I receive a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This is a story of loss, family, school, secret friendship and forbidden love. The loss of anyone is a tragedy and especially at the hands of someone else. Of course Beth did not know that when she met Chase. She just wanted someone to be there for her when she assumed that her family was doing their best to "protect" her from the world. There was a lot of emotion in these pages. It has moment that I was not sure how to feel about things that were going on. The ending of the book was not how I quite thought it would go, but that happens sometimes. That did not completely take away from the rest of the beautiful book and its message.

Erin Watts has the addictive, antsy story line down. After a few pages of One Small Thing I was invested. That said, I didn't care about the secondary characters (felt like they were just background noise), but I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the main characters! This book is filled with emotion, forbidden love and forgiveness.

I swear I really never go into a novel thinking that it is going to be a heart breaker. I mean unless I have seen other reviews, I never go in thinking, "This one is going to be a tear jerker." WELL, THIS ONE IS!



This is one of those books that has you questioning things page after page. What would you feel in that situation.

Me? I am a mom so I don't know how I would feel. I know that this novel had me all over the place and I loved it. I hated it and I loved it. It was a book that not only sucked you right in, but it also played with your heart page after page.

I mean, what did we expect with this duo? Certainly nothing simple. These to SLAY and this book, perfection.

A big five stars for me. I love every single page and how things played out.

Beth has been living in the shadow of her dead sister for years and has decided that things will change for her senior year. With the help of her best friend, she sneaks out and goes to a party where she meets a new guy, Chase, and they hit it off. Unfortunately, Chase has many secrets he must deal with and when Beth's parents discover the deception, she is grounded in a way she has never experienced before. What will Beth do in order to re-earn her parent's trust? Why was Beth's sister running out into the street that night?



One Small Thing is a stand-alone novel that will grab the reader's attention in the beginning and keep them turning pages until the end. Watt leaves many hints about what the truth may be, yet she artfully keeps the secret until right before the ending. One Small Thing is a realistic fiction story that will appeal to many readers and I highly recommend it for teens and adults alike. It is a quick read, so please be ready to stay in your favorite reading location for extended periods of time.

Hmm.. That was.. interesting....

Oooookay... Now I don't know how to proceed with this review. I honestly had so many issues with the book, mainly the characters in the story, and I was just about ready to throw away my kindle on the floor, but I told myself to persevere and stay on board. Trust me, it was hard for me to move on with this. I liked the story, but the characters, not so much.

Beth had been walking on eggshells after her sister Rachel died from an accident. Her parents still mourn her death and hadn't moved on; every piece of Rachel still existed in their house and within their midst. Beth felt suffocated by this. When she finally "successfully" sneaked out, she met Chase at a party, all the while lying to her parents about her whereabouts. Little did she know that something else awaited her when she finally returned home. 

Charlie Donnely aka Chase had just got out from jail after running over Rachel Jones, which led to her death. Upon his return, he became an outcast and everybody else hated him. Except for Lizzie aka Beth Jones, sister of the woman he killed. The question was, why did she seem to be protecting and defending him from everyone else instead of hating him?

Sounds promising right? Actually it is. But wait until you really got to know Lizzie who insisted on being called Beth. Wait till you meet the parents; oh my gosh, I'm having a headache right now just by remembering their attitudes. Don't get me wrong, I am a parent myself and I try my best to be protective of my children to say the least. But Beth's parentals - they're unbelievable, intolerable, infuriating! And her friends? Ugh, I can't stand them, they're impossible!

But not everything is irritating in the book. There's Chase.. Yes, that guy who killed someone and got jailed for three years. Believe me, there's no one else better and more admirable in this story than that boy. He's that one good thing that happened to Beth, the one who made sense and was wise enough to ignore all those ridiculous people surrounding him. He's the one small thing for me... I mean, his presence is basically THAT one Small thing that made the book worth reading in the end. Yes, Chase is the one. 'Nuff said!

I loved Erin Watt’s When It’s Real so when I heard they were releasing another contemporary romance novel I knew I had to have it, and it did not let me down. Unlike When It’s Real, One Small Thing is told in only one POV that of Beth, who’s sister, Rachel, died three years ago. After Rachel died, Beth’s parents became overly protective of Beth in suffocating ways. They wouldn’t let her go out with her friends and her mom took her college applications out of the mail, refusing to let her go to school out of state. Additionally, they still acted as if Rachel was still alive. For example, Rachel’s room looked exactly the way it did when she died, Beth’s mom got mad at her for putting her stuff on “Rachel’s bench,” and Beth wasn’t allowed to get a pet because Rachel was allergic.

