Reviews

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

sarakdot's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

This book is a total VIBE! I’m a huge McQuiston fan and they do not disappoint in this newest novel coming out August 6th!! Theo and Kit each narrate — Theo for the first half and Kit for the second half. Getting to hear things from both perspectives is amazing and while there is definitely miscommunication… it’s actually more of a “what if” sort of feel and learning. I love the way McQuiston incorporates descriptions of food, wine and places! It was so easy to picture and even imagine how things would taste! This book is definitely SPICY!! I spent a lot of time smiling and chuckling while reading this! 

katieeecat's review

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

stitchandwitch's review

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is doing things I didn’t know I needed from a romance novel, and now that I know I might be ruined for all others. 

This book is a celebration of wine, food and queer love. It is sex-positive, poly-positive, self-love positive. 

And the spice. The spice level is high with this one! 

brodiesbookshelf's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

5.0

bibliojax's review

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

justinevandale's review

lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

I had no idea what to expect with this books besides I’m trying to read more Queer reads, and The Pairing definitely fit the bill. I had the eBook and audio and read both ways. I liked how it was split into both POVs. I did find it weird that each character had their own narrator but then used that narrator to pretend to be them too. I didn’t really care for their voices either.
I did find the story super fun and I love the idea of travelling and doing foodie tours, it made me hungry and want to do the same tour. I enjoyed the enemies to lovers slow burn story. I enjoyed the no reservations, let loose vacation that resulted in our characters figuring out what they need in life. 
I’d recommend this to other readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for my copies.

rivkachava's review against another edition

Just wasn't into it.

ktdakotareads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

booksta_adventure's review against another edition

4.0

“𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 […] 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙞𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚?”

As someone who has fond memories from her own European bus tour, loves food and wine/cocktails, and has some knowledge and appreciation for Renaissance art, I can say that I really enjoyed this book. Did I “love” it? I wouldn’t go that far. Do I see some problems and why other people might not enjoy it? Yes.

If you hate miscommunication, this probably isn’t a good book for you. If you hate when MCs hook up with other people, this is definitely not a book for you. 

The premise is that Theo and Kit, best friends all their lives, and eventually a couple, had a major fight on their way to a European food & wine tour 4 years ago, causing them to break up. Now, 4 years later, they have both cashed in their tour vouchers before they expire, and find themselves on this tour together.

They also take part in a “hookup competition” because…well, these are very horny people. 😝

I enjoyed the journey. I thought the way the book was laid out with their different POVs was effective. I thought Theo’s journey, in particular, was very good. And the ending was very sweet. Sometimes I felt the two MCs were frustrating, but still, overall, I found myself unable to put it down, and enjoyed myself while I was listening.

Audiobook notes: Both narrators were ok. I felt some of the accents were a little off, but seeing as they had SO MANY to perform, I think that can be forgiven.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for providing me an ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.

 

What this book is giving:

✅ Contemporary Romance

✅ Second Chance

✅ Bisexual MCs

✅ The Horniest European Food & Wine Tour

✅ Hookup Competition

Rating: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

🌶️🌶️🌶️½ / 5

kiesreads's review

5.0

“If I can give my whole heart to love without fearing the cost, I will regret nothing.”

this story follows kit and theo, two exes that are on a european food and wine tour while trying to avoid their feelings towards each other.

i loved this story, as i have all of cmq’s work. i can see when it can come off as repetitive or ‘too much’ to other readers, but i have noticed that cmq puts so much detail and information in their books that it can come across as filler to the wrong reader. this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was an incredible read and a beautiful story to follow.

check content warnings before reading!

i am so thankful to have received an arc for this story from netgalley! thank you!