I devoured this book! Dani and Alec's moms are best friends. Every summer Dani comes back to Minnesota with her mom to stay for a month since her dad is high ranking in the Air Force. Each summer Dani and Alec are insperable, until they are not. After her mom divorces her dad they move in with her Grandpa. When I big misunderstanding happens the only solution is for Dani and Alec to start fake dating. This Minnesota based book is true to is roots (hello meat raffles)!

This was my first time reading Lynn Painter, and after all the hype, Fake Skating definitely didn’t disappoint. The story delivered a fun, well-paced romance with plenty of heart and great chemistry between the leads. Painter’s writing is engaging and made it easy to get invested in the characters and their journey.

The sports backdrop added a nice touch of tension and excitement, and the emotional moments felt genuine without being overdone. While the plot followed some familiar romance beats, it was executed well enough to feel fresh and enjoyable.

Overall, a strong debut for me from Lynn Painter, and I’m looking forward to reading more from her.

I am really happy I got to read this book early! When I saw the plotline, I put in a request and crossed my fingers, because I knew that this story would be one that would hit very close to home for me in a lot of aspects! It put me in my feels and gave me such nostalgia and retrospective appreciation for when I was younger. I am from a small Minnesota hockey town that is up by the border, and this book encapsulates what it is like to feel that sense of community so very well.

I found myself really relating to Dani and Alec in particular ways that made me smile and reflect on my own high school years. I played hockey as a goalie from the time I was 5/6, up until it was time for me to join the high school team- my whole family on my dad’s side are hockey players- it is just what you do around there. Whether you have external factors or nothing of the sort, the culture makes you feel like you are so under pressure to perform all the time! The conversation between Alec and his parents towards the back end of the book was very similar to one I had with my dad when I wanted to be done with hockey, and I just am thinking as I am reading this that I relate sooooo hard to just about everything in this book!! It is just uncanny! As I got older, I turned into more of a Dani- I have always been an eager student, a big reader, and the big feelings and anxiety is something that I have in me as well. I could see myself in them, and that was interesting to reflect upon! Their banter was exquisite and chemistry was electric. I am just a sucker for Painter's style and humor- it hits every. time.

Though it was not a massive focus, I really liked the descriptions of when they were playing games. I could just feel in my body that crackling intensity and excitement of caring and rooting so much for something as a collective, and the highs and lows that happen while watching an intense HS hockey game. It reminded me of myself and my HS bestie, who would go to every home game, and watch the boys team religiously- we were just as committed to the outcome as the players on the ice. The sense of community you feel when you are all locked in on something like that is something that is hard to explain to others who have not been around it much, and I really am in awe of how Painter’s writing captures the feelings so perfectly!

I also appreciated all the little Minnesotan details, such as the cold quietness of being out at night, and feeling like you are the only person in the world who must be outside, because of the peaceful and chilled hum of the glowing snow surrounding you. I can smell the crispy air, and see the blueish glow very vividly, and that made me happy! I really found funny the hockey dads and moms, and going to the bar (for my town it is the American Legion) to revel in the game, and just talk and reminisce about things they have talked and reminisced over hundreds of times. Big John and his buddies reminded me so much of my own dad and uncles and their friends. The big game against Edina to go to state- that made me snort because they are definitely one of the top hated teams in all of the state for an array of reasons; it was a satisfying snipe to have them be VS Alec’s team in the playoff finals. Every hockey school knows people like Alec and his friends, and the evil little cake eater Benjis. I just loved how this world was very true to it all.

Overall, I loved the humor and love story in this book, and I devoured it in a day. Thank you for another great story Lynn Painter! You are just a queen of banter and I can’t wait to read your next release!

Can I just say the second I saw that I got accepted for the e-advance readers copy I was fangirling!! It was the best day ever receiving that email! Lynn Painter’s books will always be my favorite. Especially her young adult books. I’ve been so excited ever since Lynn Painter announced she was having a young adult hockey romance book! My favorite genre is hockey romance & my favorite author is Lynn Painter! This book meant everything to me. I will definitely be buying a physical copy as soon as Fake Skating is published on September 30th.

