thank you so much for the advanced copy!

i plan to come back to this book eventually, but i’m stopping for now. i love unapologetically girly FMCs, scarred heroes, the brother’s rival trope, and so much else in this book, but i’m still not enjoying myself, and i can feel it causing a reading slump.

content warnings: domestic abuse, alcoholism, disordered eating, panic disorder

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

Wicked Serve (Beyond the Play, Book 4)
Author: Grace Reilly
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Starting a summer fling with her brother’s hockey rival was never part of Isabelle’s plan but there is something about Nikolai that has her ready to risk it all. Izzy and Nik had an expiration date. At the end of summer, he would go back to school in Massachusetts and she would start her sophomore year at McKee University so it wouldn’t ever matter that she was sleeping with the enemy. No one would know and it would be over before anyone could find out. But, a streak of bad luck for Nik has this plan flipped upside down. After being expelled from UMass Amherst, he is given a second chance…at McKee University. He is not only bound to run into Izzy but he is now teammates with her brother on the hockey team. Given strict instructions to stay away from Izzy, she’s the one thing he can’t resist.

These two beautiful lost souls found each other at the perfect time. The strength of the connection they share is so consuming. The understanding of what the other needs even before they know they need it, makes them quickly become each other’s person to lean on and hard to stay away from. They encourage each other to be the best versions of themselves and to address the obstacles head-on, giving us some serious character development. I am sad this series is coming to an end, but Izzy and Nik’s book is the perfect book to close on. You’re not going to want to miss this one!

If you like:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Second Chance
Brother’s Teammate/Ex-Rival


TW🚫: mentions of domestic abuse, alcoholism, disordered eating, panic disorder, and cheating.

Reviewed by: Karley🧡

I have really enjoyed every book in this series and the conclusion did not disappoint! Izzy and
Nikolai have a really special connection that the prioritize despite the obstacles.

I was blown away by how much I loved Nikolai as a hero. He is dealing with a lot but her absolutely adores Izzy! I loved watching him slowly let her in and loved that she supported him but didn't fix his issues with her presence alone. It was really fun to see Izzy's family interact with Nikolai and I really enjoyed seeing them develop their own relationships with him as well as Izzy with Nikolai's mom.

I played volleyball in high school so it was really fun to read a sports romance where I knew a bit about the sport (usually I know nothing). I liked that Izzy was passionate about her sport but it didn't define her. Izzy is still figuring her life out and that's ok for a twenty-year-old. One thing I really appreciate about Grace Reilly's books is that her characters seem the age they are.

If you like sports romance you have to read this series! It is my favorite sports romance series and seeing each of the siblings find their person is so great. I love the series more and more as it goes as I care about all the characters more. I also appreciate that these books are focused on character development and the hero and heroine always each have their own arc.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ - I went back and forth between 3 and 4 peppers for this one. We do see a lot of spice but it isn't the focus of the story. For those who have read the earlier books it is a similar level of spice to the others in the series.

Overall this was super cute! I loved reading about the youngest sibling and I really liked Izzy and Nik! At some points it dragged a little, and I felt like it was a little longer than it needed to be, but overall it was a cute story and I really like the overall message. I love the mental health rep and that Nik took care of himself at the end! I love that Nik and Izzy were magnets to each other and they couldn't stay away!

loved this romance with the last Callahan . loved that she figured out what she wanted with volleyball and planning wedding. glad that she was able to figure out her relationship with Nicolai . Loved seeing the brothers and what happens with them.

when i tell you i CRIED (in a good way) during this book. this is by far my favorite in the entire series. i’ve been patiently waiting for izzy’s book to come out and i’m so lucky to have got an arc for this book. thank you so much net galley!

i loved how there was no miscommunication or toxicity in this book. i think i’m so used to it so it came as a surprise that this book didn’t have it. it’s definitely very refreshing. they communicated so well. i loved their characters separately and together so much.

isabelle was literally so amazing. this girl LOVES the color pink, she’s confident, & she was so supportive and caring. the way she stuck by nikolai’s side every step of the way.

nikolai, i love you!! i wanted to HUG THIS MAN. he gave great representation of mental health issues. he was so amazing to isabelle. in my opinion, he definitely fell first AND harder. i loved how we got the backstory on his scar. THE WAY HE CALLS HER SUNSHINE!! ugh i was melting.

please read this book and ESPECIALLY the whole series. it’s amazing!

