Beck Dorey-Stein’s third novel, Spectacular Things, is a masterwork of contemporary literary fiction that examines the intricate dynamics between sisters, the sacrifices demanded by athletic ambition, and the profound question of what we owe those we love most. Following her memoir From the Corner of the Oval and debut novel Rock the Boat, Dorey-Stein demonstrates remarkable growth as a storyteller, crafting a narrative that is both intimately personal and universally resonant.
A Tale of Two Sisters
The story centers on Mia and Cricket Lowe, two sisters whose lives have been shaped by their single mother Liz’s dreams and tragic early death. Mia, the elder and more academically inclined sister, embodies responsibility and sacrifice from an early age. Cricket, blessed with exceptional athletic talent, becomes the vessel for their mother’s unfulfilled soccer aspirations. Dorey-Stein’s characterization is nuanced and authentic, avoiding the trap of simple archetypes to create complex women whose motivations feel genuine and deeply human.
The author’s treatment of sisterhood is particularly compelling. Rather than relying on tired tropes of sibling rivalry, Dorey-Stein explores the more complex territory of codependency and the blurred lines between love and obligation. Mia’s decision to sacrifice her own dreams to support Cricket’s soccer career creates a foundation of guilt and expectation that reverberates throughout the narrative.
The Beautiful Game as Metaphor
Soccer serves as both literal backdrop and powerful metaphor throughout the novel. Dorey-Stein’s intimate knowledge of women’s soccer—evident in her detailed portrayal of training regimens, recruitment processes, and the psychological demands of elite competition—adds authenticity to Cricket’s journey. The sport becomes a lens through which to examine themes of identity, legacy, and the cost of excellence.
The author particularly excels in depicting the pressure-cooker environment of collegiate and professional women’s soccer. Cricket’s experience at UCLA and her eventual path to the National Team feels authentic, capturing both the exhilaration of athletic achievement and the crushing weight of expectation. The relationship between Cricket and her teammate Sloane Jackson provides another layer of complexity, exploring how competition can coexist with genuine friendship and love.
Medical Crisis as Catalyst
The novel’s central crisis—Mia’s kidney failure following childbirth—serves as both plot catalyst and thematic fulcrum. Dorey-Stein handles the medical elements with remarkable sensitivity and accuracy, never exploiting illness for melodrama but instead using it to explore deeper questions about sacrifice and obligation. The stark reality of Mia’s daily dialysis treatments is rendered with unflinching honesty, and the author successfully avoids the trap of making the character’s illness the sole source of reader sympathy.
The kidney transplant subplot raises profound ethical questions about family obligation. When Cricket must choose between her soccer career and donating a kidney to save her sister’s life, the novel reaches its emotional crescendo. Dorey-Stein refuses easy answers, instead presenting the genuine complexity of a situation where there are no purely right or wrong choices.
Structural Brilliance and Temporal Complexity
The novel’s structure deserves particular praise. Dorey-Stein employs a non-linear narrative that weaves between past and present, gradually revealing the full scope of the Lowe family’s history. The chapters alternate between different time periods and perspectives, creating a mosaic effect that mirrors the complexity of memory and family mythology.
The use of soccer terminology as chapter titles (“Pre and Post,” “Beep Test,” “Match Day”) is clever without being precious, reinforcing the sport’s central role in the family’s identity. The epilogue, set in 2031 at the Women’s World Cup final, provides satisfying closure while celebrating the book’s themes of perseverance and redemption.
Language and Style
Dorey-Stein’s prose is elegant and precise, with a particular gift for capturing the physical sensations of both athletic performance and medical procedures. Her description of Cricket’s experience in goal during crucial matches is visceral and immediate.
The author’s background in sports journalism is evident in her ability to convey technical aspects of soccer without overwhelming the narrative. More importantly, she understands that the most compelling sports stories are ultimately human stories.
Themes of Legacy and Identity
Spectacular Things grapples with weighty themes that extend far beyond the soccer pitch. The novel examines how family legends are created and maintained, and how the pressure to fulfill someone else’s dreams can become both motivation and burden. Liz Lowe’s presence haunts the narrative even after her death, her unfinished soccer career becoming the template for Cricket’s path.
