Spectacular Things

Spectacular Things (2025), by Beck Dorey-Stein, is a novel about two sisters, Mia and Cricket Lowe, and the extraordinary bond that sees them through tragedy and teaches them about sacrifice and resilience as they pursue their dreams. Through their shared love of soccer and Cricket’s dream of playing professionally, the narrative explores the intense demands of athletic excellence, personal ambition, loyalty, grief, friendship, and love.

After working as a White House stenographer from 2012 to 2017, Dorey-Stein published her memoir, From the Corner of the Oval (2018), which became a New York Times bestseller. Her 2021 debut novel Rock the Boat was a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection.

This guide is based on the e-book edition of the text published by The Dial Press in 2025.

Content Warning: The source material and this guide feature depictions of addiction, bullying, death, child abuse, child sexual abuse, cursing, gender discrimination, illness, physical abuse, pregnancy loss and termination, sexual violence and harassment, and substance use.

Plot Summary

In 2028, Mia Lowe and her husband Oliver give birth to a baby girl in their hometown of Victory, Maine. Meanwhile, Mia’s younger sister Cricket is in Los Angeles, competing in the Olympics with the US Women’s National Soccer Team. When the starting goalkeeper Sloane Jackson is injured, Cricket takes her place on the field and helps her team clinch the gold medal. After a week of celebrations and press tours, Cricket returns to Maine and learns that Mia experienced complications after delivering the baby. Massive blood loss destroyed her kidneys, and now she needs routine dialysis to stay alive until she gets a donor kidney. Cricket is eager to donate hers until she realizes it will mean the end of her soccer career. She leaves the hospital without giving Mia an answer.

The novel flashes back to 1989, when eight-year-old Liz Lowe discovers a passion and a talent for soccer at summer camp. By her senior year of high school she’s a soccer phenom with a nation-wide reputation and a verbal commitment to play for UCLA on a full athletic scholarship. A pregnancy upends her plans. Liz refuses to name the father and gives birth before graduation, leading UCLA to rescind their offer. Wanting a fresh start, Liz moves with baby Mia to Victory, Maine.

Mia is four when she falls in love with soccer. The same year, she meets her father for the first time when he shows up in Maine and rekindles a romance with Liz, only to leave again a few months later. Seven months after his departure, Liz gives birth to Mia’s sister, nicknamed Cricket for her long legs. In time Cricket proves just as ambitious and passionate about soccer as Mia, and even more talented. She has so much potential, in fact, that Liz takes a second job in order to give Cricket the best resources and opportunities. She asks 14-year-old Mia to take on extra responsibility at home, watching Cricket and managing the household while she works nights. Cricket is nine when she joins an elite soccer team called the Stallions.

After high school, Mia begins college at Yale. While there, she discovers that her father was Liz’s high school soccer coach. Angry that Liz never told her this, Mia barely speaks to her mother when she’s home for the summer. When Mia finally confronts her, Liz admits the truth about the girls’ father, saying she didn’t realize he’d preyed on other young players until many years later. An impromptu trip to Paris to watch the Women’s World Cup Quarter-Finals becomes a memorable, joyous occasion for Liz, Mia, and Cricket.

Mia is back at Yale when Liz dies in a car accident. Now Cricket’s legal guardian, Mia drops out of school and moves back home. The sisters work through their grief together over the following years. Cricket decides to attend UCLA, as her mother had planned to do, once she graduates. In her senior year she’s invited to the US Women’s National Team training camp, where her rival, Sloane Jackson, becomes her best friend. Back at home, Mia falls in love with Oliver, Cricket’s former coach on the Stallions.

At UCLA, Cricket falls in love too. She brings her girlfriend, Yaz, to Maine over winter break to meet Mia and Oliver. While they’re visiting, Oliver proposes, and he and Mia get married.

In January of her senior year at UCLA, Cricket enters the National Women’s Soccer League draft and is selected by the Chicago Red Stars. She and Yaz maintain a long-distance relationship when she moves to Chicago, but after six months they break up. Everything else seems to go wrong for Cricket around the same time: Her team finishes the season ranked last in the league, she’s passed up for the National Team’s training camp again, and Yaz gets a new girlfriend.

When Cricket goes home between seasons, she learns Mia is pregnant after more than two years of trying. The good news motivates Cricket to refocus on her goals and train harder than ever. Her efforts pay off and she plays phenomenally over the next six months, earning her a spot on the Olympic team roster. Cricket is surprised when Sloane is awarded the starting position even though Cricket played better during training. They argue over it and stop speaking to each other, even after Sloane’s injury in the final game gives Cricket the opportunity she’s worked so hard for and the win she’s dreamed of.

The novel flashes forward to six months after Mia requested a kidney and Cricket left the hospital without a decision. In that interval, Cricket never called with her answer. Mia and Oliver, feeling betrayed, have not spoken to her at all. Mia must receive three-hour dialysis treatments three times a week. Cricket is now the starting goalkeeper on the National Team; the Chicago Red Stars had an undefeated season and won the league championship. Nevertheless, Cricket has never felt more alone or miserable.

When Mia’s illness overwhelms her and she considers giving up, Oliver urges her to make up with Cricket, saying not talking to her sister is what’s killing her. They decide to fly to California, attend the Rose Bowl, and surprise Cricket after the game. Cricket also gets a surprise visit from Sloane and they mend their friendship. Sloane urges Cricket to reach out to her sister. The following day, Mia collapses in the stands of the Rose Bowl stadium and is rushed to the hospital. Cricket joins her there as soon as she hears what happened and apologizes, telling Mia she’s going to give her a kidney. When Sloane comes to the hospital soon after, Cricket realizes she’s in love with her. The transplant surgery is a success.

The events of the epilogue take place in 2031. The Women’s National Team is playing in the World Cup Final with Sloane as goalkeeper. Cricket is an assistant coach for the team now and will eventually take over as head goalkeeping coach. She and Sloane got married on the beach in Victory. As the team emerges from the tunnel onto the field, Cricket’s niece holds Sloane’s hand and joyously shouts about what a great gift it is.