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One Small Thing - Eine fast perfekte Liebe
Seit dem tragischen Tod ihrer Schwester ist im Leben von Beth nichts mehr so, wie es war. Sie vermisst ihre engste Vertraute schmerzlich, und ihre Eltern sind seither so ängstlich, dass sie Beth auf Schritt und Tritt bewachen. Doch eines Nachts schleicht sie sich heimlich zu einer Party. Dort trifft sie Chase, einen attraktiven und charmanten jungen Mann, der gerade erst in die Stadt gezogen ist. Sofort knistert es zwischen den beiden, und Beth schwebt im siebten Himmel. Bis sie erfährt, dass Chase ein düsteres Geheimnis hütet, das mit dem Tod ihrer Schwester eng verwoben ist ...
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,422 reviews
June 23, 2018
“What’s your small thing for today?”
“You."
Here are three small things about One Small Thing:
1) It was a guilty pleasure.
2) It was pretty cute (at times)
3) It was pretty bland (at times)
Please note that this review is purely my own opinion, and I do not want nor intend for anyone to be swayed into not reading this book. If you want to give it a chance - it might turn out beautiful for you.
_________
The Plot
Whenever I have read 'Erin Watt' in the past, I always find myself coming to the same conclusion. I love reading the story because I need to find out what happens, yet somewhere or something falls short and it just feels mediocre in all. This does not go to say, that it takes away from the strengths of both the writing and development. However, it does make the storyline tedious at times.
I went into this story with no predispositions about the author(s) and the story. I read the blurb and I want to say that the blurb gives nothing away. Which worked in my favor, because it added the little bit of mystery value while reading. The story albeit cliche at very many occasions held it's own throughout and I read this in one sitting!
I don't want to give much away about the plot because I'd rather advise people to go into this blind and see where the characters take you instead. The pace is fast, sometimes extremely so - where I just sat there thinking "Didn't they just meet?? Haven't they known each other for approximately five minutes." I thought the storyline was fragmented and forced at times, but there is truck loads of angst and drama for all those that love high school romances with a soap opera atmosphere towards it!
The Characters
The second most vital part both made and broke this story for me.
Chase and Beth.
Straight off the bat, I could tell that Beth would be a problem for me. Her character was very naive and hypocritical and I wanted to see character development that happened but it felt like a complete cop out.
There's this greek stylistic device called deus ex machina whereby a character or event that seems to exist just to effortlessly solve a problem that seems unsolvable. There is usually ancient greek gods and motifs involved, but taking that part away and focusing just on the 'cop out' former definition.
This felt exactly like that. The ending was just all too little and all too much for me. It didn't fit or feel right. It felt like there was a word limit to be met and the author(s) needed to get any ending in.
!!HOWEVER!!
I loved Chase. His character was a breakthrough for me, I loved that the stereotypical roles reversed and there was no magic dick syndrome. I REPEAT: there was no magic dick syndrome.
I adored that he told it like it was and didn't follow that trend in young adult / new adult where the main male is an absolute dick all in the name of being an 'alpha'.
Chase was this entire books saving grace for me.
“You."
Here are three small things about One Small Thing:
1) It was a guilty pleasure.
2) It was pretty cute (at times)
3) It was pretty bland (at times)
Please note that this review is purely my own opinion, and I do not want nor intend for anyone to be swayed into not reading this book. If you want to give it a chance - it might turn out beautiful for you.
_________
The Plot
Whenever I have read 'Erin Watt' in the past, I always find myself coming to the same conclusion. I love reading the story because I need to find out what happens, yet somewhere or something falls short and it just feels mediocre in all. This does not go to say, that it takes away from the strengths of both the writing and development. However, it does make the storyline tedious at times.
I went into this story with no predispositions about the author(s) and the story. I read the blurb and I want to say that the blurb gives nothing away. Which worked in my favor, because it added the little bit of mystery value while reading. The story albeit cliche at very many occasions held it's own throughout and I read this in one sitting!
"Then I stumble midstep when I catch another glimpse of Blue Eyes. It’s fate. We’re supposed to meet tonight."
I don't want to give much away about the plot because I'd rather advise people to go into this blind and see where the characters take you instead. The pace is fast, sometimes extremely so - where I just sat there thinking "Didn't they just meet?? Haven't they known each other for approximately five minutes." I thought the storyline was fragmented and forced at times, but there is truck loads of angst and drama for all those that love high school romances with a soap opera atmosphere towards it!
" I could get drunk, but that’s too easy. I could get high, but that’s too dangerous. I need to do something between drunk and high that would make me feel good and piss my parents off. A f lash of movement catches my attention, and I turn to find a very good-looking guy stopping and leaning in the kitchen doorway."
The Characters
The second most vital part both made and broke this story for me.
Chase and Beth.
Straight off the bat, I could tell that Beth would be a problem for me. Her character was very naive and hypocritical and I wanted to see character development that happened but it felt like a complete cop out.
There's this greek stylistic device called deus ex machina whereby a character or event that seems to exist just to effortlessly solve a problem that seems unsolvable. There is usually ancient greek gods and motifs involved, but taking that part away and focusing just on the 'cop out' former definition.
This felt exactly like that. The ending was just all too little and all too much for me. It didn't fit or feel right. It felt like there was a word limit to be met and the author(s) needed to get any ending in.
!!HOWEVER!!
I loved Chase. His character was a breakthrough for me, I loved that the stereotypical roles reversed and there was no magic dick syndrome. I REPEAT: there was no magic dick syndrome.
I adored that he told it like it was and didn't follow that trend in young adult / new adult where the main male is an absolute dick all in the name of being an 'alpha'.
Chase was this entire books saving grace for me.
"Your home life problems aren’t solved with my dick."
September 3, 2019
one small thing i am grateful for - this book.
first things first, i was frustrated so much whilst reading this. mainly because of the horrible characters. not horrible as in terribly written, but downright horrible people. beths friends are some of the worst friends i have ever read. so judgemental, so rude, so catty, so everything. and dont even get me started on her parents. i seriously would be guilty of a double homicide if i had her parents.
but oh my gosh. beth and chase stole my heart, so it made up for having to deal with sucky characters. my emotions just melt for forbidden love and broken backgrounds. would this kind of relationship work in reality? i doubt it. but i was rooting for them every step of the way. and how cute is finding one small thing to be grateful for each day?! absolutely adored every page of this.
i know a lot of readers wont enjoy this book as much as i did, but i was in the perfect mood for this kind of story, so it really hit the spot.
↠ 4.5 stars
first things first, i was frustrated so much whilst reading this. mainly because of the horrible characters. not horrible as in terribly written, but downright horrible people. beths friends are some of the worst friends i have ever read. so judgemental, so rude, so catty, so everything. and dont even get me started on her parents. i seriously would be guilty of a double homicide if i had her parents.
but oh my gosh. beth and chase stole my heart, so it made up for having to deal with sucky characters. my emotions just melt for forbidden love and broken backgrounds. would this kind of relationship work in reality? i doubt it. but i was rooting for them every step of the way. and how cute is finding one small thing to be grateful for each day?! absolutely adored every page of this.
i know a lot of readers wont enjoy this book as much as i did, but i was in the perfect mood for this kind of story, so it really hit the spot.
↠ 4.5 stars
June 26, 2018
Not Erin Watt’s best work, but still an addictive read!
In their second YA novel, Erin Watt narrates the story ofLizzie Beth, a seventeen year old girl who lost her sister to a car accident three years ago. Beth wants to party, have fun and make stupid decisions during her last school year, but her parents are constantly trying to smother her with their unreasonable rules and extreme reactions. In a desperate act of rebellion, Beth ends up in a party full of strangers and meets the most gorgeous guy she’s ever seen. There’s just one small problem, one she didn’t realize back then; he’s the reckless driver who took her sister from her. Her family, her friends, the entire town, wants to burn him at the stake. Beth? She can’t kill the butterflies in her stomach, nor deny the strong connection they share. Torn between the loyalty to her dead sister and her traitorous heart, between what everyone expects from her and what she truly wants, Beth will have to face her grief, deal with her loss and find her path in life, a path made of her own desires and dreams.
Erin Watt has proven thus far that they can write intense and highly addictive novels, and One Small Thing is not an exception. It’s a novel heavily focused on family issues, romantic relationships, the aftermath of a terrible loss, friendship, hatred and forgiveness. Forgiveness towards the one who hurt you, and atonement for your own fatal mistakes.
It was also a novel laced with angst; there was a rush of multiple emotions wreaking havoc to my very core. And amongst the suffocation, the bitterness, the anger, and the despair, the most dominant was the anger. So much anger. While the authors managed to capture a side of humanity that is unfortunately real – the bloodlust that makes good people do bad things and call them justice - sometimes I felt like they overdid it. There was simply too much drama. There was not a single decent character in the entire book, with the exception of Chase, the love interest. I suppose what the authors wanted to show was that one action, no matter how devastating it is, cannot dictate a person’s life, that there is one point where punishment is enough, that not everything is painted in black and white and I get it, I admire it even. But that absence of even one person who was sympathetic to Chase or supportive to Beth, who was not judgmental and thirsty for retribution felt way too manipulative, a means to bring them together and justify why Beth ended up falling for the guy responsible for her sister’s death.
And that brings us to Beth’s character. She was extremely juvenile about everything: the way she handled her grief, her reckless decisions, even the way she stalked Chase was nerve-wracking. As the story progressed I wished she would cut everyone off her life, I cannot fathom how she forgave her friends for the things they said and did (or didn’t do). She was throwing tantrums instead of growing a backbone, she was a hypocrite when it came to the way she treated Chase, and even though towards the end she did the right thing, it was not enough to make me forget all those times I wanted to yell at her (to be honest, though, I wanted to yell at everyone).
All those points I raised above do not mean that One Small Thing was a bad book. On the contrary, I finished it in two days, I wanted to spend more time with this story, witness more sweet moments between Beth and Chase, revel in their healing process, first and foremost as individuals and then as a couple. Chase was the one small thing that lightened my reading experience, my heart ached for him, I felt his remorse every time he spoke or allowed bullies to mistreat him because he thought he deserved it.
