This is the final book in the Beyond the play series and I was really looking forward to Izzy’s story. I listen to the audiobook and I just wasn’t a fan of the narration. When both of the narrator’s did the Russian accent it sounded a bit fake and pulled me from the story. I also just didn’t connect to Izzy and Nicolai like I did the rest of the family. So while I loved the ties in to how everyone else was doing this story just lacked for me compared to the rest. I also thought there was a bit too much spice. While I appreciate a good spicy scene as much as the next person, because this was not a slow burn, it happened a lot!

3 stars
3 spice

This is the first book I have read by Grace. And while Wicked Serve is the 4th book in this series, it can be read as a standalone. I didn't feel lost with the characters and anything that was mentioned in the earlier interconnected books, it was stated in this one with a nice recap by the characters (when needed).

This book is spicy and had multiple on-page scenes. :fans self: it was hot.

I enjoyed both the hockey and the volleyball aspects of the book. The book had a good view on mental health and childhood trauma. Supportive friends and family.

Nikolai and Izzy had some great chemistry.

Both the narrators: Faith Clark and Oscar Reyes, nailed the different voices, especially with Nikolai's Russian accent. Their voices really brought these characters to life and I could really feel all the emotions while listening.

Izzy’s book 🥹
I’m so sad this series is over, but I’m so glad we got to catch up with everyone else too!

📖 Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly
🏐🏒 college sports romance
📱🎧 read on kindle + audio (arc/alc)

⭐️ rating: 5/5
🌶️ rating: 3.5/5

📚 book 4 • Beyond the Play series
While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the whole series. We see quite a bit of the previous characters (Izzy’s brothers + their girlfriends). That was a part of what I loved about it too.

💭 overall thoughts:
After a summer fling where they don’t expect to see one another again, Izzy & Nik find themselves studying at the same college. Nik was previously her brother’s rival, and now his teammate.

Their undeniable chemistry makes it impossible for them to stay apart, even though Izzy’s intention was to focus on volleyball, and Nik is terrified of having a relationship.

I loved that both Izzy & Nik were athletes, I think it gave them a better understanding of each other. I think Izzy’s brothers were the perfect level of protective over her 🙃 I’m kind of biased since I already love them from the previous books 😅

There were some heavy topics in this one (related to Nik’s childhood), and I think Grace handled them really well. I liked to see how Izzy handled everything, and how she grew as the story went on.

🎙️ audiobook thoughts:
(narrated by Faith Clark & Oscar Reyes)
I don’t think I’ve heard either narrator before, but I think they both did a great job at capturing the characters & telling their story. I was impressed by Oscar Reyes’ switching between Russian and American accents.

read if you love:
☀️ summer fling turned to secret relationship
🏒 brother’s rival to college hockey teammate
(after being expelled by his previous college)
🏐 volleyball player girly girl (pink is her fav color 🎀)
👰‍♀️ wedding planner aspirations
🫶🏻 family (Izzy is the youngest sibling) + found family
❤️‍🩹 broken boy and sunshine girl
🧠 mental health rep (panic attacks)
💞 dual 1st person pov 

*please make sure to check triggers, Nik’s backstory is heavy

Thank you to Grace Reilly, Valentine PR, Avon Books & Spotify Audiobooks for advanced copies. All opinions are my own.

This is a sweet sports romance. I have not read or listened to a book by Grace Reilly before and now I am definitely excited to read or listen to more books by this author. The author did a great job of writing a sweet romance that does have a third act break up that is actually well done. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you netgalley and spotify audio for access to the audiobook. I will say it did take me a bit longer than usual to get used to the narrators for this audiobook, but it was still a very enjoyable listen. I have read lots of sports romances and most of them were hockey romances but this one being a hockey and volleyball romance was very fun! Nick and Isabelle's story was so cute and sweet. I loved how supportive they were with each others' dreams! I also loved that they recognized how they wanted to grow individually to be a healthy supportive partner for the other. This book just seemed so realistic to a real life relationship and was so refreshing to read. I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to read the other books in this series! Once again thank you Netgalley.

