Really enjoyed this book! I liked that the dual POVs allowed insight into both characters mind frames and allowed a deeper understanding of why they believed they were doing things.
As a hockey fan I really enjoyed the detail and dynamics between the characters and Grandpa Mick. (The first 'family dinner' with Alec's family and his dads friends really made me laugh).

At work the other day (I work in a library) I was helping a customer find a book to read and this was what I wanted to recommend - thankfully for them we can reserve books in advance but I was just really excited to be able to share this book with someone else and forgot it wasn't out yet!!

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this early! .

3.5 ⭐️

super cute ya romance as all lynn painter books are.

it was refreshing to read a ya hockey romance. alec and dani were both great characters, and I loved watching their dynamic play out, i loved their banter and flirtation with each other when dani started to come out of her shell more.

i do wish they had just talked things out about their past miscommunications a little earlier, but i did love that even though they both had their own ideas about why they stopped talking it didn’t get in the way of them naturally building on their new relationship.

thank you to simon & schuster and netgalley for the e-arc.

This is the kind of story Lynn Painter is loved for - a humorous young adult/new adult contemporary romance. It worked quite well, although it's a little predictable and relies heavily on the miscommunication trope.

I liked that there was space given to Dani learning to cope with social anxiety and her parents' divorce, and the guilt both of the protagonists felt about family issues that was completely not their fault was pretty realistic.

I didn't love some of the sports elements - Alec being the star hockey player seemed to give him a lot of licence and power, which is of course realistic, but it made things pretty uneven in the power dynamics of their relationship especially in the beginning. And I didn't appreciate the glorified violence.

One element of characterisation I've noticed over a few of Painter's books, especially with switching first person perspective - the MMC always swears frequently, while the FMC does not. This is a way of differentiating the different voices, sure, but I didn't need F-bombs in every paragraph to do that. It felt like it was a shortcut rather than a character choice.

All up, this was an enjoyable story that teens will like, and it kept me up reading far into the night.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

Dani moves back to her hometown after years of bouncing around for her dad’s job. She’s been waitlisted at Harvard—her ultimate dream—but the only thing holding her back is not having an extracurricular activity. Dani’s childhood best friend Alec is now a hockey player trying to clean up his image after one mishap. When she returns, he’s the one who gets her a spot as manager for the school hockey team. Alec also needs to show he’s serious about his future if he wants a shot at a real hockey career… so when Dani shows back up, she’s the perfect “solution.” Cue the fake dating trope we all know and love, complete with old wounds and unresolved feelings bubbling under the surface.

The story touches a lot on belonging—Dani trying to find her place, making friends, and realizing she deserves to be part of something. There’s definitely a found family vibe with the hockey team, which I loved.

This was my second Lynn Painter read, and once again her writing didn’t miss. I was hooked on these characters from the start. For a YA romance with no spice (just some heavy kissing), the tension was so good. Lynn really knows how to flesh out her characters and bring the whole setting to life—I could picture everything so clearly as I read.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a cute spring read (Aussie here!) Albeit a little predictable at times, Alec and Dani have a cozy little romance, from estranged childhood bestfriends to strangers who reconnect 5 years later. I did find at times that the plot was a bit predictable with the misunderstanding trope being a little overused and the dialogue being a little lazy, but these are the types of books we pick up for this exact reason. I read this book on a beach and it was a perfect warm romance to lose yourself in when you're on vacation.

Romance? Yes
Friends to lovers? Yes
A rekindled spark? YES

Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster (Australia) & NetGalley for this eARC!

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter covered pretty much all the romance tropes that I adore. Childhood friends to lovers, fake dating, and second chance romance. Throw in some sport and you've pretty much got me. And I loved all of those aspects of this cute YA story.

Dani and Alec were the very best of friends when they were kids. But after some miscommunication they haven't seen or spoken to each other in years. But Dani has just moved back to town and Alec is nothing like the boy she remembers. When the two are thrown together they come to a mutually beneficial agreement to pretend to be dating. But it's not long before both are wondering how fake things are when they are both developing very real feelings.

In typical Lynn Painter style this was a well written, relatable, swoony, YA romance. It also touched on some deeper topics which added a bit more depth to the story. I loved the small town aspect and the family dynamics. I loved the banter between Dani and Alec, and I loved the friendship between Dani and Cassie.

