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Messina Family #1
10 Blind Dates
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?
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?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2019
About the author
Ashley Elston
20 books1,092 followersAshley Elston lives is North Louisiana with her husband and three sons. She worked as a wedding and portrait photographer for ten years until she decided to pursue writing full time. Ashley is also a certified landscape horticulturist and loves digging in the dirt. Her debut novel, THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING was published by Disney Hyperion in 2013 and was a finalist in the Best Young Adult category of the International Thriller Writers Awards.
Coming Soon: FIRST LIE WINS (2023 - Pamela Dorman Books/PRH)
Coming Soon: FIRST LIE WINS (2023 - Pamela Dorman Books/PRH)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,430 reviews
January 13, 2023
I have found a favorite YA Contemporary!!
This is the most adorable, sweetest story about family that I have EVER read. My cup runs over. It's that good.
It's true, guys, gals and nonbinary pals. I loved this with my whole heart.
Ashley Elston is a blessing. I knew that going into this, but 10 Blind Dates seals the deal.
This precious story follows Sophie, who on the eve of Christmas break, is looking forward to nothing more than spending some quality time with her boyfriend, Griffin.
Her parents are traveling to stay with her older sister, Margot, who is pregnant with her first child and having a complicated pregnancy. The plan is for Sophie to go to her Grandparent's house to stay with them, and her large extended family, for the entirety of the holiday.
Secretly, she hopes to sneak back home as much as she can to be with Griffin.
Unfortunately, when she overhears Griffin tell one of his friends that he wants a break from her, the only thing broken is her heart.
Later that same night, when her Grandmother, Nonna, finds Sophie crying, she hatches a scheme to get Sophie's mind off of Griffin; the jerk.
Nonna's plan: have family members set Sophie up on ten blind dates to keep her occupied each night of her Christmas break. We all know free time is the worst thing for a broken heart.
I know this book sounds like the perfect plot for a romantic comedy and it definitely is. At the same time, however, my biggest take away from this was the power of a supportive family.
At its heart, it is about ties that bind and go deeper than any high school relationship ever could.
Sophie has a LARGE, dramatic, Sicilian family and I ABSOLUTELY stan the positive family dynamic.
There were Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Mom, Dad and her Sister, all involved; all rooting for Sophie's happiness. Additionally, Sophie was such a good sport about everything that was thrown at her.
The dates were all unique and a little wacky. I looked forward to reading each one as they unfolded.
Elston's storytelling is just top-notch; this was incredibly well done. There's no denying it.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I loved this so, so much!
Ashley Elston is an auto-buy author for me and obviously that's not changing any time soon. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
This is the most adorable, sweetest story about family that I have EVER read. My cup runs over. It's that good.
It's true, guys, gals and nonbinary pals. I loved this with my whole heart.
Ashley Elston is a blessing. I knew that going into this, but 10 Blind Dates seals the deal.
This precious story follows Sophie, who on the eve of Christmas break, is looking forward to nothing more than spending some quality time with her boyfriend, Griffin.
Her parents are traveling to stay with her older sister, Margot, who is pregnant with her first child and having a complicated pregnancy. The plan is for Sophie to go to her Grandparent's house to stay with them, and her large extended family, for the entirety of the holiday.
Secretly, she hopes to sneak back home as much as she can to be with Griffin.
Unfortunately, when she overhears Griffin tell one of his friends that he wants a break from her, the only thing broken is her heart.
Later that same night, when her Grandmother, Nonna, finds Sophie crying, she hatches a scheme to get Sophie's mind off of Griffin; the jerk.
Nonna's plan: have family members set Sophie up on ten blind dates to keep her occupied each night of her Christmas break. We all know free time is the worst thing for a broken heart.
I know this book sounds like the perfect plot for a romantic comedy and it definitely is. At the same time, however, my biggest take away from this was the power of a supportive family.
At its heart, it is about ties that bind and go deeper than any high school relationship ever could.
Sophie has a LARGE, dramatic, Sicilian family and I ABSOLUTELY stan the positive family dynamic.
There were Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Mom, Dad and her Sister, all involved; all rooting for Sophie's happiness. Additionally, Sophie was such a good sport about everything that was thrown at her.
The dates were all unique and a little wacky. I looked forward to reading each one as they unfolded.
Elston's storytelling is just top-notch; this was incredibly well done. There's no denying it.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Book Group, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I loved this so, so much!
Ashley Elston is an auto-buy author for me and obviously that's not changing any time soon. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
May 18, 2021
This was so absurdly charming, my heart is SOARING. I think I enjoyed this re-read even more than my original read!
CW: pregnancy complications
CW: pregnancy complications
October 15, 2019
“I don’t expect to meet the love of my life but maybe, just maybe this will help heal the pieces Griffin broke.”
I promise you, so many people are going to be checking this one out from their library this holiday season, and with good reason, because I read this book with a constant smile on my face. This was such a heartwarming story about family, and love, and finding out about yourself and your happiness when you are in that weird transition period when you are getting ready for college. This book really was a delight to read, and I am actually excited to see how well received it’s probably going to be in the book community soon!
