Wow that was amazing! I had no idea what this book would be like going into it, just requested the arc because the cover looked amazing and it was about sisters. And oh my did it deliver. This is definitely for my TJR girlies and if you have a sister prepare tissues
A story of love, family, self discovery and much more. These characters were so relatable so raw and easy to connect to. Really took me by surprise, i loved it!

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein delivers an emotionally resonant tale about the complex bonds between sisters and the sacrifices we make for those we love most. Set against the backdrop of competitive soccer, this literary fiction follows the Lowe sisters—responsible Mia and talented Cricket—as they navigate the impossible choices that life throws their way.

The story's structure is particularly compelling, opening in the present with Mia giving birth while Cricket competes in the Olympics, then jumping back to reveal how these two sisters arrived at this pivotal moment. Dorey-Stein crafts authentic, flawed characters that feel genuinely human. Mia's role as the perpetual caretaker and Cricket's single-minded pursuit of soccer stardom create a dynamic that's both touching and occasionally frustrating in the best possible way.

What works beautifully here is the exploration of generational patterns—how their mother Liz's own sacrificed soccer dreams shaped both daughters' lives. The author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of such deep familial devotion, questioning when loyalty crosses into self-sacrifice. The soccer elements are woven seamlessly into the narrative, serving the story rather than overwhelming it.
The emotional core of this novel is undeniable. I found myself completely invested in these sisters' journeys, particularly during the final act where the stakes reach their peak. Dorey-Stein has a gift for capturing the small, authentic moments that make relationships feel real.
That said, the pacing could have been tighter in spots—some sections felt drawn out when I was eager to get to the emotional crux of the story. I read an advance galley, so it's possible these issues were addressed before the final release. There were also moments where the predictability of certain plot points diminished some of the tension.

Despite these minor quibbles, Spectacular Things succeeds as a moving portrait of sisterhood, ambition, and the beautiful complexity of family love. It's a solid addition to the growing canon of women's sports fiction and will particularly resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven narratives about the bonds that both sustain and constrain us.

Perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and readers looking for stories that examine the true cost of dreams.

4/5 stars
Spectacular Things is a beautifully layered story about love, sacrifice, and sisterhood. Told through dual timelines and perspectives, it follows sisters Mia and Cricket—raised by their single mom, Liz—and the choices each woman makes for the people they love.

In the present, Cricket is playing for the U.S. Women’s Olympic soccer team while Mia, once a promising soccer player herself, is giving birth and watching the game from her hospital bed. Flashbacks take us to Liz’s own teenage years when her dreams of playing for UCLA were cut short by an unexpected pregnancy. Soccer is woven through all their lives, both a passion and a symbol of what was gained and lost.

What really stood out to me was the emotional depth and complex relationships—especially the bond between Mia and Cricket. You feel every moment of their love, resentment, and sacrifice. The writing is vivid and thoughtful, and the soccer history sprinkled throughout added a meaningful layer, especially if you’re a fan of the sport.

That said, the drama can feel a little over the top at times (these women really go through it), and I did wish the present-day storyline had a bit more time to breathe. There’s also a quiet tension around the theme of self-sacrifice that made me think critically about the expectations we place on women, especially mothers and sisters.

Still, this is a heartfelt, emotional read with unforgettable characters. If you’re into stories about sisterhood, resilience, and the cost of loving deeply, this one’s worth picking up.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fan of this author’s writing since her debut. This was not my favorite—the first half was so soccer-centric, but redeemed in the second half … and that ending … swoon.
Definite TJR/Carrie Soto vibes.
Captivating writing and characters.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for this e-ARC.

This novel is a heartfelt read that will especially resonate with anyone who grew up playing soccer or has a deep love for the U.S. Women's National Team. (There’s also a touch of Gilmore Girls energy for those who appreciate that dynamic—though I didn’t watch it myself.)

The story follows a young, single mother who relocates to Maine with her daughter, later giving birth to another. The two sisters grow up immersed in soccer and the everyday challenges of a single-parent household. When their mother dies, they’re forced to navigate not only their grief, but also the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they attempt to redefine their relationship and their sense of identity.

Dramatic and emotionally layered, the book explores love, heartbreak, career struggles, and infertility. The narrative moves at a brisk pace with short, compelling chapters that make it easy to fall into the “just one more” trap. A moving and accessible story about family, resilience, and finding your way through loss.

