Book Review: 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pub. Date: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "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?"

Sophie imagined a really wonderful Christmas break, but when she overhears her boyfriend, Griffin, saying he needs a break from their relationship, things start to fall apart.  To make matters worse, Sophie's parents are spending Christmas with Sophie's older sister, who is pregnant and not doing well at all.  In turn, Sophie is spending the holidays with her grandmother and extended family.  Her beloved grandmother, Nonna, finds out that Sophie and Griffin are over and she sees how upset Sophie is.  Sophie's Nonna has devised a plan that while Sophie is there on Christmas break each family member will set her up with a nice boy to go out with.  What could go wrong, right? She might even meet someone nice! Or maybe things will go disastrously wrong. 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston is the perfect holiday read; it's just like snuggling up with your favorite Hallmark Christmas movie.

Sophie is a delightful character in 10 Blind Dates. I loved her relationship with her grandmother and enjoyed every second of her holiday at her house.  Each extended family member was very entertaining and I loved the relationship she shared with them all, even annoying Aunt Patrice.  What was most heartwarming was the relationship with her Nonna.  I love when YA novels have characters that appreciate and spend time with their grandparents and in this case, I enjoyed every aspect of Sophie's relationship with her Nonna.  I also especially appreciated her many references to Italian-American culture; if you are Italian, you will love this as well.

All the fun (and not so fun) dates that Sophie went on added to the Christmas spirit of 10 Blind Dates. The date with the live nativity scene had me cringing and laughing out loud.  When all is said and done, Sophie needs to decide what is right for her and if Griffin is someone she still even wants.  While figuring all this out, Sophie is reconnecting with family, especially her cousins, and the holidays is the perfect time for this.

10 Blind Dates is such a fun holiday read and one that is reminiscent of a feel-good Christmas movie.  I didn't mind the overly saccharine parts though as this was exactly the kind of read that I was looking for.  So, if you love a cute Christmas tale filled with family, romance, and fun, you must check out 10 Blind Dates this holiday season.  I hear the producers of To All The Boys I Loved Before picked up the film rights to this novel already; I can't wait to see it on my TV screen!