Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Lessons in Chemistry will love this emotionally complex story about sisterhood, soccer, and sacrifice.

Our story kicks off with two sisters and two high stakes, adrenaline-laced events- older sister Mia is giving birth and her baby sister Cricket is taking the net in an Olympic soccer game. When Mia’s birth turns difficult with severe consequences for Mia, she needs a kidney donor. Cricket is the obvious solution, but she’s just led her team to victory in the Olympics and isn’t immediately willing to make such a sacrifice for her sister.

After this energetic and stressful introduction, the novel goes all the way back to their mother’s soccer career and its swift end when Liz Lowe gets pregnant with Mia. Liz transfers her dream to her daughter, who shows promise, but not as much promise as Cricket does at a very young age. As it becomes clear that Cricket could go “all the way,” Liz devotes all her energy to supporting her younger daughter’s dream, and she insists that Mia do the same. Mia gives up playing soccer herself to manage the household as a teenager, then continues to make big sacrifices for Cricket as the novel progresses. But when she needs something big in return, will Cricket step up?

The synopsis of this book hints at a big secret their mother was keeping, but that plot point is much less dramatic or interesting than implied. And while the Lowe family certainly has their struggles and tragedies, this is basically one of those books where you know everything will turn out fine. The progression of each character’s journey felt somewhat predictable, as did the conclusion. However, I found myself very emotionally invested in the fates of Mia and Cricket, who were a pair of protagonists it was easy to root for despite their flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the opportunity to be an early reader of this title, which is published today (7/1/25)!

Thank you to NetGalley for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I knew I was going to cry at the end of this book and cry I did!

I absolutely loved this. Every second of it. It was completely up by alley.

It is such a human story. It is raw and wholesome and heart-aching and special! Every moment felt so intense with emotion, even the mundane things. Whether I was happy or sad, I felt it all!

Give me a book about sports and siblings and I will eat it up!

It wasn’t a fast paced story, but it was written so well. It felt like you were living the lives of Mia and Cricket along side of them.

Eldest daughters go through so much. I felt for Mia most of the time! The fact that she had to sacrifice so much and Cricket couldn’t sacrifice the same for her in a lot of moments made me so upset. I know a little bit of that was to build up the drama, but still! Cricket making a certain choice was so evil to me. I can understand her POV to a certain extent, but it would be a no brainer to me if I was ever presented that conundrum.

Maybe because I’m an older sibling myself (though I didn’t sacrifice anything like Mia had to) I was rooting for Mia 100% of the way! Cricket frustrated me at times because she didn’t know how good she had it. Some of the decisions she made were so heartless or at least selfish, that it made me angry. I didn’t dislike her, but I didn’t care for her like I did for Mia. There were a lot of moments I felt for Cricket though, and got angry for her, so I definitely cared a lot about her. Mia totally had my heart though.

I was so invested in Mia and Oliver’s love story. It wasn’t anything epic, but it was so beautiful and the build up to it was incredible. You could see the love between them. Oliver was such a great man and addition to the story. He really was there for them in so many ways.

I loved Liz. Even though she didn’t always make great choices, she was an amazing mother. She wasn’t perfect, but she was a great person at the end of the day.

How I felt about Sloane was so complicated. One minute I’m glad her and Cricket were friends, and the next I couldn’t stand her. Maybe that’s because I was feeling how Cricket felt in those moments, but overall I thought she was good for her. I definitely didn’t dislike her either, but she sure wasn’t perfect.

There were lots of little twists I didn’t expect. I liked how it revealed things as the book went on.

I called Cricket’s love life from the beginning! That part I was so happy about. I was saying to myself she needed to be with someone who gets it or feels the same way she does.

This is an absolute must read. I cannot stress it enough! I wish I had the words to describe how much I love this book. You’ll just have to trust me that it is nothing short of a masterpiece.

I will be reading more by this author!

Absolute magic. Truly.

If you have a sister, this is a must-read. As an oldest daughter with a younger sister who grew up a soccer star herself, this book hit me right in my heart. The characters, the storytelling, every single moment was executed flawlessly. A top 10 read of 2025 without a doubt in my mind. I can’t recommend this enough - Beck Dorey-Stein has created something special here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for this eARC!

This was heartwarming, sad, and felt so nostalgic. Mia and Cricket’s bond was beautiful, and the themes of family, grief, and following your dreams were so well done.

