Review Detail

Fake Skating is such a fun and easy-to-get-into romance that mixes childhood nostalgia with that classic fake dating tension.

The story follows Dani, who moves back to her hometown expecting to reconnect with the sweet, awkward boy she used to know. Instead, she finds Alec, who is now basically the opposite of what she remembers, a confident hockey star who thrives on attention! Their dynamic changes quickly when they end up pretending to be in a relationship, and from there, things get messy in the best way, of course.

What I really liked about this book is how natural the chemistry feels between Dani and Alec. You can tell there’s history there, and it makes all the tension and emotional moments hit harder. I also liked how the story didn’t just rely on the fake dating trope but actually explored how people change over time. Dani has to come to terms with the fact that Alec isn’t the same person she once knew, and Alec has his own layers beyond the "confident hockey persona". It made their relationship feel more real instead of just cute.

That being said, there were moments where Alec’s attitude annoyed me a little, especially in the beginning when he leaned too much into that popular guy image. I wish we got to see his softer side earlier on. Still, watching that side slowly come out ended up being one of my favorite parts. I also liked the small-town hockey setting, it added a fun backdrop and made everything feel a bit more intense socially.

My favorite part was the shift from fake to real, those moments where you can tell they’re catching feelings but don’t want to admit it. It’s awkward and sweet at the same time, which made it really enjoyable to read. Overall, it’s a cute, slightly messy romance with good tension and characters that feel like they’re actually figuring themselves out.