A review by emilyinherhead
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

emotional funny lighthearted fast-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

5.0

This is a book I’ve been eagerly anticipating since it was announced, a new queer romance from the author of Red, White & Royal Blue; One Last Stop; and I Kissed Shara Wheeler; all of which I’ve previously read and loved.

The Pairing takes place during a European food and wine tour that winds through France, Spain, and Italy, and it’s about two exes, Kit and Theo, who were supposed to go on said tour together four years ago. The problem is that they had a huge fight on the plane back then, and broke up before it even began. And now, unbeknownst to each other, they’re both cashing in the vouchers they received and taking their do-over tour at the same time. What could go wrong??

The love story is a slow burn, sweet and tender and very horny (I’ve heard that the working title of the book was Sluts in Europe, so do with that what you will). It is delightful to follow these two as they dig into their own individual issues, work through their past miscommunications, and figure out a way forward.

What really takes this reading experience to the next level, though, is the DETAIL. Casey McQuiston researched the hell out of this book, and it shows—from determining which wines would realistically be paired with which fancy French foods, to looking inside a specific Italian grotto via 3D virtual tour before setting a scene there, to spending time in many of the places they would describe in the book so they could include little pieces of their own experience. It all truly feels like you’re there.

Anyway, TLDR: if you want to spend a few weeks meandering through Europe and enjoying all of the incredible local food, drink, and entertainment (wink) without leaving your couch, this is your book.