One Little Mistake

by Lucinda Berry, Brittany Pressley (Narrator)

From the best-selling author of The Secrets of Us and The Best of Friends comes a novella of deceit, desperation, and how one little mistake can unravel a life.

When overwhelmed stay-at-home mom Alexis finds herself at odds with her husband after she’s charged with a DUI, she is given one chance to get her family back: complete AA and admit her faults. The problem is, she’s never had a drinking problem and has no idea what caused the blackout that led to her arrest. Still, she’s committed to working through the program, if that’s what it takes to be reunited with her two young children. But when she connects with a new friend, Farrah - a confident, successful powerhouse of a woman Alexis can’t help but idolize - she’s empowered to take a closer look at her husband’s role in her downfall. What she finds shocks her to her core, quickly spiraling into something more sinister than she ever imagined.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Novella, Mystery Thriller, Short Stories

Audible Audio

First published September 9, 2021

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.

If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick little mystery. 🥸 Ending? 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“One Little Mistake” is an absorbing audio narrated by the fantastic Brittany Pressley. Lucinda Berry is the author and it’s one of Audible’s Original Stories that is a freebie. My husband and I listened to this on a drive. Both of us really enjoyed it.

Alexis, the narrator of the story is a tired and overwhelmed mother of two young children. She is sleep deprived and over worked. All moms can relate to her. As the story opens, she breaks a personal rule and has a glass of wine with lunch. She calls her husband to ask if he can come home early from work and help her, and from there, the listener can ascertain that her husband is a jerk. But Alexis doesn’t see it. She’s too busy with being disappointed with herself.

She finds herself in jail and learns she is charged with a DUI, but she can’t recall anything from the afternoon/night before. She’s had a blackout. Her husband takes her children away, and she is in crisis. She meets a woman in AA who is a support; one she especially needs after her husband tries to gain custody of her children. And Alexis swears she’s not a drinker, she doesn’t have a problem.

Her new AA friend helps her find out what her husband’s role has been in her latest crisis. While Alexis is spending all her time criticizing herself, her friend can see her husband’s diabolical roll.

I am not a fan of wimpy female characters, and I almost decided I didn’t like it from the start. But, as the story rolls, and her AA friend becomes more dominate, this becomes a juicy mystery/thriller. Both my husband and I enjoyed this one very much.

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A compelling story full of lies, secrets and desperation
When overwhelmed mum, Alexis finds herself in prison with a DUI, she faces losing her kids, and her husband won't help her. She doesn't have a drink problem though so what happened?!

I enjoyed this story, and was gripped throughout! I was caught up in the mystery, which was suspenseful, and listened whenever I could!

Alexis was written well and I sympathised with her plight, as she was lied to, gaslighted and was on the verge of losing everything.

The narrator, Brittany Presley did a great job!

Unfortunately, it wrapped up way too quickly, and ending was really rushed and quite unsatisfying for me. I wanted to know more about her husband. I wanted more on the background of Farrah. What happened to Beth? What about the kids?! I just wanted more.

However,this was a short, entertaining listen, which I mostly enjoyed, so I rounded it up 🍷🍷🍷🍷

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 5 stars
Story - 3.5 Stars

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Little Mistake is a novella by Lucinda Berry that is available in the Audible library. Alexis finds herself in the drunk tank at the police station with no recollection of how she got there. Her husband has taken their kids to his mother's house and is unwilling to help her in any way. I partially had an idea where this was going, but then a twist got thrown in that I was not expecting at all. The narration by Brittany Pressley was excellent. 3.5 stars rounded up because I found it entertaining.

[Deirdre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this one. The main character was SO whiny, and I was enraged by the way she handled things; she just made me want to scream. The worst part though was the ending. Instead of being *surprising*, it just seemed incredibly random and unresolved. Did she regain custody of the kids? Did she get her money back? So disappointed with the lack of closure.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brittany Pressley masterfully brings Lucinda Berry’s story to life. It starts off strong and continues this way as the suspense builds. Twisty and entertaining describe this gripping, engaging story. Very enjoyable and a free listen on Audible.

[Brooke (B for Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and compelling suspense/psychological thriller, narrated by 1st person fmc. Fast read/short audiobook, straightforward plot with psychological suspense. One little mistake and her world starts to crumble. She can't remember what went wrong and begins to look into the bad players involved the little mistake that resulted in her downfall. I think that for the sake of keeping this very short, some liberties are taken with the way the legal system works. They do mention that there is a no-fault divorce in this state (MI), however it seemed to gloss over real legal protection that would be available especially to a breastfeeding mother. Still, very entertaining to follow this fmc as she realizes she is being gaslit and is trapped in a situation, and no one is who they seem anymore. The plot moves forward at a good fast pace, providing psychological tension and feeling out of control.

