A review by jehntooch
Wicked Serve by Grace Reilly

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!