There were some song lyrics sprinkled throughout the story, and generally that always falls flat for me because I never seem to know the songs. And this time was no different. I could have done without those since they really didn't add anything to the story for me. And Just a heads up that this one does contain a fair amount of swearing, from both the teenagers and some of the adults. Nothing that turned me off, but something to be aware of for the younger teens.

Overall I enjoyed this one, and Lynn Painter proves again that she's a gem at writing swoony YA romance.

Lynn and hockey romance? YES PLEASE

We see childhood best friends fake date and get their HEA ❤️❤️

I loved the small town romance, the coziness of found family and finally establishing some roots for Dani the FMC.

I loved Dani and Alec, I was rooting for them the entire time and the storyline didn’t disappoint. Lynn made me feel like I was a fly on the wall, and I definitely felt all the emotions of high school drama and their hockey teams success during the season.

Lynn handled the situation of a child of divorce really well, I thought it was delicate but powerful.
Loved all of the side characters to the parents, Grandpa Mick and even the school friends - although I thought some of the school friends personalities could have shown more!

Overall I loved this book and can’t wait for everyone to read it !

this was exactly what i wanted from a new YA book from lynn painter. i adore lynn painter's writing, and this was so fun and bingeable (and helped me out of a little reading slump!!).

the story is about dani and alec, childhood friends turned strangers. i absolutely adored both of them, they both felt so real and were fully developed characters, with their own relationships, issues and storylines. i loved the side characters (grandpa mick!!!) and seeing growth from both dani and alec. their romance had so much angst and tension, and it was so much fun!! i loved the setting of this book and the wintery, small-town vibes. i thought the hockey aspect of the book added a lot to the story, and i absolutely ate up the fake dating.

this story felt very very similar to other books i've read by lynn painter, which was exactly what i was looking for, but might be disappointing if you're wanting something different.

overall, i thought this was really solid and would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lynn Painter for this ARC
This is my first book by Lynn Painter and will definitely not be my last I plan to read her other popular books.
Dani is a military kid who moves around a lot she is described as a nerd and dreams of getting into Harvard. Alec is this hot-shot hockey player at Southview High School and him and Dani used to be inseparable as kids and now she's back starting at a new school is tough but she runs into Alec and at first she can't stand him but Alec has a plan to not only get her into Harvard but improve his reputation as a hockey star.
Alec and Dani have a lot to work through but they manage to do it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

I was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC of Fake Skating by Lynn Painter through NetGalley and Simon & Schuster - my very first ARC (!!) 🥹💌 This book comes out on September 30th, and if you’re a fan of hockey romances like me, you’re going to want this one on your shelf!

This story had everything I love in a sports romance - fake dating, hilarious banter, and a swoony hockey player who had me kicking my feet 🏒✨ I loved how it mixed all the fun, flirty rom-com vibes with the addictive tension of a hockey romance. It was such a fast-paced, bingeable read and reminded me why Lynn Painter is an auto-buy author for so many readers.

If you’re craving a romance that will make you smile, laugh, and swoon, definitely add this one to your TBR! 💕

this is hands down my favorite lynn painter book. she just keeps getting better and better. i just want to say thank you for this arc net gallery & simon and schuster i'm so so grateful. I'm not going to say too much as it isn't out yet...

dani & alec chemistry was OFF THE CHARTS. like omg the banter and just the way they complimented each other so well. definitely my fav lynn painter couple so far.

i really loved the representations of anxiety and social pressure throughout their book. these issues were written really well especially for people that relate to these problems can feel more seen.

i do wish we got a bit more communication throughout the book,though & the ending felt a bit rushed but i still really enjoyed it.

- ya romance
- fake dating
- sports romance
- childhood friends
- opposites attract

Cute little read. Read in one day.

The first book I read have by Lynn Painter, and I enjoyed it.
I will go back and read her others now.

3.5 stars

This was an enjoyable YA romance with strong themes around family, belonging and growth. I think teen me would have really liked it. The miscommunication trope is a very integral part of the story and while it felt like it could easily have been cleared up with a short conversation, it did work to add tension to the story throughout. I really enjoy dual POV and it allowed me, as a reader, to get to understand Dani and Alec's thoughts and feelings - adding postively to the story (sidenote: Alec's POV does contain a lot of swearing).

