What to expect:
- MM romance
- fake dating
- fast-paced rom-com
- adventurous competition-style reality TV show (a la The Amazing Race)
- perfect, joyful summer romance

I love fake dating, it’s one of my favorite tropes! Also I love reality tv / dating so I was really excited for this one!
It just felt okay to me. The POVs got confusing because neither character had strong personalities. It did feel heartwarming and fun though. I’d for sure try this author again!

Chip Pons has officially stolen my heart with Winging It With You. This book is the perfect blend of charm, humor and the right balance of flirtation(and spice)!

When Asher is dumped at the airport, he meets pilot Theo, who agrees to fake date Asher in order to compete on the tv show, The Epic Trek (think Amazing Race-ish). From the very first chapter, I was hooked by their chemistry, banter, and the underlying ache of two men learning how to let love in — even when it’s scary.

Chip Pons writes characters that are complex, but so lovable, and so easy to root for. #thrashers romance felt so authentic and was tender, playful, and absolutely swoon-worthy.

It’s the kind of love story that reminds you it’s okay to be soft, to take risks, to fall hard. this book delivers!!!

P.S. likely will be one of my favorites for the year. Obsessed. ✈️💙

**Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC and chance to read and review. All opinions are my own**

Winging It with You was a fun and quick read! The premise of the book with the Amazing Race-style game was unique and was honestly ideal to see how the two MCs would interact with each other. The conflict at the end felt a little unrealistic, but overall I still really enjoyed the book, and loved Asher and Theo. I will say, I did have a harder time keeping whose POV each chapter was since they were both males referencing another male, and I'm more used to opposite-sex dual POV rom-coms, but that's completely a me thing 😂

Overall I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a solid book that is fun but still has some emotional depth. It's a perfect summer read!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

3.75/5

This is a heartwarming, travel-packed MM romance with Amazing Race vibes. I adored the mozzarella sticks meet-cute, the chemistry between the leads, and the emotional depth both characters brought to the story. It had fake dating, forced proximity, and one bed tropes which are some of my favorites! Despised Clint, loved Theo (of course), Jenn and Ellie! I only wish there had been more resolution with Asher’s ex and his family at the end of the story. Overall, this was a fun, quick read I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys travel, banter, and romance!

Thank you Chip Pons for this ARC!

These two were so cute, like the crazy things that happened and how it developed with the fake dating was so fun. I truly enjoyed this.

Phew this one had a whole lot of heart and stem my goodness!!!

This was my first read by Chip Pons and it won't be my last!! This was so much fun and he def knows how to write a queer romcom.

A little bit of drama and spice with just the right amount of romance. Gotta love that swoon and this one is not to be missed!!

4/5 stars

3.75 ⭐️ || 3 🌶️ || 🏳️‍🌈
If you love reality television.....watch out because a new bombshell has entered the villa.

"Winging It With You" was pure feel-good joy from start to finish. With charming characters, witty banter, and the kind of slow-burn romance that makes your heart ache in the best way. This book was a cozy, emotional delight. The chemistry between the Theo and Asher was undeniable, and their journey from uncertainty to connection feels beautifully real. It’s a story about love, growth, and taking chances—even when you’re not sure you’re ready. If you’re in the mood for something heartwarming, funny, and quietly profound, this one’s worth every page!

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @prhaudio for the #gifted ALC, and Netgalley and Putnam for the eARC.

This was such a fun book that included:
Fake Dating
World Traveling
Reality TV Shows like Amazing Race
Golden Retriever MMC
Rooting for the Underdog
Forced Proximity
Heartfelt moments paired with humor
Sizzling Chemistry

Asher and Theo were characters you wanted to root for from the very beginning, and following them along as they grew in their confidence as competitors, partners, and more, just made for a really enjoyable reading experience. I love when you can really immerse yourself in the setting of books, which is what Chip was able to accomplish through his writing of vivid settings and competitions.

I listened to the audiobook for most of the book (I briefly switched to the ebook a few times!) and the narrators – Lee Osorio & Michael Crouch – captured the spirit of Asher and Theo so well in this 11 hour 18 minute performance.

We had the chance to chat with Chip last night with @joyfulchaosbookclub and I loved hearing about Chip’s chaotic writing style balanced with the joy he feels being able to share stories like Asher and Theos – and also, the endless joy of potatoes and pasta, obviously.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the digital copy.

I loved every second of this fun and sexy gay rom com!

Reality TV is not my thing — especially not competitive game shows — at least I didn’t think they were … Theo and Asher changed everything for me!

I really enjoyed seeing these two get to know each other with the cameras in their faces. It was fun to imagine what the world was seeing versus what was happening up close. The situations they had to overcome while doing so — incredible!

They were fantastic together from the very beginning. I’d follow them anywhere! #Thasher indeed!

And boy-oh-boy, does Chip Pons know how to write a grand gesture. You don’t want to miss it! SWOON!

"Wing It with You" by Chip Pons is a fun and funny comedy that takes fake romance to the next level—literally. When Asher Bennett arrives at the airport before competing on a reality show, he meets the most unexpected guest: Theo Fernandez, a hardworking pilot on vacation. What begins as a last-minute plan immediately turns into something much bigger as sparks fly and ideas begin to form.

