This was an excellent family drama about the relationship between the Lowe sisters, Mia and Cricket and what they are willing to do for each other. It was well written and the story captured my attention from the start. It would be a great selection for a book club. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Living in the area that this book takes place made for such a fun reading experience! The story was even better as a massive women’s soccer fan and lifelong player. The sisterhood relationship felt so real, and as a someone who also has a sister, made this super emotional at times.

Most of SPECTACULAR THINGS is told in the past, with the present day bookending the story. I loved the lifelong journey and really growing with each character.

This was a beautiful story of competing, grieving, overcoming, family, and dreaming… I LOVED it!

Oof, this book is so emotional. I was so hooked at the beginning scene (it opens with an Olympic soccer game) and when we realize where the story leaves off in the modern timeline, my jaw was on the ground! Reading the mother’s background and then about the sisters’ shared childhood and relationship was so heartbreaking — I really felt for them growing up without their mother. The main conflict of the book is so tough — I knew which side I was on but I think you could argue for either sister, which is the point! I don’t have a sister but I think this book would hit even harder for those who do. I definitely recommend.

Sisters Mia and Crocket have not had it easy. At the center of their lives is this mom, Liz, who has sacrificed so much for her girls. But as the girls get older and realize just what they too must sacrifice, their intentions are questioned and they cannot help but wonder how things would be different. With soccer at the core of their lives, this family tale is heart warming and sad, all while reminding you what’s important in life, and just how to use your gifts.

4.5 ✨ This book was heart warming and heart breaking and a true depiction of sisterhood.

Mia and Cricket Lowe embody what it means to be a big and little sister respectively as they navigate love, loss, grief, heartbreak and the expectations we place on ourselves.

I never thought I’d be so invested in women’s soccer but here we are ⚽️ I also didn’t expect to cry in this one either but there were plenty of tear jerking moments.

A great one for fans of Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors or Girls by Kirsty Capes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC to review ⭐️

Rated 4.5. Beautifully written story of 2 sisters who sacrifice much for the other. I loved that the author chose to start with present day and then catch us up to how we got there allowing us to know where we are going but not giving away how their story ends. Wonderfully creative. I’m not usually a sports novel fan and I truly enjoyed the soccer storyline. Definitely one I’d recommend!

This story of the Lowes was a great family story about how families sacrifice themselves over and over to help one another achieve their dreams. I loved the soccer aspect to the story and how Cricket’s unerring passion and gift for the sport was shown throughout the story.

This story had me crying by the end and I love that in a family novel. Sister stories are the best and how these two sisters take care of one another amidst their struggles had my heart. I really enjoyed my reading experience.

I think the struggles of getting everything you ever wanted but having to adapt because of a family member in need is spot on and I really appreciated the turmoil the sisters had to go through in that experience

The way I absolutely devoured this book and fell so far into this book was incredible. Dorey-Stein does an incredible job of truly immersing the reader into the story and really connecting them to the characters. I cannot recommend this book more, especially if you are a soccer fan. I will be surprised if this isn't one of my top 3 reads for the entire year. 5 stars!

Sometimes, Reese really does pick some incredible books. This is definitely one of them! As usual for her selections, it's emotional and female-centered, with a particular focus on sisterhood. For readers who liked Blue Sisters but want something with a lighter tone and a bit more heart-warming, this is the one.

Wow, what a fantastic pick from Reese’s Book Club this month! SPECTACULAR THINGS by Beck Dorey-Stein is an emotional read that will definitely pull at your heart strings. If you love stories about mothers and daughters, then this is a must read for you. It’s primarily a family story, but soccer also plays a huge part. I’m not a huge soccer fan, so you can only imagine my surprise when I ended up falling for this novel so hard. Character development is extremely important to me, and my gosh, was it ever on point here. Liz, Mia, and Cricket will live rent-free in my mind forever. All three are very memorable characters. These women are not perfect by any means, but are very loyal and solid when it comes to family. The tight-knit trio face many challenges, hardships, and surprises throughout and make endless sacrifices for one another. This novel showcases the messiness and loveliness of family in the very best of ways.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Mother/daughter relationships
- Sisterly bonds
- Family drama and dynamics
- Maine setting
- Soccer and sports fiction
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Marriage and motherhood
- Strong female characters
- Emotional reads

4/5 solid stars for SPECTACULAR THINGS! It’s available now!

Netgalley suggested this book to me and I’m glad I picked it up. What a well written read.

A young woman on track to go pro at soccer becomes a mom, and instead of pursuing the glory for herself, she strives for her girls to be the stars. A bit of a messy family, but they always pull through for each other and honor the traditions that make them whole.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**NOTE this copy does include typos. Recommend another pass through of editing before publishing.

