Fake dating, forced proximity, one bed all wrapped up in a slow burn? Yes! I absolutely adore Theo and Asher--this book was cute, fun, and a Queer romance worth reading (I mean most of them are to be honest).
Another thing I really enjoyed is the growth Asher and Theo go through. I love a dual POV that shows me what the characters are thinking.

Read it!

I got my passport and Chip Pons's hand! WINGING IT WITH YOU was a blast to read and such pure joy! This is sexy romp perfect for fans of THE AMAZING RACE. This is Pons's sophomore album and he has solidified his place in the contemporary romance world on par with contemporaries like Talia Hibbert and Mazey Eddings.

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT. Like so perfect in a way that just makes my heart SO HAPPY! It was such a fun concept!! I LOVE fake dating, and fake dating with a stranger who you’re going on this wild traveling reality TV show??? And they were just TWO SOFT BOYS WHO WANTED TO BE HAPPY! and truly they found each other and it changed everything for them!!!

I LOVED THEO AND ASHER SO MUCH. From the second they met I knew it was going to be such a good time. They were opposites in the best ways, they really brought out the best in each other. I LOVED watching them learn so much about each other in such a short amount of time. They became SO in tune with each other! And really they FELL so hard!! And even though fought HARD to keep their rules in place, they were meant to be in the best way!

I really appreciated both of their backstories. Chip clearly put so much heart into them, and it really showed up on the page. And despite all the heartache and baggage, they were really able to find JOY with each other and it was SO beautiful.

Asher was confronted with the fact that he became a version of himself FOR someone else. he lost himself and throughout the book he really was able find it again, with the help of Theo and just from having new perspectives. And Theo really cut himself off from his family, because he was so scared of being too much and not enough at the same time. His reconciliation with his family and himself really had me in tears in the absolute best way. They both really became such a safe place for each other, they really saw each other in a way no one has before! I just loved everything about them so much.

I’ve been following Chip for a while, and I haven’t read his debut 🫣 I know I’m so so sorry, but I WILL! And I will say I’m a fan for life, and I cannot wait for whatever comes next!!

Thank you so much to Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Narrative: 📕📘📗📓
Angst: Moderate
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Humor: 😆😆
Heart: 💧💧💧💧
Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Burn Time: Moderate

What a sweet story with an angsty third act twist. I'm not always a fan of a book that starts with life's complete destruction but Chip pulls it off when Asher heads off on a trip of a lifetime without his boyfriend of 7 years.

I love the supporting cast of characters. The surprises that Jo and Arthur bring when they add just a squeeze of heart that is so necessary.

Highly recommend and would read again.

4.25⭐️
Theo and Asher’s story was such an adventure! I was hooked from the first page and needed to know how this wild ride played out, and along the way had such a great time watching Theo and Asher fall in love. The traveling and challenges were so fun-there were moments I gasped audibly at the challenges and events of The Epic Trek. Such a fun read!

Chip Pons absolutely delivers with this heartwarming and hilarious queer rom-com that takes fake dating to new heights...literally! Catching flights and feelings has never been more fun, chaotic, unexpectedly romantic and gay.
Asher and Theo are an absolute delight, their chemistry is electric, making it impossible not to root for them.Their story does not lack moments of pure joy and of pure spice, but also touching and heartbreaking moments.
Beneath the playful banter and laugh-out-loud moments, Pons explores themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and taking chances (both in love and in life). Theo’s struggle to find balance outside of work and Asher’s journey toward believing in love again make their relationship feel all the more real.
If you’re a fan of fake dating, reality TV, and sizzling slow-burn romance, this book is a must-read. It’s got humor, heart, and a happily ever after that will leave you grinning long after you turn the last page.
Prepare for turbulence, because this love story takes off!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with this ARC.

Thank you @NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for an ARC of this book. All opinions are honest and my own.

I loved Chip Pons’ debut novel ‘You & I Rewritten’ - so I was hoping for the same magic from his sophomore novel… and he delivered!

Reality show romances are very hit or miss for me, so I was a little nervous going into this, but it exceeded all my expectations. The premise kept the plot moving forward - and building up - at just the right pace.

This novel is very steamy, but is also full of heartfelt moments. You’ll also find some of your favorite tropes in here like fake dating + only one bed!

And extra points for the cute cover!

PUB Date: June 10, 2025

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUGGESTED SNACK PAIRING: mozzarella sticks

“If I were a betting man, I would never put money on an airport terminal TGI Fridays becoming a time-honored tradition of mine.
But here we are, seated at our usual spot at the bar-yes, we have a usual spot-about to eat our weight in mozzarella sticks”

Triggers: outing, homophobia, sexual content

I LOVE YOU GOOD M/M ROMCOMS. for some reason we are in an utter and complete drought of them, and so i was a little scared to pick this up— unfairly, because i ended up adoring winging it with you. extremely silly reality tv times, great spice, and chemistry that literally sizzles. chip pons is a star.