It was a lot and I was on Team Beth from the very beginning, and was throughout this novel, even when she developed feelings for Chase, the one boy everyone wanted her to stay away from. Every one in Beth’s town hated Chase, including Rachel’s former boyfriend, Jeff, who also recently returned to town. Despite everyone telling her to stay away, Beth just couldn’t and neither could Chase. The friendship they developed gave me all the feels and I was rooting for them throughout the story, wanting Beth to honestly give the finger to everyone who told her it was wrong.

However, as the novel went on the author did a good job of showing all sides of this situation, and I did end up feeling sympathy for Beth’s parents, though they still made a lot of mistakes. What I loved most about this novel, was how it surprised me. There were of course things I expected from the novel, but there was plenty that truly surprised me.

Watt did an excellent job of drawing me into this story and looking at grief, forgiveness, and guilt. The novel also looked at issues of class and abuse. In sum, though this book isn’t large it tackled a lot of topics in a way that never felt heavy handed, but instead pushed the story forward, so much so that I read it one sitting. So definitely pick this book up if you’re looking for a quick read that will tug on your heart strings, and also infuriate you a little because really I just wanted Beth to catch a break throughout the whole novel and punch a few people in the face. Just saying.

Honestly though, do yourself a favor and get this book today, because it’s now on shelves. You won’t regret it. Trust me!

TW: Sexual assault

Everything about this novel drew me in! I am so glad I got to read it and enjoy it! My god, the duo dynamic of Erin Watt never stop amazing me at how wonderful their writing is. To me, the main characters officially have a special place in my heart for making me love, admire, and crave their drama, banter, passion, and friendship!

I’ve read Erin Watt before. I enjoyed this new one by her.
Beth had been dealing with the loss of her sister. She feels suffocated by her parents who just want to keep her safe. She rebels against them and ends up meeting a boy- and I won’t give away details but it is a challenge for them to be together. I thought it was well written and was appropriately emotional. Well done!
I received this book as an ARC for a review :)

I have read a few books by Erin Watt before and really liked them. I picked up the original Royals series, which I reviewed HERE, and really enjoyed them. They were sort of guilty-pleasure reads, full of drama and twists and turns. One Small Thing was one of my most anticipated books of the year because I just love the stories they create. I didn’t know much about this book when I dove it, and sometimes that’s refreshing because I get to experience the book without any preconceived notions.

One Small Thing follows Beth, a 17-year-old girl who’s sister was killed in an accident three years prior to the book taking place. We follow Beth and her family as they try to move on with their lives without Rachel, Beth’s older sister.

There’s a large focus on family relationships and grief, how each person grieves loved ones in different ways. Her parents become more and more strict because they’re afraid of something happening to Beth while she feels stifled. They clash and Beth tries to break free of the control her parents have on her life and relationships are strained. I think the authors do a great job representing a parent-child relationship as they try to figure out how to live without a person in their life. It’s filled with tension and strained relationships and I had a hard time trying to figure out who I felt more toward because each side had reasons to do the things they did. The adult in me understood her parents’ point of view, trying to keep their daughter safe from the perils of the world that took their other daughter away, while I can emphasize with the Beth because I was a kid with strict parents and I could understand that constrictive feeling.

She decides to be the typical teenager and rebel, going to parties, sneaking out and just breaking the rules. She finds a “very bad boy to take me down a very bad path.” That boy is Chase who has secrets of his own. Fate intervenes and he begins his senior year at the same school Beth attends. He’s a boy that turns Beth’s world upside down. He’s a boy she shouldn’t want but can’t stay away from. She’s drawn to him and it changes everything.

I think this book touches on so many tough subjects and caused me to think about a lot of things: blame, forgiveness, hate, love, hope and relationships. The authors tied it all up in the end in a great way, which made me give this book 4 1/2 stars.

TW: for gaslighting & emotional & physical abuse.

The whole premise of this book seems slightly problematic. The main character, Beth, starts having feelings for the guy (Chase) who hit her sister with his car and killed her. It was an accident and he is very apologetic, but it still seemed weird to me.

I appreciated that the author contrasted Chase, a felon, with Jeff the sister's boyfriend, seemingly okay dude, to show that good and bad is not always so simple. However, I felt as if Jeff was too bad, he seemed like a fairytale villain rather than a high school guy. It was just too much; he is abusive, possessive, says horrible things about women, randomly has a gun at one point and it is never explained how he gets it, a total elitist, and he also fakes a British accent. I liked the contrast, but the author went a bit overboard with all of Jeff's negative qualities.

