The Pairing

By: Casey McQuiston

Narrated by: Emma Galvin, Max Meyers

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, NPR Best Book of the Year, 2024

New York Times Book Review Notable Books of the Year, 2024

Long-listed, Esquire Magazine Best Books of the Year, 2024

"The Pairing is just a delight, thanks to both Galvin’s and Meyers’s game narration—whether in Italian and French accents or in the bedroom."—Vulture

"Emma Galvin is an appealing anchor for the performance while Max Meyers brings emotional depth as the two find their way back to love."—AudioFile

This program features special appearances by the author at the beginning of each chapter.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Casey McQuiston's latest romantic comedy, two bisexual exes accidentally book the same European food and wine tour and challenge each other to a hookup competition to prove they're over each other—except they're definitely not.

Theo and Kit have been a lot of things: childhood best friends, crushes, in love, and now estranged exes. After a brutal breakup on the transatlantic flight to their dream European food and wine tour, they exited each other's lives once and for all.

Time apart has done them good. Theo has found confidence as a hustling bartender by night and aspiring sommelier by day, with a long roster of casual lovers. Kit, who never returned to America, graduated as the reigning sex god of his pastry school class and now bakes at one of the finest restaurants in Paris. Sure, nothing really compares to what they had, and life stretches out long and lonely ahead of them, but—yeah. It's in the past.

All that remains is the unused voucher for the European tour that never happened, good for 48 months after its original date and about to expire. Four years later, it seems like a great idea to finally take the trip. Solo. Separately.

It's not until they board the tour bus that they discover they've both accidentally had the exact same idea, and now they're trapped with each other for three weeks of stunning views, luscious flavors, and the most romantic cities of France, Spain, and Italy. It's fine. There's nothing left between them. So much nothing that, when Theo suggests a friendly wager to see who can sleep with their hot Italian tour guide first, Kit is totally game. And why stop there? Why not a full-on European hookup competition?

But sometimes a taste of everything only makes you crave what you can't have.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Casey McQuiston (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Goodreads, "Readers' Most Anticipated New Romances for 2024"

Queerty, "The top 10 LGBTQ+ books to look out for in 2024"

Fangirlish, "24 Books We’re Looking Forward To Reading In 2024"

"Two exes. On the same food and wine tour of Europe. By Casey McQuiston. Is there anything else to say? Fine: McQuiston is one of our finest purveyors of rom-coms working today, capable of delivering pure joy and happy tears alike, and people will be screaming about this book from its release until the end of 2024."—BookPage, "Our most anticipated books of 2024"

If this book is a feast CMQ is the ultimate sommelier

honestly I'm in no condition to dwell on words, i might need some business days to recover and let all these emotions sink in. But what I can say is that this whole experience of hearing this book is both everything and so much more of what I was expecting, Such a beautiful story, all the richness and lust and finding each other all over again. What a journey of laughter tears and so much love. Thank you KING

it's ok

I was so excited for this book, I usually like if not love casey Mcquiston work and for what I knew about this one I was sure to love it.I didn't.. it was a little less than ok,
overall is boring and whiny and again this miss communication thing than make no sense. can't adults be adults for ones and talk frankly? it wasn't exciting or funny, or engaging I just don't care enough for this couple or any of flat side characters.
the tour and the food and drinks descriptions was very good though.
Theo's narrator was good, Kit's narrator was bad, make Kit felt like he was crying the whole time

I'm not sure. Am I supposed to like Theo?

I dislike the MC Theo more than I dislike the narrator's voice for Theo...and, that's a lot.

Spoilers.

1. The reason for the breakup...mostly Theo's because if you are going to snoop around people's things the least you can do is let them explain things.
2. I can't believe I'm saying this, but there is toooooooo much sex in this book and there is no purpose for the sex...as far as I can tell other than to be spicy, spicy sex.
3. I absolutely love Kit, but not his intense...is it love? for Theo. That's absolutely cringe.
4. Love the food. Love the wine. The games that only two best friends can play. Love the ending...I am not sure Theo deserves it.

Pitch perfect

No notes. This is even better the RWRB. Well. Maybe they’re tied. I love this book. I’ll read it again.

Ok but…

This was an ok book but the characters are both very pretentious and unlikeable throughout the whole story and don’t get more likeable / redeemable. It could’ve been about half as long.

The way they just get each other…

The way they just get each other’s references without having to over explain… even when the other doesn’t get it… telling them is the fun part. And they just get why it’s funny to you. Plus Face Off reference is everything. The love story is sweet and heartbreaking and heartwarming. I absolutely loved it!

An Ode to Worldly Joy

McQuiston explores pleasure, love, and gender expression so beautifully throughout The Pairing. It's a tale of what joy can look like in all it's ways. It also shows just how travel can influence the human perspective.

perfection!

After reading this beautiful gem of a book, I had to pick up the audio book. This story was made to be listened to. As a bisexual white girl who only speaks one language, I might be biased, but the languages and descriptions and love and sex and heart in this book was made for it. The story just sings! perfect. Casey did it again!

Evocative setting and engrossing story

The narrators were fantastic & the story was beautifully written. I felt like I was right there with Theo and Kit—that when they were hurting I was hurting. When they were flustered so was I. The side characters were so interesting I felt like I wanted to be on this tour too! Plus the spice was inventive and super hot. Their chemistry was amazing.

Love

It's spicy but romantic. it's right person wrong time. it has a nonbinary character. it's such a good story. if I could listen to this book for the first time again I would.