Spectacular Things" tells the story of the Lowe girls: Liz, a young girl neglected by her parents who discovers soccer as her true passion - and then gives it up to raise her two daughters; Mia, the eldest child, raised more as a partner than as a daughter, full of responsibilities from a very young age; and Cricket, the promising young soccer star, who only sees her worth in connection with her performance.

The book is an exploration of family legacy, the sacrifices we make for the ones we love, and how to reconcile the life we want with the one we end up having. I found the premise fascinating, and the love of soccer permeated the book, making it very tangible.

That said, I think the book had several shortcomings that prevented me from fully immersing myself in the story. First of all, I found the narrative style too dramatic, and the way the story unfolded looked more like a collection of salient scenes than a proper book. There was no space to breathe, because something notable was happening in every chapter. It felt a bit like seeing a highlight reel instead of the full game, to borrow a sports metaphor. It didn't help that the narration was very focused on giving all the info and didn't leave any space for the characters to actually show themselves: it was very much a "tell, don't show", with barely any dialogue or action happening in real time. The result is that I didn't grow attached to the characters, as they never felt real.

I also felt that the story was a bit "too much" at times. Way too many tragedies befall these poor girls, and since the book only focuses on salient parts, there is no room for the reader to actually recover from the downfalls. Moreover, since everything happens so fast, I didn't really feel any emotion, even with the most tragic storylines. As said before, the characters didn't feel real, and so their suffering didn't really matter.

The other main shortcoming is the utter lack of chemistry or tension between the romantic characters, to the point that the author tells you they are in love and you have to believe her, because nothing in their interaction was leading to that. In general I felt that the characters were puppets on a string, being tossed here and there by a cruel narrator that just wanted to push them as much as she could.

I finished the book as I felt the obligation to, since it was an ARC, but had I borrowed it from the library, I would've probably DNF.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! Spectacular Things is about two sisters, Mia and Cricket, and their life in Maine. This book spans approximately 40 years, allowing us to follow the journey of the sisters. Be prepared to get emotional!

Spectacular Things is a story about love, loss, sacrifices, and new beginnings. This book follows the journey of two very complex sisters in two different complex situations. Mia is the typical older sister who would sacrifice anything for her sister, Cricket. Cricket is a die-hard soccer fan who would do anything to get to make it big in the sport. However, one day changed their lives forever.

This was written so beautifully. We get beautifully written prose about the sisters' journeys. What else could you ask for? Dory-Stein does a great job of writing such complex characters and relationships. While it took me a minute to get into the book, I was hooked and finished 50% of it in a day. I would highly recommend if you have a sister!

My only hesitation coming into the book was the soccer aspect of it. I don't really care for sports so I wasn't thrilled to see this was a soccer-heavy book. However, don't let this turn you off from reading it. I came to really enjoy soccer and reading about Cricket's journey and the sacrifices she made to make it in her sport.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy. This was an awesome read. It’s touching story of soccer, dedication, family and strong women. Liz sacrificed her soccer dreams to have her daughter, Mia. Together, they grew. Liz instilling her soccer dreams and dedication to Mia. Mia’s father makes a short appearance in their lives and disappears leaving Liz pregnant once again. Cricket is born and she exhibits all the signs of a soccer star. When Liz suddenly dies, all of Mia’s dreams do too as she’s Cricket’s guardian. We watch Cricket rise to stardom but at what price. When Mia needs her, Cricket walks away. The girls reunite under dire circumstances and Cricket finally does the selfless thing - saves Mia.

As a lover of all things Olympics and sports in general, this book hit on all cylinders. But it is much more than that as it has all the makings of a coming of age novel as well. The themes of loss, grief , self-sacrifice, commitment and sibling relationships are all masterfully incorporated into this easy read. My favorite quote from the book is “ To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
Thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse/Dial Press for the opportunity to enjoy this book in advance.

Reading this one after a few horror novels was a great palate cleanser. I can really enjoy a great family/sibling story - and this one did the trick. I am an only child so when I read sibling stories like this is gives me a taste of what it would have been like, but then also makes me know that I love not having any of this drama in my life! If you like sibling/family stories or are just looking for a really good read, this one will do the trick!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a definite 3.5-star read for me. While I enjoyed it overall, it got tedious in some parts and I found myself getting frustrated with Cricket.

As an eldest daughter, this was hard to read!! The sacrifices Mia made were genuinely tough to sit through sometimes.

