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Beyond the Play #3
Skradziony punkt
Podnosząca na duchu historia najmłodszego z braci Callahan i najlepszej przyjaciółki Penny Ryder o drugich szansach, rozwoju osobistym i sile miłości.
ebook
First published May 5, 2023
2563 people are currently reading
44450 people want to read
About the author
Grace Reilly
12 books3,815 followersHi! I’m Grace.
I’m so glad you’re here! Originally from Long Island, I now live in Florida, where I pretend the lizards in my backyard are miniature dragons and soak up the sunshine. I can usually be found with a notebook in one hand and a paperback (or my Kindle!) in another. A storyteller at heart with a deep romantic streak, I write what I love to read: stories filled with swoon and steam, laughter and love, family and friendships, and authentic, earnest emotions and growth. I love drawing on my personal passions for my books, which is how my sports fanaticism resulted in the Beyond the Play series.
More about me: I collect earrings, the quirkier the better. I never turn down a good mint chocolate chip ice cream. I listen to way too much sports talk radio. And I adore writing about couples who are stronger together.
I’m so glad you’re here! Originally from Long Island, I now live in Florida, where I pretend the lizards in my backyard are miniature dragons and soak up the sunshine. I can usually be found with a notebook in one hand and a paperback (or my Kindle!) in another. A storyteller at heart with a deep romantic streak, I write what I love to read: stories filled with swoon and steam, laughter and love, family and friendships, and authentic, earnest emotions and growth. I love drawing on my personal passions for my books, which is how my sports fanaticism resulted in the Beyond the Play series.
More about me: I collect earrings, the quirkier the better. I never turn down a good mint chocolate chip ice cream. I listen to way too much sports talk radio. And I adore writing about couples who are stronger together.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,938 reviews
April 23, 2023
I wanted to love this book. I really did. But it just fell so flat for me. I didn’t like James’ book but then LOVED Cooper’s so I came in with hopes that Sebastian’s book would go along with the momentum of the previous book. It did not. For a few reasons:
-There’s a difference in being a grumpy girl and just being a bitch. Mia was incredibly unlikable as the main female protagonist. I struggled to find one thing that made me like her or sympathize with her character. Even her “struggles” were half baked. The whole “coming from a traditional Italian family who doesn’t understand why a woman wants to go into science instead of being a wife and mother” storyline was, to be Frank, lame and not executed well. It could have been better but we just didn’t see enough of it to build any sympathy. (One chapter at the 75% mark of the book is not enough if this was supposed to be the FMC’s biggest struggle.) She’s supposed to be this badass, femme fatale chick but then turned into an absolute doormat the second she’s around anyone from her family. And then when Sebastian tries to point out how poorly they treat her and how she deserves better she magically gets that backbone back and is just nasty to him. I can see that the author was trying to show how one person can have dichotomies in them and how people internalize pressures of familial obligations but it just missed the mark.
-Mia was just a shitty person. The way she treated Sebastian throughout the book was honestly uncalled for and there was not nearly enough groveling (or even just basic apologizing!) to detract from the way she consistently treated him. If there’s one thing I’m beyond tired of when it comes to books, it’s what I call the “martyr trope”. It’s how characters will sabotage their relationships because they’re “scared” it won’t work out or they don’t “deserve” the other person. The martyr trope consistently causes a 3rd Act Break Up. And let me tell you something, I am fcking sick and tired of the 3rd act break up. It’s done. It’s tired. It’s lazy. Can a 3rd ABU add something to a story? Sure! When it’s done WELL. However when it follows the martyr trope, it’s a shitty climax of a book. Give me something new, please!!
-Sweet, sweet Sebastian. I liked the internal conflict he had throughout the book of baseball vs cooking. I liked how he was self aware enough to go after what he wanted in life. What I didn’t like was how his “golden retriever” personality was portrayed. You can be a sweet guy without being, sorry, pathetic. And the pining he had for Mia was honestly pathetic. They had zero chemistry and we just didn’t get to see their relationship grow in a way I wish it would have. He was happy to accept crumbs from her and she just wasn’t worth it. I felt like he was constantly censoring himself around her or changing himself just to hold onto her when she gave nothing in return. Oh his sister in law is pregnant? How exciting! Oh wait, Mia makes the entire thing about her. Unsurprised.
-Similarly to the first book in this series, the ending was rushed. The pacing was off and everything was neatly wrapped together in less than 3 chapters. Even though her family showed up in the end, the resolution just wasn’t there. She got to say her piece (a little) but I was left wanting more. For her family dynamics being her biggest struggle in the book, we should have seen more. Even with her Lab partner, Alice. One little exchange in the bathroom wasn’t enough. For someone who had no problem treating her boyfriend and best friend poorly, she sure was nice and complacent with the “villians” of the book.
Overall, I’m disappointed. Will I read Izzy’s book? For sure. Her little cameos were one of the good parts of this book. (Oh, I almost forgot how Mia judged Izzy for the majority of the book because she had an “easy” life. Sure okay Mia.) I also lived for the Cooper and Penny cameos. But other than that, I found myself angry and irritated while reading this book. I wanted to DNF but I was too far in so I just powered through. I’m so tired of these unlikable characters and unnecessary conflicts that could truly be solved with some communication and trust.
