A really solid debut! I loved the concept for this book - two men that just met (under less than ideal circumstances) traveling around the world together competing to win a reality tv show. It was so fun to read! I wanted to connect with the characters a little bit more, but found some of the conflict forced and feeling a little bit insta-lovey for my taste. Overall, such a fun read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a such a cute book! I loved it so much. I loved Theo and Asher and their relationship, it was so fun watching them get closer, and watching their relationship grow and develop! The game show aspect was also really fun!!

ARC Review! Spoilers have been removed. Full review is on the site.

I thought contemporary romances based on reality TV shows would have gotten old by now - but I’m so happy to be wrong! In Winging It With You, Chip Pons channels the essence of international travel competition shows with a sweet twist of fake dating, undeniable chemistry, and mind-blowing sights that makes you envy every adventure shared by Theo and Asher.

Finalizing the checklist to make sure Asher Bennet has everything he needs for The Epic Trek? Check. Arriving at the airport hours early to appease his boyfriend? Check. Having said boyfriend break up with him at the check-in counter, just hours before takeoff? Funny how that wasn’t on the checklist. Now, Asher finds himself at an airport TGI Fridays, frantically trying to find a new competition partner - who also has to pretend to be his boyfriend (no small feat). Running out of ideas and just a little amazed at how quickly mimosas hit on an empty stomach, Asher orders some mozzarella sticks, never realizing that those golden bites of fried cheese would be the answer to his prayers.

Theo Fernandez can’t believe he’s been grounded! Well, okay - technically, he’s been placed on "mandatory administrative leave" for three weeks. After his supervisor emailed to inform him that he exceeded his flight hours for the third quarter in a row, Theo is also required to prove he’s working on his work-life balance. Not sure what to do with himself, Theo heads to TGI Fridays with his best friend Mark, keeping up their time-honored tradition of grabbing mozzarella sticks whenever they fly together. Except - the kitchen is closed. The last basket of mozzarella sticks belongs to some cute guy at the counter - and he’s not interested in sharing. Never one to back down from a challenge, Theo bargains for the mozzarella sticks, not realizing that a simple coin toss over fried cheese will change his life in ways he never imagined.

I adored the dynamic between Theo and Asher. Their personalities were like night and day, the perfect grumpy-sunshine pairing! Watching them influence one another, grow closer, and find healing in each other’s presence was what made this story so memorable for me. The cherry on top was the secondary characters. Emma, hands down, was my favorite. And don’t even get me started on the places they visited! I never knew Ben & Jerry’s had a flavor graveyard, and learning about La Tomatina was such a fun surprise. I had to stop and Google so many of the places they visited. If I had a bucket list, this book would have added at least two or three items to it!

That said, I struggled a bit with the competition challenges. I’m not sure if they were overly descriptive or not detailed enough, but I had a hard time trying to visualize them. Most of the time, I just accepted them at face value, which caused them to lose their intended emotional impact - especially the first challenge with the ice cream. Another hiccup for me was the occasional plot hole or lack of setup for key moments.

As for the chemistry between Asher and Theo, every encounter will leave you breathless. A close whisper, a soft caress, a longing look - each one perfectly captures the desire between these two characters. And as hot as those moments were, they didn’t even come close to the lava-level heat when they finally slept together! Bravo Chip! That voyeur/exhibitionist shower scene still has me fanning myself.

Beyond the chemistry and humor beats the true heart of the story: learning to live in the present while breaking free from the chains of the past.

Throughout the story, we got to see both Theo and Asher take baby steps toward a safe space they found in each other. A space with no judgment, no demands - only support. A place where they were seen, accepted, and welcomed exactly as they were. And it was a truly beautiful thing to witness.

Winging It With You is an incredible story about growth, healing, and learning to embrace who you are - flaws and all. Yes, it’s delivered in the mold of a contemporary romance, with humor to keep it from tugging too much on your heartstrings, but the message is there, and it is clear. As this is Chip's second book, I have to say - keep up the great work! I may just need to check out his debut novel, You and I Rewritten.

