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Beth lives her whole life in the shadow of her deceased sister. She desperately wants to live her own life and one night she decides to take control of her life and goes to a party...a party where she meets the mysterious Chase. The two form a connection but Beth soon realizes they can't be together as she discovers Chases secret past.

I enjoyed Erin Watt's "When It Was Real" so I was expecting to like "One Small Thing" however I was very wrong. The story feel like a string of melodramatic moments that follow the most obvious path before meeting the most obvious conclusion. The characters are never developed beyond their melodramatic stereotypes. There are people that will really like this book but I am definitely not one of those people.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Il mitico duo formato da Elle Kennedy e Jen Frederick è tornato con un nuovo YA autoconclusivo, (perciò non fatevi ingannare dal titolo simile e dalla stessa data d'uscita perché "Real Love" non fa parte della stessa serie, ma è una storia completamente diversa).

La protagonista è Beth, una ragazza di diciassette anni che ha perso la sorella tre anni prima in un incidente d'auto. Da quel momento i suoi genitori sono diventati iperprotettivi nei suoi confronti, non riuscendo ad elaborare il lutto, e per questo lei si sente prigioniera in casa sua. Nel tentativo di tornare a vivere come tutte le ragazze della sua età, Beth va di nascosto ad una festa in cui non conosce nessuno, ma lì incontra Chase, un ragazzo bellissimo, ma che nasconde un segreto. Quando Beth scoprirà quel segreto, tutto il suo mondo cambia e dovrà fare una scelta: seguire il suo cuore fregandosene degli altri, o ignorare i suoi sentimenti.

Ho apprezzato entrambi i personaggi: di Beth ammiro il coraggio e il fatto che, nonostante all'inizio tentenni, poi riesce sempre a fare la scelta corretta, lottando per la giustizia. Amava sua sorella e soffre per la sua morte, ma è anche stufa di non poter più vivere la sua vita e di sentirsi dire cosa dovrebbe provare o pensare. Anche Chase è un ragazzo che cerca di sopravvivere, ma lo deve fare in un mondo che lo critica in continuazione, facendo aumentare ancora di più il suo rimorso. È molto saggio e dolce, riconosce che quello che ha fatto è sbagliato e vorrebbe continuare a punirsi, ma l'incontro con Beth lo aiuterà a capire che forse il perdono è possibile anche per lui.

Se non siete tra gli amanti della serie The Royals vi consiglio comunque di dare una chance a questi due nuovi lavori, perché se la prima era una serie upper YA, ovvero che trattava temi più maturi quasi da new adult, questi due libri sono invece YA puri, come quelli di Katie McGarry o di Kasie West, per citarne due.
Nonostante la storia di "Rebel Love" mi sia piaciuta, come anche i personaggi, ho decisamente preferito "Real Love", e adesso vi spiego perché. Innanzitutto, non mi sarebbe dispiaciuto un romanzo leggermente più lungo, ma con un approfondimento maggiore nella relazione tra Beth e Chase: la crescita dei personaggi si è vista, ma forse avrei voluto qualcosa di più tra i due, essendo il loro amore considerato da tutti impossibile. In più, la parte finale è stata un po' scontata e con qualche cliché, anche se sono comunque contenta per come sia finito. Ciò non toglie che sia stata una lettura piacevole, ricca di emozioni e molto scorrevole: lo stile delle autrici è sempre fresco e fluido, che mi ha permesso di leggerlo in pochissimo tempo. Il romanzo tratta di temi sempre attuali e anche abbastanza tosti come il lutto, le diverse reazioni ad esso, le relazioni tossiche, ma anche il perdono e le seconde occasioni. Ho odiato i genitori di Beth, ma allo stesso tempo riuscivo a percepire il loro dolore per la perdita della figlia maggiore, come anche il rimorso di Chase e le sensazioni contrastanti di Beth. Infatti le emozioni che ho provato durante la lettura non sono state poche.
Perciò, nel complesso, ho decisamente preferito "Real Love", ma non sconsiglierei nemmeno "Rebel Love", essendo una lettura veloce e interessante.

this story gave me all the feels. I felt emotions such a sadness, happy, laughing and swoony.
Beth just stuck with me and made me not want to put her down, I just had to have my beth fix.
chase was a great character and really helped make this story work!

4.5 stars

This is an endearing story about loss, forgiveness and trust.