Even though I prefer the lighthearted and adorable When It's Real, I swallowed Erin Watt’s second YA novel as well; One Small Thing is a bittersweet, intense and meaningful story that deserves 3.5 big stars for all the small things.
*ARC generously provided by the authors via Nina Bocci in exchange for an honest review*
Review also posted on BookNest!
In their second YA novel, Erin Watt narrates the story of
Erin Watt has proven thus far that they can write intense and highly addictive novels, and One Small Thing is not an exception. It’s a novel heavily focused on family issues, romantic relationships, the aftermath of a terrible loss, friendship, hatred and forgiveness. Forgiveness towards the one who hurt you, and atonement for your own fatal mistakes.
“Everywhere I look, I see a closed door. A dark passage. Locked windows. If there’s a way out, I can’t visualize it.”
It was also a novel laced with angst; there was a rush of multiple emotions wreaking havoc to my very core. And amongst the suffocation, the bitterness, the anger, and the despair, the most dominant was the anger. So much anger. While the authors managed to capture a side of humanity that is unfortunately real – the bloodlust that makes good people do bad things and call them justice - sometimes I felt like they overdid it. There was simply too much drama. There was not a single decent character in the entire book, with the exception of Chase, the love interest. I suppose what the authors wanted to show was that one action, no matter how devastating it is, cannot dictate a person’s life, that there is one point where punishment is enough, that not everything is painted in black and white and I get it, I admire it even. But that absence of even one person who was sympathetic to Chase or supportive to Beth, who was not judgmental and thirsty for retribution felt way too manipulative, a means to bring them together and justify why Beth ended up falling for the guy responsible for her sister’s death.
And that brings us to Beth’s character. She was extremely juvenile about everything: the way she handled her grief, her reckless decisions, even the way she stalked Chase was nerve-wracking. As the story progressed I wished she would cut everyone off her life, I cannot fathom how she forgave her friends for the things they said and did (or didn’t do). She was throwing tantrums instead of growing a backbone, she was a hypocrite when it came to the way she treated Chase, and even though towards the end she did the right thing, it was not enough to make me forget all those times I wanted to yell at her (to be honest, though, I wanted to yell at everyone).
All those points I raised above do not mean that One Small Thing was a bad book. On the contrary, I finished it in two days, I wanted to spend more time with this story, witness more sweet moments between Beth and Chase, revel in their healing process, first and foremost as individuals and then as a couple. Chase was the one small thing that lightened my reading experience, my heart ached for him, I felt his remorse every time he spoke or allowed bullies to mistreat him because he thought he deserved it.
“What’s your small thing for today?” I ask as I cross the neighbor’s lawn to my own.
“You.”
Even though I prefer the lighthearted and adorable When It's Real, I swallowed Erin Watt’s second YA novel as well; One Small Thing is a bittersweet, intense and meaningful story that deserves 3.5 big stars for all the small things.
*ARC generously provided by the authors via Nina Bocci in exchange for an honest review*
Review also posted on BookNest!
June 30, 2018
4 Small Thing Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The message of this book was perfect... find that one small thing every day that makes you happy.... if we all could prescribe to this school of thought, the world would be a happier place... and this book was the one small thing in my life today that put a smile on my face... this was a book filled with so much angst, heartbreak, frustration, but in the end hope!
It is Beth’s senior year and she wants to make the most of it, but this is not easy with her extremely over protective parents... Beth’s older sister Rachel died in a tragic accident a couple years ago and her parents are going to do everything to keep their surviving daughter safe.... this was tough! These parents were beyond overprotective... and it was really hard not to pass judgment because thank goodness I have never been in their situation, but they were just smothering their daughter.... Beth sneaks out one night to a party and meets Chase the bad boy new guy in school.... there is chemistry between them, however when they find out the true identity of one another they realize this relationship cannot happen.... so it is over before it starts, or is it?
I really liked Beth, I felt for her and my heart broke for her, what a hard place to be... how do you make your grieving parents see you and recognize your needs? Chase what a great guy... yes he did something he shouldn’t have, but at the core of it it was an accident.... an accident he will also have to live with for the rest of his life.... I really adored these two main characters, however every secondary character in this book was judgemental, irritating, and annoying.... I really cannot believe how ridiculous these kids were especially in regards to Chase.... I’m not sure why they didn’t take a cue as to how Beth was reacting??? My desire to reach through the pages and shake some people into reality, was quite overwhelming throughout most of this book!.... beth’s friends were so busy being righteous that they didn’t seem to care what her needs were?Ugh so annoying!
This was a quick enjoyable read filled with all the drama and angst you expect from a book set in high school... I really would love a follow up! I love to see what happens to Beth and Chase after high school and there are some characters I’d like to see get theirs, LOL 😝
Absolutely recommend to fans of contemporary young adult books with a lot of drama and angst... parents I’d recommend for your older teens, there is teenage drinking and sex....
*** many thanks to Harlequin Teen for my copy of this delightful book ***
The message of this book was perfect... find that one small thing every day that makes you happy.... if we all could prescribe to this school of thought, the world would be a happier place... and this book was the one small thing in my life today that put a smile on my face... this was a book filled with so much angst, heartbreak, frustration, but in the end hope!
It is Beth’s senior year and she wants to make the most of it, but this is not easy with her extremely over protective parents... Beth’s older sister Rachel died in a tragic accident a couple years ago and her parents are going to do everything to keep their surviving daughter safe.... this was tough! These parents were beyond overprotective... and it was really hard not to pass judgment because thank goodness I have never been in their situation, but they were just smothering their daughter.... Beth sneaks out one night to a party and meets Chase the bad boy new guy in school.... there is chemistry between them, however when they find out the true identity of one another they realize this relationship cannot happen.... so it is over before it starts, or is it?
I really liked Beth, I felt for her and my heart broke for her, what a hard place to be... how do you make your grieving parents see you and recognize your needs? Chase what a great guy... yes he did something he shouldn’t have, but at the core of it it was an accident.... an accident he will also have to live with for the rest of his life.... I really adored these two main characters, however every secondary character in this book was judgemental, irritating, and annoying.... I really cannot believe how ridiculous these kids were especially in regards to Chase.... I’m not sure why they didn’t take a cue as to how Beth was reacting??? My desire to reach through the pages and shake some people into reality, was quite overwhelming throughout most of this book!.... beth’s friends were so busy being righteous that they didn’t seem to care what her needs were?Ugh so annoying!
This was a quick enjoyable read filled with all the drama and angst you expect from a book set in high school... I really would love a follow up! I love to see what happens to Beth and Chase after high school and there are some characters I’d like to see get theirs, LOL 😝
Absolutely recommend to fans of contemporary young adult books with a lot of drama and angst... parents I’d recommend for your older teens, there is teenage drinking and sex....
*** many thanks to Harlequin Teen for my copy of this delightful book ***
June 21, 2018
I think this writing duo is on to something... I know a majority of their following is really into their darker, more erotic romance (I haven't read the royals series yet), but there's something REALLY special about their standalone contemporary romances. They definitely feel YA (as they should), but not in a cheesy, obnoxious way. This is my second standalone romance from them and both have tackled some deep, thought provoking themes. Highly recommended for readers wanting a nice balance of darker contemporary with a horizon of hope. Full review to come closer to pub date.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
*******************************************
Hi, my name is Chelsea and I'm a sucker for Erin Watt standalones.
*I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
*******************************************
Hi, my name is Chelsea and I'm a sucker for Erin Watt standalones.
March 17, 2023
I’m always looking for a good YA buffer to read between heavier books- this definitely served its purpose. 👍 Absolutely predictable- drama angsty- Romeo-Juliette- feel. ❤️ But I liked it. 🥰
June 27, 2018
“You waiting for me is the ONE SMALL THING that will keep me going.”
This is hard. Hard to write. Hard to review. Why? Because I loved this book and I disliked this book.
First things first, this book teaches you many things, most importantly to follow your heart no matter what any one says. It’s hard to be pushed down, talked down to, but in the end, stay true to you and follow your own path. This book is emotional, it’s sad, it’s raw, and it definitely touches your soul.
I don’t want to say much about the plot of this book, although early on I had my hunches on what would happen and how. I wasn’t wrong. However, to read this book, it brought out so many emotions in me. At the end I was left needing more, wanting more, and mad because I want it now. Again, I enjoyed this story but the ending, to me, was way too rushed. Chase and Beth definitely touched my heart, I just need more to them ❤️
This is hard. Hard to write. Hard to review. Why? Because I loved this book and I disliked this book.
First things first, this book teaches you many things, most importantly to follow your heart no matter what any one says. It’s hard to be pushed down, talked down to, but in the end, stay true to you and follow your own path. This book is emotional, it’s sad, it’s raw, and it definitely touches your soul.
I don’t want to say much about the plot of this book, although early on I had my hunches on what would happen and how. I wasn’t wrong. However, to read this book, it brought out so many emotions in me. At the end I was left needing more, wanting more, and mad because I want it now. Again, I enjoyed this story but the ending, to me, was way too rushed. Chase and Beth definitely touched my heart, I just need more to them ❤️
June 26, 2018
Beth has been heavily sheltered by her parents since her older sister died three years ago. She sneaks out to a party the weekend before senior year starts to have a night just for her. To rebel just a little. That’s when she meets Chase. Chase is her little secret, but he has a not so secret, secret of his own. Once she finds out Beth knows she should hate Chase, but she doesn’t. She honestly shouldn’t want anything to do with him, but she does. How do you fall in love with someone you shouldn’t? How do you forgive someone who should be unforgivable in your eyes? Read One Small Thing to see how a pair who shouldn’t be, are.
One Small Thing is ultimately a story about forgiveness, dealing with loss, and finding the bright side when you’re trapped in the dark. Somehow Erin Watt stuffs all of that into a coming of age YA novel tortilla, and boy is it tasty. Beth and Chase are both characters that grow throughout the story, and without each other I doubt the growth would happen. I think this story does a great job showing how people react to death in different ways, and how people forgive or not in different ways. Not only that but the sweet growth of young romance between Chase and Beth is fun to follow.
This story will get under your skin at some points. It will make you a little sad, a lot happy, and will make you think. It will even have you questioning your own morality in regards to forgiveness at some points, and it will also have you cheering the characters on as well.