"She is thirty-seven years old but still feels seventeen, still feels like her life is just beginning, and it is because she believes this to be true."

Boy, do I feel this. As a 37 year old, I can fully appreciate this sentiment - especially having spent time in Maine regularly during my childhood, where much of this book takes place. I found myself relating to Mia a lot, like when its said that she "prefers reliable outcomes. She believes a surprise is called an upset for a reason: that a sudden change in expectations is indeed upsetting."

I really enjoyed how the book started in the future, and then went back to their beginning for the "origin story". It was easy to form some snap judgements knowing so very little in the first chapters, and then be humbled to understand the reason why characters behaved as they did. I was so engrossed with the middle of the story that I almost forgot that it was telling us the background for the beginning and end portions. What a journey!

Soccer isn't my favorite sport, but it was interesting to see a lifestyle different from mine, and be empowered by strong females leads (I absolutely adored Liz). The romance is all closed door and tastefully done, and I feel like anything more would have detracted from the heart and focus of the storyline. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and kept comparing Beck Dorey-Stein's writing to Jodi Picoult's in my head.

Thank you to Random House/The Dial Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book!

Spectacular Things is about two sisters who are navigating life's tragedy and success, together and apart. They both believe that sacrifice is love and love is sacrifice but just how far will they go for each other?

There was a lot of things I really loved about this book. As someone who is the oldest of 4 girls I really resonated with Mia and her relationship with her younger sister. There are lines that I will carry with me for the rest of my life that describes being an older sister to a T! I am not a huge soccer fan but tend to love books about sports and the dedication the athletes have for the sport. It also shows a great amount of research on the authors part! I will be thinking about these characters for a long time coming. I really enjoyed the character driven plot. It held my attention and I was excited to go back and read it. The characters were maddening at times but I think that was emotion the author was trying to provoke.

There was a couple of things that felt completely disjointed to me. I didn't understand why they were so mad at Cricket (the youngest sister) right off the bat! I understand this is Mia's life but come. on. Give the girl a chance to give a definitive answer!
The book felt mildly predictable.
I did not like that they put their mother on such a high pedestal after what Liz put Mia through. That could be on purpose though. The mother/daughter relationship can be complicated like that.
I saw another reviewer say that we didn't actually get to know the characters, just their trials and I'd have to agree to certain degree about that.

Overall I'd recommend this book to some people that love a character driven book.

Thank you @NetGalley and @RandomHouse for reaching out and suggesting this gem of a book!

I absolutely loved "Spectacular Things"! Beck Dorey-Stein crafted a beautiful and authentic novel that delves into the complexities of sisterhood, motherhood, and the sacrifices we make for those we love most.

Mia and Cricket grew up with a passion for soccer. However, when Cricket begins to show remarkable talent and promise in the sport, their determined single mother, Liz, asks Mia to make some sacrifices to help Cricket become the best player she can be.

This book is definitely among my top five reads of the year, and I look forward to exploring more works by Beck Dorey-Stein!

When I first picked up the book I thought it was going to give Gilmore girls but in fact it was so much better than that. The single teen mom from a wealthy family who decides to raise her daughter in a small town is about where the comparison with Gilmore girls begins and ends. You see how a decision from the mom bleeds into the sisters and their dynamic which leads to an interesting turn of events while reading through their experience. I enjoyed how the story started in present tense and then was told in flashback. I feel like every question the reader has while reading gets answered through out the story.

4.5 stars rounded up.

„Spectacular Things“ by Beck Dorey-Stein follows the complicated, deeply heartfelt journey of the Lowe sisters - one of them a rising soccer star - as they chase their dreams on and off the pitch. With the UEFA Women’s EURO just around the corner, the timing of the story - centered on two sisters navigating ambition, love, and sacrifice against the backdrop of the world of soccer - couldn’t be more perfect.

Dorey-Stein’s writing is splendid: rich with emotional depth and natural dialogue that pulls you right into the lives of the Lowe sisters, this is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that’s impossible to put down, exploring ambition, loyalty, and the deep bonds of sisterhood. It’s impossible not to root for both of these women, even as their choices challenge each other and their bond. Anyone who has a close relationship with a sister will find this story particularly moving, and find so much to relate to here.

The book asks the central, powerful question of what sacrifices we are willing to make for the ones we love, and it doesn’t shy away from the complexity of the answers.

