Review: The One Thing

Title: The One Thing

Author: Marci Lyn Curtis

Genres: YA Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: September 8, 2016

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

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Maggie Sanders might be blind, but she won't invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie's rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal.

Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn't interested in rehabilitation, not when she's still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory.

Then Maggie's whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she's ever met.Ben's life isn't easy, but he doesn't see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn't have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she's currently dreaming of is Mason Milton, the infuriatingly attractive lead singer of Maggie's new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben's brother.

But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future... before she loses everything she has grown to love.

I’ve been under too much stress and problems that I didn’t really have much time to read this year. Honestly, I think I would have kept on putting off reading The One Thing if I just didn’t have to return it to my friend yet. On the day before I had to return it, I decided that I would pull an all-nighter just so that I can finish reading it.

But, the thing is, I didn’t need that decision. Even if I read The One Thing on some other day, I would probably still have pulled up an all-nighter, trying to finish it (I usually read at night time, before going to sleep). It was just so good, so authentic and so honest.

I really didn’t know what to expect, since this was my first time reading a book with a blind protagonist. I guess I had my prejudices - that Maggie would be hard to deal with, especially when her professional soccer dreams suddenly went upside down when she went blind. She was the opposite of what I thought she’d be. Yes, she is snarky, but I also became easily charmed with her sarcasm, and strong, fun personality. I love Maggie so much, and found myself just rooting for her.

For her friend, Ben, I just absolutely love him! I think this might be the few times that I actually liked someone more who is not the guy love interest (and not because I was rooting for him romantically). Ben is just so adorable and bubbly, as if he could never run out of energy. Just like with Maggie, I just couldn’t find myself to resist his charm (can I please have Ben as a friend, too?)

But the main thing that made me love The One Thing so much is not just the charming characters, but the fact that the book is not centered on romance. The journey that Maggie took in order to undergo change was just fantastic. I love how she became even stronger and better, not because she fell in love, but because she realized it on her own. She wasn’t a damsel in distress, instead, she found the strength in herself and relied on it. Indeed, there were other catalysts that helped her, but in the end, it was undoubtedly beautiful for her to be able to want to change for herself, and not for others.

Despite The One Thing not entirely about romance, it didn’t make me feel any less. I love how the romance between Maggie and Mason slowly bloomed, and there were still too much feels. Everything about this book is just absolutely, completely, perfectly beautiful. Everything was just so vibrant and so full of life. It was hell of a emotional roller coaster ride - I would find myself laughing and smiling, but the next thing I knew, I would be bawling my eyes out. Until now, even days after I’ve read this, I think my thoughts are still all muddled up. It was realistic, authentic, and raw. I’d have to say that I just read this at the perfect time, because at the time when I feel like giving up and being in a mess, reading The One Thing just made me want to live.

The One Thing is just breathtaking, brilliant and magical. It was definitely something I couldn’t put down, even if I wanted to. This is definitely one of the best books I’ve read ever, and OMG. This one is undoubtedly a must-read!

      

Marci Lyn Curtis grew up in Northern California, where she went to college and met an amazing guy in a military uniform. Two college-aged kids and one dachshund later, she lives in Florida. The One Thing is her first novel.