Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

Fake Skating

Lynn Painter

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers · Hardcover · September 30, 2025

A #1 New York Times bestseller!

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Who it’s for
A warm, sports-flirty read that leans on chemistry, pace, and a tidy emotional payoff.
Genres
Hockey, Romantic Comedy for Teens, Contemporary YA Romance
Published
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 30, 2025

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  6. Better Than the MoviesLynn Painter63% match
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For older readers: The Fiance Dilemma, Story of My Life

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About this book

A #1 New York Times bestseller! From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies Lynn Painter comes a heartfelt and banter-filled “feel-good rom-com” (School Library Journal) about childhood sweethearts whose icy reunion in their hockey-loving hometown unexpectedly thaws when they fake a romantic relationship. Growing up, Dani couldn’t help but follow around the adorable son of her mom’s best friend.

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Funny, kind of nerdy, and a little soft, Alec was always down to hang with Dani when they were little. From play dates to sneaking into movie theaters, Dani and Alec were inseparable. Until Dani moved away. Alec promised they’d stay in touch—except, they didn’t. Flash forward and Dani is back in Minnesota for her senior year, she and her mom living with her grandfather. Dealing with the fallout of her parents’ devastating divorce, Dani wouldn’t mind a nerd-out with the cozy and comforting Alec (and maybe a chance to confront him on his MIA status for all these years). But teenage Alec is nothing like the kid Dani remembers. He’s a hockey star in a town where hockey players are worshiped as gods. Dani’s place as his shadow has been taken up by drooling female fans…and he loves it. Dani is resolved to ice out her former best friend until an unlikely series of events brings them together—and forces them to fake being a couple. Once stuck together, the former childhood sweethearts begin to reconnect, unearth complicated family secrets, and face their true feelings towards each other…including the real reason Alec has been pushing Dani away all these years.

Flirty Ice

A warm, sports-flirty read that leans on chemistry, pace, and a tidy emotional payoff.

Come here for

  • rom-com energy with a hockey edge
  • clean, crushy banter

Expect

  • teen romance tone
  • performance-ready, easy immersion

Where it sits

Contemporary YA Romance64%
Romantic Comedy for Teens53%
Hockey30%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Romantic Comedy for Teens
  • Friendship for Teens
  • Hockey
Authors
Lynn Painter
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published
September 30, 2025
Format
Hardcover
Reading lane
Romantic Comedy for Teens