The dual narrators are fun and embody the characters so well! They both do a wonderful job of giving characters their own personalities and it's so cool to see how each narrator interprets each character and reflects that in their performance.

The Pairing was just not it for me. Sadly, there seems to be a disconnect between McQuiston's first two books (which I loved) and their last two.

I'm all for an author trying different formats, but unfortunately, the split in narration in this dual POV romance just didn't work. Instead of gaining more from the second perspective, it felt like I was starting over, learning a character all over again. This shift happened during one of the steamiest scenes, and it felt like a cold shower, immediately zapping the lust and longing.

The beginning of the book was set up in such a way that there wasn't enough on-page time between Theo and Kit, causing me to no longer feel the romance and chemistry between them; I longed for the heat I had just previously felt during The Beginning (Theo's Version).

Who edited this story? "A/the bit" was mentioned three times in the first 12%, once more by 20%, and at least twice more during the whole book (that I caught). There were two uses of the word "androgynous" in the first 14%.

I feel like this story was really missing the found family aspect that I've come to love and expect from McQuiston; this one just didn't have that solid friend group foundation to hold the whole story together. It was almost there towards the end of the book, but by then, it was too late.

This book was far too long with juvenile, immature characters and miscommunications that didn't need to occur.

There were a few good moments. I laughed a few times. I loved the representation as Kit understood Theo's identity change from she/her to they/them.

As for the audiobook, I enjoyed McQuiston voicing parts. I didn't love the narrator used to voice Theo's character, and I can't exactly pinpoint why. I preferred the narrator for Kits perspective and the added emotions and expressions they brought to the story.

Overall, I was expecting better things. This book was missing the joie de vivre I had expected from pairing a food and wine tour against a gorgeous setting!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audio copy to read and review.

If it weren't for narrators Emma Galvin and Max Meyers I would have DNF'd the book. The Pairing, the story, was a massive miss for me; but Emma and Max made it tolerable and I was able to finish. I hate leaving any book without finishing it so I always appreciate a good audiobook to help me get through.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC.

I really enjoyed this story! While it definitely had its moments I wasn’t here for and it took me longer to read than the authors previous works, I still found this enjoyable even through the miscommunication trope that tends to be a dealbreaker for me. I was just invested in the characters and how their little challenge was going to pan out!

4-4.5! This was super fun for me to read! I really liked seeing the all of the locations and the food associated with it. I love when food is included and described in books, but it makes me super hungry all of the time lol. I liked the relationship but of course the age old miscommunication trope. I liked seeing both POVs and the switch half way through the novel was something I haven't read before and enjoyed!

DNF at 65% I can’t stand Theo. This whole book is based on a miscommunication trope that is solved in the first half of the book. Are all Europeans this horny? They’re just so annoying I can’t stand it anymore

I wound up having to DNF this novel. Which is genuinely hard for me to do. I was expecting a light-hearted novel from Casey McQuiston like some of her other ones but this wasn’t it. I sped through the audiobook on 3x speed for the majority of it because it was so repetitive and honestly a bit vulgar.

I enjoyed Casey McQuiston's new novel The Pairing. I'm nervous to say too much so I don't spoil anything, but once the twists are revealed, the story takes a significant upturn in mood. Honestly, I was so anxious during Theo's part (the first section of the novel) that I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish it.

Mostly I'm kidding about that, but you know that sensation of being "on edge"? That's how it started out for me.

Now partially it is because I don't read blurbs, and because this was an ARC I hadn't read any reviews yet, but if you're starting this book and have the same experience, please just keep going!

I definitely liked the narrators. Emma Galvin and Max Meyers do a wonderful job with these characters, not to mention the supporting cast and all their accents.

McQuiston brought back so many memories for me of my own travels through Europe as a young person, The Pairing is a whole lot of fun and 100% worth reading.

I love Casey Mcquiston books however this one was nothing short of awful. If you are looking for a nice romance like in her others, look elsewhere.
Kit and Theo were set to go on romantic food and drink tour abroad when they had an argument on the plane. They broke up and went their separate ways, never really knowing what happened. Four years later they both decide (separately) to finally use their voucher for the trip.
Kit and Theo are surprised to find each other on the trip and try to become friends again. It’s difficult and they make light of it by challenging one another to one-night-stand war, who can get the most lays. The teasing banter between them is pretty vulgar and it just got tiring. I felt like the writer was just trying too hard here and it felt out of place.
The European tour of food and drink is described at great length and becomes boring. I ended up trying to forward through those parts because I had had enough.
My advice, don’t waste your time, there is so much better out there.

Amazing. Another 5 star read from Casey McQuiston. I have loved all three of their previous books and The Pairing did not disappoint! Complicated and lovable characters!

Every book by Casey McQuiston I've read I've really enjoyed. This one not so much.

It wasn't horrible, but it was far from great.

