I absolutely loved this book! The relationshipand friendship between Dani and Alec was perfect. There is miscommunication and when they figure it out, everything is tied nicely together.

OMGOMGOMG!!! I loved it! Devoured the book in two days, and I already want to reread it. Just like every Lynn Painter YA book, I will buy 5 for my high school library, and all of them will be checked out all the time.

Alec and Dani’s relationship was so cute, and even though “fake dating” is a troupe used often, Painter delivers banter and angst like no other. Hockey books are some of my favorites, and Dani’s grandfather being a hockey star added a fun element to the story. I love that her grandpa would research how to talk to her, and he made her better. It was PERFECT!

Thank you, Lynn Painter and Netgalley for allowing me an ARC of this book! Please never stop writing!!!

the best YA book lynn painter has ever written. this book was so quick & easy to read, and it took me out of my reading slump. it was such an adorable read with the childhood friends/second chance trope. alec (the guy character,) was so caring and i loved how he couldn’t fight his feelings for dani. both the main characters matched so much & they had sooo much banter. it was such a well thought book, and the ending was so adorable that i was sad the book was over.

hey siri…play so high school by taylor swift.

oh my… I have so much to say but I can’t!!! I honestly cannot wait until release day so I can put my full review out there because I am bursting at the seams.

What I can say for now is … Lynn Painter, you never fail to amaze me. This book had me giggling, kicking my feet, and smiling like an idiot the entire time. I’m a sucker for Lynn’s books and an even bigger sucker for hockey romances. Those two together??? OH MY LAANTAAA. It was everything.

I resonated with dani so much. I loved the representation of mental health and panic attacks in this book. I adored her so much. She was sweet, funny, and so real. And Alec noticing the little shifts in her and being so happy to see her shine again?? I melted. That man is a walking green flag.

Now… I do have one tiny thing to say. The miscommunication plot? I needed more. Like yes, I know they love each other, but I wanted that conversation, that moment where they really work through it instead of skipping past it. One page just wasn’t enough. I needed to feel the resolution before we moved on to the real romance part. Because I was rooting for them so hard, and I wanted that emotional payoff. Same thing with the whole ordeal with the father. What he did was very unforgivable and yes sure he’s her father but talk. it. out. please!!!!

BUT can we talk about the pet names??? “Baby,” “Honey,” “Baby girl” — I ate it UP. Every single one. I was swooning, smiling, twirling my hair. Alec could call me any of those and I’d just pass away right there. He was giving book boyfriend of the year and I will not be taking questions.

Anyway. I have SO much more to say. But for now… just know I’m obsessed and counting down the seconds until release

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC. I thought this story was a cute childhood sweethearts/fake dating to real dating vibe.

I knocked one star off because I felt the pacing at first was slow and there a little bit of immaturity to the main characters for their age. I don’t really relate to the main characters since I’m not that age group, but I enjoyed the overall story.

I'm sorry but I've just gotta be honest and say Lynn Painter never misses with these YA romance novels. They always hit for me. I'm not saying they're perfect but I'm smiling at my little ARC like a loser! 4 stars!

A new YA+ romance book with tropes such as fake dating, childhood sweethearts, missed connection & hockey-romance.
⛸️
Dani spent her whole life traveling thanks to her military father, but the one month a year in the summer when she would get to go to her mom’s hometown and spend time with her mom’s best friend’s son was the highlight of her year. Unfortunately after Dani and Alec kiss for the first time, the notes they sent throughout the year to one another just stop. Dani has always wondered why in seventh grade she stopped hearing from him, but now it’s the last few months of her senior year and her parents’ divorce brings Dani and her mom back to Minnesota. Teenage Alec is nothing like the nerdy boy she grew up with. Now he’s a hockey god named Zeus that seems like a popular playboy on campus. When the two get into a compromising position they have to fake date to save Alec’s reputation as he tries to make it into the NHL, but spending time together they realize there has been a lot of hurt on both sides, as well as miscommunications that are blocking a happy ever after.
🥅
I adore Lynn’s romance books whether they are middle grade, young adult or adult. She just speaks to my heart and uses my favorite tropes. This one is going to be appropriate for our old high school readers and they’re going to eat it up when it releases September 30! Check out the Spotify playlist associated with the novel!

