I loved this book! It was a beautiful story about family intertwined with a really interesting story about the love of soccer that the family shares. I really enjoyed having the stakes set right at the beginning and then going back in time for the rest of the story.

This book starts out with an ethical dilemma--would you give everything you have spent your life working for in order to save someone's life? At the beginning, we don't know the decision that Cricket will make, but as the book unfolds, we learn of the special relationship that sisters Cricket and Mia have and how much they both sacrificed for each other, and especially for Cricket. The characters are interesting and likable, and the writing is very engaging. On the downside, the plot is a bit formulaic, and by abut half way through the book I was pretty sure how it would end (and i was right). Overall, though, a solid story that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you to the Author, Beck Dorey-Stein, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this Arc!

This book is touching. It has a great story, showing the nuance and struggles of life while also bringing hope of the future and the gift of living in the present. There were times that I wished we could go deeper into the narrative where we just scratched the surface. I think it just took me longer than normal to connect with these characters for that reason. Even when I did connect with them, I wanted more, though that’s just selfish of me.
As a New Englander I felt like I was going home when I picked up this book, which was wicked. My favorite part of this book though has to be the way the author wrote the relationships and how they played out. She really put an emphasis on transactional relationships, and showing that we put too much emphasis on what we or someone else is doing for the other. We think this is what we need for the relationship to be a good or a deep one. Though at the end this book we’re reminded that you can love someone no matter what they do or don’t bring to your life, as long as they are there. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go call my sister.

4.75⭐️

This book ended up being the such special and unexpected gift. I was invested with the story literally from the first pages. I all haven’t expected a lot of twists and turns that this book had. The exploration of sisterhood and sacrifices that families do for each other was made with such tenderness but also truthfulness. I adored both Cricket and Mia, such different but also similar characters. Both of them had great yet challenging journeys. Ups and downs, struggles and triumphs all was there.

Sport aspect, women’s football specifically take huge part in this book and it was also written quite well. I myself had a huge urge to find some more about local women’s football team and start supporting it more or even join some amateur one just to challenge myself. This story also talks about love, in its differentiation of forms. From family love to love towards your favorite sport. And of course romantic love, the way romance relationships was portrayed in this book really made it whole. They are weren’t in your face or in the foreground, it was there were it needed to be in perfect amounts.

Ending also got me, because I was so interested in how everything gonna be wrapped up and then I became excited to finally have those happy moments with girls in the final.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review⚽️

I had mixed feelings about this book, but I will recommend for all public libraries. The book’s backdrop was against the sport of women’s soccer, and that just did not hold my interest. I found myself putting the book down and coming back. Mia and Cricket are two very well developed characters, and the author succeeded in showing the complexities of their relationship and asks the question what would you give up for the person you love the most.

This novel never hooked me. I found nothing that I identified with. There is an incredibly heavy beginning which I found difficult to relate to.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book was such a pleasant surprise. It was offered to me as an ARC and I knew nothing about it and I loved it. It had such a lovely New England setting and a story about sisters who grew up together after their mother died. One becomes a soccer star and one needs a kidney (no spoilers that happens in the first 5 minutes of the book.). This book is about love, and family, and sisterhood, and I loved every minutes of it. If you like complicated family plot driven novels, then this is for you.

I’ve read a lot of books about the complexities of families set in Maine, so I went into Spectacular Things expecting something familiar. But I was pleasantly surprised—this book has a vibe all its own. With dual timelines, big feelings, and standout writing, I absolutely loved it. It’s like Carrie Soto except it’s soccer instead of tennis—with sisters.

Family, happiness, life goals and dreams (both on and off the soccer field). I loved this story! And didn’t want to put it down.

This was such an emotional and throught-provoking book!! I wasn't expecting it to be so emotional and it really got me. I love a book that can make me feel things and this one certainly made me feel so many things. Even as someone without a sister, I still felt really moved by Mia and Cricket's sisterly bond. Definitely read this if you enjoy well written characters and family dramas.

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley. It has a lot of life-changing moments in it between mother and daughters and between sisters. I thought about what I might do faced with those situations, but I think it's hard to really know until you are in that situation personally. I really enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down despite not being a sports fan.

Spectacular Things is a family saga about three exceptional women. Liz, the mother, works hard and loves harder. She sees the potential in her children and pushes them to achieve all that she missed as a young, single mother whose unexpected pregnancy the summer before starting her soccer scholarship to UCLA ended her soccer career. Her daughters, Mia and Cricket, strive to achieve those dreams in her stead. Mia, the eldest, works hard at school and harder at home to help care for her baby sister, Cricket, as Liz takes on extra work to fund Cricket's soccer dreams. Despite secrets from the past and many sacrifices, the three women are closely bonded by love, loyalty, fun, and soccer.

This story starts in the present, flashing between Mia and Cricket, both on the precipice of achieving their dreams. After a few chapters in the present, the story starts at Liz's childhood and continues chronologically from there.