Theo and Kit broke up years ago but right before they broke up they had tickets for a tasting around Europe (both cook/bake for a living). Now back in Europe they both decided to take the same tour...at the same time. Talk about tension!

So I was expecting some cute sexual tension between Theo and Kit. Instead we got a sexual competition to see who can sleep with the most people. When I say that is all the book is about, I'm not kidding. There were some cute moments with Theo and Kit but I thought for sure we would get more sexual tension between the two...not everyone around Europe. Just an odd "romance" story in my opinion.

I've never wanted two people to be together but also stay as far away from each other more than now. I don't know how I feel yet, but I will say it's crazy that CMQ fans are critiquing this novel for being unrealistic. Their work is fun to read because they're idealistic. RWRB was set after the 2016 election with a woman president... and Texas flipped blue in it. The narrators were phenomenal and they fit the two characters so well. I think consuming this as an audiobook enhanced the experience. Anyway, I'm gonna process how annoying and messy Theo and Kit were. But also how much I love that they're different from most book couples????

Theo and Kit, two exes with a complicated past, were once childhood best friends, then crushes, and eventually in love—until a messy breakup tore them apart. Four years later, each decides to redeem their unused vouchers for a European food and wine tour, thinking they’ll travel solo. But they end up on the same tour bus, embarking on a three-week journey through the most romantic cities in France, Spain, and Italy. What starts as an attempt to prove they’re over each other turns into a playful hookup competition, but as they explore stunning locations, indulge in delicious food, and savor fine wines, they begin to wonder if their story is really over.
I’ve read all of Casey McQuiston’s books, and while The Pairing wasn’t my favorite, it was still a fun and enjoyable read. I found it a bit hard to believe that all of Europe seemed to be attracted to Theo and Kit, and I liked Kit more than Theo. The vivid descriptions of the places they visit, the food they taste, and the wine they drink really brought the story to life for me.
The audio version, narrated by Emma Galvin and Max Meyers, was well done, with both narrators bringing the characters and story to life. Thank you St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted copies.

I really enjoyed the narration of the story. The voices suited the characters well, and I liked hearing Casey narrate some too!

I wanted to like this one, but I was bored reading it. Theo and Kit had booked a European tour back when they were still together. After they broke up, they each received a voucher for the tour in the future. Coincidentally, they both booked the same week (4 years later right before it expires) and ended up on the same food and wine tour bus through France and Italy. I never connected with either Theo or Kit as main characters. They seemed whiny and overly sexual. I usually enjoy a second-chance romance, but the fact that Theo and Kit kept trying to “one up” each other during this vacation in Europe, was not great. The plot was lacking, and I can’t remember a single side character. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator never brought me in. Unfortunately, this book was not memorable. On to the next.

I tried to like this book. I really did. The concept is simple: two lovers headed for a European trip break up on the plane before the trip. One flies back to the States, and the other moves to France. But lucky them—they get vouchers to take the trip at a later time. Lo and behold, they meet up again since they, obviously, chose the same date, albeit years later, for the trip. As far as I can tell, all they did was drink, hook up with others... many others... and lament about their past. Every character in the book was young, attractive, and bisexual. There were no meaningful secondary characters and no depth to anyone.

Gender identity, sexual identity, and self-worth are strong themes.
The narration of the story was excellent.

If you're looking for a light read with lots of sex, then this is your book.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Everything about this book was delectable! Theo and Kit's relationship is so layered, complex, beautiful and so messy (deliciously so). Their relationship paired with the descriptions of their travels and the food was incredible! I could say so much about this book, but I'm afraid everything would be a spoiler. I've read everything McQuiston has written since their debut, and it's been so great to see how much they've grown! McQuiston just keeps getting better and better!

I recently just came back from a trip to Venice, Florence and Rome and seeing these places and then reading about the characters experiences in those same places seemed to heighten my reading experience; though this book would be a great way to experience a euro-summer! If you're traveling soon, or need a quick get away try this book!

Casey is my favorite author so I'm extremely happy that I received this arc! I loved this book so much. Not quite as much as One Last Stop but close. Thank you so much for letting have this arc. I also love that Casey narrated the audiobook!

2.5 stars. ummm what was this book? I love love love love Casey's books but this one was not good. From the description this book should be every thing I like, but oh my god the first half of half of the book is boring and oh my god Theo is the worst person on the planet. I am honestly grateful for the ambiguous ending because I can choose to believe they don't end up together. I was hoping this book would make me excited for my trip to France this fall, but it only made me mad.
That being said, I did enjoy the narrators for the audiobook. Emma Galvin and Max Meyers did their best to bring these two to life and honestly the audiobook was probably the only thing that kept me going in the beginning of the book.

This book was a really fun time with our two main characters on a food and wine tour of Europe. I enjoyed the story and the side characters a lot. My biggest issue with this book was I felt like I didn’t really know who the characters were and how they saw themselves. It felt like everything we learned about the characters was what the other character was saying about them.