Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

This was way more sexually explicit than I anticipated. Two former lovers redeem a trip voucher years after breaking up. They sleep their way across Europe rekindling their friendship, eating amazing food, drinking wine, and discovering more of themselves (and each other). A solid read, but for a mature audience.

I’ve really enjoyed Casey McQuiston’s books but this one left me slightly disappointed.

First, the good. The story itself is one I can get behind. I love that Theo and Kit met back up on this tour and their getting back together didn’t feel too agonizing although by the end I was getting a bit exhausted with the build up. I loved the journey through the countries through the pairings at the beginning of each chapter, the imagery of each place, and some of the characters were terrific but the main characters were a miss for me and I found myself more frustrated by them than fond of them.

“ The problem is, we’ve only ever been everything or nothing other.”

This was a *fun* listen, but it stopped there as far as depth. And honestly, after about 75% I was like okay, let’s get to the point already. At first I was excited about the switch in POV, but once we got in Kits head and saw Theo from the outside he (Theo) became insufferable in his whiney, inability to accept help or do anything to change the direction of his life that he’s unhappy with.

The miscommunication about halfway through was a step too far into the unbelievable - I listened to that plot point and thought to myself really? There’s just no way. But I got over that when it didn’t immediately fix everything once the miscommunication was cleared up, but then it got me thinking well, why did we even include that then?

What I DID enjoy was the imagery and the description of the setting. This made it a great summer listen because I did feel like I was traveling with the characters and tasting all the food and wine which was a fun little adventure. The narrators were both very nice to listen to, they were enthusiastic and the accents added some interest as well.

But all in all, it seemed like a big sexual romp to the point of unbelievability, like really you’re meeting all these people in passing and immediately everyone wants to sleep together? Ok, sure…

You’ve gotta like spice to get into this read, so if that’s not for you I definitely wouldn’t recommend this.

Theo and Kit were decently well written but I wasn’t invested which was the overall feel of this book, the writing was on point but the story didn’t have that extra sparkle that makes me fully invested. This was a fun, fluffy read that would be a great read for when you want a pallet cleanser of not a lot of depth (which sounds harsh but isn’t necessarily a bad thing - it was low stakes romance).

The Pairing is a banquet for the senses. Casey McQuiston’s prose is as delectable as the dishes she describes. Each page brings a vivid picture, be it the beautiful views or a plate piled with food. You can practically smell the wildflowers and feel the sun-warmed European earth beneath your feet.

The story itself is a delightful dance between Theo and Kit. Their banter crackles with wit, and the pegging pun? ROFL. I think Theo and Kit are now definitely two of my favorite characters. And the spice between these two bisexuals is perfect. MOLTO BELLA! 🤤

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, Casey McQuinston, and NetGalley, for an honest review of this audio ARC.

Rating: 🥐🥐🥐🥐🥐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Second Chance
International Adventure
Dual POV
Mutual Pining
Forced Proximity
Bi and nonbinary rep
Sex Competition

I didn't really know anything about this book going into it so I had no idea what to expect. What I got was an interesting read about two best friends that became lovers that had a falling out and then ended up on the same European culinary tour together. I'm not going to lie, I was jealous at the all the incredible stops on the tour, but I was not impressed by how many times there was an error in booking and Kit and Theo had to share a room/bed or something else that kept them in close proximity. I was a little exhausted by all the sexual adventures, but it did bring around the eventual HEA so I guess all's well. The audiobook is an interesting way to enjoy this story and is narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers.

DNFing @ ~30%. I often think I’ll like this sort of story where characters are traveling the world and eating good food and drinking good wine but I overwhelmingly don’t care about how many adjectives can be used to describe a chablis or the French countryside or a chunk of moldy aged cheese. I think I’d rather just experience it myself.

I also think this book needs to be classified as magical realism or something bc in no way can I believe every person Kit and Theo encounter is ready to sleep with either of them on the spot.

Also Theo is a bit of an insufferable nepo baby and I just didn’t care for their POV. Maybe Kit’s POV would have been better but I just couldn’t find much about either of them to care about.

Thanks NetGalley and MacMillan for a copy of the audio arc

This was just not for me. The tropes and set up were not my usual cup of tea, but I had hopes that since I have enjoyed other books by Casey that maybe this would end up working out. Unfortunately, I found the characters unlikable and I was not rooting for them.