Spectacular Things has been popping up on my feed a lot these days. I was happy when I received my NetGalley copy of the book written by Beck Dorey-Stein. This thought provoking book had my emotions all over the place. The story of a mom and two daughters and their love of soccer. Mom, Liz, gave up her professional career to become a mom. Mia and Cricket both loved the sport, but it was evident that Cricket had the fight and spirit to make the family dream, of making it to the Olympics, come true. But with many tragic events that occur in the family, can these women make Cricket's dream come true? This book was well written, emotionally exhausting at times, but really showed the lengths that a family would go through for each other. Women's soccer fans will definitely enjoy this novel.

Mia and Cricket are the epitome of what it means to be a sister. Their friendship and loyalty to one another was inspiring and so sweet. The story gripped me from the very beginning and held me all the way through. I will be thinking about this one for a very very long time.

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

★★★★☆

Spectacular Things is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of sisterhood, ambition, and identity. Beck Dorey-Stein has a gift for crafting characters that feel real and relationships that hit close to home—and the bond between the sisters in this story is the heart of it all.

The audiobook, narrated by Emily Rankin, adds another layer of depth to the experience. Rankin’s performance is warm, expressive, and perfectly paced, capturing the emotional highs and lows of the story with subtlety and grace. She brings each sister’s voice to life in a way that makes their connection—and their conflicts—feel even more intimate and authentic.

As the story unfolds, the layers of their shared history are revealed with tenderness and tension, making for a compelling listen. While the plot occasionally meanders, the emotional payoff and the strength of the characters more than make up for it.

If you enjoy character-driven fiction with strong female relationships and thoughtful narration, Spectacular Things is a standout audiobook worth adding to your list.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #randomhouse #prhaudio #prhaudiopartner #sponsored #spectacularthings #beckdoreystein #emilyrankin

Mia and Cricket are sisters. After their mother dies, Mia has to be the parent stand in as Cricket devotes her life to playing professional soccer. But when Mia needs Cricket most, will she choose soccer or her sister?

The first few chapters of this book really drew me in with its moral dilemma. I expected this to be a family drama, and it was, but it was also a sports book and a sister story, and a little Jodi Picoult. I loved the Maine setting and the generational love for one sport and the deeply drawn and complicated characters. I have also read and loved Dorey-Stein's previous books, so it was no surprise, but this one was a departure for her, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This is one of the best books that I have read this year. I love me a family story. I loved the writing on this. From the very beginning where the outrageous request is made and then the author takes us back to the very beginning and rewrote my brain on everything I thought on the request. Dorey-Stein did a very good job of laying out the story from the very beginning and I understood every main character's motivations. The infusion of women's soccer was a nice addition as well. I definitely recommend this one.

Sometimes women’s fiction is all about relationships, and too often those are relationships with men. Spectacular Things gets it right…the relationships that matter in this lovely book are those between the women.
The Lowe women, Liz, the mother, Mia and Cricket, are soccer players. They love the sport and live for it. They have immense talent—size, speed, coordination and brains. They have what it takes to go all the way.
But life has other ideas. Liz’s dream is cut short when she becomes pregnant with Mia, but she never suffers over it. She knows that her daughter is more important than soccer, and she steps up, working multiple jobs to provide a safe and loving environment for her daughter, which included morning soccer workouts on the beach. Mia has what it takes to be a star.
But it isn’t until Cricket comes along that the super star is born. Liz and Mia are good, but Cricket is great. And when their mother can no longer keep up with the practices, travel, work and parenting, she asks Mia to step up. Mia is happy to help, and her focus shifts from soccer to academics, where she excels at the Ivy League level. She gets her chance when she is accepted to the college of her dreams.
And then tragedy strikes, and sacrifice is required again and again.
The characters in this book are wonderful, nearly too good to be true, but you won’t stop cheering for them. Their family rituals were delightful, and these women made me want to get in shape! A great summer read, with so much to share, both of the soccer world and the art of being family.
Spectacular Things was published July 1, 2025. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group/The Dial Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

This book was a lovely read.
The cover is almost misleading. This book is about soccer and sisters. I learned more about soccer then I ever wanted to know.

Soccer plays center stage in this dramatic book about a mother and her two daughters.
My heart felt for Mia as something that brought her such joy also led to a huge problem in her life.
I thought the novel focused too much on Cricket. She may have been a star but Mia sacrificed a lot to put her in the limelight. However Cricket did give Mia something she truly needed.

I feel like this book was just middle of the road for me because there was so much soccer included in it. It did bring up other things, but rather than being so in depth with their grief and relationships it would stick back to the focus of the game. I know that was the premise of the book, but even still with Mia’s illness that is major and it seems like it was only touched upon. Even the loss of Liz, it was just done over. It was still enjoyable but it took me longer than normal to get through it because there was less of a pull to finish.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and The Dial Press for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.