Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop are among my favourite books so I eagerly awaited Casey McQuiston’s newest adult novel. When I read the synopsis, I was a little unsure whether it would be quite as much to my taste as the previous ones but I found that once I started reading it I couldn’t stop and raced through it. I really enjoyed that each half of the book was told from a different protagonist’s point of view so we got to see how they viewed the situations and hear from them about their past relationship and how they felt things had gone. Both of the main characters were written with such depth and complexity they felt very real. Their flaws made them all the more human. The side characters were entertaining and each of them added brought their own flavour to the story. The locations, food and drink which are central to the book are written with such detail and passion they made me long to visit and experience them for myself. You could tell the author had put much time and effort into researching everything and had a wonderful time doing so. The book also deals with some serious topics such as gender and identity which I thought were handled perfectly. Another amazing LGBTQ+ book from this author which I cannot recommend highly enough.

This is coming close to being my favourite romance novel of all time. It took such precise aim at my heart and soul. I’m a huge McQuiston fan – they have such an effortless knack for characterisation, and I always find their books to have an inherently queer sensibility that makes the stories come absolutely alive. For me, this is McQuiston’s best yet. It’s a masterpiece of specificity with a genuinely original cast of characters - especially the two leads and the lovely, complex topography of their relationship, which slowly reveals itself throughout the book. There’s a palpable delight in the novel’s setting and detail. It’s a gorgeously hedonistic book – all good food, great wine, sparkling conversation, sun-warm skin, open linen shirts and blue, blue sky. It's cheeky and chaotic and thirsty and so, so delicious. Mediterranean sunlight flows through these pages and while I can’t imagine a more perfect summer read, I know it’ll also be a warm, sweet harbour for me to return to in winter. It’s good to be reminded that second chances can be wonderful, and that the weather is always nice somewhere! I don’t reread romances very often, but this is one I want to keep with me forever. If you want a wry, heartfelt, swoony, authentically queer love story to grab you by the hand and take you somewhere beautiful, it’s probably the one for you too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me a reading copy.

I have to say that this is my favourite book of theirs. I struggled a bit at first but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t put it down. I love Kit and Theo, their characters are so loveable and I really enjoyed reading about them! Definitely recommend.

REVIEW cw: mentions of grief, abandonment issues, imposter syndrome Theo(dora) (they/them) and Kit (he/him) have been best friends since childhood and eventually became a couple. But four years ago they broke up and never spoke again. Now, these two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're completely over each other. Except they're not. At all. Like Theo and Kit, I went on quite the journey with this book. To be upfront and honest, I almost gave up on it several times in the first third, and I still can't quite put my finger on why. I liked all of the characters immediately. The story's first half is told through Theo's POV and the second from Kit's. I liked Theo a lot, and their insecurities about themselves in comparison with their successful family members were well-written. I also appreciated Theo's self-exploration of their identity and loved the way they explained this to Kit and how he responded. Theo and Kit's little game of pointing out attractive people was fun to begin with, but I began to struggle with the way Europe, and by extension, Europeans were portrayed. In this story every single person they met living in Spain, France, and Italy was hedonistic, bi, beautiful, and DTF with these two virtual strangers. I understand that was the purpose of their competition, but it never felt like either had ever faced a single rejection, and it felt a little unbelievable. No man, woman, or peach was safe. Still, somewhere around 40%, something finally clicked, and I really began to root for both of them. It was so clear that both were still carrying feelings for the other. Kit's pining was sublime agony. I absolutely ADORED how utterly gone he was for Theo. And he was such a cinnamon roll. I ADORED his description of their night together in Chianti. As for Palermo. It was perfetto. The intimacy between them made me swoon, and I loved their banter and the good-humoured snark that can only come from knowing each other intimately and for a very long time. The other passengers were wonderfully eclectic, but by far my favourites were the Calums. I loved their little 'polygon' dynamic, and the revelations in Chianti left me as surprised as Kit. Meanwhile, I absolutely ADORED Fabrizio the tour guide, and he gave the BEST advice. I was a shocked as Theo and Kit at his secret, but it was heartwarming. I appreciated the amount of research the author clearly must have done for the many descriptions of food and wine, although I sometimes found myself skimming over them as the book progressed. But that's on me. I'm starting to understand from this and other similar books that I'd much rather eat than read about eating! That said, though I've travelled extensively in Europe, and actually lived in Barcelona, the descriptions of the art, architecture, and culture made me desperate to travel again. I'm SO glad I didn't give up on this book. I absolutely ADORED the second half and will always love Theo and Kit. Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Heat Rating:

