If you're a fan of The Amazing Race this is the romance book for you! After an airport meet-cute two strangers, Asher Bennett & Theo Fernandez, find themselves pretending to be dating on a travel TV show. Asher is hoping to win prize money to start a LGBTQ STEM program and show his ex up, and Theo is needing to show the airline he works for that he can have a work life balance.

This book has so many fun romance tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, and only one bed so I felt like there's something in the book for most readers to enjoy. I'd classify this as a rom-com, but I do like that the story touched on heavier themes like homophobia and queer experiences in the military.

The chapters start with including the location they're currently in, but I also wish they included either how many days they've been traveling or what the episode number was since it was hard for me to keep track of how much time had passed. Not being sure of how much time had passed made the story start to trend slow for me in the second half until you get to the over dramatic, unnecessary, miscommunication filled third act break-up. I'm glad that following that we got to see more of Theo and his backstory and his family dynamics, since I feel like the first half of the book goes through Asher's character arc, but I feel like Theo's story could have come full circle in a way that didn't leave me going "really?!?!"

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for an ARC of Winging It With You!

Oh my gosh. This book was somehow incredibly fun and light-hearted while also being super romantic and heavy. I am obsessed with how Asher and Theo met. It's an epically cheesy (hahaha) meet-cute. Get it? Cheesy. 🫣 This story tackled alot of part family trauma, and other things the characters have had weighing them down. But it handled it with the utmost card and concern while also delivering a beautiful and fun story.

The TV show tasks were my absolute favorite parts. 🤣 I loved giggling with the characters (or sometimes at). The side characters were a dream cast. Well 👀 most of them. IYKYK.

IM SO HONORED THAT I HAD THE CHANCE TO READ THIS EARLY. THANK YOU DADDY PUTNAM! 🤭

Asher y su novio iban a competir en el programa de viajes The Epic Trek y con el dinero del premio, Asher planeaba iniciar un programa de ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas para estudiantes LGBTIQ+. Sin embargo, el novio rompió con él el día del viaje, dejándolo lamentándose en el aeropuerto.
Theo es un piloto que no tiene vida social y trabaja en exceso, superando durante varios meses las horas permitidas. Por ello, su jefe le da unas vacaciones obligatorias, en las que debe enviar evidencia de que realmente está descansando y realizando actividades de relajación.

Ambos se conocen por unos palitos de mozzarella. Theo los quería tanto que le dijo a Asher que haría lo que fuera si él le daba unos. Asher vio la oportunidad de encontrar otro compañero para poder competir y Theo vio la oportunidad de seguir las ordenes de su jefe.
Durante varias semanas, ambos tendrán que fingir ser novios, confiar el uno en el otro y conocerse íntimamente. ¿Los sentimientos que desarrollarán serán verdaderos o producto de su actuación?



La historia estuvo entretenida. Me dio mucha risa que todo comenzara por un bocadillo. Theo quería tanto esos palitos que aceptó irse de viaje con un desconocido y aparecer en la televisión.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC**

I’m a sucker for a fake boyfriend troupe if the situation can be made to feel plausible. Who also doesn’t like a meet cute over mozzarella sticks?
The characters were sweet, the reality show premise was fun, and there’s a big shocking moment at the end.

I do wish we got a leader board update for the game show at the beginning of each chapter, so we knew earlier what everyone’s score was in the game. I also think there was a problem keeping track of phones throughout the book. At one point we are told the contestants have their phone taken by production and the boys using Jo’s phone is a major plot point, then all of a sudden they have their phones back in tourist locations. In the

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Winging it With You • Chip Pons ( @booksovrbros )

Been a minute since I posted and you can blame my reading slump for that. This book might have cured me though.

I got approved for the ARC this morning (thank you @putnambooks !!!!!), started it right after work at 5 and just finished it before the clock hits 8:30. Because I could not put it down.

What an absolutely fun and sexy rom com. I’m blown away. And it’s got all my favorite tropes (fake dating, only one bed) and it’s set during a reality tv competition show. 👩‍🍳💋

Pub date - June 10, 2025

Seriously this one is going to blow up this summer.

—
#readersofinstagram #bookstagram #romcomreads #romancereader #arcreader

I enjoyed this book a lot. The premise was very unique and interesting to read. I thought the television show and challenges provided great scenes, conflict, and opportunities for character development. Fake dating is a trope I enjoy a lot. Specifically, my favorite aspects of the trope are when the main characters decide to ignore/change the rules they set up at the beginning, and when the MC's realize/admit it isn't fake anymore. In "Winging It with You," Chip Pons writes both instances well. Pons' unique writing style and voice kept me pulled into the story. Both MC's were well-developed, and I felt dedicated to their mutual and individual stories. The humor was also enjoyable to read as it never felt forced or contrived, but very natural and genuinely funny.

Absolutely devoured this story!! Loved it from the very beginning (stupid Clint). I felt the storyline was unique and fresh! Asher and Theo (🥵). This book will live rent free in my mind FOREVER.

Thank you Net Galley and Putnam for the ARC!

What a pleasure it was to read this book!! Chip is a MASTER at writing MMCs that are walking green flags. There is so much heart and depth to this story! I related to both Theo and Asher in ways I was not prepared for and had happy tears in my eyes after I finished the book. This is such a fun read and perfect for summer vacations and pretending you are going on adventures as crazy and wild as Asher and Theo (maybe you are!)! An incredibly fun read with a reality TV show, world travel, a mozzarella stick meet-cute, fake dating, and beautiful queer joy!

Winging It with You is an engaging and serendipitous story that balances lighthearted fun, adventure, and deeper, more thought-provoking themes. Drawing inspiration from The Amazing Race, the plot follows Theo and Asher as they embark on an unexpected journey together, initially as strangers. The pair are literally "winging it," relying on each other in unfamiliar circumstances, which creates both hilarious and difficult situations.

As the story unfolds, their relationship evolves, and the dynamic of forced proximity combined with the fake dating trope pushes them to confront their feelings and reconsider what truly matters to them. The journey becomes not just an adventure across different locations, but also a personal exploration of their own lives and the direction they want to take.

What makes this novel so enjoyable is its ability to blend exciting moments with thoughtful reflection, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with readers on multiple levels. Whether you're drawn to the romance, the adventure, or the introspection, Winging It with You offers a little something for everyone. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC!

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.