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.

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!

4/5 stars

This was my second book by Chip Pons and I really liked it but maybe liked his first book better. If you like the Amazing Race or reality TV shows with adventure, you're going to love this book!

Asher and Theo are simply the best and I loved watching their relationship unfold the more they got to know each other. The scenes where they are wandering Europe or swimming with Elephants warmed my heart. I especially liked Theo's family and the way they supported and loved him so much. I want to have dinner with his family.

I think this book would be such a fun movie, I don't know could live up to Asher and Theo in my mind but it would be incredible!!

Troupes:
- fake dating
-reality TV romance
-Biomedical Engineer/Pilot
-Meet Cute (in an airport) strangers to lovers
-adventure
-only one bed

Chip Pons’ Winging It With You is an emotionally charged, immersive journey that pulls you deep into the characters' lives with raw honesty. Each page brings you closer to the characters, and it’s the small, intimate moments that truly bring them to life—whether it’s a shared laugh or a quiet glance. This book takes you on a trek you won’t forget, where you’re not just reading a story, but living it alongside the characters.

Now boarding the Chip Pons fan wagon... mozz sticks in hand, and I’m ready for the ride 😉🍟

Airport breakup and meet cute, loved!! SO chaotic! If you love Amazing Race, you'll love this!

You get lots of MM steam (early on too!), adventure, vulnerability, military relationships, therapy and some twists and turns.

I will say the first steamy scene kind of came out of nowhere, there was no flirting or anything prior. Definitely a 'do it once and get it out of the system' or slow burn, the early steam was kind of jarring/without context.

I was also hoping to see a bit more of the other competitors and some sort of timing - I couldn't tell how much time had passed.

I wasn't fully invested until around 30% in but after that I was flying through!

Winging it with you was a cute and unique story rom-com. I feel like it caters to a quite niche group of individuals though, and I'm not one of them. The pacing was a bit to slow for me and it felt like basically nothing happened in the first 50% of the book. I wish there was more chemistry between Asher and Theo. I enjoyed the ending at least.


Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A reality TV show is offering a whopping $1,000,000… would you jump in?

So, you’ve got this plan to head off with your boyfriend for a month-long reality TV gig, but then he ditches you at the airport. Now, you’ve got to find a random person to team up with after telling your ex you’d go solo. What’s your move? You flip a coin over the last basket of mozzarella sticks. If the charming Theo wins, he gets the sticks. If you win, you take Theo on the wildest adventure ever…

Asher and Theo end up paired together, two strangers pretending to be a couple for the cameras. The journey to the finale is wild but also super sweet.

“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.”

I really loved how genuine the connection was between Asher and Theo. Their insecurities and challenges felt so relatable, the side characters were great, and the spice was top tier! I’m so happy that I got to dive into this ARC.

Big thanks to Chip Pons, NetGalley, and Penguin Group for letting me read this ARC! I’m definitely pre-ordering a physical copy!

I definitely recommend pre-ordering Winging It With You! It releases June 10, 2025!

Til Next Review,
Sincerely, Lyssi

Personal Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

TROPES: FAKE DATING, REALITY TV, FORCED PROXIMITY, ONE BED, HURT/COMFORT, FOUND FAMILY, MM ROMANCE

The “Amazing Race” romance I didn’t know my millennial heart was missing!

Asher and Theo are the reality tv competition “couple” you cheer for… and secretly wish you knew more about behind the scenes! The veil is lifted completely as these men get to know each other while competing on an international reality show.

.This sweet story really brings the humor (and spice!) while having characters unpack relatable relationship and familial issues. I completely fell for Asher and Theo along the way!

Such a lovely book. The time travel is such a great way for Darby to reassess their life but also reaffirming their trans identity as always being them.