Book Review: Bittersweet

Bittersweet
by Sarah Ockler
378 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Source: Blog Tour
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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....

What's so awesome about Bittersweet? Allow me to name the ways:

Super adorable little brother who also happens to be a kid genius? Check.

Super mega delicious sounding gourmet cupcake descriptions? Check.

Totally sweet and swoonworthy hockey boys? Check.

Oh and of course there's also figure skating, waitressing, and did I mention the cute hockey boys?

Sarah Ockler has quickly become my favorite contemporary author. I've fallen in love with each and every one of her books and Bittersweet is no exception. This book is the perfect winter read to curl up and drink a cup of hot cocoa with. It's funny, sad, sweet, and reminded me that life doesn't always work out the way we plan, but even so that doesn't mean it can't be good.

There were so many fun characters in this book that I don't know where to begin. Hudson for one was a great protagonist. I loved watching her story unravel and her sense of humor was killer. Another stand out character was Hudson's little brother Bug. He wasn't a huge character but he stole every moment that he was in. Who doesn't love the "wise beyond their years" little brother type? And of course there were the hockey boys. Oh the hockey boys. I'll be the first to say I know nothing about hockey and I really don't know much about what kinds of guys play hockey but Sarah Ockler made me fall in love with this group of dudes! Oftentimes authors fall into the trap of writing stock guy characters but not Sarah Ockler. There were no stereotypical "mean jock" or "player" characters. Instead Bittersweet had guys that were just plain realistic guys. They were funny, charming, and just a tiny bit obnoxious. I couldn't help but wish that they were a group of guys that I could hang out with!

Friendship, life decisions, and forgiveness were all big ticket issues in Bittersweet and they were dealt with in the perfect Sarah Ockler fashion. Like Twenty Boy Summer and Fixing Delilah, there was the perfect combination of the serious and the lighthearted. I also absolutely loved the cupcake descriptions at the beginning of each chapter even though they made me crave cupcakes like CRAZY! >.<

Overall Bittersweet is an awesome contemporary and the perfect winter read. In fact just writing this review has made me want to read it again! I'll definitely be buying Bittersweet and curling up with it a second time when it's released on January 3rd.

Julia :)