Bittersweet
By: Sarah Ockler
Simon Pulse
ISBN-13: 9781442430358
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...
Review
Hudson Avery had it all - a great family, a figure skating career leadint to the top and an awesome best friend. Then she found out her Dad was having an affair, blew her team's shot at the championships, lost her best friend and her parents got divorced. Now three years later instead of skating, Hudson is the cupcake Queen at Hurley's, the struggling diner her Mom owns in Watonka, the small town where they live. She has a new best friend, Dani, who is loud and colorfully awesome. But Hudson feels suffocated at home, spending all her free time at Hurley's or taking care of her adorable little brother Bug. Her Mother just doesn't understand that she wants more from life than the family business. Then the captain of the school's hockey team, popular boy Will, asks for her help whipping the team into shape. Hudson also has a complicated relationship with Josh, another boy on the team that she has feelings for. But before she can decide what she wants romantically, Hudson has to come to terms with her skating past and the possibilities for her future. The was a really good book. I loved how Hudson's family issues were handled. No one was demonized, not even her Father who cheated and left them behind. Hudson's sense of humor kept me laughing out loud and the cupcakes that she concocted made me drool with longing. I swear I gained weight just reading this book! I loved the slow build of the romance, even when Hudson was trying to make it work with the wrong guy. Bug was awesome. He was so smart but so innocent, you can't help but love him as much as Hudson does. The ending left me aching, but I did get frustrated with Hudson's inability to recognize how great she had it until almost the end of the book. Highly recommended to fans of Sarah Dessen and also of Sarah Ockler's other books.
VERDICT: 4.5/5 Stars
*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*
I totally agree with everything you said! I hated that Hudson was really oblivious to how great of a life she had. I also REALLY loved Josh but for some reason I wanted to see more of him throughout the book. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat review! :)