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.

This family drama focuses on love, commitment, and sacrifice.

Liz's (young mother), Mia's (oldest daughter), and Cricket's (youngest daughter) lives all revolve around each other and soccer. Liz was a star in her own right with a full-ride athletic scholarship to UCLA until an unplanned pregnancy upended her life during her senior year. Against her parents' wishes, she is keeping the baby and forgoing the scholarship.

When Mia is born, Liz's parents take off for Europe for the summer and leave a message with the OB nurse for Liz - be sure to water the lawn while they're gone. Mia finds a place that she likes the sound of on the map - Victory, Maine, takes off with baby Mia, and she never looks back; nor does she ever speak to her parents again.

Liz works as hard at single motherhood as she did at her soccer skills passing her love of the game onto Mia. Years down the road, Liz and Mia are visited by man who is indeed Mia's father, and Mia has dreams of a true family unit. The visit is short lived, but some months later, younger sister, Cricket, is born. Liz tells Mia that she was a gift to her mom and that Cricket is Liz's gift to Mia.

If Liz and Mia were skilled at soccer, Cricket is indeed a prodigy. A disaster ensues though where the girls lose their mother, and Mia, who always acted as the adult, now must raise Cricket.

When the book opens, Cricket's Women's National Team is playing, and Mia (who is now married to Cricket's ex league soccer coach) is in the hospital delivering her first child. There are complications where Mia's life is in jeopardy and she loses function of her kidneys. She is put on dialysis and the transplant list, but Cricket could step in to donate a kidney as a life altering measure.

The story flashes back as we learn all about their pasts and also learn...what will one do for love and for family.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for this engaging family drama.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! From the different perspective jumps, to the way the characters are memorable and relate to each other aside from just a familial bond. I loved the tidbits we get about soccer, since I'm not a fan myself of the sport, but I absolutely loved the information. The story is a bit predictable at times, and sometimes slows down in the middle, but overall, it was a genuine good read!

This book was truly beautiful. Told over a span of nearly 50 years, it tells the story of Liz and her daughters, Mia and Cricket, and the influence their true love, soccer, has on each and how the sport ultimately shapes their lives.

Not only is the book beautifully written, it captures the reader from Chapter 1. I felt like I was there with them, in their house in Maine, walking along the beach. This one will stick with me for a while. My sister is my best friend so this one was extra special to me.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and author, Beck Dorey- Stein for this ARC. I will definitely be purchasing it when it’s released.

Spectacular Things: 4 Stars ⚽️👯‍♀️🏆

Read as an e-Arc and comes out on June 30th! This book surprised me in the best way. I originally requested it on NetGalley because I’ve been meaning to add more literary fiction into my reading cycle, and this one promised a strong sister dynamic I thought I’d relate to. The first few chapters quickly revealed that I wasn’t going to relate to the major themes as heavily as I initially imagined. However, that ended up not taking away from my experience, and I enjoyed reading through the depth, sacrifice, determination, and struggle of the Lowe girls.

Spectacular Things explores the theme of family sacrifice through many layers of tragic circumstance. Starting with Liz giving up her Soccer dreams at the age of 16, choosing instead to become a young mother. Then, through sacrifices that both her girls, Mia and Cricket (yes, a nickname), are forced to face.

If you have ever dealt with the early loss of a loved one, a deep passion for sport, or a competitive sibling relationship, then you're likely to deeply connect to this narrative! If you haven’t, like me, then you're in for really good storytelling and a captivating bond between characters.

There was a lot to admire in this novel about family and the many choices we make out of love, and obligation, especially the deeply nuanced relationship between sisters. It covers the span of their lives and much of their mother's, which sometimes slowed the pacing as it moved through so many years, but was ultimately an enjoyable and moving read.