The fourth and last book in Grace Reilly’s Beyond the Play series is Izzy’s story - the youngest of the Callahan siblings.

I enjoyed this friends-with-benefits to lovers story. It was honestly a bit slow for me, but I believe it was due to the fact that this was my first Grace Reilly and even though it can be read as a standalone, at moments I felt like I was completely out of the loop with what was being said between characters from previous stories. Like when you’re surrounded by a group of people and some of them have inside jokes and you have no clue what’s going on… yeah, that was me at times.

Inside jokes aside, I did enjoy this story. I loved how vulnerable Nik was (when he finally opened up). There were some heavy themes in this story and I felt that the author dealt with them pretty well. Personal growth is always a fave for me - when characters are able to be their best selves. I felt this happened with both Izzy and Nik. They made each other better.

All in all this book wrapped up the series nicely. Giving readers glances at previous couples and their happy endings. Or should I say *extended* happy endings because now I have to start from book one to see the ones I missed!


*A huge thanks to Grace Reilly and Valentine PR for providing me with an eARC for review. All thoughts are my own.*

This was a cute read! Izzy and Nikolai were really cute! They’re both supportive and patient with one another. I really loved the Russian side of things and the friendship that developed between Cooper and Nikolai. All in all this was fun read! I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series

I’ve been a fan of Grace Reilly and her works since First Down, so when I was approved for this ARC, I was so incredibly excited. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think it’s a great stand alone book but ties in really nicely with the other books and characters. I loved that Nik was such a flawed charactered, diving him so much depth. Struggling with childhood trauma, struggling to share that with your loved ones and then being strong enough to admit that you need help is such a great character and often isn’t depicted in these college sports romances. The one critique I would give it though, is that it’s not really a ‘brother’s rival’ troupe. Sure, Cooper and Nik had beef but they moved on from it VERY quickly to be considered brother’s rival. Regardless, this is still a fantastic book and I am so sad that the series is over.

𝘐𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐’𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘥𝘢𝘮𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦.

I loved Izzy and Nikolai’s story! It was everything and more I could’ve wanted for Izzy! Izzy is the youngest callahan but that doesn’t make her any less special than her older siblings and I love that Nikolai proved that multiple times throughout this book!

Izzy and Nikolai meet when she works for his mum one summer which resulted in them sneaking around! Things were hot and heavy until Nik just stopped replying! Izzy was trying to move on until Nik ends up at her school playing on the hockey team her brother is the captain of. They at first done see eye to eye but I love their friendship in the end!

Izzy and Nik go through a lot in this book both emotionally and physically! I love that even through everything they came out stronger in the end and got their happy ever after!

𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘔𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦.

My first time reading a book from this author and I love hockey romance, so I was happy to get a review copy from Netgalley.

I should probably say I've been in a book slump when it comes to romance reads and I'm finding I need more plot than steam. I think that was what I was missing from this book.

I would probably come back to this book in a few months and reread in a new frame of mind. I enjoyed the hockey romance trope.

4.5 -⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

"I didn't say goodbye because I didn't want to...I didn't want to shut the door on us."

Wicked Serve is the fourth instalment in the new adult college sports romances series, Beyond the Play. They are interconnected standalone so while they are set in the same universe and characters will return, the main story follows separate couples. In this story we follow Nikolai and Izzy.

Nikolai and Izzy had a secret summer fling that they couldn't quite forget but with both being in separate schools and Nikolai being on a rival hockey team to Izzy's brother meant they knew things needed to end. Except when Nikolai is expelled from his college he finds himself not only at the same school as Izzy but also joining her brother's hockey team. Izzy, who aims to regain her old volleyball position, is looking to forget Nikolai...but when chemistry strikes can these two continue a no strings attached relationship hidden from the people they love or family conflicts and secrets strike them both out?

I adored Nikolai and Izzy's dynamic. Izzy is a fierce and determined character who yearns to prove herself just as good as her athletically skilled family and the legacy puts so much pressure on her. She is open and I felt this dynamic complimented Nikolai so well. Nikolai is a brooding man with a whole lot of trauma and family dysfunction but he cares so much. When he lets go, though, he can be incredibly romantic and kind and I just loved how much of himself he put himself into a relationship that was undefined.