Rant over.
-There’s a difference in being a grumpy girl and just being a bitch. Mia was incredibly unlikable as the main female protagonist. I struggled to find one thing that made me like her or sympathize with her character. Even her “struggles” were half baked. The whole “coming from a traditional Italian family who doesn’t understand why a woman wants to go into science instead of being a wife and mother” storyline was, to be Frank, lame and not executed well. It could have been better but we just didn’t see enough of it to build any sympathy. (One chapter at the 75% mark of the book is not enough if this was supposed to be the FMC’s biggest struggle.) She’s supposed to be this badass, femme fatale chick but then turned into an absolute doormat the second she’s around anyone from her family. And then when Sebastian tries to point out how poorly they treat her and how she deserves better she magically gets that backbone back and is just nasty to him. I can see that the author was trying to show how one person can have dichotomies in them and how people internalize pressures of familial obligations but it just missed the mark.
-Mia was just a shitty person. The way she treated Sebastian throughout the book was honestly uncalled for and there was not nearly enough groveling (or even just basic apologizing!) to detract from the way she consistently treated him. If there’s one thing I’m beyond tired of when it comes to books, it’s what I call the “martyr trope”. It’s how characters will sabotage their relationships because they’re “scared” it won’t work out or they don’t “deserve” the other person. The martyr trope consistently causes a 3rd Act Break Up. And let me tell you something, I am fcking sick and tired of the 3rd act break up. It’s done. It’s tired. It’s lazy. Can a 3rd ABU add something to a story? Sure! When it’s done WELL. However when it follows the martyr trope, it’s a shitty climax of a book. Give me something new, please!!
-Sweet, sweet Sebastian. I liked the internal conflict he had throughout the book of baseball vs cooking. I liked how he was self aware enough to go after what he wanted in life. What I didn’t like was how his “golden retriever” personality was portrayed. You can be a sweet guy without being, sorry, pathetic. And the pining he had for Mia was honestly pathetic. They had zero chemistry and we just didn’t get to see their relationship grow in a way I wish it would have. He was happy to accept crumbs from her and she just wasn’t worth it. I felt like he was constantly censoring himself around her or changing himself just to hold onto her when she gave nothing in return. Oh his sister in law is pregnant? How exciting! Oh wait, Mia makes the entire thing about her. Unsurprised.
-Similarly to the first book in this series, the ending was rushed. The pacing was off and everything was neatly wrapped together in less than 3 chapters. Even though her family showed up in the end, the resolution just wasn’t there. She got to say her piece (a little) but I was left wanting more. For her family dynamics being her biggest struggle in the book, we should have seen more. Even with her Lab partner, Alice. One little exchange in the bathroom wasn’t enough. For someone who had no problem treating her boyfriend and best friend poorly, she sure was nice and complacent with the “villians” of the book.
Overall, I’m disappointed. Will I read Izzy’s book? For sure. Her little cameos were one of the good parts of this book. (Oh, I almost forgot how Mia judged Izzy for the majority of the book because she had an “easy” life. Sure okay Mia.) I also lived for the Cooper and Penny cameos. But other than that, I found myself angry and irritated while reading this book. I wanted to DNF but I was too far in so I just powered through. I’m so tired of these unlikable characters and unnecessary conflicts that could truly be solved with some communication and trust.
Rant over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️
seb and mia were friends with bennies but he wanted to take things to a more serious level and had just gotten her to agree to a date when his brother walked in on them *together* and she got spooked. when they’re both at school for the summer and her dorm gets flooded, seb offers her a place to stay and the forced proximity re-ignites old feelings.
sebastian is a 1200000/10 book boyfriend. he was SO sweet, spicy, supportive, possessive and dominating when it mattered, and so protective of mia. a lot of the story is about mia’s bisexuality and how her family isn’t supportive of that and he doesn’t hesitate to stand up for her. his family and friends are also hesitant to accept her after she essentially ghosted him and he defends her every single time. SUCH an amazing book boyfriend, i can’t.
i was excited for mia’s character but ultimately, she’s where this book fell a little short for me. i love a black cat heroine and i loved that she was a woman in STEM and super passionate about it but i found her fundamentally unlikeable. she didn’t have any real reason for the way she treated seb and she never gave him back the treatment he was giving her. i wish the issues with her family weren’t resolved so quickly.
still a really good, spicy read and seb was incredible but i just wasn’t a mia fan unfortunately.
seb and mia were friends with bennies but he wanted to take things to a more serious level and had just gotten her to agree to a date when his brother walked in on them *together* and she got spooked. when they’re both at school for the summer and her dorm gets flooded, seb offers her a place to stay and the forced proximity re-ignites old feelings.
sebastian is a 1200000/10 book boyfriend. he was SO sweet, spicy, supportive, possessive and dominating when it mattered, and so protective of mia. a lot of the story is about mia’s bisexuality and how her family isn’t supportive of that and he doesn’t hesitate to stand up for her. his family and friends are also hesitant to accept her after she essentially ghosted him and he defends her every single time. SUCH an amazing book boyfriend, i can’t.
i was excited for mia’s character but ultimately, she’s where this book fell a little short for me. i love a black cat heroine and i loved that she was a woman in STEM and super passionate about it but i found her fundamentally unlikeable. she didn’t have any real reason for the way she treated seb and she never gave him back the treatment he was giving her. i wish the issues with her family weren’t resolved so quickly.
still a really good, spicy read and seb was incredible but i just wasn’t a mia fan unfortunately.