3.8

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first time reading a work by this author, and although it’s just a novella, I was very pleased.
Available on Audible at no extra charge for subscribers.
The narration is excellent, although the voice is a bit annoying, but perfectly fit for the main character who is extremely naive.
The storyline was very well executed, even if a bit predictable or not so original, and I was gripped by curiosity and I did not put down until reaching the conclusion.
The main’s character desperation felt very real and believable.
It’s a drama around deceit.
I was completely entertained, hence my ratings.
I’m looking forward to reading a full novel.

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Lucinda Berry’s books; and even if this was just a short one, it was a welcome return to Berry’s suspense. I listend to the audible version, and the narrator did an excellent job. I listened to the story as often as possible, and it was a thoroughly interesting ride into the darkest corners of our minds.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhh Lucinda Berry, you never disappoint do you.
Even when she is just throwing a little short story into the world, the lady has skills.
If you haven't ready any of her books, this would be a great place to start.
At less than 5 hours, it is 100% worth your time!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I love Lucinda and this was interesting af but that ENDING was MEH at best. A different ending would have sealed the deal but nonetheless it's a good quick listen

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick novella, excellent narration! Can one woman’s single mistake ruin her entire life? And why can’t she remember being arrested? Did her husband have something to do with the charges she now faces? In an attempt to look good before the court she decides to attend a local AA meeting where she meets Farah, who seems to be a new best friend and the only one who will offer support, but does she have selfish motives? Excellent twists and turns, super quick listen and definitely would recommend.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those stories where the heroine is right, but everyone around her believes she is wrong. To say it s frustrating, until the last few minutes, would be an understatement. Since the author's goal was to make it seem possible that the court system would take a woman's children away from her following an instance of drunk driving, the setup should have been stronger. Have Alexis be someone who drank as a part of her normal life, have her be more of a participant in her own life, rather than someone who just existed, barely getting through each day because of how hard it is to be a mother of two small kids.
The true motivations behind her husband's actions, his affair with the daycare worker, wasn't hard to figure out, so no creativity there and the fact that Alexis' friend Farrah, had a secret was obvious from the beginning as well. I honestly though Farrah was who Alexis' husband was sleeping with, so the fact that her secret was really her having killed her husband in a jealous rage, was surprising because it was so out of place with the rest of the story.
Perhaps the shortcomings of this story are due to it being a novella and the author didn't have a lot of time to develop the story completely. Whatever the reason, this could have been better with a few more re-writes and more originality.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was not at all what I expected. The beginning was and then it went on this twist and turn ride. There were definitely some twists in the story all the way up to the end. A very enjoyable audiobook to listen to. Amazing the complete story as short as this was.

[Dani Boise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh. My. Word. It seems Lucinda Berry can do no wrong in my eyes. So few pages but still such a good story! While I sort of suspected where this one was headed there were still some literally jaw-dropping & "WHAT THE FUCK" moments thrown in too!
So short yet so surprising.
I got sent a free ebook copy of this, so I can't comment on the narration. Based on the story I'd imagine it could be pretty great.
Thank you to the author for the free copy :)

[Kaylah · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick little listen but boy, do I love an unhinged woman!!!!! 1 more Lucinda book to go!

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good for a novella but could have been so much better and creepier if it were longer. 3.5 rounded up because I love Lucinda Berry.

[Lex B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out intriguing but really seemed to lost the plot quickly

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

In all honesty, if this audiobook were any longer than the 2.5 hours, I would not have finished it. I rolled my eyes SO many times throughout listening that I thought they would get stuck that way. The main character was impossible to like. She was naive, clueless, and had ZERO development. The threads of the story were loosely connected and did not come to a satisfying conclusion. The voice of the audiobook narrator did not add to the annoying nature of the main character. She presented as whiny, helpless, and annoying. There was definitely a 'woe-is-me' aspect that garnered no sympathy. Maybe Lucinda Berry has better books out there, and I might give a different book a try, but if you have not read this one yet, I would avoid it.

[PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being charged with a DUI, Alexis questions her entire relationship with her husband, spurred on by Farrah, new friend she encounters at AA.

ONE LITTLE MISTAKE is a novella that would have made a better full sized novel. I wanted more of the story, which Lucinda Berry is perfectly capable of providing in her books. I wanted more of Farrah’s backstory and more insight into the husband, whose name I’ve already forgotten.

While I did enjoy the narration and the novella, I didn’t like that the slut shaming aspect wasn’t addressed.

[Jacey Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid little novella! I needed a little Lucinda Berry to tide me over until 2022. Perfect writing, loved the narrator and story line. Enjoyed it and flew through it. Now the wait begins for the next masterpiece.