Dani and Alec were so cute I found myself giggling out loud at most of their interactions. You know a book is good when you put it down for a second and just can’t stop smiling and giggling at what you just read. Some of the tropes in this book are fake dating, miscommunication, second chance, childhood best friends to strangers to lovers and found family. The miscommunication trope always makes me sad because I get so invested and want to tell the other character involved what happened but I can’t.

Dani and Alec were childhood friends who see each other every summer and then they don’t see each other for 5 years. Dani’s parents end up getting a divorce which means Dani and her mom are moving back to Minnesota and also means that she will have to see Alec again and go to the same school as him. Let me just say you are in for an incredible rollercoaster of a book. I loved every second of it.

Dani is literally me. I never have related to a character more. As someone who also has anxiety she represented how I feel really well. I would also try to find either the library or a classroom to be at during lunch or when I would get anxious and have nothing to do during school I would read and it would give me so much comfort. Dani is my favorite character Lynn has ever written. She’s so well written and she also overthinks a lot which I relate to that too!

Also I really loved the side characters. Cassie’s a great friend and I loved her as a character as well. I need a book about Cassie and Kyle. It was nice seeing how welcoming Alec’s group of friends were to Dani. I know it must be scary and overwhelming having the move constantly and having to make new friends because Cassie’s dad is in the Military. It felt really nice seeing them form this found family and I’m so glad she had made bonds with friends who really cared about her.

I really enjoyed this one. Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you haven't read one of LP's YA romances, then this might be super fun. But if you have....this book has a lot of the same beats as her other work. Like, to the point that I didn't even really enjoy it because I was just like yep, remember that. Uh huh, seen that before.

In short, this isn't a bad book on its own, but I'd love to see a bit more growth from the author.

As a big Painter fan whose favorite trope is fake dating, I was extremely excited for this book. Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me.

I'm not sure if it's because I haven't actually read a Painter novel in a while, or if I'm simply aging out of this YA demographic, or if this book was genuinely just not up to (what | consider) Painter's usual level, but overall I just found this to be a bit too juvenile for me. In the past I've always preferred Lynn's YA work to her adult romances, but there were several things here that just didn't do it for me.

The overall writing style and inner monologues of our main characters seemed to be pretty shallow and sometimes cringe. It felt like we were explicitly stating things instead of showing anything as if to spell it out for readers. I also found the excessive amount of cussing in this a bit odd? I'm not one to mind cussing at all, but it felt really out of place a lot of the time especially with the juvenile style of it all.

I wasn't a big fan of the pacing; it took far too long to really get into the plot here and I was having to force myself to sit down and read this. Because of our characters' inner monologues feeling forced and young, I never felt super connected with them, so the fake dating aspect here just didn't hit as hard for me.

Ultimately, I did enjoy parts of this: found family, a sense of belonging, second chances. And it's not a classic Lynn Painter without a Taylor Swift mention or 3! I can't expect every work of hers to be my favorite, and I still think this is worth a shot for anyone who is a fan of hers or just loves them some hockey romance.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest and personal review.

This book was so absolutely amazing!!! I won't say much since it hasn't released yet (I'm telling you, when this hits shelves September 30th, go get it ASAP) but this book took all of my favorite things about BTTM and the Off-Campus series and made them into the PERFECT fake-dating, lynn painter, hockey romance. She did everything right with the book and the subtle mentions of songs throughout, OH I absolutely loved it. Sombr references, Daniel Seevey, Renee Rapp, like yes, Lynn Painter knows what the girlies want and she DELIVERS. There were a few grammar mistakes, but I find that to be the case quite frequently in the more recent books I have read. I think this is one that definitely deserves a sequel.

I love this book. I love this book. I love this book!!!

This book has literally all of my favorite tropes (sports romance, fake dating, second chance romance, banter). The characters were so lovable, I don’t know how anyone could hate them. Alec and Dani’s chemistry was off the charts and this was just such a fun book!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for the arc, it was a dream come true getting to arc read this book <3

[Advanced Reader review, thank you Simon and Schuester Children’s] Lynn Painter they could never make me hate you. In this upcoming release from the author of "Better Than the Movies" and "Nothing Like the Movies," “Fake Skating” gives us a humor-filled story of what happens when you fake date your former best friend and what happens when the place you left behind becomes the home you always wanted.

