For the first printing only! This paperback features sprayed stenciled edges while the special edition supply lasts.
A #1New York Timesbestseller!
From the #1New York Timesbestselling author ofBetter Than the MoviesLynn 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. 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.
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I think it goes very well with the theme of the book and I also love romance with a sport
"I really loved the book. I love Lynn painter. She’s such a good author. It’s one of my favourite romance novels."
— Marlee (5/5)
This version of this
"This version of this doesn’t have the extra information to the story"
— Reading30 (4/5)
YA hockey romance had my heart in a chokehold
"Fake Skating by Lynn Painter was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year — and it absolutely lived up to the hype! 💕 I’ve loved every Lynn Painter book, especially the Going to the Movies series, so my expectations were high. Once again, she gave us a strong, layered MFC in Dani — an army kid who’s learned to protect herself with rules born from past hurt. Then there’s Alec — the star hockey player who used to be her best friend during her favorite childhood summers. :ice_hockey_stick: This second chance, YA hockey romance had my heart in a chokehold. The pressure these high school seniors put on themselves honestly stressed me out in the best way — and as a parent of a teen, it really made me pause and think: what silent expectations do we pass on to our kids without realizing it? No spice, but the kissing scenes are perfection — sweet, emotional, and just right for older teens. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟"
— @mybookboyfriendmademe (5/5)
Q&A
Published date: Sep 01, 2026
Language: English
No. of Pages: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9781665921275
Dimensions:
5.5" W x
1.1" L x
8.25" H
Following her parents’ messy divorce, high school senior Dani Collins finds herself moving back to Minnesota with her mother. Despite the emotionally tumultuous reasons for returning to Southview, Dani is optimistic about the change. Maybe she’ll finally get answers about why her childhood sweetheart Alec mysteriously ghosted her. Alec, meanwhile, is too focused on maintaining his image as the star of the high school hockey team to be distracted by Dani, whom he believes broke his heart several summers ago. With the tender reunion Dani envisioned a bust, she’s more than happy to take Alec’s lead, acting like strangers at school—until a misunderstanding forces them into each other’s orbit. Alec proposes a deal: he and Dani will fake-date to endear himself to—and restore his reputation with—NHL scouts, who view Alec as a troublesome party boy. In exchange, Alec will vouch for Dani’s placement as the hockey team’s manager to help be accepted to Harvard. In this breezy rom-com, Painter (Nothing Like the Movies) crafts a tangible feeling world in which the relationship stakes are never too high, and the white-cued characters’ chemistry is magnetic, ensuring a satisfying read for romance lovers. Ages 14–up. Agent: Kim Lionetti, BookEnds Literary. (Sept.)
Lynn Painter is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies, The Do-Over, Betting on You, Mr. Wrong Number,The Love Wager, Nothing Like the Movies, Fake Skating, and Trust Fall. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn’t reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. You can find her at LynnPainter.com, on Instagram @LynnPainterBooks, on X @LAPainter, and on TikTok @WesBennettsMom.
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