4.5* rounded up -- I've never met a YA novel by Lynn Painter that I didn't love and her latest is no exception. The chemistry, story lines, and (to me) the nostalgic and complex high school era issues are so bingeworthy and relatable. I also love that she's always writing songs into the background that detail the soundtrack and progression of the story -- and then finalizes the book with a full soundtrack. I like to think that my brain and life work the same way -- with its own evolving soundtrack -- and that unique component on its own continues to be so fun and personally relatable. I would absolutely recommend this to lovers of rom coms, young and old. Unlike a lot of YA/college romance, Lynn Painter's characters never feel cringe or inappropriate, which especially means a lot, coming from a 40 year old woman who isn't necessarily the target demographic. I'll continue to auto-read all of Lynn Painter's releases, especially her can't-be-touched YA novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Books for the opportunity to review this as an ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for rewarding me with this masterpiece of an ARC for my honest review.

I want to start off saying this is officially one of my favorite Lynn Painter books. She is my go to YA romance author and she did NOT disappoint.

what to expect:
- fake dating
- military brat
- ex best friends to lovers
- hockey
- found family-friends (in a sense)
- dual POV

Dani and Alec were best friends as kids, they did everything together until Dani moved away due to military circumstances. They came up with an idea to send each other post cards with secret messages to keep in touch until one day they stop showing up. They stop communicating. Years later, Dani and her mom move back to minnesota due to her parents divorce. She is dreading seeing Alec again after what happened between them, but Alec is NOTHING from what she remembers. Alec is a high school hockey legend. Then you get Alec, who is also dreading seeing Dani and is caught off guard by Dani. When one things leads to another they are thrown into playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend.

I absolutely loved Alec, the MMC. He is such a genuine character and really brought our FMC, out of her shell. Dani is struggling being the new kid again after moving around so much and he helps her with her anxiety, brings her into his friends group where Dani is finally able to be herself and meet her new “family” in Minnesota that she never had. I ate up every page and couldn’t put the book down. I loved all of the side characters, especially Danis hockey legend, grandpa. This book had me giggling, laughing, throwing my feet in the air. The Queen of YA did it again!

The ONLY negative thing i can say about the book is the cover. I think it can be misleading. I first thought it was an ice skating book with her also having skates on.

I don’t often go out of my way to read a young adult romance book anymore but if Lynn Painter writes it, I will be there! Definitely one of those authors where I know the odds of me loving her books are 50/50 but i’ll still read them anyway 🤷‍♀️ I do want to add that this definitely reads a little more upper YA in my opinion.

Unfortunately, this was a bust for me. I just feel like the entire time I was reading, I was just looking for more. The family drama felt too dramatic and the third act conflict was just plain frustrating. I didn’t mind the fmc’s pov but the mmc’s pov I didn’t care for as much.

Overall, it was a quick and cute read but to me it felt pretty surface level.

This will grab so many readers based on tropes alone. Childhood lovers to friends, hockey romance, fake dating and dual POV is always a winner.

Lynn Painter has a magical way of making the humor in her books feel so genuine. The quick quips between Dani and Alec made me actually giggle out loud. That and the way she evokes serious emotion with her words in what is basically a “romcom” style book is incredible. Not cheesy at all but such giddiness. The overall feel will be perfect for when it releases going into fall because it’s such a wintery adorable love story.

I really liked Not like the Movies, it was super cute and fun and everything you want in a teen rom com. But I think I am simply too old for that genre now. I do not find them as entertaining as I use to. Although Fake Skating was a fun read and I really liked both the main characters I did not enjoy myself as much so half way through I had to stop reading. Nothing to do with the writing and story, it was just a me problem.

Well, that was absolutely adorable. Like, grinning-at-my-phone, kicking-my-feet, and yelling “JUST KISS ALREADY” adorable. Lynn Painter continues to be the queen of banter and chemistry that jumps off the page and smacks you in the heart. 🏒

Was there more salty language than I usually go for? Yes. Do I fully believe that high school hockey players sound exactly like this in real life? Also yes. So I rolled with it.

The fake dating + childhood-best-friends-to-love combo is one of my all-time favorite tropes, and this story delivered hard. Dani and Alec were everything: sweet, swoony, hilarious, and just the right amount of messy.

If you’ve loved any of Painter’s other books, consider this one your next obsession. Add it to your Fall TBR and set an alarm for release day—because you’re going to want to read this one immediately.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well I’ll read just about anything Lynn Painter writes including a YA high school rom com. Because guess what, this was freaking adorable. I looooved both the mc’s so much.

There’s a little second chance romance, friends to dating (I can’t use lovers for high schoolers, sorry), fake dating. Reunited family. I adored it so much!


Thank you so much NetGalley and Simon and Schuster children’s publishing for the advanced copy!