I also found the side characters, especially Izzy's brothers, to be extremely helpful in building and strengthening the characters and their relationship. I loved the ease they had in lifting Izzy and the support they provided as Nikolai became involved.

This book does contain spice. I would say 3 spicy peppers out of 5 spicy peppers. We start seeing spice around the 20% mark and it happens consistently throughout. I felt their relationship made sense based on their history and it was well introduced for why they engage in spice so soon. The spice in many ways punctuates moments when their relationship changes and I felt it was well written. It is explicit and detailed. There is also beautiful intimacy between the characters which highlights the spice is part of the romance and not the sole propelling of it.

"If she's sunshine, I'm the guy who hopes it never starts raining. But deep down, I worry that I'm the typhoon."

The story itself is engaging and I devoured this. There is the main romance of Izzy and Nikolai navigating their relationship and connection which was absolutely adorable and tugged on my heart strings again and again. They claim to be casual but they are anything but with so many slices of life to prove this. At the same time we also have the additional plots of Nikolai's struggle between his love of hockey, his need to not be his father, and his deal with his grandfather forcing him to give up what he loves. I felt his story was strong and moving as it highlights a struggle of loving the person that hurt you. Izzy also had an additional storyline around proving her coach she is worthy for a volleyball position. I felt her story was much lighter and not very deep but I did enjoy the healthy relationship with her family to balance and support Nikolai. Now this book took about 10-15% to get going but when it did I was HOOKED and could not put this down. The ending was everything I needed.

Overall, if you want a beautiful college romance with two characters who fall so effortlessly in love and work together this book will give you all you need.

Thank you Avon so much for this arc!

I am a sucker to secret romances. Their dynamic knowing that they have obstacles and say F@(k it! I want who I want and I will love fiercely. That is what we get in this romance. Nikolai and Isabella, both have emotional baggage, that they have to overcome for themselves to be able to give their hearts fully to the other. Their journey is what makes this book amazing. Having one another’s backs showing each other what having a true partner is and both of them learning that they are worth the love they so desperately crave…. Yeah swoon worth all the way! Add in the battles on the ice for Nikolai? And yeah this is one hell of a hockey read for me.
This is a first read for this author for me, and I am hooked. I am not gonna lie, I need more Callahans to read so I am off to get the rest of the books in the series! I have a feeling though that Nikolai will always hold a special spot in my heart. A man that will take time to sort his emotions to ensure that he can take care of the woman of his dreams? Yeah that is what makes this book a special read for me and Nikolai an amazing Hockey god!

Star Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 4/5 🎧

What to Expect:
- Sports Romance
- Hockey Player MMC
- Volleyball Player FMC
- Brother's Rival turned Teammate
- Secret Relationship
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- He Falls First
- Found Family
- Dual POV

Wicked Serve is the fourth and final book in the Beyond the Play series. It tells the story of Nik and Izzy. Izzy is the only daughter and youngest sibling in the Callahan family. Nik plays hockey for Izzy's brother's rival team.

Let's get into it.

Full disclosure: I have not read the other books in this series. However, I do feel this can be read as a standalone. I didn't feel I missed anything while reading/listening to this story. Nik and Izzy fit well together. I loved the evolution of their relationship as they both worked through their own issues. They stood by each other even when it was difficult to do so. This story has deeper topics and is more emotional than I expected. It is not a surface-level romance story, which I enjoyed. I was invested in their journey and rooted for them.

Nik. He absolutely made the story for me. I couldn't get enough of him. He fell hard for Izzy and was super supportive of her. Nik had a difficult past and lots of trauma from his childhood. I loved his mental health journey. He didn't shy away from confronting his issues and prioritized getting the help he needed. Of course, you can't go wrong with a dirty-talking hockey player.

Izzy. She is fighting for a starting setter spot on the volleyball team. Izzy struggles with confidence and compares herself to her siblings. She is also a very talented event planner. Izzy is very kind and loyal. I loved how she stood up for Nik. Although there was some growth, I wish she had that same energy when standing up for herself. I wanted her character to have more depth.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. As a former athlete and sports romance fanatic, I loved reading a story where both the MMC and FMC are athletes. I loved the forbidden nature of Nik and Izzy's relationship, and there is some really good spice. I loved how Nik treated Izzy like a queen and wanted to give her the world. I also loved how he gave Izzy the space to be herself. I stan a swoony MMC that puts in the work. There was healthy communication, and I loved the family element. I feel the story is a bit long, but everything was wrapped up satisfactorily.

