I haven't read both new adult and sports romance in a while. This was a good break from my usual mafia dark romance, rom-com, and fantasy.
I enjoy the passion and details about the sports involved in this story, which are hockey and volleyball. I love how both characters want the best for each other. They both do their best to boost each other's confidence and support each other's interests. Both Izzy and Nikolai have personal issues they need to figure out and resolve. Izzy, who feels like she's failing all the time, even if her family has already told her they love her as long as she's happy, Nikolai's issues stem from his past life, his trauma, his relationship with his father and grandfather, and also his future, especially with hockey. At first, the romance was too good to be true, too new adult and some of Nikolai's gestures were too grand for a college student, but their story grew on me, and I ended up enjoying reading their story and how they eventually became part of each other's lives, which was the total opposite of the summer fling from the beginning of the story.

This book is 70+ chapters long. To be honest, I had moments where I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue. The story is good, but I feel like the whole thing could have been 35 chapters shorter. The chapters were short and did not drag. But it's definitely the first and last few chapters that captured my interest. I also think the mention of the color pink was over the top. I get it; that was Izzy's favorite color, but must it be mentioned all the time.

Overall, this was still a good sports romance story. So if you like new adult and sports romance, this book is for you.

𝒲ℐ𝒞𝒦ℰ𝒟 𝒮ℰℛ𝒱ℰ By @Grace Reilly
My Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Arc Read: Yes
I've only read one other hockey romance book before this one, and that was Icebreaker. However, I enjoyed this book much more. This was my first Grace novel, and I found it easy to follow as a standalone. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Nik and Izzy, and how Grace portrayed anxiety attacks. As someone who has experienced anxiety attacks, I found Nik's experience to be realistic. While I don't typically read sports romance, this book was an enjoyable exception, with just the right amount of spice.
𝒯ℴ 𝒷ℯ ℯ𝓍𝓅ℯ𝒸𝓉ℯ𝒹:
🏒brother's rival
🏐 secret relationship
🏒childhood trauma
🏐panic disorder

*please check trigger warnings before reading*
Thank you to Netgalley and Author Grace Reilly for allowing me to read this one!
#authorgracereilly #wickedserve #hockeytiktoks #hockeyromance #volleyballplayer #volleyballromance #bookreview #bookrecommendations #BookTok
#netgalley #arcreader

Mein Leseerlebnis

Die new adult Liebesgeschichte ist leicht zu lesen und phasenweise konnte sie mich auch gut unterhalten. Doch leider wirkten Teile der Geschehnisse auf mich etwas zu konstruiert und nicht immer realistisch.

Auch mit den Charakteren habe ich etwas gehadert. Sie wirkten zwar recht sympathisch und interessant auf mich, aber gleichzeitig nicht lebendig genug. Daher konnte ich sie mir auch leider nicht als echte Personen vorstellen. Genau das will ich aber beim Lesen von Liebesromanen können.

“Wicked Serve” ist insgesamt ganz nett zu lesen, aber nicht komplett überzeugend. Weitere Bücher muss ich von der Autorin erst einmal nicht lesen, dafür lösen ihre Liebesgeschichten in mir nicht genug aus und sie sind zu schnell zu vergessen.

🖤🖤🖤

Für wen?

Wer recht typische NA College romance Bücher mag und eine eher kurzweilige Unterhaltung sucht, für den könnte das Buch eine gute Wahl sein.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book.

A very college romance, it took me a little to get my head around it(a total me issue) it was a good swoony, spicy love story. The way it started it gets you going like oh what's going to happen. It then takes you on this whole journey, friends with benefits (who are we kidding there was always something more) the support the two MC's gave each other and yet they were still trying to navigate what their relationship was.

Isabelle trying to live up to her family's success with a sport or somewhere else. A little wild child with her and yet she was still getting out of the young phase i.e. stuffed animals, a bit of miscommunication and what not. She really had growth and came to her own at the end.

