Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Published: January 3, 2012 by Simon Pulse
Source: Purchased from used bookstore

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... [goodreads]

I could not have found a more appropriate time to read this novel than when I did.  As a fairly recent Sarah Ockler fan, I've been slowly reading her backlist titles.  So when I discovered a copy of Bittersweet in my local used bookstore, I bought it and sat it aside to read during winter break from work.  As the temperatures were falling outside, and I had an afternoon and evening to do as I wished, I curled up on my sofa with a cozy blanket and lost myself in Ockler's words... yet again.

Hudson was on track to become the next big talent on the ice skating rink from a small town in upstate New York.  She was on the verge of being discovered and creating a path to meet her Olympic dream goals.  But just as she's about to step foot on the ice, she discovers a betrayal at home, that completely sets her off balance, and causes her to lose focus.  In shame and despair, she hangs up the ice skates, and turns to baking cupcakes in her mom's diner.  Now it's just the three of them: her mom, little brother, and Hudson, trying to make ends meet and get by as her father leaves town, deserting their family as well.

Immediately I was taken to Hudson and worried about the path she'd now created for herself.  Though she has a life to be proud of with her delicious cupcakes, adorably inquisitive little brother, a dependable best friend, and a strong-willed mother; Hudson still longs for the "what ifs".  What if she hadn't discovered her father's dirty little secret that day and went on to become a National Championship World Figure Skater?  Would she be stuck in this forever small town, working alongside her mother at the diner, following a dream that was never hers?  All of these questions are so perfectly laid out, yet their answers tend to reveal themselves in due time.

As Ockler does so well, she introduces a boy into the mix, that has a tendency to shake things up a bit.  Just as Hudson lingers back on the ice for recreation, Josh takes notice and offers to help her rebuild her dreams.  Their relationship was very steady, and did not become romantic until almost the very end.  Usually I'm the type of reader who wants the romance to surface a bit sooner, but in this particular story, it felt right and almost necessary to emerge towards the finale.  I really appreciated the friendship that Hudson and Josh develop first, which added that much more meaning to their story as it progressed.

Bittersweet left such a satisfying taste in my mouth upon finishing it.  This YA contemporary served up just the right amount of drama, mixed with enough emotion and determination to really propel this story forward and cause me as the reader to want to go back for seconds.  I've said it before, and here I am saying it again, Sarah Ockler is such a divine writer, who deserves more attention.  Her writing is among the best in YA contemporaries and I wish more people recognized that.  If you're new to her writings, Bittersweet is definitely a good starting point.  I have one more backlist title to read from her, and then I'll be reliving her stories, over and over again.

Review: The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
Published: June 2, 2015 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC from publisher

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: An ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them . . . [goodreads]

Sarah Ockler delivers another stellar performance with her latest YA contemporary, The Summer of Chasing Mermaids.  She out does herself on the richness and authenticity with this particular story.  I felt myself completely connected to the characters and its setting.  In true Ockler fashion, she makes it difficult to look away until you've reached that final page -- only to find yourself flipping back to the front, wanting to revisit it all over again.

Elyse's character is someone who will definitely stand out in my mind for many books to come.  I wasn't sure how I would respond to a character that was mute, but I found myself truly connecting with her despite these obstacles.  Her voice spoke volumes through her actions, as well as her inner dialogue.  Her pain played a key role in propelling the story forward, as well as a catalyst for the amount of personal growth she endures.

I always gravitate towards stories in a beach-side setting, but this one felt very unique on the Oregon coast.  I really loved the attention to detail that Ockler gave the landscape and how it interacted with the characters themselves.  Even though Elyse's character carved out a place inside my heart, I've also made room for Christian as well.  His own hardships slowly presented themselves, but never took away from Elyse's story.  These two characters molded into a beautiful story, complimenting one another, even at their most difficult times.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids tells a story about second chances, and facing fears.  It dig deeps with emotion, creating a bold portrait in hues of forgiveness and humility.  I have strong feelings that I'll be recommending this Ockler book, along with her backlist, for years to come.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Published: June 1, 2009 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Source: Library

"Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer. [goodreads]

Sarah Ockler is a Young Adult contemporary author that I feel more people should be aware of.  This is my third book I've read by her, giving it another 5-stars, as I did with The Book of Broken Hearts and Fixing Delilah.  I'm amazed that this woman doesn't receive the same buzz as other well-known YA contemp writers such as Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins.  If I've ever influenced your reading choices, I truly hope this is one author who makes it into your hands, sooner rather than later.

