Movits and his friend Ruben are kids who decide to become skaters so that Mo can get closer to a girl he saw on the skateboarding park. Mo is not an athletic kid nor does he know anything about skateboarding. By accident, he becomes a well-known trick skater and finds himself doing a television show to show off his skills to the community and beyond. This is a complete nightmare for Mo! He didn't mean for this to happen! Can he save himself from total humiliation and still get the girl??

For a nerd like Mo, it is unlikely enough that he would catch the attention of the coolest skater girl in his town.

But when his attempt to reinvent himself as a skater dude in order to win actions leads to success in the form of a fluke, when a video of a skating trick he somehow manages to do goes viral, Mo finds himself experiencing the ultimate in imposter syndrome...

A charming story by a gifted Swedish writer, this one is not to be missed!

This was a cute little story about a boy's first crush and what he did to impress the girl. I'm glad Mo figured it out in the end and realized being himself was better than faking his skateboarding interest. Definitely a good book for older kids to read.

3.5 stars rounded up

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Biggest Fake in the Universe by Johan Rundberg

Format: e-ARC

Yes, this book is aimed at younger kids (probably 8–10), but man, I loved it. I was laughing out loud more than once, and the wholesome friend and family dynamics warmed my heart.

We see the world through the eyes of 13-year-old Mo, a boy with his first crush who decides to reinvent himself as a skater to impress Bea, the effortlessly cool and mysterious girl he admires. One viral moment later, his entire town (and basically all of Sweden) thinks he is a skateboarding prodigy… except he is not. Cue a ridiculous, hilarious chain of events.

I read one review that claimed the story involves “gaslighting” and is too unbelievable, but honestly, that is what makes it so great. I remember being this age, and I absolutely did silly things to get a boy’s attention. (Shout-out to the time I bought a 25¢ soccer-ball pencil just because my crush played soccer.) Kids are innocent, earnest, and willing to go above and beyond for something that feels important to them. That is Mo to a T.

And while the premise is funny, it is also heartwarming. Mo grows enough to realize when he has hurt his mom or his best friend and makes it right. He eventually chooses to be true to himself, lets Bea have the spotlight for her incredible skating skills (shout-out to her hilariously named skating legend dad, Tony Hök), and still gets his own moment to shine with his cooking talent and his adorable, talented hamster, Domino.

One of my favorite aspects was how refreshing it was to see a 13-year-old still just being a kid. No phone glued to his hand, plenty of real-world adventures with friends, and a willingness to try new things. Plus, the supporting cast is gold, especially his elderly neighbor, Ingbritt, who reminded me so much of my Oma. This scene had me cackling:

“You never know,” Ingbritt said. “It may be the last time I see you.”
“Thanks a lot,” I said with a snort. “You could have said something encouraging. Some words of wisdom perhaps, about everything turning out okay in the end. Like old people usually do.”
“Go poop yourself,” Ingbritt said.

And then there is this gem that had me wheezing like a 10-year-old:

“We all remember when you had to amputate your butt after a failed ollie,” he continued. “Is it better?”
“Absolutely,” I replied. “Without a butt, there is less wind resistance, so I consider it an advantage.”

If you want something genuinely funny, full of heart, and a little bit absurd in the best way, this one is a win.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, AmazonCrossing | Amazon Crossing Kids, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This one’s going straight into my “books that made me laugh out loud in public” list.

What an adorable cover with an equally adorable story! So comforting and utterly cute. I really liked this!