Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lynn Painter is already the queen of YA romance but this just confirms it even more. I love hockey romance and fake dating so I already knew I would enjoy it. Painter had me at the edge of my seat with the hockey drama and romantic tension. I would 100% recommend this book.

Another win by Lynn Painter! I loved it and I know my students will too. It’s great to have an appropriate hockey romance to suggest to my students who want to read some of the more spicy books they see on BookTok.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, and the publishers Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for the eARC!

This is not my typical romance read, I mean, hockey for SURE, but firmly YA. However, this was a good book for those in a reading slump that enjoy a good childhood friends to coming of age second chance romance. While it feels a lil weird to be reading about high school MCs, it also reminded me of my two years teaching and the hope/joy I felt in the classroom.

I really enjoyed Dani, the FMC, as she was the perfect overthinking queen and had the perfect touch of playfulness to her personality. She was balanced with Alec, the more cocky jock type but none of the character’s personalities felt “over exaggerated” it felt more genuine. This also had the perfect touch of romance in the “spiciest” thing that happens is a good kiss, so no need to feel a certain way about that. I do wish that the male POV (Alec), his dialogue was edited to sound more teenage-boy-like? At times it felt a little forced/awkward, and I think having a 'real boy' comment might be helpful for his POVs to sound more genuine.

All that being said, Lynn Painter really nailed this book to a tee and it was a solid read. Thanks again to the publishers and NetGalley! ⭐️

I love the idea of this book - it's right up my alley! Childhood friends that reconnect in high school after a falling out...with hockey!? The fake dating trope was a bit flimsy tbh, but still very sweet and swoony. There were some moments that I really loved later on, mainly all cute romance scenes, but a lot of things just didn't work for me.

This was my first Lynn Painter, so it may not be the norm, but the writing felt very...cringey to me? (especially Alec not being able to go two chapters without telling us the exact song he was listening to. This was a bit strange and drove me crazy!!!!! I also do not believe he listens to Adele y'all). I felt that Benji played too big of a role for only being a side character, and his part in the later conflict was not needed. A lot of the plot just felt clunky to me.

I had to remind myself it's a dual POV YA in first person, and to temper my expectations. I'm just not the target audience! I also don't think fans of Ice Breaker would enjoy this, but 14+ YA readers who want to try hockey romance may (only kissing and not overly descriptive, but lots of language fyi).

*Online reviews to be shared after release

the BEST. BOOK. EVER.

okay so bttm has always been my favorite book of all time, my last expectations were for this. book. to actually (kinda) surpass bttm. I ACTUALLY LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCHHH in different ways for different reasons. I LOVE FAKE SKATING.
⭐️6/5

Summary in Brief

Dani and Alec were childhood best friends, until Dani moved away and they fell out of touch. Now Dani is back, and Alec doesn’t know how to feel about the return of his childhood crush. Somehow, though, they find themselves caught in a tale as old as time: fake dating.

Genre + Plot

Tropes: YA Romance, Dual POV, Hockey Romance, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Fake Dating, Small-Town, Family Drama, Third-Act Breakup

I was *so* so excited to get this Lynn Painter ARC. I adore her books and couldn’t wait to dive into this one. I don’t usually love YA romances, but Painter has a way of writing her characters so well that they feel mature beyond their years, which is probably why I enjoy her work so much. Like most YA romances, you can expect some yearning, miscommunication, a third-act breakup, and an overall sweet, happy ending, and that’s exactly what we get here.

I loved our FMC, Dani. She was incredibly relatable. Growing up in a military family meant she moved around a lot as a child. Because of that, she developed social anxiety and has become more introverted over the years. Alec, on the other hand, once a clumsy nerd, is now a hockey hotshot and the coolest guy in school. Though he may sound like your typical jock, he’s actually incredibly sweet and *down so bad* for Dani.

