I knew this book was going to gut me in the best possible ways!! The latest Reese/Hello Sunshine Book Club pick for July, Spectacular Things is a moving and heartwrenching story about mothers and daughters, ambition, loyalty, sacrifice and women professional athletes and all the things they and those who love them have to sacrifice in order to achieve lifelong goals.

This book follows a young single mother who gives up her dreams of soccer greatness when she gets pregnant and then the sacrifices she asks of her first daughter when her second seems to have what it takes to go all the way as a professional soccer player. Told from alternating POVs and with flashbacks, we follow Cricket's path to an Olympic gold medal and all the things her older sister Mia does to help get her there.

Amazing on audio, this story was captivating, emotion, and full of great disability rep (one main character has chronic kidney disease and needs a transplant and a side character has Type 1 diabetes). Highly, HIGHLY recommended, especially for fans of books like California Golden or Carrie Soto is back. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

It is the story of two sisters. One of whom is the keeper for the U.S. national team and the other sacrificed everything to get her sister there. It is the ultimate story of love, loyalty, determination, resilience and forgiveness. Of wanting something with all of your heart so you will do anything to get it and the love and sacrifice that others make for you to achieve your dreams. I loved the relationship between the sisters. I loved that everything was so raw and nothing was sugarcoated. All of the pain, grief, guilt and struggles were in full display. And I always love a female athlete superstar storyline.

Spectacular Things follows the Lowe sisters as they are raised by a single mother. Fairly early on we learn Mia needs a kidney and Cricket is the best chance. But Cricket just won Olympic gold in women’s soccer. That’s when the story goes back and fills in everything that leads to Cricket’s decision.

If you enjoyed Carrie Soto is Back I think you’ll also enjoy Spectacular Things. It is about soccer but not only about soccer. Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending a copy to read and review. 5 full stars.

4.5 ⭐️

Spectacular Things is a beautiful, character driven story about the things you would do for your sister. As a sister myself, Cricket and Mia’s relationship throughout this book felt so realistic and I really appreciated that each character’s motivations were valid. Often times I was torn on which sister’s actions I supported more, and I think that Spectacular Things reflects perfectly what it means to be a sister and have sisters in real life.

Spectacular Things is above all about sisterhood, but it’s also about women’s soccer and ambition and sacrifice. We’re following Mia, the older sister who was forced to grow up too fast, and Cricket, the younger sister who is filled to the brim with talent and focus and drive within her athletic career. The story starts off at a place where both sisters are in adulthood and their seperate dreams are becoming reality, when something disastrous occurs and the sisters are left with a choice. Then the story shifts timelines to the past, and we watch the sisters grow up and gain insight into why they are the way they are.

I really enjoyed the nonlinear structure this story followed, and I think it provided a much deeper understanding into the characters. This book was an incredibly poignant read and such a beautiful story despite all the hardships Mia and Cricket endure. I felt that the story ended in a very satisfying way, and Spectacular Things is guaranteed to stick with me long after finishing my read.

A huge thank you to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love a story about a family and I love a story about sports, so this book about a family very ingrained with soccer was very compelling to me. I found the story of the sisters to be the most compelling part of this, with the older sister sacrificing everything for the younger sister. The story did a great job of showing the internal struggle of resenting Cricket but not wanting to really blame her.

(Spoilers ahead!!) The one thing that I really didn't like was the whole storyline around the kidney. I thought that it was crazy that Mia was just expecting Cricket to give her a kidney even though it would mean her soccer career was over forever - even though she had spent her whole life sacrificing things for Cricket, wouldn't her needing to give up her soccer career make it all for nothing? I just didn't really enjoy that.

Overall, a great story about sacrifice, family and decision making.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. I loved this book! A family drama about the relationship between two sisters and their mother. It is so filled with heart and emotion and feels so real. The author created people that could have walked right off the page. Reminded me of Firefly Lane. I have a feeling this one will stick with me in a similar way

unfortunately this book fell a little flat for me- i think towards the end it was a sweet story about sisters and learning what is most valuable to you- i do feel like part of why it fell flat was i just didn’t feel super connected to the characters! wasn’t a bad book but just wasn’t for me- 3.5⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. Spectacular Things is a sweet story of a single mom, Liz, and her two daughters, Mia and Cricket. Liz teaches them soccer, since she gave up her dreams of pursuing it when she became pregnant with Mia. The book is mostly about sisterhood and love. It took me a while to finish this story - it felt slow in places and I'm not into soccer so those parts of the story were a bit boring for me. Having been a single mother, I was hoping a lot more of the book would have been from that angle. A good read for a person who likes the softer stories, loving families and tragic stories.

Yeah idk that was spectacular

Good pacing, good characterization, overall a great read front to back

Review also posted on goodreads

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for allowing me to read an ARC of Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein, in exchange for my honest review.

What a gift!

A heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, story of sacrifice, determination, perseverance, and above all else, love.

