This book definitely touched some darker themes. I loved the character development and the emotional journey you go on with the main characters. I absolutely loved Izzy and Nik’s romance! Perfect way to end the Beyond the Play series!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

This book was a really nice change of pace. The main issue was actually family relationship driven rather than significant other driven. I also enjoyed the beginning tension of them sneaking around.

Isabella has her own life and goals. She didn’t sacrifice those to be with Nik which was nice to see. She was still passionate about what she wanted and went after her goals. I enjoyed watching her succeed and help Nik as he needed it.

Nik had family issues that he was trying to not bring to Isabella. He was doing the best he could with what he had. I enjoyed seeing his POV and internal struggle.

Overall I think the author did a great job of highlighting a character who has struggles and fears and how that affects their relationships. I enjoyed rooting for Nik and Isabella!

Such a nice story, I have to start by saying I wasn’t aware this was part of a series but now I’m looking forward to going back and reading about these characters. The premise was great, the whole thing about them reconnecting and sneaking around was fun and exciting, overall I enjoyed their story but I did feel like it dragged a little bit towards the end and could use fewer chapters. It’s been a while since I read anything close to a sports romance so this was a nice way to get back into it.
Thanks for the chance to read it in advance!

I have really enjoyed other books in this series but this one felt really drawn out for no reason. I loved the idea of a summer fling that has a chance to blossom into something more but the pacing felt pretty off as I kept waiting for a conflict or a climax to stick - it felt like the book had the potential to end like three or four different times and I wish Reilly had picked one.

The strength of this novel is definitely in the characters who feel like real college kids without feeling like too naive or precocious. It was nice to see characters from previous books but the pacing really killed this one for me.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! Loved so much! The romance & the chemistry was so good. Also loved the hockey references. Excited for Grace's next book!

An internship sets Isabelle Callahan and Nikolai Abney-Volkov in each other’s sights, and the two begin a summer fling. The problem? Nikolai is Izzy’s brother’s hockey rival. When Nikolai is transferred to the same college Isabelle attends, the temptation is too hard to resist and they rekindle their relationship, but many hurdles force them to make a choice: fight for a future together, or watch it all crash and burn.

TW: panic attacks, alcoholism and domestic abuse (described)

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
I’ll admit, I requested this ARC without realizing it was part of a series, and although it could be read as a standalone, I felt that reading the series first would enhance my understanding and enjoyment. Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited.
Now as for the book itself, even after reading the prior three books, I felt that there were some things that could’ve been made clearer. Especially how Izzy and Nik crossed paths in the first place. I know she interned for his mom, but I would’ve liked to know more, and i didn’t pick up on any details regarding that in the first three books.
Despite that, I still enjoyed Izzy and Nik be cute together. I loved how they supported and encouraged each other through some pretty trying curveballs.
All the relationships in this book, both good and bad, were interesting to read. Cooper and Nik’s bromance was something I didn’t know I needed, but I LIVED for it.
Nik’s past was certainly an intense one, and it caused me to feel for him even more. Something in the third act (which I won’t clarify because of NetGalley’s spoiler policy) really hit home for me because I saw a lot of myself in that event.

Top notch hockey romance with solid plot and strong cast of characters. The rollercoaster you expect, with some interesting twists and turns keep the story moving at a good pace. You won't regret reading this one!

I had not read the first books in the series, but I was able to enjoy WIcked Serve just the same. Grace Reilly does a wonderful job of combining sports and romance with fun characters and humor.  The relationship of a volleyball player Izzy and hockey player Nick, who had amazing chemistry made for a quick, fun read. I will be looking for more books by Grace Reilly!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this suburb read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Grace Reilly for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

The fourth and final installment in the Beyond the Play/Callahan family series and I LOVED it!

I believe it's best read as a series- to understand the full dynamic of the family. Especially to see Richard's guidance change through the books. I love that we've gotten to know Izzy throughout the series and adore that we had sassy glimpses of Nik too!

This story held a lot of heavy topics (just as the previous books did) such as: childhood trauma, domestic abuse, alcoholism, disordered eating and ptsd/panic disorder. There is NOT A THIRD ACT BREAK UP- but there is conflict that is not resolved by a snap of a finger. It's resolved through real work. I LOVE that. Amongst the heavier piecers- there is banter, forbidden love, sportsball/puck excitement and, as per usual for our Grace Reilly, SPICE.

This was a wonderful book to end the series. I give this book and the series 5 stars for anyone that loves sports romance for their mental escape!

