I loved this Lynn Painter romance. It was sweet, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Was perfect for upper middle grades. Mature without being too spicy. I loved the hockey legend/cranky grandpa reading phrases from his phone to try to talk to his teen granddaughter.

I first want to say I enjoyed this book. My only issue is that it felt like the author was trying so hard to add curse words in there that were so unnecessary. I also wanted to quit reading because of how cringy the cursing was. I love the no spice element of Painter’s books, but so many curse words ruined this one for me! I don’t mind some, but it just felt like so much! But the story was great and I loved the characters!

Dani and Alec were the best of friends way back when. Wherever one was the other was always two steps behind. Then that all changed when Dani moved away. Much to Dani's excitement thought they are about to be reunited... and she is looking forward to seeing her nerdy bestie again. But she soon learns that the nerdy boy she left behind is now the town's hockey playing hero. And the boy all the girls want...

Fake Skating is a wonderfully penned and utterly captivating young adult sports romance. From the get-go these characters had my full attention. They wandered onto the page and I was ready to follow them where ever they lead me. They were so well crafted that at times I truly felt like they were real people and I was right there with them experiencing everything firsthand.

A lot of times when I read hockey romances I feel like the sport is a second thought in the story and it's not really shown in the best light. But with this one I really loved that the author captured the sport accurately and took the time to use all the proper terminology and really invested her time into making the sport shine just as much as the characters. As a hockey fan it was nice to see the game represented well throughout the story.

I have a feeling that this action packed read is going to be a big hit with sports romance readers, it's an unputdownable read with characters that are destined to steal your heart at first glance! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

I love Lynn Painter’s books and will read anything she writes. I will admit I like her adult novels better than her YA, but this one was still cute. It follows Dani and Alec in a childhood friends to lovers YA romance. With this being a YA book, some of the dialogue is a bit over the top silly, but my biggest issue with this book was the amount of bad language in it. I grew very tired of reading all the language coming from the teens in the book. I did love the grandpa in the story…he was my favorite character!

Rating this a 3.5 and rounding up to 4, but I may round down after giving it more thought.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn Painter’s writing is a favorite of mine and she didn’t disappoint with her new book. Fake skating is now my second favorite book by her! Thank you so much for handing me an ARC

I picked this up instantly, as I love Lynn Painter. This cover is beautiful as are all of hers. I really liked this story, it is perfect nostalgia vibes for me of the books I read in high school. I highly recommend.

Thank you so much for the advanced copy. I love Lynn Painter’s voice and characters so much, and this novel was an absolute delight. I always appreciate the nods and mini crossovers with her other work, as well.

Fake Skating is a play on fake dating, and we get a dual narrative with two characters in high school. Dani and Alec were best friends growing up, separated when Dani moved for her dad’s military career, and reconnected when her parents divorced and she moved back to town with her mom. They had a somewhat ambiguous falling out (revealed later) and while Dani was moving around, Alec’s hockey status and family also underwent major changes.

In present day and once Dani moves back to town, she takes on the role of both hockey manager and Alec’s fake girlfriend. The purpose is so that she gets extracurricular experience for her Harvard application while he works to repair his public image for hockey scouts. It’s a fairly standard take on the trope, super cute, and has the charm of Painter’s other novels. I’d recommend this book for anyone seeking an easyyy comfortable take on the sports romance and fake dating trope - it’s nothing crazy and sticks to the algorithm with guaranteed smiles along the way. A few lines are a bit overdramatic, but if anything that’s a good take on a high schooler’s headspace.

Thank you so much for the preview of Fake Skating! Another Lynn Painter smash!! This book was fast paced, relatable, and heartwarming. The character development was just enough to understand but didn’t feel overly fluffy or nonsense. Overall, I can’t wait to suggest this to my fellow readers!

I love nearly everything Lynn Paintet writes,and Fake Skating is no exception. I live her characters, her dialogue, and the fun and wit behind everything. Throw in hockey and Minnesota themes, and this northern midwest girl fell in love! This story features fake dating, similar to Better than the Movies, but this felt more organic. The only negative I had was Alec swears - a lot - but this quickly became one of my favorite young adult rom coms of the year.

Light and happy just as a good romcom should be. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, the combination of their past and the present chemistry is perfect and I they felt like a very real couple.

Lynn Painter always excels at writing the most fluffy & flirty YA romcoms and this is no different.

There is a lot packed into the story - family drama, mental health struggles, and a fake dating setup between two childhood friends turned strangers.

I loved the romance between Dani & Alec. They were so swoony, heartfelt, and had tension/chemistry galore. Also enjoyed all the side characters from their friends to family and her adorably gruff Grandpa.

Highly recommend this to lovers of Better Than the Movies.

🌟 Fake Skating by Lynn Painter – My Honest Thoughts (Spoilers Ahead!)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I seriously devoured this book. Fake Skating gave me everything I wanted; childhood best friends reuniting, fake dating, small-town drama, and a hockey boy with a soft side?? Yes please.

From the very beginning, I loved how real Dani felt. She’s awkward but funny, bold but still figuring things out, and I related so hard to her not knowing how to act around the “new” Alec. Like, imagine thinking you’re gonna see your dorky childhood bestie again... and he shows up as the hot hockey god everyone in town worships?? Insane.