April 16, 2024
Second rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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First rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
This book includes one of my favorite and most underrated trope: Reverse grumpy x sunshine!!
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First rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
This book includes one of my favorite and most underrated trope: Reverse grumpy x sunshine!!
April 28, 2023
DNF @ 25%
This made me want to scratch my eyes out. Mia is not a likeable/relatable character. And Sebastian seems so much better. I understand that it’s grumpy/sunshine. But girl if the reason you can’t have this guy is because of your dead nonno, come tf on.
Sad because I liked the first 2 books of this series 😐
This made me want to scratch my eyes out. Mia is not a likeable/relatable character. And Sebastian seems so much better. I understand that it’s grumpy/sunshine. But girl if the reason you can’t have this guy is because of your dead nonno, come tf on.
Sad because I liked the first 2 books of this series 😐
May 6, 2023
I’ve loved Seb since *that* scene at the end of First Down so I’ve been looking forward to his book for a while. After this book, I think he may be my favorite Callahan brother! I binged the books in the Beyond the Play series all in one weekend and I fell in love with this family and Grace Reilly’s writing. Each of the books can be read as a standalone though for anyone who doesn’t like to commit to a whole series!
This book was so fun and spicy, but it also had a lot of emotional pull too. The reverse grumpy/sunshine trope worked so well and I really want to read more books with that trope included.
I feel like I’ve seen so much growth from Grace’s storytelling just through the first three books of this series and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! Izzy Callahan is up next and she’s such a firecracker, I’m so excited to see what’s in store.
This book was so fun and spicy, but it also had a lot of emotional pull too. The reverse grumpy/sunshine trope worked so well and I really want to read more books with that trope included.
I feel like I’ve seen so much growth from Grace’s storytelling just through the first three books of this series and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! Izzy Callahan is up next and she’s such a firecracker, I’m so excited to see what’s in store.
January 14, 2024
2.5⭐️
This was pretty disappointing. I feel like the most fun part of a romance book is when the leads meet, get to know each other and then get together. But this book starts from a point where you skipped all that and you’re told that they were together but are now broken up. And they don’t even bother showing how they got together in the first place. Basically you get no context or history of their relationship. Because of this I wasn’t connected to the characters at all and didn’t really feel invested in their relationship.
I felt like the whole time it was just Sen being in love with Mia and her not really treating him right. It felt very one sided.
I also hate it when in romance books a person breaks up with the other because they think the other person deserves better. Maybe let the other person decide and make the decision for themself? Or be better yourself?
Also this had no business being over 400 pages since there wasn’t much of a plot. I think this story could’ve been told in less than 300 pages.
This was pretty disappointing. I feel like the most fun part of a romance book is when the leads meet, get to know each other and then get together. But this book starts from a point where you skipped all that and you’re told that they were together but are now broken up. And they don’t even bother showing how they got together in the first place. Basically you get no context or history of their relationship. Because of this I wasn’t connected to the characters at all and didn’t really feel invested in their relationship.
I felt like the whole time it was just Sen being in love with Mia and her not really treating him right. It felt very one sided.
I also hate it when in romance books a person breaks up with the other because they think the other person deserves better. Maybe let the other person decide and make the decision for themself? Or be better yourself?
Also this had no business being over 400 pages since there wasn’t much of a plot. I think this story could’ve been told in less than 300 pages.
January 12, 2025
: ̗̀➛ started on 1/08/25
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/11/25
2.5 🌟
🎶 i forgot that you existed, it isn't love, it isn't hate, it's just indifference 🎶
--
me adding a 5th book to my cr 😃
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/11/25
2.5 🌟
🎶 i forgot that you existed, it isn't love, it isn't hate, it's just indifference 🎶
--
me adding a 5th book to my cr 😃
May 3, 2023
2.5⭐️/3.5🌶️
I was originally gonna rate this 3⭐️ for Sebastian and for him only. But i can’t. I really didn’t like this one and Seb can’t save this book from being a dumpster fire. Cos damn. I fucking hated Mia. So much. Such a disappointment cos I was looking forward to their book so much after reading breakaway.
This was damn near a dnf bcos it felt like a chore to surpass 50%. But since mia was the conductor of the self sabotage train I wanted to see how she was gonna crash and burn. And crash and burn it did. I truly wish they didn’t get back together bcos they were awful for each other, mainly bcos of Mia.
I felt so sorry for Seb and just wanted him to finally get it together and stop going after mia cos she was not fucking worth it. And Mia kept saying she wasn’t worth it, she didn’t deserve him, blah blah blah AND YOURE DAMN RIGHT YOU ARENT. Oh my word….she was infuriating. And no groveling on her part? At all? Side eye.