I was drawn into this book by the synopsis, which I found to be different from the ways things actually unfolded in my head. Regardless, this is a story about sisterhood and the sacrifices we make for each other's dreams, told through the perspectives of two sisters who did just that. But when something big comes up, after Cricket's big break in her soccer career, it changes everything and forces the characters to make even more difficult decisions. The writer did an excellent job of fleshing out these characters, and the writing and clear and accessible, making this quite the entertaining read for me!

A really solid story about sisterhood that hit me right in the heart. I felt so deeply for these girls. Loved the writing, loved the story, big fan of this!

I really enjoyed Spectacular Things. It was a moving story around grief, family relationships and finding the thing that makes you truly happy even if it isn't the thing that you have always thought that it was. I highlighted and made notes of so many thoughts, ideas and quotes from this book for future reference. The story telling was really beautiful. I was absolutely captivating from the start but I did feel like that story lost a little bit of steam in the middle. It was a little harder to stay engaged. But a great story overall.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Don't worry if you, like me, know next to nothing about soccer because this isn't about soccer, it's about sisters. This starts with a dilemma you think will be easy to solve but it's not, not at all and the story moves back and forh in time to tell the tale of Mia and Cricket. Liz raised her daughters Mia and Cricket to use their gifts, most especially their athletic ability but then she's gone and Mia gives up so much to care for Cricket. Cricket, an incredibly talented goal keeper, charges ahead, as Mia's world shrinks to their small Maine town but is buoyed by Oliver (a good guy if ever there was one). Then there's Sloane, a wealthy young woman who competes with Cricket at every turn. It flips between the sisters, a welcome way of providing perspective on their choices. This one is emotional without ever becoming melodramatic, which would have been easy given all that happens to these women. They feel very real, as does the situation. I have no idea how realistic it is with regard to the soccer but the game wasn't the point (although I did root for Cricket to get her chance). Dorey-Stein is a great storyteller, who pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

The author has a great talent of showing not telling when it comes to her characters. For example you only understand how young Liz was when Mia finds unopened bills in her room after she was gone. Or how you only understand how lonely Cricket was when she answers a young fan regarding how she celebrates her soccer wins.

I loved this book and I loved all three of the Lowe women. The character growth is engaging and I read this book over a weekend with a tissue box by my side. You know how some books make you bawl your eyes out and you are better for it? This is one of those books.

I am thankful to @randomhousepublishing and @netgalley for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review.

“What a gift!” Beck Dorey-Stein has written an emotional tour de force about the bonds between a mother and her two daughters. Liz, an incredible soccer player, ends up having to forgo college to raise her daughter. Years later history repeats itself. She instills many values in Mia and Cricket, along with a pure love for soccer, walks on the beach, and a yearly polar plunge in the frigid waters of Maine. While Mia is an excellent soccer player, Cricket is truly a child prodigy. Over the years Mia gives up much of her own life to help Cricket.
The dynamics between each of them vacillates from love to commitment to resentment. My heart went out to Mia who was always there to support both her mom and especially Cricket, even if it radically interfered with her own life. Her chosen career path after having to forgo college in order to help her mother support Cricket’s goals was working at an animal clinic.
Cricket was a fascinating character to me. Everything came so easily to her, until it didn’t. I enjoyed being a bystander as her relationship with Sloane continuously changed. The numerous appearances of her mom brought tears to my eyes. I so admired the determination she used to achieve her goals which were frequently fueled by her mom’s advice.
Loved Coach Oliver and his relationship with both Cricket and Mia. Also learned much more about professional soccer.
An amazing tale that will run the gamut of your emotions - causing laughter, tears, heartbreak, ambition, frustration, fear and joy. Many thanks to Beck Dorey-Stein, The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this very engaging story.
Four and a half stars. Don’t pass this gem up.

This story between two sisters being co-dependent was BEAUTIFUL.

I do feel like the story dragged a bit and could’ve pack a bigger punch if it was shorter but none the less I enjoyed it a lot!

The Lowe sisters and mom have been through some really hard times, and they always seem to find a way out and always with grace.
Mia and Cricket are close. They struggle with everyday life next to their single mom Liz. Liz once had a dream and a path set on attending UCLA and a brilliant soccer career.
The sisters have always been taught to sacrifice anything and everything for each other, even if they aren't asked to do so. When their mom passes, they are hit with a tough reality. Mia must drop out of college and be the legal guardian for her sister. Their life after mom is still full of trials, heartache, and loss. But when Cricket finally makes it to the Women's Champions, she is asked to help keep Mia alive by giving her something she needs to survive. Will the sisters be able to once again come through for each other and make the ultimate sacrifice?

