Review: Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler

Title: Bittersweet

Author: Sarah Ockler

Release Date: January 3rd 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Source: For review

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances... a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been.

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life... and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done.

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last...

Hudson is one of the most inspiring young female main characters ever. She was so likeable, yet not without flaws. But her flaws were the ones that made her that tiny bit special. Her passions - ice-skating and baking- are ones that are not really that common in YA, so it was really interesting to see how that plays out. I love that Hudson was so relatable, and her problems are real. She has to put up with school, work, friends, boy drama while trying to follow her dreams in a world that pushes her to be someone else. Shut out to her best-friend Dani who was so understanding and loyal and I just want to give her a hug between Hudson's mood swings and ditching-her-to-hook-up-with-guys crap. 

There was also a love triangle, which I found quite unexpected. But to be honest, it is clear right from the very beginning who Hudson's going to end up with, but THAT doesn't stop her from fooling around with the other guy. Which made me want to tear out my hair. Jesus. I hate it when she keeps going back and forth between each one, but hey I think that's the YA trend lately. To be fair, the 'bad' one didn't turn out to be that bad, but I still preferred the 'good' one who was so sweet and charming. And the ending is bittersweet! Who knew hockey players can be so cute?

Reading about cupcakes and deserts literally made my stomach growl. The way Sarah Ockler describes the cupcakes just makes me want to drop everything and make dozens of my own ones. You never know, I could be the next Cupcake Queen! All the characters are fleshed out and I cared for them all.

There are a lot of stuff that happened in this book. (I know, I'm such a tease.) There are also deep (and I mean DEEP) hidden meanings, thoughts that makes you stop and rethink about your life right now, if by wanting something else makes you forget what you have right now is the best thing for you. It highlights dreams,hopes,wishes and what being a family truly means. I love this gem of a book. 

If you're like me, and in a need of a contemporary fix, then Bittersweet is made for you. Just as these cupcakes mentions are for me.