I've loved the beyond the play series so far and couldn't wait to dive into this one! While wasn't fully needed, I wish I had reread the other three first just because the series is so good and this was a perfect continuation.

Nik and Izzy fell, and fell hard, when she was interning for his mom over the summer. When he unexpectedly transfers to the university she attends, joining the hockey team her brother is captain of, they rekindle their slightly forbidden romance (Nik and Cooper, despite being teammates now, very much are rivals).

It was so fun to revisit the beyond the play series in this story, it definitely had some heavier moments and allll the spice, and the epiloquge was just 🥰🫠🥰 perfection.

Foe those living in their sports romance Era, you'll definitely enjoy this one, and the series as a whole!!

Thank you Netgalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my review!

It's so rare to find a volleyball romance so I am very grateful for this one. Nik and Isabelle are so cute and I am obsessed. The two of them were never going to be just a fling. When he came to the school and they were basically dating without calling it that. They were such adorable idiots.

I received an arc from valentine pr.

🏐🏒ARC REVIEW🏒🏐

Thank you @authorgracereilly & @valentine_pr_ for my ARC copy of Wicked Serve.

This was an emotional one!
I loved the mental health representation in this one. As a person who’s been medicated for panic/anxiety attacks, it felt very relatable. Nikolai always looking after everyone else while internalizing his own pain made me feel SEEN. You callin me out, Grace? 🥴🤪

Anyway. I actually found Izzy to be a very mature and cool FMC. The communication between the two was so refreshing and enjoyable.
Honourable mention to the spice we all know I love hehe. 😏🥵

Wicked Serve is the 4th instalment in the Beyond the Play series, but can be read as a standalone, and will be released in 3 days!!! Mark your calendars for August 13th!

In Wicked Serve you’ll find:
🏐volleyball player FMC
🏒hockey player MMC
🏐brothers rival
🏒sports romance
🏐family drama (check trigger warnings)
🏒panic disorder rep (check trigger warnings)

Nikolai is in the last season of hockey in college and is forced to switch colleges. So now he is playing with his enemy, who is the brother of Izzy. Hm and Izzy had a summer fling and didn't think they would see each other again.
Their feelings are back but they need to keep things from her brother. But then the brother and him start becoming friends.
Izzy plays volleyball and wants her position back but for some reason the coach has it out for her. So she has to prove herself and get what she wants, Both the position and Nikolai.
I found it a cute romance and enjoyed reading it.

3 stars.

"Wicked Serve" by Grace Reilly feels like an excuse to have a book that's 85% spice. I love spicy scenes just as much as the next romance reader, but this book has *too much of it* (something I didn't think was possible!) and not enough interesting plot or emotional connection between the two main characters. It's basically this formula: Isabelle and Nik do the deed, they part for a few days, then they sneak around and do the deed, then they take a few days away from each other, then they do the deed, Isabelle argues with someone in her family, she and Nik do the deed, rinse, lather, repeat until the book ends. It felt like the thrill of them sneaking around was greater than any emotional affection or love between them. I didn't believe they loved each other by the story's end, but I darn well knew that they loved doing the nasty with each other...that much is painfully obvious! I am positive this book will make all of the booktok girlies go wild and swoony. I am sure I am in the minority on my feelings for this one, but it didn't grab me like I hoped it would. The pining is there only because of the forbidden romance aspect of the story, but other than that, I felt no spark between Isabelle and Nik. The writing is not bad, it just feels like it was written with booktok/social media in mind. It checks all the boxes: overloaded spice, hockey romance, k1nky, cutesy cartoon cover. I would have preferred less $mut and more connection. The book as a whole feels a little too long to me. Certain parts feel repetitive, and other parts feel like they drag on a bit too much. Some of it is obviously page filler. All of this being said, I did not have a terrible time reading this one. I do like and appreciate the examination of the mental health aspects of the story. It's fine, but I likely won't remember reading it in a few months. I know this is billed as a standalone book, but I wish I had gone back and read the other entries in this series. This family and the characters in it clearly have an established rapport that would be better served having read all of the books before "Wicked Serve."

