Asher Bennett creía que su relación iba bien hasta que lo abandonan justo antes del reality show de la competencia mundial de viajes, The Epic Trek. Theo Fernandez es el único piloto que nunca se ha tomado vacaciones. Mientras se pregunta cómo disfrutar de su nuevo tiempo libre, se topa con la oportunidad perfecta. El chico guapo que le "robó" sus palitos de mozzarella en su restaurante favorito de la terminal tiene una repentina vacante para una pareja... en un reality show televisado a nivel nacional.

La trama con un toque de aventura fue entretenida, pero simplemente creo que no logré conectar con los personajes y el desarrollo de la relación.

3/5⭐

4🌟 This story was beautiful! I loved Asher & Theo so much. From the meet cute over mozzarella sticks to the steamy shower scenes, this story had me rooting for this couple so hard. The premise of the book kept me engaged and I loved the forced proximity aspect of the book.

What’s inside:
MM Romance
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Emotional Depth

The cover, the book, the characters are all best! 🩵🩵

Reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram will be posted on June 10th, 2025. Links included below to my overall profile where the review will be shared.

This book is everything I love in a rom-com 🥰 it grabs you from the very first mozzarella meet-cute, and doesn't let go.  As Asher and Theo travel the world and get to know each other, and fall for each other, you feel like you're falling right along with them.  Seriously, this book made me laugh, cry, and squeal with giddiness!  But along with all the fun and adventures these two have, there's some heavier topics woven in that I thought were handled really well, and that balance made the book even better.

PS/ If you saw me giggling and blushing in the coffee shop while reading this... no, you didn't 😘

Winging It With You releases on June 10th, and you absolutely don't want to miss it! Now, excuse me while I go and find some mozzarella sticks!

A completely delightful, wild ride of a book. I adored it! This fresh take on a reality TV romance, complete with two heroes I was rooting for from page one, had me hooked right through to the end.

I'm rounding up to four stars on this, because I do think it's better than three.

Let me start with a pet peeve that may be utterly unimportant to other people: I can cope with "cum" as a noun. It's not my fave, but fine. As a verb, though... please leave that to p0rn. Just ew. (As I said: I may be the only person on the planet who feels this way.) Also, "cumming would literally solve all my problems right now"? Really?

Now, the story. I was all in with the implausible rom-com premise. No problems there. However, if you're going to write a book about a reality show, I think you need to flesh out the show better, rather than having it be something that's kind of going on in the background while you talk about your MCs. For example, is Jo supposed to be assigned just to Theo and Asher? Like, each couple has their own liaison (not to mention driver)? Because she sure seems to have a lot of time to spend on them (as does Arthur, the driver)... but we never see any similar people for the other couples. And then, with occasional exceptions, the other couples and the challenges are pretty much invisible. Yes, spending more page space on the "reality" of the show would leave less room for the main romance, but authors need to find a way to balance those demands.

As for the romance, I liked seeing the characters grow and heal over the course of the book. But all that healing made the miscommunication/breakup that much less plausible. I won't go into spoilery details, but... seriously?

So, all in all, I liked the characters well enough, but this isn't something I'll be going back to reread.

My thanks to the publisher/NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

HUGE thank you to Chip Pons himself for this ARC. This was undoubtedly one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I was giggling, kicking my feet, and hollering at the love (and let’s be real, the SPICE BABY) that flowed through this one. I’ll leave it at that for now, and I gotta say - this is a MUST-ADD to your tbr when it comes out in June. Do it, you won’t be sorry!

Things I loved:
-Exploration of grief and processing all life throws at you
-Exploration of vulnerability, trust, and knowing you deserve good things
-Theo Fernandez, period.
-Asher’s relationship with Ellie
-Twist my arm, the spice!!

Winging It by Chip Pons was an absolute WIN for me! From the very first page, I was hooked. A high-stakes reality competition, wild challenges, and a fake dating trope? Say no more...I’m so in! I absolutely adored Asher and Theo. Their chemistry was electric, their banter had me grinning like an idiot, and their romance was just the right mix of sweet and swoony. There were so many moments that had me kicking my feet, and I lived for their dynamic. Both characters were so well-developed—layered, complex, and incredibly easy to fall in love with. First-time Chip Pons reader here, and yep, I’m officially obsessed. This fangirl is a fangirl for life, and I need more from him ASAP!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my opinion and review!

When Asher’s boyfriend (and partner in competing for a million dollars on a hit reality completion show) dumps him moments before they are set to board the plane, his dreams - and heart - are crushed. It’s through a chance meeting with Theo, a workaholic pilot that’s been placed on administrative leave, that Asher’s problem suddenly has a very handsome solution. The two strangers agree to compete together, but under the falsehood that they are a couple. In the midst of grueling challenges on the set of a popular television show, the lines between what’s real and fake for the basis of their relationship become blurred.

I enjoyed this book! It moves very fast (sometimes a little too fast) but it also makes for a very quick read. It has all the spice and wit that anyone who enjoys romance books requires. While it’s entertaining, I do wish the author gave us a little more insight into the television show plot line. I also wanted to get to know some of the supporting characters a little more as well. We spend a lot more time with Asher and Theo individually than we do as they compete together in a crazy televised competition. But all in all, I thought the story was cute and feel good. It would make a great movie.

Thank you to NetGalley, Chip Pons, & Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me early access to the ARC. ♡

Any book that contains a reality travel show is going to have me hooked! I loved the premise of the book - guy gets dumped by his partner (both romantic and game show partner) right before he goes on a gameshow, grabs a stranger in the airport, and they fall in love while traveling the world and competing on the show. The reality is that I didn't love love the characters or writing, but it was a fun premise and I was definitely rooting for these two. Loved Theo.

Winging It With You- By Chip Pons
coming June 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Theo and Asher’s story kicks off over a plate of mozzarella sticks—and from that moment, the adventure and chaos, begins. Asher, very black cat energy, convinced Theo to be his fake boyfriend on an adventure reality TV show after being dumped at the ticket counter in route to said show. Theo, a golden retriever who is good at running from his problems, was just grounded from his pilot job for a month. The story that unfolds after is full of snark, laughter, heart and the kind of romance that has you smiling through the whole journey. Chip Pons has a unique way of crafting characters, allowing readers to truly know them—not just through their own perspectives, but also through the eyes of those around them. Jenn and Ellie are the side characters that really add depth and richness to the story.

Queer joy radiates off the page while still holding space for the hard stuff that makes Theo and Asher’s story one that is both utterly romantic and real in a way that is rare to find in books. The third-act conflict wasn’t one I fully anticipated, and I appreciated how the story allowed Theo and Asher the space to confront their pasts, grow individually, and ultimately choose each other in a way that felt earned and deeply satisfying.

When I read a romance novel, I want to be swept away—to feel the joy, the longing, and the magic of love. This book delivered all that and more. I encourage you to jump on board, enjoy Chip’s writing and tagging along with Theo and Asher, it’s an absolute treat.

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

Typically I really enjoy the tropes in this book, and they weren't poor by any means but they felt a bit flat with the characters and the writing not popping out as particularly unique. I feel like I've read this exact book many times over the last few years.

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.