Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

e-ALC, 10:10:06
Narrated by: Aidan Bissett & Saylor Bell Curda
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Read from: November 16-19, 2025
Companion Novel
Source: Libro FM (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Libro FM. This did nothing to influence my review!)
Content Warning: Cursing, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Emotional Abuse, Injury/Injury Detail, Violence, Gaslighting, Car Accident, Bullying, Alcohol
For Readers Interested In: Audio, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Dual POV, Favorites, Most Anticipated, Neurodiverse, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Second Chance Romance, Series Companion, Sports (Hockey), ToB 2026, Fake Dating, YA

     From play dates on the playground to sneaking into movie theatres, Dani and Alec were inseparable as kids. Until Dani moved away. Years later, Dani is back in Minnesota, and exited to reconnect with the nerdy and comforting Alec. But teenage Alec is NOTHING like the boy she remembers. He’s the hockey STAR in a town where hockey players are worshipped as gods – and he loves it.
     When one thing leads to another and Dani and Alec find themselves thrown together and playing the role of boyfriend and girlfriend, “complicated” becomes an understatement. In this Minnesota town, hockey may rule, but romance is about to take its place.

*MY THOUGHTS*

Idk why I waited so long to read this. I read ONE Lynn Painter book way back when that I wasn’t a fan of and never tried her again…. And now I see that that was a stupid decision lol Tbh I think I didn’t like the other because it was a genre or something I didn’t care for, not the writing style, so I deprived myself from her other books for no reason. I think it’s because they’re all companions, but nevertheless, I won’t be doing that anymore. I really enjoyed this one if you can’t tell lol

Ok so out of all the hockey books I read, I really can’t say which is my favorite. This one is about so much more than just a hockey romance. The panic attacks and the anxiety definitely hit home. As someone who also has anxiety, I understood everything she was going through. It was a real description of anxiety. I do wish there were more formal like things used to help her (like the 5 senses thing) but the breathing thing was ok too. I also liked that they showed Alec and his anger issues. This is another one that I wish had gotten some more time with how they can handle those things. Like Alec needs to be talking to someone about him flying off they handle. Especially since it happened more than once.

I also liked that it was dual POV. This made for some great hockey scenes. And it really helped us get to know the characters. Dani was book smart, sarcastic, and hilarious. (Kinda like me if I do say so myself) and Alec was very much the same and knew how to take a joke. It was a wonder to me how they decided that fake dating was the way to go about any of this lol They knew that wasn’t going to work.

The sports aspect was also really good. I had a great time listening to her describe the things happening on the ice. But I also liked the way she wrote about his team. They were so supportive of both of them and it really made it seem like they were more family than anything. And I think what I loved most about it was the fact that they looked out for both of them, not just Alec.

The romance was amazing. There is a lot of build up because of the whole fake dating thing. I loved seeing them try to act like they weren’t actually falling for each other. But Lordt they were stubborn. That ending made me want to shake them. But the epilogue made me put my hand over my heart and swoon lol I remember seeming like a proud auntie for a lot of this book lol

Overall, I give this