The book also explores questions of female ambition and the particular challenges faced by women in athletics. Cricket’s journey through the male-dominated coaching hierarchy and the financial instability of women’s professional soccer rings painfully true. Dorey-Stein doesn’t shy away from depicting the systemic inequalities that make success in women’s sports an uphill battle.
Character Development and Relationships
The evolution of the central characters throughout the novel is perhaps Dorey-Stein’s greatest achievement. Mia transforms from the perpetually self-sacrificing older sister to a woman who learns to advocate for her own needs. Cricket’s journey from talented but somewhat naive teenager to mature professional athlete and loving sister feels earned rather than imposed.
The romantic relationships in the novel—Mia’s marriage to Oliver and Cricket’s eventual relationship with Sloane—are handled with maturity and depth. These partnerships feel like genuine connections between complex individuals rather than plot devices or wish fulfillment.
Critical Observations
While Spectacular Things succeeds admirably in most respects, there are areas where the narrative occasionally feels slightly strained. The coincidence of Mia’s medical crisis occurring precisely when Cricket is on the cusp of National Team selection feels somewhat contrived, though Dorey-Stein handles the emotional ramifications with such skill that the plot mechanics become secondary.
Additionally, some secondary characters, particularly in the soccer world, occasionally veer toward stereotype. While the main characters are fully realized, certain coaches and teammates feel more functional than fully human.
The novel’s length—running to over 400 pages—is generally well-justified by the scope of the story, though there are moments, particularly in the middle sections dealing with Cricket’s college experience, where the pacing lags slightly.
Literary Significance and Contemporary Relevance
Spectacular Things arrives at a moment when women’s sports are receiving unprecedented attention and investment. The novel’s portrayal of the financial and emotional costs of pursuing athletic excellence in women’s soccer feels particularly timely. Dorey-Stein has created a work that both celebrates athletic achievement and honestly confronts the systemic challenges that make such achievement difficult.
The book’s exploration of family dynamics and obligation will resonate with readers far beyond the sports world. The central question—what do we owe our family members, and when does loyalty become self-sacrifice—is one that many readers will find personally meaningful.
Comparative Context
In the landscape of contemporary sports literature, Spectacular Things stands alongside works like Chad Harbach’s The Art of Fielding and Richard Ford’s The Sportswriter in its sophisticated treatment of athletic culture. However, Dorey-Stein’s focus on women’s sports and family dynamics carves out unique territory.
The novel also recalls the family dramas of authors like Celeste Ng and Jess Walter in its careful examination of how individual choices ripple through family systems across generations.
Similar Reads for Literary Fiction Enthusiasts
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Complex female relationships and questions of sacrifice
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – Family dynamics and competing loyalties
- The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach – Sports as metaphor for life and ambition
- The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska – Sisterhood and difficult choices
- Educated by Tara Westover – Family obligation versus personal growth
Final Assessment
Spectacular Things is a remarkable achievement that confirms Beck Dorey-Stein’s evolution from memoirist to accomplished novelist. The book succeeds both as a compelling family drama and as an insightful exploration of women’s athletics. While it occasionally suffers from some minor structural issues and character development inconsistencies, these are far outweighed by the novel’s emotional intelligence, authentic voice, and thematic depth.
Dorey-Stein has created a work that honors both the beautiful complexity of sister relationships and the dedication required to excel in competitive sports. Most importantly, she has crafted a story that recognizes the spectacular nature of ordinary people pursuing extraordinary dreams, even when those dreams exact a devastating price.
This is literary fiction at its finest—deeply human, emotionally resonant, and unafraid to grapple with life’s most difficult questions. Spectacular Things establishes Beck Dorey-Stein as a significant voice in contemporary American literature and marks a decisive step forward in her artistic development.
The novel’s ultimate message—that we are all “spectacular things” deserving of love and pursuit of our dreams—resonates long after the final page. In a literary landscape often focused on dysfunction and despair, Dorey-Stein offers something rarer: a realistic but ultimately hopeful vision of human resilience and the enduring power of family love.