In addition the narrator for Theo had a voice that sounded much younger than Theo's actual age in the story and it really took me out of the story.

I can see how people might enjoy this one, but it is not one I will be recommending.

I can't say enough about this book! Perfection!

The narrators chosen for this story were perfect. Each became the character and did a wonderful job bringing the story to life.

A unique part of this audiobook book is when the characters travel to a new city, the book includes a pairing for that city. Instrumental music accompanies each of these sections, but it is done in a simple way.

The first half of the story is told in Theo's POV. We get the beginning of the story from them and a good part of the trip as well. The transition between the characters was done well. We get a brief view of both before it completely switches over to Kit's.

This author wrote this in a way that it brought each city to life . The story includes a diverse cast of characters along on the trip were funny, friendly and added to the story.

I highly recommend the audiobook.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

3.5. I am so disappointed. Anyone who knows me knows I am a HUGE fan of Red White And Royal Blue, so I was SO EXCITED for this. However, I am let down. This was just a typical second chance romance with not many memorable characters and no sense of found family like all of McQuiston’s other work

This was probably the biggest let down of the year for me. There is nothing more romantic then having a sex competition with the person you are in love with right? I feel like this is partially my fault for requesting because I saw the cover and the author and thought it would be super cute! But no, this was not even a little romantic. I wanted to be able to give this book at least 2 stars but if I'm being honest with myself, I didn't see anything I liked about this book.

Theo and Kit are childhood friends that became lovers until they have an argument so bad that they didn't see each other or speak for 4 years. Spoiler: it ends up being miscommunication, of course. But the wild thing is that it seemed like such a small issue that didn't warrant them not speaking for 4 years. Like if one of them would've reached out in those 4 years and just had one conversation they probably could've figured out what went wrong. They even have family members that could've helped them realize that there was a misunderstanding of the situation.

So basically, they were supposed to go on a wine tour but never did and the expiration to schedule it was 4 years and they coincidentally both scheduled it for the same time. Now they are both instantly in love again but instead of trying to fix their relationship, they decide the best idea is to have a competition to see who could have the most sexual encounters with random people. The whole book is more of the same thing over and over. They go to a different location, have a random hookup, rinse and repeat. And trust me, there is always someone who is just ready to have sex with them everywhere they go. Theo and Kit are only ever talking about, thinking about, or having sex. They even talk about the sex lives of the other people on their tour quite frequently. I feel like I sound like a prude but the majority of this book is literally just things relating to sex. There is barely any depth to the two characters and what is there is pretty annoying most of the time. Theo is one of the most annoying and frustrating characters and I don't understand what Kit is seeing. It's like Kit has Theo up on a pedestal in his mind and nothing else matters. But really Theo's only personality is that they are a nepo baby who hates it and tries to be different but just ends up running low on money and then refusing help from their family. That's it, that's the whole character. There are also a ton of side characters that contribute basically nothing to the plot.

Bottom line, this book was extremely boring and a lot of the same over and over. It could've been cut in half and been the exact same book. The first part of the book is from Theo's POV and I wanted to DNF so bad the whole time but I just wanted to see it through to the end. Kit's section gets a little better but still an awful book. It was so hard to get through this book, I honestly wish I wouldn't have wasted my time on it. If you are getting this book because you like the author, I highly recommend skipping.

3.5 Stars - thank you Netgalley for the ALC !

First the narrators did an AMAZING job on this, truly fantastic voice acting all around.

This story follows Theo and Kitt who were childhood best friends turned lovers who break up before they can even embark on their first day of a 3 week long food and wine tour across Europe. Four years later, unable to get a refund on the tour, Theo decides its time for them to take the trip as a solo traveler. However, when they board the tour bus they find Kitt there who apparently had the same idea - use the voucher at the last possible minute before it expires. These two are thrust together (forced proximity anyone?) and in order to save face with the other person they agree to a truce that basically means they will be friends for the trip and also enter into a friendly 'sex competition' basically as a way to prove they are over each other.

Spoiler alert: they are not over each other.

