Dayuuuuum. I wish I'd read this sooner, like I'd promised myself over a year ago that I would. *frowns at past-Jess*

This was just...a lot. A lot in a good way, but a lot in a this-feels-real way.
When you read a book and you just feel the waves of emotion come off the characters like I did for this book, it's a moment. At one point, I know it sounds crazy, but I was literally shaking with anger. My hands were literally shaking, and I was trembling like I was ready to hit something.
That is how much hatred I felt for one of the characters in this book, and that is 100% props to Watt because that is a stellar effort in my book (haha) that someone can do that to me.
This is gonna be one of those books that just stays in my mind - I know it! It's festering, and it's gonna nest its way into a nice little nook in my brain and stay there forever.
We all know I'm dramatic AF, but this just really struck a chord with me when I was reading it, and honestly you just can't give a bigger compliment than that. For a book to affect you that much is an impressive feat.

One Small Thing is a story that I have desperately been waiting to read since Erin Watt released the blurb for this story. I was not disappointed with this story because Erin Watt wrote a beautiful story that I loved everym= moment off. This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story that really had an important message of finding something that makes you happy. I think this is such an important message that I took away from this story.

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Okay I really fucking liked this, I was so hooked right from the get-go. This whole book was so angsty and passionate and drama-filled but I loved it- everyone in Beth's life frustrated the hell out of me I felt like tearing my hair out. I can't believe how ignored she was by her parents who are crazies, her friends, and just everyone at school.
The worst part of this book was the attempted rape, which I felt wasn't followed up very well at all and seemed to just be brushed under the carpet. A really fucked up thing happened and everyone just moved on so quickly and that wasn't okay. It either shouldn't have been included or else left out entirely.
The forbidden romance was great, Chase was literally perfect and so g dang sensible, I loved his relationship with Beth and just him as a person. I wanted more tbh.

This was an angsty romance novel, that I couldn't put down. I thought the storyline was very unique, Rachel falling for a guy who her parents didn't want her to be with (ok, that sounds like a classic trope, but once you read the book and find out WHY they don't want her to be with him, you will understand what I mean by UNIQUE). I fell in love with Chase, and think that's a great reflection of how good the authors are, as the scenario that Chase was in should have made me not like him. I love Erin Watt books and did enjoy this book, but felt that it wasn't as good as some of the others hence my lower rating. I think this was due to the abruptness of the ending, it just kind of fell into place so quickly and that let me down. I definitely would recommend this book, as it was a cute romance that dealt with issues such as family, abusive relationships and friendship.

This book really surprised me in a good way. I was drawn to the characters immediately and just loved how the story evolved. I really wanted to give Beth a hug throughout the book and also liked the way how Chase was represented. Both Beth and Chase had their issues and while they didn't want the labels they got they had to acknowledge them in order to move forward. I liked how their paths kept crossing and despite Chase's hand in killing Beth's sister, Beth just couldn't seem to hate Chase and wanted him to forgive himself. This was a good YA read and while I did find it dark in places the story flowed really well and I didn't feel like there was any gaps missing (or when I did wonder about things there were answered within the next few chapters)

One Small Thing is the newest novel by Erin Watt, the pseudonym for authors Jen Frederick and Elle Kennedy. Previously they have co-written The Royals, a New York Times Bestselling series, and a stand-alone novel, When It’s Real.

This novel follows Beth as she deals with life two years after the passing of her older sister, Rachel. Along with her own issues of struggling with a brand new family structure, overprotective parents, and senior year drama, she meets a mysterious boy who will help her distract herself and be her one well-kept secret. Or so she thinks.

While sneaking away to a party, she meets Chase, a dark figure who has his own problems to deal with at a new school. Beth and Chase will proceed to have what can be considered as a complicated and infuriating romance. It may be so infuriating to some readers that could cause them to shut the book just to take a breath from it all.

