I enjoyed the romance aspects of this book as well as the snippets of reality TV elements. I recommend this book to fans of The Amazing Race, but I wish we got to see more interactions between the two MCs and the rest of the show’s contestants.

This was a fantastic one from Chip Pons and I can't wait to read more. The tension is there, the challenges were great, the spice was spicy. A really solid and completely fun romance.

Asher & Theo
Rating: 4.0⭐

- Fake Dating
- Reality TV Romance
- Strangers to Friends to Lovers
- Biomedical Engineer/Pilot
- Only One Bed (Every Location)
- Adventure
- Mozzarella Meet Cute
- Wait...Is it real?

This was a fun read about two strangers who do something absolutely spontaneous, forever changing the course of their lives.

Asher is at the airport with his boyfriend getting ready to leave for the competition, when his boyfriend breaks up with him. Yeah, it's a scene but I'm glad that Asher didn't falter and left the fool standing there. Now, Asher has to find a new partner for this competition or it's all for nothing. Luck would have it that Theo has just been grounded by the airlines and is forced to take vacation. While Theo is trying to haggle with Asher over some mozzarella sticks, these two end up making a deal.

Throughout their many location stops, hotels where they have to share a bed, challenges that push them over the edge, these two start open up and share long buried secrets and insecurities. They both start to pine for the other and wonder if they're still faking it. We, of course, know that they are not faking it in the slightest. There are some stumbles that these two go through because their insecurities run so deep. The breakup/separation irked the hell out of me because it would've taken one conversation, like 10 minutes, and there wouldn't have been an issue at all. Oh well! Either way, it was fun to watch them traverse across the world and learn to love themselves and each other throughout the story. There were a few geographical inconsistencies, but that kind of thing doesn't tend to turn me off from a story. If it's a peeve of yours, at least now you know it's there in advance.

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Mentions of military discharge (past; briefly mentioned on-page)
- Mentions of family estrangement

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: Yes, few days
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: Yes-ish, Asher's ex causes drama
Ages: Late 30's

Winging it With You simply takes flight. This romance novel has golden retriever energy. What do I mean by that? Its happiness leaps and bounds of the pages. It’s tangible. Quite simply: everything is love, and love is everything. Chip Pons’ is a new author to me and he has such a wonderful grasp on his characters. To be able to write a dual point of view novel and to retain such clarity with Asher and Theo was really impressive.

While this book is a take on ‘The Amazing Race’, I particularly loved the scenes of visiting Rome, the elephant sanctuary in Bali, and La Tomatina in Spain! However, there are moments of contemplation and sincerity. I never expected a heartfelt discussion and commentary about the persistent discrimination that remains in the US military from Theo and Asher. It’s the stand out moment for me. Pons’ is clear: despite systemic changes with policy, many LGBTQ+ members serving are still falling through the cracks. They still face prejudice and in Theo's case unfair work practices. The result of leaving the military leaves an impact on Theo and the resulting conversation between Asher and Theo leads to a moment of growth for the two characters and took the story up to another level.

This was such a wonderful read and I’m so happy I got to read an early copy. My thanks to Putnam Books for the digital ARC.

4 stars. Serving high octane reality TV show drama with a whole lot of heart and steam, Winging It With You is a swoon worthy queer romcom not to be missed.

“You made me feel. You reminded me how beautiful it is to be seen by someone and to see them for who they really are.”

This story was so fun to read! I felt like Chip did an amazing job with making the characters realistic and lovable. I was cheering for Asher and Theo from mozzarella sticks to the last page!

Asher gets dumped at the airport by his long-term boyfriend as they are on their way to compete in a reality TV global travel challenge. When his now ex says he can’t do this on his own, Asher accepts the challenge and sets off to prove he can. There’s a problem though: Asher needs a partner to compete. While Asher is drowning his problems in alcohol and fried food, in walks a handsome pilot named Theo. Little does Theo know that offering to buy the last order of mozzarella sticks from Asher would change his life.

If you enjoy fake dating, forced proximity, and my personal favorite, only one bed, you will adore this book! It was so enjoyable and I can’t wait to read more books by Chip!

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for access to the eARC!

Cute story, Asher and Theo were likeable and dorky and swoon worthy characters. Dalton was an idiot. I really liked the included playlist and will check out more from Chip Pons.

“But diving headfirst into Asher feels like coming home, and our home, with his things and my things and our things, has quickly become my favorite place in the world.”

thank you to @netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

pub date: June 10

If there’s only one thing I can say about this book, it’s that it brings ABSOLUTE JOY! The entire plot and its characters are so unique, you’ll fly right through this one!

The “amazing race” themed reality show plot was so fun and will have you visiting the coolest of places. I’m extremely depressed to be in freezing Missouri instead of playing with the elephants in Bali or drinking lemoncello in Italy.

Plus Theo and Asher are to die for! They are so cute and wholesome but also a little 🔥… there’s a sprinkle of everything for you to love! And an EARLY one bed reveal and shower scene… you are killing me sweetly. Team #thasher is absolutely a couple everyone will be rooting for!

read if you like: strangers to lovers, fake dating, reality tv, lqbtqia+ romance, one bed, meet cute

rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Oh, this was hella cute. Bonkers premise aside, these two cuties were lovable in their own different ways. Although this is a light and comforting novel, it doesn’t shy away from heavier topics and real emotion.

A genuine surprise!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for a review!