Anna, Frankie, and Frankie's older brother Matt, have been childhood best friends for as long as they can remember.  On Anna's fifteenth birthday, all her wishes come true, when Matt kisses her over the kitchen sink just after an epic cake fight sent them inside to clean up their mess.  Anna's childhood crush blossoms into a secret affair with Matt, who claims he'll tell his sister about them when the time is right.  In the meantime, their secret kisses and silent nights spent in each other's arms star gazing in the backyard, creates a swell in Anna's heart that she never knew existed.

Before Matt has the chance to talk to Frankie, the unthinkable happens.  Matt dies.  Both Anna and Frankie's world completely stop.  The grief of losing someone so close to their hearts, but in completely different ways, consumes their lives.  Frankie drifts away, only to come back as this girl who's put on a mask of make-up and hair, to disguise the hurt she feels by experimenting with different boys.  Anna watches from the sidelines, keeping her secret safe, but also grieving a loss all on her own.

A year passes and Frankie's family make their annual summer vacation to Zanzibar Bay, California, to stay at the beach house they've spent countless summers before.  But this time, they're missing Matt and instead bringing Anna along.  The girls set out to make this the best summer of their lives, placing another layer on top of the grief they refuse to acknowledge, yet continues to swallow them little by little each day.  In an attempt to create the best summer, they (more so Frankie, but Anna agrees to make her best friend happy) devise a plan to attract the attention of twenty boys.  What begins as something second nature to Frankie, and oh so foreign to Anna, quickly escalates into a series of moments, all culminating back to where the grief still lies.

My heart went out to Anna, as I witnessed her attempt at burying the secret she promised Matt, yet trying to move on with her life at the same time.  Her struggles tugged on my emotions, so many times.  The way Ockler told the story about the two girls' friendship, felt so authentic and raw.  One minute they were goofing off in the dressing room, trying on swim suits for their trip.  Then several chapters later, they're standing at the ocean's shoreline, screaming out their heartache to a sea of grief and turmoil. 

The character growth that Anna endures from the beginning of the novel, to the end, really stood out for me as a reader.  It was a journey I was happy to be witness of, even during the moments that caused me to reflect on my own personal grief and the experiences I am familiar with.  I found myself stopping to re-read sentences, paragraphs, pages just so the words and emotions had time to sink in and pull me under.  I took my time with this read, not because it was difficult to finish, but because I didn't want it to end.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER is so much more than just a story about two girls and how they spent their summer at the beach.  It digs deep with emotion, balancing the act of grief and forgiveness, all while presenting a glimmer of hope.  I'm grateful for this reading experience and will definitely be urging more to discover the beauty of Sarah Ockler and the talents she's bestowed on Young Adult literature.

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Published: December 1, 2010 by Little, Brown Books
Source: Gifted by Estelle - thank you!

Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her "boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Rich with emotion, Sarah Ockler delivers a powerful story of family, love, and self-discovery. [goodreads]

I'm still a newbie when it comes to Sarah Ockler books.  With this being my second book of her's to finish, I'm a bit surprised that it's taken me this long to truly discover her beautiful writing.  I feel that Ockler deserves the same attention as someone like Sarah Dessen does in the YA contemporary market.  More people need be reading her books and sharing her beautiful stories.  They are very well-rounded, complete with family issues, self discovery, and a swoon-worthy romance.  All of these elements embody the essence of what makes YA contemporary so enriching.

Delilah is on her way to Red Falls, Vermont with her mother for the summer.  But it's a trip that wasn't exactly planned, especially since the two of them haven't been back to this lakeside town in over eight years.  The occasion that brings them back is a somber one, the death of Delilah's grandmother.  Things aren't exactly peachy between Delilah and her mother, either.  There's been a budding tension between the two of them and this trip back to her mother's childhood home, the same place Delilah spent every summer up until eight years ago, is only causing more bumps in this already rocky relationship.

No one ever told Delilah why they stopped coming here, so many years ago, or why her grandmother and this town were erased from their lives so abruptly.  The mystery behind all of this slowly unfolds as Delilah settles into the lake house that once housed so many summer-filled memories.  She rekindles a friendship with the boy next door, Patrick, and a promising romance soon develops.  But as Delilah still remains on the sidelines, wondering what happened all those years ago, why her mother and Aunt are keeping secrets from her, it all becomes too much.

The setting for this story is magical.  I could picture everything from the maple leaf trees to the shimmering lake, from the bustling Main street lined with a candy store and coffee shop, to the old Victorian style homes.  It posed as the ideal backdrop for a story so rich and deep as this one.  The relationship between Delilah and her mother, and the family's past always remain in the forefront.  While the new relationships Delilah manages with Patrick and Emily fill out the edges.  I felt an honest, real connection that brought me even closer into this story.

