Do you hear that?

THAT would be the sound of bells and whistles sounding off in celebration of this novel.
Yes, it's that good.

From the start, the author lays out the estrangement between Dani and Alec, former childhood bff. The excellent pacing of the books motivates the reader to delve deep as the reason "why" slowly unfolds.

Told from a dual POV with equal amounts of attention given to both characters, the reader is given a front seat to how their initial reconnection fraught with distrust transforms due to a moment taken out of context. You'll hear Alec's misgivings about his path that seemingly appears out of his control. You'll see Dani steadily regain her confidence.

Alongside the romance are the connections made with immediate and extended family. This just enhanced an already good read.


This ARC was provided by the publisher, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5 ⭐

Another amazing story from Lynn.

I truly enjoyed Dani and Alec’s love story—they were absolutely adorable together. And honestly, I don’t have a single complaint about the book. I really liked the writing style and the story itself. The chemistry was strong, the side characters were great, and the overall small-town vibe really worked for me.

Even the misunderstanding/miscommunication trope didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.

The only reason I didn’t give this book a full five stars is because I read Maid for Each Other less than three weeks ago and I liked that one just a bit more—so that difference ended up reflecting in my rating. But aside from that, I have no complaints.

If you enjoy small-town romance, fake dating, and childhood friends to lovers, this book is definitely for you. Highly recommend!

“dani was headed to harvard in the fall, which just happened to be in the very same city where i’d be playing hockey. it almost felt like it was meant to be.”

AND EVERYTHING WORKED OUT 🙏🏻🩷

i'll start by saying that i was so excited to read this book because it's the first time lynn writes a hockey player character, and as always, she absolutely delivered.
alec is SUCH a lovable character, and every scene with him left me breathless thinking, “I WANT THIS BOYYYYY.”
and dani is a super relatable character, both because of her daddy issues and the way she slowly lost her spark due to other people’s actions.
the two of them together are the most beautiful thing in the world, and it makes me so sad that they spent YEARS without talking because of her dad messing with the letters she received—and also because of the misunderstanding with that pest benji (i’ll never understand why dani brought him to her place with alec, but okay, let’s let it slide!!!).
they gave us a top-tier "second chance" and fake dating story, and we were very well-fed with all the kissing scenes (alec is SUCH a kisser, i swear).

ANYWAYYYYY i loved reading this book so much and getting to know all the characters 🤧🩷
who knows—maybe one day this universe will merge with the worlds of lynn’s other books, right? because she always makes us happy by bringing her characters’ worlds together.

Fake Skating was a very cute romance with so many of my favorite tropes. I loved Dani and especially loved how you saw her struggles with anxiety. I really liked the relationship that formed between her and Alec as the book went on. Overall i think that it was a very entertaining book however I did have some small issues with the story. I really wish we got a little more back story or flashbacks to help us understand the importance of Dani and Alec's younger relationship and what led up to the eventual fall out and even the issues between Alec and Benji. I think that this would have added a lot of depth to the story because at times Benji really just felt like a character who dropped in and didn't impact the story unless it was convenient. Overall it was a great story- and solid 4.5 out of 5 stars

Lynn Painter did it again! I absolutely love her writing style and even though I way past the young adult/high school aged reader, I loved this story. Dani and Alec had such as cute connection in an almost grown-up manner for two high school seniors. After years of wondering why each other stopped write and talking, Dani moves to MN where she and her newly divorced mother move in with a grumpy grandfather and also a town pro hockey legend. Dani spent summers with Alec as preteens and formed a bond that became disrupted and left each feeling abandoned by the other. This story played like a movie in my head and also being a Midwesterner, reading about a wintertime story in MN, I am familiar with the cold and warmness of community and family. This book isn't a Christmas novel, but it gives those heartfelt Christmas vibes. Pre-order now! This is one I also want to listen to on audio!

I really like Lynn painters books. I’ve read all her books. This book was really sweet. Dani who grew up in a military family (which meant she moved a lot). Due to her parents divorcing,Dani
moves to her mom’s hometown of Minnesota. She had a best friend Alec who she used to see all the time when they visited Minnesota. Alec and Dani stopped communicating when she lived in Germany. Alec is now a hockey god who goes by “Zeus”. Alec made some bad decisions which cause him to ask Dani to help his bad boy reputation and in return he would help her get an extra curriculum position needed to get into Harvard.

This book has fake dating, small town romance and enemies to lovers. I finished it in a day. I liked it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!

I've been waiting for this book impatiently ever since Lynn started drafting it, so to be able to read it in advance is just nuts.

I think this might be my favourite Lynn Painter book ever. The characters felt more unique and interesting, as well as the way they showed their feelings seemed very real.