This oen I did like and I enjoyed very much, the story line is cute and what u would expect from a MM romantic comedy adventure. it took very good care of me. in more ways than once, it he spice is cute also.;

"If you're lucky, home can be a person."

I knew this book was going to be amazing when it started with mozzerella sticks.

When Asher gets dumped at the airport before a global travel competition, he’s desperate for a new partner. Enter Theo, a grounded pilot in need of a vacation. Together, they fake date for the cameras, but their undeniable chemistry might just turn into something real.

Such a fun read! Sweet, steamy, and full of adventure. Theo and Asher are everything.

thank you to putnambooks and NetGalley for the eARC.

These two were absolutely charming! I loved the way they met, even if it was due to Asher’s broken heart. I did feel pretty bad for Asher and the situation he was put in but I’m glad Theo (though, unknowingly) swooped in to save the day.

The vibes in this were just so fun and the premise was very entertaining. I’ve watched my fair share of reality tv, so I greatly enjoyed seeing all that similar drama in my favorite form, a book.

Asher and Theo were so cute together. And watching them realize how much they truly ended up meaning to each other after everything was so special.

I enjoyed Chip’s debut, You & I, Rewritten, so I’m not completely surprised that I enjoyed this one too. If you’re looking for an amusing, low-angst read, this one is for you.

Thank you to Putnam, Netgalley and Chip Pons for the ARC!

Interesting fake dating romance. I really wanted to like this book. Honestly, I found it a bit boring. Asher and Theo found themselves competing on a reality show pretending to be boyfriends.  Asher was recently dumped at the airport and luckily found Theo to be his partner on the reality show. Problem I had was the zero chemistry between them. I also found Asher to be insufferable. He didn't allow himself to enjoy himself like Theo did. Theo who as a pilot was told to take time off was trying to make the best of it. Also the story was too long. At 70% I was done, but I kept going to see if they got together. The ending was good though. Overall, it was okay. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

I adored this! I read through this in less than 24 hours and enjoyed it so much. Reality TV is a guilty pleasure and I’ve not read something that had that as part of the plot. I think that made me love this anymore. Asher and Theo were just so cute and sweet. So happy this was one of my first reads of 2025.

I went in with low expectations when I started reading this book, and I got to say that I love this book so much. The book summary didn’t do it justice. It made me hesitate to start this read. Thankfully, I did because this book is now my favorite romance read, and it also has great representation as well.

Forget about the book summary. Just read it blind, and you are going to love it. The book summary doesn’t do it justice. Asher and Theo don’t know each other until they see each other at the airport asking for favors. From there, it gets wilder and wilder when they both take the opportunity to fake date in a reality TV show. It’s a bit too much, but it’s just too messy and funny at the same time. Plus, the fake dating and close proximity between Asher and Theo make the heart flutter!

Asher and Theo may not know each other at first, but they will get to know each other more with the competition. They are a bit opposite of each other. Asher is more open and aloof at the same time. It may have to do with his recent breakup at the airport. While Theo is more reserved with his privacy, he is sociable at group events. It makes Asher and Theo's pairing more interesting. They each give something that they are both missing.

My only problem with this book was that I wanted more of it. I was so sad when it was over! I loved this book! Theo and Asher have my heart!

One of the best books I read in 2024!
I really enjoyed this and loved the characters.
I appreciated the thought out storytelling and character development.
Would highly recommend!

I was so excited to get an early copy of Chip's new book. I really enjoyed the adventure aspect and twist on reality television. I definitely think that Chip is a great writer. There were just somethings that I did not connect with or enjoy. I think I will still hope to read more from him.

what to expect:
✨ gay romance
✨ fake dating
✨ reality tv competition
✨ blonde mmc with glasses
✨ only one bed
✨ a mozzarella meet cute

I know if Chip writes it, I will read it. Reality TV competitions are my guilty pleasure so having one as a backdrop of this story made me love it even more. The steamy scenes balances out the sweet scenes and I feel like I could just read about Asher and Theo forever.

From an airport meet cute involving mozzarella sticks to all the adventures Theo and Asher go through, I never once felt bored and it never felt like a slog to get through.

⭐️: 4/5

I love a fake dating scenario, especially when it’s NOT in the workplace. The meet cute of Asher and Theo, and the way that both of their circumstances lined up perfectly in order for the plot to take place was perfectly romcom-y in a way that would NEVER happen in real life, but that’s why we read romcoms!

The slow burn of Asher and Theo falling for each other was so cute, and once they started to open themselves up to their feelings, the way that they were so respectful of the other and careful with the other’s feelings and emotions was just the sweetest. There were also parts of the book that were surprisingly spicy, but even during the spicy scenes, they were so careful with each other’s feelings, it was hard not to fall for them.

I did keep running into the issue that I couldn’t really tell Asher and Theo’s chapter voices apart. I’d be reading a chapter, and realize I had no idea who was the POV, because they were so similar. Even so, I still feel like we got a lot of background information and detail about the inner workings of Theo’s mind, but not as much about Asher, which I found a little lopsided and disappointing, because I wanted to understand them both. I also think the reality competition aspect was a little convoluted, and I think it may have been a more enjoyable plot point if it was a simpler concept with less extraneous characters mentioned exactly once.

I loved reading this book. With the fake dating, and the unrealistic but very daydreamy meet cute, what more could you ask for from a romcom? Also, mozzarella sticks 😋

Thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!