Forced proximity, fake dating, an Amazing Race style competition and mozzarella sticks? Say less because I'm 1000% in!!

I loved this so much. Asher and Theo have my whole heart, and I adored both the literal and figurative journeys they both went on. The lush places they traveled to for the reality show swept me away, but not as much as their tension and romance did. The emotional beats felt real, raw, and earned.

Thank you to NetGalley, Chip Pons and the publisher for the opportunity to read this one!!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Asher finds himself stranded and in need of a partner for a reality TV competition show, and Theo steps in asking for Asher's airport bar mozzarella sticks in a moment of desperation. They make a friendly coin toss wager and suddenly Theo finds out he's about to jet across the globe performing challenges with the handsome stranger.

Over the course of several weeks, they grow close, sharing their most vulnerable hopes and fears, their painful pasts. Then, an unwelcome reunion that could only be scripted by a reality TV villain takes them by surprise, and puts their future together in jeopardy.


I loved this book. Loved it. And I say this as a person who didn't particularly care for Pons's debut novel. The pacing was great, the characters were relatable and Pons did a great job of showing their growth over through the book. Did I occasionally get distracted by an incorrect bit of geography or Taylor Swift reference? Sure, but it wasn't enough to pull me away from Theo and Asher's story and the swoony way it made me feel.

4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC

Stars: 4 Spice: 2 I enjoyed the speed at which we got to know Asher and Theo. Though at first, we feel the bittersweet heartbreak and some uncomfortable choices the boys both have to make. Hurdling between family, work, and long lost dreams these two quickly warmed up to one another, but soon after that, found themselves on the trip of their lives. The natural, almost organic form of forced proximity is not only refreshing to the reader, but it also seems like the two need it just as well. Pons does a great job at convincing us they don't want to like each other, but they do. Or do they? Is it the camera? Or the handsome man?

This just wasn't for me, unfortunately! I do think it'll find an audience - specifically, I think people who loved The Charm Offensive will eat this up. It has a similar vibe, so if you loved the plot and characters in one, you'll probably find something to love in the other. Unfortunately, I'm not in that camp.

I really did want to love it - the premise is really fun! Gay fake dating on a reality competition show is just the kind of romcom hook I'm interested in. But I didn't vibe with the writing. A lot of the dialogue and narration felt stilted and unrealistic. I didn't buy the romance. It's dual POV, but the narration is so similar between the two that I wouldn't be able to tell which man was telling the story if you redacted their names. It's not <i>bad</i>, but it feels a bit undercooked. There's a level of polish that I just felt was missing here.

Like I said, I think this will find an audience that loves it, and that's great! I want people to support queer romance by queer authors! But it didn't work for me, unfortunately.

If you are a fan of forced proximity, fake dating, or the Amazing Race, this is the book for you. I had so much fun reading about Asher and Theo, and their adventures traveling the world on The Epic Trek. While there is definitely some past drama/trauma for both of the main characters, I would still categorize this as a feel-good read. I didn't feel like their past experiences brought the vibe down. I also really enjoyed the other contestants and the production team, and found that part believable, despite having no concept of what being on a game show like the Amazing Race would be like. I also appreciated that while this book does have the "will they not end up together?!" section close to the end, it wasn't as obvious as some of the other MM romance books I've read. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a light MM read.

I love a good fake dating trope, which is part of the reason I was excited to read this title. It starts with Asher being unceremoniously dumped at the airport by his longtime boyfriend as they are about to embark on a reality tv show adventure. Thanks to a mozzarella-stick meet-cute, he finds a new travel partner for the show. Theo is a pilot who is being forced to take a break from flying after exceeding his allotted hours, which conveniently lines up with the show’s filming schedule.

I enjoyed the book overall and was rooting for Asher and Theo throughout, but the writing style and some of the character development was a little bit of a miss for me. I would recommend this book to fans of rom-coms and reality tv and it would be a good read-alike for The Charm Offensive by Alice Cochran or The (Fake) Dating Game by Timothy Janovsky.

This was my first book by the author and it was an enjoyable road trip/adventure romance. The meet cute — or meet disaster — between Theo and Asher did a great job setting up their fake dating relationship for an Amazing Race type reality show. I thought the book lingered too long on the competition which left many threads of the character development kind of hastily tied up in a short epilogue.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A meet cute over mozzarella sticks? Say less.
One thing I loved so much about their story was it never felt like they were really fake dating. Sure, they were playing it up for the cameras but they truly took the opportunity to get to know each other. They didn’t fight it when they started to have feelings, they just went with what felt right. Both Asher and Theo were exactly what the other needed, in a relationship but also just in life. Their story is full of laughs and some really heartbreaking moments. I had the best time watching them fall in love.

Very cute!! I was lukewarm about the plot when I requested it but i’m so glad I did. It’s such a cute story, Asher and Theo pull off a great strangers to lovers arc. They GET each other which was satisfying in and of itself and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. The adventure part of it was a nice little added plot device which was super fun to read.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely delightful and provided an enjoyable experience from start to finish. To begin my review, I must mention that the synopsis and the cover initially captured my attention. While I wouldn't claim the cover is the best I've seen, it is certainly appealing, and the character illustrations are impressive. The color scheme is also well done, though there is room for improvement. However, the story line is where this book truly shines. I found it to be engaging and a perfect example of why one should not judge a book by its cover; the narrative was truly captivating. Additionally, I appreciated the fast-paced nature of the story, the well-developed characters that were detailed yet not excessive, and the intriguing concept that, while somewhat simple, was presented in a unique and enjoyable manner. In summary, I highly recommend this book and look forward to exploring more works by this author.

