Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Pairing

I am a huge fan of Casey McQuiston’s previous but unfortunately this book was not it for me. I found the pacing to be extremely slow. The book has far too many detailed descriptions of the locations, drinks, and food to the point it becomes boring. I just could not find myself invested in Kit and Theo as a couple, and I love a second chance romance. Perhaps I would’ve enjoyed this more if it was a movie or limited series where you can see the visuals rather than read the lengthy descriptors.

*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

This was a free audiobook for librarians in June, so obviously I took that opportunity to re-read this. I did change my rating slightly because while I did enjoy this book, it's not my favorite McQuiston thus far (I still think that's I Kissed Shara Wheeler).

I will say, where McQuiston's books usually focus a lot on that found family trope, they took a different direction with this one. It's still a great summer romance, and I'm excited to own a physical copy.

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mainjain's review against another edition

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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!

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jadehusdanhicks's review

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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.

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marmaladereads's review against another edition

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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!

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hannahmichele5's review against another edition

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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!

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jamiemamie's review against another edition

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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.

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