FAKE SKATING BY LYNN PAINTER
Some books are just so fun to read. The kind you pick up thinking you will read a chapter or two, and suddenly you are halfway through and fully invested in the characters’ lives. Fake Skating by Lynn Painter is exactly that kind of read.
At its core, this is a classic fake dating story with a hockey twist. Dani moves back to Minnesota after her parents’ divorce and reconnects with her childhood best friend, Alec, now known as “Zeus,” the town’s hockey star. When some not so great photos threaten his reputation, he convinces Dani to pretend to be his girlfriend to clean up his image. You can probably guess where it goes from there.
And yes, on paper, it sounds familiar. But somehow, it just works.
What makes this story stand out is the emotional layering beneath the trope. Dani’s past, constantly moving and dealing with bullying, shapes how she navigates relationships and trust. Alec is more than the confident hockey player. He is carrying his own weight with a father whose life changed after a devastating accident. These details give the story more depth than you might expect and make the characters feel real in a way that sticks.
There is also something really appealing about the world Painter builds. The hockey culture, the team dynamics, Dani’s grumpy but lovable grandfather, a former NHL player, and even the inclusion of a shared soundtrack all add to the experience. It feels warm, familiar, and just a little nostalgic.
This would be a great addition to a high school classroom library, especially for readers who gravitate toward romance or sports stories. It is accessible, engaging, and offers plenty to talk about, including identity, reputation, loyalty, and the choices people make to protect the people they care about. It could also open up conversations about how quickly narratives can shift, both online and in real life.
I will be honest. This is not a book that tries to reinvent the genre. But it does not need to. It gives readers exactly what they are hoping for in a way that feels genuine and satisfying.
And sometimes, that is exactly the kind of book students need