Asher's accent and vulnerability match Theo's warm, carefree personality, and their romance seems to leap off the page. Whether walking through an airport or at a live show, their humor, warmth, and growth, both individually and as a couple, are heartwarming. Chip Pons skillfully balances love and emotion, giving readers characters to follow from the first moment to the last.

This is a romantic comedy with all the right ingredients: funny moments, heartfelt dialogue, and the perfect blend of humor and heart. Letting him be with you will make you laugh, maybe cry a little, and believe in the power of love at 35,000 feet.

This was full of yearning and swooning and healing. I loved these two so much and I especially just love Chip with everything he writes. Can't wait to see more from him!

this was such a quick read, i couldn’t put it down. i hadn’t heard of chip pons before this and now he may just be an auto buy author for me

Asher Bennett gets dumped by his long-term boyfriend at the airport ticket counter on their way to film The Epic Trek, a reality TV travel competition. Enter Theo Fernandez, a recently grounded pilot with charm, confidence, and a serious love for mozzarella sticks. One impulsive bet over the cheesy, fried appetizer leads to Theo boarding a flight with Asher and the two entering in a fake dating scheme on national television.

WINGING IT WITH YOU is a wildly fun, fast-paced romance. Asher and Theo’s journey from strangers to fake dating to friends to more is a joy to read. You can expect wild adventures, outrageous reality show challenges, competitor hijinks alongside with swoony tension, vulnerable dialogue, and open and honest conversations. I recommend to romance readers who love a fake-dating trope that blurs the lines between fake and real!

Thank you Putnam for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately... DNF'ed this one. I wanted to love it so badly. I LOVE reality television. I love Real Housewives, Survivor, the Amazing Race, The Challenge, etc. I love a reality television retelling. That being said, the details in this book made it really difficult for me to read and made me often stop and say "that would never happen". Because I kept doing that, I wasn't able to really dive into the romance of this one.

I feel like with a few tweaks this one could have been for me, and many people will love it, but if you love the minutiae of filming reality tv, this one may not work for you.

Thank you to Putnam for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Winging It With You had so many great moments that were so sweet, so funny, and so memorable. I loved it! Asher and Theo had the BEST mozz meet cute and their chemistry was SO good. The Epic Trek reality show was such a fun premise that lent itself to many hilarious and swoony moments. Plus, I loved their little reality show found family.

I adored this wonderful summer romance - perfect for reading while on your own adventure or just reading at home, like me. The audiobook was also superb - Lee Orsorio and Michael Crouch truly brought these two to life! Add this one to your TBR ASAP.

I received an advanced reading copy & listening copy , receipt of which did not impact my review.

coming back to change my rating to a 5 star instead of 4, i reread this book last night via audiobook and had the BEST time. as much as i enjoyed it the first time around, the audio book & narrators were so good that i was transfixed and binged it in one go. wanted my rating on here to reflect how much i adored it the second time around!!!
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this was SUCH a fun book!!

it had me hooked from start to finish, i was a little hesitant on how things would go as they started as complete strangers and had to shack up together but found very quickly that the worries were for nothing. i had a great time reading this, there wasnt a point where i was bored and i just loved these two together🤭

this is one of those reads where i really hope it gets picked up in the future as i think it would make a great show!! i very much look forward to reading more of Chips books :)

Winging It With You was such a fun concept for a love story. I was first drawn in by one of the MCs being a pilot, then the meet cute being at an airport, THEN the premise being fake dating while traveling the world for a competition show! I'm a big traveler so this was right up my alley. There were so many laugh out loud moments blended with tender moments between Theo and Asher that made them so loveable!

Only giving this one four stars because there were moments when I wasn't dying to jump back into the story. There were definitely moments in the competition that dragged on or felt repetitive. However, in the end I was so happy I finished and saw Theo and Asher's story through to their HEA!

I LOVE Chip and what he's doing in the LGBTQ book community! He's such a fierce advocate for queer folks and everything he does makes it impossible not to love him.

A people pleasing cutie is jolted at the airport when his long time boyfriend flakes out on their four week adventure reality show contract. Do not fear. Enter THEO the hot pilot who just happens to be on a forced sabbatical FERNANDEZ. A deal is made over mozzarella sticks. World wide trekking chaos ensues. The fake dating close proximity one bed slow burn is fire. The nerd type A plus the golden retriever ex military pilot with dimples. He calls him guapo, baby, amor. 🥵 They confront their adventure fears and their internal conflict with the same vigor. They make a list of rules and you know they break them all.

This story is sexy, swoon worthy, and delicious. Asher and Theo 4-Ever. #Thasher

Chip Pons just keeps getting better and better.

“Catch flights, not feelings” has been a personal mantra lately; just ask my current luggage tag. Asher and Theo, on the other hand, catch both in Chip Pons’s new novel.

As someone who loves international travel, fake dating as a trope, and competition, this book sounded right up my alley. The audiobook performance was well performance, especially by Asher’s narrator, Michael Crouch.

This book is for you if you enjoy…
• Dual POVs
• Fake dating
• One bed
• Reality TV
• Spicy scenes
• Heartfelt reflections on the meaning of home

This romance novel was in the middle of the bunch for me. There are a few areas that fell flat for me and left me wanting more.