Nik, oh sweet Nik. Living with not wanting to become his father who was abusive to his mother and one night with him, just made you want to hug him. He felt alone, had panic attacks and would get angry. He felt like he couldn't have the things he loved because of what he was going through mentally and who his father was and that would just break your heart. As the story went on, you see how caring, supportive and loving he is. Nik had a hard time opening up which would lead to miscommunication on his end.

There were little bits that made me knock a few points off. Parents not bringing anything up about underage drinking, yes I know it's college but come on just once. A little repetitiveness of them being well off. That was really it, it was nothing too crazy that made me go oh gosh this book.

This is the final book in the series and it wrapped up everyone with the epilogue which was cute and very HEA. Wicked Serve was the first book that I have read by Grace Reilly and with it being the final book, I really didn't need to read the first 3 to understand what was happening with the previous characters to get into this one.

I would like to read the first 3 now because I really enjoyed this one. I liked the highs and lows, the cute moments, the more challenging moments between Nik and Izzy. In the end, I really liked it and would say add this to the TBR.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes and what to expect:
- brother’s rival, then teammate
- summer fling to lovers
- friends with benefits
- secret relationship
- both MCs are athletes
- college hockey romance
- mental health rep

”If she’s sunshine, I’m the guy who hopes it never starts raining.”

Wicked Serve is Isabelle’s book, the youngest Callahan sibling. After a scorching hot summer fling with her brother’s hockey rival Nikolai (whom she just can’t seem to get over), he actually ends up transferring to her school and they agree to a secret friends with benefits arrangement. There’s only one problem: her brother hates Nikolai for something he did during a game and absolutely does not think he’s good enough for his sister. Nikolai, however, has his own demons to deal with: after getting expelled from his old school, he strikes a deal with his grandfather that he’ll get him into McKee, but after Nikolai graduates, he has to take over the family business instead of playing in the NHL.

This book was so fun to read, and I really connected with both main characters. The Callahan family dynamic is so wholesome and I loved all the cameos. Isabelle is sweet and relatable, and I found myself rooting for her through all her self doubts and struggles.
Nikolai is a very complex character, with a difficult past and deep-seated trauma. He is haunted by the memories of his abusive father, whom he just can’t quite seem to hate or cut out of his life. His journey was so emotional and moving but it still had this level of raw realness and felt very healthy and natural. I felt so bad him because his father’s actions placed so much guilt and baggage on him that he wasn’t able to unpack himself.

The relationship between Isabelle and Nikolai was so healthy, especially the way they communicated (which was refreshing because I absolutely hate the miscommunication trope). They have their struggles, yes, but they move past them together, so we can avoid an unnecessary third act breakup.

Overall, I really loved the book but I thought it was just a bit too long. Some parts seemed very drawn out and there were a few scenes that I thought seemed a bit unnecessary. I did, however, appreciate the space and care the author gave Nikolai’s trauma and his father’s abuse of him and his mother (both emotional and physical). Domestic violence is a very difficult issue to address in a book, and Grace did an amazing job with how carefully yet realistically she handled it.
Wicked Serve is probably my favorite book in the series and Isabelle and Nikolai’s story will definitely stay with me.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Grace Reilly for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️ read with 2.5🌶️

Overall I enjoyed this book with it being the ending to the Callahan siblings stories. I can only dream that there would be a legacy series next with all the kids👀

The overall tropes were:
•Hockey Romance
•Summer Fling with a second chance
•forced proximity
•Trauma bonding
•Found/Chosen Family
•College Romance on the same campus
•Dual POV

Although I am was hoping this was going to be a slow burn romance I wasn’t disappointed with them starting off with a “history.” I wish Nikolai had gotten into therapy sooner in the book so he could’ve avoided a lot of trauma dumping and conflict avoidance. In the end I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants more of an emotional hockey romance with a second chance, friends to lovers type of book.

I enjoyed this book but didn’t think it was the best in the series.

An enjoyable storyline, I loved the struggles that the author gave the characters and the way the family rallied and supported them. I liked each of the characters but just didn’t love them as much as I had the others

Also the book seemed long, there were lots of points I kind of wanted to hurry up to get to better stuff

I’m a sucker for any and all hockey love stories and boy did this one not disappoint. I loved Izzy and Niks story and it had me on the edge of my seat. I read this book quickly as the chapters were short (where I just kept saying oh what’s one more), the characters were engaging and the spice was there. I loved the theme and going on the journey with each of the characters. Such a phenomenal story, one I will definitely read again. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced copy.

