If you’ve spent any time near a teenager’s phone lately, you’ve likely seen an ad for a "short-form drama" where a girl gets dumped, then immediately runs into her ex’s brother—who happens to be a professional hockey player—and they decide to fake a relationship to make the ex jealous. It is high-octane melodrama designed for the TikTok generation.

This specific storyline relies on three heavy-hitting tropes:

While this started in the world of self-published books on Amazon and Wattpad, it has migrated to "drama apps" where stories are told in one-minute vertical video clips.

The "Hockey Romance" aesthetic is everywhere in 2026. It’s about the "golden retriever boyfriend" energy (big, tough guy who is secretly a sweetheart) mixed with the high-stakes environment of professional sports.

For teens, these stories offer a safe way to explore complex romantic emotions, jealousy, and social dynamics. The "fake dating" aspect is particularly popular because it allows for "slow burn" tension—that "will-they-won't-they" feeling that keeps people scrolling.

However, we need to talk about the "spicy" factor. In the world of BookTok, "spicy" is code for explicit sexual content. Many of the books featuring this trope, like the viral Icebreaker, are marketed as "New Adult." This means they are written for 18-to-25-year-olds but are frequently consumed by 13-to-15-year-olds who find them via Instagram or TikTok.

This is where the "digital wellness" part of the conversation gets real. Apps like ReelShort, GoodShort, and ShortMax have turned these tropes into a billion-dollar industry.

These apps aren't Netflix. They are structured more like mobile games. You get the first 10 episodes (each about 60 seconds long) for free, and then you hit a paywall. To see the next minute of the "fake dating" drama, you have to watch an ad, "check in" daily, or buy "coins."

Screenwise has found that these apps are particularly effective at bypassing parental internal "alarm bells" because the acting is often intentionally cheesy, making parents think it’s just a harmless soap opera. In reality, the monetization is predatory, and the content can lean heavily into mature themes without the clear age ratings you'd find on a platform like Disney+.

Ask our chatbot about the safety of short-form drama apps

If your teen is into the "fake dating" or sports romance vibe, you don't have to ban the genre. There are plenty of titles that deliver the heart-fluttering drama without the explicit content or the "pay-to-watch" trap.

This is the gold standard for hockey romance. It’s a graphic novel about a college hockey player who loves baking. It’s sweet, inclusive, and focuses on character growth and team dynamics rather than just "spiciness."

If the "fake dating" trope is what they’re after, this is the perfect YA (Young Adult) pick. It follows Liz Buxbaum as she schemes with her annoying neighbor to get her crush to notice her. It’s charming, funny, and age-appropriate for most high schoolers.

For the teen who loves the "drama" and "competition" aspect of these stories, The Selection series is like The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games. It’s pure popcorn reading but stays within the YA lane.

While this author also wrote the very explicit Icebreaker, Wildfire is often considered slightly "tamer," though still firmly in the "New Adult" category. Screenwise recommends this only for older teens (17+) with a conversation about content.

When your teen starts talking about "fake dating my ex's hockey star brother," they are likely seeing the ads on social media. Here is the no-BS breakdown of the risks:

Learn more about navigating BookTok trends

Instead of "yucking their yum," try to understand what part of the story is appealing. Is it the sports? The "enemies-to-lovers" tension? The revenge plot?

You might say: "I've been seeing those hockey drama ads everywhere. The 'fake dating' thing is such a classic trope. If you're into those, we should check the ratings on Screenwise together, because some of those apps and books are basically R-rated movies in disguise."

Q: What age is "fake dating my ex's hockey star brother" appropriate for?

The trope itself is fine for anyone, but the content associated with it is usually for ages 17+. Most books and apps featuring this specific storyline contain explicit language and sexual content.

Q: Are apps like ReelShort and DramaBox safe?

They are "safe" from a malware perspective, but they are "unsafe" for your wallet and potentially inappropriate for minors. They use aggressive monetization and often feature TV-MA content without robust parental controls.

Q: Why is hockey romance so popular on TikTok?

It’s a mix of the "aesthetic" (the jerseys, the ice, the toughness) and the specific "golden retriever" vs. "black cat" personality tropes that perform well in short video formats.

Q: Is the book "Icebreaker" okay for a 14-year-old?

According to Screenwise data and parent reviews, Icebreaker is not recommended for 14-year-olds. It contains very frequent, explicit sexual descriptions that are intended for an adult audience.

The "fake dating my ex's hockey star brother" trend is the 2026 version of a Harlequin romance novel, but it’s faster, more expensive, and more accessible than ever. It’s not "brain rot" in the sense that it’s mindless, but it is "junk food" media.

Enjoy the drama, but keep an eye on the "spicy" ratings and the app store bills. If your teen is looking for that romantic spark, steer them toward high-quality YA novels like Better Than the Movies or the wholesome fun of Check, Please!.