Emotional depth, compelling characters, and a story that lingers - I really enjoyed this one. Highly recommended for fans of character-first fiction, women’s sports, and emotionally layered family stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„Spectacular Things“ publishes on July 1, 2025, and is available now.

3.5⭐️

This one started with a bang, and I couldn’t wait to see where it went—unfortunately, I felt it never reached its full potential.

There was one thing I was left wanting more of with every aspect of this story: depth. While I was invested in each of the characters’ stories, I never felt like I got to know them as full, complete people. There was just something missing, especially with Cricket. I often found myself annoyed with her because she was incredibly immature, more so than I would expect from someone at whatever age she was at the time. Liz and Mia were better, but still felt too flat to me in the end.

There is a fair amount of difficult subject matter in here, and while most of it was handled well enough, I do think there was one area that could have been better. One of the characters was groomed as a child, and it felt like it was glossed over and not handled with the weight that it should have been. The author wasn’t insensitive about it, but it seemed like something that should have been given much more attention than it was, not for drama’s sake, but because it was an extremely formative experience this character had, and I would have liked for it to have been explored more.

A little over halfway in, it got pretty repetitive; it felt like the same things were being said over and over, which added to that feeling of lack of depth with the characters.

I had no issue with the writing itself—the style was good and easy to read while still having some really strong quotes that I highlighted. Thankfully, the plot was interesting enough that I did want to see this through to the end, and I’m mostly satisfied with the way things turned out (there was a romance that popped up at the end that didn’t make much sense to me).

There was so much good material to work with, and it was a great story to tell; I just wish it had been honed more overall. I still think a lot of people will love this one—I’ve just read some incredible character-driven stories lately that this one didn’t stand up to comparatively.

First of all, I don’t like books about sports and I’m really not into soccer, so imagine my surprise when I say I absolutely loved this book. I’m glad I went in blind because if I had read the synopsis closely I probably would not have read it. This book made many laugh and the cry and I don’t cry when reading.
It reminds me of a Taylor Jenkins Reid book. The characters are so complex and you just can’t help loving them even when they are at their worst.
I wholeheartedly recommend picking up this book and reading about these great females. I won’t stop recommending this book. 5⭐️

Four stars for Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein. The novel captures the complexities of sisterhood through characters who are fully formed and deeply relatable. The soccer backdrop adds a unique layer to the story that I found refreshing and compelling.

The novel truly shines in its exploration of sisterhood. Dorey-Stein nails the emotional rollercoaster of being a sister, striking a perfect balance between heartache, humor, and just the right touch of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A longtime fan of Dorey-Stein’s prose, I was really excited to be able to read an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. (With thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press)

Mia & Cricket are so thoughtfully drawn that the reader cannot help but sympathize with both Lowe women, who have worked so hard and overcome so much together and apart. Told across time and space, with stakes of real consequence, Dorey-Stein’s warm, engaging prose draws the reader in from the very beginning. When Cricket is faced with her own Sophie’s Choice, a little is left to be desired on the page for her wrestling with her decision. Overall, a great choice to throw in your beach or pool bag (especially with quick, episodic chapters), this summer and you’ll be looking to discuss it with a friend, too!

I finished my ARC (provided through NetGalley) of Spectacular Things and it’s one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you and stays with you. If you loved Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, especially the emotional tug-of-war between ambition, identity, and family then you’ll want this on your radar.

At its core, this story is about two sisters, Mia and Cricket, who are so different, yet deeply connected in that beautifully messy way siblings often are. Their relationship felt so very real and sometimes raw, sometimes warm, and always evolving as life throws them into unexpected situations. Watching their bond shift over time felt honest, and honestly, a little healing.

Beck Dorey‑Stein has this easy, engaging voice as a writer, she pulls you into each moment without overcomplicating anything. The pacing felt natural, the emotional depth was just right, and I appreciated how she balanced nostalgia with growth. There’s heartbreak here, but also a quiet kind of hope that I really loved.

This is the kind of book that would make a perfect summer read and one you’ll want to talk about after you turn the last page

4.5 stars. I loved this novel. Could it be because I am the elder daughter and both my sister and I played soccer? Maybe. But I think non-sports people could love this novel just as much. Soccer here is a metaphor for sacrificing all for a dream. I loved this family drama (even though I was sure there would be a happy ending), and I liked how it started the story near the end, then went back and told the story of the Lowe girls from the beginning. Choices always have consequences. Dreams require sacrifice from more than just the dreamer.