I struggled with the beginning of this book. It took me a while to be invested in the relationship between Izzy & Nikolai.

They had a lot of cute/sweet moments together and I truly loved Nikolai. He went through a lot throughout his life and was still a gentle giant. He loved Izzy and always did what he could to take care of her and make sure she was happy. Izzy was a bit go a brat at times - running away and then being upset he didn't chase her, going out to party because things don't go her way, constant whining that she isn't as good as her brothers. I wanted Nikolai to talk more and her to talk less.

I did cry at parts - which is uncommon for me - and I really enjoyed the relationships within the Callahan family, and especially the way they treat Nikolai.

I read this as an ARC and I am grateful for the opportunity!

I loved this book. I received an ARC of this and i devoured it. To finally get Izzy's book after her brothers was the best last piece. This was a hockey/ volleyball forbidden romance. Also add on the brothers team mate to the pot and its spicy!!! I think the author balanced the spice with the story plot in a way that was perfect and I could not put this down. Our sexy MMC was a russian dirty mouthed hockey player. Can't get any better than that. Also expect pop ups from the rest of the Callahan gang. This book touched my soul in such a good way. This was hands down a 5 star read. I have never felt such a connection with a character. Huge mental health rep and in such a good and healthy way. Such a fun read. Best out of the series. Need another one with their kids pleasssseeeee

What to expect:
☀️Hockey x Volleyball
☀️Brother’s rival turned teammate
☀️family drama
☀️broody x bubbly
☀️panic disorder rep
☀️he falls first

This is my first book that I’ve read from Grace Reilly from the beyond the play series and I can’t wait to go back and start from book one!
But back to this story, I enjoyed getting to read both Izzy and Nik’s pov. I loved their chemistry, and their relationship! I really loved the relationship between Izzy and her brothers! The Callahan family was wonderful and they were so accepting of Nik and able to build friendships.

There are the topics of self doubt and dealing with trauma from childhood. This couple helped each other overcome and work on their thoughts and traumas and move forward together. I love when a book incorporates mental health and how the characters navigate having it and I was so happy to see it worked on in a positive way!

•be sure to check cw!!
Thank you to Grace Reilly, Valentine PR and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc! All opinions are my own.

Nikolai & Isabella / “Iceman & Solnishko”
I love their love so much. Brother’s teammate. Sneaking around. Hockey romance. They both fall hard and fast. Past trauma. Mental health rep. So much and so good.

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly, the fourth book in the Beyond the Play Series, Isabelle “Izzy” Callahan is a sweet girl who is about to start her second year at McKee University and is determined to regain her position on the volleyball team, her family is made up of athletes so it's important for her to regain her love for the game and show that she can do it better, but for this she must earn the trust of her coach and concentrate on her studies and the game, without distractions, but she'll have a hard time fighting off one the biggest distraction when her summer fling transfers to McKee and begins hiis senior year there, and even though she tries she can't stay away from him. Nikolai Abney-Volkov is a handsome but brrody guy, he is a talented hockey player, with a promising future, but due to circumstances beyond his control, he is blamed for something that is not his fault, he must transfer to the McKee University in his last year, there he must concentrate on continuing to do well and must start by staying off the bad side of the captain of the hockey team, who has been his rival for many years, but that is not going to go really well when the ray of sunshine that stole his attention since they met in summer is the little sister of the guy and more when for him is going to be almost impossible stay away from her. Izzy tries to protect her heart, but that will be almost impossible when Nik is so special to her, and what starts as a friendship with something else will soon become something more, but Nikolai must be able to overcome the ghosts of his past to give a real opportunity to what he feels for Isabelle.
Wow, this story is full of emotions, where you are going to laugh, cry, fall in love and swoon alongside the characters. Izzy is simply wonderful, a rosy ray of sunshine who loves and supports Nik with all her heart, and Nik is just perfect. I enjoy their personal growth and as a couple. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely go to the beginning for the story of the Callahan boys. I really enjoy this beautiful love story from beginning to end and fell in love of all the characters. Totally, and Absolutely Highly Recommended!

