title: Wicked Serve
author: Grace Reilly
publisher: Avon
publication date: August 13, 2024
pages: 448
peppers: 3-4 (on this scale)
warnings:
- spousal/child abuse
- violence
- trauma
- alcohol abuse
- anxiety
- injury - hospitalization
summary: Volleyball-playing, college sophomore Izzy never thought she'd see Nik again after their summer fling because she goes to school in Boston and he's the captain of the UMass ice hockey team. However, when he gets thrown out of his college and transfers to hers, their connection, which is problematic because her brother is on his team now, reignites. He's dealing with childhood trauma that makes it hard for him to feel safe, and she's got an overprotective family.
tropes:
- summer fling that was never meant to last
- brother's teammate
- big family
- controlling grandfather
- alcoholic father
- big family-no family
- athletes
what I liked:
- lots of character development
- actually talk about their school work
- dual point of view makes sense
- good family scenes
what I didn’t like:
- book is too long
- the main characters sometimes seem age-appropriate, sometimes not
- the characters drink more than I think most in-season athletes would, including right after a concussion, which seems medically unadvisable
overall rating: 3 (of 5 stars)