I was also extremely bothered at how much the Dad liked Jeff and essentially the parents' behavior in general. They are emotional abusing their daughter and being overly controlling. I guess it all works out in the end, but some of their behavior was extremely worrisome.

If the plot had been better I could have gotten past my issues with Jeff and the slightly problematic nature of this book, but instead I just kept writing how much I hated Jeff in my notes.

I also guessed quite a few plot points before they happened which is never fun for me.

I did like a few things about this novel. The cover is stunning. Chase was probably my favorite character; he called Beth out when she was being dramatic and has quite a few swoon worthy lines. I always enjoy seeing characters who are going to pursue higher education in the sciences, even though becoming a vet is such a cliche trope in literature.

So a few days after finishing this amazing book i am able to sit downs and write review.
As all know that since i read paper princess i totally fell in love with the style of writing by these tow women. But I can clearly say that these book is totally different from all books they have written till now.
What i really enjoyed about these book had been the serious theme in these book because loss of a person you love and how you go trough it. I'm totally aware of that every person go to grief and guilt. In my eyes Elle and Jen made a good job by showing all the different ways of the characters go through these feelings.
Sometimes i had the feeling that the parents were unable to move on. I know that loosing a child in an accident isn't easy but i think that after a few years you should move on in special way. But i think the authors exactly want to show this and they made it good.
I was also able to connect to chase really fast. Even if we hadn't any chapters from his point of view jis thoughts where very understandable.
Elle and Jen also made a really good job by showing us Beth confusion. To me it totally made sense how she acted in her situation.
But the most interesting thing was the development of the relationship between Beth and Chase because of the moral question thats asked here.

Chase was young man who knows what he had done wrong. Also in a special way he knows what is important in life and how to overcome hard situations in live. But he wasn't able to deal with his feelings.

Even if Beth seemed to be really confused in the Situatiom where she had been. She did always what was the right tjing om her eyes. She did care much what others are thinking of her.

So these really important intensiv story wich i liked really much gets five of five stars even if there were some things that botherd me a little bit thtas not to lost a star because the athors made it that i was able why the characters acted like they did.
ACR Provide in exchange for an honest review
3 likes


GraphREADING PROGRESS
July 10, 2017 – Shelved
July 10, 2017 – Shelved as: to-read
June 6, 2018 – Started Reading
June 6, 2018 – Shelved as: acrs
June 7, 2018 –
50.0%
June 8, 2018 – Finished Reading

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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35750273-one-small-thing" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="One Small Thing" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1509051209m/35750273.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35750273-one-small-thing">One Small Thing</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14902188.Erin_Watt">Erin Watt</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2055410219">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
So a few days after finishing this amazing book i am able to sit downs and write review.<br />As all know that since i read paper princess i totally fell in love with the style of writing by these tow women. But I can clearly say that these book is totally different from all books they have written till now.<br />What i really enjoyed about these book had been the serious theme in these book because loss of a person you love and how you go trough it. I'm totally aware of that every person go to grief and guilt. In my eyes Elle and Jen made a good job by showing all the different ways of the characters go through these feelings.<br />Sometimes i had the feeling that the parents were unable to move on. I know that loosing a child in an accident isn't easy but i think that after a few years you should move on in special way. But i think the authors exactly want to show this and they made it good.<br />I was also able to connect to chase really fast. Even if we hadn't any chapters from his point of view jis thoughts where very understandable.<br />Elle and Jen also made a really good job by showing us Beth confusion. To me it totally made sense how she acted in her situation. <br />But the most interesting thing was the development of the relationship between Beth and Chase because of the moral question thats asked here.<br /><br />Chase was young man who knows what he had done wrong. Also in a special way he knows what is important in life and how to overcome hard situations in live. But he wasn't able to deal with his feelings.<br /><br />Even if Beth seemed to be really confused in the Situatiom where she had been. She did always what was the right tjing om her eyes. She did care much what others are thinking of her.
So these really important intensiv story wich i liked really much gets five of five stars even if there were some things that botherd me a little bit thtas not to lost a star because the athors made it that i was able why the characters acted like they did.

One Small Thing
by Erin Watt
4 Iowa Stars

Well goodness, what an eye-opening story to read. It’s an emotional journey that Erin Watt takes us on. I mean think about it. If you are a parent, how do you move on after the unexpected death of a child. Even more, as the sibling who lost their older sister, what can you do to not always be living in your dead sister’s footsteps.

