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jayybug's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jenedwards's review against another edition
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? No
4.25
bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I was very excited about this book because I love RWRB, and I really enjoyed Casey’s other books, specially I kissed Shara Wheeler, but this one I felt it dragged, I was really enjoying at the beginning but Theo’s insecurities and self-sabotage got old pretty fast, I wasn’t sure what Kit loved about them so much other than childhood memories, for being this long I still didn’t feel they showed me this love.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.
luckyonesoph's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
veve835's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.0
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
alylentz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.5
As always, Casey McQuiston writes romances with such a fun cast of fully-realized characters that you grow to really love over the course of the novel. I really enjoyed getting perspectives from both Theo and Kit, and their romance felt really deep and heartfelt while the food tour, summer across Europe elements were very fun and light. However, at times I did feel like this got a little too montage-y in a way that held the reader at a distance. Second-chance romance is also something I struggle with because I feel like we never get the appropriate depth and history of the relationship, and unfortunately I felt that missing with this book as well. Still, I think this would make a great summer read on the beach or by the pool or on a plane--there's a fun, joyfulness here and the gender stuff was so cool to see in a big romance release like this. Casey continues to go exciting places in their career, even if this one didn't hit quite as high for me as their other titles.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
shannonohannessian's review against another edition
4.0
Theo and Kit's relationship comes to a dramatic halt when they break up on the plane to their dream romantic European food and wine tour. Childhood friends turned lovers, they cut ties and are left with the option to rebook their vacation at a later date. Four years later, Theo finally decides it's time to take that tour, only to arrive and realize Kit has had the same idea...
For the first few chapters of this book, I was worried. I loved McQuiston's, [b:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487|Red, White & Royal Blue|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487._SY75_.jpg|61657690], however some of their other books have fallen a little flat for me. I don't typically love a romance involving exes, and it took a minute for me to get invested. The perspectives felt slightly disjointed to me, with one half of the book in Theo's perspective and the other half in Kit's. First, we see the beginning of their relationship from Theo's POV, then the end, then the first half of the tour. Then halfway through, in the middle of the tour, we switch to hear Kit's POV of the beginning of the relationship, the end, then pick back up in the middle of the tour. I see what McQuiston was going for, but I think alternating chapters would have been a little more effective as it took me out of the story a bit to be halfway through the tour, only to go back to the beginning of their relationship.
I also just enjoyed just Kit's perspective infinitely more than Theo's. The first half was 3 stars to me, but Kit's perspective took my rating up to 4 stars. This is a book that really sneaks up on you! I ended up enjoying it so much more than I originally expected and was honestly touched by the end. Somewhere along the way, I became so invested in the love story. [b:The Pairing|199440249|The Pairing|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1705592447l/199440249._SY75_.jpg|203780474] is a book full of yearning, decadent descriptions of food, an unmistakable summer feeling, and so much humanity. It is one I will definitely continue to think about as time goes on.
And as always, I adore a book with representation and love to see something new from McQuiston with two bisexual main characters and nonbinary representation!
The Pairing comes out August 6th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.
For the first few chapters of this book, I was worried. I loved McQuiston's, [b:Red, White & Royal Blue|41150487|Red, White & Royal Blue|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566742512l/41150487._SY75_.jpg|61657690], however some of their other books have fallen a little flat for me. I don't typically love a romance involving exes, and it took a minute for me to get invested. The perspectives felt slightly disjointed to me, with one half of the book in Theo's perspective and the other half in Kit's. First, we see the beginning of their relationship from Theo's POV, then the end, then the first half of the tour. Then halfway through, in the middle of the tour, we switch to hear Kit's POV of the beginning of the relationship, the end, then pick back up in the middle of the tour. I see what McQuiston was going for, but I think alternating chapters would have been a little more effective as it took me out of the story a bit to be halfway through the tour, only to go back to the beginning of their relationship.
I also just enjoyed just Kit's perspective infinitely more than Theo's. The first half was 3 stars to me, but Kit's perspective took my rating up to 4 stars. This is a book that really sneaks up on you! I ended up enjoying it so much more than I originally expected and was honestly touched by the end. Somewhere along the way, I became so invested in the love story. [b:The Pairing|199440249|The Pairing|Casey McQuiston|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1705592447l/199440249._SY75_.jpg|203780474] is a book full of yearning, decadent descriptions of food, an unmistakable summer feeling, and so much humanity. It is one I will definitely continue to think about as time goes on.
And as always, I adore a book with representation and love to see something new from McQuiston with two bisexual main characters and nonbinary representation!
The Pairing comes out August 6th, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.