I've always enjoyed young adult stories. The teen angst is something that's relateable and can bring back both good and bad memories of those years. Yet often, the immaturity of the characters can be annoying, given me *ahem* age difference with the main characters. But that was not the case with this book.

I actually adored both main characters, Beth (don't call her Lizzie) and Chase. These two characters share a night of passion and days/weeks/months of regret. But not for the reasons you think. Unbeknownst to them at the time of their initial encounter, the two are linked in a tragic way.

My heart went out to Beth so many times in this book.
Still coming to grips with the loss of her sister, Rachel.
Struggling to adjust to the walls her parents seem to be closing around her.
Finding out Chase's backstory.
And then fighting the feelings for him that she knows she shouldn't have.

At times, Beth's immaturity showed, but given all that she has gone thru, it made sense and didn't frustrate me like it normally might. On top of that, she had Chase to tamper the tantrums. I was pleasantly shocked by how Chase handled everything thrown his way.
The bullying.
The judgments.
Every day he showed up to school and dealt with the anger and hate directed his way. So when the one person who should hate him, doesn't, he steps up in the only way he knows how. With solid advice. I loved how he put things in perspective for Beth, and how quickly she takes action on that advice. Sure, she has a few missteps along the way, but given how everyone seems to be turning on her, I understood her need to rebel.

I wasn't terribly shocked by the ending. I never fully believed that Chase was guilty of an intentional crime. And I liked how everyone handled the revelation.

"You waiting for me is the one small thing that will keep me going."

Despite the odds against them, two teens come together and find a way to heal one another. If you love the young adult genre, and are looking for an emotional story about forgiveness and letting go, I highly recommend this one.

I was sent this book by the author through NetGalley. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I was not really sure how I was going to feel about One Small Thing. Do not get me wrong, I love the Erin Watt duo and will read everything and anything they put out. I loved the Royals series. I liked, but did not love, the previous YA they put out though. I was not sure how I was going to feel about this being YA as well. If you are hesitating or felt the same way, definitely still give this one a try.

This is a story about love and loss, forgiveness, second chances, and dealing with loss. Your emotions will be all over the place. I found myself angry, frustrated, sad, and happy. Erin Watt had so much depth to this story. You will not want to put it down.

Overall, I loved this and it may be my favorite from the duo yet!

One Small Thing is a coming of age young adult story of a good girl who falls for the boy who accidentally killed her sister in a car accident. This book talks about the consequences of a terrible tragedy, also so much more. It shows how people deal with their losses in different ways. Also, it touches on the topic of family issues, bullying, and sexual assault. The authors take a complicated situation and skillfully shape it for an engaging emotional journey to teach us about forgiveness and love. This standalone brought an intense story with an edgy layer.
I devoured this book and truly loved it. There was a realness in the plot and characters that captured my heart from the very beginning. I liked Beth's voice but my absolute favorite was Chase. He was so well formed. Once he was a reckless boy but three years in the juvie have hardened him and made him a better person. He learned to find beauty and happiness in the small things and not going to take anything for granted anymore.
While I enjoyed the forbidden relationship trope, the fact that the romance wasn’t really fleshed out plus the end felt a bit rushed for my taste, keep me from giving the highest rating.
Overall, I recommend this book. If you're looking for a new emotional ya to read I suggest give it a shot.

Wow, what an emotional, angsty, heart-warming read! One Small Thing is about love, letting go, and forgiveness- both towards others and within yourself.

Beth's life changed in an instance, the night her sister was killed. Not only does nothing feel the same without Rachel in her life, Beth also is struggling to get along with her parents, who have become super overprotective and overbearing.

One night at a party she meets Chase, someone she is instantly attracted to. There is some chemistry between the two. A spark that appeared quickly and is threatening to sizzle out even quicker when Beth discovers that Chase is the person responsible for killing her sister.

Beth knows she should hate him, but she can't find it in her heart to do so. It had been a mistake, and Chase spent three years in juvie for it. Plus, hating him won't bring back her sister.

So while Beth tries to forget about him, she can't seem to. Not when he's in her school now, and not when everyone there tries to make his life miserable.

Beth and Chase have little stolen moments, and in those moments Beth finds Chase starting to heal her in a way she didn't even realize she needed to be healed. Chase is ridden with guilt, torn between wanting Beth and pushing her away because he ruined her life.

