Fake Skating

Description

From the #1 international bestselling author of Better Than the Movies and The Do-Over comes a swoony, laugh-out-loud contemporary romance masterpiece! Lynn Painter returns with Fake Skating—a brilliantly structured, fast-paced, and utterly charming YA/New Adult sports romance. Combining a heartfelt childhood-sweethearts-reunited arc with an addictive fake-dating arrangement, this unputdownable book delivers a spectacular mix of razor-sharp witty banter, emotional vulnerability, and undeniable, slow-burn chemistry that will keep you glued to the page.

From innocent playdates on the neighborhood playground to sneaking into local movie theaters in the dead of night, Dani and Alec were absolutely inseparable as kids. They were each other’s entire world—until the day Dani’s family abruptly moved away, tearing their childhood bond apart. Years later, Dani finally returns to the chilly climate of Minnesota, eager and excited to reconnect with the nerdy, quiet, and comforting boy she left behind. But the teenage Alec she encounters is absolutely NOTHING like the soft-spoken kid she remembers.

Alec has transformed into a towering, confident hockey star in a small town where hockey players are actively worshipped as literal gods—and he loves every single second of the spotlight. The stark contrast between her memories and his current status leaves Dani reeling, creating an immediate, friction-filled dynamic between them.

However, when a series of unexpected events forces them into close quarters, one thing rapidly leads to another. Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together, playing the high-stakes public role of boyfriend and girlfriend to navigate their social circles. In a town where hockey rules supreme, “complicated” quickly becomes a massive understatement as buried childhood feelings resurface and collide with modern teenage drama. As boundaries blur and the line between their calculated performance and reality begins to melt, they must decide if their fake relationship is worth risking what remains of their original friendship.

Masterfully executing the sports romance, childhood sweethearts, fake dating, forced proximity, and boy-next-door tropes, Fake Skating delivers a beautifully structured, atmospheric, and high-energy narrative. Brimming with Lynn Painter’s signature romantic comedy wit, deep found-family dynamics, and unforgettable dual-POV tension, this premium Simon & Schuster paperback edition is a mandatory masterpiece for every contemporary romance enthusiast’s personal collection.