Chip Pons on what makes a steamy read & dream casting a film adaptation of his novel ‘Winging It With You’
Author Chip Pons dishes on his latest book, "Winging It With You," and what makes a great MM rom-com.
Mark
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. The opening of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities is perhaps the most famous first line in literary history. What does that have to do with Winging It With You, the must-read MM rom-com of the summer? More than you think.
Asher Bennett is on the brink of an adventure of a lifetime, packed and ready to take off as a contestant on the reality show The Epic Trek. That is, until his boyfriend dumps him at the gate. The nerve! Eating his sorrows over mozzarella sticks at the terminal, recently grounded pilot Theo Fernandenz saddles up next to him, wanting a bite of the freezer-to-fryer fabulousness. In typical rom-com fashion, the men team up, pretending to be boyfriends in an attempt to win the grand prize.
How about we take this to the next level?
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International destinations. Wayward glances. A first kiss with so much heat, your pages may catch fire. Winging It With You is the perfect beach read to throw in your weekender bag, then pass along its dog-marked pages for a bestie for them to enjoy, too, followed by a heated discussion of who to cast in the film adaptation.
Pons has already gained quite a following as a gay bookstagrammer (@booksovrbros), with over 60,000 followers and a growing fan base since the release of his debut novel, You & I: Rewritten, in 2022. (The tattoos don’t hurt, either.)
Queerty caught up with Pons mid-book tour to discuss the book’s inspiration, dream casting for the inevitable film adaptation, and his must-read list.
QUEERTY: Winging It With You is a classic MM rom-com. I love Asher and Theo’s tension throughout, which makes their inevitable connection that much more enticing. Were there any queer or rom-com tropes that you intentionally tried to avoid?
CHIP PONS: Honestly, I think I tried to jam every favorite trope of mine INTO Winging It With You because I wanted this book to feel like all the rom-coms I’ve grown up loving: over-the-top, heart-squeezing, and deeply affirming. Fake dating? Check. Only one bed? Naturally. Strangers to lovers with a dash of thigh touching? Absolutely. But underneath all the hijinks and glances, I was deeply intentional about one thing: centering queer joy.
So often, queer stories are expected to center around suffering. And while those narratives are vital and deserve space, I also believe in the power of stories rooted in joy… stories where queer characters get to be full, complex people without their pain being the centerpiece. With Winging It With You, I wanted to write a story where love could chart its own course, one filled with joy, vulnerability, and discovery. Where the stakes are emotional, not existential.
Theo and Asher are messy and flirty and complicated, but above all, they’re allowed to be loved: freely, fully, and without apology. They don’t just survive. They get to thrive. And yes, occasionally, that starts over a shared plate of mozzarella sticks.
What inspired the book’s premise? Are you a fan of reality TV competition shows like The Amazing Race and Survivor? And did you map out the outcome from the onset, or allow the characters to take you along for the ride?
I’ve always been a sucker for high-stakes reality TV! The Amazing Race had me in a chokehold back in the day. Writing this book definitely reignited that obsession, so I expect a binge in my future. There’s just something delightfully unhinged about high-stakes travel competitions. The tension, the chaos, the forced proximity! Once the idea of two strangers fake-dating on a global reality show popped into my head, I was hooked. It felt like the perfect setting for both comedy and connection.
From the start, I knew the show’s outcome and where I wanted Theo and Asher would end up emotionally, but getting them there? That was a beautiful mess, and the real journey was in watching these two stubborn, guarded idiots slowly (and sometimes painfully) fall for each other. Once they started talking, flirting, and bickering, they completely took over. And at a certain point, I just followed their lead and tried to keep up.
Without giving away any spoilers, it’s refreshing to see Theo’s personal life in the book’s final chapters. What was your goal in his character arc?
Oh, Theo. My golden-retriever airline pilot. From the moment he showed up with that thousand-watt grin and “down-for-anything” attitude, I knew there was more going on beneath the surface. He’s the kind of person who gives his whole heart to everyone but himself. And I wanted to explore what happens when someone like that finally lets themselves be loved back.
His growth isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about getting honest. I wanted him to have a moment of stillness, of being seen without having to earn it. By the end, Theo’s not just falling in love with Asher; he’s learning how to stay and how to stop running from hard conversations. And if he happens to do all that while being disgustingly attractive and deeply lovable? Well. I don’t make the rules.
About halfway through, I started casting the film adaptation in my mind. It’s such a ride (literally, given the bulk of the book takes place throughout a travel-based reality TV show). I’ll share mine if you share yours… do any names come to mind?
Oh, I love this question because the casting lives rent-free in my head. Nico Greetham is my Asher. No question. He’s got the quiet depth, the warm intensity, and just enough tortured energy to embody a man who was dumped at the airport and still manages to look hot doing it. Put him in some tortoise-shell glasses and a well-placed existential crisis, and we’re good to go.
And for Theo? The one, the only, Taylor Zakhar Perez. The smile? The swagger? The ability to melt you with a single look and then casually gut-punch you with a tender line of dialogue? It’s him. It’s always been him. I really believe Taylor could tap into that perfect mix of flirty charm and emotional vulnerability that defines Theo. Also, those arms…
Is it time to call Netflix? Asking for a friend.
Is it terrible that I spilled a can of White Claw on my book while reading in Central Park and had to wait two days for it to dry out before continuing to read? It’s just a perfect beach read or picnic book. What do you think is the key to holding readers’ attention in those kinds of playful environments?
First of all, I need to know the flavor. If it was cherry, I’ll allow it. If it was mango…I have questions. But honestly, that image makes my day because that’s exactly the kind of reading experience I hoped for. Messy, sun-drenched, a little tipsy. I wanted this book to feel like a vacation in your hands. I wrote it for you to dog-ear, laugh out loud at, and definitely blush a little during the steamy parts.
For me, the key is balance. Swoony rom-com tension, spice that sneaks up on you, and enough emotional pull to make you gasp between sips. I wanted the book to feel like a travel montage set to your favorite playlist: fun, fast-paced, and a little chaotic in the best way. Whether you’re reading it on the beach or in the park, I hope it takes you somewhere joyful.
For the record, it was cherry.
Chip Pons’ must-read list
Oh, the drama! The book that brought me to tears in the best way possible:
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly. This book walked me straight into a puddle of my own emotions. The way Anita writes about Alexei and Ben’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, both physical and emotional, is breathtaking. It’s tender and hopeful and reminds you that living your truth is the bravest thing you can do. I recommend it with my whole chest.
Transatlantic flight? No problem. An author I can read for eight hours straight:
Marley Valentine, always. She’s one of those authors who writes stories that wreck you just enough before building you back up again. Her characters are gorgeously flawed, her prose is intentional and emotionally rich, and I will devour anything she publishes. If you want a book that makes you feel everything, start with Marley.
“YA YA” is more than a Beyoncé hit. No matter your age, this YA (young adult) novel is worth reading:
I can’t pick just one, so I’m giving you a double feature. And They Were Roommates by Page Powers is peak YA rom-com chaos… roommate hijinks, snappy banter, and an ending that had me grinning like a fool.
What Is This Feeling? by Robby Weber is just as unputdownable. Teddy and Sebastian’s scavenger hunt across NYC is full of drama club energy, tender moments, and theater kid gold. You don’t need a stage to fall in love; you just need the right scene partner.
Related
18 LGBTQ+ books hitting shelves in summer 2025
There’s a title for every type of queer reader. Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced summer rom-com, sapphic thriller, or cultural deep dive, this season promises to be a page-turner.
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