Also, I LOVED the dual pov. And, as always, I live for the drama, so it was all so fun to read and I couldn't put it down.

Never stop writing Lynn :)

Every summer Dani got to spend a month in Southview, visiting her grandfather. She spent every moment she could with her best friend Alec. When Dani moved away, they promised each other to stay in touch, but it didn't happen.

Now Dani is moving to Southview with her Mom after her parents divorce. She is so nervous about seeing Alec again. When she finally does, he is not the scrawny kid she shared her first kiss with anymore, he is the towns hockey star 'Zeus'.

After being caught by the coach in the locker room, Alec tries to make it better by saying he is dating Dani. They come up with a plan to fake date. While they get closer to each other, and feelings start growing, Alec pulls back remembering the time Dani let him down.

This story was so cute. I loved the friendship turned relationship between Dani and Alec. My favorite character was Grandpa Mick though. He reminded me so much of my Grandfather. If you loved Lynn Painter's previous stories, you will definitely love this one.

I don’t think there’s anyone doing YA quite like Lynn Painter. I immediately feel like I’m right in her stories and I’m watching the cutest most satisfying teen romcoms while I’m there. Her characters are always realistic and nuanced and flawed and funny and truly likable. Alex and Dani were real people that I really knew by the end of this book and I just hope they’re out there thriving always lol. Fake Skating is fake dating, miscommunication, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, small town sports romance perfection. I somehow am now a huge fan of the game of hockey and am convinced I could move to a small town in Minnesota and live for the culture of it all. Such a fun and sweet story! Will be a comfort re-read in the future.

Lynn Painter never misses for me. I adore her YA books as much as her adult romances. I like how the teenagers never feel like they don’t matter.. they feel like the best adults they are. Alec and Dani were adorable, is it entirely predictable? Of course. But the ride to get there is so fun.

ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @simonteen for an early copy of Fake Skating by Lynn Painter. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: September 30th, 2025

Fake Skating is a fake dating, childhood friends to strangers to lovers, second chance romance between Alex and Dani, who spent the summers of their childhood together, until Dani’s family didn’t go back to Minnesota until years later to live with her grandfather after her parents’ divorce. A lot has changed with their dynamic that made them feel like they’re strangers to each other, and a big part of that is because they fell out of touch with their distance.

It was a fun and fluffy read overall. Though some heavy topics were discussed, it didn’t veer away from the romantic comedies Painter usually writes. There were some cringey moments from Alec’s POV, which I feel like needs more work because sometimes I feel like I’m reading the POV of a teenage girl instead of a teenage boy, but overall I loved our boy Alec and how he’s head over heels in love with Dani despite his initial reluctance to get closer to her. If you enjoyed Better Than The Movies and other Lynn Painter teen romcoms, you’ll enjoy this one too.

This story is dual POV and is following Dani as she’s moves back to her old home town, and into her grandpas house along with her mom.
Dani runs into her childhood hockey playing crush, Alec, after many years apart, and some baggage between them.

This story was so cute, and I truly enjoyed Dani and Alec’s banter.
The hockey aspects, and the Minnesota setting made for a really cute set up. I loved the grandpa so much, and he made me laugh often.

However the language is excessive in this, and I find that really disappointing when this is a YA book. I understand teenagers talk like this, but I find it to be off putting in a rom-com, and especially in a YA. It takes away from the sweetness of the whole story, and lacks creativity when the F word is used multiple times, every other page. This doesn’t seem like something I feel was in Lynn Painters past YA books.

I’m giving it a generous 4 stars, because I really enjoyed their love story, but it was honestly more of a 3 star because of the language.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is definitely one of the best YA romances I’ve ever read! Lynn Painter has done it again! I love a good childhood friends to lovers romance and this was a wonderful example of one of those books. This book has all of the fan-favorite tropes: childhood friends to strangers to lovers, hockey romance, sending letters, and fake dating. The tension and the yearning was so well done. I was so invested in Dani and Alec’s story, both past and present. It was so nice to see Dani find her place and friends and reconnect with herself. Such an amazing read!

Let me just say, to any hockey romance fans, this is the book for you. As someone who has read dozens of hockey romances, Fake Skating has skyrocketed to my top five very easily. Not only that, but Alec has become one of my favorite book boyfriends.

From the beginning of the book I was drawn in to dynamic between Dani and Alec. Dani moving back to town and thinking her old friend is the same, to finding a hockey god worshipped by everyone in town?? I could not put it down. I read this book in one sitting, and I still wanted more.

Painter does a wonderful job of balancing the exploration of Dani and Alec’s relationship with covering heavier topics including life after an accident/tragedy, military family dynamics, and aftermath of divorce. I have to say, out of everything, I loved the relationship exploration between Dani and her grandfather. He was absolutely my favorite character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest feedback. All thoughts are my own.