All in all this is a great YA read. It was really enjoyable, emotional, and entertaining!
https://instagram.com/p/BkfmoMshwEd/
https://instagram.com/p/BjcmckoADO9/
https://instagram.com/p/BilF_4nBEsI/
^fan edit on IG!
*ARC from NetGalley & Harlequin Teen*
One Small Thing is ultimately a story about forgiveness, dealing with loss, and finding the bright side when you’re trapped in the dark. Somehow Erin Watt stuffs all of that into a coming of age YA novel tortilla, and boy is it tasty. Beth and Chase are both characters that grow throughout the story, and without each other I doubt the growth would happen. I think this story does a great job showing how people react to death in different ways, and how people forgive or not in different ways. Not only that but the sweet growth of young romance between Chase and Beth is fun to follow.
This story will get under your skin at some points. It will make you a little sad, a lot happy, and will make you think. It will even have you questioning your own morality in regards to forgiveness at some points, and it will also have you cheering the characters on as well.
All in all this is a great YA read. It was really enjoyable, emotional, and entertaining!
https://instagram.com/p/BkfmoMshwEd/
https://instagram.com/p/BjcmckoADO9/
https://instagram.com/p/BilF_4nBEsI/
^fan edit on IG!
*ARC from NetGalley & Harlequin Teen*
July 10, 2020
3 stars
Every time a new Erin Watt book comes out, I get super excited to read. I love this dynamic writing duo and how flawlessly their words flow together. This story was different than any of their other books. It still had that angst factor, but it was also emotional, forbidden, and great story about true forgiveness and second chances.
Beth Jones is getting ready to go in to her senior year of high school, but she doesn’t have the life of a typical 17 year old. Ever since her older sister died in an accident, her parents have been over protective to the extreme. One night, she decides to rebel a bit and goes to a party on the other side of town. There she meets Chase. She is drawn to Chase when she first sees him and does something that is so unlike her. She spends the night with him.
Chase has made a big mistake that has shaped his life. He’s young, but he’s been through a lot. He doesn’t think he deserves someone like Beth, but when she comes his way, he can’t turn her down. Little do they both know, things between them just got much more complicated.
This book gave me so much anxiety. My heart broke for Beth and I wanted to constantly throttle her parents. I could kind of see where they were coming from, but I just couldn’t understand them. I did love Beth and Chase both. They have both had a lot happen in their young lives and deserve to have all the happy in their lives. And they make each other happy.
If you’re looking for a book full of heartache, love, second chances, and friendship, pick up One Small Thing.
Every time a new Erin Watt book comes out, I get super excited to read. I love this dynamic writing duo and how flawlessly their words flow together. This story was different than any of their other books. It still had that angst factor, but it was also emotional, forbidden, and great story about true forgiveness and second chances.
Beth Jones is getting ready to go in to her senior year of high school, but she doesn’t have the life of a typical 17 year old. Ever since her older sister died in an accident, her parents have been over protective to the extreme. One night, she decides to rebel a bit and goes to a party on the other side of town. There she meets Chase. She is drawn to Chase when she first sees him and does something that is so unlike her. She spends the night with him.
Chase has made a big mistake that has shaped his life. He’s young, but he’s been through a lot. He doesn’t think he deserves someone like Beth, but when she comes his way, he can’t turn her down. Little do they both know, things between them just got much more complicated.
This book gave me so much anxiety. My heart broke for Beth and I wanted to constantly throttle her parents. I could kind of see where they were coming from, but I just couldn’t understand them. I did love Beth and Chase both. They have both had a lot happen in their young lives and deserve to have all the happy in their lives. And they make each other happy.
If you’re looking for a book full of heartache, love, second chances, and friendship, pick up One Small Thing.
There's always something to live for. Something to be thankful for. Something to look forward to.
June 26, 2018
*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Authors}
”No cage is forever, Beth. I tried to find one small thing that I could be grateful for each day, like the extra ten minutes of free time outside or a work release picking up trash or ice cream for dessert. That’s how I kept my sanity—I focused on one good thing instead of all the fucked-up stuff.”
YA is not my go-to genre but when it’s a book written by the dynamic writing duo, Erin Watt, there is no way that I’m not going to make time for it. This story is filled with sadness, regret, and a ton of teenage angst and I couldn’t get enough of it. This is a tale of forbidden romance between two young kids who to the outside world should never have met. My heart hurt for poor Lizzie who was forced to live in the shadow of her dead older sister. I admired Chase for owning his mistakes and being the voice of reason that would help lead Lizzie away from her destructive path.
I understood her frustrations with her parents but her rebellious behavior made her seem even more juvenile and beyond ignorant. I was equally annoyed with her parents for being completely blind and for putting their trust in the wrong people. Their punishments seemed over the top at times but I loved the message of the story. Forgiveness heals the soul, and sometimes people can change for the better.
Here are my overall ratings
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4.5
Angst: 4
Steam: 2
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4
ONE SMALL THING releases tomorrow! I can’t wait to see what these two authors have in store for us next!
Amazon: http://geni.us/OSTAmz
iBooks: http://geni.us/OSTiB
Kobo: http://geni.us/OSTKobo
Nook: http://geni.us/OSTNook
{ARC Generously Provided by Authors}
”No cage is forever, Beth. I tried to find one small thing that I could be grateful for each day, like the extra ten minutes of free time outside or a work release picking up trash or ice cream for dessert. That’s how I kept my sanity—I focused on one good thing instead of all the fucked-up stuff.”
YA is not my go-to genre but when it’s a book written by the dynamic writing duo, Erin Watt, there is no way that I’m not going to make time for it. This story is filled with sadness, regret, and a ton of teenage angst and I couldn’t get enough of it. This is a tale of forbidden romance between two young kids who to the outside world should never have met. My heart hurt for poor Lizzie who was forced to live in the shadow of her dead older sister. I admired Chase for owning his mistakes and being the voice of reason that would help lead Lizzie away from her destructive path.
I understood her frustrations with her parents but her rebellious behavior made her seem even more juvenile and beyond ignorant. I was equally annoyed with her parents for being completely blind and for putting their trust in the wrong people. Their punishments seemed over the top at times but I loved the message of the story. Forgiveness heals the soul, and sometimes people can change for the better.
Here are my overall ratings
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4.5
Angst: 4
Steam: 2
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4
ONE SMALL THING releases tomorrow! I can’t wait to see what these two authors have in store for us next!
Amazon: http://geni.us/OSTAmz
iBooks: http://geni.us/OSTiB
Kobo: http://geni.us/OSTKobo
Nook: http://geni.us/OSTNook
June 26, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
One Small Thing is a very clear case of just not for me. Because I know that the majority of people that read this book are going to fall in love, they're going to adore these characters, cry with and for these characters, and be captivated by their story. But for me that wasn't the case. And for my own reasons.
The main one being, the secondary characters frustrated the ever loving hell out of me. I've said it before and I will probably say it a million times more, I cannot stand overbearing parents. Like there is a special place in my reader-world hell for parents that control their kids. And also for characters that let their family control them. Now in Beth's case I could understand since she was seventeen and didn't really have a choice. But it didn't stop me from being frustrated, and especially since it wasn't even just the parents, it was most of the other characters as well. I honestly just wanted Beth to stand up and tell every secondary character to shut the fuck up.
I actually started this book, was only about 13% into it, and then stopped for over a day. That doesn't happen to me! Once I start a book I don't stop unless real life interferes and I'm forced to. But after the first interaction with the heroine and her parents I just knew that this book was going to have me extra frustrated. I wasn't wrong. Yet I continued on and tried to keep a positive vibe and not get too worked up over the secondary characters. But as I read I couldn't stop how unbelievably angry these characters and their actions made me because every time I thought I was calming down something else would happen and bring all that anger back to the surface. It got a little over the top sometimes with how these people were acting, but that's typical YA angst I guess.
On top of the frustration though, I don't know if I can even consider this a true romance. It certainly had hints of romance but not too much, and for me, unless it's a suspense, I need a good dose of romance in my books. This story mostly focused on Beth, and I do think that was an interesting plot, but since Chase was brought into it I would have liked to see more of them together. Their relationship was something I would have loved to have had a better understanding of since it seemed like they had so much more to tell, yet never got the page time. And it didn't help that their story ended in typical YA fashion where there's sort of an HEA/HFN but not enough of one for my liking.
Like I said, this was clearly my own issues and not really an issue with the book. Because I think it was a really good story and really well written. Honestly the only complaints about the actual writing would be that I think there were a few things that needed to be expanded on more and given more page time, mostly the whole Rachel thing, and that I think it needed a clearer end without being so rushed. But other than that there were no major problems and I think it's a book that many people will love.
I've read and loved Erin Watt's Royals series and it's one I have re-read, will continue to re-read in the future, and one that I recommend a ton, but that series was more of what I consider mature YA, while this was just straight YA. AKA not my favorite. So if you're a fan of emotional YA, this is a book you want to try.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
One Small Thing is a very clear case of just not for me. Because I know that the majority of people that read this book are going to fall in love, they're going to adore these characters, cry with and for these characters, and be captivated by their story. But for me that wasn't the case. And for my own reasons.
The main one being, the secondary characters frustrated the ever loving hell out of me. I've said it before and I will probably say it a million times more, I cannot stand overbearing parents. Like there is a special place in my reader-world hell for parents that control their kids. And also for characters that let their family control them. Now in Beth's case I could understand since she was seventeen and didn't really have a choice. But it didn't stop me from being frustrated, and especially since it wasn't even just the parents, it was most of the other characters as well. I honestly just wanted Beth to stand up and tell every secondary character to shut the fuck up.
I actually started this book, was only about 13% into it, and then stopped for over a day. That doesn't happen to me! Once I start a book I don't stop unless real life interferes and I'm forced to. But after the first interaction with the heroine and her parents I just knew that this book was going to have me extra frustrated. I wasn't wrong. Yet I continued on and tried to keep a positive vibe and not get too worked up over the secondary characters. But as I read I couldn't stop how unbelievably angry these characters and their actions made me because every time I thought I was calming down something else would happen and bring all that anger back to the surface. It got a little over the top sometimes with how these people were acting, but that's typical YA angst I guess.
