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. Kit comes across as cool and aloof while Theo struggles to hide their feelings, making every effort to show they have moved on while secretly fighting the love that is determined to surface. Then, suddenly, the story flips and we are in Kit’s mind only to discover he had never stopped loving Theo and is going along with everything as a desperate attempt to stay in their orbit. From his perspective, Theo is now the one who is cool and aloof. Kit becomes the one struggling with keeping his feelings during their second chance at friendship.

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. We discover during each tryst that while with other people, Kit and Theo were still connected, almost on a transient level. It was never about the enjoyment of anyone else but the need to not feel the pressure of the love that they had for one another. Each “hookup” was an attempt to extract the overflow of love and affection they couldn’t show each other. When they were finally able to be with each other, even with the rules in place, they were like two stars colliding, lighting up the night sky with sheer force and intensity.

I appreciated Casey’s approach when introducing Theo as non-binary. As a new concept to some, it is important to understand how someone may have trouble identifying with an assigned gender. Casey took care to explain how Theo came to terms with this and even introduced it as another “coming out.” What I found interesting before this even happened in the story was that I, as the reader, had a difficult time identifying Theo when I initially read the book. When I began to write the summary, the “she/her” pronoun just didn’t seem right. Theo had a perfect blend of masculine and feminine energy. When they discussed this with Kit, I found my head shaking in agreement as I felt the same way about them. They flowed too easily between, creating a fluidity in their gender identity that matched their sexual orientation (as both Kit and Theo identify as bisexual). Their coming out was enlightening because Casey framed it so well that you suspected it before it was even confirmed.

I also appreciated the push and pull of Kit and Theo. In HEAs, we normally see one person sacrificing everything in the name of love. When Kit envisioned doing this for Theo (after losing them the first time when they expected them to give up everything for him), he realized it was more of a selfish act than a declaration of love. The truth is when you make the decision to go all in, to place all bets on love and do it for you, not for someone else—it becomes more of a gift than a sacrifice, an understanding they both had to reach on their own.

The undercurrent of how the death of Kit’s mom impacted everything was present throughout the story, especially the origin of Kit’s affection for Theo. Casey didn’t focus too much on his strained relationship with his father, but we did see how much influence his mother had on him, even in death.

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!