4.25 stars
Spectacular Things follows sisters Mia and Cricket as they grow up in a small Maine town, trying to figure out who they are and what they owe to each other. Mia’s the responsible one, Cricket’s the soccer star, and both are carrying a lot—family pressure, big dreams, and a past that won’t stay buried.

Told in dual POV, this one dives deep into sisterhood, ambition, found family, and the fine line between loyalty and self-sacrifice. Emotional, thoughtful, and so well written—this book hit all the right notes for me.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorsey-Stein
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Calling all soccer fans!⚽️ Well not just soccer fans.. I am not a big soccer fan, in fact I don’t know many rules of soccer but that did not stop me from enjoying this beautiful story. I think if you enjoy stories with strong family ties, family drama, sacrifice, friendships and love, you will love this book.
A tender story about 2 sisters, Mia and Cricket (Kristine) both named after soccer greats, Mia Hamm and Kristine Lally. Their mom, Liz is a single mom who gave up a very promising soccer career to raise Mia. It reminded me of the tv series Ginny and Georgia where the mom is raising a daughter all while she herself is still a child. Cricket and Mia both given the gift of soccer from their mom and both with totally different personalities. Mia is the smart and responsible one that has to grow up too fast. Cricket is full of talent and energy, is evident that she is bound for soccer stardom. I fell in love with both these sisters- admired Mia’s quiet yet strong level headed determination and inspired by Cricket’s ambition and discipline as an athlete. When tragedy strikes, decisions and sacrifices must be made. How do these two sisters handle the situation? How does it affect their relationship?
This was such a powerful read for me with incredible character development - touching on so many things- family relationships, friendships, being an elite athlete, hopes and dreams, sacrifices, struggles and love. It was a book I wanted to keep reading and couldn’t wait to get back to reading once I put it down. Needless to say, my daily responsibilities were put on hold so I could read it (hey, it’s summer!) and shed a few tears pulling at my heart strings. I was rooting for both sisters and willing them to make the right choices. So many great quotes that I highlighted! Thank you to @netgalley @beckdoreystein @randomhouse @thedialpress for the e-Arc of this touching story. Also a @reesesbookclub pick. Out now! Highly recommend. **had to include a photo when my son was 5 playing ⚽️ 🥅💙 #books #bookstagram #booklover #noseinabook #bibliophile #reading #read #bookreview #NetGalley
#SpectacularThings #reesesbookclub

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Beck Dorey-Stein, and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

This story was absolutely beautiful. Beck Dorey-Stein managed to capture the beauty, rawness, and complexity of not only family, but life in general. There were so many relatable moments involving grief, sisterhood, motherhood, and relationships. I very much look forward to reading this author's future books!!

Reese's July Book Club pick, Spectacular Things is a must-read book about sisterhood, love and sacrifice. Told through a dual timeline, the novel traces the struggles and triumphs of sisters Mia and Cricket and their mother Liz, a once-promising soccer star whose own dreams were sidelined by motherhood.

Dorey‑Stein excels at crafting vivid, lived-in characters. From the very start, headstrong Liz will steal your heart. I absolutely loved her character and her devotion to her daughters, though her choices were not always right and the journey was not always easy. I identified with Mia and her typical eldest child traits of hyper responsibility, people-pleasing and self-sacrifice. Athlete Cricket, the free-spirited younger sibling, has her mother's gift which gives her life direction and purpose. Though the trajectories of these sisters lives are very different, what binds them together is their unwavering love for each other. And soccer.

At the heart of the novel lies a powerful question: how far do we go for the people we love, and what do we lose along the way? The novel tackles the complexities of family duty with nuance and compassion, refusing easy answers and instead honouring the messy, often painful realities of sisterly love and regret.

This coming-of-age story is rich with emotion and had me tearing up at the final pages. This is a novel that will make you cheer, cry, and reflect. I binged this book in its entirety in one sitting- I couldn't put it down. No notes. Perfection from start to finish.

I absolutely loved this book. Spamming several decades, this book follows two sisters through many heartbreaks and triumphs.

I absolutely loved that the author doesn't shy away from the grit and sacrifice that it takes, especially for women when it comes to athletic excellence.

What the book is:
🔘 A third person multiple timeline narrative that intricately weaves together the stories and legacy of Liz Lowe and her two daughters Cricket and Mia Lowe together into a beautiful story of family, the fierce love of mothers for their daughters, and sisterhood that is centered around women's soccer.
🔘 A sports themed novel that begins with Cricket getting her big shot for the USWNT, as her sister Mia and her husband are stuck watching the match from a TV in a hospital. As the story unravels you come to realize that the opening, much like the Lowe family, is not what it appears and has a lot more to uncover.
🔘 While there is some content in this book that was challenging like the loss of a parent and the predatory relationship that derailed Liz's career, I feel that the author does a great job handling the content in a meaningful way that adds to the story.
🔘 I found parts of this book hard to read at the beginning because of the shifts in timeline and the perspective being kept 3rd person because there were some points where the conclusions being drawn by a 4-6 year old were misplaced in the timeline. That said, I couldn't put it down for the second half of the book and was absolutely riveted.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Random House Publishing and The Dial Press!

