The relationship between Isabelle and Nik was entertaining, it went from summer fling to secret friends with benefits to out in the open. Nik’s anxiety arc could have been resolved earlier, I think it went on for too long with his triggers being repetitive and was resolved at the end too quickly for him to recover.

This was a great story! The main characters had some real growth and maturing during this book as well as the FMC's father, it was really good to see him less intense with his kids finally.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for the opportunity to read this eARC.

I read the first in this series and while the only thing I remember about it is that it was unremarkable, I do love sports romance enough to keep requesting more of them. When I was approved for Wicked Serve, I renewed my KU subscription so I could read books two and three before reading this installment. *Note: This feedback is on Book 2, Breakaway. The first couple chapters are the MMC's point of view and I was unimpressed that it seemed like the whole plot will revolve around his poor performance on the ice because he hasn't had sex. Come on now. Then I got to the FMC's point of view and while she's using a vibrator her roommate opens her door and surprises her, causing her to throw the vibrator and hit the roommate in the face. That's it, I'm out. All done. How did this even get past the first editor, let alone get published? I will not be reading Wicked Serve, or probably anything else by this author. It's unfortunate because from what I could tell, the FMC had experienced trauma and the book ARC would revolve around her healing but I cannot get past the distasteful first chapters.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this advanced copy.

I’ve absolutely loved the Beyond the Play series from Grace Reilly. I started with Breakaway, a hockey romance, and loved it (it’s the second in the series), the moved on to First Down, a football romance and first of the series before reading Stealing Home. When I heard the little sister of the group was getting her own book, Wicked Serve, I begged for an ARC.

Izzy Callahan is a college volleyball player and baby of the Callahan family. Her brother, Cooper from Breakaway, is the team captain of the college hockey team. When his rival, Nik, from another college transfers to his team, they have to come to terms to make the team successful.

Without knowing they’d have more than a summer romance (giving me Grease feels) Izzy and Nik had hit it off while she interned for his mom in NYC. When he shows up at her college sparks fly again.

These two have to find their way among people who have influence over them. There is a lot of character growth, family drama, and in true Grace Reilly fashion, spice.

A super bonus is the epilogue with all the characters from the series. It gave me all the feels.

"Wicked Serve" by Grace Reilly serves up a scorching romance on the ice and the volleyball court. Nikolai Abney-Volkov, a dedicated hockey player facing a pivotal season, finds himself at rival McKee University, where he encounters Isabelle Callahan, the sister of his hockey nemesis. Despite the risks, their undeniable chemistry reignites, complicating both their personal and athletic ambitions. Isabelle, determined to focus on her volleyball goals, struggles to resist Nikolai's brooding allure. As their relationship intensifies, they must navigate the blurred lines between friendship and something more. With its blend of passion, sportsmanship, and heartfelt moments, "Wicked Serve" is a captivating new adult romance that will leave readers rooting for love amidst the competitive world of collegiate athletics.

This was a DNF for me (22%). I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened.

Thank you NetGalley and Grace Reilly for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feeling on this. I felt the story was really cute. It was easy to get immersed into right away. Towards the middle I felt the story dragged on and it could have benefited from being shorter. I did enjoy the premise of the two haven't met over the summer and turning the fling into something hidden then more. I do wish that there had been a prologue to show more of how they originally connected. I did feel like them getting back together initially was very abrupt. It went from her angry at him for ghosting her to kissing him out of the blue.

I did like how they portrayed his hardships and difficult backstory. I just wish she hadn't been so forceful on him to express his past.

Overall a cute sports romance.

Side note that this book is about 70% smut/lust

"Wicked Serve" by Grace Reilly serves up a delectable blend of sports, romance, and emotional depth in this captivating new adult college sports romance. The novel follows the intertwined lives of Nikolai and Isabelle, two athletes with a complicated history who find themselves drawn back into each other's orbit despite the obstacles in their way.

Reilly expertly navigates the dynamics of collegiate sports and the pressures of academic and athletic success, weaving a compelling narrative filled with passion, tension, and heartfelt moments. Nikolai's struggle to make his final hockey season count and Isabelle's determination to reclaim her volleyball position set the stage for a rollercoaster of emotions as they navigate the complexities of their relationship.

The chemistry between Nikolai and Isabelle is palpable, as they grapple with their pasts and their feelings for each other. Reilly delves into their individual struggles and vulnerabilities with sensitivity and depth, allowing readers to empathize with their journey towards self-discovery and love.