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Reilly, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

WICKED SERVE – Grace Reilly
Beyond the Play, Book 4
Avon
ISBN: ‎ 978-0-063-38714-0
August 13, 2024
New Adult Romance

Moorbridge – Present Day

Nikolai Abney-Volkov loves playing hockey, but he’s caught between his Russian father and his mother’s father in New York City. He makes a deal with his grandfather: he will complete his final year of college and play for the hockey team, but when the year is up, he will come to work in his grandfather’s company. Of course, attending college in Moorbridge means that Nikolai will encounter Isabelle Callahan, the gorgeous sister of his fellow hockey teammate, Cooper. Nikolai and Isabelle had already had a blistering fling but he’s playing with fire if they get involved again. However, fate doesn’t care…

Isabelle plays for the college volleyball team and wants to win the coveted position of setter on the team. With Nikolai in town, she finds it hard to concentrate, especially when she can’t help but run into him. Soon, they can’t hide their attraction and passion erupts. Cooper will be unhappy to learn that his sister is involved with Nikolai. Will their affair prove to be distracting for both of them? Her coach is hard, while Nikolai is trying to make the best of his last season of hockey, even as his father, a man he hates, keeps calling him from Russia.

Whew! WICKED SERVE is sizzling hot as there are lots of sexy, sensual scenes between Isabelle and Nikolai. While they tried to avoid each other at first, that proved to be hard. Meanwhile, this tale has lots of emotion as both are torn over their future, which includes what will happen to their relationship. Nikolai spent most of his childhood in Moscow, Russia, but after his father hit his mother, his parents divorced, and he moved to New York City with his mother. His maternal grandfather wants Nikolai to follow him into the business, while his father wants him to come to Russia to compete in ice hockey. He also has an offer from a United States hockey team. But hockey may be in the rear window if he goes along with his grandfather.

Isabelle feels like she is qualified to be the setter on her volleyball team, but her coach is making it tough for her. She is falling for Nikolai even though she knows their being together will be tough. One thing Isabelle soon learns is that he is a complicated person. But he makes her feel good and they get along well sexually. Yet they feel like they are riding a ticking time bomb. Once the year is up, will their affair end? As Isabelle deals with Nikolai’s swinging emotions about his father and his future, she finally learns the reason for them. Can she help him deal with them? Will he do as he promised his grandfather and quit hockey once the season ends? Meanwhile, his father’s calls are becoming more persistent. Come to Russia is his father’s message. But can he get past what his father did?

Will Isabelle and Nikolai finally be together at the end of WICKED SERVE? They have a tough road to finding the right path. Discover how it all ends by picking up this intriguing tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

This was such a cute book, definitely my favourite from this series.Their support and encouragement from each other was one of the best parts!

The mental health representation was a great aspect of this book as well, Grace really delivered in that department

However, I felt like the book was really long and dragging, I disconnected a bit mid way towards the end

Nevertheless, it's sad to say goodbye to the Callahan siblings. The love and support they have from each other it's so heartwarming, love them so much 🫶


Thank you Grace Reilly and Valentine PR for the arc 🙏

Grace Reilly continues her streak of writing genius with Wicked Serve! I stumbled onto Reilly and the Callahan Clan with First Down. By Breakaway, Reilly had me fully sucked into world, fully devoted to these brothers. I was foaming at the mouth for Stealing Home. But Wicked Serve is by far the highlight of the entire series. Not only does Izzy steal the show from her brothers with her sunshine demeanor, but together with Nikolai, they are the powerhouse couple of the series. The softness, the delicious spiciness, the range of emotions and depth of exploration into mental health. All around top tier characters packaged in an engaging storyline. Loved it, couldn’t get enough!! Grace Reilly is the gift that keeps on giving!

Wicked Serve blends college sports, spice, family, heavy topics, and koalas.

This story is cute if a bit predictable. I appreciate the lack of drama in Nik and Izzy's relationship. They continue to show up for one another time after time, while choosing to support the other, sometimes at the detriment to themselves.

Izzy's character is strong, but still immature and finding her place in the world. She's a fierce supporter of those she loves.

Nik is damaged but he's the best possible outcome from that situation. His drive to be better for Izzy is almost swoon worthy.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Try as I might I just couldn’t get into this. The writing felt off and all the characters seemed like old people disguised as college aged kids. Nik’s weird phrasing when speaking to Izzy felt like an old man disguised as a teenager. Also the whole bragging repeatedly about how many girls he’s bedded was just weird. Izzy tried to present herself as well off and fancy but kept going on about Starbucks and Target as well as the Trader Joe’s flowers. Surely there are better florists in Manhattan Izzy.

Nik and Izzy were so sweet! I liked when they were hiding their relationship, but it was so much better when they came clean. This book reminded me why Cooper is my favorite Callaghan. He was so sweet when everything came out! I love how much Nik supports Izzy. He is so wonderful! This book was fabulous, especially in audio. Faith Clark and Oscar Reyes did such a fantastic job performing this audio!

