(affiliate link)
The Pairing has been on my must-read wishlist since Casey McQuiston first announced it nearly a year ago. It was billed as a kind of bisexual Eurotrip – say no more! Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled when Macmillan Australia sent me a copy for review.
It straddles a couple of popular romance tropes: the childhood-friends-to-lovers, and the second chance love. Theo and Kit were best friends, then they were lovers, then they were estranged. They broke up on the transcontinental flight to what was supposed to be their big food and wine tour of France, Italy and Spain, a research trip for the restaurant/bar they hoped to open together. When they pulled out of the tour, they couldn’t get a refund, only a credit note that had to be used within four years.
Four years later, they independently decide to take the tour before their credit expires. They both believe they’ll be doing it independently… until they show up, and end up sitting together on the same tour bus. The Pairing is the story of how they repair their relationship, while sampling some of the most mouth-watering food and wine of Europe.
It’s delicious, horny fun, with intense feelings and surprising insight – everything you’d expect and desire from a McQuiston novel. I loved how Theo and Kit explored sex and gender, mirroring their culinary explorations in the most gorgeous settings. I’m afraid The Pairing has only whetted my appetite for more of McQuiston’s work, and I’ll be waiting with bated breath for their next book announcement.
Read my full review of Red, White & Royal Blue here.
Read my full review of One Last Stop here.
Read my full review of I Kissed Shara Wheeler here.
Read The Pairing on audiobook via Libro.fm here. (affiliate link)
Leave a Reply