Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Young Adult
Hardcover, 378 pgs.
Published Jan. 3rd, 2012 by Simon Pulse
Source: Purchased

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….

I think I started this one at the wrong time, I just had a hard time getting into it.  I finally put it aside until I was more in the mood and the next time I picked it up it hit the spot much better.  It was still a bit slow but as the story went on I found myself much more engrossed in the story. 

Hudson was a character that had to grow on me.  I just wasn't feeling her at first.  But then I felt sorry for her because she had so much going on and her mother just kept piling more on her shoulders.  She had much more responsibility then any teenager should have and I felt so much anger and frustration for her.  She just let her mother walk all over her because she knew she had a lot going on herself.  Now, it sounds like her mother is bad, and she's not really- she loves Hudson she just kind of forgets she's just a kid and needs a life too.  As the story goes on Hudson learns to find her voice in some things and also becomes determined she's going to 'get out of this hole'.  I think anyone who's lived in a small town knows that feeling.  I know in my small town everyone was talking about getting out of there.  Doing something better.  It takes a lot for Hudson to realize and appreciate some of what she has.  And I understand both points.  Wanting to get out, but yet she loves her family.  And her family includes her adorable little brother whom I loved!  She also has an absent father, so that plays a role as well. 


A lot of the book takes place in the diner that Hudsons mother owns.  I can't say I really connected with this because I've never worked in a diner, but I thought it was interesting and equal parts terrifying because of the way some of the customers treat the waitresses.  I tried to waitress once and I was the kind of waitress that didn't put up with stuff, which got me fired.  Definitely not my thing.  {Oh, you're not suppose to throw wine in the rude customers face?  Hmmm...}


I really liked the main boys in the story.  Even the one that is not all good was still kind of likable.  Like he wasn't really a bad guy which I really liked in this case.  And the romance was good, though a bit frustrating cause you just want to jump in and communicate for them.  Seriously, just talk already!   I wish there was more interaction with the hockey team as a whole because I think it would have been fun, but we get the gist of how things went at practice and how things changed for the team and for Hudson.  


Overall it was a pretty good read.  It's about a girl finding herself and her happiness, friendship, romance and family. I have a feeling that my timing was off when I read this one.  I think in other circumstances I would probably rate this one higher.  I'll have to do a reread one day in the future.


3.5/5 stars


This one fits for the 2012 Young Adult Contemporary Challenge.  Click the button to find out more!