I enjoyed this novel and thought a lot of the themes in it where poignant and hit home but it did drag on a little bit for me. It was an extremely character driven story and sometimes I just didn't find myself rooting for the characters, especially Cricket, and it made it hard to keep wanting to read about her. Overall it was an enjoyable story of 2 sisters and what family means and how far you are willing to go for family.

Really good story and short chapters kept the pages turning!

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A powerful, emotional portrait of sisterhood, ambition, and sacrifice.

Spectacular Things is an unforgettable story about two sisters whose bond is tested by ambition, heartbreak, and the weight of unspoken expectations. Beck Dorey-Stein writes with tenderness and clarity, pulling readers into Mia and Cricket’s world with raw emotional depth and sharp insight. I was fully immersed in their story—equal parts inspiring and devastating—and found myself reflecting deeply on what we owe the people we love.

Whether or not you have a sister or play soccer, this story will hit you right in the heart. Full of loyalty, grief, dreams, and growth, it’s a moving tribute to the power of female resilience. I cried, I cheered, and I immediately wanted to call my own sister. Highly recommend for fans of Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane and We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange.

5 ⭐️ one of the best books I have read this year. An incredible story of two sisters, navigating the loss, adulthood, and finding their purpose, all while remaining fiercely loyal to each other. If you have a sister, you will LOVE this book.

From the first chapter, Beck Dorey-Stein showcases her ability to draw her readers straight into the story by pushing you right in to two high stakes situations, one involving each sister. I was sucked in immediately - and I don’t think you need to have a love for/knowledge of the game of soccer to feel the same. This was an an incredibly nostalgic read for me as someone who grew up playing soccer, and as one of two girls in our family - I really connected with the loyalty between Mia and Cricket, and also the flaws each one of them show and grow through. This story is told in a circle - starting with one of the ending events and circling back to how the sisters got there. It was an incredibly satisfying read that had me almost in tears and wanting to call my own sister immediately! Easily the easiest five star rating I’ve given to a book.

One of my favorite quotes that ended the book referred to one of the sisters’ daughter, and what she gained from the incredible bond between Mia and Cricket and their determination to follow their hearts:
“As a witness to all this, she will never doubt what’s possible on or off the pitch. She will grow up knowing she comes from a line of women who shirked the rules to chase their dreams out of bounds.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

This will be one of my top reads this year! Loved everything about this story. The relationships of sisters are so difficult. This story of Mia and Cricket and the love and sacrifice was absolutely heartbreaking. Everyone needs to read this book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. Can5 wait to read more from Beck Dorey-Stein.

What a beautiful tale of family and sacrifice and soccer and dedication and all the things that make a great family-drama novel. This book takes place in both the East and West Coasts, and as a SoCal native, it was great to see some local spots and shoutouts (hey, I know where Irvine is!!). One thing specifically that I found unique to this novel and that seems to be almost unheard of these days is a fairly linear storyline, which I LOVED. It starts at the present, then the majority of the storyline is a flashback, and only towards the end of the book do you come back to the present. I really enjoyed starting at the end, so to speak, and then getting linear story of the beginning. This book is great for those that have sisters or siblings or love soccer. I thought it provided great insight into the sacrifices that competing at higher level of sports takes. Thank you so much for the ARC!

I thought this was good.

An exploration of family, siblings, grief, ambition, determination, and sacrifice.

Very soccer focused but I think anyone driven to excel at sports could relate to the themes highlighted because they are good life themes as well. Definitely some heart wrenching moments and others that make you want to cheer.

A bit long in some parts but enjoyable overall!

I picked up Spectacular Things, intrigued by the cover, the Maine setting and the world of women’s soccer. This story turned out to be so much more than I expected. I adored Mia, Cricket, and Liz - each one brought something unique and heartfelt to the story, and I loved the way the author generously layered their characters. There’s a beautiful nostalgic and hazy feel to the writing that really drew me in. The pacing is gentle and steady, letting the emotional moments land with quiet impact.

The story is a beautiful blend of tender, sad, and gloriously happy moments and you feel like you’re living them alongside the characters. I loved the contrast between the girls’ safe, cosy home in Maine and Cricket’s foray into the wider world, which added a heightened sense of longing, risk, and growth.

