Disclosure: I received a copy of this book, thanks to the publisher. Opinions shared are mine.
I loved Ashley Elston’s book The Lying Woods, and could not volunteer quick enough for 10 Blind Dates! I just know that my daughter will steal it from me want to read it over fall break, so I took a quick skim through it for the purposes of this review.
First, I love the teen-friendly format of the text. The day-by-day commentary of a teenager’s life is one of those little things that really is a BIG thing. I remember that from my high school days. The chapters in 10 Blind Dates are laid out in a similar fashion. Additionally, main character Sophie’s feelings are all out there in the open. Messy and wholehearted as only a teen can feel, these emotions are there for the world to see via text messages and her angsty dialogue.
To me, the best part of this story comes from Sophie’s family. They’re present and loving toward her in a way that doesn’t get recognized in books today.
10 Blind Dates is cute, fun, and the perfect read for this holiday season.
About the Book
Title: 10 BLIND DATES
Author: Ashley Elston
Pub. Date: October 1, 2019
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 336
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.
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?
“This piece-by-piece romance doesn’t need its Christmas theme to sell, but it makes it glitter all the more.”—Booklist
“In a funny holiday romance that has Sophie dog-sitting in a hockey rink, watching porn at a drive-in theater, and playing the Virgin Mary in a middle school Nativity, Elston cleverly reflects the family members’ personalities through their choices of dates for Sophie.”—Publishers Weekly
About Ashley:
Ashley Elston is the author of several novels, including THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING (a finalist in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the International Thriller Awards) and THIS IS OUR STORY. She graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Shreveport. Ashley worked for many years as a wedding photographer before turning her hand to writing. Ashley lives in Louisiana with her husband and three sons.
Ashley is represented by Sarah Davies at The Greenhouse Literary Agency.
Not only do I want the book, but we’ll be first in line for the movie. It sounds awesome!
Sounds like such a fun read.
The book sounds awesome but I want to see the movie too
The cover is really cute, this sounds great!
Looks like a great book, where do you get your ideas for the storyline.
A book about 10 blind dates must be 10 times better than a book about one blind date!
Looks like it will be a fun read!
This book sounds so good!
It looks like a good read.
This looks fun!
I can’t wait to read this. It sounds really good.
I have seen this book at the library. It looks fun and lighthearted.
This looks like a fun book. I think my niece would really enjoy it.