Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Release Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 384

Summary: 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….

My Thoughts: I had been eyeing this novel before it was ever called Bittersweet. It had a release date, the release date got pushed back, I was bummed. Than all of a sudden it got a new release date and I basically cheered!!!

Let's see, my wrist is killing me (hurt it last night) and I still am suffering the pain because I NEED to write this review! I feel it in my heart and soul that this book needs to be called awesome and sweet and holy moly full of craziness fantasticness!

We are introduced to Hudson who used to ice skate. She was pretty good and her family encouraged her. Her father was her biggest fan until one day when Hudson felt like she ruined it all. In reality, it wasn't her fault. It was just the way things were and how they worked out.

A few years later, and Hudson is going to school, working at her mother's restaurant making cupcakes and trying to deal with life. She has a new best friend Dani and takes care of her brother most nights. One day, an ad shows up advertising an ice skating competition. Here is her chance to come back and earn some money in the process. And its ice skating, in her heart she still loves being on the ice. Hudson has big plans for herself, bigger than her small town could handle.

So, when hottie Josh asks if she can help him learn to skate better she's excited. She figures she needs the practice too. Things get out of hand, when Josh mentions it to Will, captain of the hockey team. He gets a deal going where Hudson will help the whole entire team and in return use their ice to practice her skating.

Pretty sweet deal, right? Hot hockey players? Check! Ice skating? Check! 2 hot buys? Check! Hudson figures she can handle it and adds it to her already pretty full plate.

Hudson realizes she has some tough choices ahead of her and must face up to her past.

Let's just say one thing here. I loved this book! All the cupcake references, I loved! Come on, I love cupcakes! And hot chocolate! Yum!!!  This book was perfect to me. It was a fun contemporary read which I love. It had hot hockey players, yum! And Josh, swoon!!!!! He was so freaking awesome!!! I could feel the chemistry a million miles away!

Bittersweet was an original read full of cupcakes, cold winter nights, a perfect book to snuggle in your warm bed with, that is exactly what I did!

Overall: Oh Yes! I loved Bittersweet! I adore Ockler! If you haven't read her other books, please go buy all three and read them now!  Oh, the romance! Hudson is one tough cookie to crack but I loved how brave and tough she is.

This book will appeal to fans of contemporary, books full of hot guys (oh yes, all those sexy hockey players) and has real meaning behind it.

All in all, hot boys, hot chocolate, yummy cupcakes, snow, family, friends, how can you go wrong with this novel? Your right, you can't!

Cover: Love it! I've seen a few different covers and I think I like this one best! It also helps that it is blue! Blue is my second favorite cover! Pink is my first.

What I'd Give It: