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mainjain's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Casey McQuiston did it again! This book is so gorgeous and lush and horny and thoughtful and fun! Brace yourself for their sexiest, queerest story yet and also brace yourself for some serious food, drink, and travel envy! This book is everything. Bon Appetit!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
sarahyjackson's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Silmarillion tattoos, banter that that’s as sweet as it is sharp, absolutely feral libidos, second chances, TENDERNESS & YEARNING, food descriptions so precise I was drooling…new favorite McQuiston EASILY.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was a creative whirlwind and i loved every second! From complex family dynamics to past mistakes and emotional development, its pages contain a love story for the ages that is tasteful and descriptive and leaves you feeling like your travelling Europe and experiencing the fragrant flavours of its pairings right alongside Kit and Theo. As with all of Casey's books, it had amazing queer rep with bisexual representation as well as nonbinary/trans representation too within our two main characters.
Filled with culture, it has some beautiful references to Rilke's poetry, which were beautiful and earnestly yearning for love. Additionally the comparing love to art truly left me breathless and my heart thrumming with feelings . The love in this is so true, although it takes a journey the way Kit loves Theo for all that they are is truly heartwarming and I adored following their journey and their love towards one another redeveloping.
Flavourful and enchanting this is the perfect read for anyone want an adventurous and tasteful romance that brings a perfect pairing back together. Perfectly researched, it was not only enchanting but made you feel like you were there seeing the sights too and combined with so much culture it kept me perfectly engaged. The way this ends left it perfectly open for potential short stories in future and honestly made me happy cry but thats all I can say without spoiling it.
A bit more adult than Caseys previous writings it has some pretty descriptive spicy scenes but honestly theyre artfully written and enjoyable so if this sounds up your alley I would aggressively recommend you pick it up sooner rather than later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
marmaladereads's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is an incredibly steamy book that is erotic in all the self indulgent ways - having sex in every possible configuration with every possible person, binge drinking in gorgeous locales, and endless pastries and gorgeous lovers. Having been on similar European vacation itineraries, the fictional tour Theo and Kit take makes all the stereotypical stops and highlights one would expect - wineries in the south of France, riding Vespas in Rome, visiting the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona - and as overindulgent as any vacation tends to be, but with all the boring parts (like long hours in the bus and the sleep and water breaks) completely skipped over. The result is an extremely rich experience that feels very over the top, like eating the fattiest and booziest of tiramisu.
In my opinion, it ultimately worked, because it was very much on theme with the European vacation, and it was also very much in line with who Kit and Theo are as a couple (or a former couple) - ones who overindulge in food and drink and sex, including bringing other people into their sex games. I loved that the one night stands didn't ultimately detract from the main romance. Even while sleeping with other people, both Kit and Theo were thinking of each other, and details of the other hook ups are brief and forgettable.
I loved that Kit and Theo are lifelong friends before becoming lovers, and we enter into this existing relationship at the set up of the book. Their connection is deeper than a typical second chance romance, they have both shaped and been fundamentally shaped by each other from their youngest moments, and are a continuum of each other whether their relationship is romantic or not. It also makes their forgiveness and reconciliation much easier to accept - you may stay forever angry at a lover, but you will typically forgive a family member, knowing you still have an entire lifetime to spend tied to them. Kit and Theo's relationship feels like they are tied together for life.
The bit that is frustrating is that this book has taken the miscommunication trope and spread it out over the entire 432 pages. From their initial break up, to four years later starting up a sex competition to avoid talking about it, Kit and Theo are a couple who are utterly incapable of understanding their own feeling, let alone saying them out loud. While this is eye rolling-ly frustrating at times, it does set up a novel that is also full of some of the most intense pining that I have read in a romance love. Their love for each other fills every page, even as they are denying it, sleeping with other people, running away from it, or are otherwise avoiding it. McQuiston's prose is beautifully romantic, and the deep longing from both Theo and Kit's points of view comes across for the entire book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC!