Lizzie now known as Beth is struggling in life. Her parents are suffocating her with boundaries. All because they are afraid of losing her too. It’s her last year of High School and it should be the best time of her life. Instead, she’s without a phone, without a car and even worse…. without a DOOR!!!

Chase is free and starting a new school. Although served his time for doing the crime, he will never forget. Everyone knows what he did. Even starting at a new school in the next town over, the bullying is horrible.

It’s when these two meet for the first time, as Chase and Beth, a bond was formed. Now we need to figure out how to make this bond survive through all the problems that will come with it.

If we could all pick One Small Thing each day!!! I enjoyed reading this one.

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.

I enjoyed this read, not as much as other works by this amazing duo, but I still found the story engaging and the writing style beautiful.

A story of family, loss and what happens in the aftermath, throw in a romantic relationship and then trying to deal with raw emotions and this book had it all, all the qualities you need to make a great read

Unfortunately for me I found it difficult to connect with the character, but that’s down to me, overall a great read

3.5

Diz
4TLOReading

Wow, what a whirlwind of emotions i felt reading this. It’s the classic story of “wrong” things feeling right. The forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest. I felt really awful for Beth’s loss of her sister. She seemed to struggle through it most of the book. I understand a lot of her other teenage struggles as well - privacy, parental control, misunderstandings....feeling like no one understands you. I can’t image losing a sibling at a young age. I like that it showed the parents struggle with loss as well. Only thing I really didn’t agree with was a certain best friend that Beth had....that spoke to her so cruelly multiple times and Beth just kept forgiving her. In any case, it was nice to read about a relationship that’s against all odds but doesn’t give up on it. This author never disappoints!

As the result of a tragic accident which killed her elder sister Beth’s parents are overprotective to the point of suffocation. They are intense and afraid, and the way in which it manifests itself only serves to further isolate Beth from them. At times she feels guilty, whether it be the guilt of being alive, or the guilt of being alive but not truly living. She lives her life on rote of her parent’s demands but finds herself lasing out in destructive ways when their demands interfere with her future.

An act of teen rebellion brings with it the most shocking of consequences. Beth finds herself connected to the person who is the source of her families despair. There is plenty of inner angst and turmoil and at times I would have loved to have had a balanced voice within it all. Beth is in a position which should evoke nothing but empathy but admittedly I found myself becoming frustrated with her and those surrounding her. The environment becomes a breeding ground of judgement and I felt disappointed in the behaviours at people who were supposed to set examples, for instance some of the adults and teachers.

By way of characters I found Chase the most likeable. He’s tormented by his mistake but even so his unwavering concern of Beth, and steadfastness made him a worthy hero. He had paid for his transgressions and I felt him truly remorseful, but the repercussions of his actions brought out the ugliness of how carelessly we can sometimes treat each other. Emotionally I felt this message was a huge takeaway from the story, and it serves an appreciative reminder. Although on a whole not all aspects worked; this one small thing that had a lasting impact on me.

One Small Thing by Erin Watt followed Beth as her and her family cope with the loss of her sister, Rachel. Although her sister died years before the book starts, the story shows how deeply everyone is still hurting. I enjoyed reading Beth's story and watching her grow as a character and transition into becoming an adult. One Small Thing was packed with life lessons and character growth. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to read young adult stories.

Well, that was tense and stressful, with a side of heartache. My goodness. Erin Watt knows how to twist my insides up. I had to read fast before my heart exploded.

This book was about forgiveness and love and how, no matter what happens, you need to have both if you're going to be able to move on.

What a wild ride. I was cheering Beth and Chase on the entire time. I realize they both made mistakes, but I'd like to think that they made the right decisions when it counted. They focused on moving forward and trying to find the best of this situation.

Well, that was tense and stressful, with a side of heartache. My goodness. Erin Watt knows how to twist my insides up. I had to read fast before my heart exploded.

This book was about forgiveness and love and how, no matter what happens, you need to have both if you're going to be able to move on.

What a wild ride. I was cheering Beth and Chase on the entire time. I realize they both made mistakes, but I'd like to think that they made the right decisions when it counted. They focused on moving forward and trying to find the best of this situation.

4.5☆
One Small Thing is such a thoughtful read. The characters have unique situations that really test who they are as people. I think it really showed how someone's past doesn't determine their future. Chase and Beth are both incredibly strong and they both have their own personal journeys that they go through to become the best they can be. I really enjoyed this story!