Spoilers have been removed.

I loved this book so much! It was fun but also deep in places and it was semi slow burn but didn't feel like it dragged. It has just the right amount of tension and ah when are they going to kiss? energy.

I liked that they both had different (very valid) reasons to be cautious with their affections but they fell anyways and it felt very real and organic because of the environment and situation they were in. The forced proximity was so key to really push these characters.

I thought the reality game show aspect was so fun and for me wasn't overly cringy (if snakes are a problem for you maybe skip that part of that chapter when you see it's coming up). I liked that we saw some of the challenges and that some of them were only mentioned as the entire show was about a month and think it would've felt like too much if he had gone through every single challenge. It felt very balanced.

Asher felt just grumpy enough and I liked that you knew he was very smart but he wasn't entitled or condescending and you could really tell he was passionate about his job.

Theo. THEO. I loved him so much! I love a positive golden retriever man and Theo was perfect. I love that he went through his own growth journey and it didn't change him so much as just let him be even more himself if that makes sense. His family was also so wonderful and I teared up a lot during some of their interactions.

I do wish we would have gotten a little scene at least with Ashers family towards the end as well.
And I hope wherever Ethan is he eventually gets his 😡 iykyk.

Some of the chapters were very long so if you're a fan of shorter chapters it's something to keep in mind.

I knew I would like this because I know I enjoy Chip's writing and the teasers he was giving were great but I loved this so much. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and I know I'm going to be thinking about these characters for a long while and I'm not mad about it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

What a way to kick off pride month! This book was full of queer joy and I am here for it!

I was bought in from the mozzarella stick meet cute and only fell more in love with Asher & Theo from there.

The set-up of a reality tv show was perfect and set the stage for some of my favorite tropes: fake dating, forced proximity and one bed. Like c’mon!

I loved getting to watch things become more real and how each became the other’s safe space. Their emotional connection led to some spice that felt raw and beautiful.

This was my first Chip Pons book but it won’t be the last.

Read if you like:
- M/M romances
- Fake Dating
- One Bed
- Forced Proximity
- Reality TV (especially The Amazing Race/Survivor)
- Meet Cutes

Thank you to Chip, Putnam and Netgalley for the eARC.

Chip Pons delivers an adorable and spicy rom-com that's perfect for summer reading! The story kicks off with Asher Bennet, whose hopes of competing on a reality show with his boyfriend are dashed when they break up at the airport. Drowning his sorrows at T.G.I. Friday's, Asher overhears Theo Fernandez, a pilot grounded for flying too much (yes, that really happens!). In a stroke of rom-com genius, Asher somehow convinces Theo to be his fake boyfriend for the competition.

I laughed, I cringed, and I completely fell for Asher and Theo. This book is a delightful escape that will leave you smiling.

This book had me constantly wanting more. I could not put it down (and I didn't want to!) because I was loving every moment of it.
I just loved Theo and Asher. Their connection was just the best.
These characters were fun, a little goofy, complex, and completely adorable.
A fun, sweet, and romantic story!

This book is like a warm hug wrapped in awkward banter and accidental feelings. When Jesse and Derek end up fake dating after a travel mishap, it turns into the most adorable, slow-burn friends-to-lovers story with so much heart. It’s goofy and fun, but there’s also real emotion underneath the chaos—about identity, taking risks, and finding the courage to want more. Jesse’s inner monologue is hilarious and painfully relatable, and Derek? A total softie in disguise. If you're into queer rom-coms with fake dating, travel vibes, and two disaster gays falling for each other in the sweetest way, this one’s for you.

After being broken up with by his boyfriend, Asher must find a new partner to compete with in a reality show competition. Enter Theo, an airplane pilot that is forced to take a much needed vacation. After a serendipitous meeting at the airport’s TJI Fridays, Theo agrees to help Asher. The only catch? They must pretend to be boyfriends in front of the camera. Through the challenges, both within the competition and their relationship, the guys start to realize there may be more to them than just their on-screen chemistry.