And Alec... wow. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked him because he seemed a little too smooth, but then he started doing little things—remembering what Dani liked, making her laugh, protecting her from small-town gossip—and I was done for. He’s cocky, but in that charming way where you know there’s a soft, loyal guy underneath. And oh my god the slow buildup?? The locker room scenes?? The almost kisses?? I was screaming.

The fake dating part felt natural too. They didn’t even try to pretend it wouldn’t get messy, and it made all the tension and awkward moments feel so real. And once feelings started showing up on both sides, it was game over for me. I was rooting for them so hard.

The ending made me smile so much. It wasn’t just romantic—it felt earned. Like they both grew, figured their stuff out, and actually chose each other, not just because of history or pressure, but because they genuinely fit.

Also?? Can we talk about how fun the setting was? The whole hockey-town vibe, the small-town nosiness, the rink scenes—it all just worked.

I finished this book with the biggest smile and the strongest urge to reread Better Than the Movies just because I missed Lynn Painter’s writing already. If you love fake dating, hockey boys, second chances, or just need a book that feels like a warm hug with a little chaos and a lot of heart—read Fake Skating.

Another great read by Lynn Painter. I don't know what it is about her young adult books but they are always fantastic. I loved the banter between the two main characters and the grandpa was just awesome!! I do wish they would have been more upfront with each other at times but overall it was still a fun light read!

Fun YA read. I’m a big fan of fake dating plus hockey. It was a cute read. Dani and Alec are so cute together. It was interesting to their family and friends dynamics. Alec was so caring when it came to Dani. He was beyond helpful.

If you're in the mood for a sweet and swoony YA romance that also hits some emotional depth, Fake Skating by Lynn Painter is the perfect pick.

This story is full of classic rom-com charm—fake dating, banter, and genuine chemistry that jumps off the page. But what really surprised me was how Painter wove in deeper personal issues for both main characters. It added just enough substance to keep the story from feeling too fluffy, without ever weighing it down.

I did feel like a few plot points could have used more closure, especially toward the end, but overall it was a fast, feel-good read that I flew through. If you’re a fan of Painter’s signature humor and heart, this one won’t disappoint.

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter
★★★★☆ | No Spice | "When childhood sweethearts collide with small-town hockey royalty"

THIS WAS SO CUTEEEE! Lynn Painter absolutely nailed the cozy Minnesota hockey town vibes where everyone knows everyone's business. I was living for Dani trying to navigate small-town life after being a military kid, and don't even get me started on how complex Alec turned out to be under all that hockey star pressure.

The childhood friends to strangers to lovers arc? <I><B>Chef's kiss</I></B> Their fake-dating chemistry had me kicking my feet and giggling like a maniac. I loved all the music references sprinkled throughout!

Vibes We Are Tracking:
🏒 Small-town hockey obsession
👫 Childhood friends to strangers to lovers
💕 Fake dating with real feelings
🎵 Music references galore
❄️ Cozy Minnesota winter vibes

My only gripe? Some of the male dialogue felt...not natural. But honestly? The sweetness of their reconnection and the way Painter built up their childhood foundation made me forget all about any awkward moments. This one left me with all the warm fuzzies!

Thanks NetGalley for this early ARC of Lynn Painter’s new book, Fake Skating, out on September 30, 2025!

This book is told from the POVs of Dani and Alec, two childhood best friends who haven’t seen each other in 5+ years due to Dani’s dad being in the military.

For being a hockey romance book it was very clean! They are both seniors in high school so there is some rough language, some spicy kissing scenes, but nothing further.

I’m hopeful that we will get a second book for Dani X Alec for their relationship after HS! Very sweet romance book with minimal miscommunication that gets cleared up relatively quickly.

My one suggestion for the cover is to take away the skates for Dani. There is not even one scene where she is skating but every picture on the front cover of them two together shows her with a pair of skates as well.

Thanks again for this early copy of Fake Skating!! 🏒 ⛸️

Fake Skating is a great YA sports romance and I enjoyed every second, it was a very quick read! However, some of the details are slightly unrealistic such as the maturity, physically and emotionally,of the characters (they are only supposed to be in high school). The high level athletic play of said high schoolers with absolutely no training regime or talk of diets or personal coaches, they just seem to show up and be a “God” of the sport. Lynn Painter always delivers on good pacing and a good time though!

This was such a cute about childhood friends fake dating and falling in love - there’s hockey, swoony moments, and a very sweet romance that you can’t help but root for!

If you haven’t tried a Lynn Painter YA novel, you definitely should! Fake Skating most assuredly ranks near the top of those I have read. When childhood besties, Dani and Alec, are thrown back into each other’s lives, things get interesting. Alec needs to improve his image to ensure a future in the hockey world, so fake dating good girl, Dani, seems like the perfect solution. I loved the story line, the main and side characters (Grandpa Mick has my heart), and the relationships that bloomed within the book. Mia was actually dying to get her hands on this release early and I am so glad she had me get this one from Netgalley. Out Septmeber 30th. Put it on your TBR. Thank you, @netgalley for the advanced reader copy.