Published: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Page Count: Hardcover, 378
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
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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... - Good Reads
Useless fact: Back in my younger years I was a hardcore fan of figure skating. Irina Slutskaya, Alexei Yagudin, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze were a few of my faves. I still have almost any competition that ever came on television recorded on VHS and in a box packed away somewhere at my Moms. I totally should have been a figure skater. Unfortunately that didn't work out, so now I just read about them.
Important facts: Bittersweet is about a girl named Hudson who is a figure skater with a bright future, but when family problems arise, she walks out on it leaving not only her figure skating aspirations behind, but also her best friend. Hudson takes her sorrows out with cupcake making in the family diner. Each chapter has a lovely little cupcake description that will really make you want to experiment in the kitchen or hunt down a cupcake place and eat at least five different kinds. I found myself pausing at the beginning of each chapter and trying to imagine how I could re-create these cupcakes. Mmmm...
Anyway! Enough about cupcakes!
So, this book is a very typical Young Adult contemporary. A girl who has fears, a girl who has a dream, young love, etc. I loved the setting and Sarah Ockler is a talent at descriptions and the dialogue was very good. The characters were also snappy, which I like! I think one of my favourite parts about this book was that the main character Hudson is flawed. I don't need a heroine to be the epitome of perfection or to make all of the best moral choices and Hudson makes many choices that are definitely not best-worthy, but the important part is that she learns from them.
I love to watch figure skating too!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right about Bittersweet. The most important thing is the chatacter's journey.
Great review!
It's a really beautiful sport! :) I love good journeys! Thank you for commenting! :)
DeleteI am a big fan of cupcakes and I used to watch a lot of figure-skating, too! So this was a practically perfect book for me too, hah. I did get a little irritated with Hudson towards the end, but you know--we all make mistakes, and all's well that ends well. Such a cute book! I'm glad you enjoyed. :)
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
Yes, I did as well - she definitely wasn't the perfect girl. But I don't think any of us are! :) Thank you for stopping by to comment! :)
Deletehaha I am still totally obsessed with figure skating!!! lol I am glued to the tv durring the winter olympics EVERY time! hehe I am a total 90's child hehe I NEED to read this stat! I've always read good reviews on it, and I am totally in a figure skatery mood! hehe Loved your review hun! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too! I don't watch it nearly as much as before, but I still always try to catch the Olympics! :) Thank you for commenting! :)
DeleteI'm not even a figure skating fan, but you made me want to read this, cupcakes...yummm. :) I wasn't sold on Sarah Ockler after Twenty Boy Summer, I liked it and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't mind blowing for me. But, I absolutely loved The Book of Broken Hearts and I've been meaning to go back and read Bittersweet for a while. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteJust bought this book! I'm excited to read it, since I loved Sarah Ockler's Twenty Boy Summer! If you haven't gotten the chance to read that one, you need to!
ReplyDeleteLisa
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