On top of the frustration though, I don't know if I can even consider this a true romance. It certainly had hints of romance but not too much, and for me, unless it's a suspense, I need a good dose of romance in my books. This story mostly focused on Beth, and I do think that was an interesting plot, but since Chase was brought into it I would have liked to see more of them together. Their relationship was something I would have loved to have had a better understanding of since it seemed like they had so much more to tell, yet never got the page time. And it didn't help that their story ended in typical YA fashion where there's sort of an HEA/HFN but not enough of one for my liking.
Like I said, this was clearly my own issues and not really an issue with the book. Because I think it was a really good story and really well written. Honestly the only complaints about the actual writing would be that I think there were a few things that needed to be expanded on more and given more page time, mostly the whole Rachel thing, and that I think it needed a clearer end without being so rushed. But other than that there were no major problems and I think it's a book that many people will love.
I've read and loved Erin Watt's Royals series and it's one I have re-read, will continue to re-read in the future, and one that I recommend a ton, but that series was more of what I consider mature YA, while this was just straight YA. AKA not my favorite. So if you're a fan of emotional YA, this is a book you want to try.
June 26, 2018
4 Forbidden Stars!
(ARC provided by Harlequin Teen)
Beth Jones should be having the time of her life. She is a 17 yr. old girl about to start her senior year at Darling High. Instead she feels like she can't breathe. She has no life since her sister Rachel passed away three years ago. Everything drastically changed in her household because her parents are obsessed with keeping the only child they have left safe. They are overprotective to the extreme, and everything is decided for her. They monitor her every move, and her life is all about rules, boundaries, and restrictions.
Desperate for a break from her reality, Beth accepts an invite to a party one town over with plans to sneak away. She just wants to have a good time for a few hours before school starts back. She's always been the good girl who does what she's told, but her helicopter parents have become too much to deal with. She feels like she's going to suffocate if she doesn't get away from her home that's become like her prison. She arrives at the party and is instantly intrigued by a gorgeous stranger named Chase. They share a night she'll never forget and then part ways. She later is stunned when he shows up in her everyday life. The one time she's a rebel and takes a walk on the wild side, she royally screws it up. Her one night of fun complicates her life even further, but she can't regret Chase or quit thinking about him. Being together would be impossible with so much already stacked against them, so they are forced to keep their connection a secret.
Chase is starting a new school and wants a fresh start. His life has been hard for a while now, and he just needs life to give him a break. He tries to avoid Beth as much as possible because he doesn't think he's good enough for her, but they keep finding themselves thrown together. The more time they spend together, the more intense their feelings become.
Beth feels a sense of peace when Chase is near. She knows he's supposed to be the bad boy she's to stay away from, but she's drawn to him. He's intense, beautiful, and soon the only thing she fears is being separated from him. As everyone around her tries to control her, Beth has a choice to make. Keep living her life for everyone else, or risk everything for the one her heart desires more than anything. Choose the lie or her new truth.
This was a great story about forgiveness and second chances. Two people hurting who need each other desperately. It deals with high school bullying and forbidden romance. Another fantastic story from this wonderful writing duo, Erin Watt!
-There's always something to live for. Something to be thankful for. Something to look forward to.
-"No one counts, Chase. No one but you and me."
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2MZj27r
(ARC provided by Harlequin Teen)
Beth Jones should be having the time of her life. She is a 17 yr. old girl about to start her senior year at Darling High. Instead she feels like she can't breathe. She has no life since her sister Rachel passed away three years ago. Everything drastically changed in her household because her parents are obsessed with keeping the only child they have left safe. They are overprotective to the extreme, and everything is decided for her. They monitor her every move, and her life is all about rules, boundaries, and restrictions.
Desperate for a break from her reality, Beth accepts an invite to a party one town over with plans to sneak away. She just wants to have a good time for a few hours before school starts back. She's always been the good girl who does what she's told, but her helicopter parents have become too much to deal with. She feels like she's going to suffocate if she doesn't get away from her home that's become like her prison. She arrives at the party and is instantly intrigued by a gorgeous stranger named Chase. They share a night she'll never forget and then part ways. She later is stunned when he shows up in her everyday life. The one time she's a rebel and takes a walk on the wild side, she royally screws it up. Her one night of fun complicates her life even further, but she can't regret Chase or quit thinking about him. Being together would be impossible with so much already stacked against them, so they are forced to keep their connection a secret.
Chase is starting a new school and wants a fresh start. His life has been hard for a while now, and he just needs life to give him a break. He tries to avoid Beth as much as possible because he doesn't think he's good enough for her, but they keep finding themselves thrown together. The more time they spend together, the more intense their feelings become.
Beth feels a sense of peace when Chase is near. She knows he's supposed to be the bad boy she's to stay away from, but she's drawn to him. He's intense, beautiful, and soon the only thing she fears is being separated from him. As everyone around her tries to control her, Beth has a choice to make. Keep living her life for everyone else, or risk everything for the one her heart desires more than anything. Choose the lie or her new truth.
This was a great story about forgiveness and second chances. Two people hurting who need each other desperately. It deals with high school bullying and forbidden romance. Another fantastic story from this wonderful writing duo, Erin Watt!
-There's always something to live for. Something to be thankful for. Something to look forward to.
-"No one counts, Chase. No one but you and me."
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2MZj27r
July 8, 2018
Something the author duo that is Erin Watt is doing very well is write addictive, angsty stories that keep you invested even if you want to scream in frustration. In One Small Thing it wasn't any different. I wanted to slap the whole cast of secondary characters - all of them without exception did awful things and behaved like lunatics.
I saw a lot of readers complain about Beth's childish behavior and yet she was actually the only one behaving like a seventeen year old. She rebelled against her parents who took protection to epic albeit insane proportion. Honestly, the things they made her put up with would have many girls on the verge of adulthood acting out. Did she make stupid decisions? Hell yes, but given the golden cage she lived in I was surprised she never totally screwed up. I also thought there was a lot of growth throughout the story - she admitted to making mistakes and tried to fix them. Also, she listened and while she not always acted the way I wanted her to it was understandable as well.
Chase was a beautiful character. Guilt-ridden but good to the chore. He was good and wise beyond his young age. That's what his single big mistake left him with. His remorse was so hard to watch, him being bullied at school for his big f*ck up was so incredibly maddening. I wanted to hug him close.
On the surface, Chase is hard— all muscles, tough sinew and bone. But underneath, he has a tender heart. It aches for us. What he wants and what I want are at odds with what we should be wanting.
As mentioned all the secondary characters were jerks to a certain degree and they left me shouting at my Kindle. Which I did pretty much all the time because I didn't get much reprieve. If it weren't Beth's parents making her life impossibly hard it was her best friend or her sister's boyfriend.
I actually loved how Erin Watt showed us how cruel teenagers can be and how they rally to descend like a pack of wolves on an innocent victim because, dammit, nobody deserves being treated like this. To remind the reader to speak up when they witness bullying was well placed. One thing that I missed a bit was a real romance. While I understood Chase and Beth's connection I didn't get to see much of them as a couple - maybe this was intentional though as to not distract from the story which focused a lot on the heroine and was also only written in her point of view.
One Small Thing might not compare to the quality of The Royals but it's still entertaining to read. Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick definitely make a very talented duo who I'll come back to to read more of. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in this book and I'll wrap this review up with one of my favorite quotes:
I focus on what I can control, and what I have to live for. Because there’s always something to live for. Something to be thankful for. Something to look forward to. That’s the biggest lesson I learned from Chase.
July 1, 2020
Beth's sister has been killed three years ago. A car ran her over - the driver didn't see her.
Charlie Donnelly. 16 years old at the time, he was sent to juvie for three years. And now, in Beth's last year of school, he's back.
And he's going to her school.
Which she didn't know when she had a rebelling-against-her-mega-overstrict-parents one-night stand with him at a party last weekend!
Everyone at school and in town hates him. Especially her parents. She should too, right?
But she doesn't - she feels like she has to defend him and befriend him....
But her parents would never allow that.
They don't allow anything. Not even driving, working, going away to college!
What will happen to Beth & Chase?
Will there be a HEA?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺
══════════════════
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I started reading and expected a cute little teenie romance. But ugh. No. That was so not what I was getting! This was so much more. Such an amazing dramance!
You start reading and you like Beth immediately. She just wants to enjoy her last year in highschool and then leave for the big world - aka go to college.
BUT HER PARENTS!!! UGH! Those people!
I can understand where they're coming from. Of course they want to make sure that their only living child will not be hurt or harmed. But they just go way too far. I wanted to call child protective services while reading! You see sparks of the old amazing, funny parents here and there, but they just exaggerated with everything!
And Beth and Chase! Ugh, those two. How can they ever be together after what happened???
I was crying so much while reading. I was constantly afraid of what might happen next. What cruel things the kids at school would do to get rid of Chase. Or what new thing her parents would come up with.
Beth and Chase are so perfect for each other.
He's so sorry for what he did. He feels so guilty.
And Beth feels guilty too - for liking him. For falling for him. But he's just so sweet and nice and kind and ... He listens to her. He gets her. She gets him. Under different circumstances they would be the IT couple at school.
But what happened happened.
And the reader can only hope that Beth's parents and the town will one day forgive Chase.
I sooo want them to end up happily together at the college of their dreams.
But it doesn't look too promising through most of the book ....
... but there's still hope!
Also - I so wouldn't mind seeing this on Netflix someday soon!
♡
♡
January 5, 2021
"Het verhaal is werkelijk heel pakkend en heb ik in één klap uitgelezen. Erin Watt heeft opnieuw een schitterend boek afgeleverd dat zo vlot leest dat je er geen genoeg van kunt krijgen."
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2021...
June 26, 2018
Live amazon https://www.amazon.com/One-Small-Thin...
❤️3,5-4 stars❤️
Erin Watt delivers a raw,emotional,intense and sweet story.I feel like it was a long time since I read a book from this author, I was super excited about One Small Thing I really enjoy it!
One of the best things in this story is Chase.He intrigued me and I wanted to know more about him.Beth was an ok character in my opinion.I can't say I loved her from the beginning.I didn't like her behavior in some parts, but while I continue reading I find myself liking her more.