✨ Book Review ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

✔️ Sports ❤️ - Volleyball 🏐 & Hockey 🏒
✔️ Secret Dating
✔️ Brothers Rival
✔️ Dual POVs

Thank you so much @GraceReilly, @NetGalley, @AvonBooks, and @HarperVoyager for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC. ❤️

This book had such a great main story, such sweet moments 🐨 and I really loved Nik and Isabelle’s secret summer romance. (I immediately thought of Grease 🤣) I loved that both of the main characters were entirely their own and they each had their own unique and interesting storylines. Isabelle was a super solid character - I loved how family oriented, determined and thoughtful she was. “Like sunshine after a storm.” She truly made this story for me and I loved watching her character grow. Nik was also a great character and a strong mental health rep. He had some golden retriever vibes but also had that bad boy feel which made him swoon-worthy. 😍

While there was so many good parts of this book there was one aspect that really bothered me. No matter how good or bad your parents are or what bad habits or characteristics they may have they don’t automatically pass down to their children. I understand the fear of “what if I become them” but this book consistently circled back to this concern and every time it did I was disappointed the author didn’t correct it. I felt this theme and the book overall would’ve been much better if this MC concern wasn’t drawn out and the book was much shorter. It also had some “New Moon” vibes towards the end. Overall I’d still recommend this book and think it’s worth checking out!

“I love the sight of her in her uniform, but something hits different with my name across her back.”

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly
Release date: 8.13.24
Tropes
🏒 Hockey x Volleyball romance
🏒brother’s rival-turned teammate
🏒secret relationship
🏒found family

Rating: 5/5

I absolutely loved this book! This is the first book I have read in the Beyond the Play series (yes, I know I’m reading them out of order). This is a book about Isabelle Callahan, a sophomore volleyball play at McKee University. She had a summer fling with UMass hockey player Nikolai who is set to play for the NHL after he graduates. After an incident at UMass has Nikolai expelled, his grandfather manages to get him onto the McKee hockey team, which is also the team Cooper Callahan plays on (Isabelle’s brother). What they both thought was just going to be a summer fling turns into more, but with some added twists and turns.
I loved the characters in the book and how the author wrote their growth. My favorite part of this book is how there was spice, but the spice was never cringy in my opinion. I also enjoyed how every character had distinctive personalities, which led to an interesting plot. The author also did an amazing job at writing about childhood trauma and panic attacks which is something I greatly appreciate. Something about the book that I found enjoyable was seeing the Callahan family and how they interact with each other since they all have some sort of thing making each family member special. This is a part of interconnected series similar to the Off Campus series, but I feel like it could be read as a standalone. I never felt like I was missing too much information since I have not read the first two books in the series, except for the epilogue which shows all of the series characters in the future. This was my first book by Grace Reilly and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. I already have two of her other books on my physical tbr and I am excited to dive in!

I received this ARC through NetGalley

I really liked the connection between Nikolai and Izzy. It was refreshing to read a book without toxicity between the couple. They fell hard and supported each other throughout. I'm a sucker for grumpy/sunshine characters and I love a good hockey romance. I don't typically read the college hockey romances because I'm older (I mostly read the ones where they are in their 20s/30s), but I heard such great things about this series that I wanted to give it a try and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated seeing characters prioritizing mental health. There are some darker themes, but I felt like the journey and growth of the characters as they worked through them was well done. Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC!

“𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕖, 𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕖. 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕦𝕓𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕟 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕕 𝕤𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖. 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕤𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕖.”🌷🌞🎀✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

this book was the perfect way to end this series. i was not expecting all of the emotions that came with nikolai and izzy’s story but i am so grateful for them🥺

the amount of healing and growth that goes on in this book is astounding and i feel like it is very true to real life relationships. nikolai holds himself accountable and really tries to be the best version of himself for izzy and we love that😭😭

a few of my fav things about this book
— nikolai’s dirty talk, because obviously lol
— the koala’s
— their comfortability with each other
— the hairbrush scene + the library closet scene
— them being each others biggest fans
— 🍑stuff lol
— protective izzy 🥹

if you’ve been following this series and read first down, breakaway, and stealing home—the epilogue to this will probably have you in tears (like it had me).

as always, this was an easy 5⭐️'s to give to Grace— congratulations on finishing the Playing for Keeps series on such a lovely note🫶🏼🩷

Add this book to your TBR or pre-order it doesn’t disappoint 😊

This book was great! I’m in my hockey romance phase and this book is top notch! When you get the 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and a good story line=winning! 👏 Grace Reilly never disappoints! So thankful to @netgalley @avonbooks @HarperVoyagerUS for the opportunity to read this eARC

Grace Reilly knows how to make a reader swoon and Wicked Serve is no exception. This fourth and final installment of the Callahan clan is a solid way to wrap up this series.

Wicked Serve revolves around Izzy, the youngest of the Callahan siblings, and her secret summer fling Nikolai, who happens to be her brother's hockey rival. When Nikolai ends up transferring to Izzy's school and becoming her brother's teammate, can their reignited fling stay secret?

The premise might be simple and straightforward forward but what Grace does really well with all her books, is write characters struggling with deep, personal conflicts. Wicked Serve is a college sports romance, but the conflict isn't necessarily between the two in love but rather their internal struggles. Without giving too much away, the love Izzy and Nik have for each other is storybook-worthy. Their healthy relationship is depicted in a way that is super refreshing. Nik worships Izzy in a way that places him at the top of the best book boyfriend list. And those bedroom scenes...🌶️ 🥵🌶️

If you're looking for a book with a lot of conflict and angst, this might not be for you. Overall though, I loved how delicate this story tackles overcoming personal trauma in order to be better for the person you love. Plus if you've read the other three in this series, this one ties it up nicely with all your favorites making appearances.

Tropes and Elements:
❤️ Second Chance Romance
🏒 Brother's Hockey Rival
🏡 Family Bonds
🌶️ Spicy
🩷 He falls harder
⚡️ Childhood Trauma


Thank you NetGalley, Grace Reilly, and Avon Publishing for this e-ARC. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Such a sweet book, filled with love and support in a healthy relationship. Both characters were so caring and understanding to each other. It was so nice to read!

Let me start by saying how happy I am to have read a book that showed us a college relationship with no toxicity and a whole lot of support for each other.

Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series this is a wonderful hockey romance. It was very spicy but heartfelt. Both Izzy and Nik had things to work out on their own before moving forward with their relationship and while some of what Nik went through got a little dark, it definitely allowed for amazing character growth.

Now, this wasn’t my favorite in the series because I feel like the pacing was a little off in the middle of the story, the mention of the color pink so many times in every single chapter started to drive me bananas, and I feel like the bits of Russian we got in the book could have been better placed in the story. Sometimes it felt like the words were just thrown in randomly.

If you like college sports romances, brothers rival, he falls first AND falls harder, or secret relationships then you should give this book a try!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Grace Reilly, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a sweet read! Although it was my first book in the series, I'll definitely be going back to read the rest. Izzy and Nikolai were so easy to root for, and it was so nice to dive into their relationship of true support and deep understanding. The family antics were a ton of fun, and I loved the full cast of characters.

A very solid 3.5 stars from me! Can't wait to read more from Grace Reilly.

I loved this book!!! Could not put it down!

Nikolai was just the perfect mix between sweet and alpha male. Coming from russian heritage was a perfect addition to him. The perfect boyfriend, an athlete through and through, healthy, mischievous and altogether just yummy. Had a complicated past but super sweet underneath the hard exterior.

Isabelle was a super sweet girl who thought could do casual but ended up having feelings for Nikolai. Athlete too, and they both helped each other overcome so many things from their past.

The story is super sweet, I loved that it wasn't the typical story wealth-poor couple. They both came from wealth and that was super refreshing. Loved every part of the story! Read it! You'll love it!

