3.61 AVERAGE


yeah, just a good book if you want to get into reading ya

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.

emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book is an angsty, drama-filled YA novel by Erin Watt. I liked the overall story and really liked Chase's character and how he handled himself considering what he had to live with. Chase and Beth are two teenagers whose pasts are intertwined, making this somewhat of a star-crossed lovers story. It was emotional and involved a family who has lost a lot and a teenager who is trying to live for herself, not her sister.

I had a little bit of an issue with Beth's' parents. I realize they went through a lot, but they were really overboard with their treatment of their daughter. When this story starts, they have had 3 years to get themselves help, to step up and deal with their emotions, but they are stunted...especially her dad.. I think this was the main reason Beth is a little bit immature for the first half of the book, trying to rebel and pretty much thinking of only herself (typical for teenagers, I know, but still). In contrast to Chase, who has seen some dark days and come out the other side and is way more mature in how he handles his issues and the kids at school.

And then there is Jeff...That's all I will say about him so as to not give spoilers.

If you like drama, angst, and emotional books, you will enjoy this book. I enjoyed the story and most of the characters.
dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I first discovered One Small Thing by Erin Watt right while I was in the middle of reading The Royals series, and I have to admit, I was curious to check this book out to see how it would compare to that series. (I also have When It’s Real on my TBR to check out, but have not yet done so.) Having read the book, I’m not really sure how I feel about it, to be honest. There were some parts that I liked, and some parts that I didn’t.

Soooo, what to say about this book…

The first thing that drew me to One Small Thing was the book cover. It’s very pretty, and obviously very eye-catching as well. I was even more drawn to the book when I realized that it was written by the same author(s) of the current series I was reading, The Royals, and I was curious to check it out. To be honest, I almost put this book down at one point, but there were quite a few things I liked about the story, and that’s what kept me going with it. The book definitely has an interesting storyline. It was dramatic enough to grab my attention and keep me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next, (which is also the reason why I’m hooked on the Royals series). And, I just really wanted to see how the book was going to end, and I’m glad I stuck with it. I should also add that I opted to listen to the audiobook version of this book, and the narrator, Charlotte North, did a really great job of reading the story to me.

I think it was the characters of the book that didn’t quite do it for me. I could relate to the main character, Beth, for a lot of the things she goes through in the novel, but she does a few things in the story that were a little irritating, and I think that’s what threw me off. That, and Beth’s parents were probably my least favorite thing about the book. Being a parent myself, I always try to see a story from the book parents POV, but these parents were a little over the top, and that was a big turnoff for me. But, Beth’s love interest in the story, Chase, was pretty interesting, and I like that he stood out a bit from what I expected, so there is that.

Overall; While I didn’t absolutely love One Small Thing, I did find it to be an addictive read, and I definitely plan to read more books by Erin Watt in the future, including When It’s Real, and The Royals book 4 & 5, which I have not checked out yet, but am curious about. And while I didn’t love this book, that doesn’t mean that you won’t, so definitely check it out if you’re a fan of this author, or if you love a good contemporary novel. I hope you enjoy it!

Happy Reading!!

Good book. I liked Chase even though we're supposed to see him as a villain.

so cliche. hated the main girl. didn't give a fuck about any of the characters.
the writing was very questionable.
2,75 stars (but ain't no way i'm giving it 3 on here)


One Small Thing was wonderful. Beth has gone through a lot since her sister died. Not only did she lose her sister, she lost her freedom. She’s told what to do and how to act every moment of the day. All she wants is a little fun. She gets a lot more than she asked for when she meets Chase.

Chase just wants to start over. His demons from the night Beth’s sister died still haunt him. All he wanted was to have a little fun. He gets a lot more than he asked for when he meets Beth.

One Small Thing is about
Love.
Forgiveness.
And finding yourself among the chaos.

I have loved every book I’ve read by Erin Watt, and each time they just knock it out of the park. Their stories are beautifully woven together. Out of all their books though, this one made me feel the most. Make sure to pick this up when it releases on June 26th! You won’t be disappointed.

Trigger Warnings: Death by car, controlling relationships, sexual assault

I loved this. The story was beautiful and dealt with serious topics very well. The relationship was beautifully complicated and I loved them. The antagonist of the story felt very real which is sad that such a bad person feels so familiar.