4⭐️ | 3🌶️

What to expect:
• Hockey x Volleyball
• Broody x Bubbly
• Secret romance
• Found family
• Brother’s rival
• Mental health rep
• Spicy

Review:
This is the kind of book that makes you wish you could dive right into the pages and hang out with the characters! This sports romance hits all the right notes… spicy, sweet, and filled with emotions that will make you giggle, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear or two.

The MCs- Nikolai and Isabelle are the perfect blend of fire and ice. Nikolai, the brooding hockey player with a past, and Isabelle, the sunshine volleyball setter who's trying to keep her focus on the game, make for a couple you can't help but root for. Their summer fling turns into something much more complicated when Nik transfers to Izzy's college, and suddenly, he’s everywhere she looks!

What really sets this book apart is the depth of the characters. Yes, there's plenty of spice (and trust me, it's sizzling!), but there's also a heartfelt exploration of mental health and past traumas that gives this story real substance. Nik’s journey, in particular, is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as he rebuilds his life and relationships.

I was absolutely hooked on Nik! There’s just something about a guy who’s all in on improving himself for the people he cares about—his friends, family, and of course, his girl. As for Izzy, her bubbly vibe is totally infectious, and her journey to figure out where she fits in with her family? So relatable! She’s like a walking ray of sunshine, and honestly, you just want to give her a big hug for being so sweet!

If you’re a fan of sports romance with a healthy dose of emotional depth, ‘Wicked Serve’ is a must-read. Plus, who doesn’t love a forbidden romance that turns into a heartwarming friendship?

Really enjoyed this one! Even though I haven't read the other books in this series and had never read anything by this author, I'm very happy I read this one! I'm definitely going to check out the other books in this series as well, since all of the characters were so lovely!

3.5 stars

This was a cute and incredibly spicy read that I ended up flying through in one day. I grew to like our main characters quite quickly and honestly liked how honest they were with each other. There was no misunderstanding/miscommunication and they also just accepted that they were into each other despite how forbidden it was meant to be. Their relationship was healthy and I really liked how supportive they were of each other. They rooted for each other and that was such a nice thing to see.

While I did enjoy this one I did have a few issues with it. There were a lot, and I mean a lot, of spicy scenes and while I'm good with those scenes it just seemed too much to me. The book also didn't need to be as long as it was in my opinion. I feel like the book could have been 100 pages shorter and would have been just as good if not better.

Also I wonder if I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the first three books as these characters were heavily featured in this book and I felt a little bit out of the loop however it wasn't life shattering and like I said I still enjoyed these characters and the story.

Overall a cute story with well written characters and is perfect if you're looking for romance done well showing a healthy relationship and supportive partners from the very beginning.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely love this author.. I've read all her books and this one does.not.disappoint!.

Such a good, easy, feel-good read!.
🩷🩷

I was completely immersed in this story and the whole brother’s rival romance that was unfolding. It was fun to see Nikolai and Izzy’s beginning in New York before we see their relationship thrown into the real world as unexpected circumstances bring them together on campus. I’m always here for a hockey romance and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. I loved how close Izzy was with her family, and her siblings in particular (you would not catch me cohabiting with mine!) but also seeing how complex her feelings were around her family, with them being so talented in their own fields. This book delves into the characters’ emotions and builds complex characters with back stories, family history, and all sorts of things that make them feel real. The anxiety rep introduced through Nikolai’s character felt really well written and his difficulties with anxiety and his triggers seemed really well written. And with all that being said, the spicy romance between these two was so hot and whew, I think I needed a fan to read this. Alongside that is the development of a really sweet relationship, as these two get to know each other better through the ups and downs and see more of each other’s vulnerabilities. A fantastic read and I look forward to picking up more of Grace Reilly’s books!

Thank you for sending me Wicked Serve. I thoroughly enjoyed Nikolai and Izzy’s story. It was so nice to also see glimpses of the rest of the Callaghan’s.

This was an easy read that was fun and enjoyable. I liked both main characters and thought they had a great connection from the get go. The story felt a little predictable even for a HEA romance and I felt like I’d read very similar stories before. I also felt there could have been greater focus on the characters’ growth and their development. It was pretty heavy on the smut!
But I did enjoy it overall and I would read more from this author.

garce reilly might be becoming one of my fav for sport romance.

I've read all of her books and they are just so good and I really enjoy her writing styles and the characters she uses.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Isabelle and Nikolai had a summer fling. When it was over they knew they would go back to their respective schools and wouldn’t see each other again.

