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A review by halcyone
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
4.0
This review was originally posted at The Cozy Armchair.
Bittersweet was such an enjoyable read, successfully balancing fluff and realistic life lessons. I never once thought it was superficial, and it never took the easy way out when it came to decision-making and relationships. But it's also the kind of book that fills you with warmth, a perfect read when you need a bit of a pick-me-up.
I mean, what else would you expect from a book that starts each chapter with delicious descriptions of Hudson's famous cupcake creations? I had to fight the urge to go buy a dozen to snack on while reading, and I kept seriously lamenting the fact that her cupcakes weren't actually available to buy at my local bakery.
Anyway, I loved just about everything in this book: the small town setting, the winter season backdrop, a past in ice skating, a present in baking and hockey training, confusing hockey-playing boys, a struggling family, etc. Not to mention that I love, love, love anything to do with culinary arts and restaurant management, so when those elements make an appearance in books, I'm basically guaranteed a good time.
Hudson is a great, sympathetic character. She has big dreams but feels trapped by her obligations to her family (working in her mom's diner, taking care of her brother Bug). I could understand where she was coming from with her frustration and resentment, but at the same time it was very easy to see it from her mom's point of view too. Her mother works tirelessly to keep the diner open and pay the bills, and it makes sense that she would turn to Hudson for support.
Hudson takes on a lot of responsibilities and tries to juggle them all on her own, ultimately learning to pick and choose her priorities carefully. In this regard, the book's title couldn't be more accurate. The story touches upon the good and bad times of life - whether it's the small moments you have baking cupcakes with your brother, or the stress of keeping a secret from your mom, or understanding that it's not always about getting out of a small town, it's also about the people you'd leave behind.
So when I said this book managed to deliver a good message while spoonfeeding you a sweet romance and fluff, I meant it. And there were so many other elements to love, like Hudson's friendship with Dani and their ups & downs, how Hudson wormed her way into the hockey team, her relationship with her adorable little brother Bug. Not one character is perfect in this book, but that only serves to make the story feel believable.
Bittersweet had a kind of atmosphere that really drew me in. Even though I read it in the middle of a hot and humid Florida summer, I could imagine myself in the middle of the winter season instead. This would be a perfect book to read in December while wrapped up in a blanket and nursing a cup of hot chocolate. Seriously, it gives you that kind of warmth when you read it, so this is one book I'd have to highly recommend!
Bittersweet was such an enjoyable read, successfully balancing fluff and realistic life lessons. I never once thought it was superficial, and it never took the easy way out when it came to decision-making and relationships. But it's also the kind of book that fills you with warmth, a perfect read when you need a bit of a pick-me-up.
I mean, what else would you expect from a book that starts each chapter with delicious descriptions of Hudson's famous cupcake creations? I had to fight the urge to go buy a dozen to snack on while reading, and I kept seriously lamenting the fact that her cupcakes weren't actually available to buy at my local bakery.
Anyway, I loved just about everything in this book: the small town setting, the winter season backdrop, a past in ice skating, a present in baking and hockey training, confusing hockey-playing boys, a struggling family, etc. Not to mention that I love, love, love anything to do with culinary arts and restaurant management, so when those elements make an appearance in books, I'm basically guaranteed a good time.
Hudson is a great, sympathetic character. She has big dreams but feels trapped by her obligations to her family (working in her mom's diner, taking care of her brother Bug). I could understand where she was coming from with her frustration and resentment, but at the same time it was very easy to see it from her mom's point of view too. Her mother works tirelessly to keep the diner open and pay the bills, and it makes sense that she would turn to Hudson for support.
Hudson takes on a lot of responsibilities and tries to juggle them all on her own, ultimately learning to pick and choose her priorities carefully. In this regard, the book's title couldn't be more accurate. The story touches upon the good and bad times of life - whether it's the small moments you have baking cupcakes with your brother, or the stress of keeping a secret from your mom, or understanding that it's not always about getting out of a small town, it's also about the people you'd leave behind.
So when I said this book managed to deliver a good message while spoonfeeding you a sweet romance and fluff, I meant it. And there were so many other elements to love, like Hudson's friendship with Dani and their ups & downs, how Hudson wormed her way into the hockey team, her relationship with her adorable little brother Bug. Not one character is perfect in this book, but that only serves to make the story feel believable.
Bittersweet had a kind of atmosphere that really drew me in. Even though I read it in the middle of a hot and humid Florida summer, I could imagine myself in the middle of the winter season instead. This would be a perfect book to read in December while wrapped up in a blanket and nursing a cup of hot chocolate. Seriously, it gives you that kind of warmth when you read it, so this is one book I'd have to highly recommend!