Overall, it was a great story that make me think a lot.The story has some serious issues that will touch you! I'm always looking forward for what Erin Watt has for us next!
❤️3,5-4 stars❤️
Erin Watt delivers a raw,emotional,intense and sweet story.I feel like it was a long time since I read a book from this author, I was super excited about One Small Thing I really enjoy it!
One of the best things in this story is Chase.He intrigued me and I wanted to know more about him.Beth was an ok character in my opinion.I can't say I loved her from the beginning.I didn't like her behavior in some parts, but while I continue reading I find myself liking her more.
Overall, it was a great story that make me think a lot.The story has some serious issues that will touch you! I'm always looking forward for what Erin Watt has for us next!
July 3, 2018
This was a giant dumpster fire of a book.
The more I think about this, the more problematic it becomes. I’m still not sure the relationship would actually make it in real life. I mean, come on, who falls in love with their sister’s killer??? That’s next level craziness.
All the characters in this entire story I hated. They bully their friends and are hypocrites. I get that it was a small town but everyone was so angry over Chase going to school there. What he did to Rachel happened 3 years ago, not yesterday. The intense hatred of Beth’s classmates just seemed unjust. Most of those people probably never even knew Rachel and even the teachers hated Chase. I found it unrealistic. The slut shaming in this book drove me mad, as well. There’s Scarlet, the main character Beth’s best friend, who’s being abused by Jeff, Beth’s sister’s boyfriend before she died. Scarlet proclaims to be Beth’s biggest supporter but she is anything but that. She attacks Beth because Jeff’s feeding her lies about Beth and Scarlett believes him. Yeah, that would be the day I’d continue to be friends with somebody who will turn on me because their boyfriend tells them to.....
I had Jeff pegged from the start. He was clearly unstable and violent. I knew the plot twist before it happened. I’ve read enough Erin Watt books to know when stuff is about to hit the pavement.
Beth’s parents bothered me. I couldn’t stand how she, and Chase, rationalized her parents behavior. It wasn’t normal for them to be acting the way they did after their daughters death when it’s been over 3 years. They smothered Beth and thought it was okay. Beth acted the way she did because her parents gave her no freedom whatsoever. They took the door off her bedroom and put alarms on her windows. Kind of creepy if you ask me. I’m not saying her choices were good by any means but she rebelled because they wouldn’t listen to her. If her parents had been open to actually discussing her choices and listening to Beth’s side of the story none of the bad things would have happened.
I enjoyed this and binged it in under 24 hours but I’m not sure it was realistic in any way. I found myself cringing a lot because, really, who falls in love with their sister’s killer???? I did like Chase, he wasn’t the most amazing character in a long story, but Beth falling for him was so ridiculous. I swear, stuff like this only happens in romance novels.....
The more I think about this, the more problematic it becomes. I’m still not sure the relationship would actually make it in real life. I mean, come on, who falls in love with their sister’s killer??? That’s next level craziness.
All the characters in this entire story I hated. They bully their friends and are hypocrites. I get that it was a small town but everyone was so angry over Chase going to school there. What he did to Rachel happened 3 years ago, not yesterday. The intense hatred of Beth’s classmates just seemed unjust. Most of those people probably never even knew Rachel and even the teachers hated Chase. I found it unrealistic. The slut shaming in this book drove me mad, as well. There’s Scarlet, the main character Beth’s best friend, who’s being abused by Jeff, Beth’s sister’s boyfriend before she died. Scarlet proclaims to be Beth’s biggest supporter but she is anything but that. She attacks Beth because Jeff’s feeding her lies about Beth and Scarlett believes him. Yeah, that would be the day I’d continue to be friends with somebody who will turn on me because their boyfriend tells them to.....
I had Jeff pegged from the start. He was clearly unstable and violent. I knew the plot twist before it happened. I’ve read enough Erin Watt books to know when stuff is about to hit the pavement.
Beth’s parents bothered me. I couldn’t stand how she, and Chase, rationalized her parents behavior. It wasn’t normal for them to be acting the way they did after their daughters death when it’s been over 3 years. They smothered Beth and thought it was okay. Beth acted the way she did because her parents gave her no freedom whatsoever. They took the door off her bedroom and put alarms on her windows. Kind of creepy if you ask me. I’m not saying her choices were good by any means but she rebelled because they wouldn’t listen to her. If her parents had been open to actually discussing her choices and listening to Beth’s side of the story none of the bad things would have happened.
I enjoyed this and binged it in under 24 hours but I’m not sure it was realistic in any way. I found myself cringing a lot because, really, who falls in love with their sister’s killer???? I did like Chase, he wasn’t the most amazing character in a long story, but Beth falling for him was so ridiculous. I swear, stuff like this only happens in romance novels.....
June 23, 2018
Statement: I love Erin Watt's The Royals series and When it's Real.
I love Jen Frederick's work as well as Elle Kennedy's series.
When I spotted the ARC of One Small Thing I sent a request and crossed my fingers. Real tight. It was painful and unpractical.
When I got it I squealed! So hard the neigbors believed some cats were fighting. Nope. That was me!
I dove right in but sadly this book was not for me.
I think one part of my disappointment is due to the ARC format with small inconsistencies and lack of transition once or twice left in this format. I am used to beta read and I have an eagle eye to spot these while most people would miss them. But that's what beta readers then later editors are for and I am certain all will be formatted for the release.
So let's just forget this remark and speak about what prevented me to give a 4 or 5 stars.
My main problem was that I was MAD at Beth's parents ALL THE TIME! And I was mad at her best friend Rebecca AND at the whole school. Heck make it the whole town!
I could not really believe a whole town and school would behave like that! No one in that school ever considered giving Chase a chance after he paid his due for three years in juvie. He was not a serial killer! Ok he killed someone but he never intended to it was an accident and it is a huge difference.
And he paid his due!
Now based on Erin Watt's interview (the one made with Andelica from Collector of Book Boyfriends and that will be published on our respective blogs) I know they struggled the most with Beth parents. So they willed them to be irreasonable, overprotective, smoldering and vengeful because that was their way to grieve!
In this it is a huge success!
But it had me a boiling cauldron of anger, outrage and disbelief all the time!
Beth also had a huge way to grow.
She had an erratic behavior going from temper tantrum, reckless behavior to maturing thanks to Chase. Her not standing up and claiming Chase bothered me too. He had to be her dirty secret. But the second after I felt bad because she was grieving and who's to say how to grieve? There is no handguide!
And would have I dared stand up for Chase in her shoes? From personal experience in high school I can say yes. I stood up for bullied and rejected people against the powerful bullies of the school. But most people wouldn't. That's a fact. And so her behavior was not exceptional and I had to be more understanding.
Yet I was ANGRY once again.
And I wanted to kick some behind!
Even Chase did not escape my wrath.
He was a noble soul and admirable.
BUT
He still wanted to be punished for what he's done hence forbade himself to be with Beth. And was so understanding that he accepted that others wanted to bully and shun him.
Now if others would attack Beth then he would draw the line as he was far from a coward! Only remorseful and trapped in his guilt.
What has been masterfully stated in this book is that grief can alter people on a deep level. It can morph a jokester dad into a jailer. Never smiling. Suffocating you for your own good. A loving mom can lash on you. She can help her husband to keep you a prisoner. Both worshipping their dead daughter. Seeing her like a Saint.
It's also established that villain can wear bright and charming colors manipulating everyone.
Some wisdom came forth: behave like you want peope to see and treat you. If you behave like a brat you'll be treated like one.
To make it short: anger was festering through my soul throughout my read. I was in the same emotional state these people were. Just not mad at Chase but at them!
That's why I ended giving this book a 2,5 stars derived from my utter frustrated frame of mind.
Will I keep reading Erin Watt's books?
Without a doubt as I know first hand that they write fantastic stories and have proven their talent many times.
It is perfectly normal not to love every single book as reading is a personal experience.
I would like to pay homage to their PR Nina Bocci.
When I realized I would give a low rating I was embarassed. I promised to never lie about a book being ARC or not . I contacted Nina to ask her what she'd like me to do. Posting the review some time after the release? Something else?
Here is what Nina answered: "Honestly, it's totally ok! Not every book will always resonate with you. You review whenever you want. I'm not one that will ask/tell you to hold a review, ever ;-) " Now that says a lot about Nina! Respect!
Have you read this book? Or any Erin Watt's book?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
I love Jen Frederick's work as well as Elle Kennedy's series.
When I spotted the ARC of One Small Thing I sent a request and crossed my fingers. Real tight. It was painful and unpractical.
When I got it I squealed! So hard the neigbors believed some cats were fighting. Nope. That was me!
I dove right in but sadly this book was not for me.
I think one part of my disappointment is due to the ARC format with small inconsistencies and lack of transition once or twice left in this format. I am used to beta read and I have an eagle eye to spot these while most people would miss them. But that's what beta readers then later editors are for and I am certain all will be formatted for the release.
So let's just forget this remark and speak about what prevented me to give a 4 or 5 stars.
My main problem was that I was MAD at Beth's parents ALL THE TIME! And I was mad at her best friend Rebecca AND at the whole school. Heck make it the whole town!
I could not really believe a whole town and school would behave like that! No one in that school ever considered giving Chase a chance after he paid his due for three years in juvie. He was not a serial killer! Ok he killed someone but he never intended to it was an accident and it is a huge difference.
And he paid his due!
Now based on Erin Watt's interview (the one made with Andelica from Collector of Book Boyfriends and that will be published on our respective blogs) I know they struggled the most with Beth parents. So they willed them to be irreasonable, overprotective, smoldering and vengeful because that was their way to grieve!
In this it is a huge success!
But it had me a boiling cauldron of anger, outrage and disbelief all the time!
Beth also had a huge way to grow.
She had an erratic behavior going from temper tantrum, reckless behavior to maturing thanks to Chase. Her not standing up and claiming Chase bothered me too. He had to be her dirty secret. But the second after I felt bad because she was grieving and who's to say how to grieve? There is no handguide!
