The Pairing: Special 1st Edition

A Best Book of the Year for The New York Times, People, Elle, USA Today, Saveur, and more!

LIMITED FIRST PRINT RUN--featuring sprayed edges with a stenciled script design. Only available for a limited time and while supplies last.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not.

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.

"The summer's best romance novel." - Rolling Stone

"Spicy, sexy and absolutely delicious." - People

"Move over 'hot girl summer' – 'hot bisexual summer' is ready for its moment and Casey McQuiston’s new novel The Pairing is here to usher it in." - USA Today


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432 pages

Average rating: 7.64

39 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

MaggieParedes
Feb 10, 2025
6/10 stars
I’m disappointed in this book. Even though the Author included some pretty cool facts about each country and some amazingly hilarious bakery tidbits in-between each chapter, the story is a whole is too long and gone out. Each chapter could’ve been shorter, and addition to every paragraph. I lost interest pretty quickly.
Anonymous
Jan 07, 2025
8/10 stars
I liked the representation in this book and the chemistry between the lead characters. I would’ve preferred a bit more realistic moments tied in as well, and it was occasionally difficult to empathize with the characters since their backgrounds are so privileged. It’s also a bit on the long side for the story to be fully developed and has maybe one too many plot devices happening. But overall, I think it’s a strong showing in the genre as the descriptions really take you to France/Spain/Italy and I’m a sucker for some yummy food and drink put down in writing. Off to get some lunch now.
whothehelliskaitlin
Dec 23, 2024
scared to read because it sounds messy and the reviews aren't good but i love CMQ
blewballoon
Nov 21, 2024
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

Casey McQuiston is a great writer and there is some excellent humor here. Unfortunately, I'm having a hard time connecting to the main character and the entire premise is just making me uncomfortable and putting me in a bad mood. There is nothing wrong with casual sex, but here it feels self destructive and selfish and it's difficult for my demisexual heart to enjoy. I can see how this will work very well for lots of readers, but I'm having a bad time due to my own tastes so I'm gonna bail.

Content Warnings:
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
LMahoney
Aug 18, 2024
10/10 stars
I was loving this book and then the bet started and I was nervous but it was written so well! I loved the dual perspectives that changed halfway through the book rather than every other chapter like many other books. I loved how sex positive it was! Safe, consensual sex is fine and I loved that message!

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