First off, I was so excited to receive an arc by Lynn Painter. 🤭
Right off the bat, I already loved Dani's character. She is so relatable! From dealing with mean girls to books being her escape.
Dani's going through a lot with her parents being divorced and moving back into her grandpa's house. One plus is she can rekindle her relationship with Alec, her old best friend (well, she doesn't realize it's a plus, but it is).
Alec has changed so much since she last knew him. He's now top dog and a very popular hockey player at school. They are both eager to rekindle their relationship....and maybe something more. This book is a little emotional seeing what these two have gone through. I like it when we get more feelings within the characters. The miscommunication trope plays an important role, which I sometimes find annoying, but it does fit the story.

I'm not a fan of how much language is used because it's a YA book. There is little spice, which is great and I would definitely recommend it to a younger audience, but the amount of swear words used is unnecessary.

Fake Skating brings to mind a familiar yet painful sense of relationships distorted by time and circumstance. Lynn Painter seems to have a deep understanding of the psychology of adolescence - the stage when we have to face the fact that everything and everyone can change unpredictably. The most profound feeling I got from this work was about the pain of outgrowing important relationships. Sometimes we change not because we want to, but because circumstances force us to. Alec may have sacrificed his friendship with Dani to become the "stronger" version that everyone expected of him. The question Painter raises is whether the two can find each other again after they have grown up or whether they are too different to be reconciled. This piece made me ponder whether we can love someone for who they once were or must we learn to love who they have become.

One thing about me, if Lynn Painter writes it, I’m going to read it. In one sitting. Fake Skating did not disappoint. Dani and Alec are the cutest. Man I love a second chance romance and there’s not much that can get sweet than childhood best friends to lovers. Add in the fact that it’s a hockey romance and it’s hard to imagine a more perfect YA romance. Loved it!

This was a cute hockey romance book. I loved the childhood friends to strangers to lovers. The third act breakup did really piss me off, but the ending was worth it. The grandpa was my favorite character.

Fake Skating fits in perfectly with Lynn’s repertoire of other teen romances! I don’t know how she so perfectly conveys both the giddiness and angst of teenage love. The flirting, the banter, it all. I get butterflies when her characters get butterflies. The main men in her books are 17 year old Sara’s dream boys. SWOONSWOONSWOON.

I will say some of the drama was a little more frustrating than her other books and for that it is only a 4 star to me but never fear! I still loved Dani and Alec and their friends. Hated her dad and Beni, but what’s a book without an agitating, degrading character or two.

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

So this was my first foray into a YA hockey romance or any hockey romance. I just didn't understand the draw of sports romance books. But now I'm so glad this was my first introduction into the sports romance world! In fact, I'm a little worried other ones I read won't measure up now because Lynn Painter did a fantastic job building up their romance and making it feel believable and not forced. I found myself giggling along with their banter and loving every minute of their romance development. Although it had a lot of the common tropes I found it very well done and the characters likeable while still bringing to light the pain of high school anxiety. My only dislikes were some of the very young adult type of language that was used throughout the book like the male character saying he wanted to cry big baby tears and also that the big reveal was quite predictable and a little glossed over after all the anguish that it caused with the postcards. I've heard good things about her other books and plan to read all of them ASAP!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely loved this YA romance set in Minnesota (I'm pretty sure South Saint Paul), has panic attack rep, childhood sweethearts, fake dating, a celebrity and small town feels. A bit of miscommunication, a military father (and growing up moving every 2 years)

For YA (they are seniors in HS) there was a lot of usage of F***, kissing only, injury on ice & a fist fight. The FMC also never skates in the book so the cover while adorable is a bit misleading.

Dani is moving back to her mom's hometown (that she visited every summer) to live with her once famous superstar in the NHL grandfather and finish her senior year of high school. After her parent's divorce and being an AirForce brat moving schools her whole live, Dani is now cautions an somewhat introverted. On the first day, she is knocked over by her estranged childhood friend (Alec) who brushes her off. Nerdy childhood Alec and popular hockey star teenage Alec seem like totally different people, but she is different too.

I was so invested in this story and I loved that my hometown hockey team got a shoutout! (GO HORNETS!)

Thank you netgallery and Simon and schuster for letting me ARC read this. It was a very decent YA book but I do have to say everything is a bit cliche which isn’t exactly bad but felt very predictable. As well there are some things that just don’t make sense. Like why Benji an 18 year old would basically blackmail Dani. I’d never see this happening in real life. Also some of the research is off especially in the playlist section I’d add that to the front of the book not the end as well double check the songs one song is missing from the list. For the paragraph time skips I want to maybe add a hockey stick or something to show it’s a new scene because it got confusing and I thought there were plot holes. Also for Dani’s epilogue I’d actually like to see her reaction and Alec to her getting into Harvard and a scene where we see Alec getting into Boston college. It feels like the ending was rushed and dosent come to a full conclusion. Overall a very good book and I’m happy I got a chance to read my first Lynn painter book!

⭐️ 4/5
📖 YA Romance
💓A sweet story about reunited childhood friends
💬 Settle into Southview, Minnesota where the local high school hockey team is a way of life.