3.75⭐️
2🌶️

If you love:
-Dual POV
-Hockey Romance
-College Romance
-Secret Relationship
-Found family

This book is for YOU! I love LOVE a good fluffy low stakes romance and this book gave me exactly that. I have never read anything from this author but I was pleasantly surprised by this.

The tropes here aren’t usually what I would personally pick but I was surprised on how well done this was. This is an excellent book to read after you read a heavy fantasy book or Dark romance, because even though it does have some serious issues(PTSD, Panic Attacks) I feel like it doesn’t take away from the fluffiness of the story, just makes it more realistic.

My favorite part of the story was the Found Family aspect, and how we see the FMC overcome her impostor syndrome. 💕🫶🏽

I am a sucker for a long contemporary romance book so the length had me excited, but honestly I hate to say it was just not necessary in this case.

I am thankful to the author and Valentine PR for my Advance Reader Copy!

WORTH THE WAIT!!

While it took me longer to read than I wanted it to (school started and I was BUSY) it was still so good and easy to jump back into after a couple of days of not picking it up. I loved Nik SO MUCH. Izzy needed somebody to really see her and her insecurities and that's just what Nik did while also being the more supportive and encouraging person.

A hockey and volleyball romance filled with secret flings and the complexity of navigating familial expectation.

This book is great through about the first 50% the characters are fun, the chemistry is there, the world is built up and we even get what I think would have made a fine third act break up. Just to see you're not even halfway through the book. I think ultimately this book had too much it wanted to try and do and get to.

ARC Review ✨️

☆Nikolai & Izzy♡

Nikolai plays hokey and just so happens to be the biggest rival of Isabelle's brother. Isabelle plays volleyball and ends up having a little fling with Nikolai. They know they can never be together because of her brother, so where does that leave them?
I completely devoured this story! I enjoyed the characters, and the secrets fling was so fun to read. This story was also filled with so much spice 😍 The author's writing was perfect! I haven't read the rest of this series, but it's on my tbr now!

Thanks so much to the author, Valentine PR, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I have enjoyed this entire series and think its safe to say that the two titles featuring hockey as the sport are my favs! I enjoyed how hard the mmc fell and I enjoyed the development of their relationship.

This book covers some pretty heavy topics so please make sure to read trigger warnings before reading <3

This book contains a lot of the tropes I don't normally read, but it is just so good that I loved it so much. I didn’t expect to fall head over heels in love with. I already admired Grace Reilly, but I didn’t anticipate loving this book as much as I did. It’s real, messy, and raw. While friends-with-benefits is not typically a trope I gravitate towards, this book is so much more than that.

I adored Nikolai. I appreciated that he had a genuine disorder and sought help for it. He was an excellent book boyfriend, and I loved that he’s more than just a typical hockey player. Despite his trauma, he does the work to address and heal from it. His choices at the end, where he prioritizes his own well-being to be better for himself and then for Izzy, were particularly meaningful.

Izzy was another highlight of the book. She’s sweet, stands up for herself, and is the perfect match for Nikolai. She supports him through everything while also deeply caring for him. I also admired her dedication to her studies, even while in a relationship. The chemistry between the two main characters is fantastic, and the sex scenes are written exceptionally well—they're incredibly steamy.

There is so much emotion packed and this book touches on hard topics, but addresses them in an appropriate way.

I loved everything about this book. Go check it out!

I loved this book so much because it really shows you that it’s okay not to be okay 👏🏼 I really appreciate when authors not only have mental health representation in their books but when they portray it in their MMC’s, it’s not always just women who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks.

Izzy and Nik’s relationship was so beautiful, it may have started out as just a fling but it quickly developed into so much more and I loved every second of it! I loved how supportive they were through each others struggles and I’m so so happy that we got to see so much of Izzy’s family and even some of Nik’s there at the end. The epilogue was chefs kiss and of course made me cry 🥹