For those who do not consider themselves food connoisseurs, pastry artisans, or sommeliers in training, this book may at times feel somewhat tedious, as these elements are the vehicle that moves the story forward. If this describes you, or if you can at least appreciate a book that caters to a European foodie's sheer bliss, you are in luck. Like many of its predecessors, "The Pairing" shares a beautifully woven love story of two people who, through miscommunication, were driven apart - only to come back together in the most unusual of ways. The essence and magic of Casey McQuiston, who uses they/them pronouns, shine brightly. It’s always a joy to know that when they bring two protagonists together, they won’t make it easy, but they will always make it fun! It’s been four years since Theo stood in Heathrow’s airport and watched Kit walk away from the life they were building together. Words were said, lines were crossed, and a reality that Theo didn’t expect to ever endure became the fuel to finally put things into perspective, to grow up and take charge. Now having succeeded in creating a mobile bar business and working as an Assistant Sommelier, Theo can finally revisit the trip that was never taken before the voucher expires. Failing to expect the unexpected, Theo could never have imagined Kit having the same idea! For three weeks, they are stuck together on the trip they had planned four years ago. To make matters worse, Theo has to be reminded of the life Kit now has, from his, according to Maxine, well-deserved title at the Dejardin, to his current success as a pastry manager. Determined not to let Kit’s presence dampen the trip and being the bigger person, Theo decides to bury the past and focus on the present, even upping the ante by making a friendly wager with Kit - who can seduce the most people and win over their tour guide before the trip ends. Theo is determined to prove to Kit that their history can stay in the past, but the present may have another idea. This book offers so much that it teeters on the edge of being an overload for the imagination. The foods, the art, the history, the travel - I lost count of how many times I stopped reading just to look up a building referenced or a piece of art described in sheer admiration. As mentioned earlier, if you do not have at least some appreciation for wine, food, art, travel, or architecture, this book may not be for you; however, if you do, you will definitely get your fill and then some! I enjoyed that the story was told from a dual POV but not in real time. In the first leg of the trip, we are in Theo’s mind and are given their perspective on what happened, how they feel, what they want, and what they believe is happening (or not happening) when it comes to Kit. Then, suddenly, the story flips and we are in Kit’s mind. For those who love a lot of detail, this book is perfect for you. Casey takes the time and energy to describe every aspect of each destination, tantalizing each sense—describing the city (sight), the meals eaten (taste), the buzzing in the atmosphere (hear), the aroma wafting through the streets (smell), and either the effects of the weather or the context of the clothing (feel). The reader is fully engulfed in the experience, as if they are another traveler on this excursion. For those who do not enjoy a lot of detail, again this may not be the book for you. You may find the long descriptive passages off-putting and the amount of time it takes to get to the meat of the story discouraging. This is definitely not for those who are used to the formula of a typical contemporary romance where the trip and the aspects experienced are primary and the characters are secondary. The intimate moments shared between lovers in this book were not only increasingly steamy but heavily used as moments of insight with the character. Perfectly titled, "The Pairing" is an experience in itself. As a reader, you're not just observing the story of Theo and Kit; you're living it! If you can finish this book without feeling an urge to try something new, drink something different, travel, or trust yourself enough to take a risk - a chance you hadn't wanted to take before - I implore you to read it again!