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing, for this ebook arc. All opinions are entirely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House/The Dial Press for the ARC. A family saga with the focus on the two sisters played in two timelines. My first book by this author and I enjoyed it. It was a little bit slow at times especially when it was back giving the history of the family but it all came together in the end.

Overall I really liked this book. It was a hard read but not in a bad way, just because hard things kept happening to the characters.

Slight spoilers ahead: we don't actually see Cricket wrestling with the choice, which, after everything, really felt necessary to see on page; when we catch up to the events of the opening chapters, we jump to five years later and how she's handling things after making her choice. I felt like I lost all of the momentum the book had been building to and I honestly don't understand the choice to not show that on the page, even if it had just been a sentence or a paragraph. The book did recover after that and I loved the ending, but that moment felt like SUCH a huge derailment and like it failed to deliver on the promise of the opening—that it was about the choice, that the choice itself was a big deal—that it knocked a star or two off for me (I was wavering around a four before this, and this ended up as a 2.5, rounded up because Netgalley doesn't allow for half stars). The whole book was building to that moment, opening with it created a tension that informed every single piece of the rest of the story, and then the wind just completely went out of the sails.

I will recommend this book, but only to some people, and with a (as unspoilery as possible) disclaimer about the fact we don't get to sit with that choice in the moment when ALL of the other choices in the book are given a lot more page time. That being said, this was otherwise a four star read for me and I would love to read more from Beck Dorey-Stein because the prose, the characters, and the plot where all very much there for me.

Wow I loved this book. I loved the story. I loved Cricket and Mia. They are what every sisterhood should experience imo.

The only problem I had here was it was just sliiiiightly too long and repetitive.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

What a sweet and heartwarming story about family, sacrifices and choices we make when we finally choose ourselves.

The writing was great, witty at times and devastating at others. I felt for the characters and lived through life experiences with them. That's how close the author makes you to the characters.
I think Mia was my favorite main character because of how sweet and selfless she was her whole life.
And I loved the ending, it was so bittersweet!!!

p.s. Oliver is sooooo baby girl imo lol I loved him.

4.5 stars from me
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Liz Lowe is a soccer star on her way to play college soccer, until she got pregnant with Mia. She sacrificed soccer to raise her baby girl. A few years later, Cricket came along. Liz pushed her love of soccer into both her girls. She did so much that she had to work 2 jobs to pay for funds for their bills and soccer needs. With this, Mia had to sacrifice soccer to take care of everything at home and get Cricket to her practices and camps, while her mother worked. They both worked together to make sure Cricket had everything she needed. Cricket always needed Mia, but all of a sudden, Mia needs Cricket. After everything Mia has sacrificed and done for Cricket, will Cricket do the same for her sister?

Spectacular Things is a beautiful story and it is one of my favorite books I've read this year so far! I was so happy to see the character development of the two sisters and watch them grow closer after tragedy struck.

This is a beautiful, painful stories of co-dependant sisters. Of pain, of joy, of need, of want.

Sisterhood is unique in any family and this one is no different. While the co-dependency was a crux, the constant issues and problems were a bit overwhelming.

Still, it's a beautiful story about two women and how they have grown.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Centered on the close-knit Lowe family in coastal Maine, Spectacular Things follows two sisters—Mia, the responsible academic, and Cricket, an energetic soccer phenom, who live with their single mother, Liz. As Mia grapples with caregiving duties and Cricket chases athletic glory, the sisters confront love, ambition, family secrets, and what they’re willing to sacrifice to keep each other afloat.

At it's core, the novel is about the bond between the 2 sisters and what one would give up for the other to pursue their dreams. Their mom was a fledgling soccer star who was derailed by an early preganancy and does not want the same for her daughters. Can Cricket's pursuit of a soccer career undermine all the work that Mia spent taking care of her? This book has strong, well-developed female characters that struggle with relationships and careers, just like the rest of us.

Spectacular Things is a deeply engaging, character-driven novel that celebrates the messy beauty of family—especially sisterhood—against the backdrop of ambition and personal sacrifice. Dorey‑Stein’s storytelling sparkles with warmth and emotional intelligence, even when the plot leans melodramatic. If you enjoy emotionally rich sagas about resilience, loyalty, and growth, this novel delivers a satisfying, heartfelt read.