novels, but this one just was not meant for me. I am glad it was written and I hope that the younger, cooler readers who pick it up will love it! I did love the pairings of food and wine in each city that our main characters match up. I felt the characters were shallow and immature, a topic that is broached by them later in the book, but it was a little late for me as I had already decided they weren't very likable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
netgalley arc

*bisexual rep & nonbinary rep
*second chance romance
*childhood friends to lovers to strangers to friends back to lovers
*loved the POV switch and the two main characters' differing voices
*a friendly "which ex can have the most sex with others" competition (always the best and healthiest solution for getting over each other)
*as such, there are on page ~relations~ with side characters
*pining
*angst
*so much wine and food talk
*more pining
*entertaining European misadventures

The dual point of view done in a 50/50 split manner was a unique, but I thought quite well accomplished way. I saw some people talk about how they struggled to get through Theo's POV, but I genuinely really enjoyed both of them. We haven't seen a dual POV from McQuiston before, but I genuinely think that they did a greta job with it and I would love to see them incorporate it into some of their future works.

The characters were well fleshed out and I am still thinking about them. I am actually a little insane about them if I'm being totally honest. Both of them had such good development and the conflict! As a known hater of the third-act breakup, I think the conflict in this was well done, and it made sense for the characters. There was no over dramatic ridiculous break up for no reason. Both characters stuck to their needs and their goals and it made sense for everyone involved. And it wasn't miscommunication! These people actually talked about their feelings! Perfect for me.

As a person studying art history, with a love of Renaissance art, I found the book to be quite entertaining but I did have to let myself go a bit or I would've gotten too caught up in the details. Because guys, Raphael died of syphilis. So like yeah the guy got around, but that wasn't quite what happened (I guess that depends on who you ask but that's my take). Still it was funny, and it was nice to read about Kit visiting all these wonderful art spots throughout Europe.

This is honestly probably one of my favourite Casey McQuiston books. I think it was a wonderfully interesting sort of change for them, and I look forward to seeing what else they're working on.

This book was well researched when it came to food and wine. Almost a little too well researched -- at some points I found myself skipping over the smells of wines. We get it -- Theo has an amazing sniffer.

As detailed as the food/wine and Europe were --- the characters were the opposite. Everyone felt flat. The authors past books have included robust full main and supporting characters so it was such a disappointment.

Theo and Kit were very confusing as characters and what motivations they each had. Watching Theo's big reveal through Kit's eyes missed the mark. We spend the first half of the book with only Theo's POV and only lightly touches on there may be more than exes on a trip trying to out sl*t each other and food/wine. Switching POVs midway through the whole thing off for me.

To the right person this may be THE BOOK but I was not the right person for this one.

McQuiston is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to their books every time one is coming out! Theo & Kit's story in The Pairing didn't inspire me in the same way as the love stories in McQuiston's previous books, but is worth the read for contemporary romance readers nonetheless! The descriptions of food, wine, and travel made me want to visit all of those places and try all of those foods!! I think I was slightly disappointed because of my own expectations for this book. And this book wasn't bad, by ANY means!! There are fun side characters, there are amazing descriptions throughout -- I just didn't understand the "why" of why Theo and Kit wanted to be together and that left me a little outside of the space rooting for their relationship. But, all that being said, I still highly recommend this book and I think it will do very well!

As a major Red, White & Royal Blue fan, I was over the moon to be permitted to read The Pairing as an ARC. Unfortunately, I had to DNF after two weeks of trying and trying and trying to read this book.

My biggest struggle was the "world building" and setting descriptions. As an American reader who has never traveled to Europe, I was excited to be transported on a Paris vacation through Casey's writing Based on the cover, I was looking forward to rich descriptions about food, wine, and the locations. What I was met with was a book I felt I needed to take French or Italian lessons for. The author was almost too immersed in the language that it made her writing impossible to understand unless I had Google Translate out. I've read other books that take place in other countries, time periods, etc. and was able to understand completely due to the author providing context clues, a map, definitions, etc. I've had easier times reading sci-fi novels that take place on made up planets. The "world building" of this novel was just non-existent. I couldn't visualize at all where the characters were at any point and therefore it made it difficult to be immersed entirely.