Thanks to Grace Reilly, Avon Books, Harper Voyager, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the eARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly
💖genre: contemporary romance
📏length: 467 pages (ebook)
📚series: Book 4 in Beyond the Play series
🔥spice: open door
📱On KU? Yes
🗓️Available Now
🚫triggers: this book features family trauma, abuse, ptsd, and panic attacks.

Thank you to Grace Reilly & Valentine PR for my copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Read if you enjoy:
🏐Sports romance
🤫Forbidden romance
❤️‍🩹Trauma/healing
🫂Family dynamics

Nikolai and Izzy have a hot and steamy summer fling, there’s only one problem…Nikolai is her brother’s biggest rival. But it’s okay because soon they will be miles and miles apart from each other. Until unexpected circumstances suddenly bring these two back together.

my thoughts
A VOLLEYBALL ROMANCE BOOK? SIGN MEEEEEE UP. I swear I never seen volleyball in sports romances. I used to play in middle school and high school so it honestly feels so nostalgic to be back in that world. I loved Izzy’s dedication to the sport but I would have loved to see even more volleyball throughout the book, that’s probably just a me thing though.

I loved the therapy representation, I stan characters healing and growing as individuals! Although they aren’t perfect, I really loved Izzy’s family (which makes me excited to go back and read the books from earlier in the series). I felt like Nikolai and Izzy had organic and undeniable chemistry. DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THAT SHOWER SCENE OMG. I may never recover.

My only complaint is that the book felt too long and dragged in some areas. But overall, I had a great time with this book.

Wicked Serve is the first book I have read by Grace Reilly. I'm a sucker for sports romances, and my friends have been recommending this author to me for a while. The premise of this book intrigued me, so I wanted to read it. I enjoyed the audiobook narration, especially with the male character having a Russian accent. It gave Nik a better voice than my brain did reading the book. Nik and Izzy have some serious chemistry in this book. There are a lot of steamy scenes in this book. I know this is a standalone book, but I would have loved all these characters more if I had read the other books in this series leading up to Wicked Serve.

This book has it all—spice, humor, and romance that keeps you glued to every page! Without spilling the beans, let me just say that the relationship between the main characters is absolutely adorable. The story delves into their pasts, insecurities, and traumas, making you feel like you’re right there with them, cheering them on as a true friend would. I love when an author can tug at your heartstrings and make the characters feel so real!

The mix of tropes is irresistible, and the spice is perfectly balanced with the sports theme. Grace Reilly shines in her positive portrayal of mental health awareness, adding a thoughtful touch to the narrative.

Though this book is part of a series (and I haven’t read the others yet), it stands strong on its own. I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down! I’m definitely diving into her backlist next.

I’m thrilled to have read this and bring you this spoiler-free review! On release day, grab this book—and don’t stop there. Get the entire series and enjoy every moment!

thank you to NetGalley and ValentinePR for the opportunity to read this as an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!! i truly appreciate it :)

izzy and nikolai relationship is filled with so much love, support, and encouragement of each other’s dreams and goals. i especially loved that as a FMC, izzy knew how to stand up for herself. also, seeing nikolai, as a MMC, really face his past trauma and abuse was important, and grace handled those conversations beautifully. the relationship between these two was also magnetic, and i loved how much they couldn’t stay away from each other!

i absolutely adore this series (and am seriously so sad it’s ending), & as my most anticipated read this year, hannah once again did not disappoint! 💛💛

I really enjoyed this book, I liked the lack of toxicity in their relationship. They both fell so hard after a summer fling, and even though it was hard for them to be together, they were so cute with each other. They only thing I did not like was the length of the book. I felt like it did not need to be that long.

This was a really cute sports romance! It is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching at times.

Lots of cute banter, swoons and spice and a very satisfying ending. I loved having dual POVs! And I really liked all the characters- main characters and secondary ones.

I loved that the chapters were short! Although I do think the overall book could’ve been just a tad bit shorter.