I really liked the plot of this story and how the plot progressed, but I did find Theo to be a bit too aloof at times which annoyed me. Also, call me a prude ( I know I know ) but I didnt love the whole "sex game" they played in the beginning. I hated (for both characters) them having to hear and witness the person they were in love with be with other people. BUTTTTTTT I do think that there was sooooo much growth from beginning to end and Casey did a great job portraying that in her writing.

While Theo did annoy me a bit, I found Kitt to be so charming and charismatic and lovable. I fully understood Theo's love and infatuation with him. I loved that we finally get Kitts POV for the last half of the book - I think the story really progressed here and I loved getting his POV on what happened four years prior.

If youre a follower of mine you know I love a good Friends to Lovers / Second Chance Romance and this book did deliver on that ten fold

This was a difficult storyline for me to get through… I considered giving up several times but I stuck with it hoping it would get better (spoiler alert… it never did). I’m sad about this because I’ve been a fan of most of McQuiston’s previous releases, though I struggled with One Last Stop also, though nothing like this. RW&RB is one of my faves ever, but they let me down this time… and I was so looking forward to this new release!

Theo (Theodora) and Kit were bffs in grade school, eventually leading to being in a relationship. They’re both bi, but being together just fit. After graduation they took a big trip to Europe together, but a big fight about their future on the plane ended it and Theo flew home while Kit took a train to Paris (he had been born there and his family was there), to begin his future. Four years later, they both decided to use the tour voucher they received from the company before it expired and wound up together on the same trip.

They end up having a contest to beat each other with how many people each can sleep with as they travel through Europe - kind of disgusting, when they both clearly still have unresolved feelings for each other, and the storyline is clearly heading to a resolution of their relationship. Theo also has something major she needs to tell Kit so the reader is guessing about this the whole way.

I gave up on the audio at about 35% since I needed to get through the story so much faster by skimming to see how much I could skip over without losing the plot… I couldn’t speed up the audio fast enough to make it any better. I’m a huge proponent of audiobooks (15+ years), but can’t recommend the audio in this situation - I’m sorry to say! I’ve loved Emma Galvin in the past, but even she couldn’t save this terrible plot with her normally great performance. The other narrator, Max Meyers, was unfamiliar to me, and also couldn’t keep me listening.

If this wasn’t an ARC & ALC, I would have DNF around 50%. I barely struggled through to the end, and it was mostly skimming the last half. The storyline was truly not good. It was just bad. I’m sorry for those that enjoy it - they are normally a great author! I see there are plenty of other reviewers of the same opinion…

I received an advance read and listen copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest opinion and feedback.

This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I truly squealed when I realized I was able to get an early copy to read and review. I usually don't read ARCs this far before pub date (6 months) but I truly could not stop myself from picking this up and devouring. I started in the evening and stayed up until 1am reading. Casey is an auto-read, auto-buy author for me and this book did not disappoint in any way.

There are a lot of descriptions of food, wine, locations, and art - it does perhaps get a little wordy at times but honestly I still loved every second of my reading experience. For those of you who can visualize what you're reading, I think you'll have a particularly good time with this book because of the lush descriptions.

I really loved both Kit and Theo so so much. I think they're both really complex characters and I'm glad we got a chance to be in both of their heads. This is one of the more unique dual POVs I've read - instead of the POV alternating every chapter, the first half of the book we get Theos POV and the second half we get Kit's. I think this actually worked really well for the story!

This book is also HOT and HORNY. Like GODBLESS at two separate points I had to put the book down briefly because I was blushing so hard and I read some of the smuttiest smut. I just ATE this up with a spoon

I really loved the dual narration by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers, both of who I'm not sure I've listened to before.

Truly I already can't wait to reread and this is now just behind RWRB on my Casey scale (RWRB will always be number 1, no exceptions)

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh how I loved this! Casey McQuiston knows how to wring so many tears out of me. Thank you to @netgalley for the ALC!

The Pairing is about two bisexual people, Kit and Theo, who loved each other since they were children. When it was time to move forward together as young adults, they could not … but years later, they’ve moved on. Theo is now a sommelier and owner of a traveling drink business and Kit is a pastry chef. They run into each other when they cash in on their expiring voucher for a European wine and food trip that they had planned to go on together.

They couldn’t still possibly love each other, and so to prove that, they decide to have a sexy “hookup” competition. The spice was 🥵🥵🥵 for real.