Two strangers, Theo and Asher, set upon an epic journey. Coupled in a fake relationship for a reality TV show, the two trek across the globe in an attempt to win weekly challenges and prize money. Only time will tell if these two broken souls can figure out that winning real love is the best prize of all. 4.5⭐

"Two strangers must face their pasts to win a future they never saw coming. An epic trek for the heart." J. Orozco

Available: June 10th 2025
@booksovrbros
@netgalley
Bookthreads

Fake dating, adventure, and gay love? I AM IN.

If you are a fan of The Amazing Race, going to love this book. If you are a fan of MCs ending up with their *person*, you are going to love this book. Witty banter? LOVE.

As a person that has never experienced participating in a televised race around the world, I was still so easily able to connect and relate with the characters. I love a story that can build a relationship with such ease, especially in this case when the MCs start as complete strangers.

His smile widens, and I think the sight of it rushes all my blood to my head.
Or maybe this is just the Theo Fernandez Effect.

Winging It With You is the perfect slow burn romance woven in with an epic adventure. Flirty, sweet, entertaining, and full of joy, I absolutely loved Asher and Theo, aka #Thasher 🩵

”I don’t know… just a version of myself who I barely recognize anymore. Someone who strategically molded themselves into what they thought was the perfect partner. Someone who said and did all the right things to make sure they didn’t inadvertently cross some imaginary line. Someone who made sure to let everyone else shine. And yet somehow, all that could never be enough. But I see the relationship for what it was. And more importantly, what it wasn’t.”

Chip wrote Asher and Theo’s pasts with such tenderness and strength. So much heart and depth. And as they grew closer and opened themselves to one another, Chip handled Theo and Asher and their hearts with so much care.

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

If you love feel-good romance with a hefty dose of adventure, the perfect amount of steam, and a dash of fake dating, Winging It With You should be your next read.

What a delight it was to experience Asher and Theo find each other and not run from their feelings. A new favorite.

Winging It With You is the feel-good story of Theo and Asher, who meet at an airport and begin an impulsive adventure that is very on-brand for one of them & not so much the other. It has all your favorite tropes - opposites attract, fake dating, only one bed, hurt/comfort! But my favorite part is how sweet these strangers-to-allies/friends-to-(briefly) idiots-to-lovers are with each other. A romcom really hits different when the characters just ✨get✨ each other, you know?

Winging it With You was absolutely charming. The writing, characters and the world setting immediately drew me in. The story follows two guys as they take a risk to travel the world together as strangers. The journey was fun and silly at times and serious in others.

I felt there were some dropped plot points that I was excited to read and at times there were scenes that went nowhere. There’s a really hot scene that never gets revisited with the guys. That disconnect made the dialogue and story feel less realistic at times.

I recommend this for people into hot romance, sweet connections and strong character growth. Chip is talented and I am excited to read what’s next!

"Winging It with You" was a great combination of a travel romance and queer joy. I went into this book completely blind--I read Chip's debut novel and enjoyed it very much, so reading this was a no brainer.

After being dumped at the airport by his long-term boyfriend, Asher is out of luck (and a partner) for his upcoming reality TV adventure competition. But fate intervenes and he's thrown together with Theo, a workaholic pilot who has been grounded. The two strangers begin fake dating to qualify for the show and chaos ensues. These awkward, untrusting strangers must learn to masquerade as a real "in love" couple and compete together in outlandish challenges to win the prize money at stake. A whole lot unfolds on the journey as Theo and Asher catch feelings (and lots of flights) while the audience at home watches.

This novel was a quick, enjoyable read. I'm not a huge fan of the fake dating trope, but Chip did a nice job freshening it up with the travel reality TV show. The way Chip brought in Theo's culture and use of Spanish felt authentic. I did wish we had seen more of the side characters/other competitors throughout the book--that would have added a little more drama and laughs to the story.

If you're looking for your next romance book, "Winging It with You" is a solid choice.

Loved loved loved!!! Adored that this wasn’t a typical romance plot, I loved the added adventure that the competition series brought to it. Asher and Theo are so sweet, they played off each other and supported each other so beautifully. Aside from the romance, I really adored watching their friendship blossom and grow throughout the story. The tv show added a really fun element and fun characters, but these boys, and their romance, were the true stars!!!

WOW! When I was first given this ARC, I expected to be entertained and enjoy it but not at the caliber in which I did.

From the mozzarella meet-cute to the action-packed adventures, this book covered every base you could want in a cozy, heartfelt rom-com. Being a gay man, it was beautiful getting to see pieces of myself in both Asher and Theo (the good and, yes, the bad) and seeing it from an outside vantage point made it all the more real and encompassing.

Relatable, beautiful characters? Yes. Fun, engaging plot? Yes. Steamy? YEP. Cozy, comforting, and even therapeutic at times? YES.

Chip composed a beautiful sympathy of emotions, character, and heart with this one. I couldn't read it fast enough and yet I didn't want it to end and have to say goodbye to two of my new favorite LGBTQIA+ characters. Bravo.

Chip's sophomore novel is a knockout -- no slump to be found.

Winging It With You has everything. Wit, humor, romance (lots), spice (in spades). This is balanced by the more emotional elements of the book -- there are plenty of moments of pure joy, and plenty of moments that will break your heart. It's a perfect balance of levity and seriousness, a balance that was also found in You & I, Rewritten.

Getting a dual POV added so much depth to this story. It allowed us to see both the broken parts of Theo and Asher, along with a deep dive into their capacity to love another person, despite what they've been through.

Winging It With You feels like a warm hug. It is a ray of sunshine in the romance novel market, and I am so excited for the world to get to meet Theo and Asher. I just know that other readers are going to love these two as much as I did.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this!