I loved Sebastian and when i tell you he carried…he CARRIED. His chapters were relieving and I truly felt the war inside himself when it came to deciding what he wanted for his future. That was sad af but good on him.
Mia should’ve said fuck her family bcos they were awful. And then she had the nerve to get mad at Seb for calling her family out for their shittiness?? Seriously?? Ugh. Garbage.
And shit….63ish chapters? I swear it didn’t need to be that long.
Oh and not to mention the resemblance to high school musical was SO UNCANNY. 💀💀
Did I mention how much Mia sucked??
I was originally gonna rate this 3⭐️ for Sebastian and for him only. But i can’t. I really didn’t like this one and Seb can’t save this book from being a dumpster fire. Cos damn. I fucking hated Mia. So much. Such a disappointment cos I was looking forward to their book so much after reading breakaway.
This was damn near a dnf bcos it felt like a chore to surpass 50%. But since mia was the conductor of the self sabotage train I wanted to see how she was gonna crash and burn. And crash and burn it did. I truly wish they didn’t get back together bcos they were awful for each other, mainly bcos of Mia.
I felt so sorry for Seb and just wanted him to finally get it together and stop going after mia cos she was not fucking worth it. And Mia kept saying she wasn’t worth it, she didn’t deserve him, blah blah blah AND YOURE DAMN RIGHT YOU ARENT. Oh my word….she was infuriating. And no groveling on her part? At all? Side eye.
I loved Sebastian and when i tell you he carried…he CARRIED. His chapters were relieving and I truly felt the war inside himself when it came to deciding what he wanted for his future. That was sad af but good on him.
Mia should’ve said fuck her family bcos they were awful. And then she had the nerve to get mad at Seb for calling her family out for their shittiness?? Seriously?? Ugh. Garbage.
And shit….63ish chapters? I swear it didn’t need to be that long.
Oh and not to mention the resemblance to high school musical was SO UNCANNY. 💀💀
Did I mention how much Mia sucked??
June 16, 2023
def not as good as ‘breakaway’ i really wanted to love this one but it was honestly kinda boring… i skimmed through the last couple chapters
August 2, 2024
seb deserved better
December 14, 2024
Not a fan of the writing and the plot. Too much detail going on and have nothing to do with the story. Too many background story for the characters.
2 stars
2 stars
July 30, 2025
DNF at 65%
Honestly it got to the point where I was just powering through for no reason and I already understood the whole story. I wanted to see more emotions and growth from the characters and felt like I was reading the same scenes over and over.
And then the MMC messed up and I have no desire to read about how mad the FMC gets and how they probably break up and then he decides to pursue what he wants and she finally sticks up to her family. The writing is on the wall and as much as this book was fine, I see no point in finishing it.
Honestly it got to the point where I was just powering through for no reason and I already understood the whole story. I wanted to see more emotions and growth from the characters and felt like I was reading the same scenes over and over.
And then the MMC messed up and I have no desire to read about how mad the FMC gets and how they probably break up and then he decides to pursue what he wants and she finally sticks up to her family. The writing is on the wall and as much as this book was fine, I see no point in finishing it.
April 21, 2023
Horrible Bisexual Representation
Full disclosure: I DNF’d this book before I could find out if the FMC was going to be held accountable for treating the MMC terribly. Based on this influx of books of MMCs being treated like garbage and FMCs never being held accountable for terrible behavior, I sincerely doubt it.
I hated the FMC before I found out she was bisexual, but when I found out she was bisexual, I hated the author.
As a bisexual woman, I love all different types of bisexual representation. What I don’t like, is when an author’s ONLY bisexual female main character in the series (and possibly in the author’s entire body of work) is a walking hypersexual trope that will have sex with everyone and still has sex with anybody and everybody under the sun AFTER starting something with their destined partner (the MMC in this case). Also, it’s a problem when (if I remember correctly) the only hypersexual, commitment-phobe, female main character from the author is bisexual.
Us bisexual women face harmful stigma because of this trope and the stereotypes that it perpetuates. This book just perpetuates biphobia
Authors really need to do their due diligence to learn about harmful representation of marginalised communities if they are going to write about characters from these communities.
Full disclosure: I DNF’d this book before I could find out if the FMC was going to be held accountable for treating the MMC terribly. Based on this influx of books of MMCs being treated like garbage and FMCs never being held accountable for terrible behavior, I sincerely doubt it.
I hated the FMC before I found out she was bisexual, but when I found out she was bisexual, I hated the author.
As a bisexual woman, I love all different types of bisexual representation. What I don’t like, is when an author’s ONLY bisexual female main character in the series (and possibly in the author’s entire body of work) is a walking hypersexual trope that will have sex with everyone and still has sex with anybody and everybody under the sun AFTER starting something with their destined partner (the MMC in this case). Also, it’s a problem when (if I remember correctly) the only hypersexual, commitment-phobe, female main character from the author is bisexual.
Us bisexual women face harmful stigma because of this trope and the stereotypes that it perpetuates. This book just perpetuates biphobia
Authors really need to do their due diligence to learn about harmful representation of marginalised communities if they are going to write about characters from these communities.