There’s some tension between them stemming from a miscommunication about how they lost touch. They each have their own version of what happened, and we know the truth lies somewhere in the middle, a classic misunderstanding (which, of course, it is). Regardless of Alec’s initial feelings, he finds himself drawn to Dani. They end up fake dating, Alec to improve his image for hockey, and Dani to boost her extracurriculars for her dream school, Harvard. We just *knowww* these two are going to fall for each other.

I actually loved the side characters in this book. Dani’s grandpa, Mick, is basically a hockey legend in their small town, and everyone is in awe of him. But at the end of the day, he’s just Dani’s grandpa, trying his best to connect with her, a surprisingly sweet storyline I wasn’t expecting. I also loved the camaraderie among Dani’s mom’s friends in town, as well as Dani’s new circle of friends. I was worried we’d get a mean-girl vibe since Dani is the new girl, and while her past hints at that, it’s not the case here. The girls welcome her with open arms, and everyone is incredibly kind and supportive. Women supporting women, let’s go!! I will say her relationship with her dad was…complicated. Painter does a wonderful job of showing us how tough it is being the child of divorced parents, especially if there is bad blood between one of the parents and her family. I was so happy she found such wonderful friends and family in her Minnesota small town—she deserved it.

I knew there would be miscommunication and a third-act breakup, and I even predicted who would be at the center of it. That said, it wasn’t one of those super frustrating breakups, it was kind of silly, and I knew they’d get back together after finally talking things out. I loved how perfectly the story wraps up. Our high school sweethearts are heading off to college and riding off into the sunset.

Final Thoughts

Overall, this was another winner by Lynn Painter, and might actually be one of my favorites by her. Even though it’s a YA romance, the characters felt mature beyond their years, had incredible chemistry, and were surrounded by fun, loving side characters. The ending ties everything up with a bow. I definitely recommend it!

This novel was simply amazing! I know it’s going to be an instant best seller, when it gets released. The way this author writes is captivating, it pulled me in right away! It is a young adult sports romantic comedy, that is just too cute! I had a lot of fun reading this one! It is not only heartfelt, but came with humor in it as well. It’s about hockey and childhood best friends! The two best friends names are Dani and Alec. Well, these two besties reconnect after Dani returns to her hometown. Dani comes back to her hometown in Minnesota because of her Parents divorce. After returning home, she reaches out to Alec to reconnect. These two besties end up fake dating and their town is nothing short of hockey obsessed! Alec so happens to be a popular hockey player, someone that Dani can’t wrap her head around. He was very different before she left.

As they are in their senior year of high school, they begin to fake date, due to unexpected events that occur. As they start fake dating, they begin to spend a lot of time together. Even though Dani had moved and they grew apart, a reconnection between them happens. When this started happening in the book, I was so excited and happy! Was it predictable? Absolutely. Did I care that it was predictable? Absolutely not. I loved both of these characters in the story and was thrilled when the reconnecting was happening! This book explores themes of authenticity versus perception, dealing with different emotions, first love and romance, vulnerability and a found family. If I could give this book more stars, I would! I give this a high 5 out of 5 stars!

I think fans of “Better Than The Movies” would really enjoy this book! Content warnings include cussing, substance abuse, violence and sexual content.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Lynn Painter and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on September 30, 2025!

I'll read anything Lynn Painter writes, and naturally this book didn't disappoint. Loved everything about this story...from the small town vibes, the Polish and Croation clubs, to the new friends and reconnecting with family, this love story is a winner. 5 stars.

This was so fun! Lynn Painter does not miss with her YA romances. I loved Dani and Alec. They were sweet, with a little angst and resentment from the past. I loved them getting to know each other again, their fake dating, their friends, hockey, and her grandfather. My biggest issues were 1) what happened with Benji? and 2) they never really talk about what happened when they stopped speaking. Otherwise, this was cute and cozy and another reason I read all Lynn Painter’s YA books.