This book was so much fun from beginning to end! I love how they met and came together for the competition. They had some ups and downs, but I really liked how everything played out. The little competitions they had to do were pretty fun to read and I couldn’t help rooting for them. What I enjoyed even more were the little moments between them. Yes, there was some spice, but there were also so many heartfelt moments that added to so much to the story. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I doubt Chip Pons needs my endorsement--it seems like everyone loves Chip=-but I'll climb on the bandwagon. Winging It with You, his traditional romance debut, is FANTASTIC. Theo and Asher are fake-boyfriend gold--until the feelings turn real--and then they're just #goals.

Asher is dumped AT the airport, right before he and his boyfriend are supposed to fly to LA to appear on a reality tv competition show. Determined to go through with the show, he needs a new partner asap. Theo, a pilot who has been officially grounded, was just trying to get some mozzarella sticks, but he finds himself agreeing to be Asher's fake boyfriend and travel the world for the next several weeks. As they compete on the show and fake it for the cameras, the lines between reality tv and reality begin to blur, and they have to decide if what they're feeling is as real as they think it is.

It's swoony. It's sexy. It's tender. It's hilarious. This book checks all the perfect summer rom-com boxes. Definitely check this out--and it's out just in time for Pride Month!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my advance review copy.

This was cute!! I’m feeling burnt on romances right now so I started this a while ago and needed to put it down and revisit. Glad I did.

Asher gets dumped at the airport right before he and his boyfriend are about to board their flight for the reality tv show competition Epic Trek. While Asher is drowning his sorrows at the airport bar, Theo, a pilot who’s grounded for the next few weeks for a mandatory break, agrees to pretend to be his boyfriend and compete with him on the show.

Winging It With You is perfect summer romcom read if you love slow burn, fake dating, reality tv competitions, big feelings, and soft characters!

I love love love reading about queer joy and this book encompasses that while also not shying away from harder conversations about their pasts and backstories. Asher and Theo (#Thasher) are so freaking cute. I loved seeing them become more comfortable with each other and within themselves and omg the longing between these two was 🧑‍🍳💋

✨Read if you love
- slow burn
- only one bed
- mm romance
- good boy
- whirlwind romance
- fake dating
- he remembers his coffee order
- bit of a breeding kink

Chip Pons' Winging It With You is a heartwarming story of self-love and self-discovery. I've always been a hopeless romantic with a cynic's heart, so it's no surprise that this book put my heart back together again.

Asher Bennett is dumped at the airport by the boyfriend whose lifelong dream was to star on the world-wide travel competition reality show, The Epic Trek. He processes his feelings at an airport TGI Fridays over mimosas and mozzarella sticks. Theo Fernandez is pilot who has been grounded (literally and figuratively) by his employer with a mandate to find a work-life balance before he returns to work. He goes to share a pre-flight ritual with another pilot only to find out Asher has the last mozzarella sticks in the restaurant. Asher needs a partner for the show. Theo needs the mozzarella sticks, but more importantly, to decompress. So, Asher and Theo make a bet that leads to an adventure of a lifetime.

Theo and Asher are a perfect example of what it's like to be human--they're messy, they're perfectly imperfect, they're love personified. I loved watching Asher heal his broken heart through some of the most unusual challenges and I loved watching Theo learn to let himself love again. This book is steamy and hilarious and oh so sweet, but it also documents some of the challenges same-sex couples and queer people face on a daily basis. Chip has crafted a story that is a must-read and one that will still with me for many years to come.

Thank you Putnam for the e-ARC!

Live laugh love Thasher.

What an excellent sophomore novel and trad debut from Chip!! Theo and Asher were taking risk after risk both on the show and for each other and I ate it up. Thought I’d make it through without tears in my eyes. That was a lie. I truly believed in Theo and Asher and their love for each other.