At its heart, "Wicked Serve" is a story about love, forgiveness, and second chances. As Nikolai and Isabelle navigate the ups and downs of their relationship, they must confront their fears and insecurities in order to find happiness and fulfillment.

Overall, "Wicked Serve" is a compelling and emotionally resonant romance that will leave readers swooning and rooting for Nikolai and Isabelle's happily ever after. With its engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and steamy romance, it's a must-read for fans of college sports romances and new adult fiction. Grace Reilly delivers a winning combination of heart, heat, and sportsmanship in this unforgettable novel.

I want to start off by thanking NetGalley and Grace Reilly for my advance readers copy, and for requesting my honest opinion.

Let’s start off with a premise of the story. We have our main hero and heroine who have a summer fling not expecting to see each other again. Till circumstances, put them in the same college where our hero is trying to build a relationships with his new teammates but unfortunately for him, the team captain is the brother of the girl he hooked up with over the summer. To say this is an interesting premise is an understatement.

But unfortunately, for me, this one will get a three stars. Where this book started and where it ended feels like two completely different books. I just feel like this was a bit long and drawn out. I did appreciate the therapy that was depicted in the book but unfortunately I feel like a lot of these books apply therapy with medication, as a psychology major I just don’t agree with this. I feel that people can get therapy without needing medication. There’s nothing wrong with just having someone to talk to and discuss feelings with. Also, I was thrown off by the hero with some of his personality traits. With his childhood abuse didn’t really correlate with his relationship with the heroine (AKA spicy times). Please let me know if you need further explanation. So this was just an OK read, but I will be reading this author again because I did appreciate her storytelling ability.

The book "Wicked Serve" by Grace Reilly takes readers on a thrilling ride through the world of hockey and volleyball. The story follows Nikolai Abney-Volkov, a talented hockey player who transfers to rival school McKee University for his senior year. There, he risks angering the team captain who happens to be the older brother of Isabelle Callahan, the girl he had a secret fling with over the summer.

Despite the risks, Nikolai can't deny he still has feelings for Isabelle, and the two begin to rekindle their relationship. However, Isabelle is determined to focus on her volleyball career and forget about Nikolai. As they navigate their complicated feelings for each other, they must decide whether to fight for a future together or let their relationship go up in flames.

Overall, "Wicked Serve" is a captivating read that combines romance and sports in a thrilling way. The characters are well-developed, and readers will find themselves rooting for Nikolai and Isabelle as they navigate the challenges of their relationship. Grace Reilly has crafted a compelling story that will appeal to fans of both romance and sports novels.

4.25⭐️

I loved this book! This series is absolutely amazing and just like the other books, I absolutely ate it up. Nikolai and Izzy are literally both so adorable. The book follows two characters as they navigate their mental health challenges and find solace in each other's arms. Nikolai, a Russian hockey player, is a charming and supportive love interest who steals the show. Izzy is a volleyball player who wants to show her potential regardless of her last name. The relationship between the characters is heartwarming as they find strength in their shared passion for sports. I also love the nickname sunshine it was adorable. The book is a journey of love and self-discovery that will stay with readers long after they finish it. I loved it!

Favorite Quote:
"If she's sunshine, I'm the guy who hopes it never starts raining."

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

I was pretty positive going into this book that I was going to love Izzy. I knew her free-spirited ways would make smile, but what really surprised me was how much I adored Nikolai. I really didn't expect it based on our previous interactions with him; however, he is the absolutely best.

One thing I really loved about this was the second chance aspect. Izzy and Niko had clearly fallen for each other over the summer, but knew they couldn't admit it to one another. It made their story so much more believable and romantic.

Niko's character growth and his ability to stand up for himself was actually my favorite part of this book. Grace did such a great job developing his character and having Izzy by his side every step of the way. I also loved watching Niko and Cooper's relationship develop as well. I felt like his Mama encouraging him to find friends (go, Niko, go!).

If you've loved any of Grace's books in this series, then you'll adore this one. I think it may be my favorite yet.

I thought this was a super cute rom-com, and the spice was top notch! My only complaint is that it was pretty drawn out, and I felt like it could've been condensed a good bit. Overall, it was a great book, and the author did a great job with the character development throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

📚✨Book Review✨📚

Wicked Serve
Author: Grace Reilly

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

Notes: I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
🏐 As a former college athlete, I enjoyed getting a peek of a female who was also involved in athletics. I can certainly attest that playing and being in school is incredibly time consuming. To see it from the female perspective in a book was even better for me!

