This book is so full and hearty I'm surprised it doesn't weigh more than it does! What I mean by this is that every line in this book felt intentional. It's a book for and about romantics and foodies and artists and queers. I was constantly swooning at the love within the sentences, and I didn't even care if something was overstated or overly metaphorical--it felt so raw and real and every time. The Pairing is a perfect summer read; it's Europe as you imagine Europe when you're fifteen and have never been anywhere. Or, it's Europe when you're all grown up and finally know how to fully appreciate sensory details. Either way, it felt both fantastical and real all at once, which is such a fun type of book to read. If you have an appreciation for the physical (paintings, wine, kissing, pasta, beaches, etc.), this is a perfect read.
And now I want to go on a European vacation.