I really loved the sound of Wicked Serve when I requested it on Netgalley. Not realising I actually owned the first in the series! So I guess I’ve read the fourth, then the first, and now I’m going to go back to the second and third because honestly I’ve loved this series so far!

Thank you Grace Reilly, Avon and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Anyone who hasn’t read any of this series yet, I would definitely recommend it!

this is the first novel I have read from Grace Reilly and I really enjoyed it!

It was only 3 stars for me because at times I did feel frustrated at Isabelle (and Nikolai) but ah well. I did find it very amusing how wealthy their characters are (like a spontaneous weekend trip to Brisbane?!) but no real negatives. I also felt at times it was predictable but that’s to be expected from this genre!! The plot was easy to follow and it was an excellent summer read ◡̈

I did feel like I had read a version of this story before but I guess that’s what happens when you read too much! The dual POV added to the overall plot and it was written well, the chapters weren’t too long. It did feel relatable, as I am the same age as the characters at uni (‘college’!) whilst also competing in a high level sport. I thought the found family trope was written well in addition to the situation-ship turned relationship too - it was a cute sports romcom.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in return for an honest review.

Izzy Callahan, is a force. She’s been in the shadow of her three immensely talented brothers. Often found herself wondering if she’s good enough to be a part of the family. James is a football star playing professionally in the big leagues. Cooper is the college hockey captain, destined for the NHL and Seb is a baseball star turned budding chef.

Now it’s Izzy’s turn to shine, she adores volleyball and a certain forbidden Russian hockey player.

Nikolai Abney is a UMass hockey captain. A misunderstanding has meant that Nikolai is out in his ass. Having to explain to his extremely well connect grandfather what could’ve possible been the cause of his expulsion. A second chance has meant that he’s transferred to McKee College. Just so happens to be where Izzy attends.

This is a case of forbidden love, having met during the summer break while Izzy interned in New York City, she met Nikolai. Their relationship grew from there. At the end of the summer they agree not to see each other any more, just a summer fling.

Fast forward a few weeks and Nikolai turns up at McKee campus and Izzy needs to do her best to avoid him!

This is the fourth and final book in the Callahan sibling series. I’ve read and loved them all. I love that Izzy is finally standing up for herself and pushing the boundaries with her brothers. There’s also nothing like a series that allows the characters to grow and in the background you can see their lives progress. The whole series is such a hit for me. Wicked Serve is my favourite by far.

Thanks to @netgalley and @headlineeternal for my copy. I’m very grateful.

Cute, but felt very drawn out.

"Wicked Serve" is the fourth and final book in Grace Reilly's Beyond the Play series and tells the story of Nikolai and Isabelle.

To be honest, I was expecting something different from this story. For me, this was my first foray into the world of Beyond the Play.

I really like Isabelle. She's a person who unconditionally cheers on her loved ones, believes in them and supports them! She is super self-confident in many areas but struggles in others. But what sometimes bothered me about her is that she sometimes acted a bit childish and pushed Nikolai to open up to her about his past.

Nikolai is a cocky bastard on the ice, but otherwise a sweetheart. He is a very caring person and he gives me golden retriever vibes.

These two are so sweet together. Like two peas in a pod! There were just so many scenes where I almost melted.

Unfortunately, on a plot level, the story didn't fully inspire me. For me, some points felt incomplete or even pushed to the side. Like the volleyball aspect, for example. The story also dragged on for me. The whole book just felt super long. I also missed the beginning between the two of them.

I give "Wicked Serve" 3 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ If she's sunshine, I'm the guy who hopes it never starts raining ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚


Tropes:
Ice hockey x Volleyball
Brothers Rival
Mental health rep
Sports Romance

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC

This was my first Grace Reilly book and overall I really enjoyed it.
It was a perfect pallete cleanser after reading something heavy. It was a fluffy sports romance. The plot was great however I did feel it dragged a little and could have been made shorter, I felt it had a lot of important topics however I did feel Izzy was very pushy towards Niks struggles that being said their relationship was cute and i was rooting for them throughout , the way he calls her My sunshine is just 🥹


3 ✨️
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I hate to say this but this is the truth and the truth is what I'm here for - this book is so much better than the previous book by Grace Rielly that I have read. I really enjoyed this book. There was so much that I loved. There was emotion, communication challenges, past history issues as well as all the tropes I need in my life. Also- two sports for the price of one! A great story about 2 people fighting to love.

- Brother's enemy
- Secret relationship
- Found family
- He falls first
- Wasn't allowed to eat dessert??
- 4th in a series but can be read as a standalone
-TW - childhood abuse

Big thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand and Grace Rielly for an early release copy of this book. This is my honest review.