🏐Nikolai was certainly a tortured soul. And *slight spoiler* I’m so glad we see him going to therapy. I’m glad that it’s becoming more and more normalized even in books because mental health is SO important!

What I Didn’t Like:
🏐 I do find it a bit unrealistic when college aged characters get a little “extra spicy” in the bedroom. There were a few scenes that I just can’t see average college couples in.

Final Thoughts:
🏐 All the books in this series from Grace Reilly have been such a delight to read. I *think* this is the last book in this series and I’ll be sad to see it go. Looking forward to more cute reads in the future though!


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3.5 Stars

Overall, I thought this book was great. However, there were certain aspects that confused me—not so much in terms of understanding what was happening as in terms of why we chose to let the story unfold in this particular way.

You can see they are deeply in love right away, and nothing will be able to stop it. The brotherly rivalry and secret relationship was endearing. I think Katherine could have done more. At the end of the book, you finally realize what has been going on with your son, but you should have recognized it sooner. . .

I acknowledge that she faced difficulties as well, but her father's actions were wrong from the beginning and shouldn't have been permitted. Furthermore, it bothers me that Nik simply up and went for California, leaving the two of them silent. Although it makes sense that he needs to improve, they still could have had a conversation. Additionally, I wish the epilogue had discussed their wedding rather than what it did. I think a wedding would have blended in more nicely with the overall story.

Thank You Net Galley for this ARC. This was my first book by Grace Reilly and like most books this can be stand alone but it is book #4 in the Beyond the Play series but as always if you read the other books in the series you will have a better understanding & deeper connection with the other characters. I really did enjoy this read, Izzy is pure sunshine ☀️ who is just trying to live up to the Callahan legacy. Izzy is the daughter of a former NFL player & her 3 brothers play football 🏈, baseball ⚾️ & hockey 🏒 & she is trying to keep up with their success & the big shoes 👞 they have left behind for her to follow insert Taylor’s Swift THE MAN 🎶🎤 Izzy is doing the best she can in volleyball 🏐 with a coach who does not care for her , she is busting her butt in trying to keep up with her family’s legacy but she falls for the handsome rich Russian Nikolai who happens to be a hockey player for her brother’s college rival. As hockey loving girl I really did enjoy Izzy & Nick’s story & how they fall for one another, their love healed each other Nik with his family trauma & his panic attacks, Izzy with her ex & with her trying to keep up with her brothers they really healed each other & fell in love , mix in the Callahan family what’s not to love! A cute hockey read ❤️

I didn't really that this was the 4th book in a series. I didn't feel lost reading this one without reading the previous three books, however now I want to go back and read the other Callahan sibling's stories.

Izzy Callahan spends the summer before her sophomore year in a secret fling with her brother’s hockey rival, Nikolai. The sparse snippets we got of their summer romance honestly sounded so cute, but we don’t get much. Which is why when they run into each other on campus after Nikolai transfers to McKee and they pick up again almost immediately, I didn’t feel that I had a basis on which to root for them. Without seeing how they fell in love, I wasn’t fully invested in their relationship as much as I was with the other Callahan siblings’ love stories. Even though I was missing that initial connection, I did shift into rooting for them by the end though and I loved the couple they became.

Grace Riley really writes the cutest sports romances! I loved this one- it gave me all the butterflies. the brother’s best friend is a good trope, but brother’s rival is perfection! I would 100% recommend this one, and I felt like it was just everything I want in a sports romance. I didn’t love the fact that she’s some mediocre volleyball player, and I kinda wish that Isabelle wasn’t also an athlete. It just felt like a little too much sports for me.

I really enjoyed these characters and it was fun to see the gang together again. Both Isabelle and Nik had a lot going on and a lot that they needed to work on and get past in order to be together and it surprised me how maturely they handled things considering this was supposed to be a college romance. The middle dragged a lot, I think it could have been a lot shorter. I found myself skimming. Overall a sweet story.

3.5⭐️ Thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC!

This story was pretty cute albeit predictable. I felt like it could have been a little shorter it would have felt the same. I did appreciate that the characters communicated like adults for the most part! The spice was great and there was way more than I thought there would be, but I ain’t complaining 🤣 Overall this was cute story, and I did love that there was volleyball which you don’t see a lot in books!