Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Unfortunately, at a quarter of the way in, I decided I couldn’t finish. The story started off okay, but the characters are not believable, nor did I feel drawn in.

I thank Netgalley and Dial Press Marketing for sending me this ARC.
Sadly, this was not a good fit.

The book starts at the present, where we are introduced to Mia and Cricket. They are both in very important moments of their lives, but not close to each other. Once they are reunited and a decision needs to be made, we go back decades to see where this sister's strength came from. In the "past", we meet their mother and how these girls came to life.

I have to say that this is where I stopped reading. I made the tough decision to DNF this book at around 30%. This has to do with a very specific reason, and I may be the outlier here, so if you want to get to know the Lowe sisters, take a chance on this family story.
However, the decision to DNF came from the personal dislike of the way the story is delivered to the reader.

This book has a third-person omniscient narrator (not a character), but 80-90% of each chapter is the narrator's description. I've never crossed paths with this type of writing, where the narrator is almost the backbone of the story without being a character, and I was not convinced.
I like a narrator that helps understand the story, the settings, the feelings, ... but other than that, the majority of all of this needs to come from the characters. This book felt like someone was telling me a story. It didn't feel like the characters were living it, while the narrator only helped to make it "juicier".

This is a very specific reason to DNF, since it is a personal taste in the writing. For this reason, I made sure this is clear in my Goodreads review.
Moreover, I never mentioned the title of the ARC on my posts on Bookstagram. In my May books, it is stated as "ARC that I don't want to reveal the title since I DNF'd it".

Spectacular Things is a beautiful work of literary fiction. It follows two sisters, Mia and Cricket, and their mom Liz. The book starts with Mia going into labor while the US Women's Soccer team plays for gold in the 2028 Olympics with Cricket as the backup goalie. Soon after both events Cricket is told that Mia is in desperate need of help, but that she would have to give up soccer in order to help. The narrative then jumps back to their mom giving a quick peak into her childhood, her teenage soccer superstardom, and her teenage pregnancy, before chronicling the lives of both sisters all the way up to where the book started. The book explores the sacrifices that all three women made to make Cricket's soccer career possible; the parentification of Mia, the pressure put on Cricket, and the financial strain on Liz just to name a few. It delves into the relationship and deep the love the three women have for each other, Liz's past and how it impacts her daughter, loyalty, persistence, family, and of course, soccer.

I absolutely loved this book. I was a bit apprehensive going into it, because I'm not a sports person and I often find it hard to enjoy stories involving sports, but I did not have that issue with this book. I was so invested in in every part of this book, Cricket's soccer career included. It was so beautifully written and the characters and their relationships were so fleshed out, which was the highlight of this already fantastic book. I was able to understand the complications and nuances of the characters, their choices, and their relationships with such clarity. I cried multiple times and read the book all in one day because I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you to The Dial Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing/Random House for the arc of this book!

Rating rounded from 4.5.

I had no expectations going into this book, as it was sent to me with no context. However as a lover of family stories and women's soccer, it had all the pieces of something I would love.

The story weaves a multigenerational tale of Liz Lowe and her daughters - Mia and Cricket. Although the plot takes the reader through 30+ years of this family, the true gift of the story is that the book is driven by the love the characters have for each other. There is something so special about the connection between Mia and Cricket, while something so sad about the ways they feel they need to take care of each other vs. their dreams.

I found this to be compulsively readable, their story to be interesting, and the characters lovable. The way the story tied up at the end felt satisfying as well.

I really loved this story about two sisters but also about their strong independent mother. Even though they constantly had things thrown at them or stacked against them they always showed up for each other. I definitely recommend

Final rating: 4.5 stars

Stories about families have always touched my heart and Spectacular Things was no exception! Right from the beginning, you are thrown into the lives of the Lowe sisters (and later on their mother, Liz) and they immediately feel real and complex. You don't even know their backstory yet, but you know it will be a tale of love and hardship alike.
Although or maybe because the chapters are short, they are poignant and pack a punch. It was so easy to fly through their story and root for them to make their dreams come true. I know that I'm neither as ambitious nor determined, not as selfless or gifted as Mia and Cricket, but it was a joy to see them become the women they ended up being. Maybe not just because of their mother, but sometimes also despite of her.