Let’s break down why I consider their romance to be so infuriating. Chase isn’t just the new bad boy fresh out of a juvenile detention center, but he is the bad boy fresh out of a juvenile detention center for running Beth’s sister over and killing her. At first, their brief hook-up at the party seems fair, both characters were out of their comfort zone and they didn’t recognise one another initially. However, when school starts and Chase and Beth start sharing classes, they discover who each other really is and Beth is very conflicted. Everyone in school is enraged that they have to go to school with Chase and all vow to protect Beth and keep her away from him. Even Chase apologises and runs away when he realises her identity and the role he played in the death of her sister. Except Beth keeps insisting that she might have feelings for Chase, mainly it has something to do with the fact that she lost her virginity to him. This seems to reinforce the standard of virginity and the value that is put on a belief of the purity involved in women’s sexuality.

Chase seems detached through a majority of the book and doesn’t seem to care about spending too much thinking about Beth. In fact, at no point throughout the novel do we get to really gauge how he feels about Beth, other than regret for her sister’s death. He just got out of juvie and therefore has other things on his mind, mostly that everyone at school hates him for killing a fellow student. It is explained further on in the book that it was, in fact, an accident and that Rachel had run out onto the street. That being said, Chase was recklessly driving a stolen car, so he’s not a super great guy to begin with.

It’s a cute romance, and I like the idea of it being an against all odds love story, but this book is very problematic. The fact that the main couple of the story start off as both being reckless and then continue on being full of regret and apprehension. For most of it, Beth has repressed emotions about her sister’s passing and feels like her parents will forever make her live in her shadow. Along with that, Chase and Beth spend a good portion of their relationship being triggered by the mention of her dead sister. This significant subject was completely avoided, although it was a very important subject in their relationship, and in fact really the only reason they connected at all. The only time Rachel’s death is addressed is during a secret meet-up between Beth and Chase. Beth breaks down about her loss and cries at the fact that her sister abandoned her. After a few minutes, Chase tries to console her, but then realises, “Your sister never left you, Beth. I took her from you.” Chase then runs away whilst Beth is left having a breakdown. This is not the portrayal of a happy long-term relationship or a relationship that can be in any way successful.

We’ve all had our guilty pleasure readings, especially when it comes to contemporary love novels. At some point though, the YA genre began to be filled with these ridiculous love dramas that are not helpful and instead portray problematic relationships and disguise it as love stories. A love story should not be a girl rebelling against her family and friends then finding happiness by completely leaving them all behind. Nor should it be a relationship built on secrets and hurt, and a lot of repressed guilt. This is the story of two characters that were damaged with a lot of emotional baggage that gets resolved by running away to another state and starting a new life together.

All in all, this book is a short nice read and this book definitely still has its moments, and they were good, funny and heartwarming at times. It might be infuriating, and definitely should make you question its problematic plot as a reader. As with all books, we want to find ourselves in the characters, especially in their flaws. Instead, what is done by Erin Watt is a transmission of two overly traumatised characters that solve their problems by being awkwardly pushed together and labelled as love. The reader is left wondering, is that really what love is supposed to look like? If the YA genre and its authors keep insisting it is, maybe we should all take a hard pass.

This writing duo is always on point with their YA stories.
I read and loved When it's real, so l couldn't wait to get my greedy hands on this next YA book. It was worth it!
Though some of the plot was easy to see where it was going, the journey itself was worth the read, even if l guessed a few plot turns.
Beth is still trying to move on after the death of her sister, but her parents are afraid they will lose her too, so are keeping her on a tight leash. The one night she lets loose and does something crazy, creates complications she never could have foreseen. The characterization was fantastic and the tension within Beth surrounding the one thing she wanted but wasn't allowed to have was really well done.
Anyway, after stressing through the last of my Uni assignments and exams, l was so glad to just chill with this sweet escape.
I can't wait to see what the duo who are Erin Watt come up with next. Whatever it is, I'll be grabbing a copy!

This book YA book had a lot in it, grief, forgiveness, letting go, love, guilt, friendship, learning who you are, I could go on. Beth's parents aren't coping with the death of her sister 3 years beforehand and they have in turn turned Beth's life into a form of prison and punishment. Beth is starting to resent this and rebel, as would I in her situation. When Beth meets a stranger at a party no one has any idea what a rollercoaster of events this is about put in motion. This story definitely pulled me in, made me think and realise again that love and emotions aren't always straightforward, that what one person thinks and feels about a situation isn't how others will. A really enjoyable story that will bring about a range of emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for a copy in return for an honest review.