Dani and Alec– once inseparable– drifted apart when a family move forced Dani away. They promised to keep in touch, but some promises don’t last forever. Now back for her senior year, Dani must confront the friend she left behind but the Alec she meets is not the boy she remembers. Alec has become a bonafide hockey god. A bright prospect– if he can keep out of trouble. When a compromising photo threatens Alec’s future he enlists Dani’s help to protect his image. Fake date his childhood best friend and all will be well. But if their relationship is supposed to be fake, why is it starting to feel real?

As a girl who loves romance and a girl who loves hockey, I could not not pick this up. Painter does a fantastic job of conveying the tension between Dani and Alec as they reconcile their past with the present. I loved watching these two rekindle their friendship and become something more. Dani finding belonging after being the constant new kid hit close to home and made her character relatable. Alec is a perfect foil. His easy-going, slightly arrogant personality contrasted Dani’s rigid academic-mindedness, balancing the two as they rediscovered their past friendship. Although Alec’s conflict felt slightly underdeveloped and its resolution rushed, both characters’ arcs felt complete. Painter shines in writing smaller characters just as loveable as the leads. A reader can’t help but love the hockey-obsessed community of Fake Skating and will feel just as emotional as this found family when their story ends.

I loved this book so much. I would recommend Fake Skating to readers looking for a light, nostalgic love story featuring tropes like childhood best friends, friends to lovers, and found family. Thank you again to Simon and Schuester Children’s. Fake Skating by Lynn Painter will be available September 30th, 2025 wherever books are sold.

☁️ . . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ overall thoughts
I went into this apprehensive bc I read bttm and did NOT like it. I apologize to all you bttm fans out there, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. But this? This surpassed it by miles. Now, that might be because I am such a sucker for the fake dating trope, but yall I’m serious rn. This surpassed all expectations. The writing was better, the characters were better, it literally made me giggle like a toddler and kick my feet and blush like someone who’s in love. This book met all my expectations and more, and atp im just gonna start begging for yall to read it because it’s literally perfect romcom material. It fixed my bias against romcoms, I swear.


˚˖ᡣ𐭩🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆ writing style
It’s not special. It’s not unique. It’s YA. But there is something there. There is a distinct difference between Dani and Alec’s chapters (the main one being Alec’s language is much more crass, but I digress), and there is also emotion. In nearly. Every. Word. Mark my words, if you like emotion in writing, you will like this book and the way it’s written. Sometimes it flows, and sometimes it doesn’t, but you can feel how much Lynn Painter loves these characters.


♡₊˚ 🦢・₊ ♪ ✧ plot
It was a little predictable. There was a 3rd act break-up. But I choose to look past these things in favor of everything else that happened. The characters had their own shit going on like their own plots but there was also the overarching plot. I am a firm believer in the “the relationship is the plot in romance books” ideology, and idc if you don’t agree with me, that’s my opinion. So Dani has the thing with her family and her dad, plus the manager position, Alec has hockey and his shoulder, they both have the fake relationship. It’s really well done and I think the only thing I could have done without was the 3rd act breakup, but at the same time I understand why Lynn included it – it solidified their relationship a lot.


˖◛⁺⑅♡main romance♡⑅⁺◛˖
GUYS. guys i fear dani and alec have become part of my top 10 list of otps. They are literally so cute and so perfect. Their banter and relationship evolution is chef’s kiss. I mean, okay. The fact of the matter is, childhood best friends to strangers to fake dating to lovers is adorable on its own, but when its these two?? I dont CARE if the nerd x jock trope is overdone, i dont CARE how many people say that Dani is too shy and Alec is too arrogant, i dont care i dont care i dont fucking CARE! They are so adorable and perfectly paired. Dani balances out Alec’s brashness, and Alec bring Dani out of her shell. Its adorable and I would read anything about these two.



୭ 🧷 ✧ ˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀 friendships/other relationships
Oh boy do I have a lot to say yall. I could not get enough of the moments between Cassie and Dani. Cassie was so sweet and genuine and is the kind of girl everyone needs to have as a friend when starting at a new school. I’m not sure how Dani would’ve ended up without her, and I’m not sure I want to.