As a Callahan Family/Beyond the Play booklover I was so excited to be given a chance to read this. Thank you to Avon/Harper Collins for the opportunity to read early.

Izzy Callahan is everything you loved about her brothers and more. If James & Bex gave us some family struggle, Cooper & Penny brought the spice, and Sebby & Mia the found family… then buckle the truck up babes because Izzy, like all little sisters does it all but better.

Grace captures the hard work & dedication of her McKee athletes in all of the Beyond the Play books but oh damn does she really do right by Izzy and Niko. This is the perfect goodbye to the Callahan Family.

˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙ 3.5 ☆˙⋆ ༶ .⁺ ˖

This book is so cute showing us a relationship without any toxicity, a lot of support and encouragement from each other and they fell so hard since the summer they met💖 I enjoyed most of it💕

➴ College Sports? ✔️🏒

➴ Secret Relationship? ✔️🙈

➴ Brother’s Rival? ✔️🤯

➴ He falls first and harder? ✔️💘

➴ Healthy relationship? ✔️🥰

➴ Family Bonds ✔️💛

➴ Friendships Bonds? ✔️💕

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

❥ Isabelle 💗 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹

➳ she is so confident, extrovert, generous, supportive, caring, and very fashionable👑💅🏼

➳ she was so selfless and sometimes she needed to care more for herself. But I loved that she cared so much for her family and how supportive she was with them. Also, she was so supportive of Nik helping him to follow his dreams💗

❥ Nikolai 💙 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹

➳ a hockey player struggling with mental health who is obsessed with Isabelle since the first time he saw her in a game. He is so kind, supportive, gentle, caring and protective. He had a lot of gestures with his sunshine so heart-melting☀️🌷💖

➳ my respect for him for putting his mental health first and working on himself to get better and be able to be the best version of himself. Nik does this to get the future he and Isa deserve to have together😭💛✨

❥ My thoughts 💭 ˖⁺. ༶ ⋆˙⊹

➳ this book was very entertaining and for the most part, I enjoyed it✨ like those sweet moments between Nik and Isa and how healthy and domestic their relationship felt since the beginning. Also, the family and friendship bonds💕

➳ I loved that Isabelle knew how to stand up for herself and her loved ones. More than Nik because he only stands up for other people but not for himself and that was so frustrating. Like dude, you have to say something! Also, he just does whatever his grandpa tells him to do. He wanted Nik to quit hockey, so he was going to do so without a single fight. Uh? If it wasn’t for Isa, he wouldn't dare contradict his grandfather, talk to his mother, and follow his dreams.

➳ even though I loved the short chapters, there were too many😭 I feel like the book was too long with some scenes and plot that honestly didn't contribute anything.

➳ I didn’t like that Isabelle tried to push Nik to tell her about his past. I mean girl...chill! It’s a tough matter for him and he would tell you in his own time, not yours.

➳ I love the pink color, I really do. But it was mentioned in every chapter I swear. Like we get it girl, your favorite color is pink. We understood it the 9347238 times it was mentioned.

➳ I don’t know if it was just me, but all the Russian vocabulary mentioned felt so weird and many scenes were so cringy idk😭 anddddd this book was 70% smut and 30% plot

Anyways, despite all those things I didn’t quite like about this book, it was pretty entertaining and had a lot of cute moments I really enjoyed💫

≿━━━━༺❀༻━━━━≾

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review! 💜

ARC READ ✨ I’m a sucker for a good Hockey romance, and this hit the spot. I loved having the aspect of our FMC also being a student athlete and them both going through their journeys together with their teams. I thought the storyline progressed at a perfect pace and loved seeing these two grew stronger together. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for everyone else to get this in their hands!

This books was absolutely perfection. This was my first Grace Reilly book and it did NOT disappoint. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series ASAP.

Nikolai was a MMC dream. He had a filthy mouth and a dominate side. He called Izzy sunshine and was a total golden retriever for her. The found family in this was top tier and made me so emotional. Isabels character was amazing and her character growth through the book was so perfect. I loved the healing and growth that this book showed with childhood trauma and I actually teared up at the epilogue. Pure perfection, absolutely five stars. I can’t wait to get my physical copy when it publishes!