This is part of an interconnected series, but can be read as a standalone. Now I want to go back and read the others! Recommend checking this one out!🩷

I really enjoyed the trust and healing this book offered along with the romance of course! I haven't read the middle books in this series, but I'm sure I will here soon! The book did feel a touch long, but it had a great story and I'm so glad they got to have their happy ending after going through extremely tough life events. I enjoy books that are part of a series, but you can also read standalone. The callbacks to the previous characters were a great touch!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

”The closer I get to Nik, the more certain I am that I could fall in love with him.”

I really enjoyed this sweet and steamy sports romance! Nik and Isabelle had perfect chemistry, and I loved the way they rooted for each other & cheered each other on. If you speak Russian, if you were a college athlete (especially volleyball), or if you want to be Elle Woods when you grow up, you’ll love this.

I’ll admit that the characters felt maybe a little too young / immature for my reading tastes, but this is clearly “new adult” so I guess that’s to be expected. Also, I wish I’d read the other books in the series first so that I could have appreciated the cameos from past characters. Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up.

——

A huge thank you to Grace Reilly, Avon Books, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

I'm honored to have been selected to be an ARC reader for the 4th and final book in Grace Reilly’s Beyond the Play series - Wicked Serve!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥/5

First let me just say that I am OBSESSED with the Callahan family. 😍 Going into Wicked Serve, Cooper and Penny’s story was my favorite but Izzy and Nikolai’s story has so much intrigue, passion, family drama, and SPICE. 🥵

All the siblings’ love stories in this series have great storylines and kept me completely hooked but learning about Nikolai’s complex childhood was a step beyond. Often times romance novels can bring the spice but lack the plot, this book does not disappoint on either the plot or spice!

Grace Reilly is at Tessa Bailey levels of spice and I. Am. Here. For. It!

Do yourself a favor and pick up Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly! Now available on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Google Play and Kobo.

Fantastic ending to the Callahan series. Grace Reilly does sports romances like no one else - sweet and fun and spicy, just the right amount of banter and heart. I adored Nik and Izzy - they were perfect together.

“Good girl, Isabelle. So perfect for me, like sunshine after a storm.”

Tropes: second chance; both athletes; brother’s rival/teammate; grumpy/sunshine; secret romance

I loved this book! I have read all the books in the Beyond the Play series and I enjoyed them all but Isabelle and Nikolai’s story is by far my favorite!
On paper these two should have it all (popular, athletic, wealthy families) but the author does such a great job of showing the parts of themselves they’ve kept hidden, the parts that had me rooting for them and cried a bit too.
I was getting such a jerk vibe from Nikolai to begin with but the way he steps up for Isabelle 🩷🩷🩷 I just love when a main character comes to be so much different (and more!) than expected.
Their story is so well rounded with school, challenges on their respective teams ( volleyball & hockey), family dynamics and drama, some great spice….we really get a bit of everything I personally love in a book!

“Isabelle cut a doorway to my soul, and now that she’s there, I know she’s never leaving. No matter what happens in the future, she’ll be there. A drop of sunshine, just for me.”

“ If I’m sunshine to him, then he’s the earth beneath my feet, the grass between my toes, grounding me like nothing else.”

Thank you Valentine PR for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

Lately, I've been immersing myself in sports romance books, particularly those centered around hockey. What captivates me are the main characters, Izzy and Nikolai, who are drawn to each other by their shared insecurities. Izzy, the youngest and only girl in an athletic family, feels constant pressure to measure up to her siblings. Nikolai, on the other hand, is weighed down by a father who demands nothing but the best from him. After meeting over the summer, there is an obvious attraction between us that has the potential to grow into something more.

I loved that as the story progressed, Izzy became more confident in herself and her abilities to accomplish what she set her mind to. Nikolai was able to start opening up more and asking for help when he needed it. Not only was their relationship filled with a lot of spice, but they were able to understand each other and encourage one another to go forward in accomplishing their goals. Once both characters opened up to their families, a world of possibilities opened for them.

It is a wonderful story of learning to ask for help when you need it and being open to new possibilities!

I would like to note that this book does deal with anxiety and DV so please be sure to take care of your health before reading this book.

Thanks to Valentine PR, the author, and NetGalley for the arc!!