[haze_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely brilliant 😍 I adore lucinda berry and this book did not disappoint at all 😍 it was short but still engaging and kept me hooked

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

🍷One Little Mistake is a September 2021 Audible original publication by Lucinda Berry. A story of deception, despair and a lapse in decision making that ends the main character of this tale in hot water. The struggles of motherhood, the pressures of marriage, unsavoury connections, betrayal and revenge all dictate this pressure filled novella.

🍷Meet Alexis, a harassed mum who is struggling with the strains of motherhood and marital life when she is embroiled in a life altering charge of DUI. Following this terrible error of judgement whilst she was under pressure, Alexis must fight to gain her family and life back. However, the more Alexis digs into what happened that fateful day she was charged, she uncovers a plot involving her husband. With the backing of her new friend from AA, will Alexis gain her life back?

🍷One Little Mistake by Lucinda Berry was my introduction to this psychologist and researcher turned author’s work. This novella format psychological thriller keeps you hooked and it managed to grab my attention in a way that made it a perfect companion for my car rides. Narrated by Brittany Pressley, who I have previously enjoyed listening to, Pressley’s voice brought plenty of depth and interest to this gripping tale.

🍷In terms of the main plot, One Little Mistake offers readers a thrilling exploration of the ripple effects that one decision can have on people’s lives. The novel delves into themes of guilt, motherhood, parenting, marital strains, betrayal, adultery, reputation, revenge, friendship, trust, gaslighting and the consequences of our actions. As I listened, I found myself constantly querying the motivations for the actions of the cast and I considered what I would do if I was in the difficult and often uncomfortable shoes on the lead character.

🍷If you’re a fan of short and swiftly-paced psychological thrillers One Little Mistake by Lucinda Berry is a great choice. The combination of a quick but compelling story and Pressley’s engaging narration made this a memorable audiobook experience for me.

[Tgordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short book. It became it was short had to move at a very fast pace. A women who has had only 2 drinks is arrested for DUI and child endangerment, as her children were in the car with her. She has no memory of the event and more strange her husband has taken the children and is not communicating with her. She is befriended by a lady in AA who has been through a very similar case. Together they have to work through why she has no memory of the event and her husband’s strange behavior. Fun quick mystery.

[danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have made a great prequel to a book. Better yet, the opening chapters. But on it's own? Yeah, I liked it. It was good, but not enough for me, a seasoned reader/listener in the genre, to be satisfied.

It was a good teaser.

[Magen • Bone Chilling Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid Lucinda Berry novella! Would love to see this one be a full-length novel as I’m curious how it would be drawn out with the way this novella ended 🤔

Super fast-paced and finished this while I was doing my workout. While it was predictable and similar stories have been before, it was entertaining and just what I needed in between my last read and trying to figure out what to read next.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have Audible Plus – then your world has just opened up to a thousands of FREE books, podcasts etc and One Little Mistake is one of the free novella audio books.

I’ve read a few of Lucinda’s previous books: When She Returned and The Perfect Child, so I was delighted to see that she has an original, exclusive audio book available. Personally I’m not a huge fan of novella’s, only because they end too soon and leave me wanting more, but I’m struggling to concentrate at the moment and a quick 2.5 hour book sounded perfect.

Firstly, huge shout out to the narrator, Brittany Pressley who brought this story to life in my ears and became Alexis.

Alexis is a frazzled mom of 2 very young children, her youngest is teething and keeping her up all night and her husband is always working and never seems to be around to help.

Overwhelmed, stressed and exhausted Alexis has a cheeky glass of wine during the day to settle her nerves. Hours later she finds herself in jail in a drunk tank, having been arrested for drink driving and endangering her children’s lives. With no recollection of the past few hours, her husband takes the children and turns his back on her.

In order to try to get her family back, Alexis has to attend AA where she meets glamorous, confident and beautiful Farrah who becomes her confidant and mentor and starts to question whether Alexis’ husband had anything to do with her blackout.

This is a really addictive audio book and my poor dog was exhausted by the time I finished listening to it as I kept walking around the park eager to hear more.

My mind hasn’t changed about novella’s.. they are too short and leave me wanting more… but overall this was a great little story and I think that the author should let me know what happened to Alexis #FOMO

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4¾ STARS I complain that a lot of these Audible Originals are too short and that they aren't enough to establish an actual story. This one was different. It was a perfect short listen with great narration to boot.

[hailey🥀🦢✮˖°. · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an easy, short audiobook. entertaining but nothing remarkable. i feel like a lot was left open-ended which i’m not really a huge fan of but it was a decent read