What would you do if you lost a loved one? If because of this your parents became insufferable, overbearing, smothering helicopters? If you then rebelled, snuck out to a party and met someone, sparks flew, feelings developed, only to discover later that this someone is the reason why your life is currently in turmoil.

One Small Thing may well be pitched as a young adult romantic type novel, but it is so much more than that, and it packs one hell of an emotional wallop!

Beth and her family are still reeling from her sister’s death when she meets Chase. She sees in him a kindred spirit, a person who looks like they need someone to talk to, to really listen to them. There’s insta-attraction, and it’s quite sweet, until they each discover who the other really is and not only should their interactions be forbidden but to some, it’s downright wrong. Beth and Chase know this, but still they can’t stay away from each other.

This story covers a lot of ground in terms of societal issues that affect us all - bullying, abuse, peer pressure, judgement from others etc. but also it highlights the power of forgiveness: forgiving others for their mistakes, and more importantly, forgiving ourselves...

“Because there’s always something to love for. something to be thankful for. Something to look forward to.”

I loved this story, with its beautiful narration and well-crafted characters, I can not recommend it enough.

Thank you to Erin Watt, Harlequin Australia, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Watt's new standalone book, it was a feel good read, its a little emotional and had characters that felt real. One Small Thing was my first Erin Watt book I had the pleasure on reading. So this book is about a girl named Beth, she has parents that are strict and shelter her life, her sister, her older sister died three years ago. So One night she sneaks out and goes to a party, and she meets a dude named Chase. both harbouring secrets and when they are revelled how do you forgive? forget? that is where you sit back and watch in all unfold, with a bucket of popcorn.
Angst, Drama, One small thing, is a story that deals with loss, forgiveness, love, its a true coming to age story, there story got under my skin and annoyed at times. I liked the authors writing, that wasn't the problem I think it is a YA novel with younger characters that make me want to shake them. I guess everyone deals with situations differently and this book shows you that.
Would I recommend this, yes of course I think if you are a Erin Watt fan you are going to love it no matter what, or be satisfied with it. Would I re read it NO, I don't think so, Would I read the authors other work, MAYBE.
3 stars, I was gifted an arc for an honest review, my thought and opinions are my own.

One Small Thing by Erin Watt was a fantastic slow burn romance filled with anticipation and hard truths. I read it in one sitting, it captured me from the very beginning and I could not put it down. It was half heartbreaking and half empowering to read. It follows Beth and her encounter with Chase and all the repercussions this brings. The book discusses themes of death, grief, conflict, finding one self, growing and challenges in adolescence.

Throughout most of the book I felt Beth was completely misunderstood by everyone, which I believe was the authors aim, and watching Beth struggle through this was so sad. It also made me so angry. I hated her parents and Jeff, and many of the characters were so well written I felt some very strong emotions about them.

This book had me hooked from the first page and it was the first book of Erin's I have read. I will certainly be reading her other books. If you love high school romance novels filled with forbidden/tragic love, difficult parents and the challenges of high school this book is for you. It was beautifully heart warming and pleasant read.

I received an e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Its official - Erin Watts has become an auto-buy author for me. I was hooked from the minute I picked up 'One Small Thing'.
This book is not light and fluffy. It deals with some pretty heavy topics, but it is done oh so well.

Beth is feeling suffocated by over bearing, protective parents. Beth lost her younger sister in an accident three years earlier, and her parents haven't coped well with their grief. To cope she sneaks out to a party in a nearby neighbourhood, and meets Chase - a gorgeous, deep and brooding young man. She feels an instant attraction to him.

After the party Beth never expects to see Chase again, but on the first day of school, there he is... But this is where things become complicated - it turns out Chase was involved in Beth's sisters accident. Beth should hate him (everyone else does)... So why can't she get him out of her mind.