The one thing that took me out a little was the mention of Covid, which is entirely a me-thing. I get that it was used as a means to mark time and show real world connection, but it was added for only such a brief time and I didn't think it added much to the story that was being told.

A moving exploration of sisterhood, friendship, ambition, grief, and what we choose to make of our talent. The novel begins with Mia and Cricket in 2028. A tragedy occurs and the story shifts back to 1989 and introduces us to Liz, the mother of Mia and Cricket. Mia gave up a lot to make sure her younger sister Cricket could focus on her honing her soccer skills. Now, when it is Cricket’s turn to give something up, she isn’t sure she is up for the sacrifice…

I thought this was a compelling and exciting read, full of characters you want to keep spending time with and getting to know better. We get the perspectives of Liz, Cricket, and Mia and learn more about their upbringing, their choices, and their struggles. The writing was lovely and has a warm, intimate, and realistic feel. I do wish we spent a little more time with the sisters in their present day and overall, I enjoyed this very much.

Novels about sisters (or sports for that matter) are not typically ones I prioritize reading so I’m sending a big thank you to Random House (and NetGalley) for sending this my way and piquing my curiosity.

This was a story of sisters over a span of 50 years. I don’t have sisters so I found it interesting to see the relationship unfold between them. Thank you net galley for allowing me to read this book! I would recommend it to my friends especially my soccer loving friends!

Spectacular things tells the story of sisters Mia and Cricket, who lost their mother when they were young. Cricket is a goalie on the US Women's national Soccer team. Just as she gets her big break, Mia needs a kidney. Cricket must choose between her sister and her career.

Mia and Cricket's mother was on her way to UCLA on a soccer scholarship when she got pregnant. She cut ties with her family, who wanted her to end the pregnancy, and moved to Maine to raise Mia. She gets pregnant with Cricket when the Mia's father briefly appears in Maine. As a single mother, she struggled to make ends meet, but with Mia's help and sacrifice is able to pay for Cricket's elite soccer team. It is a story of love, sacrifice, and resilience. I was frustrated by the amount of responsibility placed on Mia at a young age, but that is the crux of the story.

cute novel about sisters and growing up. I have a sister and can relate to parts of this. It’s a sister bond that sticks forever.

Spectacular Things is such a beautiful book of family, love, passion, dedication, devotion, and most of all, believing. The story of two sisters begins first during the youth of their mother and then her life raising them, without their father. They grow to be strong people as well as outstanding soccer players, thriving but not in the way we first expect. Life twists, turns and unsettles until it rights itself again. Excellently written with superb, engrossing character portrayal and location development. A truly spectacular read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Mia and Cricket are sisters, close to each other, but each with a "role". Mia is responsible and academically oriented, Cricket the more free-spirit and athletic sister with a love of soccer. The book unfolds in a particular way, explaining the dynamic of the sisters' relationship, how that plays out over the years and contributes to their individuality, and how the role of their parents, present or otherwise, played into the forging of the sisters' identities.

This book reflects on codependency, sacrifice, and the ties that bind people together. The characters in this book are relatable, as they have common flaws and experience every day trials, as well. There is a lot of emotional depth in these pages, and the author writes it so that the reader can sympathize with both sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/The Dial Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein is nothing other than SPECTACULAR!!!! I really enjoyed this story line. The characters, the sisters, the locations, soccer … everything was great. It is close to my heart since my sister had a kidney transplant at age 35 and is still doing great at age 58! I got tested to give her a kidney but found out I was not a match. She was on dialysis for over a year and it was tough on her. This will be one of my fave books of 2025. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published July 1, 2025.

