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bookishlc's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of Grace Reilly's books and the Beyond the Play series, so when I got the chance to ARC read for this book I couldn't pass it up. This was so stinking cute! I absolutely loved it as well as Izzy and Nikolai's relationship. I laughed, teared up and blushed throughout the entire book. This is probably my second fave in the series. If you are looking for a really fun sports romance book, this is definetly a great one to read. Plus it has the brother's rival trope which is just a cherry on top.
krystleanne's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jehntooch's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Tropes:
Sports romance (hockey/volleyball)
Brothers rival/younger sister
Secret dating
College romance
What I’ve enjoyed most is the process of Grace’s writing through her Beyond the Play Series. The fourth and final book in this series delivers. For fans of The Bergman Brothers series by Chloe Liese (and Ziggy and Sev’s story!), you’ll love this series and the final book.
I love this jumping right into Izzy asking for what she wants and using the power of the pause/leaving into the silence. A favorite sales tactic of mine, and I don’t use it enough outside of a negotiation with a client. Thanks for the reminder, Izzy (and Grace!).
Nik asking Izzy “Do you want advice, or do you just want me to listen?” was the moment I finally gave in and crushed on him. Love a good comfort or solutions approach when tackling a problem someone brings forward. Green flags all around.
GRACE! How could you not give us the after party following the laser tag hockey formal?! How did they sneak around the house with her brothers there?! WE NEED TO KNOW.
Hairbrush emoji. We need a hairbrush emoji.
This got me in the feels in the end. There is not a third act breakup, but a bit of a pause so that a character can focus on their mental health/being the best version of themselves without losing everything. A very mature decision to make and an emotional one at that.
Obviously, everyone gets a nice little HEA and that epilogue. Goodness.
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this eARC!
ggbookrecclub's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Stop everything! Izzy’s story is my favorite Beyond the Play book. No Question. Wicked Serve is everything you want from a college sports romance. We’ve got an expirationship turned secret relationship with a seriously hot hockey player. Then there’s the whole broody brother’s rival turned his teammate thing. And a whole lot of family drama-but not with the Callahans, because they’re basically perfect.
Pre reading Wicked Serve I was hesitant about Izzy’s book. Sometimes the final book in a series can feel like an obligation and with books 1-3 being so great, it was a lot for Wicked Serve to live up to. I love how each of these siblings are their own person going through their own struggles. On the outside, Izzy appears to be a spoiled college student. With a retired NFL dad, doting mother, one brother in the NFL, one pivoting from sports to cooking because he’s got too many talents, and another headed to the NHL post college, it would appear that Izzy’s life is easy. But don’t think this is your typical poor little rich girl story. Izzy’s got some serious grit. Her volleyball coach is really hard on her. And not in the way that coaches can be tough, but in the “what is your deal?” kind of way. It just seems like some people are determined to “teach her a lesson.” But what is there to teach a girl who works hard, loves her family, shows up for the team, and brings the sunshine with her wherever she goes? But being removed from her setter position doesn’t make Izzy quit. It makes her work harder. Adding in extra workouts, staying in rather than partying with the other girls on the team, etc. If Izzy wants something, she’s going to find a way to make it happen.
This book travels through every emotion. Izzy and Nick hooking up in the library? Hot. Nick’s dad? Made me cry. Cute moments in between? Kick your feet good. The epilogue? Also made me cry, but like, in a good way. These two are so freaking cute, I’d take a dozen more epilogues.
