Review of ‘The Pairing‘ by Casey McQuiston. A vivid travel romance with compelling characters, but an overabundance of miscommunication. This book takes readers on a picturesque journey through European cities, capturing the essence of each stop. Dive into this review to explore the highs and lows of McQuiston’s latest novel and see if it’s the right fit for your next read.
“The first time I kiss Kit, he tastes like jalapeños and apricots. We’re drunk enough to be brave.”
– The Pairing
Casey McQuiston
‘The Pairing’ by Casey McQuiston is a vivid travel romance with compelling characters, but an overabundance of miscommunication
Synopsis
Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other’s lives once and for all.
Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It’s in the past.
All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.
It’s not until they board the tour bus that they discover they’ve both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they’re trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It’s fine. There’s nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?
But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can’t have.
Review
I received a free copy from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for this review copy.
Casey McQuiston’s ‘The Pairing‘ is a whirlwind of a book that takes you on a journey through some of the most picturesque spots in Europe. I really loved how each chapter is a stop on their trip. As someone who has visited places like Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bordeaux, and San Sebastian, I found it delightful to see these cities through the eyes of the characters. McQuiston’s descriptions brought back fond memories and made me feel like I was walking those charming streets again.
The plot is engaging, but let’s address the elephant in the room: there’s a lot of sex. And I mean, A LOT. The graphic scenes are plentiful, involving not just the main characters but others as well. While I didn’t mind the explicit content, the sheer volume of it might be overwhelming for some readers. The book is about a European hookup competition, but I feel like it could’ve been toned down a bit. In essence, the book felt like it was about food, drinks, and sex. In the beginning, it was very entertaining, but as the story progressed through more stops in different cities, it became a bit predictable. Also, a quick warning: Theo does swear quite a lot. I swear a lot too, but in ‘The Pairing‘ it felt really exaggerated. Every other sentence Theo said had some swear word in it, which was such a contrast with Kit.
A major downside for me was the heavy reliance on the miscommunication trope. I generally dislike this trope, and this book was packed with it. Theo’s handling of situations, especially considering their close relationship with Kit, felt off and often annoying. Their behavior sometimes bordered on frustrating, making the constant misunderstandings feel excessive and tiresome. I also wasn’t a fan of the nepo baby trying not to be a nepo baby storyline.
On a more positive note, I appreciated Theo’s journey of self-discovery. It was a significant part of the story, though I wish it had been explored more deeply on the page. Kit, on the other hand, was an absolute gem. Reading his POV was both heart-wrenching and compelling. His experiences and the way Theo often put him in difficult situations made me root for him even more. Kit was definitely my favorite character. I would’ve liked to see more of the other characters as well, such as Theo and Kit’s siblings and parents.
A bit of a reality check was needed. The fact that nearly every character in the book was queer and willing to engage in sexual activities felt a bit unrealistic. While I understand and appreciate the intention of representation, it stretched believability to the point of distraction.
Despite these issues, I was entertained and couldn’t put ‘The Pairing‘ down. I just kept reading and wanted to know how Theo and Kit’s story ended. I read until late at night just to finish the book. McQuiston does have a writing style that really works for me.
Would I recommend it?
Overall, ‘The Pairing’ is a mix of vivid travel, intense romance, and self-discovery. Despite its flaws, it offers an engaging read with memorable moments, especially if you enjoy travel-themed stories with a touch (or multiple) of heat.
Rating
6,5/10
Details
- Trigger warnings / Explicit sexual content, alcohol consumption, sex, swearing, death of a parent
- Representation / Bisexual main characters, non-binary main character
- Genre / Contemporary romance
- Pages / 432
- Publication date / August 6th, 2024
- Publisher / St. Martin’s Griffin
- About the author / Casey McQuiston is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies, whose writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Bon Appetit. Originally from southern Louisiana, Casey now lives in New York City.
With love,
heavenlybookish 