"If traveling the world together has taught me anything, it's that the feeling of home doesn't always have to be a place.” 🥹✈️

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam Books for the digital advanced reader copy of Winging It With You, all thoughts are my own!

Theo and Asher, aka #Thasher were such a quirky and vulnerable (and sexy🔥) yet all too real love story that was easy to get invested in! A meet-cute over mozzarella sticks - sign me up!!!

Probably one of the most unique plots I’ve ever read, this was a CUTE read with a lot of heart and queer joy throughout! I loved the “amazing race” vibes of the plot, and getting to travel on page to so many beautiful and unique places!

Read if you like:
✈️ fake dating
✈️ one bed
✈️ reality tv
✈️ strangers-to-lovers

4⭐️ 2🌶️

Fake Dating
Reality TV Romance
Only One Bed
Rom Com

Asher goes on a reality show, The Epic Trek, but right as he leaves for this show he gets dumped by his boyfriend. Theo is a pilot who is forced to take a vacation, and meets Asher at the airport, where he decides to be Asher’s fake boyfriend for the reality show. As the show goes on the two start to realize that this might be a real relationship they want. This was a fun, heartfelt rom-com book. I’m not a fan of the third act breakup and this book is no different, but I still overall enjoyed this story.

When Julie Soto recommends a book, you bet I’ll read it!!

This was a really fun and sweet book! I definitely used this as a palate cleanser as a heavier book and it was just what I needed.

I don’t read a ton of MM romances, but this one is convincing me to read more! It was very sweet and light and fluffy, exactly what you want in a romance!

Premise-wise this is really cool. Asher is dumped at the airport right as he is heading off to film an adventure reality show with his now ex. Theo’s a pilot who has just been grounded for not taking enough mandatory rest time from flying. It’s got fake dating and travel (ahem, one bed) so right off the bat I think it’ll tick a lot of boxes for readers. You’ll be taken to exotic locales, and will see Theo and Asher slowly fall for each other!!

Both Asher and Theo are such lovable characters that you’ll be immediately rooting for them, both to fall and love and to maybe win this reality show?

I really liked the start and end of the book, but it was a little slow for me in the middle. I did like the drama, and there was a slight miscommunication trope which is not my favorite, but was resolved quickly!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for this eARC!!

This was a fun, fast paced romcom!

Asher and Theo fake date their way through a competition-style reality show (think the amazing race) after Asher’s actual boyfriend dumps him right before the show. The book follows them from adventure to adventure, which made the book feel like a fun quick read, but also perhaps a bit disjointed. The romance felt more like it was because of the close proximity rather than any thing else.

I think this will be a lot of fun as a beach read, it’s light and spicy. I love that an open door m/m romance written by a queer man will be on shelves!

Thank you @putnambooks @prhaudio for a copy of this book.

I love The Amazing Race and fake dating trope so I was so excited for this. Asher and Theo meets at the airport and through of series of events, Theo agrees to go on a reality tv show with Asher.

The story is cute and the challenges they do are entertaining. With these type of settings, the side characters are all surface level so it doesn't add any depth to the story.

I appreciate that there were distinct narrators for both characters but at part, I was confused with whose POV it was because they felt just a bit similar, especially during the challenges.

Lee Osorio and Michael Crouch did a good job the narration. I really enjoyed then parts with Theo's family.

I didn’t love Chip Pons’ first book at all. But given the time between books, the community of authors and the cover and marketing for this one, I thought I’d give it another try.

I’ll be clear… It’s not a bad book. But it’s taken me four days and I’m not even halfway through. I read a book every day, and can’t seem to connect with this one at all. There’s too much going on - and the show & rules in the background of it all don’t make sense and haven’t been explained enough. There’s just not enough character development up front to keep me interested at all in either character (why would Asher date someone he has NOTHING nice to say about? And I’m 45% in and know basically nothing about Theo). I wanted so badly to like it.