In my opinion, it ultimately worked, because it was very much on theme with the European vacation, and it was also very much in line with who Kit and Theo are as a couple (or a former couple) - ones who overindulge in food and drink and sex, including bringing other people into their sex games. I loved that the one night stands didn't ultimately detract from the main romance. Even while sleeping with other people, both Kit and Theo were thinking of each other, and details of the other hook ups are brief and forgettable.
I loved that Kit and Theo are lifelong friends before becoming lovers, and we enter into this existing relationship at the set up of the book. Their connection is deeper than a typical second chance romance, they have both shaped and been fundamentally shaped by each other from their youngest moments, and are a continuum of each other whether their relationship is romantic or not. It also makes their forgiveness and reconciliation much easier to accept - you may stay forever angry at a lover, but you will typically forgive a family member, knowing you still have an entire lifetime to spend tied to them. Kit and Theo's relationship feels like they are tied together for life.
The bit that is frustrating is that this book has taken the miscommunication trope and spread it out over the entire 432 pages. From their initial break up, to four years later starting up a sex competition to avoid talking about it, Kit and Theo are a couple who are utterly incapable of understanding their own feeling, let alone saying them out loud. While this is eye rolling-ly frustrating at times, it does set up a novel that is also full of some of the most intense pining that I have read in a romance love. Their love for each other fills every page, even as they are denying it, sleeping with other people, running away from it, or are otherwise avoiding it. McQuiston's prose is beautifully romantic, and the deep longing from both Theo and Kit's points of view comes across for the entire book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Transphobia and Deadnaming
hannahmichele5's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
What a special experience to be able to read this on my way to Paris! This was truly the perfect book about 2 messy, slutty, hot, bisexuals who find their way back to one another 4 years after their sudden break-up on an epic 2 week European food and wine tour!
As expected, this book was phenomenal! It is just so slutty and so gay. I loved every second of it! I found myself relating so much to both Theo and Kit. They were both so special and unique in their own ways and I’d protect both of them with my life! 🫶 also, the only one bed tropes were tropin’ in this one!
As expected, this book was phenomenal! It is just so slutty and so gay. I loved every second of it! I found myself relating so much to both Theo and Kit. They were both so special and unique in their own ways and I’d protect both of them with my life! 🫶 also, the only one bed tropes were tropin’ in this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
prioryofprose's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Casey McQuiston did it again. They are such an amazing author and create the most amazing characters, the depth and complexity - chef's kiss.
Theo and Kit were so imperfectly perfect. I loved how their relationship was friendship that blossomed and then a happen-stance coming back together on a wine tour. It would be awful for sure. I cannot imagine thinking you are going to have some time away and then have you ex sitting on the bus in a foreign country.
While I hated the sex game, the rest of the book was perfection. I want to hate the miscommunication or lack of communication troupes, but isn't that just real life. How many times do we do that in our daily lives with the relationships around us.
The vibes of the book were perfect though. I madly want to go on a wine and food tour now. The cast of characters were goofy, caring, ridiculous, loving and just amazing.
I could see this turned into the most amazing movie - and it would be awesome! A perfect summer read that shows that love isn't always easy and growing up, changing and compromising are tough, but can be worth it with the right person!
Theo and Kit were so imperfectly perfect. I loved how their relationship was friendship that blossomed and then a happen-stance coming back together on a wine tour. It would be awful for sure. I cannot imagine thinking you are going to have some time away and then have you ex sitting on the bus in a foreign country.
While I hated the sex game, the rest of the book was perfection. I want to hate the miscommunication or lack of communication troupes, but isn't that just real life. How many times do we do that in our daily lives with the relationships around us.
The vibes of the book were perfect though. I madly want to go on a wine and food tour now. The cast of characters were goofy, caring, ridiculous, loving and just amazing.
I could see this turned into the most amazing movie - and it would be awesome! A perfect summer read that shows that love isn't always easy and growing up, changing and compromising are tough, but can be worth it with the right person!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming
jamiemamie's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was really excited about this book, as I've enjoyed other books by this author. Unfortunately, I knew pretty quickly that it wasn't for me. I almost DNFed at 25%, 30%, 50%, etc., but I decided to finish the book so I could give a more thorough review.
