Book Review | 10 Blind Dates

My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Title: 10 Blind Dates

Author: Ashley Elston

Format: Hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 327

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Family, Contemporary, Holiday

Sophie wants one thing for Christmas-a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend Christmas in South Louisiana with her very pregnant older sister, Sophie is looking forward to some much needed private (read: make-out) time with her long-term boyfriend, Griffin. Except it turns out that Griffin wants a little freedom from their relationship. Cue devastation.

Heartbroken, Sophie flees to her grandparents’ house, where the rest of her boisterous extended family is gathered for the holiday. That’s when her nonna devises a (not so) brilliant plan: Over the next ten days, Sophie will be set up on ten different blind dates by different family members. Like her sweet cousin Sara, who sets her up with a hot guy at an exclusive underground party. Or her crazy aunt Patrice, who signs Sophie up for a lead role in a living nativity. With a boy who barely reaches her shoulder. And a screaming baby.

When Griffin turns up unexpectedly and begs for a second chance, Sophie feels more confused than ever. Because maybe, just maybe, she’s started to have feelings for someone else . . . Someone who is definitely not available.

This is going to be the worst Christmas break ever… or is it?

I know Christmas is over but I saw this at my library and decided to pick it up because I heard many good things about it.

Sophie and her boyfriend Griffin is on an unintentional break from one another. Broken hearted, Sophie heads to her grandparents house for Christmas. And holidays at her grandparents house is always a chaotic event. When all her family hears of her break-up, they want to cheer her up and devise a way for her to keep her mind off her sadness by making her go on blind dates. But what makes it even more interesting is she doesn’t pick the dates, her family signs up for a day and pick the guy for her. So there are 10 dates Sophie agrees to go on, will Sophie have a horrible Christmas? Or will she find what’s been missing in her life?

• What’s not to like about a young adult romance book set during Christmas? This story is wholesome and filled with family, friendship, fun and bad dates.
• The thing that stood out to me a lot is Sophie and her large, loud, chaotic family because that’s what I’m used to. Christmas was that wild for me growing up with 8 aunts and uncles and so many cousins. It was crazy fun! So I loved when Sophie is at her Nonna’s house and hanging with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins (around her age and the littles). I enjoyed seeing her renew her bond with her cousins Charlie and Olivia. It’s so awesome having cousins who are your age and you can be friends with. And not all the cousins get along, you always have some that you have drama with and for Sophie it’s the Evil Joes.
• The dates are fun, and funny, especially the ones in the beginning. The ones at the end seemed rushed but we already know who Sophie wants to date by then!
• Sophie’s sister, Margot, is in a different town and dealing with pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy. Their closeness is evident and sweet in their conversations through the phone. I enjoyed their sisterly bond.

• The story seemed rushed at times but there was a lot going on! Sophie had to get through 10 dates, worry about her older sister and deal with Griffin. Plus there was her family in her business so there was a lot going on.
• It’s obvious who Sophie is going to eventually end up with. But I like that there wasn’t too much drama with the boys. Even with Griffin her ex, there was minimal drama. She’s young, found her carefree self again and looks like she’s going into her college years with the same mentality, which is nice.

I loved Sophie’s loud, crazy family because it reminds me of mine. It had funny moments and touching ones too. Overall, 10 Blind Dates is a cute holiday romance, perfect for teens.