I did post this review on my Instagram stories but I will not be posting this review on Goodreads. While this novel may not have been for me, I'm looking forward to Casey's future works!

This was fun! I love the representation and the setting, very unique and fresh. I've had mixed feelings on this author's past works but this was a hit for me. I will continue to try in the future.

McQuiston does it again! Kit and Theo were childhood best friends who became lovers, but on a flight abroad to go on a food and wine tour of Europe they had a major fight. Once they landed in Heathrow, Theo booked them an immediate flight home, but Kit never made it on the plane. 4 years later Theo is cashing in their voucher for the missed trip only to discover that Kit had the same idea. Now stuck together on a bus tour the two are forced to speak to each other for the first time since that ill-fated trip. They decide to be friendly and then up the ante by having a competition to see how many people they can sleep with on the trip. But are their feelings for each other really gone? The first half of the book is told from Theo's point of view and the second half from Kit's.

This was such a fun read. Kit and Theo are perhaps my favorite of McQuiston's couples? I loved their banter so much. Also, the way the cities and the FOOD were described throughout the trip, my god I want to visit each and everyone of those places so badly now.

Praying to all the gods that this becomes a movie or mini-series!

Absolutely wonderful. I adored both Theo and Kit. I also now really want to go on a food and wine tour of France, Spain, and Italy, but only if Fabrizio is leading the tour.

I loved this novel! I wanted to smack Theo and Kit upside their heads! It was so obvious from the get go that they still loved each other. They were so adorable and frustrating at the same time.

4.5 stars
Holy moly this was a RIDE

This started out being so … tense. And honestly, Theo was kind of really un-likeable in the beginning. But oh MAN did they have a big character development
There was SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION for the ENTIRETY of 20%-60% you could cut it with a DAMN KNIFFEEEE. DAAMMNN CASEY 😭😭
I loved Kit so so so much. He has a special place in my heart (although he’s super similar to Henry from RWRB, and Henry also has a special place in my heart so .. that’s probably why)

Towards the end, I was 🤏THIS CLOSE to throwing my kindle. I was angry, and I wanted to cry and throw up simultaneously. I went through way too many emotions in that last 15% of the book. I am UNWELL

The writing and verbiage used in this book is pretty different from McQuiston’s other books (One Last Stop & RWRB) so it definitely was an adjustment to get used to that, and it was maybe a bit hard to follow along with just how MUCH travelling and new sights they were seeing in the books … that’s it, that’s literally the only reason it isn’t 5 stars.

Everything else was so GOOD. Closer to the publication date I will be posting a review on Instagram and goodreads!

In Casey McQuiston's captivating novel, "The Pairing," Theo and Kit, former best friends and lovers, find themselves thrust together on a European food and wine tour four years after their heart-wrenching breakup. Despite their initial reluctance, they embark on this journey with the intention of moving on and savoring the delights of Europe, separately. As they travel through stunning landscapes and indulge in delectable cuisines, Theo and Kit discover that their past connection runs deeper than they thought. The shared experiences reignite their dormant feelings, leading them to a friendly wager to see who can first charm the handsome Italian tour guide, Luca. However, as they engage in this playful competition, they realize that their hearts yearn for something more profound. McQuiston's writing is witty and engaging, bringing the characters to life with vibrant personalities and relatable emotions. The descriptions of the European cities, the rich culinary experiences, and the romantic atmosphere are vivid and immersive, transporting readers to the heart of the story. The character development is exceptional, with Theo and Kit evolving throughout their journey. Theo, once shy and insecure, blossoms into a confident and ambitious individual, while Kit, initially portrayed as aloof and guarded, reveals his vulnerability and longing for true love. Their interactions are charged with tension and chemistry, making their eventual reunion all the more satisfying. "The Pairing" is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and personal growth. McQuiston deftly explores the complexities of love, loss, and second chances, capturing the essence of human connection and the enduring power of first love. With its charming characters, captivating plot, and stunning backdrop, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and anyone seeking a heartwarming and entertaining story.