If you're like me and still somewhat new to Ockler's writing, I highly recommend starting with this one.  She writes with such beauty and awe that it makes it difficult not to feel connected to this story.  I particularly have a fondness for books set during the summertime, and don't mind a summer romance thrown in as well.  But this book not only delivered on that, it also told a story about family and how secrets can damage the ones we love, even though we think we are protecting them.  I adore Ockler's storytelling and will definitely be reading more by this fabulous YA contemporary author.

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler
Published: May 21, 2013 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC from publisher - thank you!

When all signs point to heartbreak, can love still be a rule of the road? A poignant and romantic novel from the author of Bittersweet and Twenty Boy Summer.

Jude has learned a lot from her older sisters, but the most important thing is this: The Vargas brothers are notorious heartbreakers. She’s seen the tears and disasters that dating a Vargas boy can cause, and she swore an oath—with candles and a contract and everything—to never have anything to do with one.

Now Jude is the only sister still living at home, and she’s spending the summer helping her ailing father restore his vintage motorcycle—which means hiring a mechanic to help out. Is it Jude’s fault he happens to be cute? And surprisingly sweet? And a Vargas?

Jude tells herself it’s strictly bike business with Emilio. Her sisters will never find out, and Jude can spot those flirty little Vargas tricks a mile away—no way would she fall for them. But Jude’s defenses are crumbling, and if history is destined to repeat itself, she’s speeding toward some serious heartbreak…unless her sisters were wrong?

Jude may have taken an oath, but she’s beginning to think that when it comes to love, some promises might be worth breaking. [goodreads]

Let me start by saying that this book touched me on such a personal level.  I went into it expecting to enjoy the story based on so many glowing reviews and recommendations from other readers.  What I came out with was something so much deeper, richer, and fulfilling.  My heart is overflowing with so much emotion because of the journey this story took me on.  It was an unexpected visit to personal things in my past, also shedding light on things I didn't quite digest... until now. 

Jude is about to begin her last summer at home before she is off to college in the fall.  What should be a summer full of best friends, ice cream sundaes, and hot boys, has now become the summer that will define the path she never expected to be on.  Her father has early on-set Alzheimer's, a disease that's been referred to as "The Long Goodbye" and can be very debilitating to any family.  Since Jude is the youngest of four girls, all who have grown up and set down roots in places far from home, that leaves the responsibility of looking after her dad while her mom is at work on her.  It's a daunting task, and it's definitely heartbreaking to witness.

But then Jude discovers a gem from her father's past that has lit a fire in his eyes that she was worried had been burned out long ago.  It's become her mission to help her dad repair his old motorcycle, in hopes that it will too repair his mind, and make him whole again.  With this mission comes a Vargas boy.  A long time ago Jude's sisters believed the Vargas brothers to be a curse on their family, especially their hearts.  They made a pact to never let another Vargas boy break them in two.  But Jude has a mission at hand that's bigger than a silly pact she made with her sisters.  She wants to spend the summer restoring her father's bike and if that means she needs Emilio Vargas there to help, then so be it. 

My heart truly opened up to the moments when Jude's father was taken over by the disease and his mind was not in control anymore.  These moments became personal for me to read because my grandmother had Alzheimer's.  I have memories of watching my mother struggle to cope with these situations.  It was heartbreaking to watch then, and it was again heartbreaking to read about in Ockler's story now.  But there's a beauty in these heartbreaking moments, too.  A sense of vulnerability and strength that wakes up in the darkest of moments.  I saw this repeatedly in Jude's character and truly admired her strength, even when she felt like the smallest human being possible.  That sort of struggle, that sort of "long goodbye" is never easy, for anyone.

Beyond the disease itself, I connected with Jude and her sisters.  Since I am also the youngest of four girls, I completely understood her frustrations, and also her joys of having sisters.  Each sister telling you how to live your life, which decision to make, and what path to take.  But ultimately they learn to let go, even if it's for a little bit, and understand that we all have to learn from our own mistakes and live our own lives.  There's nothing quite like sisters and this bond really shown through in this story.

The relationship between Jude and Emilio was a slow build into something quite beautiful.  She assumed so much about him, but he continued to surprise her by his kindness and patience.  He, too, was able to be amazed by her as well.  They balanced each other during a heavy moment in their lives, steadying the other, and proving that there is life, even when death may be just around the corner.

Ockler's words weaved a story full of heart, humor (yes there were often moments that left me laughing out loud), and admiration for a story that touched me well beyond its words.