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This has been one of my most anticipated books of the year and let me tell you.. IT DELIVERED! Lynn Painter has once again done it, proving that she’s the queen of YA! It was a swoon-worthy, banter filled, laugh out loud rom com that had me smiling the whole time.

The story follows Dani and Alec, they’re childhood friends who have drifted apart due to different circumstances and events in life. Dani moves back to the hockey obsessed town in Minnesota to find that Alec is no longer the clumsy, lanky geek she remembers but a cocky hockey God that is literally worshipped by the hockey obsessed small town. Dani needs to enrol in extra curricular to get into Harvard and Alec needs to clean up his image so of course they hatch a plan to fake date and I. ate. it. up 👏🏼👏🏼

I loved the dual pov as we got insight into what the characters were thinking. Dani was an FMC that I related to with her social anxiety and the way she struggled over the years. Alec was down bad, the yearninggg, the flirting.. he was obsessed! She was all he could think about and his main goal was to make sure she was ok. He gave major Peter Kavinsky vibes and I sometimes forgot I was reading YA because he was 🥵 (Wes Bennett who?)

In true Lynn fashion, I loved the way she seamlessly integrated the playlist into the story. There was some miscommunication which I could excuse because they’re teenagers and there was an explanation for it.

Thank you so much to Simon and schuster and NetGalley. I loved this one so much!

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

🌟 4/5

I don’t often read YA lately, but a good YA book is everything.

Dani’s never spent too long in one place because her dad works for the US Air Force. But each summer during her childhood, she and her mum would visit Southview, Minnesota. They stayed with Dani’s grandparents, who lived within walking distance of Alec’s family home.

Dani and Alec became childhood best friends during those summers. So when Dani and her mum move back to Southview permanently, Dani is ready to catch up with Alec again.

Since they last saw each other, Alec has become a small town hockey legend. No longer a small, klutzy child, Alec is adored by his classmates and family. When Dani and Alec have their first run-in, it doesn’t go quite to plan.

I enjoyed the dual-POV of Alec and Dani. Their voices were distinct and felt like teen voices.

I liked how this book had with teenagers dealing with big family issues, like divorce and debt. Alec carried a lot of weight on his shoulders, and I felt for him.

My fave character in this book (aside from Dani and Alec) was Grandpa Mick. While he was a gruff old man at times, he was also a kind and quiet soul. He reminded me of both of my grandfathers. He was ultimately supportive and went above and beyond for his daughter and granddaughter.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book. Thank you to Lynn Painter, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley.
#FakeSkating #NetGalley

1.5⭐️
Read if you like: childhood friends, small town romance, hockey romance, fake dating, highschool romance, dual pov

Wow was this book long. I kept thinking, when will it be over? 😭

Dani and Alec used to be childhood best friends until Dani moved away. She’s now back in town and Alec has changed from the soft, nerdy boy to hockey star.

Dani has social anxiety, she worries about how she looks and what everyone thinks of her. She suffers from panic attacks and overthinking - she was honestly so relatable and I really felt for her.
I liked how the author showed the awkward family dynamic with Dani and grandpa, how moving all the time takes a mental toll on someone and the feelings a teenager will experience after having their parent’s divorce. I also liked how Sarah and Hannah were super understanding about the photo and that teenagers can make mistakes.

I wasn’t a fan of the MC’s. It got tiring reading Alec’s pov, there was so much swearing in his chapters 🥲

Alec came to Dani’s rescue a few times which was sweet. There were some moments where there was chemistry but really there was no emotional connection. They were physically attracted to each other but that was it. If you’re going to have a serious feelings for someone surely you communicate and discuss what happened years ago rather than ignore what has happened. It’s giving high school relationship that won’t last in the real world.

I’m a big hater on the miscommunication trope and it could have been resolved SO much earlier with one conversation. Instead they spent 90% of the book resenting each other for the past. The ending drove me mad. I dislike this book so much I feel like I wasted my time. Also honey as a nickname to 18 year olds doesn’t hit - I was cringing so much.