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly 🩵
Beyond the Play, Book 4
Interconnected Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
New Adult • Sports Romance
ARC Review
448 pages
🗓️ August 13

•hockey romance
•volleyball romance
•college romance
•rival/teammate’s sister
•secret relationship
•from summer fling to more
•3rd act wobble, no breakup

📌“She was mine for three months and she’s still mine, never mind the weeks of silence. How the hell could I have thought this would fade the moment she wasn’t in my mother’s office every day?”

📌“Of course I missed him; I missed him before I even lost him.”

📌“Dance with me”
“Always, Isabelle.”

The opening line reads, “The High Line at sunset is pretty.” And I just knew I would get along with this book. Because the High Line is indeed beautiful at that time of the day 😜

I had no idea I was going for the fourth book in this series of interconnected standalones. And yet, I have no regrets. I mean, I now need to go read the other three. Need! But I didn’t need them to enjoy Isabelle and Nikolai. To fall so desperately for these two.

This book got me so good. From the swooning romance to all the mental health rep. From the sports goodness — love a good rivalry — to all the side characters. The list of things that made this book absolutely unputdownable is long. Very, very long. And I was here for every single one of them.

Is it bad if I read Cooper’s book next? I know it’s not the first in the series but he might be my favorite 🫶🏼

I’ve loved every hockey romance I’ve read and this book is no exception.

What starts out as a fling, turns into something more once Isabelle and Nik realize they actually care for one another and want to be together. Isabelle and Nikolai are such a great couple. They both had their own goals that they wanted to achieve and they helped each other reach those them. They are also there for each other through their tougher moments. Isabelle helps Nikolai open up and talk about his past with his father. Meanwhile, Nikolai helps Isabelle see her true potential and that she shouldn’t compare to those in her family.

I loved that the secret relationship wasn’t secret the entire book. The ending made me so sad, but also so happy. I liked the fact that Nik did what was best for himself, but it would help their relationship in the end. This book is also full of spice!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC for an honest opinion.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

NIKOLAI!!!!!!! That’s it. That’s the review.

Just kidding! But seriously, that man made the whole book. Nothing against Izzy, she was great, but NIK?????? My man, my man, my man 🥰

Their relationship was so good to read. I loved that they had a history, but I wished we could have gotten some flashbacks to that throughout the book instead of just the prologue. It just would have been nice to read some of their earlier moments, as well.

The spicy scenes were okay. There were a few words I could have done without (seed, slick, etc.) but that’s just my own personal opinion. Sometimes it felt like the scenes were there just to have spice, which is fine. But it just didn’t really add much sometimes.

I will say, this book felt like it went on forever, though. There were so many chapters that I felt weren’t really necessary to the story as a whole and they made the book drag on quite a bit for me.

BUT!!!!!!! I love Grace Reilly and this whole series and the epilogue in this book was my favorite of all of them so far 🥹

Thank you so much to Valentine PR for the ARC of this book!!!! 🫶🏻

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Grace Reilly for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wicked Serve is the story of Izzy Callahan and Nikolai. Izzy is the 4th Callahan sibling in this series so I recommend reading those books first so you meet all the characters and know their backstories.

This is told in two perspectives, Izzy and Nikolai. There is a lot of spice but some bigger topics are also covered - domestic violence, cheating, panic attacks, self doubt, manipulation, etc.

I liked that the story included growth in the main characters and the third act wasn’t frustrating because there was a good reason behind

Wicked Serve was one of my most anticipated releases of 2024 and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect conclusion to the Beyond the Play series. Coming back to these characters felt like coming home 🥰

- college sports romance 🏐🏒
- brother's rival (now teammate)
- secret relationship
- grumpy x sunshine ☀️
- mental health rep
- found family
- spiiiice 🌶 🌶 🌶

Grace Reilly's writing and characterization keep getting better and better...she manages to draw you in the story from page one and makes you fall in love with the characters, each with their own specifically tailored personality, set of struggles, fears and flaws.
The story is fun and light, but also deeply emotional, due to Nikolai's childhood trauma and present mental health struggles. Isabelle was the light to the darkness of Nikolai's childhood...I mean, he literally calls here SUNSHINE, guys 😭💛
Isabelle and Nikolai complemented each other perfectly: their chemistry was off the charts and the spice was *chef's kiss*, but what I loved most of all is when they finally got vulnerable with each other, letting their guards down and showing their scars and struggles.
As much as I'm sad that it's over, I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to the Callahan series. Pick this series up and become obsessed with me 😂😍

