A review by cass_lit
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

5.0

I think the only two ways I could have loved this story more would be if 1) I got Kit and Theo’s POV for every single moment or 2) I was literally there with them. I don’t even know what to say. I liked this from the start, back when I was just thinking that Theo and Kit were infinitely cooler than I could ever be and that the setting made me want to hop on a plane to France. But by the end, I was so invested in them individually, them as a couple, every single person on their trip, every other person in their lives, everything they were sightseeing and eating. I was empathetically feeling these fictional characters’ feelings an unhealthy amount, but it’s because they were so relatable. I felt so seen in different parts of these characters and these stories despite being nothing like Kit or Theo in actuality. 

Seriously though, I do wish the POVs were rotated a bit more, because I missed getting Theo’s thoughts the second half of the trip. And I will caveat that for the first few chapters of the second half *potential small spoiler but definitely not hugely plot-related*

Kit refers to Theo with she/her pronouns in his thoughts because Theo hasn’t come out to him yet. He changes immediately upon being told, but it’s a little jarring as the reader already knowing Theo uses they/them. This is coming from a cis person’s viewpoint though, so I guess that’s just a fraction of the feelings trans people have when misgendered.

Casey McQuiston has a way of making me think everything will be okay in the world and in my life, even if just while I’m reading their work. It’s just an escape from reality, but it’s one that leaves me with so much hope and new will to live and to try. That’s something so special about very few books for people and I’m so thankful for it.