At first, I thought that the chapters in the present were an odd choice. It wasn't just a brief prologue to set up the story, but multiple chapters. I felt frustrated during those first couple of chapters- like I'd skipped the first half of the book. The reader is thrown into the end of their stories without a chance to see them grow- it was jarring and lacked the build up. Buuuuuut this choice ended up really working for me. (Slight spoiler) I kept expecting an obvious problem to appear, but the sisters' dreams both seemed to be achieved... until a twist that perfectly sets up the rest of the story.

A contemporary saga about family bonds, sacrifices, and what it means to love- with lots of soccer!

Spectacular Things by new to me author Beck Dorey-Stein, published by Random House is an adult fiction contemporary small town novel. Telling the story of sisters Mia and Cricket, a story of history maybe repeating itself, a touching story that's literally unputdownable, 5 stars.

Soccer sisters. Cricket is a star and Mia is her number one fan.

They were raised by a single mom, Liz, who worked hard to help her youngest, Cricket, to be the best in soccer. Meanwhile, she asked Mia to be supportive by cleaning and cooking so her sister could concentrate on the sport.

Later, in their 20s, their sisterly love was knocked over by what baseball fans would call a classic curveball. Mia had a serious medical scare and needed a kidney transplant. Her husband asked Cricket to help out. Would Cricket stop her high-speed goals to save her sister? Donating a kidney would mean she would need to drop out from her sights on the gold at the Olympics.

This is the point where you would stop early in the book to think about your own siblings if you are fortunate like me to have them. Would they possibly save your life at the peak of their professional career?

The story has a lot of other complex issues throughout with the relationships of the sister’s family and friends from 1989 to 2030. I wish I knew more about some of the relationships like the sister's dad.

The story revolved mostly around soccer which wasn't the best for me as I’m not a dedicated fan. However, for all those that love the sport, it will likely be a hit. The characters were charismatic and the chapters were short. While it was predictable, there were some heavy issues to think about.

My thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this advanced book with an expected release date of July 1, 2025.

Oh my heart. This book portrays a beautiful and sometimes tragic sister relationship as it evolves through the years. The book does an amazing job of seeing all points of view that you can’t help but root for both sisters to achieve their dreams despite knowing one is going to compromise

I received a free ARC ebook of Spectacular Things from NetGalley and The Dial Press in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular Things is a family saga centered around the high-stakes world of competitive sports. Liz, a talented soccer player, loses her parents' favor after an unexpected high school pregnancy. She relocates to Maine with her baby, Mia, determined to be a good mother while subtly pushing Mia towards the soccer success she never achieved.

The story takes an intriguing turn with the birth of Liz's second daughter, Cricket, who turns out to be the real soccer prodigy. The narrative then meticulously follows the rigorous training and profound sacrifices Liz, Mia, and Cricket make to reach the elite levels of athletics and the Olympics. A palpable sense of struggle and vulnerability defines this family, who navigates life without a safety net.

While the detailed accounts of their struggles and sacrifices occasionally felt overly drawn out, leading to a slightly extended reading experience, the novel's core message of unyielding hope and the varied paths to personal triumph resonated. It offers a powerful look at ambition and the true meaning of winning.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

We love a Maine title over here - native Mainer in the review! I thought the way the author comes out of the gate in this book was super interesting, introducing us to the two main characters as adults and then immediately propelling us back to their childhoods in coastal Maine. I did not have sisters so the dynamic here was incredibly interesting to me. The pushes and pulls of their lives and how codependent they were on each other without even realizing it at most points was truly something to be regarded, and I thought it was written incredibly well. There's tons of emotional depth to unpack throughout these pages and the writing was simply fantastic. This is a five star read that will end up on a lot of Best of 2025 lists by the end of the year.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein is a beautifully written, multigenerational story about Liz and her daughters, Mia and Cricket, and how soccer weaves through their lives. Set in Maine, it’s heartfelt, immersive, and filled with love. As someone with a sister who’s my best friend, this one hit deep—and will stay with me.

If a book is based on a medical dilemma, the author should verify that it's medically plausible. I enjoyed the writing but had to reject reading the book as the set up was medically incorrect/implausible.

The incredible new book by Beck Dorey-Stein, Spectacular Things, packs a solid punch from the first page, and doesn't stop punching until the final riveting chapters. I loved the book, I adored the characters, and I could not put it down. The story begins with two adoring sisters navigating their lives on a given day (albeit a very important day for both). After a life-changing decision rips their relationship in half, we, the readers, take a journey back through their lives getting to know each sister better and, ultimately, deciding which "team" we would likely support. The final chapters show us what happens when love supersedes everything else, allowing a story with a sisterly relationship that can only be dreamed of by a girl with two brothers. This is a spectacular achievement...one that I highly recommend and a summertime read that you won't soon forget.