"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.

As Mia and Cricket grow up, they must grapple with the legacy of their mother’s secret past while navigating their own precarious future. Can Mia allow herself to fall in love at the risk of repeating a terrible history? Will Cricket’s relentless chase of a lifelong goal drive her sister away? When does loyalty become self-sabotage?"

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/The Dial Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

The first 60% of Spectacular Things was a fun, fast-paced story about sisterly love set against the bright lights of becoming a soccer star. And because the first chapter pretty much highlights the entire book, Spectacular Things becomes a hodgepodge of the same theme throughout.


It reminded me of Ginny and Georgia, with Liz as the ultimate flawed but fierce mom. Despite everything, the love Mia and Cricket have for their mother is deep and unconditional.

Some may compare this to Carrie Soto Is Back, and I can see why. Both explore ambition, sports, and the complexities of family. But like Carrie Soto, I eventually lost interest in the overall concept. It wasn’t the writing or the strong family themes. I just found myself getting bored, as the book navigates its way in and out of Cricket's soccer world.

Still, there are parts that will absolutely make you cry. And even though the ending is revealed in the first chapter, you’ll be rooting for the sisters the entire time.

I am so glad that I picked up Beck Dorey-Stein's memoir of her time in the White House several years ago. I liked that book quite a lot, but maybe the very best part of it is that it helped lead to her fiction titles. Spectacular Things was altogether, well...spectacular (sorry!).

So many aspects of this story resonated with me, having grown up in a household with only a younger sister and our mother. This book was beautiful, beginning to end.

Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library and as a future book club pick.

SPECTACULAR THINGS by Beck Dorey-Stein is a sweeping and emotional story of sisterhood, love and ambition and what a person is willing to sacrifice for the pursuit of their dreams. Mia and Cricket are the daughters of Liz Lowe, a single mother who was forced to give up her dreams of being a star athlete when she finds herself pregnant. Liz pours everything into training first Mia, then Cricket, into becoming a star soccer player. When Cricket’s extraordinary athletic talent becomes evident, Mia eventually assumes a caretaker role for her younger sister and lives a quiet life in her sister’s shadow. But when a medical crisis hits Mia, the sisters will be faced with unthinkable decisions that will change their lives forever. The story is told in three parts, over a span of nearly fifty years. Liz’s backstory also emerges as the story progresses. Past, present and future are tied together by the end. I enjoyed the poignant story of love, loss and family commitment and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

oh my god. i loved this book so much more than i would be able to convey verbally in this review. but here i go trying again. the lives of intertwined siblings, full of love, sacrifice and utter compromises that needed to be made. a family story grounded in traditions, valued time, and legacy. imagine a story that could convey the competitiveness of sports between friends, a soccer legend and the sacrifice needed to be made and siblings that have been there for each other since the beginning of time. this story fulfilled my heart in ways that made my heart ache. i loved the love between two sisters, for a sport, and a dedication to the people around you!!

truly, so thankful to be able to read this beautiful story that shed light on real, flawed characters in a story filled with love and growth.

Woah! I was not expecting to shed a tear at the end of this one. But I did.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein is a story of sacrifice, ambition, and family. The story follows two sisters, Cricket and Mia, who live lives that raises the question: What are you willing to do for your family?

Spectacular Tale is a stunning story that well portrays the complex relationships we sometimes have with family. Cricket and Mia are written with such emotional depth that made me feel sorry for both of them. Mia, in particular, is the first born of a once gifted soccer player by the name of Liz. Just like her mother, Mia attempts to follow her mom’s once projected path as a star soccer player. However, things change when Liz gives birth to Mia's sister. Mia’s relationship with her mother, in my opinion, is the strongest relationship depicted in the book. Dorey-Stein wonderfully captures eldest daughter syndrome.

There are so many things to love about Spectacular Things including the soccer element, unexpected romances, and the structure of the story. Told in dual perspectives, the story opens us with two game changing events before taking us back to the past where Liz is a young gifted sought-after soccer player. As the story unfolds, we see the events (good and bad) that led to a life altering question. We witness the bonding, the sacrifices, the ambition. Most importantly, we witness the love that forever binds them. This is truly a heartfelt read that leaves a lasting impression.
If you loved Malibu Rising, The Favorites, Ordinary Love, or A Sharp Endless Need, this is the book for you. If you love soccer, this is also a book for you.