April 19, 2023
I was gifted this e-arc by the author :)
This is the first Grace Reilly book I’ve read and I’m happy to say that I’ve found a new auto-buy author!
Mia and Seb took me on an emotional journey like no other, that really hit close to home.
The writing here is wonderful, so breezy and easy to read and yet so emotionally charged that I cried both happy and sad tears while reading this. This is so much more than a sports romance, these characters feel so real and they’re living in my head rent free.
If you pick up any sports romance please make it this one! It has everything you could possibly dream of.
I’m also so incredibly grateful for the authors bisexual representation with Mia, I know not everyone had the same experience with their bisexuality but for me… this really hit the mark.
This is the first Grace Reilly book I’ve read and I’m happy to say that I’ve found a new auto-buy author!
Mia and Seb took me on an emotional journey like no other, that really hit close to home.
The writing here is wonderful, so breezy and easy to read and yet so emotionally charged that I cried both happy and sad tears while reading this. This is so much more than a sports romance, these characters feel so real and they’re living in my head rent free.
If you pick up any sports romance please make it this one! It has everything you could possibly dream of.
I’m also so incredibly grateful for the authors bisexual representation with Mia, I know not everyone had the same experience with their bisexuality but for me… this really hit the mark.
April 26, 2023
Real talk, I HATED this book. Mia is a terrible person and does absolutely nothing but shit on Sebastian the entire way through. But he just keeps going back to her and it’s honestly infuriating. Wanted to DNF it from about 20% in. At 86% I was just hoping their yet again break up would stick and the last 14% of the book was him finding a partner to actually love him like he deserves. At least Bex and Penny were good FMC’s you could really root for. Mia was just a self loathing bitch with zero redeeming qualities. Just such a bummer to see the last Callahan boy get stuck with a dud 🫤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2023
I should have DNF'd this. Mia sucks and has no redeeming qualities. Life is too short to read bad books. Save yourself
January 4, 2026
я розчарована й розумію, що авторка мені не підходить. хоч герої загалом нормальні, їхні вчинки мені не подобаються. до того ж Мія вже почала дратувати своєю грою в холодно / жарко. стало шкода Себа. уже з половини книжки хотілося дочитати якомога швидше.
2/5 ⭐️
2/5 ⭐️
September 24, 2024
A heartfelt and steamy romance between baseball star Sebastian and the fiercely independent Mia. Their story is packed with sizzling chemistry and emotional depth. With themes of vulnerability, trust, and personal growth, Sebastian’s charming persistence beautifully contrasts with Mia’s guarded heart, making it an entertaining and cute read.
(Not as good as book 2, but better than book 1)
(Not as good as book 2, but better than book 1)
Want to read
July 29, 2025DNF 17%
I just truly did not like Mia. I made it 17% and she's a bitch. The whole "I come from an Italian family and women should have kids, not careers" was blah. Doesn't give you a reason to act like that towards a "friend".
Gonna pass on the rest of this book. ⏭️
I just truly did not like Mia. I made it 17% and she's a bitch. The whole "I come from an Italian family and women should have kids, not careers" was blah. Doesn't give you a reason to act like that towards a "friend".
Gonna pass on the rest of this book. ⏭️
April 20, 2023
Mia is a woman in STEM who loves space and her family, even though they are in complete denial about her bisexuality and ignore her dreams and ambitions. Seb is a baseball player who tries his hardest to make his dead father proud, and loves cooking. She's a grump, he's a golden retriever - I love it when the dynamics are like this instead of vice versa. The chemistry was off the charts and I was completely invested from the first chapter. My family 'deals' with my sexuality the way Mia's family deals with hers, and sometimes it hit really close to home. The Callahans are the best parents and the most supportive family and I sobbed my eyes out.
I feel like this is a very chaotic review but I loved the book, i loved their chemistry and push-and-pull, i loved seeing Seb's brothers again, and even though i am an adult i would love to get adopted by the Callahans. They are the most loving, supportive family ever and i don't think i'll ever get over them. This series is quickly becoming a comfort read, Grace's writing is amazing (and so is she) and i am so emotionally attached. I can't wait for the next book, for now i'll stick to forcing my loved ones and book friends to read the Beyond The Play series and get emotionally attached as well <3
I feel like this is a very chaotic review but I loved the book, i loved their chemistry and push-and-pull, i loved seeing Seb's brothers again, and even though i am an adult i would love to get adopted by the Callahans. They are the most loving, supportive family ever and i don't think i'll ever get over them. This series is quickly becoming a comfort read, Grace's writing is amazing (and so is she) and i am so emotionally attached. I can't wait for the next book, for now i'll stick to forcing my loved ones and book friends to read the Beyond The Play series and get emotionally attached as well <3
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January 10, 2024
2.75 ⭐️ This was weird.
From the beginning the book already starts well within the main couple's relationship/ situationship... That wasn't great, but I thought we would get all of the flashbacks, and it was just an odd narrative choice. It was not.
Sebastian is not just golden retriever, but full on simp for Mia -not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily-, but I do wish he would've had a little bit more of a backbone when Mia kept jerking him around for over half of the book, basically.
I didn't love how the issues with Mia's sexist and homophobic family just seem to banish into nothing so quickly... Just, overall, this book was not it.