My heart broke for Nik a hundred times 😭 that man… to be going through all of this and yet be so perfect for Isabelle? Damn.

I didn’t think brother’s rival is the right way to describe the book because even if it did play a little role in the story, it’s pretty minor. There is so much more about both Nik and Isabelle, their connexion, their struggles, and how they help each other constantly. I did felt like a bit of the drama was too much and they could have just talked and solved so much of it easily 😂 but overall it was a really cute story

A great way to end the series and I enjoyed every moment. Nik and Izzy were great to follow and gave me all the feels. I really enjoyed this one and am so glad I read the start of the series first.

At the start of “Wicked Serve” it is the end of summer, ending a fling between Isabelle Callahan and Nikolai Abney-Volkov in the city. When Nik has to transfer to McKee (were Izzy goes), they have a second chance to be together .. albeit in secret since he is her brother’s hockey rival turned teammate.

It was a pity we didn’t get to learn more about their summer fling. I would have loved reading some more flashbacks about how these soul mates met in city. Instead of finding them already having big feelings for each other at the start of the book without a detailed origin story.

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

Where Nik and Izzy appear to be opposites at first (she’s the pink sunshine to his grumpy rainy cloud), they are both very supportive of the people they love and super encouraging about each other’s passions.
There relationship is filled with sweet moments and swoony gestures, but also moments of recognition and care when it involves internal struggles. Plus she quickly becomes his safe zone whenever the demons of his childhood trauma show up.

☀🌧 … but yellow feels like the colour of her soul. ☀🌧

So this book could be read as a standalone, but I am really glad I read the previous 3 books in the series first. It made me fall in love with the Callahan family and root for Izzy’s HEA.
Talking about the Callahan fam … they are once again so supportive and accept Nik as future-family right away. The bonds of friendship are strong and the love runs deep. So it was a joy to discover that Izzy is planning Bex & James’ wedding, and to see Cooper going from overprotective brother to becoming friends with his old rival.

I never thought Cooper & Penny would become my second favourite couple of the series. But between the bubbly persona of pink loving Isabelle and Nikolai’s russian nickname for her, they quickly became my favourite 💜🤍

Read if you like:
~ college sports romance (volleyball & hockey)
~ brother’s rival
~ boy obsessed
~ found family & soul mates
~ opposites attract
~ cute nicknames

Thank you to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the chance to read a free advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This is not a slow burn romance in anyway with the Nik and Isabelle already having had a connection prior to the book starting and then a happy accident leading them to be in each others worlds again. This allowed for the book to instead focus on how Nik and Isabelle each grew in themselves and their relationships with their families and how they supported eachother through this. Their clear support and love for eachother through the highs and lows makes you feel like this will be a relationship that will stand the test of time rather than ending after college. I recommend this book, series and author to any romance readers.

LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS SERIES!!!! This book was a perfect end to such a great series. It tackles some very heavy topics while still keeping the high quality romance writing we've come to know and expect from Grace Reilly. This has been one of my favourite sports romance series I have ever read and I will continue to recommend to everyone I know!

I wish I had loved the whole book as much as I did the first half. Up until 55%, I was ready to give more than 4 stars. It was cute, hot, I liked the fact that we started the book with the main characters already having history, which gave it a refreshing feel and allowed the author to move to spicy scenes a lot faster. While not everyone will like the fact that it had so many sex scenes, this is exactly what I was in the mood to read, so I was thoroughly invested and had trouble putting it down.

But from the 55% mark, and more especially from the point when the characters became an official couple, I started to feel like this was very repetitive and all the angst did me in because that was not what I had signed up for. The book could have been much shorter without all that unnecessary drama about Nik’s family.

I’m honestly becoming so tired of the tragic backstories turning into excessive angst and the “I don’t deserve her” trope. Especially when it’s paired with a “I’m responsible for everyone and need to take care of everyone” mindset (and it specifically annoys me because it’s ALWAYS a way to give flaws to the love interest while not giving him real flaws), or a scene threatening the evil ex-boyfriend whose sole purpose is to be evil.
Once I get annoyed by these things, I find myself being irked by a lot of things that I would have forgiven otherwise.

On a positive note, I hadn’t read the previous books in the series but I didn’t feel like I had missed a lot because the author did a good job of catching us up without it being too much.
Rating this book is not easy because I would have given 4 stars or more to the first half, and honestly less than 2 stars to the second half, in which I skimmed a lot of the angsty parts. 3 stars it is, then.