Book Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Blurb:

Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.

My Review:

Two years ago Beth's older sister Rachel was killed in a horrible accident and ever since her parents haven't allowed her an ounce of freedom. On her last night before school starts she goes to a party in a neighboring town against her best friend Scarlett's wishes. There she approaches the most attractive boy she's ever seen and they hit it off - and one thing leads to another...

But at school she realizes that her random party hook up is the last guy she should want. He's the boy that accidentally hit and killed her sister. Once Chase finds out who Beth is he's horrified and doesn't want to be involved with her but Beth is persistent. The heart wants what the heart wants, despite what her parents, her friends, and the rest of the town thinks. 

In pursuing a friendship (and more) Beth is finally able to face her grief for her sister and starts to see the world around her and the events leading up to Rachel's death in a new way. Will her strict parents ever condone a relationship with the guy they hold responsible for their eldest daughter's death? Or is Beth better leaving Chase far enough alone?

Honestly, I don't know how to feel about One Small Thing. It was a quick, easy read and I loved Beth and Chase together. It was the rest of the book that bothered me. 

One Small Thing takes a set of parents even more extreme than Elle's parents in Katie McGarry's Say You'll Remember Me and crosses with a similar (sort of) plot to Tijan's Ryan's Bed. 

I admit I think Beth's parents are my major problem with this book. Every time I read an interaction between Beth and her parents I wanted to reach into the book and slap them silly. They were insane, they were unfair, and they were ridiculous. I think the point the reader is supposed to get is that parents only want what is best for their kids - but this wasn't at all best for Beth. I actually really disliked almost every character except Beth and Chase if I'm being completely honest. Beth's friends were judgmental and fickle, Jeff was the worst kind of human being, and Beth's classmates and the school administration needed a serious intervention about bullying and herding mentalities. 

Then there were the people Beth met along the way like Ashleigh and Jay who I kept waiting for Beth to befriend after her one night meeting them only to end up disappointed. 

Overall, I could have used more Beth and Chase and less of everything else. Even though the story kept me engaged it was probably one of my least favorite Erin Watt books. 

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

3.90 of 5 Stars!