the setup…
Liz Lowe was destined to be one of the greatest soccer stars but on the cusp of her acceptance to UCLA, her dreams were shattered. She was pregnant and her life took a different course. Liz poured her dreams into daughter Mia who was on the road to maybe being that superstar. But then daughter Cricket was born and it was clear she’d inherited everything from Liz. From that moment, Liz and Mia sacrificed everything for Cricket who was destined to leave their small Maine town for soccer stardom. After all, Liz always believed in spectacular things…but at what cost?
the heart of the story…
The story opens with Cricket indeed being a member of the 2028 Olympic Team, playing in the final game. Meanwhile, sister Mia and her husband Oliver are in the labor room watching the game and rooting for her as their child is coming. They are later faced with the most heartbreaking choice. I loved the pivot back to the beginning, with their mother’s choice to have Mia, as it provided so much context for every decision these sisters later make. What originally felt selfish took on a whole new dimension.
the narration…
This was all about the storytelling and Emily Rankin delivered a great performance. Her pacing felt perfect and I enjoyed her character distinctions.
the bottom line…
I thought this would be about all the spectacular things these two sisters experienced. It was anything but as it was their mother’s mantra to always do their best at all times. Mia and Cricket were devoted to each other despite the imbalance and difficulties. The sacrifices both made were extraordinary in the midst of tragedies and the pinnacles of success as they struggled to achieve their dreams. I felt everything with this story and was on pins and needles through the end.
Book Info
- Release Date: July 1, 2025
- Narrator: Emily Rankin
- Audio Length: 11 hours, 51 minutes
- Publisher: Random House Audio
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Blue Mood Café 
It sounds like a very interesting story, Jo. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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I’m glad to see your positive review! I just picked up a copy, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
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