Author: Sarah Ockler
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..."
I bought this book because I have read several books by Sarah Ockler and liked them and this book, while different from her other books, didn't disappoint. What I like most about books by Ockler is the fact that she is willing to let her characters be vulnerable. So many YA books are just a bunch of fluff, while her books have a lot of substance. Another reason this book appealed to me was the cupcake references and the small descriptions of cupcakes under the titles of the chapters. Each of them sounded delicious and made me wish that I could bake some. I don't think my creations would come out as tasty as described in the book.
I really liked the main character, Hudson. I could identify with all of her conflicting emotions even though I hadn't experienced any of the things that she was going through. I also liked her interactions with her family, especially her younger brother, Bug. I thought that their relationship showed that they were allies in a common problem.
The fact that Hudson was using her cupcake baking as an excuse to escape her life was a unique plot line. I also liked how she edged her way into doing the thing that she loved the round-about way, in this case, a former figure skater who starts training the boy's hockey team. I loved the interactions between Hudson and the boys she was trying to help, especially in the beginning when they weren't too excited about the fact that a girl who knew nothing about hockey was trying to help them.
If you are interested in reading a great story about not hiding from your past, this is a terrific read.