This book had it all - tear jerking moments, complex characters, and interesting story, and a beautiful romance.

I highly recommend you read this.... Oh, and anything else Erin Watt has ever written.

One Small Thing is my first story by Erin Watt. I had good faith that One Small Thing wouldn't steer me in the opposite direction after hearing many good things about their series, The Royals. Thankfully it didn't!

It is vastly different from my usual reading pattern as this is more young adult and while the romance was prominent it wasn't heavy.

Three years ago, Elizabeth "Beth" Jones' older sister, Rachel was killed in an accident, changing everyone's lives in different ways. Now she's trying to live life freely after spending those years suffocating underneath her parents' over-protective and controlling ways, starting by sneaking out and going to parties outside of town.

Charles "Charlie/Chuck" Donnelley has just been released from juvie after carrying out three years for manslaughter. When he meets the sweet and beautiful Beth, she's intrigued by this aura of mystery he appears to have. She doesn't realise that this meeting will have repercussions that will inevitably see her world implode into a million pieces.

One Small Thing is about forgiveness, dealing with loss and family dynamics. It is also so much more, as it touches upon high school bullying, sexual assault and acceptance.

While Beth's actions seem selfish, they are also understandable, because our formative years often happen while we're teenagers, where we grow, change and learn who we are as individuals.

Underneath her seeming detached exterior is someone who's suffering. Beth misses Rachel, the boy she wants is all kinds of wrong, her parents are smothering her and everyone around her seems to be telling her how she should feel.

I have two minor complaints about this story. One, I pretty much hated every secondary character. Everyone had to have an opinion on everything apparently. And some of them were just downright, unapologetic horrible human beings. Two, the end was abrupt and rushed. There wasn't any closure and rather be shown the conclusion, it was told in several pages.

Otherwise, One Small Thing is a wonderful coming of age young adult story I recommend, especially if you're wanting something a little different from the usual!

A powerful story about heartbreaking loss, growing up and moving on from your mistakes. There are so many important messages in this book, so many lessons. Poor Beth is struggling with parents who take over protectiveness to the extreme and is surrounded by people yet all alone at the same time.

I really enjoyed reading her journey, felt so many emotions. I felt frustrated for her that no one would listen to her, frustrated with her for her tendency to fly off the handle (as teenagers tend to do), heartbreak for her loss, proud of her compassion and capacity for forgiveness.

Overall, whilst this is a YA book, I think it even has a powerful message for us adults as well, that sometimes, we’re not right just because we’re the adults and we think we know best. That we need to shut up and listen sometimes, and to not just listen but to actually hear our children, and try to understand. A must read book for all.

One Small Thing is a surprisingly deep and moving book. I guess I shouldn’t say surprising because the premise is self was heavy but because unlike some books it didn’t skirt over the harshness of the situation or portray things in a simplified or idealised way. To the end I found myself often frustrated and internally shouting at the characters for their poor decisions and behaviour. However, the flipside to this is that I did feel like as everything came together at the end the characters had genuinely worked through some issues and reached a better place in their grief, lives and relationships. There was no magic solution to the heavy issues in the Jones Family, but they seemed to all be in agreement for one thing which was that they would fight for their family which despite everything is admirable.
I found Chases character to be raw, appealing and of course gorgeous. I thought the author portrayed his struggle with what he had done and the guilt in a realistic but not over the top way making it relatable. I loved how gradually Beth and Chase developed their relationship and the way they both acknowledged the need to work on themselves alone if they wanted to have a real relationship.
As I said there were times I was literally screaming in my head and so frustrated with some characters, but this didn’t take away from the quality of the read but simply helped it feel more engaging. I literally read this is about 6 hours straight. I feel like there is a theme to the book that appeals to me, that I think Beth particularly demonstrates, which is forgiveness is rare and precious on both sides and that it’s worth it to fight for the people we love. There is no such thing as a perfect person or relationship so it’s worth fighting for the ones we value. I would recommend this book, it’s a touching and enjoyable read.
*Thanks to Author, Netgalley and Publisher for ARC*