Isabelle and Nik meet over the summer while she interns for his mom. The two quickly hit it off but agree to keep their fling to just the summer due to Nik and her brother being hockey rivals who already have a history of fighting on the ice. However, when Nik begins attending Isabelle's school, their secret fling becomes a lot more complicated.

I did not read the first books in this series and while it definitely isn't necessary, the background of the side characters I think would have aided in my enjoyment of this book. For this reason I would definitely recommend reading the others before picking up this one.

I loved the relationship that Nik and Isabelle developed. It was nice to watch a relationship (especially one set in college) that wasn't toxic. Them both taking the time to work on themselves was refreshing and I loved how Isabelle's family took in Nik and made him feel a part of the family. These two were very sweet and I enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

My biggest complaint about this book is that it dragged on and was entirely too long. The chapters were short but there could have easily been 100 pages cut with the story not being affected. I found myself losing interest around the 50% mark and wasn't invested in the ending because it took so long to get there.

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

Looking for your next hockey boyfriend? Wicked Serve has you covered! I loved the dynamic of the LI and the MC and thought, while the background was heavy, the author did a good job of not making it weigh down the romance. I was so excited to read this book since hockey books are currently an obsession of mine and Reilly did not disappoint. The characters were believable and the events that happened to them were easy to follow but not so basic as to be annoyingly predictable.

I really loved this book so much. I enjoy a hockey romance and this one delivered everything that I enjoy in a book. The couple was intriguing and you could see how they were meant for each other from the beginning. I love how they both were dealing with mistakes from their past, and relied upon one another to ensure that they had a good future. The family interactions were fun and really help you see more into the characters motivations. He loved her and knew her and how he showed her his love was delightful. Also, there is a love for koalas in this book so how can you resist it.

Hands down, my favorite of the series. I was so excited to read this after the first three and it didn’t disappoint. I loved Izzy in the other books and am so happy she got her own book. Loved Cooper and Nik’s relationship. Don’t have to read the others to enjoy this book.

This was a very enjoyable hockey romance. Two flawed people, working to better themselves, that fall in love along the way- what more could you ask for?

This series has been so much fun. For some random reason, I get worried these book are going to be too bleh or wattpad. And they are but in a good way. They are predictable and funny and so charming and Wicked Serve still delivers what the others brought. I'm definitely getting a physical copy to join its brothers and I can't wait.

I really enjoyed the read. It had everything you'd want in a college hockey story, and it avoids a dramatic third act breakup. I appreciated the way it showcased a male main character with anxiety and the impacts of trauma without getting too heavy. It has quite a bit of spice, so keep that in mind if you're selective about spice levels. Would read again!

I really, really liked the way this book touched on panic disorder and the ways that abuse in childhood stays with us and shapes our adult experiences. An adorable love story with plenty of spice!

The Beyond the Play series wraps up with Izzy's story, and it might be the best of the series. Reilly ends on a high note and I'm excited to see where her writing takes us next.

We've met Izzy before, the youngest of the supremely gifted Callahan family, and an athlete in her own right (she's a setter in volleyball). We've also met Nikolai in passing, he's the captain of McKee rival, U-Mass Amherst's hockey team.

After a summer of casual fun in NYC, Nikolai and Izzy part ways, expecting to never cross paths again. But that plan implodes when Nikolai is expelled from Amherst and his wealthy grandfather pulls strings to get him a spot at McKee. Nikolai is ecstatic that he can be back in Izzy's orbit, but neither are ready to let her older brother know they are dating.

This is an interesting book from a pacing perspective. A bit of a spoiler, but the hidden relationship aspect of the book doesn't last past the mid-point, and the Callahan's welcome Nikolai into the fold easily. Because of that decision, the book drags a bit in the second half. I'm all for healthy relationships, but there's probably room to cull some of the extraneous pieces of the story.

Because of the (spoilerly) decision discussed above, the tension in the story really isn't from within the couple, but rather external to the relationship. Both have to deal with family issues, Nikolai's more traumatic than Izzy's, but both of which affect the way the two interact with each other and craft their futures. I appreciate that approach to a third act, it feels more natural than a contrived break-up.

* Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Not normally a hockey romance or any sports romance gal but took a chance on this and it mostly paid off. Enjoyed the spice and the secret relationship aspect . Thank you for not including a third act break up! We love to see it

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.


I am loving hockey romances and this one did not disappoint! I loved the dual POVs l, the right level or spice and thought it was overall cute.