Such an easy 5 star book!
Emotional and heartwarming while being funny and light.
I loved the storyline and I literally didn’t want to put it down.
This book made me fall even more in love with the previous characters and the whole Callahan family.
An amazing ending to the series.

Title: Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Release date: August 13th 2024

If there is one thing that my friends and followers will know about me, is that I am truly a sucker for cute book covers, this one was no exception! This cover gave me the romantic sport feels! And I’m all for it.

Now with that out of the way, let’s get to the book review.

In Wicked Serve, hockey star Nikolai Abney-Volkov faces the challenge of his life when he transfers to rival McKee University for his senior year.
His dilemma? Rekindling a secret summer fling with Isabelle Callahan, the sister of his new team's captain.

As tensions rise both on and off the ice, Nikolai and Isabelle navigate their burning chemistry, risking everything for a chance at love.

What I Loved:

* Dynamic Characters: Nikolai and Isabelle’s characters are well-crafted and relatable. Nikolai's broody charm and Isabelle's determined spirit make for a captivating pair. Their chemistry is electric, and their individual struggles add depth to their romance and to the story development.

* Sports Setting: The vivid depiction of hockey and volleyball adds an exciting layer to the story. The intensity of the sports scenes mirrors the emotional stakes, making for an engaging read. If you love your sport romance stories, look no further.

* Swoony Romance: The slow burn and secretive nature of Nikolai and Isabelle's relationship are tantalising. The blend of furtive hookups and heartfelt conversations kept me hooked, rooting for their happy ending.

* Emotional Depth: The exploration of Nikolai's scarred past and Isabelle's struggle to reclaim her volleyball position adds emotional weight to the story. Their vulnerabilities and growth make their journey all the more compelling and realistic.

* Brother’s Rival Trope: The tension between Nikolai and Isabelle's brother adds a delicious layer of conflict. The stakes are high, and the drama is perfectly balanced with the romance.

* Spice and Humour: The book delivers on steamy scenes without overshadowing the plot. The playful banter and lighthearted moments, especially involving koalas, provide a delightful contrast to the more intense scenes.

* Relatable Themes: The themes of ambition, resilience, and the struggle to balance personal desires with family expectations are beautifully woven into the narrative. They add a layer of realism that I found to be relatable.

Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly is a must-read for fans of new adult college sports romance. With its dynamic characters, sizzling romance, and engaging sports backdrop, it’s a story that will keep you turning the pages. The emotional depth and relatable themes make it more than just a steamy read—it’s a heartfelt journey of love, resilience, and self-discovery. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a book that delivers on swoons, spice, and sports!


Thank you to The Publisher Headline | Headline Eternal ,The Author Grace Reilly & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

I've loved Grace Reilly's Beyond the Play series, and Wicked Serve was a fitting final chapter, and probably my favourite of the lot - although I'll miss the Callahan family. Isabelle, the youngest Callahan sibling and only daughter, has been a supporting character in earlier books, so it was great to finally get her story - and what a cracker it was!

Being the youngest in a family of sporting greats - her father and brothers all having competed in their respective sports at an elite level - Izzy feels the pressure to excel in her chosen sport of volleyball. After a rocky start to her career as a student athlete she's determine to turn her coach's initial bad impression around, and prove she's good enough to win her favoured position a 'setter' (equivalent to a centre). At the same time, she's missing her summer fling. Nikolai and Izzy weren't supposed to last beyond the summer holidays, which they spent together in New York as she interned for his mum's wedding planning business. But events conspire to reunite the pair when Nikolai is forced to transfer to McKee from his previous college under a bit of a dark cloud. He'll be playing on the McKee team as they make a bid for the Frozen Four... alongside his longtime rival, fellow defenseman Cooper Callahan - Izzy's brother.

It's a great setup, and while a lot of the tropes and situations might be fairly familiar to sports romance fans, the writing elevates everything and makes this a genuinely compelling story. It's also pretty spicy! Isabelle and Nikolai have great chemistry, and the way they're so good for each other, able to support one another through their respective trials and tribulations, is heartwarming. I really liked that their journey as a couple was about them becoming the people they needed to be for themselves, in order to pave the way to a happier future - it was about putting in the work to overcome their insecurities and issues, rather than the 'big bad' in the relationship being an outside party (even a protective older brother). I loved seeing Nik being gradually welcomed into the Callahan fold, finding the kind of family he'd been deprived of growing up. I loved his growing friendship with Cooper almost as much as the central romance! And Izzy's insecurities around her perceived 'failures' and her previous relationships meant that I was rooting for her all the way and enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence as the story progressed.

It would absolutely be possible to enjoy this as a standalone, but being the final book in a series, I'd definitely recommend reading the other books first to get the most of Wicked Serve. In fact, I'm tempted to re-read the whole lot myself! As college sports romances go, these are right up there with the best of them - highly recommended.

So in the mood to acquire a new great hockey romance and this perfectly fits the bill! I am so excited to share my full thoughts and review on Wicked Serve very soon! I am slowly catching up on reviews due to an unexpected health issue, but slowly getting there and am enjoying reading and reviewing excellent books like this along the way. Truly the best medicine. Grace Reilly is definitely getting added to my list of favorites

I have loved the Beyond the Play series from day one, and have been quite literally foaming at the mouth obsessing over reading Wicked Serve. This absolutely did not disappoint, I love Nik and Izzy with my whole heart ❤️
There was definitely some emotional parts to this story, poor Nik had me sobbing more than once, but they are both so deserving of their happy ending.
My only complaint is that there are no more Callahans for me to read about 😭