Erin Watt did a heck of a job playing with my emotions with this one. It was wonderfully written, and brought up a lot of good questions. How long should you be punished for an awful mistake? How can you love someone you should despise? Does everyone deserve a second chance?

I also loved Beth and Chase. They both had flaws, and both went through a great growth in this book. While it is YA, it has a more mature feel to it.

My only real complaint is I feel the two of them endured a lot on their journey to be together, and I wanted to see more of them being together.

<b> ONE SMALL THING </b> it’s more than a title, it’s a way of thinking and living. It’s how we find beauty and magic all around us.

From the moment I started page one, I was dying for more. I couldn’t wait to finish yet I wanted to savor the words - every one of them.

I’m not typically a YA reader but I’ll ready anything Erin Watt writes. The stories are powerful and thought provoking. They’re full of depth.

Elizabeth Jones life has been turned up side down by tragedy. The kind of damage and pain that some people never recover from. Her life is so difficult and painful that she’s lashing out at anyone and everyone around her. Then she meets Charles Donnelly and life really becomes difficult.

I’m not a child anymore or even a young adult. But I can imagine and relate to how Lizzie is feeling. The struggles of the death of a close loved one is brutal in any family dynamic and hers was awful.

We see Lizzie’s transformation happen in the story. We see the pieces come together in a way that’s not shocking but real. We see love power through even if it’s not always in the way we think it should happen.

One Small Thing gave me a new though process on life and I’m ready to see what happens next!

I have love the writing of this dynamic duo ever since reading Paper Princess and have loved everything since. This book is no exception.

This book kept me captivated and really made me think. Which I totally loved, but also hated. Lol! It was a hard thing, bouncing back and forth whether or not I wanted to agree with the heroine or not. I wanted to be angry at her, like her family and friends, but I also wanted to have compassion like she did. I wanted to see the situation through her eyes and sometimes that was hard. I honestly don’t know what I would do if put in her situation. But, you can’t always deny your heart when it’s set on something. Whether others agree or not.

Put into an impossibility hard situation, Beth isn’t so sure if she should follow her heart, or sit back and listen to those around her. I can’t fathom the heartache that cause her. Yes, she met (and slept with) Chase before she knew his secret, but that didn’t stop the troubling feelings swirling around inside her. On one hand, she saw a different side of him that he didn’t let others see, on the other - he did have a part in her sister death. A death that left her, her family, and the entire town broken. Broken and unforgiving.

Loss and pain. Redemption and forgiveness. Love and healing. That’s what I took away from this story. In a way, it was a powerful message, speaking to the heart of its reader. Proving that not everything is as it seems and sometimes, just sometimes, if you let a little forgiveness in, something beautiful will come of it.

Always look for your one Small thing, everyday, and be grateful. I know I will.

(Source: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Erin Watt (Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy.)

First of all I am so grateful to the authors and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book in advance. As any other book of Erin Watt, this one as well left me speechless with various mixed up feelings. What I love about Erin Watt's books, that every single book is different, every character has their own manners of speech, and you never notice that you're reading a book written by the same author, they do not repeat what they did before. So let's start with the review.

“I’m Charles Donnelly. And I’m sorry.”

Since the beginning I understood but at the same time was annoyed by both Beth and her parents. I understood why they did what they did, and I understood her motives as well. It was frustrating seeing her suffer, being forced to feel something, no one listened to her - they listened but they did not HEAR, and Chase, Chase was her only haven, when she could feel what she wanted, feel what she wanted, and most importantly she could be heard there, with him.

“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 think instead of all the fucked-up stuff.”

His character was the nicest character ever. He did not have even one bad bone in his body. He felt guilty and he did not fight back, he let them to punish him, because he thought he deserved it. Before reading the book I did not understand why was it called One Small Thing, but then I got it. One Small Thing, is that small bleak of a light let pushes you forward, makes you to go towards tomorrow, when you are surrounded by nothing. Chase lived and survived juvie by this theory, with finding his One Small Thing every day, and clinging to it.

“What’s your small thing for today?” I ask as I cross the neighbors’ lawn to my own.
“You.”

And now, his One Small Thing was her. However, karma is a bitch, and she was the one girl that he could not have. Not because of thing such financial status, or that she dated someone else, no, not because of such trivial things, but because of what he did. I don't thing I have read a book with this concept before, when like the main female character, Beth, I did not know what I should feel. I felt for her, I felt for Chase, but I also put myself in others' shoes, in her parents' shoes, and I did not understand her at the same time as I did. I finished this book in one sitting, but in that 7 hours I felt every possible and impossible emotion toward her, and her feelings.