Edit: I forgot to mention there's tons of OW/OM stuff around the first 20% here. The FMC is bi, so she hooks up with both men and women while they're 'distanced', and the MMC is told to have hooked up with 'only blondes' as well. There's even as scene of him with another girl... They get interrupted, but yeah, not great.
From the beginning the book already starts well within the main couple's relationship/ situationship... That wasn't great, but I thought we would get all of the flashbacks, and it was just an odd narrative choice. It was not.
Sebastian is not just golden retriever, but full on simp for Mia -not that there's anything wrong with that necessarily-, but I do wish he would've had a little bit more of a backbone when Mia kept jerking him around for over half of the book, basically.
I didn't love how the issues with Mia's sexist and homophobic family just seem to banish into nothing so quickly... Just, overall, this book was not it.
Edit: I forgot to mention there's tons of OW/OM stuff around the first 20% here. The FMC is bi, so she hooks up with both men and women while they're 'distanced', and the MMC is told to have hooked up with 'only blondes' as well. There's even as scene of him with another girl... They get interrupted, but yeah, not great.
April 26, 2023
3/5⭐️
3/5🌶️
Tropes:
* Second Chance
* Forced Proximity
* Sports Romance ⚾️
* Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
I have loved this whole series and was really excited for Sebastian’s book! However, I have to say this is my least favorite book of the series so far. James and Cooper books I felt like I was more invested. This book I was bored and ended up putting it down more than the others.
I really liked Sebastian! I knew I was going to love him after meeting him in the other books. I wasn’t a huge fan of Mia. She annoyed me. Felt like he was way more invested in the relationship then Mia. It felt very one sided!
Overall, I enjoyed this whole series and can’t wait for Lizzy’s book!
3/5🌶️
Tropes:
* Second Chance
* Forced Proximity
* Sports Romance ⚾️
* Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
I have loved this whole series and was really excited for Sebastian’s book! However, I have to say this is my least favorite book of the series so far. James and Cooper books I felt like I was more invested. This book I was bored and ended up putting it down more than the others.
I really liked Sebastian! I knew I was going to love him after meeting him in the other books. I wasn’t a huge fan of Mia. She annoyed me. Felt like he was way more invested in the relationship then Mia. It felt very one sided!
Overall, I enjoyed this whole series and can’t wait for Lizzy’s book!
April 24, 2023
This was like a 3-3.5 for me.
I was so excited to read about Seb and Mia! I loved both their characters in Breakaway.
Sebastian was honestly pretty flawless. He was an amazing book boyfriend. He was persistent, honest, he wasn’t annoyingly possessive, super sexy and spicy, supportive. He def fell first and harder. All around great guy caught between his dead fathers shadow and forging his own path. I love how Mia inadvertently inspired him to follow his dreams and choose himself, but that’s pretty much all she did & it wasn’t a conscious choice.
I’m very over the narrative of these empowered independent women with this insane un likability. She was a great friend in Breakaway and played the smart independent badass and then in her own book she was really wasn’t…. It was disappointing that those qualities were sorta her “mask”. I also would have loved more representation of her bi journey rather than that being an insecurity and her family hating it but boyfriend being supportive. The nail in her character coffin for me - the icky cringe moment that really made me dislike her entirely - was when she decided to choose Seb and ran onto the baseball field to disrupt his last game of baseball he will ever play. I thought it was SO selfish, so insensitive, so rude. He was nothing but amazing to her and she could just give him that moment to play out the last half inning and probably get clapped off by his teammates and take a last moment to fall out of his dads shadow. Idk why I found it so offensive, but I did.
I did love how she was so good about weaving all the characters we have come to love back through. I love the family relationships and dynamics of the Callahan family. I especially love richard and just the overall sibling dynamics. I hope we get Izzy’s story next and she stays her fun, bubbly, silly, outspoken self.
I was so excited to read about Seb and Mia! I loved both their characters in Breakaway.
Sebastian was honestly pretty flawless. He was an amazing book boyfriend. He was persistent, honest, he wasn’t annoyingly possessive, super sexy and spicy, supportive. He def fell first and harder. All around great guy caught between his dead fathers shadow and forging his own path. I love how Mia inadvertently inspired him to follow his dreams and choose himself, but that’s pretty much all she did & it wasn’t a conscious choice.
I’m very over the narrative of these empowered independent women with this insane un likability. She was a great friend in Breakaway and played the smart independent badass and then in her own book she was really wasn’t…. It was disappointing that those qualities were sorta her “mask”. I also would have loved more representation of her bi journey rather than that being an insecurity and her family hating it but boyfriend being supportive. The nail in her character coffin for me - the icky cringe moment that really made me dislike her entirely - was when she decided to choose Seb and ran onto the baseball field to disrupt his last game of baseball he will ever play. I thought it was SO selfish, so insensitive, so rude. He was nothing but amazing to her and she could just give him that moment to play out the last half inning and probably get clapped off by his teammates and take a last moment to fall out of his dads shadow. Idk why I found it so offensive, but I did.