Cheesy but cute!!
I read Chip Pons debut and can wholeheartedly say his writing has grown since publishing that book. This book flowed better. I really liked the main characters more. Theo and Asher were everything I needed and more. A meet cute involving mozzarella sticks is always gonna catch my attention. And then the dedication being something said by Taylor Swift!? I am SOLD. This book is a fake dating strangers to lovers book. Theo is just what Asher needs and honestly vice versa for Theo. He needs Asher just as much.

The humor is what made this book. As much as I caught some second hand embarrassment from some of it. The book starts with Asher regaling an airport bartender with the story of how his ex just dumped him. And the bartender wants no part of it. I laughed so hard and it was only the first few pages. This really set the tone for the book as Asher meets pilot Theo and convinces Theo to come be on the tv reality show Asher and his ex were headed to when they broke up. So not only do we get a sweet, slightly spicy, m/m romcom. We also get a witty and banter filled reality show.

i loved this book so much! id never read a book that takes place during a reality tv / game show and this was So much fun!! the two main characters in this book are both dealing with some pretty difficult internal issues and you see them each overcome those struggles and find comfort in each other, the romance between these two is so sweet and tender and HOT!!!
also i think this was my first book that had fake dating and omg i must read more!!!! the tension is just so good!!

CHIP!!! What a phenomenal book. Nobody does queer joy, trauma, adventure, heartbreak, or love like Chip. His debut knocked my socks off, so I was originally very worried about this one. However, I was BLOWN AWAY!

Starting off, Asher is the kind of guy we all know and love. A little down on his luck, Theo was right there at the best moment to pick him up. I loved the spontaneity in the beginning. It was textbook “let’s hop on a plane to start the reality tv game show we signed up for”. I am a MAJOR fan of reality tv game shows, so I was SOLD. Having the behind the scenes view at the production, the other contestants and the staff was so fun. It added so many extra layers to the book that I really enjoyed.

The love in this book was amazing. Theo and Asher both had their own struggles that we were able to observe. The ups and downs were present the entire book which really helped humanize these characters. I was really impressed with the pacing because I felt like it helped paint a really solid picture of their relationship and who they were as people.

Lastly, I’ve never been a huge fan of spicy scenes, but these were HOT HOT HOT!!! Maybe I just need to read more gay romance by gay authors because I was SHOCKED about how good it was. My favorite part was that Chip included the reallll tea of gay sex and I sincerely appreciate it.

Overall, this was top tier. Loved every piece of it.

“Winging it With You” is a sweet romance that tells the story of Asher and Theo. Asher has just been dumped by his longtime boyfriend right before they are set to appear on a reality show together. He finds Theo at the airport and somehow convinces him to join him as his faux boyfriend on the show. Despite their romance being fake, it doesn’t take long for real feelings to develop.

I don’t really have anything bad to say about this book, it is a (mostly) lighthearted romance with some spice. I really liked the characters of Asher and Theo as well as some of the supporting characters they meet during their time on the show. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for this eARC!

THIS WAS SO FUCKING CUTE. I am famously not a romcom girlie but this one worked for me because although it did have some silliness, it also has a lot of heart and character and the amazing race reality show aspect was so much fun. maybe I believe in love again!

I absolutely adored this gay rom com, fake dating and a competition they compete together in? It itched every scratch for me and left me wanting more because of how much I adored it can’t wait to see what else chip comes out with.

Thank you Netgalley PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the arc

SPECTACULAR! 10/10! 5 stars! This MM romance checked off all my boxes and then some. Chip Pons has crafted a story that is equal parts heartwarming, emotional, and utterly unputdownable. I absolutely adored both characters—their chemistry, their growth, and the way their relationship unfolded felt so natural and heartfelt. I am still not over it and I NEED A SECOND BOOK!

From start to finish, this book had me hooked. I couldn’t put it down, and even after finishing, I found myself thinking about the characters and their journey. I would recommend Winging It With You over and over again to anyone looking for a well- written, feel-good romance. This book is pure magic, and I can't wait to see what Chip Pons writes next! Let me go read all this other novels RIGHT NOW!

Ohhh Chip, how I love your author heart. This book was just so unbelievably fun! I lived for the banter and flirty energy. I didn’t necessarily believe this story was romantic, but to be honest, that’s totally fine because I had such a blast diving into this Amazing Race type romance. Also we loooove a queer romcom so much 👏🏼

My only complaint, which is so minor, is that the writing style had SO many adverbs. It was nuts!

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

Winging It With You was amazingly sweet and heartfelt. Asher and Theo have a not-so meet-cute and it turns into the adventure of a lifetime for both of them. I was rooting for them to get together the entire time and loved getting to see Theo’s softer side, especially at the end.

I wish I could rate this book 10 stars. It deserves all the praise it is going to get in the MM romance community. I loved You and I, Rewritten by Chip when I was able to read it early and I am so excited I got to read this new book early as well. I will read every single book that Chip writes and I know I will never be disappointed. If you love romance books and especially MM romance then I highly recommend this book.