And would have I dared stand up for Chase in her shoes? From personal experience in high school I can say yes. I stood up for bullied and rejected people against the powerful bullies of the school. But most people wouldn't. That's a fact. And so her behavior was not exceptional and I had to be more understanding.
Yet I was ANGRY once again.
And I wanted to kick some behind!
Even Chase did not escape my wrath.
He was a noble soul and admirable.
BUT
He still wanted to be punished for what he's done hence forbade himself to be with Beth. And was so understanding that he accepted that others wanted to bully and shun him.
Now if others would attack Beth then he would draw the line as he was far from a coward! Only remorseful and trapped in his guilt.
What has been masterfully stated in this book is that grief can alter people on a deep level. It can morph a jokester dad into a jailer. Never smiling. Suffocating you for your own good. A loving mom can lash on you. She can help her husband to keep you a prisoner. Both worshipping their dead daughter. Seeing her like a Saint.
It's also established that villain can wear bright and charming colors manipulating everyone.
Some wisdom came forth: behave like you want peope to see and treat you. If you behave like a brat you'll be treated like one.
To make it short: anger was festering through my soul throughout my read. I was in the same emotional state these people were. Just not mad at Chase but at them!
That's why I ended giving this book a 2,5 stars derived from my utter frustrated frame of mind.
Will I keep reading Erin Watt's books?
Without a doubt as I know first hand that they write fantastic stories and have proven their talent many times.
It is perfectly normal not to love every single book as reading is a personal experience.
I would like to pay homage to their PR Nina Bocci.
When I realized I would give a low rating I was embarassed. I promised to never lie about a book being ARC or not . I contacted Nina to ask her what she'd like me to do. Posting the review some time after the release? Something else?
Here is what Nina answered: "Honestly, it's totally ok! Not every book will always resonate with you. You review whenever you want. I'm not one that will ask/tell you to hold a review, ever ;-) " Now that says a lot about Nina! Respect!
Have you read this book? Or any Erin Watt's book?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Find me on:
Wordpress: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook: Beware Of The Reader
Facebook group : Beware Book Boyfriends Alert
Instagram: @bewareofthereader
Twitter: @BewareOffReader
August 15, 2018
Thank you Harlequin Teen for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 41%
I tried guys but this book isn't for me. One Small Thing is one of my highly anticipated books this year and sadly it turned out to be a disappointment. I rarely put a book in a DNF pile and as much as I hated a book, I'll finish it no matter what. However, all the characters in this book pissed me off and I ran out of patience.
The story centers on death and grief. It's about seventeen year old Beth Jones whose sister tragically passed away due to a car accident. Since her sister's death, her parents had an irrational fear of losing another child and became overprotective on her. No parent wants to outlive their child and I understand what they're going through but they've forgot paying attention to their remaining child. I swear Beth's parents are the most ridiculous parents EVER and they made me furious.
Beth feels suffocated by their strictness and disobeys them in every way she can. One night, she went to a party and meets Chase. Sparks fly between them but things turned complicated when she found out he's the reason why her sister died.
With a lot of teenage angst and migraine-inducing drama, I lost my interest. It was stressful to read this book and the townspeople are horrible. I don't want my hairline to recede by finishing this book. Will I give this another shot? Probably not. I'm so relieved but it doesn't mean I'll stop reading Erin Watt's books. I'm just not a fan of this one. I'm sorry.
DNF @ 41%
I tried guys but this book isn't for me. One Small Thing is one of my highly anticipated books this year and sadly it turned out to be a disappointment. I rarely put a book in a DNF pile and as much as I hated a book, I'll finish it no matter what. However, all the characters in this book pissed me off and I ran out of patience.
The story centers on death and grief. It's about seventeen year old Beth Jones whose sister tragically passed away due to a car accident. Since her sister's death, her parents had an irrational fear of losing another child and became overprotective on her. No parent wants to outlive their child and I understand what they're going through but they've forgot paying attention to their remaining child. I swear Beth's parents are the most ridiculous parents EVER and they made me furious.
Beth feels suffocated by their strictness and disobeys them in every way she can. One night, she went to a party and meets Chase. Sparks fly between them but things turned complicated when she found out he's the reason why her sister died.
With a lot of teenage angst and migraine-inducing drama, I lost my interest. It was stressful to read this book and the townspeople are horrible. I don't want my hairline to recede by finishing this book. Will I give this another shot? Probably not. I'm so relieved but it doesn't mean I'll stop reading Erin Watt's books. I'm just not a fan of this one. I'm sorry.
July 27, 2018
4 Stars****
YA and angsty, just how I like it!!!! I seriously can’t enough of Erin Watt. Once again this dynamic duo bring us a beautiful story that is a total page turner!
Elizabeth is finally a senior in High school, she and her family have had a really devastating few years, and “Beth” AKA Lizzy is ready to finish school so she can go away to college and start living her life away from her overbearing parents.
After one particularly bad fight with her parents, Beth decides she wants to rebel by going to a party in a bad part of town. At this party, she meets a gorgeous boy that makes her feel at ease, secure in her own skin for the first time in her life. Chase and Beth spend an exhilarating night together, knowing they’ll never see each other again, this mystery makes their night so much better.
The next day in school, Beth can’t believe her mysterious friend Chase is a new student in her school. But what’s worse is that this boy has more than one reason to tell her how sorry he is...
Chase has become the most hated boy not only in school but in the small town of Darling. Beth is the only one who’s forgiven him, even though she’s the one who should hate him the most.
I was biting my nails throughout the entire read. Some of the characters, especially Beth’s parents were very frustrating and totally unpredictable. I really enjoyed this story.
YA and angsty, just how I like it!!!! I seriously can’t enough of Erin Watt. Once again this dynamic duo bring us a beautiful story that is a total page turner!
Elizabeth is finally a senior in High school, she and her family have had a really devastating few years, and “Beth” AKA Lizzy is ready to finish school so she can go away to college and start living her life away from her overbearing parents.
After one particularly bad fight with her parents, Beth decides she wants to rebel by going to a party in a bad part of town. At this party, she meets a gorgeous boy that makes her feel at ease, secure in her own skin for the first time in her life. Chase and Beth spend an exhilarating night together, knowing they’ll never see each other again, this mystery makes their night so much better.
The next day in school, Beth can’t believe her mysterious friend Chase is a new student in her school. But what’s worse is that this boy has more than one reason to tell her how sorry he is...
Chase has become the most hated boy not only in school but in the small town of Darling. Beth is the only one who’s forgiven him, even though she’s the one who should hate him the most.
I was biting my nails throughout the entire read. Some of the characters, especially Beth’s parents were very frustrating and totally unpredictable. I really enjoyed this story.
June 20, 2019
3.5 stars
Well, this is a lot more wholesome than Paper Princess. Lol. Okay, the story actually began with the main characters doing the deed but that’s the extent of it. And although this is another YA romance, the themes are quite deep and meaningful and the plot is not very usual either. It’s about Beth, the sister of the dead girl as she tries to process her grief in her own unique way when in an act of rebellion against her parents' over-protectiveness, she hooks up with this guy, Chase who accidentally hit her sister and of course that makes it only harder for her to forget him especially now that he goes to school with her after three years at juvie.
The romance is definitely the you-and-me-against-the-world type, of course, with all the drama it entails although majority of the drama is seriously caused by Beth because of her recklessness and childishness. Good thing she recognizes her flaws. But the guy is pretty decent, the voice of reason actually and the stubborn girl sees the good in him even if the rest of the town don’t especially her parents.
Told in Beth’s perspective, the narrative might get a little annoying at times because of her whiny and selfish brooding but as you get to know her, you get to understand why she is the way she is and I’m glad I stuck by her because her story turned out quite well. Chase’s influence on her is good and I’m glad he taught her about the One Small Thing. That to go through each day no matter how bad, you just look for that one good thing no matter how small to tide you over.
Well, this is a lot more wholesome than Paper Princess. Lol. Okay, the story actually began with the main characters doing the deed but that’s the extent of it. And although this is another YA romance, the themes are quite deep and meaningful and the plot is not very usual either. It’s about Beth, the sister of the dead girl as she tries to process her grief in her own unique way when in an act of rebellion against her parents' over-protectiveness, she hooks up with this guy, Chase who accidentally hit her sister and of course that makes it only harder for her to forget him especially now that he goes to school with her after three years at juvie.
The romance is definitely the you-and-me-against-the-world type, of course, with all the drama it entails although majority of the drama is seriously caused by Beth because of her recklessness and childishness. Good thing she recognizes her flaws. But the guy is pretty decent, the voice of reason actually and the stubborn girl sees the good in him even if the rest of the town don’t especially her parents.
Told in Beth’s perspective, the narrative might get a little annoying at times because of her whiny and selfish brooding but as you get to know her, you get to understand why she is the way she is and I’m glad I stuck by her because her story turned out quite well. Chase’s influence on her is good and I’m glad he taught her about the One Small Thing. That to go through each day no matter how bad, you just look for that one good thing no matter how small to tide you over.
June 26, 2018
Let me tell you about the conflicting emotions Erin Watt had me feeling in just the first 20% of this book. It all happened so fast. I felt instantly giddy as I found myself in the complicated world of high school senior, Elizabeth Jones. I love a good high school romance and this one had me AMPED right away. The angst, the drama, the insecurities and the unsettled feelings of teenage years, I just love stories that take me to that place. One Small Thing took me there. But combine all that teen angst with the heartache and frustration surrounding the current state of Beth's family, and in just a few chapters Erin Watt had me elated for the brutally intense journey this book was shaping up to be.
Then the bombs started dropping, the truths started revealing themselves to the reader, the curve balls started coming from left and right and I WAS IN KNOTS. This story was going so well, hurting so good, evolving in the most infuriating yet compelling way. I was turning the pages eagerly. I was IN IT. This book delivered loads of conflicting emotions, hope and hopelessness, heartache and longing, desire, forbidden attraction and despair. One Small Thing was a barrage of intense feels and I savored all of them for much of this book. It hurt. It was often sweet. It was infuriating always. I so enjoy the pleasurable pain of a great YA romance, of an impossible dynamic that has me feeling so many things and Erin Watt delivered that for much of the book.