“Nah, that’s not my fuck buddy,” I inform Jeff and Scarlett and anyone else in earshot of us. “That’s my boyfriend.”

I was happy that this story was told from one POV, Beth's, because I did not to jump mentally form one character's head to another's. It was written in a manner that we did not need Chase's POV, because we already knew him and his thought. The authors managed to convey both characters' emotions, I do not think many manage to do that with using only one POV. Another thing that I liked is that in the whole book we had only one problem and focused only on that problem. The authors did not create unnecessary drama, which made this more sincere and genuine and not artificially intriguing. Nothing was forced, not even one beep, everything was on point and mature. I LOVED it.

Overall, this story was one emotional rollercoaster that still left me thinking so what they had was right or wrong. I know in my heart that it is right, but in my head I do not know if I would have been able to do it myself, but well that is the wonder of the books, right? I am glad that again since his first appearance I knew that Jeff is the maestro of this chaos, and I am happy again, how they did not twist it and presented a realistic reason behind it. Honestly, I think this is their best book so far, and I am a FAN of their books. I love when books make you think and have debate with yourself, and I did, I still do. This one had a deep meaning, and I appreciate it.

There's something about this dynamic duo authors that has you invested in a book...where you can't put the book down. They know how to pull in a reader and make you feel for these characters--you just want to fight for them.

I’ve enjoyed everything Erin Watt has written so far. The Royals series was captivating as I delved deep into this disturbing and dark family. When It’s Real was a sweet “Cinderella” story that drew me in from the start with her great characterization.

Her newest release, One Small Thing, was disappointing. It was difficult for me to build empathy for the characters since a major conflict, physical, verbal, and emotional abuse from Beth’s parents, felt forced from the beginning of the book. There was no build-up - mom slaps her within the first few pages and throws away her college applications without any slow progression. This made me question the believability of the plot and characters. What I did like was how current and believable the dialogue and slang were and the “boy from the wrong side of the tracks” romance trope. I have a feeling teens will devour this book. Maybe it can’t transcend the YA audience like her other books have.

Beth has had a lot to deal with since the night her sister died three years ago. As her senior year approaches and her parents get more and more overprotective, Beth rebels by sneaking out to a party. There she meets Chase, a secret fling that she never intends to see again. . .until he walks into her class on the first day of school. The more Beth learns about Chase, the more everyone is determined they shouldn't be together. But Beth is determined to give Chase a chance.

One Small Thing is definitely a romance; one that some readers won't find believable. While I liked the overall messages about forgiveness and focusing on what one can control, Beth just wasn't a believable character. Teens may relate to her feelings about her parents, but her willingness to take Chase's advice and change her behaviors didn't feel genuine.

A forbidden love story about forgiveness, healing, and redemption, One Small Thing is an angst-filled tale.

Watt takes us back to high school, where a devastating tragedy shatters a family and a community. Left in the middle are Chase and Beth. Both are trying to survive their new normal while dealing with the tragedy that changed their lives forever.

Watt nailed teenage insecurities, confusion, and irrational decision making! What I liked so much about this story was how Watt showed that for every decision we make there is a consequence, good or bad. And since this is a YA book, that is important. And I applaud the authors for this.

I love this author duo. They have a special writing chemistry that provides addictive stories that focus on emotional relationships which border the melodramatic. And I Cannot Get Enough!

I am a HUGE Erin Watt fan and was SO excited for this book but unfortunately, this book did not connect with me. It pulled out all the wrong feelings as I was angry, frustrated and upset for Beth and Chase most of the time (it really pulled out all the wrong emotions.) I felt like he was vilified and she was treated horribly at times.

We will be promo-ing this book on release day for sure!! Thank you so much! <3

After finishing this book I literally took a moment to cry out of happiness and adoration to this book.

P L O T

It’s crazy! Their situation is crazy! Up until the last few chapters I didn’t know if they were going to work out and get past the barriers to their relationship. It’s romantic, tragic, stressful sometimes, even thrilling. You just don’t know what’s gonna happen next or what’s going on with the other minor characters, like what’s their deal?

