Scan barcode
A review by betweentheshelves
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston
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
5.0
Theo and Kit were best friends turned lovers who had originally planned to spend their lives together. But something happened on their way to a European vacation that put them on opposite ends of the world. Theo is a sommelier in California and Kit is a chef pâtissier in Paris.
After not having spoken for four years, Kit and Theo now find themselves on the same food tour across Europe. In order to prove that they’ve moved on, they’ve challenged each other to see who can sleep with the most people on their tour. Because being in some of the most romantic places in Europe won’t stir up any old feelings, right?
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and Edelweiss for an advanced copy of The Pairing by Casey McQuiston to review! This is probably one of my most-anticipated releases of the year, and getting to read it early? Bring on all the good things for 2024.
Let me just start by saying: this book is probably going to make you want to travel, to take a food tour across Europe, and will make the perfect end of summer read. It’s got so much going for it: food pairings, romantic tension, a colorful cast of characters. Two main characters who are madly in love with each other but don’t want to admit it to the other. If there’s one thing I love about McQuiston’s writing it’s their ability to write fantastic, well-rounded characters you’re probably going to want to be friends with.
The overall set up of this book is also different from a lot of other rom-coms I’ve read. But! It feels so purposeful, specifically for the way that it explores gender and bisexuality. McQuiston takes your expectations about those things and really plays with them throughout the entire book. The way dramatic irony was used added so much to the overall tension of the story. Because as readers, we know Kit and Theo are still in love, but they absolutely refuse to let the other realize it.
I think this book is also McQuiston’s spiciest book, to date. Like, those people who watched the Red, White, & Royal Blue movie and thought the book was going to be spicy will probably be shocked when they pick up this book. McQuiston definitely took the slutty, bisexual stereotype and said: why is being “slutty” such a bad thing? Let me show you why it’s not.
Basically, if best friends to lovers to exes to lovers again sounds like a great time to you, definitely pick this up as your end of summer read. And then maybe book a trip to Europe.
---
If this book doesn't make you want to take a food tour around Europe, I'm not convinced you even read the book. Stay tuned for a full review to come!
After not having spoken for four years, Kit and Theo now find themselves on the same food tour across Europe. In order to prove that they’ve moved on, they’ve challenged each other to see who can sleep with the most people on their tour. Because being in some of the most romantic places in Europe won’t stir up any old feelings, right?
Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and Edelweiss for an advanced copy of The Pairing by Casey McQuiston to review! This is probably one of my most-anticipated releases of the year, and getting to read it early? Bring on all the good things for 2024.
Let me just start by saying: this book is probably going to make you want to travel, to take a food tour across Europe, and will make the perfect end of summer read. It’s got so much going for it: food pairings, romantic tension, a colorful cast of characters. Two main characters who are madly in love with each other but don’t want to admit it to the other. If there’s one thing I love about McQuiston’s writing it’s their ability to write fantastic, well-rounded characters you’re probably going to want to be friends with.
The overall set up of this book is also different from a lot of other rom-coms I’ve read. But! It feels so purposeful, specifically for the way that it explores gender and bisexuality. McQuiston takes your expectations about those things and really plays with them throughout the entire book. The way dramatic irony was used added so much to the overall tension of the story. Because as readers, we know Kit and Theo are still in love, but they absolutely refuse to let the other realize it.
I think this book is also McQuiston’s spiciest book, to date. Like, those people who watched the Red, White, & Royal Blue movie and thought the book was going to be spicy will probably be shocked when they pick up this book. McQuiston definitely took the slutty, bisexual stereotype and said: why is being “slutty” such a bad thing? Let me show you why it’s not.
Basically, if best friends to lovers to exes to lovers again sounds like a great time to you, definitely pick this up as your end of summer read. And then maybe book a trip to Europe.
---
If this book doesn't make you want to take a food tour around Europe, I'm not convinced you even read the book. Stay tuned for a full review to come!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent