Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter Fake Skating by Lynn Painter A fun, swoony, and emotional fake-dating hockey romance about childhood friends, second chances, and falling for the person you never expected. From #1 international bestselling author Lynn Painter, Fake Skating delivers a heartwarming and hilarious romantic story set in a hockey-obsessed Minnesota town where love is about to become the most unexpected game of all. Dani and Alec were inseparable as children. From playground playdates to sneaking into movie theaters, their friendship was effortless, natural, and full of shared dreams. They understood each other in a way no one else did, forming a bond that felt unbreakable. But everything changed when Dani moved away, forcing them to grow up apart and leave their childhood connection behind. Years later, Dani returns to Minnesota expecting a warm reunion with the boy she once knew—the sweet, nerdy Alec who made her childhood feel safe and special. Instead, she is met with someone completely different. Alec is no longer the quiet boy from her memories. He has transformed into a confident, celebrated hockey star in a town where players are treated like royalty. Surrounded by fame, attention, and admiration, Alec seems distant and entirely out of reach. Yet beneath the new image, Dani is still searching for the boy she once called her closest friend. As fate would have it, Dani and Alec are suddenly thrown back into each other’s lives in the most unexpected way. What begins as awkward reconnection quickly spirals into a complicated arrangement: they end up pretending to be a couple. A simple fake dating setup—at least in theory. But in a small town where hockey rules everything and everyone is watching, pretending becomes far more complicated than they imagined. Old feelings resurface, buried emotions reignite, and the line between fake and real begins to blur. As Dani navigates Alec’s new world of fame, pressure, and expectations, she discovers that the boy she once knew might still be there underneath it all. And Alec begins to realize that Dani might be the only person who sees him for who he truly is, beyond the spotlight. With chemistry that is impossible to ignore and tension that builds with every interaction, Fake Skating is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and romance. It explores what happens when childhood friendship turns into something deeper—and whether love can survive time, change, and growing up. Perfect for fans of fake dating tropes, sports romance, and nostalgic second-chance love stories, this novel delivers all the charm, warmth, and swoon-worthy moments readers expect from Lynn Painter. Why You'll Love This Book A bestselling fake dating hockey romance by Lynn Painter Childhood friends-to-lovers storyline Fun, emotional, and highly addictive romance Small-town Minnesota hockey setting Strong chemistry and witty banter Perfect for fans of YA/NA contemporary romance