I don't read book summaries, reviews, or blurbs, so I am generally going into a story with no idea of what I'm going to find. I'm so glad I did that with this one! For those of you who DO read reviews before selecting a book, I will say this: if you were/are a fan of Dawson's Creek in any way, shape, or form, this book is for you. Such a cute sophomore effort!🥰

I have loved everything that McQuiston has written. When I started The Pairing, though, I was confused. Until I wasn't. They have done such a magnificent job of laying the groundwork for a nuanced character study and a romance that made me yearn for them to just "be" together. When it flips POV midway through the story, I found myself welling up over and over again, and the last 10% was just tears streaming down my face. This is such a great story about living life outside the constraints of a society that seems intent on "othering". What a gorgeous, sumptuous book that I would love to read again for the first time. 🥹 And it also made me very hungry. Read it, and you'll understand. 😋

Wow. I have never cared about orchestral music in any form, but I do now! This is the 2nd book in a row that I have read where the sexual tension for the first half of the book was as taut as a bow string (see what I did there?! 🙌) Honestly, I feel like this sophomore release for Soto knocked it so far out of the park, her next book will likely be infinity stars. This book needs to be on your July TBR, no question. Bravo!!!

The tension between the main characters in the first 50% of this book was a master class in how it should be done. 🤩 I mean. Holy moly. As though that isn't enough to convince you to pick up this particular book, Canterbary has a way of telling a story that feels like a lived experience. Between laughing out loud, snorting and giggling like a loon, and tearing up at the absolute tenderness she shows the protagonists, this was a tale that felt like it was written FOR me. I've adored everything I've read from her, but this one was special. 💖