I loved the LGBTQ rep, the adoration of food and wine, and the angst. Told in dual POV, but we are in Theo’s perspective for the first part. I was dying to Kit’s POV when it finally came around!!

Sooo sweet. I ugly cried. As sexy as this was (read: explicit sex scenes), the love was palpable and the history of their relationship was presented so clearly - I was willing them back together. Just precious.

Narration by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers was fantastic.

Unfortunately, this just didn't have the magic that Casey McQuiston brings to stories. I am fairly sure that's because this isn't the typical romantic comedy. Honestly, this book isn't romantic in the least. It's giving half erotica and half messy that's meant to be relatable.

The Pairing is a fun romp around Europe following two foodies, Theo and Kit, on a trip they had originally planned to take together, only it's 4 years after they've broken up. You can tell immediately that the two MCs are not over each other, and this trip is going to be their second chance romance. The story switches from Theo's POV to Kit's POV at the halfway point, though I wish it had been dual POV the entire time. The two main threads to the story are the food tour and the hookup contest Kit and Theo decide to have to prove they are definitely over each other. The descriptions of the food and restaurants were a highlight, though the hookup contest as the main driver of the plot didn't quite work for me (anyone picking this up should be aware this is the thirstiest book! every character!). However, the bananas situations they continually find themselves in really kept my attention the entire time, and had me wanting to pick up the book again every time I tried to set it down.

Overall, I had such a fun time with the story. I really didn't mean to read the entire thing over two sittings given how long it is, but I couldn't put it down! This is such a different tone to what I've read previously from Casey McQuiston (RW&RB and One Last Stop) that I can absolutely see this one getting incredibly mixed reviews, especially since having a romance where the MCs spend the majority of the book with other people is a big no for many readers. I would recommend to others as long as they are aware of what they're getting into before they start!

I found this book to be really great in the representation of LGBTQIA, but ultimately found the story to be lacking. I found the two main characters to be a little annoying and one note.

I found the first half a little slow, but then things got much more spicy and more interesting. Overall, worth the read.

Casey McQuiston has done it again. “The Pairing” is the perfect ode to old flames, food/wine culture, and European tourism. It’s the type of book where it’s better to know less information going in, so you can fully understand Theo and Kit.

I absolutely loved how McQuiston split the POVs in half, especially how each side was labeled the narrators’ version. This was such a clever plot device and one that not every author could pull off.

The audiobook narrators did an excellent job bringing Theo and Kit to life. It was also a delight to have McQuiston provide their voice to the narration.

✨ALC Review ✨

Oh my stars! I’m in love. I’m in love with a tasting tour of Europe. I’m in love with art and atmosphere. I’m in love with travel companions. I’m in love with being completely yourself and unapologetic about it. I’m in love with being authentically loved. But mostly I’m in love with Theo and Kit.

Y’all. The pining. The yearning to be with the one person who has ever been your everything.

With a backdrop of France, Spain, and Italy, this book is truly a feast for the senses. The food and wine descriptions are top-notch and make ME yearn to go on this tour.

Ok, back to Kit and Theo: they’ve been best friends since they were children and finally admitted they were in love with each other in their early 20’s and things were good until they weren’t. This story picks up four years after they broke each other’s hearts.

I positively loooved the dynamic between these two warm, caring, hurt people. I loved the way they acknowledge attractive people with each other and how open they are to sexual experiences. I don’t think it’s giving too much away to say they are both bisexual and hot and very much enjoy flirting with literally everyone. It’s fabulous.

And y’all, the spice is spicin’. I was driving home from work when the Monaco yacht seen was happening and almost slipped out of my car seat.

This book is sensual in the absolute best, original meaning of the word. It’s fun. It’s funny. It’s heartbreaking and romantic. It’s over-the-top glorious.

The narration is absolutely perfect for each character. I don’t think I’ve heard either of these narrators before, but they were sooo good. The subtle and not-so-subtle character pieces, the pronunciations of a metric fuckton of French, Spanish, and Italian. Bellissimo!

I received an ALC from #netgalley and @macmillan.audio in exchange for a review. All thoughts are mine alone.

#alc #thepairing #kitandtheo #romance #contemporaryromance #lgbtqia+ #spicybooks #bookstagram #igreads #emmagalvin #maxmeyers #caseymcquiston #audiobooks #narrators #voiceactors #voiceacting