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." Finally, I didn't really love the audiobook narration, unfortunately. I have loved Oscar Reyes' narration in other books, but I think his attempt at a Russian accent diminishes the emotion he is able to put forth as a voice actor. Faith Clark is fine. I love the dual narration, though!

Thank you to NetGalley, Grace Reilly, and Spotify Audiobooks for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

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!

3⭐️ 3🌶️ 4🎧
- 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.

Very cute book, I enjoy the Callahan siblings and their significant others. Nik and Izzy’s story is about overcoming the odds and self acceptance

I was SOOOOO excited for this book, because I adored James and Bex and even Cooper and Penny. But Seb and Mia's book didn't do it for me, and unfortunately, neither did this book. I still believe Seb deserved better than Mia, and Izzy deserved more than this book. The series started so highly; I hate that it's ended this way.
I'll start with this was way too long (like 150 pages too long), and the pacing was off. The random time jumps certainly didn't help. The main plot ended before the 50% mark, but several subplots were drawn out needlessly long. There was so much nonsense and filler than I considered skim reading parts, and I NEVER do that. Also - something else I never complain about - there were too many sex scenes. The spicy scenes didn't add anything to the book. They didn't further the plot, and the pair's connection didn't get deeper. I feel like the couple were only together to have sex. That's lust, not love. Also, side note, a twenty year old who's only had sex with threeish guys and has never gotten off with one before her now partner is NOT going to spontaneously orgasm from crawling to him across the bed. The face I made when I read that part would have become an instant meme, because wtf.
I wanted to root for Izzy and Nik, but I just couldn't. We don't get to see half of their relationship; we just get random mentions of stuff they did together over the summer. That's also confusing, because we're told all they did was "fall in to bed together" over and over again, yet they apparently also did a ton of date-like activities? But we don't get to see their connection building - like we did with Bex/James and Penny/Cooper. They were also already "together" like 30 pages in, so there was no angst or build-up. Izzy also appeared somewhat obsessed throughout the book, in a very immature way. It wasn't a good look on her. Her overall personality was very immature, and I just couldn't connect with her. Even though I adored her in previous books.
The author has marketed this as Izzy's book, and the title suggests a lot of volleyball, but we definitely see Nik play hockey more than we get Izzy playing her sport. That's a bit misleading.
I did like the family scenes in the book. That's the best thing about this entire series - the family dynamics and how they are all there for one another. The parent's unwavering support of the kids. It's heartwarming.
My favorite parts of this book were the koala experience and the epilogue. Koalas are adorable! And getting to see James and Bex's family grow along with Cooper and Penny's child was the best way to end the book. I wish it had been from Bex's POV, but I understand why it wasn't.

Overall, the book was okay. It wasn't the ending I had hoped for for this series.
3/5 stars.

Nikolai and Isabelle are perfect if you love college athletes (hockey and volleyball), a summer fling they cannot let go of and he is her brother’s hockey rival. So if you’re looking for some post Olympic sports romance, this one fits the bill!

I have not read the others in this series and all of the other characters are in this one in a way that allows me to understand their connection without spoiling their books!

I loved how the story picks up after their summer together and you instantly seeing them still thinking about the other. They face adversity in the form of her brother and Nikolai’s family drama but they handle themselves with the grace and maturity that is often not represented in books.

Both narrators do so well relaying their characters emotions and feelings through all the emotions: happy, sad, upset, disappointed.

Nikolai, a committed hockey player, is determined to create an unforgettable final season. However, his transfer to McKee University for his senior year puts his team position at risk, especially with Isabelle's older brother as the team captain – the same girl he spent the summer with discreetly. Rekindling their bond could jeopardize his team standing and bring to light his troubled history, complicating any possibility of a genuine relationship. Despite the obstacles, meeting Isabelle again rekindles his intense feelings. On the other hand, Izzy's sophomore year ambitions include reclaiming her former volleyball role and moving on from Nikolai. Nevertheless, his reappearance in her life makes it challenging for her to maintain her distance. This novel weaves together a mix of anguish and heartfelt emotions, capturing a genuine and beautiful love story.