While I didn’t dislike the story, it lacked that pull that makes you want to devour it in one sitting. There’s plenty of drama and emotional moments, but it’s clear early on that the Lowe sisters will be just fine. They face obstacles, sure, but things mostly fall into place for them, which made the plot feel a bit too predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing, for this emotional book.

The live between the sisters, Cricket and Mia is were beautifully done. Full of emotions and tough lufe changing decisions.

I was spellbound!

Tissues needed.

a fantastic look into the complexity of sibling relationships, particularly the bond you share with your sister. you're so different. you're mirrors of each other, no matter how hard you try to run away from it.

I loved this book. As a mother of two daughters, one who plays high level soccer and entering her senior year I felt so. Connected to the story. I loved the raw honesty about what it takes to “make it all the way” but more clearly all the sacrifices the rest of the family has to make to get the one person there. I felt every sacrifice one sister made for the other and the frustration the entire family felt trying to strive to achieve the collective goal which ultimately was for one person. I see it on the sideline all the time how manh parents are convinced their kids are going to get these huge scholarships and their poor siblings being dragged up and down the east coast go tournament after tournament when the odds are not in anyone’s favor. The author really got that sentiment right.

I started this book before bed. Stayed up late and read 50%, finished the last 50% when I awoke. It was that good. I just couldn't stop. Cricket and Mia have been through a lot in their short lives. The book opens with Mia trying to get to the hospital to have a baby and Cricket about to compete in the World Cup. I am not a soccer fan, don't understand it, and soccer has a big place in the book. Liz, the girls' mom was a phenom and then both the girls were. That's not the part that got me. What got me was Liz giving up soccer for her family. What got me was how the girls banded together in a crisis. What got me was how you can survive after what you think is the worst that can happen, actually happens.

I thought this book was just beautiful.

Spectacular Things hits so many high notes for me: sisters, soccer, women’s sports. The heart of the story is solid and I enjoyed it so much. Some parts just felt very long, and I know the author was trying to give the complete story but I did find myself wishing certain parts would go by a bit more quickly. Overall, it is a very enjoyable story with beautiful relationships. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy to review!

I was really thinking I was going to love this book but in the end, it wasn’t for me. I do think it is one that if it’s your style, would be a great book to have by the pool or at the beach.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Two sisters raised by a single mother are united in their love of soccer and a bond to each other. When tragedy strikes, their bond is tested.

I am such a sucker for a sister dynamic in a story! I have a sister who is 10 months longer and I couldn't stop placing us in the pages of these stories. I loved this story - I savored it, simply adored this.

Mia and Cricket are sisters who are gifted, and this is their journey from children to young adults. After their mother dies in an accident, Mia becomes Cricket's legal guardian. The story is told with tender moments, a tradition that their mother started, they named New Year, whether it was a new year or not. It helped get them through the difficult times, times they just needed a reset, and to remember their mother.
Their relationship changed from being sisters, to Mia guiding her through high school, and helping her with her college choices. When Cricket was getting ready for college, Mia decided she had to change the plans they had. They were supposed to go to the same college, but Mia decided to stay where she is. Things change again after that, and as their journey continues, we see the changes that take place, the decisions they have to make, and how this part of their journey winds down.
It is a story that the writing brings through the emotions, the love, and the ups and downs that life has given them. I so enjoyed this book and hope you will choose to read it, if you check out the reviews.
I received an ARC from The Dial Press through NetGalley.

dnf at 50%

v entertaining, especially in the beginning. it just started dragging at around 40% and I lost interest.

women's soccer is so cool :')

Said simply, this is a beautiful story of sisters. When books are this wonderful, it's hard to find the words to write about them because the words within are so, so good and mine pale in comparison. It's the story of the complexities of family and relationships and love and life choices, and again, it's just masterful storytelling. I was so captivated by the journey of Mia and Cricket - Their story starts at the end, and then works it's way back from the beginning to this point again - There is so much along the way, and that's what makes it outstanding. I'll just say one more time how much I adored this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the look at this gem of a read out in July 2025!

A story that touched my heart and that I will be thinking about for a long time. Spanning over almost 50 years, this book revolves around a mother, her two daughters, soccer and love. Beautifully written and inspiring.

Thank you Dial Press for the e ARC of this and netgalley! From the very first page, this pulled me into a world rich with emotion, love, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. This beautifully written novel is more than just a story—it’s a heartfelt tribute to family, resilience, and the quiet strength that holds us together during life’s most difficult moments. I also love any Maine setting book!

Two sisters are very close friends but they have to make the hard decision of what they are willing to sacrifice to make their family dreams come true. There mom is a hard working single mom but they have to decide how to best support their family and they both have an important role to play.