Characters:
I found the two main characters, Theo and Kit, to be wildly pretentious and generally unlikable. This whole story felt very much "poor little rich kids." If you've ever worked in the service industry, especially in a larger city, you have probably worked with these people and rolled your eyes at them. Kit was a bit more likable than Theo, but only because he seemed more genuine in his actions toward Theo. Theo is a nepo-baby who just can't stand the privilege afforded to them by having rich, famous parents. Kit is a French-born, half-American pastry chef who seems to assume he knows what others are thinking instead of asking. Neither of them knows how to communicate.The entire plot of this book is based on the miscommunication in a single event that snowballed into a breakup and subsequent falling out between the two MCs.
Plot:
This story was a second-chance romance / friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. 🥴 Years, ago, they broke up on their way to a European vacation, and they end up in the same tour group when cashing in their vouchers for that missed trip. Kit and Theo are both really hot, and throughout their travels, they constantly encounter other really hot people who are always dying to sleep with one or both of them. Even though Theo comes off as really unpleasant to the reader (IMO), they are apparently able to charm everyone around them and charm their way onto a billionaire's yacht??? IDGI.
Overall, I was really disappointed by this one. Kit's POV was the only saving grace, and even then, I was struggling. It probably would have been better to start with Kit's POV, as he's more likable, but I understand why Theo's POV was first.
If you loved this book, that's great! It just wasn't for me.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Characters:
I found the two main characters, Theo and Kit, to be wildly pretentious and generally unlikable. This whole story felt very much "poor little rich kids." If you've ever worked in the service industry, especially in a larger city, you have probably worked with these people and rolled your eyes at them. Kit was a bit more likable than Theo, but only because he seemed more genuine in his actions toward Theo. Theo is a nepo-baby who just can't stand the privilege afforded to them by having rich, famous parents. Kit is a French-born, half-American pastry chef who seems to assume he knows what others are thinking instead of asking. Neither of them knows how to communicate.
Plot:
This story was a second-chance romance / friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. 🥴 Years, ago, they broke up on their way to a European vacation, and they end up in the same tour group when cashing in their vouchers for that missed trip. Kit and Theo are both really hot, and throughout their travels, they constantly encounter other really hot people who are always dying to sleep with one or both of them. Even though Theo comes off as really unpleasant to the reader (IMO), they are apparently able to charm everyone around them and charm their way onto a billionaire's yacht??? IDGI.
Overall, I was really disappointed by this one. Kit's POV was the only saving grace, and even then, I was struggling. It probably would have been better to start with Kit's POV, as he's more likable, but I understand why Theo's POV was first.
If you loved this book, that's great! It just wasn't for me.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
owls_rainbow's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Sexual content
nukie19's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
A solid four star summer rom com/beach read for me. This is a super fun and sexy trip though Europe with loads of scenery, food and drink descriptions, art, and a pretty broad spectrum of queer intimacy. This mixes up a fair number of standard rom com tropes and doesn’t have a big surprise at the end, but it’s different enough that it doesn’t feel like a mix of other books just scrambled up and republished.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual content
brianneh's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’m a big fan of Casey McQuiston’s work and this one did not disappoint! In the pairing, we follow Theo and Kit, a former couple who by chance have ended up on the same food tour of Europe. They were previously supposed to go on this tour together, but broke up right before the tour started. This was their last chance to use the funds from their original tour and not have them be wasted. The two end up overcoming some of their differences, start talking again, and eventually start a competition of who can hook up with someone else in each of the cities they go to.
The descriptions of the food and the cities make me want to go on this food tour so badly. I read the majority of this book on a plane and it made me want to immediately hop on another plane to go do a European food and wine tour. It just sounds so fun!
I thought the two main characters Theo and Kit were very relatable and I would want to be friends with them in real life. They were so cool, but they were also flawed and I just think that makes them that much more real to me. I like that we got chapters from both of their perspectives as well.
My biggest issue with the book is how much miscommunication goes on between the two main characters. This is even more frustrating when you have chapters from both characters. I feel like if some of that were eliminated from the book, I would’ve liked it even more.
I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content