I look forward to reading more by Beck Dorey-Stein.

i was so excited to read this book because i have been yelling about the author's last book, rock the boat, for years and was counting down until her next release. spectacular things did not!! disappoint!! i loved the story: two sisters raised by an ambitious single mother who each thrive in their own way and the sacrifices they make for one another. the story journeys their lives from before they were born until the birth of the older daughter's first born. there was SO MUCH story here (complimentary) and while so much centers around soccer, you definitely don't need to be a soccer superfan to love it. however as a soccer superfan, i felt like the characterization of real USWNT players who play with Cricket was a little more name droppy than actual characterization, and the book would certainly not have suffered without it. but i do love the references to the amazing mia hamm, kristine lilly, brandi chastain. alex morgan, megan rapinoe, etc. definitely give this book a try!!

thank you netgalley and dial press for the ARC <3

This was an amazing book and I loved the story from start to finish. There was something about the book that reminded me of A League of Their Own - probably the two sisters and the sports connection. I loved reading about the bond of growing up, real references to USA soccer (that even this non-soccer fan knows about) and the way that sports became part of a the fabric of a family. It is a very character driven novel and I thought both sisters were equally as interesting. USA soccer fans must read this one and anyone that enjoys family stories would love it as well.

Spectacular indeed! I loved this beautiful tale of motherhood, sisterhood, and love. The characters leap off the page and into your heart. It’s thrilling, emotional, seems made for a film, hopefully soon! I adored the writing, the settings, and everything about this certain-to-be-a-bestseller story! Go get a copy and enjoy ! Highly recommend!

There is nothing stronger than the bond between sisters. This was such a beautifully written book. There were so many layers and the characters had so much dimension that I felt like I knew them personally. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

The Lowe girls have always been close. Mia and her younger sister Cricket grow up chasing dreams of becoming soccer stars and playing on the U.S. Women’s National Team. Their mom was well on her way until she got pregnant with Mia. Because of their mom’s sacrifice, they knew they had to work hard and be the best. When Mia has to start taking care of Cricket she knows that she will do whatever it takes to support her dreams. When that dream becomes a reality, it might be too good to be true.

This book was so beautifully written. The book focuses on women’s soccer and Cricket’s drive to be the best, but its also about the relationship between mothers and daughters and sisters. They know struggle and heartache more than most and you find yourself rooting for them all along the way. It was amazing! This is a perfect summer vacation read. Thank you so much @beckdoreystein @randomhouse and @netgalley for an arc of this book!

Emotional and beautiful. Loved this story of two sisters striving to make themselves and make sense of family.

Thank you @prhaudio #partner for this advance #gifted copy of:

Two sisters examine what they owe each other and what they are willing to sacrifice to make their family dreams come true.

What would you give up for the person you love most? What would you expect in return?

Mia and Cricket have always been close. The gifted daughters of a young single mother, the “Lowe girls” are well-known in the small Maine town they call home. Each sister has a role to fill: The responsible and academically minded Mia assumes the position of caregiver far too young, while Cricket, a bouncing ball of energy and talent, seems born for soccer stardom. But the cost of achieving athletic greatness comes at a steep price.

four 1/2 stars

Spectacular Things is a thoughtful and engaging novel that resonates with anyone who has ever felt a bit lost on the path to finding themselves. Beck Dorey-Stein delivers a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant, affirming that sometimes, the most spectacular things are the quiet, internal shifts that lead us to where we're meant to be. It's a perfect read for those seeking a contemporary story with heart, humor, and a genuine understanding of the human condition.

Thank you @penguinrandomhouse @thedialpress @netgalley and @beckdoreystein for an ARC of Spectacular Things. Some of my #bookstagram girls (baddies) have been raving nonstop about this one and I can see why- truly spectacular!

The “Lowe girls”, Cricket and Mia and their young mother, Liz have always been a close-knit team. Liz was a promising soccer star in the making before getting pregnant her senior year of high school. As a young mother, she sees promise in both of her girls, but the raw talent in Cricket’s soccer abilities makes her a once in a generation talent. Both Mia and Liz sacrifice it all for Cricket to succeed, but at what cost? What is their limit to see Cricket to make it to the highest level and achieve her dreams?

Wow, this book was so much in so many ways. A story of sacrifice, family, love, and ambition. More over, it was a book about sisters that was so incredibly beautiful in displaying the undefinable love, both simple and complicated, that exists between sisters. This is definitely one of my top books of the year and would recommend it to most readers but especially soccer fans and those who love complex family dynamics.

What a beautiful story. The characters captured my heart. The love and turmoil between these two sisters was so well-written.

This is the story of two sisters — one who sacrifices everything and another with big dreams — whose lives are turned upside down by tragic and bittersweet events. Will their love keep them together or will ambition tear them apart?

This character-driven novel was so well told. I felt pulled into their world, their motivations, their emotions. I felt like I really understood both Mia and Cricket. I’m not intimately familiar with the soccer world, yet I felt completely immersed in it. I really liked this book and had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

A note on how I rate books:
⭐️ Hated it. Don’t even bother.
⭐️⭐️ Didn’t like it. Wouldn’t recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it. Would recommend, but no rush.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it! Make this one of the next few books you read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved it! Drop what you’re doing and read this now (or go ahead and finish what you’re reading and make this the next book)!