⭐⭐⭐ Spectacular Things follows sisters Mia and Cricket Lowe, well known in their small Maine town as the daughters of a gifted single mother and as rising soccer royalty. From an early age, their paths feel set: Mia becomes the responsible, academically driven caretaker, while Cricket pours her talent and energy into the single-minded pursuit of soccer stardom. The novel traces the many sacrifices required to keep that dream alive—unfulfilled ambitions, family tragedy, and the quiet pressure placed on the sibling who is expected to hold everything together. Dorey-Stein is at her best when exploring grief, loyalty, and how love can slide into obligation without anyone quite noticing. I’m a soccer […]
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Love, Betrayal, and Blades: Drama on Ice in The Favorites
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Layne Fargo trades serial killers for sequins in The Favorites, a deliciously over-the-top drama set in the ruthless world of Olympic ice dancing. The story follows Kat Shaw and her skating partner—and sometimes lover, sometimes rival—Heath Rocha, as they chase gold medals and break each other’s hearts over nearly fifteen years on the ice. Told through Kat’s perspective and juicy “documentary-style” interviews, the novel mixes athletic ambition with soap-opera scandal: rival twins, forbidden love, betrayals, paparazzi meltdowns, and a shocking showdown at the 2014 Sochi Games. It’s fast, dramatic, and loaded with all the spectacle you’d expect from a backstage sports saga. Yes, the melodrama gets a little repetitive, and […]
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