⭐️⭐️⭐️½ ARC Review: Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

As a longtime fan of Lynn Painter—Better Than the Movies is one of my all-time favorites—I was thrilled to finally receive an ARC of her latest YA rom-com, Fake Skating.

This one has all the ingredients of a fun teen romance: fake dating, winter vibes, and a hint of The Summer I Turned Pretty—but swap the beach for ice rinks and add in some hockey drama. With hockey romances trending, I had high hopes. While it was a cute and easy read, I found myself wanting more depth, especially in the childhood friendship dynamic. Some flashbacks or deeper emotional beats would’ve made the connection between the characters hit harder.

Overall, I’m giving this one 3.5 stars. Not my favorite of her YA lineup, but still an enjoyable, cozy winter romance perfect for fans of fake dating tropes and light-hearted teen reads.

Absolutely Adorable and Hilariously Romantic!
Painter has once again delivered a rom-com that’s equal parts hilarious banter and emotional depth. Their dynamic is electric from the start, with laugh-out-loud dialogue and just the right amount of slow-burn tension that keeps the pages flying.

What really makes this story shine is Painter’s ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments. Both characters feel real and vulnerable beneath their sparkly façades, and their growth—both individually and as a duo—is incredibly satisfying to watch unfold.

If you’re a fan of Lynn Painter’s signature voice (think Better Than the Movies or Mr. Wrong Number), or you’re just craving a feel-good rom-com with depth, Fake Skating is a must-read.

a MASSIVE thank you to net galley and Lynn Painter for this arc!!! still in shock that I was approved 🫶

4 ⭐️

Dani and Alec are childhood friends who are ripped away from each other because of Dani's military father and grandfather's conflict. She gets moved from city to city and writes postcards with Alec, until suddenly they stop. This book is a childhood friends to lovers second chance romance where our mmc is a high school hockey legend and our fmc isn't sure she knows who he is anymore.

what's in it?
♡ fake dating
♡ childhood best friends to not friends
♡ hockey romance
♡ military family & family drama
♡ miscommunication

what I loved

I love anything by Lynn. I think her books are so fun and they touch on real issues teenagers are dealing with. The fmc, Dani, has started struggling with anxiety and we see her working through that. Alec, our mmc, is stubborn and dealing with an injury he should've had looked at by now. I loved how easy this book was to read and the characters. Lynn writes incredibly fun characters.

I enjoyed the friendship dynamics and the banter between Alec and Dani. I also loved her grandfather's character. I would love to see more of their dynamic as the relationship heals.

I also liked the representation of imperfect relationships both in families and outside of them.

what I didn't like

There's quite a bit of swearing in her books. I know teens swear, but sometimes it feels excessive. I also don't think the miscommunication was resolved as effectively as it could've been. Obviously, this doesn't make me shy away from her books as I continue to read them, haha! There are also parts of this book that I felt were a little rushed. There were some things between Alec and Dani that I felt could have been addressed sooner and have been worked through more effectively. I think it would have been nice to see more of the family dynamic between Dani and her mom. We have hints of the issues with her dad, but I would love even more context to their family dynamic.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I'm excited to see what else Lynn writes! Many thanks, again, for an arc <3

WHY WAS THIS SO CUTE?

Fake Skating (phenomenal pun), is proof friends to lovers can make me squeal. You get fake dating, you get miscommunication, you get a touch of second chance romance. It’s. So. Cute.

Am I convinced the author knows how a power plays work? No.

Was the third act breakup a bit tedious? Sure.

Did that stop me from having a great time? Absolutely not.

I devoured this novel. There are heavier emotional beats that get proper attention throughout the story. Hockey knowledge is not required and the sports aspect is fairly limited so that shouldn’t turn anyone off. Special shoutout for adult characters that felt like actual human beings and not props. This is absolutely worth a read, adult or YA reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

📖 Book Title: Fake Skating

Author: Lynn Painter

Tropes: Fake Dating, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Hockey Romance, Small Town, He Falls First, YA Rom-Com

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Level: 🌶️ (Sweet YA-level swoon)

⸻

🤩 The Vibe:

A nerdy childhood best friend turned hockey heartthrob. A fake dating scheme that spirals. A Minnesota town where hockey is life and love sneaks up when you least expect it. Lynn Painter delivers another win with this adorable, laugh-out-loud, heart-squeezing YA romance.

⸻

👩‍❤️‍👨 Main Characters:

Dani: Just moved to her summer vacation town, ready to reconnect with her childhood best friend — only to find he’s now a hockey legend. She’s funny, relatable, and navigating the messy feels of senior year and falling in love for real.

Alec: Former sweet kid turned teen hockey god. But underneath the reputation is still the thoughtful, nerdy boy Dani remembers — and he’s absolutely gone for her.

