One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Synopsis: 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.

Review: I heard a lot about Erin Watt and I was curious to discover her new novel. The synopsis itself was appealing with the mourning side, but there is also this amazing encounter between Beth, the sister of the deceased girl, and Chase, the one who killed her in an accident.

Beth has not had the same life since Rachel died. Her parents turned her house into a prison, watching her every move, forcing her to do what they want and leaving her with almost no freedom, but always for her safety. It is very difficult for the girl to accept it and the situation is only getting worse. So to get away from this daily life, she goes out secretly at night to go to parties and it is also to one of them that she meets with Chase. She does not know who he is and neither does he. When in high school she learns that he is the one who was involved with her sister’s death, she does not know what to do. She can not get away from this boy and yet everyone hates him, should she not be as well?

I really liked this story. It’s hard enough for Beth to know how to act … Does she renounce her sister by being friends with him? Can she let the others bring him down by their words? It is all the more complicated that everyone dictates her how to act when she does not feel the need. She wants to forgive him, he has paid for his actions, but others are far from this view, starting with her parents and friends. It’s pretty sad to see that she hates herself sometimes for not helping him, for lying not to say that she liked him. She needs him too and eventually she realizes that he is far from the monster she or the others thought he was. Chase meanwhile must try to cope with this incessant number of troubles, threats, and at the same time he knows he deserves them.

It was a touching and sad story. We observe the consequences of a terrible tragedy, but which, finally, hides some secrets.

15 thoughts on “One Small Thing by Erin Watt

  1. I wondered about this one, but I thought it would be really tragic. I think being able to be with the boy would depend a lot on the actual circumstances surrounding the accident. I don’t think I could forgive a drunk driving fatal accident personally. This is a hard one. Great review!

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