This was a 5-star read for me- I absolutely loved this book. This a story about love, family, sisters, sacrifice, dreams, and consequences. Without giving too much away, Liz is a rising soccer star with a full ride to UCLA when she gets pregnant. Ever the self-sufficient go-getter, Liz decides to move to Maine and raise her daughter, Mia, alone to be a soccer star. A few years later, she has another daughter. Cricket, and in a short time it becomes obvious that Cricket is the real star, and the family works to see her make the US National team. The book begins in the future and then jumps back to the beginning; this really works well to hook the reader and then build the plot. I don’t even know how to fully describe this story it but I really loved it. I have never played soccer but was very engrossed in the plot and Cricket and Mia’s journey. This book is also extremely well written. I will definitely check out the author’s other fiction novel now!

Thank you to Random House and
NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel!

I absolutely loved Spectacular Things! It’s such a beautifully written story about sisters, love, and chasing your dreams; even when it means making some really tough choices. As someone who has a sister, I felt so connected to the characters. Their bond, the ups and downs, the love and tension, it all felt so real. Beck Dorey-Stein totally nailed it, and I can’t wait to read more of her books. Highly recommend this one!

Spectacular Things is a contemporary adult fiction novel alternating between the POVs of sisters, Cricket and Mia. The store is told in two timelines - present day and their childhood.

It is a slow burn family drama with solid character development. The novel taunts the reader with the following question: among family what is too much to give? What should these sisters sacrifice for each other.

The story includes family drama, unraveling secrets and tough decisions that must be made. Decisions that will affect both of them for the rest of their lives.

Dorey-Stein does a great job making the read sympathize with both Mia and Cricket - there is no villain in this story. This is a heartbreaking read with some heavy topics. Overall, it is a great story of family strength and love.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future reads from the author. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

This was a decent read but I just wasn't fully invested in the soccer Olympic team storyline. The theme of codependency is strong and it wasn't my favorite and it grew tiresome that they just couldn't catch a break. While all believable and with good writing, it just wasn't my favorite. You could see the bond between the sisters though and that was lovely. Thank you!

I would love to give this book 5 stars but unfortunately I can’t. It started with great promise. I also was with my daughter, a high school junior, and her soccer team at the 1999 World Cup finals. The soccer in this book was expertly done. It really showed the growth of the sport and the life of players with much accuracy. Where it fell down for me was the family situations. They did not ring true starting with the original parents. The good people were too good and the bad ones too bad. I didn’t find it realistic.

Beck Dorey-Stein does not disappoint in this tale of sisters. Written in her signature style, this book will leave you breathless and make you think!

A beautifully written story of the love between two sisters. While you get the happily ever after at the end, the biggest feeling this story left me with was sadness.

Quick summary: Mia and Cricket are born to a single mother, Liz, who does her best to make their lives happy. With the birth of the girls, Liz has to give up her dream of being a soccer star and instead imparts that dream on her daughters. When Cricket shows the potential to make the dream a reality, both Liz and Mia give almost everything to help Cricket make it happen.

What I liked about the story: in addition to loving the writing, I appreciated the depth the author brings to the relationship between sisters - capturing not just the love but the jealousy, anger, selfless-ness, and care that make it feel real.

What I didn’t like: several things made me sad as I read this story. First, Liz putting her wants and dreams on her daughters to a fault (e.g., the pressure Mia felt to not ‘leave her mom hanging’ even at age 4) let alone the intentional pressure she puts on Mia to help Cricket excel at soccer. Second, how much of Mia’s life she gives to her sister without Cricket realizing let alone appreciating. Yes it’s selfless and altruistic…but I would argue to a fault. Third, looking beyond the book and instead to broader society, I don’t know how I feel about supporting media that celebrates codependency and teenage pregnancy. Let alone the circumstances under which Liz became pregnant.

Thank you to Beck Dorey-Stein, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.