Cute Hockey, brothers rival, romance.

Izzy and Nikolia spend one secret summer together. When the summer ends he leaves without a word. Izzy is crushed but is determined to pick herself up and move on.

Nikolia doesn't want his relationship with Izzy to end but he knows that he is all wrong for her. When he gets kicked off his hockey team and enrolls at McKee University with Izzy sparks will fly. He will have to balance his place on the team with Izzy's brother and his secret relationship with her.

This audiobook was narrated by Faith Clark and Oscar Reyes. The pace was good and I was able to determine when characters changed. Some of the female narrator's side characters sounded strange, especially Izzy's father. Overall was a good listen but I did speed it up some to speed past the Izzy chapters.

I liked the book; I thought the relationship between Nikolia and Izzy was cute. I thought the author did a good job writing about the effects of childhood abuse. I was also excited to see that there was actual hockey in the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify audiobooks for this title. This is my very honest review.

Wicked Serve is the final book in the Beyond the Play series which makes this a bit bittersweet. I have been with this series from the beginning and loved each story. I am so happy we got Izzy's book and that it was not just a fantastic story itself but a nice conclusion to the series.

I have been looking forward to Izzy's book since we really saw her in Breakaway. She seemed like a wild child and I anticipated seeing who Reilly would match her with. I was pleasantly surprised that her match was Nikolai. Her brother's rival? I knew this was gonna be filled with drama and spice.

I was blown away by how heartfelt this was. It has the romcom aspects and spicy parts, but the heartfelt moments are what truly got me. Nikolai is so much more than he initially seems. His backstory is heartbreaking. I thought Reilly did a wonderful job representing the effects of child abuse and mental health. Nikolai was such a marshmallow. I really loved his character. Izzy was great too. I loved her spunk and heart of gold.

Nikolai and Izzy were a incredible couple. Not only did they have high heat chemistry between them but they also connected on an emotional level which got me invested in their relationship. They were a perfect pairing.

This book has the classic Reilly spice! Phew!! Don't let the cover fool you otherwise.

Faith Clark & Oscar Reyes were phenomenal narrators. I could not picture anyone else narrating Izzy & Nikolai. Truly wonderful.

Would recommend this awesome book to everyone who loves sports romance, spicy romance, and romcoms with heart.

I received an ALC of this book, and the narration was so good! The narrators, Faith Clark and Oscar Reyes, did a phenomenal job portraying Nik + Isabelle. Their delivery was EVERYTHING. 10/10 for the narration!

This book is easily my favorite in the series.
The maturity and communication between the main characters was refreshing. Their relationship was endearing. I really appreciated the way Nikolai’s childhood trauma was handled in the end. I loved seeing a male lead that could admit he needed help and actively sought self improvement. We love healthy coping mechanisms 👏🏼

The epilogue was such a solid ending to this series. I loved finding out how each couples lives played out.

My one complaint is that I do wish we could’ve gotten a little more from Nik + Isabelle’s summer together. I felt like the book began before I even started it.

Tropes:
🥅 Brother’s Rival
💘 Broody x Bubbly
🩵 He Falls First
✨ Found Family
🤫 Secret Relationship
🏒 Hockey Player MMC
🏐 Volleyball Player FMC

I’ve loved this series and I loved this last one!!! Grace Reilly writes the best sports romances, and this one is no different! This is an adorably steamy forbidden romance, brothers best enemy, hockey romance. I loved Nik and Izzy’s relationship throughout the story, having such an instant connection that becomes such a deep, love filled relationship as they battle outside barriers that keep them apart.

I didn’t love the male narration but I did really like the female narration! I think I’ll like reading this book physically rather than audio for future rereads.

thank you for the alc :)

Ending this series with a BANG that’s for sure, this one was packing the spice. I loved seeing all the past characters we know and love come back towards the end of this book. I really wish there would have been more of them in the summer when they first met though. And less of the back and forth of Izzy and her decisions she was making between college and working. I found her character a little hard to connect with.

