The Pairing

          

Title: The Pairing

Author: Casey McQuiston

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, August 6, 2024

Pages: 395

Genre: LGBTQ Romance

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.

These pretentious little butts. I love them so much. The whole time they keep trying to one up each other, and impress the other with their new found skills. Professionally, socially, sexually. It's perfection. 

The idea that all of this could have been avoided if Theo had just not blocked Kit is amazing. I hate miscommunication so much. But lack of communication due to outright insolence is so perfect for this...pairing. It's just so on brand I can't even be mad at it. 

All these two do is jump to conclusions. Mostly Theo, it's like they have a degree is deciding how other people feel. But Kit does it a time or two as well. Which is why they're so perfect for each other. And they had quite a way to grow! The growth was impeccable. Also, I would kill to go on this tour that's described in here. I don't know that I could live in 3 outfits for 2 weeks, but I'd be interested to try to see some of these places! 

Ratings

Stars: 5/5

Spice: 3/5