CW: medical content, injury, car accident, hospitalization, toxic relationship, parental abandonment, anxiety attacks (on page), alcohol, violence, physical assault, drug use

Not 5 ⭐️ because of random f-bombs for no rhyme or reason and the songs included throughout were distracting.

Another incredibly cute romance from Lynn Painter! This book does second chance romance perfectly and the Minnesota setting is so well-developed it's practically it's own character. If you loved Better Than The Movies, you're sure to love this as well!

I have loved all of Lynn Painter’s books, especially her YA, and this did not disappoint! It was probably the most emotional one yet for me; I found myself wiping away a few tears when Dani and Alec were first getting to know each other again and not really understanding what the other was thinking or what they had been through the last five years apart. Loved all the Minnesota and hockey details that brought the story to life. I also loved the character of Dani’s grandfather. Throw in a little fake dating to force them to spend time with each other again and I’m totally here for it.

3.5 stars ⭐️ Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC! For fans of Childhood Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, and Sports Romance. Dani and Alec used to be inseparable as kids - best friends, confidantes, and secretly each other's first loves... until Dani's family announces a move, and circumstances leave them both feeling hurt and abandoned by each other. Years pass, and with Dani moving back into town, they both equally dread and anticipate the moment they'll see each other again - which they can't escape with their mom's being best friends, and them both attending the same high school. They hardly recognize each other - with Dani more reserved than she's ever been, and Alec now a hockey God that the entire town looks up to. With family pressures threatening to crush both of them, and one simple mistake threatening to derail both of their futures, Alec proposes a solution to both of their problems - pretending to date and helping each other to both get what they want. But with every "fake" touch and kiss, hearts race and they both start to question, is this really all for show? And can their feelings overcome the way they've both hurt each other?

A fun, and surprising deep YA romance. I think my favorite character in this book was Grandpa Mick, the grumbly, ex hockey player who spoke so lovingly of his deceased wife and talked Dani through her panic attacks (which I really appreciated representation both teens with anxiety, and grown adults). Dani and Alec themselves were both flawed characters, as most teens are, but showed real growth through the course of this book! I do think for me, the multitude of swear words in this book took me out of the story a little bit. I get that teens that swear tend to swear more than adult, but it felt a bit excessive to me! I think it distracted a bit from the writing a bit. Overall a fun read, and I would recommend it for lovers of the YA Romance/YA Sports Romance genre!

Fake Skating is so cute! My new favorite hockey YA rom-com. This book had my favorite trope fake dating and pulled it off with so much heart and angst! The chemistry between the main characters was so good — you could feel their history and tension in every scene. From childhood best friends to distant strangers to falling for each other all over again. Their unresolved feelings skating just beneath the surface. Plus the miscommunication was maddening in the best way, and the emotional payoff was so worth it in the end when they finally got their second chance. As much as I loved the ending, I would’ve enjoyed a few more moments between them once they reunited — it wrapped up a bit quickly after all that build-up. It gave me total Better Than the Movies vibes — I couldn’t stop reading, loved it.

I absolutely adored this book. I think this book captured so much of what I love about Lynn Painter’s work - it has a copious amount of heart. The romance in this story is of course so sweet, I love childhood friends to lovers, and Fake Skating does that perfectly, with just enough yearning and build up to make it believable, but doesn’t drag it out. I think that the miscommunication aspect is usually an annoyance to me, but I think with the ages that the characters are, it made sense.

But what I really loved about this book was the family relationships. I feel like the dynamics were so real and complicated and raw. And I loved every second of it. The pressures kids feel to support their family when they have the opportunity to, the problems that arise for kids with parents who are not in good relationships, how that affects grandparents, just everything about the family relationships was so meaningful and powerful.

I absolutely adored this book, and I am SO grateful to have received an ARC. I will be posting a full review on Instagram closer to publication 💖

With slightly younger characters than we’re used to from Lynn Painter, Fake Skating delivers a sweet story of first love and second chances, layered with family drama and personal growth. It’s a solid pick for younger teens — light, romantic, and full of heart — but may feel a bit too youthful for older YA readers.
That said, while the premise is charming, some of the key plot points — the reason for their estrangement, the need for her to join the team, and the fake dating setup — felt a little underdeveloped. And personally, the amount of swearing felt uncalled-for given the tone of the story.
Lynn Painter is a go-to author for me, and I’ll absolutely keep reading her books — but this one just wasn’t quite my match.