⸻

💕 What I Loved:

• That signature Lynn Painter humor — I laughed a lot

• The fake dating setup felt organic and so much fun

• Alec is a cinnamon roll hidden under varsity energy

• The emotional tension and angst felt just right for a high school setting

• Dani’s inner dialogue and teen voice were on point — so many relatable, chaotic thoughts

• The payoff! The ending was satisfying, swoony, and sweet

⸻

🚫 What Didn’t Work For Me:

• It sometimes read more like college-aged characters than high schoolers — not a deal breaker, but it might throw some readers off

• I felt like in this day and age the likelihood of Dani and Alec losing touch because postcards stopped coming seems far fetched, wouldn’t one of them have found the other on social media?

• I did get frustrated with Dani for her relationship with her dad. But considering she’s in high school I let it slide that she wanted to give him the benefit of doubt.

⸻

💭 Final Thoughts:

Lynn Painter is the queen of fun, heartfelt romantic chaos, and Fake Skating is no exception. The chemistry between Dani and Alec was everything, and the emotional growth they both experienced made the romance land so well. Even if you don’t usually reach for YA, this one has universal appeal. If you love fake dating, small-town drama, and falling for the boy who already knows you best — this one’s for you.

Always love Lynn Painter! Dani and Alec are simply adorable and I love seeing their relationship develop. Sometimes you just need to reach for a YA novel that can still make you giggle. My only problem is that there was a kind of major plot point that, as far as I could tell, was never mentioned. Additionally, Alec was very much "male written by a female" to the point where many things just weren't believable (his playlist hello??). Still very cute though.

I love a good fake dating trope and this was such a cute read! I enjoyed the characters, but the amount of swearing from the mmc seemed egregious and was distracting from the story at times. I get that the author was trying to make him sound like a high school senior boy, but the amount of f-bombs used in each of his chapters seemed like overkill. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this earc!

Dani Collins and her mother spent one month every summer visiting her grandparents in Southview, MN. She would hang out with her mother’s best friend’s son, Alec Barczewski, doing stuff that kids do. Then her grandmother died, there was a big family fallout, and they stopped their yearly visits. Almost five years passed when Dani’s parents divorced and Dani and her mom permanently returned to Southview. Both Dani and Alec have grown and changed in those five years. She’s a military kid who moved and changed schools every year or so, making it hard to make and keep friends. He’s the high school hockey star who’s poised to make it big, but has a reputation for getting into trouble. The question is - How can they help each other without the past getting in the way?

Lynn Painter’s book “Fake Skating” does a good job depicting the various challenges in a high schooler’s world. As a Minnesotan who lives in the Twin Cities it was fun to see an accurate description of the locale and a good understanding of the fever and excitement of the Minnesota State High School League Hockey Tournaments. The city of Southview and St. John’s Academy are fictitious, but they are based on a real place that had its start in meat packing and a real private boy’s school. Readers who enjoy romance, young love, and hockey will like this book.

I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the e-copy of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#FakeSkatingBook
#NetGalley
#Simon&SchusterChildren’sPublishing
#romance
#YoungLove
#hockey

Dani and Alec are childhood best friends who become separated when Dani moves to Germany. The story follows their reconnection when Dani moves back to Minnesota and Alec asks her to be his fake girlfriend to help with his bad reputation. He wants to gain credibility because he is working toward becoming an NHL player. She agrees so that she can be one of the team managers and increase her odds of getting into Harvard. Thus ensues the typical fake dating trope which... you guessed it, leads to further complications.

So.... this book was most definitely YA. The banter, the problems, and the arc of their relationships was all very High School. Which makes sense! However, there were moments when characters felt more like caricatures than real people.

Things I liked:
- Dani's social anxiety and the way it was portrayed
- Lynn Painter's talent for including modern music in the plot
- The chemistry between the FMC and MMC
- Dani's grandpa Mick (he was just so sweet!)

Things I struggled with:
- How much language was in this book. Now, don't get me wrong, I can appreciate strong language when it makes sense, but considering this book is YA it just felt excessive. There were times it was like every other sentence.
- Repetitive phrases ("cute as hell", "I swear to God" etc) could sometimes take me out of the plot
- The lack of backstory playing itself out. I feel like we heard a lot about Dani's hard times in Middle School, but we never got to see it. There was a lot of telling and not showing when it came to character development
- Their Minnesotan hockey team is called the PACKERS? I'm sorry, but there is no way that would fly. Wisconsin would kill them.

Overall, this book was a 3 star for me. I realize I'm not the intended audience for it, so take that into consideration.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

While it took me a second to get into the book, it truly ended up being a fun, warm, and cute read. I loved the fake dating aspect and the hockey setting. Grandpa Mick completely stole my heart, even with how much of a grump he was. I loved that this book included aspects on social anxiety and believe it was done well. I did wish that the book went deeper into the unresolved history between Dani and Alec. It felt like their falling out wasn’t ever unpacked and discussed all the way, only in random passing conversations. The whole Benji being in their spot situation also felt a little brushed off. In that case, I just wish there was some more clarity. While Alec and Dani occasionally felt a little too mature to be in high school, I never stopped rooting for the two of them. I kind of wish the book was longer, because even though it took a minute to really get into it, I can’t stop thinking about the characters.

I absolutely adored reading Fake Skating. I cannot tell you enough to read this book. Another Lynn Painter 5⭐️ rating in my opinion.