If you’ve made it this far in my review, I know you’re already planning on reading this book. How could you not? Go ahead, click download and don't just leave it on your TBR. To reward your good behavior here’s a list of my favorite micro tropes:
-He calls her a cute Russian nickname but doesn’t tell her what it means
-He has a mysterious face scar
-He holds onto a photo after he promised to delete it
-He took a deal that crushed his dreams but brought him closer to his dream girl
-He remembers little details and surprises Izzy with the most meaningful moments
-He stands up to her brothers and tells them they’re hurting her feelings
-No third act break up, but like an important pause
-He takes her seriously when it seems like no one else does
-They crash a wedding
Pre reading Wicked Serve I was hesitant about Izzy’s book. Sometimes the final book in a series can feel like an obligation and with books 1-3 being so great, it was a lot for Wicked Serve to live up to. I love how each of these siblings are their own person going through their own struggles. On the outside, Izzy appears to be a spoiled college student. With a retired NFL dad, doting mother, one brother in the NFL, one pivoting from sports to cooking because he’s got too many talents, and another headed to the NHL post college, it would appear that Izzy’s life is easy. But don’t think this is your typical poor little rich girl story. Izzy’s got some serious grit. Her volleyball coach is really hard on her. And not in the way that coaches can be tough, but in the “what is your deal?” kind of way. It just seems like some people are determined to “teach her a lesson.” But what is there to teach a girl who works hard, loves her family, shows up for the team, and brings the sunshine with her wherever she goes? But being removed from her setter position doesn’t make Izzy quit. It makes her work harder. Adding in extra workouts, staying in rather than partying with the other girls on the team, etc. If Izzy wants something, she’s going to find a way to make it happen.
This book travels through every emotion. Izzy and Nick hooking up in the library? Hot. Nick’s dad? Made me cry. Cute moments in between? Kick your feet good. The epilogue? Also made me cry, but like, in a good way. These two are so freaking cute, I’d take a dozen more epilogues.
If you’ve made it this far in my review, I know you’re already planning on reading this book. How could you not? Go ahead, click download and don't just leave it on your TBR. To reward your good behavior here’s a list of my favorite micro tropes:
-He calls her a cute Russian nickname but doesn’t tell her what it means
-He has a mysterious face scar
-He holds onto a photo after he promised to delete it
-He took a deal that crushed his dreams but brought him closer to his dream girl
-He remembers little details and surprises Izzy with the most meaningful moments
-He stands up to her brothers and tells them they’re hurting her feelings
-No third act break up, but like an important pause
-He takes her seriously when it seems like no one else does
-They crash a wedding
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
shelbyatbest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
schwrtzdnll28's review
5.0
The end of the Callahan’s had to come eventually and let me tell you Izzy and Nik were the PERFECT way to wrap up this sweet series. They are THE PERFECT grumpy/sunshine, secret summer fling turned relationship?? The fact that Nik and Cooper are rivals turned teammates?? Seeing Cooper and Seb be over protective older brothers?? But ALSO so understanding (of course Seb more than Cooper right away)??? Nik and Izzy have a special place in my heart and I’m sad to see them go but also SO GRATEFUL to have already read their story!!
Everything about this book made my heath ACHE. Nik and Tangy?? Seeing all the Callahan’s throughout the book?? Nik speaking Russian to Izzy? Nik exclusively calling Izzy ‘Isabelle’!? The way they’re able to comfort and care for each other??
I don’t even know how to talk about how much I love them??? They were sweet and fun and able to do vulnerable with each other (eventually). I am DESPERATE to have the whole summer in heavy detail. But every time they talked about it it was clear it was so easy between them. And then when they reconnected, even though they both were hurting, it was seamless. Even though they had to hide it from Cooper, even though they both needed to focus…it didn’t matter because they were meant to be!
Nik is the saddest broken boy but his sunshine girl makes his world bright and I LOVE THAT FOR THEM SO MUCH. Nik’s past is so heavy and still weighs him down. watching him struggle was so hard, but also watching him open up to Izzy, and then Cooper, and then eventually his mother was so rewarding. And he was able to do it because of Izzy, because he loved her and wanted to be better for her, for himself, for them.
The end was PERFECT. It was the sweetest end for all the Callahan’s and everything I could have ever asked for 🥹
Thank you so much to Avon for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
livwelch's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
minxreads's review
1.5
Okayish read, same old concept for the plot, but was unnecessarily long and had too many fillers.
Ending: HEA
Ending: HEA
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