This hits some sensitive topics and I think it rounded out the series perfectly.

Wicked Serve is the fourth college romance book in the Beyond the Play series. Izzy has spent the summer interning with a wedding planner and loved every minute of it, especially her free time when she was hooking up with her boss’ son. Even though it was good while it lasted, nothing with Nikolai was meant to last for the summer, but when Nikolai gets kicked off his hockey team for taking the blame for a friend their paths cross again. With both Nikolai and Izzy at the same school there is no way to avoid the attraction between them. Will they be able to keep a relationship going or will their baggage get in the way?

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but do think this can be read as a standalone. I had really high hopes for this book but something fell a little flat for me. I actually think a lot of it had to do with the narration. The accent on Nicolai drove me crazy and I couldn’t figure out what was being said half the time. I think if I’d read the book instead of the audiobook I may have enjoyed this book more. I did really enjoyed Nicolai and Izzy together and thought their story was a good read. I am a fan of sports romances and this hit me from both sides with Izzy’s volleyball and Nicolai’s hockey. It was an enjoyable romance, but something was missing for me. The writing and storyline were good too, I just couldn’t get pulled into this book in the same way that I expected to. I am intrigued by this series and could definitely see my self checking out the rest of it. These was a good sports romance read, but I would recommend reading the book instead of the audiobook if accents are hard for you.

I read the first 2 books in this series and I enjoyed the spicy sports romance vibes they give! I liked that the books all follow the Callahan siblings and you get snippets of each couple throughout the series. Going into this, I really thought I was going to love it but unfortunately it was a miss for me.

the story itself was well-developed and enjoyable, but it felt like there was a lot of fluff and filler in the book that the storyline got diminished. the couple in the book also got together really early on and yo girl needs some tension & angst for it to hit!!! I didn’t love Izzy as a character and felt that she came off more immature than a typical college girl, especially growing up with 3 brothers. the mmc was enjoyable & I enjoyed the accent from the narrator!

I would suggest this author as I’ve enjoyed her other books but unfortunately this wasn’t my fav. If you’re wanting a SPICY sports romance between a hockey player and a volleyball player, brother’s rival, secret relationship, and some random hidden family trauma then this may be up your alley! thank you NetGalley, Spotify Audiobooks & Grace Reilly for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. releases august 13th 💓

I loved this so much. I loved getting to know the Callahan family and their different dynamics. The story was so well developed, the mental health rep was amazing and I loved the way it was all handled. I didnt love the narrator for Nikolai, he sounded Irish at times. Otherwise it was really great!

This romance novel, which seamlessly blends the worlds of hockey and volleyball, captivated me with its warmth and intensity from the very beginning. Listening to the audio version was an immersive experience, with the narrator's expressive voice bringing the characters and their emotions to life in a way that made the story even more engaging. The chemistry between the main characters was palpable, and the way their bond developed over time was both thrilling and heartwarming.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel was the slightly forbidden nature of their romance. Despite this, it never felt annoying or overdone. Instead, it added an exciting layer of complexity and depth to their interactions. The challenges they faced made their moments together even more precious and meaningful. The narrator did an excellent job of maintaining this delicate balance, keeping the tension just right without ever tipping into melodrama.

The characters themselves were wonderfully fleshed out, each with their own passions and vulnerabilities. The way the author intertwined their personal growth with their romantic journey was masterful, and the narrator's performance added an extra dimension to their development. I loved listening to how they supported each other through their respective sports careers, facing both triumphs and setbacks together. Their relationship felt authentic and deeply emotional, making it easy to root for their happy ending.

This novel offers a well-crafted romance set against the unique backdrop of hockey and volleyball, and the audio version enhanced the experience. I loved every bit of this story and found myself thinking about the characters long after the last chapter ended. It’s a heartwarming, captivating listen that left a lasting impression.