4.25 ⭐️

Lynn Painter's YA books always have me hooked and giggling. Betting on You was one of my favorite books of 2024 so I was stoked when I got this ARC! This delivered everything I always want from one of her YAs- messy family dynamics, quick witted banter and a binge worthy writing style.

I loved Dani and her character arc was so touching. As someone who is friends with military kids she was so relatable. I did have trouble connecting fully with Alec, and that kept this from a full 5 stars. There also was a lot of unnecessary cussing that I didn't feel added to the story.

I inhaled this and absolutely plan to buy a trophy shelf version once it hits paperback! If you loved all of her YA books, this one will hit the spot :)

Oh...my...GOSH. I LOVED THIS!!

I read anything Lynn Painter writes and this was so cute. I kept grinning in my chair from cuteness. I loved Dani as a character and grew to love Alec after a few chapters. The characters were well-rounded, and I loved seeing the different dynamics between Dani and her family. I knew there would be drama, but I actually didn't mind it too much. 10/10 recommend.

5/5⭐️ Perfect YA Book!

Lynn flawlessly captured the age group and teenage struggles with social anxiety, parental relationships, and first love. This book could be described as the perfect blend of “To All The Boys I Loved Before”, “Every Summer After”, and “The Deal” hitting all boxes for the young adult category. There was a lot of side characters but it was done in such a way that felt authentic and easy to follow. The writing was great and I would absolutely pick up a sequel focusing on the college years!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Seriously, this was my favorite YA of Lynn’s to date, and that is saying something. I absolutely loved our female lead and her sarcasm and directly related side character Grandpa Mick. It was truly a joy to watch them interact with others and one another. I felt like it was easier to connect with Dani’s character compared to other books, as her character arc was wholly relatable. I also really enjoyed Alec’s character arc and personality, because he was just pristine. Sarcasm, arrogance, and a lot in love. Thank you, I’ll take 3.

While we aren’t here to compare, and Alec is no Wes, I felt connected to this story in a way I wasn’t able to with BTTM. While those books hit, and hit hard, there was the elusive SOMETHING that was holding me back. This book did not have that FOR ME. While FS didn’t have the nostalgia of senior prom and the end of senior year, it had all the heart and anxiety of what it feels like to find your place and your people, while preparing for the next step in life. I absolutely loved it.

Also, a million bonus points for the allusion to who Alec’s cousin is. Absolutely loved that in the beginning of the prologue. I actually squealed.

This world is just my favorite!

I LOVED this book. Lynn Painter never misses. It was such an easy read. Probably one of Lynn Painters more serious books but it still had funny moments and the characters energy were contagious! Such a good read!

He’s no Wes, but I love Alec just the same.

This book was such a cute friends to enemies to lovers story and I absolutely adored it.

I really thought Benji was the one behind the falling out between Dani and Alec, to find out it wasn’t him was a shocker… but I still hate him! So much!

Dani and Alec are so perfect, I loved the way they fell all over again as young adults and I hope we get a Cassie and Kyle story that features them???

Also… Grandpa Mick is my favorite side character, he’s perfect, followed by Big John.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Fake Skating was such a fun read! I enjoyed the characters, the plot, the setting, all of it! Dani and Alec both had such strong character traits that made them a very compatible and fun-to-root-for couple. They were people that felt with real problems, and I’m sure a lot of people can relate to some of the themes in this book.

The romance itself was a lot of fun to read! I felt emotions right along with the main characters and the hockey games had me on the edge of my seat!

My have only two criticisms for this book:

1) Lynn Painter is typically wonderful at writing YA romances, but she doesn’t have a very good grasp of modern slang. A lot of the pop-culture references and the way the main characters spoke sometimes made me cringe a little bit. There was also a LOT of swearing in this book which doesn’t sit well with me as it’s marketed as a YA book. I would much prefer her books if she didn’t try to include modern youth slang terms because they got somewhat lost in translation.

2) The third act breakup. Need I say more? When you read the book you’ll know what I’m talking about.

I would definitely recommend this book to any readers who love a good YA, no-spice romance. She has the formula for a good book down to a T and I cannot praise her enough! Happy reading everyone!