At its core, this is a story of love, loss, survival, and identity, told with warmth, honesty, and grace. I was surprised to find myself so reluctant to finish the last few chapters. It was partly because I was worried about the fate of these characters I’d come to love, but also because I’d enjoyed basking in the warmth of the lives they’d built. The ending more than satisfied though, and was hopeful, inspiring, emotional, and uplifting. I can’t wait to come back to this book in the future, it’s one of my favourites for the year so far.

Thank you to the publishers for the advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I always enjoy Beck Dorey-Stein’s writing, but I’ll admit that Spectacular Things took me a bit longer to buy into than I had hoped. I was pretty angry with each of these characters until at least the halfway point. They redeemed themselves in the end (for the most part). This is a story of sisters, but it’s also really a story of soccer. If you can’t get past that, you’re going to be painfully bored. The game is a main character. This wrapped up exactly how I knew it would, but it was a nice story along the way. I’ll recommend it for folks who enjoy a family drama that’s still lighthearted.

🎧 Captivating family saga! Life, love, family, loss, sisterhood and so much more are intertwined in these pages.

Spectacular Things is well-written and evokes a plethora of emotions as the plot meanders along.
I am not sure I liked any of the characters throughout the story, but also, I kind of felt the characters were only explored at the shallowest depths for most of the novel. I almost DNF'd this one, but the ending was satisfying so I am glad I pushed through.

Overall, if you want a story about sacrifice, family, sports, and asks what would you give up for family, then this is the book for you.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

This story was a surprise 4.5 stars (rounded up). Thank you to Random House / Dial Press who reached out to share an early copy - I don’t think I would have picked it up otherwise!

On paper, this book wasn’t really for me. Mother / daughter relationships, sister dynamics, coming of age stories, especially with contemporary or real-world settings - this typically does not hook me from the blurb. I also don’t have any particular interest in soccer…

So I was surprised to find that this book hooked me from the first chapter. The faced paced story starts with one sister rushing to the hospital in labor, another playing for a gold medal in women’s soccer. The story has energy - the author’s writing style really brought me into the high stakes of a family surviving off dreams to build an extraordinary future, and what they had to trade to do it. It takes place across several decades from the mother’s childhood (Liz) through the birth of her two daughters, and then the birth of the eldest daughter (Mia's) first child - all while exploring the generational burdens and expectations, while also showing the depth of relationship and support a family at the same time, which brought an interesting duality to their relationships with each other and their own self-image.

If I had to be picky, I don’t think the cover and title really give you a sense of the story. It’s also VERY much about soccer - so if you are disinterested in sports, it may not be for you.

Opinions are my own. It’s out now!

Although I had trouble figuring out what to rate this book, I think, after considering all the factors that made me like and dislike this book, it deserves an even four stars. 🌟

The relationship Mia and Cricket had with each other and with their mother, Liz, was very heartwarming and sweet. ❤ I could really relate to Mia’s sacrifice and care for her family because without family, who are we? I couldn’t, however, relate to Cricket’s and Liz’s obsession with soccer. 😂 But my dad, older brother, and nephew love the sport, so it was cool to learn all the lingo and understand some of the references and positions in it. But I think there was too much soccer talk, for me anyway. That is a me-problem, for sure. 😉

The character development, storyline, and ending were all believable and all flowed harmoniously with each other, creating a moving and captivating story about sisterhood, pursuing your dreams, and being strong when life throws lemons at you with full force.

The only problem I had with this book was how long it felt. There were short chapters (which I greatly appreciate), but it felt like I was going through so much family history and life changes in such a short span of time. I didn’t skim paragraphs because it was all interesting, but sometimes I wondered, “Where is this leading to? Is this chapter almost over?” 😅 It's possible that I'm impatient or that the story dragged a bit. Again, it might just be a me-problem because Beck Dorey-Stein can write a heck of a good story.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to those who love exploring family dynamics and relationships, sports dramas, and the struggle to make their dreams come true. 💫

Spectacular Things is a moving read about Mia and Cricket. Liz has Mia when she is just 18 years old. Ending her plans to play college soccer. But Liz doesn't let the dream die. She trains Mia from a very young age and then her sister Cricket. By age 9 Cricket becomes the star and its Mia's job at age 14 to support Cricket She gives up her own dreams to parent Cricket while their ,mom picks up an extra job to pay for Cricket's training. Finally at 18 with a full academic scholarship Mia gets to live her life. Then Liz dies in a car accident and Mia is back being Cricket's parent.

The author does a wonderful job of making you feel as if y0u are along for the ride with Mia and Cricket. A wonderful book about sisters and the all encompassing world of being. star athlete..

You won't regret adding this to your summer beach read list.