Fast paced and a quick read, no questions left unanswered and beautifully written. One Small Thing should really be in your TBR, hell, pick it up when it releases!

C H A R A C T E R S

Elizabeth

She’s a crier; she cries when she’s angry, and she cries when she’s sad. High five Beth! It’s pretty annoying when you’re angry and trying to stand up for yourself or make a point but your tears start to fall from your eyes and person you’re facing won’t take you seriously anymore. I can even more relate from how she has no direction in her life; she doesn’t know what to do for college. Her journey was a tough one and it took quite some time and had a lot of bumps in the road. But who doesn’t? To be taken seriously by our parents, we must act seriously too.

Chase

If you’re looking for a guy best friend, or a boyfriend, Chase is your man! He gives the best advice! Like damn! He’s good. He could be the big brother I never had but he could also be my bae. He’s been through jail, and back at school he’s getting bullied and does nothing about it because he believes he deserves it. He’s been punishing himself in many ways ever since. People cope with deaths and accidents in different ways and his was one common way. I’ve never been at fault in any serious way before but the way the author wrote about him has opened my eyes and mind to stop and think how others at fault are coping with their sins.

I love how strong these two characters are, waiting isn’t my strong suit. They have both been through a lot and somehow, they managed to walk out of the tunnel and into the light.

W R I T I N G

Erin Watt never fails to deliver amazing YA stories than not only depicts the lives of teenagers these days, both the good and the bad, but manages to deliver a message. Not all good people are good deep inside, bad people can redeem themselves, and others just need a little help and a little nudge to the right path.

O V E R A L L

The message of this book is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I’m so glad I picked this up and thank you so much for the publisher for choosing me as one of the lucky people to be given the ARCs. I will definitely suggest this to all my friends and strangers I’ll meet in my journey in life. It’s a book that EVERYONE should read. Regardless if you’re a bookworm, or not, it’s a quick read, it’s light, won’t take much of your time, and it’ll be worth it in the end. Never lose hope guys! Life is a wonderful gift.

One Small Thing really tugged on my heartstrings, Erin Watt's books usually pull emotions out of me but not this particular one. I loved that, that it drew such an emotional response from me. It didn't make me cry but I was emotionally invested in the story especially the hero's pain. It didn't matter that I'd figured out where it was going and what would happen I was in, I was all in. That fact did not alter my overall enjoyment of it at all, I enjoyed it quite a lot. I love forbidden stories. I loved that this story had that element and that it was such an untenable situation yet it worked.

I definitely recommend this book to those who love forbidden stories that are heartfelt.

4 Forbidden Stars!
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!

Couldn't put it down!

" I focused on one good thing instead of all the fucked-up stuff." One small thing...

I knew I would like this book. It's almost a given because of the ladies writing it. I wasn't expecting to be so captivated by it that I started it around 10pm and by the time I looked up at the end of the book it was 3am.

Beth was amazing. She was so mature for her age and even more mature than some of the adults around her. I'm usually annoyed at least a couple of times by the girls in these YA books. With Beth though, I wasn't even annoyed one time. I loved her. Chase...wow. Yes, he made mistakes. Yes, he paid the price and did his time. I've never seen a more mature man (he is one despite his age) in a YA book. I think these two made each other better even though they were fine on their own.

I'm 100% sure they based this book off of where I live. Part of the fun reading this was seeing where they were and knowing it wasn't too far from me. The closes books ever get to me is Chicago. I love Chicago but it was neat having this take place in my area.

As much as I love this book, I'm only rating it a 4 because I figured out everything way before I was told. It kinda would have been nice to have some surprise to it. Don't get me wrong. I recommend this book and hope you read it. I just wanted more.

***ARC received for an honest review***

<b>”I have to be thankful for what I have. One small thing each day, just like Chase taught me.”</b>

Hard to be aggravated with a YA book for the YA drama. And that was my only issue with this book - it felt like ahem high school.

Beth’s parents are insane overprotective because her sister was accidentally killed. She goes to a party one night in an act of rebellion and falls for the one guy she absolutely can’t be with. Cue months of anguish, bullying, an abusive relationship, parents that prolly need a chat with child services, and friends that are awful people. Basically all of the best things about high school.

That said - I never thought “I can’t finish this.” I never wanted to give up. You gotta dance with them what brung ya - and when i sign up for a YA ARC I gotta embrace the YA crazy.

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