I did love how she was so good about weaving all the characters we have come to love back through. I love the family relationships and dynamics of the Callahan family. I especially love richard and just the overall sibling dynamics. I hope we get Izzy’s story next and she stays her fun, bubbly, silly, outspoken self.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
4,5 ⭐️
this book has my heart
I adore Mia. I have to admit that until like 70% of this book, I was not really feeling it. It felt a little repetitive because somehow every single character in this series has “family issues” or is studying something because of pressure from their family. But let me tell you this book is so worth it. I relate to Mia on such a deep level. Not being accepted the way you are by people who are supposed to care, and having the urge to push people away so they won’t hurt you. Mia made me feel so seen.
And Sebastian’s story is seriously heartbreaking. I rarely cry during books, but I cried for Sebastian. The found family aspect for him is so beautiful. He has such a good soul and he deserves the world. I wanna keep both Sebastian and Mia safe in a little place in my heart.
This book is definitely a little different than the first two. This is mostly because there is barely any buildup to the relationship in this one. They were having a thing already in the second book and the third book just kind of picks up where the second left off. At first this felt a little boring but it definitely is not. I think this might be my favorite book of the series!!
I cannot wait to read Izzy’s story! August is way too far away 😞
this book has my heart
I adore Mia. I have to admit that until like 70% of this book, I was not really feeling it. It felt a little repetitive because somehow every single character in this series has “family issues” or is studying something because of pressure from their family. But let me tell you this book is so worth it. I relate to Mia on such a deep level. Not being accepted the way you are by people who are supposed to care, and having the urge to push people away so they won’t hurt you. Mia made me feel so seen.
And Sebastian’s story is seriously heartbreaking. I rarely cry during books, but I cried for Sebastian. The found family aspect for him is so beautiful. He has such a good soul and he deserves the world. I wanna keep both Sebastian and Mia safe in a little place in my heart.
This book is definitely a little different than the first two. This is mostly because there is barely any buildup to the relationship in this one. They were having a thing already in the second book and the third book just kind of picks up where the second left off. At first this felt a little boring but it definitely is not. I think this might be my favorite book of the series!!
I cannot wait to read Izzy’s story! August is way too far away 😞
April 14, 2023
4.5 stars ✨
oh my god 🥺 this was so good. this book was fun, cute and spicy. all the best things in a romance book 🫶🏻
I absolutely love all the characters in this series, but Sebastian and Mia are just superior. Seb is everything, he is the best golden retriever and he cooks 🫶🏻 and Mia, I loved how her sexuality and her relationship with her family was portrayed. I loved how they were able to help each other grow and how they relationship evolved.
And I also loved every moment where we could see them interact with Sebastian siblings and Bex and Penny
read this book if you love:
✨ sports romances
✨ reverse grumpy x sunshine
✨ boy obsessed
✨ forced proximity
✨ college romance
✨ family drama
thank you Grace Reilly for the ARC for this book 🫶🏻
oh my god 🥺 this was so good. this book was fun, cute and spicy. all the best things in a romance book 🫶🏻
I absolutely love all the characters in this series, but Sebastian and Mia are just superior. Seb is everything, he is the best golden retriever and he cooks 🫶🏻 and Mia, I loved how her sexuality and her relationship with her family was portrayed. I loved how they were able to help each other grow and how they relationship evolved.
And I also loved every moment where we could see them interact with Sebastian siblings and Bex and Penny
read this book if you love:
✨ sports romances
✨ reverse grumpy x sunshine
✨ boy obsessed
✨ forced proximity
✨ college romance
✨ family drama
thank you Grace Reilly for the ARC for this book 🫶🏻
Want to read
August 17, 2024Taking a break will continue after trip. I PROMISE I WILL FINISH!!!! (but maybe not until next year....)
