Skate It Till You Make It - by Rufaro Faith Mazarura (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The weather might be icy, but the tension is red-hot in this fake--dating hockey rom--com from the author of Let the Games Begin.

"Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy." --Sophie Sullivan, author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas

Ari Shumba never expected to make it to the Winter Games, let alone be the one to lead Great Britain's
women's ice hockey team through the most important competition of their lives. When her teammate's
unexpected injury catapults her to the role of captain, Ari reluctantly shoulders the responsibility while
trying to navigate family drama and dodge her toxic ex.

Drew Dlamini has always feared taking risks. After breaking up with his girlfriend and dropping out of
college to handle a family crisis, he's desperate for a fresh start. When he finds himself in London for the
holidays, he rekindles his dream of becoming a professional photographer.

When Ari and Drew meet at a New Year's Eve party, neither of them is looking for love. Though their
chemistry is instant, they live on opposite sides of the Atlantic, so they spend the night revealing their
glaring red flags, thinking they'll never see each other again. But when they unexpectedly cross paths in
the snowy Swiss Alps two months later, their feelings for each other rise to the surface.

As the competition heats up, the combination of complicated exes, overinvolved families, and stress-
inducing teammates convinces them that the perfect solution to their problems is to fake-date their way
through the Games. After all, there's no risk of falling in love if it is doomed from the start . . . right?

Review Quotes

Praise for Skate It Till You Make It

"Skate it Till You Make It offers the romcom hat trick of humor, heart and heat. Incredible character chemistry and witty banter make this fake dating romance a genuine joy." --Sophie Sullivan, author of You Make It Feel Like Christmas

"Ari and Drew heat up the Winter Olympics in this gorgeous fake dating hockey romance. Rufaro deftly (stick)handles the couple's emotional journey with each other, friends, and family to a beautiful, heartwarming, and absolutely satisfying conclusion." --Lily Chu, author of The Stand-In and Drop Dead

"I've never read a hockey romance like this before - it's vulnerable, gritty, and emotional. Rufaro Faith Mazarura has skillfully weaved together a cast of authentic and lovable characters that kept me turning the pages. When you're not rooting for the heartwarming romance, you'll be cheering for Ari as she unexpectedly steps into the role of captain of her hockey team at the Olympics. Skate It Till You Make It is a must read for fans of the Olympics, sports romance, fake dating, and love stories that are impossible to put down." --Aurora Palit, author of Sunshine and Spice and Honey and Heat

"Skate It Till You Make It hit me straight in the heart. Reading about a woman fighting to carve her place in a male-dominated sport--especially in the high-stakes backdrop of the Winter Olympics--was as inspiring as it was exhilarating. Mazarura has crafted a captivating story that's fierce, romantic, and full of hope. It's the perfect read to kick off the Winter Games." --Kanitha P., author of All You Need is Gloves and the Full Throttle series

"Skate It Till You Make It is a brilliant, heartwarming story about love, friendship and believing in your dreams. Fake dating has never felt so atmospheric and riveting. Mazarura expertly weaves feminist social commentary into her writing and it will have you rooting hard for every sportswoman in the story. This is the deep, layered, dreamy sports romance I've been waiting for my entire life!" --Anam Iqbal, author of The Exes

"I savored every delicious page of Skate It Till You Make It. Rufaro Faith Mazarura pulls off a hat-trick in her expert balancing of Ari and Drew's bewitching love story, the lush tension-filled backdrop of the Winter Games, and the question of what it really means to follow your dreams. This is a second gold medal-worthy book from Mazarura." --Pyae Moe Thet War, author of Here For A Good Time

"Rufaro Faith Mazarura expertly weaves humour, conflict and charm to write the gold standard of sports romance. Prepare to fall in love with Ari and Drew; their palpable tension had me swooning through this addictive page-turner. It was impossible to put down! Heartwarming, relatable, and compelling; loving this book is the ultimate green flag!" --Annabelle Slator, author of The Launch Date and Risky Business

"Skate It Till You Make It balances fake dating, family drama, and above all, the sizzling tension between Ari and Drew, with effortless charm. A fun, fantastic read." --Grace Reilly, USA Today bestselling author of Wicked Serve

"Skate It Till You Make It is a tender, grounded story that will warm your heart, even with its wintery setting. Ari and Drew's chemistry jumps off the page, as does the world that Mazarura has built. Prepare to follow the leads through their own journeys of self-discovery, packed with plenty of hijinks and an equally enticing supporting cast. Mazarura has expertly crafted a world full of beautifully complex characters that you can't help but root for, all the way through the Winter Games." --Jasmine Burke, author of Quarter-Love Crisis

About the Author

Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a British Zimbabwean writer who grew up in Birmingham and studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Surrey. She works as a podcast producer, bringing stories to life through audio, and has written and produced podcasts for the BBC, iHeartRadio and Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books. Let the Games Begin was her debut novel.