Lynn Painter scores a hat trick with Fake Skating, a heartfelt small‑town romance that skates effortlessly between hockey thrills and swoony moments. From the first page, the story’s Minnesota setting—where ice rinks reign supreme—becomes a character in its own right, grounding the plot in a cozy, community-focused world.

What I Loved ❤️
• Real, Relatable Characters: Our female lead feels refreshingly genuine—smart, independent, and emotionally honest. Her fake‑dating arrangement with a childhood crush is handled with charm and depth, steering clear of contrivance.
• Hockey-Infused Atmosphere: Painter’s love for the sport shines in her vivid descriptions. Whether it’s the electrifying energy of game night or quiet moments in the rink, the hockey backdrop adds real texture to their romance.
• Emotional Payoff: The story delivers satisfying growth arcs for both leads. Their journey from “what‑if friends” to something real builds gradually and authentically, leading to tender, heartfelt moments rather than pushy declarations.

Minor Quibble: At times, secondary characters felt a touch underdeveloped—but this didn’t diminish the power of the central romance or the story’s overall warmth.

Final Verdict:
Fake Skating is a delightful, cozy read—perfect for those who love romantic comedies set against an energetic, sports-driven backdrop. It has all the feels: friends-to-lovers tension, community charm, and enough swoony moments to win over the most skeptical reader. Lynn Painter has delivered another winner—ideal for fans of adorable, small‑town romance.

Highly recommended for readers seeking a feel-good, emotionally grounded rom-com with a twist of athletic flair!

I love Lynn Painter! I started reading her YA romance by a happy-stance and always try to grab her new releases. The author has a great way to make young adult love slow burns with secret pining page-turning. I stayed up way past my adult bedtime reading Fake Skating as soon as the rules of fake-dating were set. I hope we get to follow the other friends’ relationships either in sequels or future spin off books! I took a star off because I may have totally missed why Dani was with Benji at the secret place or it was not spelled out enough for me for it to be a major plot line.

adored this story.

I was dying to read thing is story!

dani and alec childhood friends who become strangers due to a misunderstanding.

dani, is finally moving back to town after her parents split and is surprised to see how much alec has changed. she goes through so much stuff, especially dealing with family issues and a dad who makes things difficult. finding her place in this new school.

(LOVED the friends she made!)

alec, a hockey prodigy. he’s going through the motions of trying to keep his nose clean so he has a better future….but after a night of fun gets exposed on social media…and being caught in the locker room with dani. the only way to clear up everything and make he seem like the good kid he is to fake date.

their relationship slowly builds and they see how much each other has grown. while slowly falling for ever other with each passing minute. i mean of course it was going to be hard not to fall for alec when he was FLIRTING LIKE THAT! he was laying it on thick.

Alec and Dani were childhood best friends due to their parents being friends. Because Dani’s father was in the military, they had to move away. Vowing to stay friends, Dani and Alec write postcards to each other, but end up falling out of touch. Five years later Dani moves back during their senior year of school and tensions are high. Miscommunication over their lost touch has both Alec and Dani not having the greatest reunion. Until they end up in a compromising position leading them to fake dating.

I loved the tropes and plot of this story! I enjoyed many parts of it! I love a childhood friends to lovers, a hockey romance and fake dating. This one missed the mark for me. I wanted to love this one! But by the end it fell flat for me. The miscommunication, while annoying made sense to me because at the end of the day these two were just kids. I enjoyed watching them rekindle their friendship, but Alec especially completely ignored the overall feelings he had regarding their past.

I would’ve loved this book had the ending delivered more of a conclusion. It felt like it wrapped up way too quickly. While part of it was resolved, I felt like half of the original conflict was never fully discussed? The big betrayal from a few years ago that had Alec so upset was never talked about. The ending felt so abrupt and while they spoke on some things I do not at all feel like the conflict was entirely resolved. This moved the book from a 4.5 to 3.5 stars for me. With the entire book being a miscommunication I was expecting there to be this big end reveal and long conversation about what really happened and there wasn’t which left me disappointed.