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 {𝟏 ✩✩✩}
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 {𝟐✩✩✩✩}
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 {𝟑 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐧𝐟}
𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞 {𝟒 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠}
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 {𝟏 ✩✩✩}
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 {𝟐✩✩✩✩}
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 {𝟑 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐝𝐧𝐟}
𝐖𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞 {𝟒 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠}
April 22, 2023
I fell in love with this series from the moment I started it, and I was SO excited for Stealing Home. I also had a feeling this book would be my favorite… AND I WAS RIGHT 🤭
Mia is our ambitious and intelligent queen. She keeps a lot of things to herself because of her upbringing, but her love for astronomy is the one constant in her life that she’ll never give up 🌟 Sebastian is a baseball star who is secretly struggling with his past and future ⚾ On top of that, he’s still hung up on Mia, who he had a no-strings-attached relationship with before she ghosted him out of the blue. But when fate steps in, it forces the two of them back together to confront what really happened between them months ago while also opening up the possibility for more... 👀
Though Mia is prickly on the surface and may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I absolutely loved her from the start 🤍 The more I got to know her, the more I felt for her and related to her. And don’t even get me started on the perfection that is Sebastian ✋ He’s a golden retriever sweetheart to his core, and I truly adored him so much 😭 He also really serves boy falls first + falls hard + falls EVEN HARDER 😫 I just loved how these two were together, especially the way they supported and accepted each other for everything that they were. They showed one another in their own ways that they deserved to be unconditionally loved, and I just thought that was so beautiful 🥹 Also, Sebastian knowing how to cook + him always calling her ‘angel’ had me RUINED 🤧
Aside from the romance, I also enjoyed getting to know Mia and Sebastian individually. Their backstories and struggles had me tearing up for both of them, and I really liked the message of following your passions without sacrificing your happiness along the way. And the brothers’ relationship + family dynamics in this story made my heart so whole 🫶 My only complaint is that I don’t have my own Sebastian 🥲
Overall, this book reminds me why ‘black cat x golden retriever’ will always be my #1 favorite trope on this planet 🫡 Seb & Mia truly have my heart, and I just want to hug and protect them forever 🫂 Their stars align 💫 This series and Grace Reilly as an author easily became some of my new favorites, and I can’t wait for the next book — ready for you Izzy 🤩 — and whatever else she has in store 💚
Thank you so much to Grace Reilly & her team for an ARC of this book! 💌
Mia is our ambitious and intelligent queen. She keeps a lot of things to herself because of her upbringing, but her love for astronomy is the one constant in her life that she’ll never give up 🌟 Sebastian is a baseball star who is secretly struggling with his past and future ⚾ On top of that, he’s still hung up on Mia, who he had a no-strings-attached relationship with before she ghosted him out of the blue. But when fate steps in, it forces the two of them back together to confront what really happened between them months ago while also opening up the possibility for more... 👀
Though Mia is prickly on the surface and may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I absolutely loved her from the start 🤍 The more I got to know her, the more I felt for her and related to her. And don’t even get me started on the perfection that is Sebastian ✋ He’s a golden retriever sweetheart to his core, and I truly adored him so much 😭 He also really serves boy falls first + falls hard + falls EVEN HARDER 😫 I just loved how these two were together, especially the way they supported and accepted each other for everything that they were. They showed one another in their own ways that they deserved to be unconditionally loved, and I just thought that was so beautiful 🥹 Also, Sebastian knowing how to cook + him always calling her ‘angel’ had me RUINED 🤧
Aside from the romance, I also enjoyed getting to know Mia and Sebastian individually. Their backstories and struggles had me tearing up for both of them, and I really liked the message of following your passions without sacrificing your happiness along the way. And the brothers’ relationship + family dynamics in this story made my heart so whole 🫶 My only complaint is that I don’t have my own Sebastian 🥲
Overall, this book reminds me why ‘black cat x golden retriever’ will always be my #1 favorite trope on this planet 🫡 Seb & Mia truly have my heart, and I just want to hug and protect them forever 🫂 Their stars align 💫 This series and Grace Reilly as an author easily became some of my new favorites, and I can’t wait for the next book — ready for you Izzy 🤩 — and whatever else she has in store 💚
Thank you so much to Grace Reilly & her team for an ARC of this book! 💌
August 24, 2025
My favorite of the series so far, Seb and Mia’s love story had a perfect amount of push and pull to keep me interested in this best friend’s brother trope. Though with all that went on in books 1 and 2, I don’t think it was forbidden in anyway…other than in Mia’s future plans. I loved Mia…In past books she comes off stand-offish, she does in this book too, but as we get to know her and where she came from, big traditional Italian family, we understand why she holds personal things so close to her chest. She’s best friends with Penny, a certified genius, and has bigger plans for her future than what her family wants for her. Seb was perfect for Mia and vice-versa. Seeing Mia fight so hard for her future goals helps Seb make some big decisions in his own life. I felt so badly for Seb when he confides in Mia on his parent’s death. So sad and heartbreaking. We do have a third act breakup, but it wasn’t cringy like some can be. I see Mia’s fear and reasoning. Grace Reilly has made a fan out of me, even with the rocky start we had with James…who Ive since forgiven.
July 17, 2024
Friends with bennies to start with an actual love story ending. Sports. Love. Fluffy BS. It has it all.
July 15, 2023
Es un 3 estrellas pero un ++5/5 ★ para Sebastian Callahan, él es perfecto y me tomó por sorpresa porque al 20% del libro sabía ya que era mi favorito en esta serie, el amor que tiene por Mia, paciencia (mucha paciencia) y respeto por sus intereses es muy lindo y estaba resaltando todos los pensamientos que tenía él sobre ella y como siempre alababa su inteligencia 🫠, por otra parte…. Mia, pude entenderla hasta que deje de hacerlo y solo empezó a molestarme, a veces trataba tan mal a Sebastian sin explicaciones que lo compensaran, todo envejeció rápidamente, algunas veces hacia las cosas solo sobre ella cuando NO era el momento, nunca creí decir esto pero me faltó arrastre de ELLA al final, me gustó su ambición por su carrera y su enfoque en no hijos/matrimonio pero algunas de sus acciones… en fin. Tuvieron escenas lindas, muy muy lindas, domésticas y emocionales, pero si, solo me quedo a deber más Mia (odio cuando la protagonista femenina me cae mal)
——
Creo que mi pareja favorita fueron PennyCooper e interés amoroso fue Sebastian aunque me recuerda un poco a James tho
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Creo que mi pareja favorita fueron PennyCooper e interés amoroso fue Sebastian aunque me recuerda un poco a James tho
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