Painter has written some of my favorite YA romances and this is one of her best! It has hockey, fake dating, family drama and childhood friends. I really loved it!

Daniella (Dani) and her mom have returned to Minnesota to live with her grandpa after her parent’s divorce. She lived there back when she was in middle school and her best friend was Alec. When her family moved away, she and Alec promised to send postcards to each other using a special code, but something happened and the cards quit coming. They were both hurt because they thought the other person had ghosted them. Now she’s back and it’s their senior year of high school.

She’s anxious to see Alec again, when she gets knocked over in the hallway by a guy’s big athletic bag, and she’s surprised to see the owner of the bag is Alec. Alec had always been more of a nerd when they were younger but after she left, he grew a foot and got serious about hockey. Now everyone calls him Zeus and he’s the star of their high school hockey team. Alec and Dani are wary of each other at first (because of the ghosting thing) but then Dani needs an extracurricular activity for her college application and the only thing available is co-manager of the hockey team. As they get to know each other again, they banter and it is the best, so snarky and fun. It doesn’t take long for her and Alec–they end up fake dating!–to grow close again and share kisses.

Dani is an excellent student and dreams of going to Harvard. She has a problem with her dad because he wants her to come live with him in Germany. But she’s happy living with her mom and grandpa and likes the new friends she’s making – plus there’s Alec. Alec has scouts coming to watch his games and he feels the pressure to perform well. He has a great friend crew and they bring a lot of camaraderie and humor to the story. Alec’s father had a car accident a few years ago and is unable to work so Alec really needs a scholarship for college. This is a wonderfully plotted book and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. 

One of my favorite characters is Dani’s grandpa. (He is the GOAT!) He is a hockey legend, having played in the NHL as a superstar enforcer. Everyone in town looks up to him but he keeps to himself and while he comes off as gruff, he’s always watching out for Dani and Alec.

Fake Skating is touching and sweet as Dani and Alec’s fake dating turns real and they help each other through their senior year. This and The Do Over are now tied as my favorite Lynn Painter YA romances – I really loved it!