If you love a fun, clean sports romance I think you’ll enjoy this one! I did enjoy it, I just wish the ending was more fleshed out.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this early! Lynn Painter fully captures the magic that made so many fall in love with Wes and Liz in "Better Than the Movies" with Dani and Alec. The small town, the family characters, everything was so delightful that I wished we had gotten even more of it!

Thank you Net Galley for the arc of this book!!

My Summary:
After years away, Dani and her mom officially move to the Minnesota town that she grew up going to every summer. There, she rekindles her childhood friendship with Alec, however, he is no longer the same young boy she knew, instead, he’s the towns star hockey player. Despite this change, Alec and Dani decide that a fake relationship is the perfect way for both to get things they need.

Review: 5/5 ⭐️
Lynn outdid herself with this book. Alec and Dani were such interesting characters individually, but even better when they were together. A book that includes fake dating, banter, and childhood best friends is right up my alley. Throughout the entire book, I was intrigued and wanted to see what would happen next in the plot but also the growth of the characters themselves. By the end, Alec and Dani had easily moved up to being some of my favorite book characters!
The one thing I didn’t love:
-Ben and how his characters story ended

Overall, this book was just another demonstration of why Lynn Painter is THE YA romance author. <33

Such a good book!! I love the second chance romance and the banter! Such a fun and witty read, I finished it in less than 24 hours because I was so addicted!!

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an Arc!

I love, love, love Lynn Painter—so any book of hers is a must read!! I really felt like she tapped into Better Than The Movies to write Fake Skating. I love a good hockey taking dating plot. Dani & Alec are for sure in my top two favorite Painterverse couples. (Dare I say I like them more than WesLiz, very controversial… I know!) I cannot wait for everyone to read this. Dani is one of the best fmcs ever, and Alec is a perfect match!

[Thank you to Simon Teen & Netgalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.]

This book is perfection. Lynn Painter could teach a master class on how to write YA romances. This is one of her best books yet and I will absolutely be pre-ordering it.

We get a childhood friends to enemies to lovers story that features fake dating. AND THEN Painter sets the whole story in a small town, filled with spectacular secondary characters (except for two, who you’re supposed to hate), that’s obsessed with the high school hockey team (sports romance). Just chef’s kiss.

There's this sweetness to Dani and Alec. They were childhood best friends and each other's first kiss. They created a special code to talk to each other when they were apart. Even when they're mad at each other, they have this charming banter and unmistakable chemistry. You can’t help but root for them as they grow over the course of the story.

Because even though this is a young adult book, there’s so much depth. You see two kids who are struggling with the expectations put on them. It encompasses complex family dynamics (divorce), mental health rep (anxiety), and the tribulations of growing up.

This book gave me all the feels and now I’m wondering if it’s too soon to reread it?

I love Lynn Painter and I was really looking forward to this book.

Alec and Dani spent every summer together when they were kids untill Dani had to move away and they lost contact. Now she returns to Minnesota years later and Alec is not the boy she once knew. When circumstances lead to them being forced to play Boyfriend and Girlfriend for both of their benefit. Their real relationship is put to the test after the tumultuous end to their childhood friendship. How will these two old friends and childhood sweethearts make everything work out.

I had a really great time reading this. Dani and Alec have such a believable relationship with their families and each other. In just a few short months together again they both grow so much.

I cannot wait for everyone to be able to read another Lynn Painter banger.

What I loved:
-Fake dating trope
-Mental health rep
-Hockey romance
-Nerdy girl/jockey boy
-Side characters
-Grandpa Mick!!

There is a ton to love about this story, and it started off really strong; however there were some aspects that knocked it down a star…

-Lots of f-bombs. I love reading Lynn Painter with my HS students, but I cannot recommend this one to them given the frequency in which the f-word is used.
-Miscommunication trope aka my least favorite trope ever