Dani and her grandpa’s bond? He was trying so hard and she was so apprehensive like she didn’t even want to let him to try but she did and it worked out so well! The bond between a girl and her grandfather, if she has one, is so special and it made me so happy to see them bonding and getting along eventually because goshhh it just reminded me of how much i love MY grandpas like it just made me want to give them both big hugs.


➶-͙˚ ༘✶ characters

Main Characters 「 ✦Daniella Boche-Collins Goldilocks✦ 」
Don’t let the cover fool you, this girl does not skate. Daniella, or Dani is a smart, Harvard-bound girl who has moved all over the world her entire life as the result of her father being a colonel in the military. GUYS I LOVE HER. She’s literally so me 😭 I wanna know what she wants to major in she could do anything and go anywhere!! Honestly I would be content to read a whole book about her without Alec (not that I would want to, because alec omg)
༘₊·꒰➳relatability?
[■■■■■■□□□□] 60%
༘₊·꒰➳how much i liked them
9/10

Main Characters 「 ✦Alec Barczewski Zeus✦ 」
Guysguysguysguysguys. A hockey guy that also looks good in cashmere and glasses?? The only thing that would make it better is if he played football (soccer) and not hockey. But they live in minnesota, so I digress. I can’t even be mad about his arrogance or his insistence to not tell anyone about his shoulder (but that was pretty annoying why do all male athletes in books feel the need to do that? Johnny kavanagh, now this…guys STOP!) because he’s just so silly. I loved watching him fall for Dani because the way he eased into it felt so at odds with how much they push on the ‘he rushes into everything he does’ thing. And im not going to listen to slander about how he has a temper bc no he fucking doesnt stfu.
༘₊·꒰➳relatability?
[■■■■□□□□□□] 0-100%
༘₊·꒰➳how much i liked them
10/10

Lynn Painter never fails to write a book that I absolutely love✨🤍

This book was adorable, and I felt like I was constantly laughing. I loved it, and I can’t wait until it’s sitting on my bookshelf!🤭✨

Lynn Painter is such a great rom-com writer. A fun 'fake dating' story. She is a master of making characters likeable. I always recommend Lynn Painter to YA and Adult readers. If you love hockey, rom coms and an easy, fun read. This one is for you!

🏒FAKE SKATING🏒 by Lynn Painter

⛸️ Fake Dating
🏒 Mutual Pining
⛸️Childhood Friends turned Strangers
🏒He FALLS Hard
⛸️ Cute Postcards
🏒 Feet-Kicking-Worthy Banter


As long as I keep reading Lynn Painter’s books I will be forever falling for YA Romance. Fake Skating has created a new standard for the genre. Like all of Painter’s characters, Dani and Alec feel so tangible, so real in a way that makes you want to melt into the story itself. Even if the book’s main trope is Childhood friends to Lovers, there’s a profound focus on found family and friendships overall. Lynn Painter writes the kind of friendships you want in real life, the kind of relationships that everyone dreams of having. If you’re new to the YA genre or just looking for a fun read overall, pick up Fake Skating because Alec and Dani will be skating circles around your heart before you turn the last page!

I don’t typically read YA anymore (I’m now a fully grown mother myself in my 30s), but Lynn Painter does such a great job of writing universal stories about young people falling in love that are perfect for romance lovers of any age. But this book will be extra special to teens and is great for parents looking for age and content appropriate romance novels for young adult readers.

Personally, I was able to relate a lot to Dani. I WAS Dani growing up! Military brat, always the new kid, and socially anxious. I really enjoyed how Lynn portrayed Dani’s feelings about moving to a new place during her senior year and surprisingly finding herself a real home.

I also love how the fake dating was handled in this book. The reason why they needed to do it actually made sense! And the characters fully address any obvious cons that could come from their scheme. I also enjoyed that there was no fake dating blow up. No friends feeling betrayed, no big reputation scars, none of that contrived drama. There IS a third act break up BUT I thought it was done in a fun and juicy way that made me excited for the truth to be revealed.

Miscommunication is a cornerstone of this story but to me that feels realistic to teens and the two characters were able to work through that. I thought the chemistry between the two characters was fantastic.

The first third of this book moved a little slowly for me but once we made it past the 33% mark I was all in!

I really did enjoy this adorable and wholesome romance. Lynn always does a great job of having her characters deal with real teen issues and including a rich cast of characters that make the setting feel real and lived in.