But then something happened. The momentum of this story shifted somewhere around the last 20% and things kind of fell apart for me. The story, one I'd found so emotional and gripping, suddenly went way over the top. It lost me. All these tightly held secrets came out in a way that I found disappointing. There was so much potential for the story to come together in a shocking, powerful way, and instead it felt too easy, too predictable, underwhelming in many ways. It felt rushed and disjointed and just not believable, which was such a let down after how much I'd been loving the story up to that point. This is a story of redemption and forgiveness, healing and love but the end of this book, unfortunately, didn't allow these characters to get all those important things in the way I felt they deserved to get them. This was a solid read for so much of it, I'm just a bit devastated that I came away feeling so unsatisfied in the end.
Then the bombs started dropping, the truths started revealing themselves to the reader, the curve balls started coming from left and right and I WAS IN KNOTS. This story was going so well, hurting so good, evolving in the most infuriating yet compelling way. I was turning the pages eagerly. I was IN IT. This book delivered loads of conflicting emotions, hope and hopelessness, heartache and longing, desire, forbidden attraction and despair. One Small Thing was a barrage of intense feels and I savored all of them for much of this book. It hurt. It was often sweet. It was infuriating always. I so enjoy the pleasurable pain of a great YA romance, of an impossible dynamic that has me feeling so many things and Erin Watt delivered that for much of the book.
But then something happened. The momentum of this story shifted somewhere around the last 20% and things kind of fell apart for me. The story, one I'd found so emotional and gripping, suddenly went way over the top. It lost me. All these tightly held secrets came out in a way that I found disappointing. There was so much potential for the story to come together in a shocking, powerful way, and instead it felt too easy, too predictable, underwhelming in many ways. It felt rushed and disjointed and just not believable, which was such a let down after how much I'd been loving the story up to that point. This is a story of redemption and forgiveness, healing and love but the end of this book, unfortunately, didn't allow these characters to get all those important things in the way I felt they deserved to get them. This was a solid read for so much of it, I'm just a bit devastated that I came away feeling so unsatisfied in the end.
July 2, 2018
One Small Thing... I have been waiting for this book with bated breath.
Sadly, This one was almost put into the Dnf category for me.. It wasn't even the fact the characters annoyed me.. I just found the whole premise uncomfortable to read.
Now, I will admit something, a lot of people are complaining about how they didn't enjoy the character Beth... trust me... I get what you mean. I understand the frustration of having to read a character that's so annoying that you'd rather get a few brain freezes. The logical part of me understands all that: the stupidity, the reckless choices and the rebellious nature. I mean she's 17 years old! But..come on! I am sure no one is that naive!
It's hard to write this review because I did enjoy certain parts of the book like Chase. He is the no frills kind of guy. what you see is what you get type of character.
It is also hard to admit that this being an Erin Watt book, I wanted to love it to bits. But the truth of the matter is that I hated it yet I liked it. This book threw me into a loop.. from feeling a sense of empathy to rolling my eyes at characters that were meant to leave a footprint into my life... One Small thing is a conundrum for me.
I loved the idea of loving one small thing each day... This book was sadly not one of those things.
For more ...
www.jemimajamir.com
May 28, 2018
Meh
I don’t even know what to say. I’m so horribly disappointed because while I absolutely hated The Royals series by these authors, I adored When It’s Real. So I had incredibly high expectations for One Small Thing hoping it would make me feel more like I did when I read When It’s Real.
Unfortunately, it was more along the lines of how I felt reading The Royals books.
Honestly, the only good thing about this book for me was Chase… the guy who killed Beth’s sister so that’s saying a lot I suppose.
I think what I disliked the most was the super predictability of every single character in this story. Beth is the rebellious daughter who acts out because her sister has died. Her parents are the overprotective unreasonable sort who can’t see that they are suffocating their daughter. Her best friend falls for the guy who used to date her sister, but he’s a controlling asshole only Beth is the only one who sees it. Her classmates are all douchebags who harass and bully a student while teachers watch on because … well, he killed someone, right?
Overall, I think my struggle to connect to Beth’s story was what ruined this for me. At times I sympathized with her, and at others, I just wanted to urge her to act her age and start earning the respect she was demanding from others. Instead, she had tantrums and acted out.
I did think that despite what you learn at the end of the story that should redeem these characters, that Beth’s ability to forgive was commendable, though I wonder if she would have felt the same way if the one who killed her sister wasn’t a hot guy?
Thanks to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I don’t even know what to say. I’m so horribly disappointed because while I absolutely hated The Royals series by these authors, I adored When It’s Real. So I had incredibly high expectations for One Small Thing hoping it would make me feel more like I did when I read When It’s Real.
Unfortunately, it was more along the lines of how I felt reading The Royals books.
Honestly, the only good thing about this book for me was Chase… the guy who killed Beth’s sister so that’s saying a lot I suppose.
I think what I disliked the most was the super predictability of every single character in this story. Beth is the rebellious daughter who acts out because her sister has died. Her parents are the overprotective unreasonable sort who can’t see that they are suffocating their daughter. Her best friend falls for the guy who used to date her sister, but he’s a controlling asshole only Beth is the only one who sees it. Her classmates are all douchebags who harass and bully a student while teachers watch on because … well, he killed someone, right?
Overall, I think my struggle to connect to Beth’s story was what ruined this for me. At times I sympathized with her, and at others, I just wanted to urge her to act her age and start earning the respect she was demanding from others. Instead, she had tantrums and acted out.
I did think that despite what you learn at the end of the story that should redeem these characters, that Beth’s ability to forgive was commendable, though I wonder if she would have felt the same way if the one who killed her sister wasn’t a hot guy?
Thanks to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
July 2, 2018
One Small Thing
Erin Watt
Wow, all I can say is, this story blew me away! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading ONE SMALL THING. The author duo of Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Beth after so much heartache! What an awesome story. All of the characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again. You will also wonder how much heartache a person can stand before they completely break down and shatter.
ONE SMALL THING is all about family and the past and the secrets that come out are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to Beth and Chase and all the secondary characters. Beth is shattered after a family tragedy. I can't believe what her parents put her through though. I get that they were trying to protect her but they are smothering her. ONE SMALL THING is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!
ONE SMALL THING is without a doubt one of my most favorite books I've read in 2018 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. My heart broke for Chase and Beth and for all they were dealing with but Chase shredded me. The bullying he had to endure at school was way over the top. The names they called him made me cringe! Doesn't anyone get a second chance? I totally get what happened was a horrible tragedy, but come on, it was an accident. The only one who defends Chase is Beth! The whole time I was reading, I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop! There is no way this is going to be a happy ending right? Erin Watt is an auto buy author for me and ONE SMALL THING is exactly why! I hope this duo continues to write deep and beautiful books for many years to come!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Teen through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Erin Watt
Wow, all I can say is, this story blew me away! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading ONE SMALL THING. The author duo of Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Beth after so much heartache! What an awesome story. All of the characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again. You will also wonder how much heartache a person can stand before they completely break down and shatter.
ONE SMALL THING is all about family and the past and the secrets that come out are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to Beth and Chase and all the secondary characters. Beth is shattered after a family tragedy. I can't believe what her parents put her through though. I get that they were trying to protect her but they are smothering her. ONE SMALL THING is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!
ONE SMALL THING is without a doubt one of my most favorite books I've read in 2018 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. My heart broke for Chase and Beth and for all they were dealing with but Chase shredded me. The bullying he had to endure at school was way over the top. The names they called him made me cringe! Doesn't anyone get a second chance? I totally get what happened was a horrible tragedy, but come on, it was an accident. The only one who defends Chase is Beth! The whole time I was reading, I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop! There is no way this is going to be a happy ending right? Erin Watt is an auto buy author for me and ONE SMALL THING is exactly why! I hope this duo continues to write deep and beautiful books for many years to come!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Teen through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 29, 2018
3.75 out of 5 Stars!
Full Disclosure: Erin Watt is an auto-buy author for me. I am absolute trash for this duo. So it should serve as no surprise that when I was approved for an ARC of their newest novel I dropped all of my responsibilities to dive into their newest work.
As with their previous novels, I practically devoured this in one sitting. Unlike the Royals series there are no rage-inducing cliffhangers here, but a nice (somewhat rushed) ending. And unlike When It's Real this was a much heavier read with triggers ranging from emotional & sexual abuse to bullying.
I applaud that this pair is constantly able to produce engaging stories that are completely original from their previous publications. There is no rinse, wash, repeat of previous plot points. And while I appreciate the fresh twists, there was just one small thing that kept me from loving this addition. Maybe it was my inability to suspend my belief enough to believe the pair would actually come together in real life. Maybe it was my HATRED of almost every character in this novel outside of our two main leads. Maybe it's my degree of separation from that level of grief.
Ultimately, I think this story is worth your time for the inventive plot line alone. This is definitely a unique addition to the romance contemporary genre and one I'm gonna need to talk to someone about asap!!
Full and better RTC.
Full Disclosure: Erin Watt is an auto-buy author for me. I am absolute trash for this duo. So it should serve as no surprise that when I was approved for an ARC of their newest novel I dropped all of my responsibilities to dive into their newest work.
As with their previous novels, I practically devoured this in one sitting. Unlike the Royals series there are no rage-inducing cliffhangers here, but a nice (somewhat rushed) ending. And unlike When It's Real this was a much heavier read with triggers ranging from emotional & sexual abuse to bullying.
I applaud that this pair is constantly able to produce engaging stories that are completely original from their previous publications. There is no rinse, wash, repeat of previous plot points. And while I appreciate the fresh twists, there was just one small thing that kept me from loving this addition. Maybe it was my inability to suspend my belief enough to believe the pair would actually come together in real life. Maybe it was my HATRED of almost every character in this novel outside of our two main leads. Maybe it's my degree of separation from that level of grief.
Ultimately, I think this story is worth your time for the inventive plot line alone. This is definitely a unique addition to the romance contemporary genre and one I'm gonna need to talk to someone about asap!!
Full and better RTC.