Childhood friends Dani and Alec reconnect in high school after Dani moves in with her grandfather (who she also hasn’t spoken to in years). Now that Dani has moved back though, are they still friends like they used to be, or is there something more there?

As much as I liked reading about Dani and Alec’s journey with one another, I also liked getting to read and understand each character individually. For Dani, you got to see her relationship with her father and grandfather and how both unfolded throughout the book. For Alec, you got to see his struggle with hockey, his parents, and even Dani throughout the books as well.

Love love LOVE that Alec thought in song lyrics in parts of the book (honestly reminded me a lot of Liz from BTTM). Will say there is a LOT of cussing in this book, and I felt it was a bit unnecessary in some parts. If you’re a fan of BTTM, I think you’ll really like this!

Read if you like:
⛸️ hockey romance
⛸️ fake dating
⛸️ childhood friends
⛸️ dual pov
⛸️ second chance
⛸️ coming-of-age
⛸️ small town

Lynn Painter scores a game winning goal with her newest book! Fake Skating is a romantic comedy involving small town Minnesota hockey, childhood friends, and a fake dating trope.
Dani and Alec grew up spending their childhood summers together until Dani moved away. When she moves back to Minnesota with her mom a few years later, Dani and Alec are both excited and nervous to see each other after so much time has passed. They both quickly realize that neither is the same person they used to know, making them unsure of how to act towards each other. Things get more than complicated when they find themselves in a situation forcing them to pretend they are boyfriend and girlfriend.
Fake Skating is an entertaining romantic comedy that will leave you cheering for the main characters together and by themselves!! Whether you’ve read all, some or none of Lynn Painter’s books, this one is definitely one you don’t want to miss!!!
Thank you Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I always enjoy reading anything Lynn Painter writes. This book is perfect for the winter. Childhood friends reconnect in high school. Dani and Alec were best friends but then something happens and they quit talking. Now Dani has moved back to Alec's town and they both need to help each other out. Can they reconnect and resolve what happened when they were kids? Is the chemistry still there?

Read if you like:
🏒 Fake Dating
🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Childhood Sweethearts
🏒 Miscommunication

Thank you to the publishers and NetGally for this Advanced Release copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I thought this story was really cute. The beginning was a little boring with the back and forth about the cards/ghosting/ etc. I also then felt like Dani and Benji in the ‘secret spot’ never came up again in the end so that never seemed resolved. Regardless, I always enjoy the characters Lynn Painter creates, as well as, their banger.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work for me. I LOVED Better than the Movies. But I struggled to connect with the characters and the story in this one.

4.5⭐️ LYNN PAINTER CAN DO NO WRONG!!! I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time I was reading this book. Dani and Alec had me from the very beginning.

The tension between the two was palpable and I ate it up at every turn. I genuinely enjoyed all of the characters in this book (save for Dani’s dad and Benji 🙄) and I would read an entire series about this group. The locker room scene AND the locker room scene reprise had me gasping for air.
One thing about me is I HATE miscommunication; however, I think it always makes sense to me in YA especially when the characters are in high school. It’s realistic and in this instance it didn’t take away from how I felt about the story. I had a feeling I knew exactly what happened when the letters stopped and I did in fact clock it.
P.S. My partner got me into Lynn Painter and I just about threw my phone across the room when I got approved for this ARC.

The hockey scenes were also so much fun, Miss Painter please write a million more hockey romances!

Thank you to Lynn Painter, Netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC!

I love a Lynn Painter book and this one did not disappoint. Was it predictable and following a formula? Sure, to a point it definitely was but I don't care. This is the perfect YA read for someone who wants romance but isn't ready for the higher up stuff. I devoured this on a beach day and know that my HS students are going to love it.

Fake Skating
4.25 ⭐️

Lynn Painter is one of the few authors I trust for a YA romance and she did not disappointed with this latest book set in Minnesota!

Dani is headed back to live with her mom and grandfather after her parents divorce, making them close to her childhood penpal. Having been an Air Force kid, she’s moved around so much that the stability is almost a foreign concept. Meanwhile, her penpal Alec has a lot of pressure with his high school hockey team as they head to the state finals.

I flew through this in a day, it was so cute and so good with banter! I was rooting for these two the whole time!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

Another stellar romance from Lynn Painter. Don’t let the YA label turn readers off in the marketing, since the characters are 18 most of the book and their voices will resonate with adult readers too. Loved Alec & Dani! This feels like a Check & Mate type of book where it is technically YA but has an extremely broad appeal in the romance market.

I absolutely love Lynn Painter's YA books and this is no exception! It did start off a little rough and slow but it picked up and became very addicting. I love how this captures the romanticized version of high school and makes you feel like you are right there. It's a quick and easy read that doesn't require much brain power.
This is also one of those rare moments where I was left off wanting more book, I feel like Dani and Alec could have been fleshed out a bit more. Also I was not of a fan of the random song lyrics but they could have been arc typos? Alec's POV were not as strong as Dani's because most of the time I had to go back to confirm the POV since it felt like it was all Dani.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this gifted arc!