3.75 stars!
thank you to netgalley for free arc in exchange for an honest review! Lynn painter is sometimes hit or miss for me but what she always does right is chemistry and banter and she got it right in this one too! although dani and Alec, two once best friends as kids, had a falling out, fell right back into their banter easily and it was pretty well done without seeming too instalovey or instaforgiveness. I'm not always the biggest fan of childhood sweethearts to lovers or second chance romances but this one was actually cute you couldn't help but root for them. hockey romances are always gonna hit for me so I knew I would enjoy this one and I'm glad I did!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC., I normally really enjoy Lynn Painter but this was not a favorite by her. It is YA, which was fine, and a take on the fake dating trope, but the characters felt a little flat to me.. The end saves it. 2.5 stars rounded up.

This started out as such a cute book and, to be fair, it ended quite adorably too. But I have to say: there were a few moments in the male POV that pulled me out of the story. Lynn Painter doesn’t quite nail the teenage boy voice, and it showed here and there.

The dialogue, especially between the guys, often felt like an adult trying a little too hard to sound like a teenager. Some of the slang and banter came off as forced or slightly outdated, and it made certain scenes feel more cringy than authentic. It’s not constant, but when it does happen, it definitely disrupts the flow.

But let’s start with what worked:

The Vibes
The small-town Minnesota setting was spot-on. The hockey obsession, the generational ties, the sense of everyone knowing everyone — it all felt authentic. I really enjoyed how genuine the bonds between both the teen characters and the adults were.

The Protagonist, Dani
Dani was a believable and sympathetic lead. She’s dealing with divorced parents, moving to a place she’s never lived before, and trying to find her footing after growing up in a constantly relocating military family. Her social anxiety and feelings of isolation were well-written, and her quiet jealousy of the close relationships the other small-town teenagers shared was so beautifully portrayed.

The Second Protagonist, Alec
Alec was such an interesting MMC. I really liked that his own family struggles were showcased so well here. You could feel the pressure and responsibility he felt and had built up in his head. I’d say that he had a complicated, slightly messy inner life that matched Dani’s, and I found following his storyline just as compelling as hers.

The Romance
I adored the childhood friends to strangers to lovers arc! Alec was caring and protective, and despite some lingering childhood grievances, he immediately puts Dani’s feelings first. Their bond felt genuine, and I loved that their fake-dating dynamic included a good amount of communication. Of course, plot happens, but as a reader I always felt like I could feel the underlying strength of that friendship bond they had built.

Now… the parts that didn’t quite work for me:

The Male POV
While I liked him as a character, sometimes Alec’s chapters just didn’t feel believable. He’s a straight, popular hockey player, yet somehow he’s listening to Role Model, Taylor Swift, and the latest Lady Gaga album with his teammates before their biggest game? It just didn’t fit the character as he was otherwise portrayed. It took me out of the story more than once.

In general, I wasn’t a big fan of the inclusion of the song lyrics. I think sometimes they just felt a little too on the nose and made me cringe a little, with how awkwardly they were inserted.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, the slang and banter between Alec and his guy friends often felt forced. It read like an adult trying a little too hard to mimic Gen Z speech. And yes, the author is an adult doing exactly that, but ideally, that shouldn’t be noticeable to the reader. I honestly would have preferred more neutral, natural-sounding dialogue over these attempts that didn’t quite land.

Final Thoughts
This was a sweet, fun YA romance with a cozy setting, a strong female lead, and a heartwarming love story. While the male POV had its issues, it didn’t ruin the book. It just disrupted the flow a bit for me.
If you’ve liked Lynn Painter’s previous books, you’ll likely enjoy this one too. And if you’re looking for a feel-good hockey romance with some depth, this should hit the spot!



Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this!! I love all of Lynn Painter’s books and am quite the fan of Hockey books as well. Because of the cover art, I did go into this book thinking it was fake dating between a hockey player and a figure skater but that was not the case. I don’t think Dani the fmc puts a pair of skates on once the entire book lol but it was fun regardless. I felt the ending was rushed but with some more polishing I think it could match up to her other books!

After not loving any of Lynn Painter’s previous books, I can finally say that she struck gold! I absolutely loved this one!

A sweet, YA hockey romance is the key to my hockey-loving, book-obsessed heart!

Fake Skating delivered in all the ways I expect a Lynn Painter book to deliver. From the swoonworthy moments to the connections to music, this book was everything!

Did I immediately put aside all other books to read this one? Yes. Did I love it? Yes! Everything you want from a Lynn Painter book and set in the world of HS hockey! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.