When everything came to light it was SO UNSATISFYING!! Ugh as if you leave it like that?? So the story just ends and they never discuss it 😐

This book wasn’t for me, but if you like the tropes and a YA book, maybe give this a go.
I would’ve DNF’d this if it wasn’t an ARC.

Lynn Painter once again delivers a swoony, laugh-out-loud rom-com that tugs at your heart just as much as it makes you grin. Fake Skating has all the ingredients of a perfect YA romance: childhood friends to strangers to fake dating, small-town hockey obsession, and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to hug the book to your chest.

Dani was such a relatable main character. Her social anxiety, her overthinking, and her need to prepare for everything made her feel so real. Watching her slowly come out of her shell, reconnect with her roots, and navigate the messiness of family life (especially her parents’ divorce) gave the story so much depth. Her bond with her grandad was both hilarious and heart-warming, and I loved how her vulnerability was never treated as weakness.

Alec completely stole the show. On the surface, he is the cocky hockey star, but underneath all that swagger is a boy still carrying the pressure of expectations and the softness of the kid Dani once knew. The way he saw Dani, even when she tried to hide, and how their banter seamlessly shifted into tenderness, made their romance feel inevitable and authentic.

Their dynamic was perfection. The teasing, the fake dating hijinks, the moments of pure vulnerability, they were the kind of couple you root for from page one. I laughed at their constant interruptions, swooned at Alec’s soft side, and maybe teared up once or twice when their walls finally crumbled.

Yes, the plot is a little predictable and the miscommunication lingers longer than it needs to, but honestly, that did not take away from how much fun this book was. Painter balances humour, swoon, and heartfelt themes of family and identity in a way that makes Fake Skating such a joy to read.

If you loved Better Than the Movies, you are going to adore this one. It is cute, heartfelt, and brimming with Lynn Painter’s signature charm.

Now I will admit, this is my first Lynn Painter book that I’ve read so I wasn’t sure on how’d I’d go. But goodness me did I love it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a feel-good romcom YA romance. Sports romance with fake dating, was a good combination 😩 While the occasional miscommunication feels overplayed, the emotional payoff, character growth, and cozy setting make it a truly satisfying read. I especially loved watching Dani grow. Her journey felt real and personal. It was exactly what I needed to read next! Heartwarming. Easy to read. Keeping me out of a reading slump 🤩 this has me adding more of Lynn’s books to my tbr list for sure!

Special thanks to Simon & Schuster, Netgally and Lynn Painter for access to this ARC! 🤍

3.5 ⭐️
Fake Skating has the nostalgia of all the romcoms I loved watching growing up, which made for an easy read I enjoyed watching through my head.

A story about childhood bestfriends who lost touch over a misunderstanding and find themselves back in each others lives. Also set in a charming hockey obsessed town filled with side charcters that are just as lovable. The main characters Alec and Dani are easy to read about, they go through anxiety and different pressures and family trouble that can seem heavy but almost feels hopeful and wants you to root for them to open up and get through.

I would have love to read about Dani and her mums relationship abit more. Dani expressed feeling guilty over the life her mother could've had, and finds things out about her mother she never knew. They're already close but it would've been cool to see Dani get to know who her mother was before she got married. The little bits of happiness we see as they move back to her hometown. I wouldn't mind reading a book about the mums life now.

Also, love a book that has a playlist but I didn't really like the amount of times a song name was dropped. Music was a part of Alecs routine, but I don't think every single song had to be name dropped.

This was such a cute, heartfelt romance! I loved the dual first-person POV, Alec’s struggles and Dani’s relatable perspective on starting over really added depth. The portrayal of anxiety felt realistic, and the family dynamics (especially Dani’s grandfather!) gave the story extra warmth

The tropes were spot-on: sports romance, hockey, fake dating, second chance, childhood sweethearts, and small-town drama. I especially enjoyed the letters from the past and childhood flashbacks, which added so much emotion and tension

My only drawbacks were that the story felt a little long, the leads didn’t interact until nearly 20%, and the heavy reliance on miscommunication, which at times got frustrating

Overall, it’s a sweet, emotional read with great character growth and lots of tension. Perfect for fans of sports romance and second chances!