💓 Read if you like💓:
Small Town
Childhood Friends
High School Sweethearts
Hockey Romance
It’s Always Been You
Miscommunication Trope

Lynn Painter has done it again! She is so good at writing swoony romances that will make you giggle and kick your feet one moment and be on the verge of tears the next.
Another thing I love about Lynn’s books is that this is perfect for the group of readers that is not quite old enough to dive into the likes of Meghan Quinn and Lucy Score. That said, her stories also appeal to those of an ::ahem:: older demographic (me-42). There is nothing explicit in this book, though there are plenty of curse words and yearning (because, high school), so this is more appropriate for late middle school to high school and up readers vs early middle school in my opinion.

Dani and her mom move to Minnesota to live with her hockey legend grandfather Mick, who is an absolute grump. Dani is super nervous to start her senior year at a new school, but as a military child, she is somewhat used to it. Dani has her eyes on the prize- to get into Harvard, but she also feels unsettled by the fact that she will reunite with Alec, her summertime best friend- the boy she loved with all her heart, until he one day stopped all contact with her without any reason.

Alec’s mom is thrilled to have her best friend move to town- Dani’s mom. Alec is apprehensive to see his old friend, since she abruptly stopped contacting him years ago....see where this is going??

Dani is shocked to find that her old pal has grown into a tall, muscular hockey god.
Alec can’t believe that Dani is....drop dead gorgeous.

Dani and Alec run into each other at school, and begin to navigate the world of teenage puppy love- not that either of them realize it of course!

Alec is determined to keep his eye on his NHL hockey goals, but he can’t seem to stay out of trouble. He knows he needs to clean up his image, and he gets the perfect idea...to fake date Dani.

Dani’s grandpa is hilarious and plays the perfect supporting character role. I loved seeing their relationship repair and grow.

Dani and Alec are high school sweetheart goals! I loved seeing Dani morph into a strong, confident woman, and I really enjoyed seeing Alec’s softer side.

Southview is everything I imagine small-town America to be- they love their neighbors, would die for their friends, and the high school teams are everything. Southview gave me the warm fuzzies!

Thank you to Lynn Painter, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book!!! Dani was a great FMC. She grew up moving around all the time with her family because her dad as military, so she never really had a "home" other than with her mom's best friends kid Alec who lived in Southview. She grew up going to see him every summer, until suddenly they stopped. Years later her parents are getting divorced and she and her mom are moving to Southview, but she hasn't spoken to Alec in years. Alec thinks Dani ghosted him years ago, so when he heard she's moving to town he isn't thrilled. Their friendship was so cute and I loved watching it reform throughout this book. It's a young adult, fake dating, childhood friends to lovers, hockey romance and it does have the miscommunication trope, but I still really enjoyed it. Alec was so smooth and had the best lines. Such a cute flirt and Dani was adorable with him and really became herself again when they reconnected. Definitely read this book! I think it's my favorite YA Lynn Painter book!

*spoilers in review*

I have read a couple other lynn painter books.and figured I was getting another closed door romance based off high school or college aged kids. I was not expecting to feel super anxious for the final 25% of the book. I really liked the growth of the relationships between Dani and her grandpa as well as her dad but I'm bothered because Benji said he wouldn't press charges if she broke up with Alec and Alec unilaterally decided they were getting back together but there was never another mention of any sort of resolution or fall out with Benji.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC!

Oh my god that was a rollercoaster. There's nothing more I love than a rom-com and this one knocked it out of the rink. A Lynn Painter hockey romance? Sign me up!! I LOVED this book and dare I say it’s Lynn Painters best yet?? Everything about this book was 10/10 PERFECT and I can’t wait to read it all over again!!!! This book was everything I'd hoped it would be and I fear it may be sending me into a reading slump after how good it was...

I'm a sucker for a book about a hometown community and this book was exactly that. It lets you exscape into a world just as vibrant as a fantasy novel and experience an entirely different way of living from your own. I for some reason now want to move to minnesota and watch a lot of hockey!

Dani and Alec are one of my favorite book couples ever, their backstory, the way the fell for eachother, it was all just so entirely natural so so fun to read. I reccomend this book to anyone with a softspot in their heart for a cozy romance and I also highly reccomend reading it in one sitting, I couldn't bring myself to stay all the way up until 5 in the morning and I now regret that!

note: THANK YOU SM TO NETGALLEY AND SIMON & SCHUSTER FOR THIS ARC IT LITERALLY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!!! 😭🫶


“I don’t know. What is eat?”

🏒Guys, it’s Lynn Painter, hockey romance, and fake dating…I feel like that’s all I would have to say to anyone who knows me for them to know I loved this book. Dani and Alec are immediately some of my new favorite YA romcom characters, and I just loved the whole cast so much! And Dani’s grandpa is a freaking legend.

“But she’d always been it for me. The standard”

🏒 I must admit, I found the reason for the third act conflict extremely upsetting, because why couldn’t she just tell Alec what was going on??? That and the ending felt very similar to Nothing Like The Movies, which is only an issue because it’s the same author. And even then, by the ending I got over it. But, not enough to give it a full 5 stars…

🏒 Overall, I had such a great time reading, and loved the vibes and HUMOR! I just love the way Lynn Painter writes so much. Gah, I can’t wait for this to come out so I can talk to everyone about it in detail!!