Reviews

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

hmclaughlan's review against another edition

3.0

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a second chance romance between two former best friends and lovers, on a European food & wine tour. After breaking up on a flight to France, Kit and Theo both end up on the same tour that they had cancelled years earlier. The pair make a bet to see who can hook up with the most people during their two week trip, while entirely avoiding actually communication with one another.
The first half of this book is told entirely from Theo’s POV, and it was difficult to get through because Theo was so utterly unlikable. They were pretentious and selfish and also completely obtuse. When the POV switched to Kit at the halfway mark, I did start to enjoy the book more because he was slightly more likable. Still kind of pretentious, but tolerably so. Also, I know the whole plot of the book centers around this food and wine tour, but my eyes started to glaze over with the never ending details of all the food and wine. Nearly every page had some long winded flowery description of a baguette or glass of wine.
Once the pair overcame their own ignorance and actually used words to communicate with one another, I did enjoy the story more, but I do wish this happened earlier in the book. Overall, this was an okay read, I was looking forward to this book and have been left a little bit unsatisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Pairing in exchange for my honest review

deb_ournerdiestthing's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

After breaking up at the airport 4 years ago from their life-long best friend, Theo decides to cash in on their European food and wine tour before the voucher expires.  Unbeknownst to them, their ex, Kit, has also waited until the final expiration date to take the trip.  Because they are definitely both over one another, they begin a competition to see who can hook up with the most people during the tour.   But when memories resurface and more truth comes out from their break up, their worlds collide again at the exact right moment. 

Rating: 5/5 
Spice: 4/5 

Tropes: 
Dual POV 
The One That Got Away 
International Adventure 
Second Chance Romance 

Triggers: 

D3ath of parent 
Breakup from Best Friend 
 
My thoughts: 
I loved how this book intertwined a love of food, wine and art into a love story between two people who were meant to be but needed to grow before they could reunite.  This is a beautifully written story about how no one knows you better than your best friend.  The reader will be rooting for Theo and Kit the entire time they are reading this book and might just learn a few new things about sexy times between the two bisexual characters 😉 

rokojo's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Having read all of McQuiston’s previous books I was intrigued when I first saw this, but once I read the description and some early reviews I put off picking it up because it all sounded a bit over the top. After reading it however I can say this book is just a lot of fun. Yes, it’s extremely horny. Yes it’s a bit unbelievable that there are so many hot single people who are dtf in every location they visit. Yes the protagonists have ‘rich people problems’. And yes, the central conflict of both believing the other doesn’t want them is a bit frustrating. But I still had a great time from start to finish.

The book switches between the two characters halfway through, and their voices felt really distinct. I liked them each in their own way, and their flaws felt really human and relatable. They’re both in their late twenties and this stage of life is captured in a super relatable way.

This is the perfect summer read, set on a euro summer trip where descriptions of food take center stage. This book captures the essence of sitting in the hot sun in an Italian villa eating a juicy peach (while horny).

One of my favorite parts of the book besides the immersive sensory details is the depiction of bisexuality. Although McQuiston may not be interested in beating the ‘bisexuals are hypersexual’ allegations with this one, it’s still such an incredible depiction of queerness and bisexuality. I was initially slightly hesitant with two characters who appear straight from the outside perspective, but all the sex scenes are incredibly queer coded, and super hot. The nonbinary protagonist was also explored really well and in a way that felt authentic.

One thing I will say about the book is that some of the sentences felt a bit clunky and I had to reread a few times to figure out what was being said. I think it could maybe use a bit more editing in this sense, but with reading an eARC, it’s possible this will be more polished in the final version.

This book isn’t going to be for everyone, but I personally had a lot of fun reading this, and if you want a steamy queer summer romp you can’t go wrong with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

alisa4books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Queer Romance with heavy European food and wine component. Feels over long and many of the locations seem indistinguishable from one another.  It's as if the main characters are placed on a circular track so you know where they will end up but it just takes too long to get there and it's a flat, uninteresting journey.

ninergrl6's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thanks NetGalley for giving me access to this ARC! This romp brought back so many memories of my travels in Europe, especially my first trip in my mid-20s. Theo and Kit’s narration had me wishing I could taste and see everything for myself. About 90% of the way through the book I got very worried that it was taking a turn I didn’t like, but thankfully it turned back in the direction I wanted/expected for a satisfying conclusion. Casey McQuiston really knows how to write yearning and romance, though this book is MUCH spicier than any of their other stories I’ve read. 

thesingingbook's review

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

sweatyicedcoffee's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

delicious, delightful, so incredibly horny

staceylbdreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kora_nd's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

At this point, I am absolutely convinced that I am in love with Casey McQuinston. 

I have so many things to say about this book that I forget half of them. 

This is a story about growing up and growing apart, left to wander where we'll end up. I saw some reviews saying they found Theo to be self-loathing and that it annoyed them, but to me, it felt real and raw. I saw myself in their insecurities, their fear of failure and how they ended up pouring themselves into so many glasses because they were afraid to fill up the wrong one. Kit spoke to me through their love of art and how they managed to see the beauty in every detail and I found myself wishing to have someone to admire the way they do Theo.

This book tore my heart open in the best way possible and I do have to say, this is my favourite Casey McQuinston book to date. 

P-S : I'm a lesbian, but I, too, want to get into bed with Fabrizio. Or maybe I want to be him. I don't know, he's hot. (Maxxine too.)

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC !

hanabi's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0