September 5, 2019
Историята се разказва за едно момиче, което е обгрижвано от родителите си прекалено много и в следствие на това бяга от вкъщи за една нощ, за да отиде на купон. Когато отива на купона се запознава не в кой да е, а момчето което е убило сестра ѝ. До тук добре, дори много добре. Ама след това като се почна едно голямо НИЩО!!! Не ми хареса книгата, изобщо! Не можах да ѝ разбера смисъла, няма и една поука в нея. Главната ме дразнеше с постоянното си циврене, а главния с постоянното си самообвинение. Родителите на Бет бяха толкова “кухо” представени, че много нерви ми образуваха. Вглъбени в смъртта на Рейчъл и задушаващата тревога по Бет ми идваха в повече. Все си мислех, че ще последва някакъв сериозен разговор между родител и дете, но тц, такъв не видях. Има и още много неща, но просто не ми се говори за тях.
3* от 5* само заради хубавата българска корица!
3* от 5* само заради хубавата българска корица!
July 29, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
A force to be reckoned with in the young adult genre, author Erin Watt takes a step away from the bestselling The Royals series and presents a new teen romance novel. One Small Thing is the tale of young couple who fall in love, but are blocked by past mistakes, grief and parental opposition.
Seventeen year old Beth has been unable to move on from the death of her sister. Her parents are locked in their grief, stifling Beth at any moment they can, in attempt to deal with their own loss. In one simple act of rebellion against her parents overbearing nature, Beth attends a party and soon falls into the open arms of the new boy in town, Chase. She immediately finds she has a connection with Chase, he gets her, understands her and for just one moment in time, Beth forgets the grief of her sister’s death. But Chase has his own sad secrets. He is fresh out of juvenile detention and is on a path to redeem his past mistakes. He wants to begin again at a new school, but the choices he has made in the past has caused many to judge him. Beth is one person who should be extra judgemental towards Chase, the mistake he made struck right at the heart of her family unit. However, Beth goes against the crowd and decides that Chase needs to be given a chance to redeem himself. Consequently, a forbidden romance sparks between Beth and Chase. It is unexpected and goes against the wishes of many, especially Beth’s heartbroken parents. Beth and Chase cannot deny their burgeoning feelings for one another. As their taboo romance launches full steam ahead, Beth is placed in an impossible bind, she should continue to follow her heart and chance sending her parents into further despair, or take control over her own destiny?
What initially presents itself as standard fare teen romance of girl meets bad boy and how the characters overcome this mountain, morphs into something else in Erin Watt’s latest young adult novel, One Small Thing. I liked many elements of this book, which surprised me as generally I experience a sense of disconnection to young adult based high school romances. I also found this a very fast read that I whipped through in just an afternoon sitting.
One Small Thing is told entirely from the point of view of the lead, Beth. Beth (or previously known as Lizzie) is an agreeable lead and those closer in age to Beth will be sure to find her relatable. I think Watt does a good job of providing a good representation of a late teen girl negotiating the grief felt over her sister’s death, balancing her overprotective parents and handling her forbidden new romance with bad boy Chase. Beth’s interactions appear to be in line with a standard teen girl of this age. Watt’s dialogue comes across as in keeping with this character and the situations faced. On the secondary character front, apart from love interest Chase, the supporting cast were not particularly likeable and I found myself at the end of my tether with a number of them, there were a few small-minded protagonists in this story.
Watt handles the romance side of her novel mostly well, I did question the probability that Chase and Beth would cross paths in such a way and fall in love. But I guess this is chance. The romance is One Small Thing is marred by opposition, judgement, past hurts, guilt, forgiveness and semblance. I enjoyed the moments where Chase and Beth were able to connect on their own level, without the influences of others and the stresses from the outside.
One Small Thing throws up some rather serious fodder, which Watt is in the most part careful in her treatment of the issues at stake. These include; loss, grief, crime, incarceration, guilt, bullying, relationships, and sexual assault. One Small Thing is clear in delivering a simple message of our need to look for more hope in life. Often when we are pitted against the odds and everything seems insurmountable, it is important to grasp onto that ‘one small thing’ (hence the book title). This could represent anything and the more simple it is, the better. It is these small things that help ground us as a person and give us the impetuous to carry on. It is a great parting message, along with the settling but fast conclusion to Beth and Chase’s lives.
I am confident One Small Thing is a book that will draw in young adult genre fans, especially those who are in their later teen years.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
A force to be reckoned with in the young adult genre, author Erin Watt takes a step away from the bestselling The Royals series and presents a new teen romance novel. One Small Thing is the tale of young couple who fall in love, but are blocked by past mistakes, grief and parental opposition.
Seventeen year old Beth has been unable to move on from the death of her sister. Her parents are locked in their grief, stifling Beth at any moment they can, in attempt to deal with their own loss. In one simple act of rebellion against her parents overbearing nature, Beth attends a party and soon falls into the open arms of the new boy in town, Chase. She immediately finds she has a connection with Chase, he gets her, understands her and for just one moment in time, Beth forgets the grief of her sister’s death. But Chase has his own sad secrets. He is fresh out of juvenile detention and is on a path to redeem his past mistakes. He wants to begin again at a new school, but the choices he has made in the past has caused many to judge him. Beth is one person who should be extra judgemental towards Chase, the mistake he made struck right at the heart of her family unit. However, Beth goes against the crowd and decides that Chase needs to be given a chance to redeem himself. Consequently, a forbidden romance sparks between Beth and Chase. It is unexpected and goes against the wishes of many, especially Beth’s heartbroken parents. Beth and Chase cannot deny their burgeoning feelings for one another. As their taboo romance launches full steam ahead, Beth is placed in an impossible bind, she should continue to follow her heart and chance sending her parents into further despair, or take control over her own destiny?
What initially presents itself as standard fare teen romance of girl meets bad boy and how the characters overcome this mountain, morphs into something else in Erin Watt’s latest young adult novel, One Small Thing. I liked many elements of this book, which surprised me as generally I experience a sense of disconnection to young adult based high school romances. I also found this a very fast read that I whipped through in just an afternoon sitting.
One Small Thing is told entirely from the point of view of the lead, Beth. Beth (or previously known as Lizzie) is an agreeable lead and those closer in age to Beth will be sure to find her relatable. I think Watt does a good job of providing a good representation of a late teen girl negotiating the grief felt over her sister’s death, balancing her overprotective parents and handling her forbidden new romance with bad boy Chase. Beth’s interactions appear to be in line with a standard teen girl of this age. Watt’s dialogue comes across as in keeping with this character and the situations faced. On the secondary character front, apart from love interest Chase, the supporting cast were not particularly likeable and I found myself at the end of my tether with a number of them, there were a few small-minded protagonists in this story.
Watt handles the romance side of her novel mostly well, I did question the probability that Chase and Beth would cross paths in such a way and fall in love. But I guess this is chance. The romance is One Small Thing is marred by opposition, judgement, past hurts, guilt, forgiveness and semblance. I enjoyed the moments where Chase and Beth were able to connect on their own level, without the influences of others and the stresses from the outside.
One Small Thing throws up some rather serious fodder, which Watt is in the most part careful in her treatment of the issues at stake. These include; loss, grief, crime, incarceration, guilt, bullying, relationships, and sexual assault. One Small Thing is clear in delivering a simple message of our need to look for more hope in life. Often when we are pitted against the odds and everything seems insurmountable, it is important to grasp onto that ‘one small thing’ (hence the book title). This could represent anything and the more simple it is, the better. It is these small things that help ground us as a person and give us the impetuous to carry on. It is a great parting message, along with the settling but fast conclusion to Beth and Chase’s lives.
I am confident One Small Thing is a book that will draw in young adult genre fans, especially those who are in their later teen years.
*I wish to thank Harlequin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
June 28, 2018
*4 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, and most of the time I couldn't put it down, however the characters did annoy me at times. So let me get that out of the way. Sometimes, Beth was just plain dumb. And yes I know she was going through something horrible, and dealing in her own way, but I questions alot of the decisions she made regarding the parties and such. Also, Jeff, I wanted to smack him upside the head. You'll know why when you read the book.
But getting all that out of the way, the book has a fair bit of depth to it, in terms of the issues it deals with (grief, finding yourself and your place after tragedy, growing up, among other things) and because of that I really wanted to know what was going to happen. When would things come to a head? Who would do what?
I liked Chase. He was probably my favourite character of the story to be honest. He seemed the most mature and well adjusted, considering everything that had happened. Yes, he had issues to deal with still, but he just seemed to be moving on in the best way.
In a way, this story also reminded me of 13 Reasons Why (the show, I haven't read the book yet) - and I think that's because there is a huge amount of bullying in this book. Our words and actions, particularly in a place like high school, affect others, and I think thats really highlighted in this book.
Overall, I sped through this fairly fast and I did enjoy the storyline. A horrible situation that yes, does happen in real life, so it gives you something to think about, and feel for the characters. I definitely felt different emotions whilst reading this one.
Not my fave of Erin Watt's books, but I still recommend.
Review also on my blog - One Small Thing - Erin Watt
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ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, and most of the time I couldn't put it down, however the characters did annoy me at times. So let me get that out of the way. Sometimes, Beth was just plain dumb. And yes I know she was going through something horrible, and dealing in her own way, but I questions alot of the decisions she made regarding the parties and such. Also, Jeff, I wanted to smack him upside the head. You'll know why when you read the book.
But getting all that out of the way, the book has a fair bit of depth to it, in terms of the issues it deals with (grief, finding yourself and your place after tragedy, growing up, among other things) and because of that I really wanted to know what was going to happen. When would things come to a head? Who would do what?
I liked Chase. He was probably my favourite character of the story to be honest. He seemed the most mature and well adjusted, considering everything that had happened. Yes, he had issues to deal with still, but he just seemed to be moving on in the best way.
In a way, this story also reminded me of 13 Reasons Why (the show, I haven't read the book yet) - and I think that's because there is a huge amount of bullying in this book. Our words and actions, particularly in a place like high school, affect others, and I think thats really highlighted in this book.
Overall, I sped through this fairly fast and I did enjoy the storyline. A horrible situation that yes, does happen in real life, so it gives you something to think about, and feel for the characters. I definitely felt different emotions whilst reading this one.
Not my fave of Erin Watt's books, but I still recommend.
Review also on my blog - One Small Thing - Erin Watt
Follow me on:
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