ARC Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Recommended Read!

“…this writing duo is addictive.”
~ Under the Covers

This is my second Erin Watt book and I have to admit now that this writing duo is addictive. Once you start a book, you are drawn in and you don’t want to let go of the story until you reach the last page. ONE SMALL THING was angsty and sweet. Endearing and heartbreaking. It irritated me and it made me smile. And it was different than what I expected after reading WHEN IT’S REAL.

I’m going to be totally honest here. I have conflicted feelings about this book even though I couldn’t put it down. Erin Watt has managed to get me so engrossed in this story that I really enjoyed it even as it was something that I can’t really see how it can work in reality. Somehow, my belief was suspended for the entirety of reading this novel. That niggling at the back of my mind stayed there and didn’t make me question things too deeply. And without getting too much into it, if you read the blurb, you may get an idea as to why.

Beth lost her sister years ago and is now trying to live with that ghost all around her. My heart went out to her because of what she’s had to deal with and also what she never got to. There’s guilt, there’s anger, loss and love. It was interesting to see Beth and how she interacted with everyone around her from her parents to her friends and how she internalized a lot of her feelings. She is also the type of character that often crosses the line for me and makes me want to stop reading. But as much as I wanted to classify her as a bratty teenager at times, I couldn’t just do that. She felt like a complex character, someone that needed to face her demons. And that made all her acting out, all her pushing herself into stupid situations with little regards to others… understandable. The role that Chase plays in helping her heal was perfect and at the same time he was the worst candidate for that position. Like I said, I was so conflicted about this. About my feelings as well, because I frankly really thought they were adorable together and disregarded the past.

ONE SMALL THING is a great summer read packed with plenty of the expected young adult angst and also packs an emotional punch. This book doesn’t hold back on tackling some tough, emotional issues such as bullying, rape, abuse, grief. This was impossible to put it down.

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[about-author author=”Erin Watt”]