Title : BittersweetAuthor : Sarah Ockler
Genre : Contemporary
Published Date : January 3rd 2012
Publisher : Simon Pulse
Pages : 378
Awards : YALSA Best Fiction Nominee for Young Adults (2013)
Source : Bought
Rating : ✿✿✿✿✿
From 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...
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Review
An old follower of my blog would have read my dazzling review of Twenty Boy Summer already, so when I found this book that got a Sarah Ockler on its cover, it was a definite read.
Bittersweet is indeed a bittersweet read, talking about family and teenage life, dream, hope, love, and friendship. Our main character, Hudson Avery was once a brilliant figure skaters, but on the night of the competition, she found a cheetah bra that belonged not to her nor her mother. And when her family was falling apart, Hudson took a surprising turn : Abandoning her shining future, and start to work as Cupcake Princess.
But when fate took Hudson to try figure skating once again, she was tore between her fragile new life and her haunting old one.
"We can get used to just about anything but it doesn't mean it's okay"
—Hudson
I love how I can relate completely with Hudson. I could feel truly sorry for her, and I could felt her sadness when life hit her hard. When she was happy, I was happy too, and when her heart was breaking, I felt sad as well. It was all so strange, but I love the thrill I had while reading this book.
I also love how Sarah Ockler portrayed Hudson's relationship with Josh and Will quite realistically, not all that lovey-dovey-out-of-their-mind love. It was such a believable love triangle, and I could totally understand why Hudson decided to give another chance for Will. Once again, Sarah Ockler was able to capture teenage's fragile emotion perfectly.
The main character itself—I think—was lacking some surprise. It was all so predictable, and Hudson and Josh and Will was quite a bit uninteresting. One character I found quite unique was Dani, Hudson's only friend when she left her skating world. Dani was truly a great friend, but she still stood for her own belief. I also love Hudson's mom, the way she talk and tell others to do their job, etc. was really a perfect picture of a "Mom".
Overall, Bittersweet is not as brilliant as Twenty Boy Summer, but I think it's still so worth the read. If you love contemporary, and you love Sarah Ockler as I do, definitely try this one.
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