TW: panic attacks (on page), domestic violence/abuse (on page through flashbacks)

title: Wicked Serve

author: Grace Reilly

publisher: Avon

publication date: August 13, 2024

pages: 448

peppers: 3-4 (on this scale)

warnings: 

spousal/child abuse
violence
trauma
alcohol abuse
anxiety

summary: Volleyball-playing, college sophomore Izzy never thought she'd see Nik again after their summer fling because she goes to school in Boston and he's the captain of the UMass ice hockey team. However, when he gets thrown out of his college and transfers to hers, their connection, which is problematic because her brother is on his team now, reignites. He's dealing with childhood trauma that makes it hard for him to feel safe, and she's got an overprotective family.

tropes:

summer fling that was never meant to last
brother's teammate
big family
controlling grandfather
alcoholic father
big family-no family
athletes

what I liked: 

lots of character development
actually talk about their school work
dual point of view makes sense
good family scenes

what I didn’t like:

book is too long
the main characters sometimes seem age-appropriate, sometimes not


overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)

Wicked Serve
3⭐️ 3🌶️
- MF
- Collegiate Sports
- Secret Relationship
- Brother’s Rival

If you like collegiate sports romance then think this you’ll really enjoy this book. I unfortunately don’t, usually finding the characters annoyingly immature. I keep reading them hoping I’ll find one that I like and that’s my fault.

This book had some delicious tension in the beginning of the book. Izzy and Nikolai had to keep their summer fling a secret since he is her older brother’s hockey rival. Their intense attraction was apparent from the start.

But I was frustrated by Izzy. She has lived a charmed life and seemed unable to imagine that Nikolai’s life wasn’t as idyllic. It really bothered me that she expected him to share his childhood trauma when she wanted, regardless of how he was feeling.

I liked Nikolai a lot. But also wanted to shake him. He needed to stop bricking up his emotions when it came to his family.

Ultimately they were both annoyingly young (my first clue should have been that they weren’t even born when Legally Blonde came out!) which makes sense for the genre. So I fully accept that it is my fault for picking this up.

I enjoyed the narration. Faith Clark did a wonderful job. I loved the variety of voices she had for the large number of female characters. I did enjoy Oscar Reyes as Nikolai but felt he lost his accent at times. Sometimes he sounded Russian, sometimes he sounded Scottish, and sometimes there was a third accent that I couldn’t place but was different from the other two. His performance as all the other male characters was great though.

જ⁀➴ 3.5 ★

"The High Line at sunset is pretty. Isabelle Callahan at sunset is stunning."

Full transparency, I actually loved this book's plot and I think the book started off really strongly but the only problem I had with this book which did shake the rating up was that I felt like it was kinda dragged on towards the end and that it was just longer than necessary to be honest without a strong enough plot by then to support it. Most of everything/anything got resolved by like the 50% point and could have ended there in my opinion.

But one of the highlights of this book which I was OBSESSEDD with was the friends to lovers trope. I just LOVEEEE the familiarity and comfortability between the hero and heroine in friends to lovers tropes and that's what you get with them.

And he also calls her sweetheart????? 😫😫🙏

Another thing worth mentioning of what I enjoyed about this book is how this man is ENAMOURRED with the heroine and how the heroine is ALSO a collegiate athlete herself (i need more books like this!! i love seeing heroines in sports). Nikolai had an interesting character arc because in the book, he kinda has his own story as he struggles with his mental health. And he was just such an easy to love character with the way he cares and loves Isabelle. For this reason I really wanted to see more of their "prologue" time where they began their summer fling because I loved that.

I think if the author wanted the book to be longer with substantial material she could've included that instead of the extra padding at the latter half of the book.

All in all though I think other than that, the book was very cute/fluffy and the soft scenes in this book by the hero were done RIGHT, i loved him a lot.

some tropes
➢ second chance
➢ brother's rival turned teammate
➢ athlete x athlete

and also a big thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!! <3

I was absolutely loving it in the beginning but about 60% of the way through it kind of went downhill. This book is waaaaay longer than it needed to be. If you took out about 150 pages it would probably be a 4.5 star read for me. It just felt like there was so much extra added in for no reason and it really brought the reading experience down.

I did love their relationship. It was so sweet and cute. The actual romance between the main characters was by far my favorite thing out of the entire story. It got almost sickeningly sweet, but in a totally good way.