Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Format: eARC

Source: Harlequin Teen and Edelweiss

Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again. 

I read fewer and fewer YA novels these days so I tend to be choosier when it comes to the ones I do pick up. One Small Thing by Erin Watt is one I decided to take a chance on and it paid off big time.

Since the death of her older sister three years ago, Beth’s parents have taken over-protective to epic levels. Chafing at their control, Beth rebels and sneaks out to a party the weekend before her senior year of high school starts. Determined to push the limits, she spends the night with hot new guy Chase… only to find out later that he’s not new. And he has a connection to her sister’s death. When Chase shows up at Beth’s school she finds herself drawn to him again and again and a friendship forms. No one at school seems willing to give Chase a second chance and Beth has to make a decision: is Chase worth the risk?

Beth and Chase were characters that came alive and leapt off the page. I felt Beth’s conflicting emotions – how could the one person she should hate be the only person she could really talk to? – her frustration with her parents, her need to break away. Yes, sometimes she was irresponsible and put herself in iffy situations, but she was also self-aware enough to recognize her failings (sometimes with Chase’s help) and worked to make changes. There was real growth in her character. And Chase… well, Chase captured my heart. This was a young man who made a very foolish choice that had dire consequences – and he paid for it dearly. What broke my heart was Chase’s inability to forgive himself. The years since the accident had matured him and provided him with a wisdom beyond his years. He was a good friend to Beth and was often able to shed light on a situation, provide a sounding board, and give sage advice, and yet he could not find it within himself to make peace with his past and he continued to live in a prison of his own making.

Watt managed to take a situation that is unlikely and not only make it feel completely believable, but also had me emotionally invested. I was sympathetic toward Beth, I was heartsick for Chase, and I was genuinely outraged by the cruelty and the gang mentality that was rampant at the school (students and faculty alike). Despite an ending that was too rushed and felt abrupt, and secondary characters who made me all kinds of ragey, I fell in love with this emotional story of friendship, forgiveness, and love. I highly recommend One Small Thing.

4.25/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is no way changes my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

14 comments

  1. I am so happy it worked better for you than for me Tanya! You really were invested in the characters.

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    1. Me too, Sophie! There was just something about Beth and Chase that really drew me in.

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  2. I love when books really make you emotional about the story/characters. I'm glad this was a winner for you since you don't read tons of YA.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Thanks Lauren. I'm definitely a character-drive reader so if I love the characters it's already on its way to being a winner. :)

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  3. This one sounds lovely! It's already on my list, so I'm happy to see you enjoyed it. I love it when characters come to life and leap from the pages--so fun! It makes them feel real in my head and my heart (I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true). It makes a story so much more enjoyable when I feel connected to the characters and their lives.

    Great review!
    𑁋 Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?

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    1. No, not cheesy at all. I totally know what you mean. I'm definitely a character-driven reader so I love when they feel so realistic.

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    2. If I don't like the characters, I find it really hard to enjoy a book. There have been times when I've found the villain to be a wonderful character, even if they're not supposed to be likable. But if a character is just awful... ugh, I can't do it.

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  4. I have never clicked on a review so fast hahaha! I don't read contemporary a lot, but Erin Watt truly is one of my go-to authors if I ever read contemporary books. I'm so glad you enjoyed this book too! I totally agree with the emotional investment part. One thing that impressed me so much with the book was how despite me reading Erin Watt literally always just for the romance, I came out from this book caring and investing more than that.

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    1. This was actually my first Erin Watt but it won't be my last! Now I'm dying to read the whole Paper Princess series.

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  5. I've been hoping to read this for a while mainly because of the cover ;) Lol. But I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and you really make me want to give it go. The characters, especially, sound incredible.

    Lovely review!

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    1. LOL Well it is a great cover. :) But in this case the inside is just as awesome.

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  6. I am trash for books with big forgiveness arcs. Buzz has been mixed for this book, so I am glad you liked it. There's a good chance it will work for me.

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    1. I hope it will work for you, Sam. I really fell for these characters and their story. Almost all secondary characters were fairly awful (not horribly realistic, I know) but I really loved Beth and Chase.

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