This ended more around 4.5 for me. However any little issues I had didn't take away from how enjoyable this story was. This might be Lynn Painters edgiest YA book to date. It felt authentic and true to kids that age. The hockey angle was fun but the real love for me was the "home" of it all and finding where you belong. Fake Skating was deeply romantic with a great accompanying playlist. Long time fans of Painter will not be disappointed.

Okayyyy this book??? Had me in an absolute chokehold. I was savoring every chapter because I didn’t want it to end. Lynn Painter once again proves she’s the queen of swoony, funny, feel-it-in-your-chest YA romance.

This is the ultimate childhood-besties-to-lovers story with fake dating, hockey, so much yearning and the kind of tension that makes you want to scream into a pillow. Alec and Dani? Endgame in every sense. Like… give me two people who have always been each other’s safe place but are too scared to admit it until it’s almost too late?? YES PLEASE.

Also shoutout to:
🏒 Found family vibes
💔 Dani’s emotional growth?? So real.
🥇 Alec’s pressure as the golden boy?? Gut-wrenching.
💞 The soft moments??? Chefs kiss.

YA romance just hits different when the chemistry is 🔥 but it doesn’t rely on steam to get there. This is for the girls who love slow burns, fake dating done right, and characters who just get each other.

Absolutely obsessed. Lynn Painter, you’ve done it again. 💖

Dani and Alec were best friends growing up and after a falling out between her parents and grandfather Dani doesn't see Alec for years, through a bit of miscommunication and meddling by others they lose touch and so when Dani and her mom move back, Alec isn't best pleased and isn't very welcoming to Dani. Alec is now a hockey player and one of the coolest guys at school much to Danis astonishment.

I loved the chapters with them sitting in the library and Alec eating Danis awful sandwiches lol,

This was another fantastic book from Lynn Painter, i truly don't know how she does it , she manages to deal with serious problems that a lot of teenagers go through and does it well and with a lot of empathy and understanding

Also on a side note, the playlist for this book is amazing and i loved how Alec would mention what songs he was listening to, it really added to the scene!

There is so much about this story i loved that i actually am at a loss as to how to get it across so all i'll say is read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 stars

Another hit from Lynn Painter! Fake Skating is a childhood friends to lovers to enemies to lovers fake dating banger. When Dani returns to Minnesota for her senior year, the one bright spot is being reunited with her childhood friend (turned more) Alec. However, Alec is cold towards her and is no longer the sweet nerd she remembers. He is now a hockey star and popular with his..female classmates. When things happen and Dani and Alec find themselves fake dating, the two must reckon with their growing feelings.

Lynn Painter never misses. The chemistry is top notch. The banter is perfection. The setting is vibey. All the stars. Give me the audiobook.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn Painter has amazing covers and her stories are so cute. I love a cute romance that brings two people together in a smooth way. I hope she continues these type of books.

ARC Review – Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this early!

Holy cow—I’m still in total awe that I got an ARC of Fake Skating! Lynn Painter is one of my absolute favorite authors, and this book was everything I wanted and more. I seriously had to pause and freak out (in the best way) several times while reading.

Dani and Alec’s story is a swoony blend of fake dating, friends-to-lovers, and second chances, all wrapped in a small-town, hockey-obsessed setting that adds so much charm and tension. Watching childhood best friends reconnect after years apart—especially when one is now the town’s golden-boy hockey star—was such a fun dynamic. I spent a good portion of the book trying to figure out what exactly happened between them in the past, and the way it unfolded felt so earned.

Lynn Painter nails the banter and emotional buildup between her leads. Dani and Alec were adorable together, and I loved how their fake relationship slowly started to blur the lines between pretend and very real feelings. There’s also some miscommunication that had me yelling at the book (as intended!), and a few characters—namely Dani’s dad and her next-door neighbor—who genuinely made me mad. Even her mom had a moment that made me grit my teeth. But I love when a book makes me feel everything, and this one absolutely did.

Oh—and there’s a cute Better Than the Movies reference that made me smile so big!

If you’re looking for a heartfelt, funny, emotionally satisfying YA contemporary with a good helping of tension and tenderness, Fake Skating hits the mark. Lynn Painter does it again.