Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Title: Bittersweet

Author: Sarah Ockler

Pages: 384

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Buy: Amazon| Barns &Noble| Chapters Indigo

 Summary (Goodreads)

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:

In Sarah Ockler's newest novel Bittersweet we get to see lots of yummy cupcakes, and a whole new side to the life of figure skating and hockey. Hudson and Josh are one of the cutest couples, but it was hard for them to finally get together after all the obstacles they go through, but I was still rooting for him to make his move. The first time they actually meet is on the little lake near an abandoned building, where they accidentally bump into each other.

From the beginning of the story of the background of Hudson's life at her competition, we know that the family is having something wrong. Hudson is also a baker/server at her family dinner in the town of Watonka, New York. After her coach passes away after she quits 3 years ago, Hudson main goal is to win the scholarship in order to help her family. The whole story shows the reader that we cant accomplish everything on our own, and we need family or friends to help us. Hudson does learn this along the way with her being so busy with the Wolves (School hockey team), the Diner, baking beautiful cupcakes that makes her know as the Cupcake Queen after an article in the paper, school and boys.

This beautiful story from beginning to end will be wanting to help Hudson and her family because we are all going through this, even when all the diner problems come to arise. Her love of skating helps her discover that she still wants to skate to either help the hockey team and for getting the scholarship. Hudson is very determined, stubborn and a very hardworker and has some awesome skills in baking and skating. I loved this character because you can see through the book that she is growing up. Trick was a comic relief, at one point he mentions that men are like onions LOL (Shrek) it was a great scene. 

The romance was very well done, Ockler had be waiting for when Josh finally did his move! Will was a good guy in the end, despite his own family issues, but he did pull through for the team. He was able to get Hudson to show the team new techniques in order to help win the Wolves some games, despite that the coach did nothing.  Josh was a totally sweetie, and you will fall in love with him when you first meet him, totally a knight in shining armor.

Sarah Ockler is a very talented author as she captures the reader in understanding Hudson's life. Bittersweet has romance, cupcakes and action! I will be reading upcoming novels by this author in the near future because she did not disappoint. It was put together nicely and the ending made me want more!! This is a book that I recommend to anyone who is in need of a little romance and skating.