10 Blind Dates stars a girl named Sophie who is planning to spend the holidays with her grandparents (and her huge extended family), while her parents celebrate with her sister who is a few hours away and on bedrest with her pregnancy. Sophie thinks that she might also be able to sneak away and finally get a little alone time with her longtime boyfriend, but things don’t work out the way she envisions when she finds out that he is having second thoughts about them staying together since they will both be going away to college soon.
She goes to her grandparents’ house feeling rather heartbroken, but her entire family who are all celebrating Christmas under the same roof, decide to try to cheer her up by setting her up on *looks at book title* ten blind dates! Sophie is for sure having her doubts, but when the first date goes alright, she thinks that maybe she can do this, and maybe she can get closer to some of the family members she has drifted a little apart from in the process.
Overall, this just really is a perfect, heartwarming, hopeful holiday read. It really puts an emphasis on the importance of (healthy) family, and how the love of family can be so unconditional. This book also puts a very big emphasis on sibling relationships, which you all know is something I love reading about in books, and I truly think siblings who are best friends have a power unlike any other. I just really think this book is perfect for December, and I recommend it with my whole heart if you’re looking for a cozy, Christmas story that will make you smile throughout. Also, this has already been picked up by Netflix, and I feel so much joy thinking about what a wonderful adaptation it will make!
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Content and Trigger Warnings: grey area cheating/emotional cheating and high-risk pregnancy threats.
Buddy read with Madalyn! ❤
❤ I read this for The Reading Rush, 2019!
October 20, 2020
merry christmas!! i got you my full review of this book, posted on my blog: https://emmareadstoomuch.wordpress.co...
(i know it's not christmastime yet but it's three months closer than it was when i read this.)
-----------
^ Actual paparazzi photo of me reading this book.
This made me feel Grinch levels of Christmasy in the middle of summer!!!
Well, end of movie levels of Grinchness. Not the beginning. Although the beginning is basically me during the 11ish months of the year that include neither December nor this book, so honestly the comparison works.
THIS WAS JUST SO CUTE AND FUN.
Even though I read things called "YA contemporary romances" all the time, Romance is never actually what I want out of them. I want:
- FAMILY
- COMING OF AGE
- FRIENDSHIP!!!
And I got the first and third one in a big way. So I am, for once, pleased. (Even if the friendships were with family members, which seems like kind of a cop-out, but whatever.)
I love big families and I love Christmas and I love food descriptions and I love hijinks, so I'm happy as a clam.
Even if the romance was meh.
Which it was.
Bottom line: A Christmas delight! (Yes, I read this in July. What about it???)
-----------
no one in the entire world has a better love life than your average fictional 17-year-old.
review to come / 4 stars
(i know it's not christmastime yet but it's three months closer than it was when i read this.)
-----------
^ Actual paparazzi photo of me reading this book.
This made me feel Grinch levels of Christmasy in the middle of summer!!!
Well, end of movie levels of Grinchness. Not the beginning. Although the beginning is basically me during the 11ish months of the year that include neither December nor this book, so honestly the comparison works.
THIS WAS JUST SO CUTE AND FUN.
Even though I read things called "YA contemporary romances" all the time, Romance is never actually what I want out of them. I want:
- FAMILY
- COMING OF AGE
- FRIENDSHIP!!!
And I got the first and third one in a big way. So I am, for once, pleased. (Even if the friendships were with family members, which seems like kind of a cop-out, but whatever.)
I love big families and I love Christmas and I love food descriptions and I love hijinks, so I'm happy as a clam.
Even if the romance was meh.
Which it was.
Bottom line: A Christmas delight! (Yes, I read this in July. What about it???)
-----------
no one in the entire world has a better love life than your average fictional 17-year-old.
review to come / 4 stars
October 19, 2022
Ashley Elston is the type of author that is difficult to NOT adore; her books are varied in genre but consistently well written, and 10 Blind Dates is no different. Occasionally I get a craving to read books that are comfortably predictable, and this happens most often in the last quarter of the year. Perhaps you can call it the holiday spirit (Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc), but there's something about picking up a book that features a big, close knit family that you can grow to love, flaws and all. While I can't think of one aspect that took me by surprise, that's precisely why I became fond of this feel good YA contemporary. My only issue is some gray area cheating that felt unnecessary, but overall, super pleased with how this one read and concluded.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley!
**********************
When everyone else is talking about Halloween, but you're too excited for the Christmas books:
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley!
**********************
When everyone else is talking about Halloween, but you're too excited for the Christmas books:
December 4, 2019
Gosh, this was annoyingly average.
The premise made it sound like it would’ve been such a fun story, and whilst there were fun moments, those moments were underdeveloped, rushed and no room was left for me to connect with characters.
It had such a great familial and friendship aspect. But everything was so rushed, too much was happening, it felt crammed in and by the end of it I was left feeling hollow.
The premise made it sound like it would’ve been such a fun story, and whilst there were fun moments, those moments were underdeveloped, rushed and no room was left for me to connect with characters.
It had such a great familial and friendship aspect. But everything was so rushed, too much was happening, it felt crammed in and by the end of it I was left feeling hollow.
February 25, 2020
4.5 stars.
Good lord, this book is just one giant ball of adorable!!
Sophie’s pregnant older sister is on bed rest, so their parents decide to visit her for Christmas, leaving Sophie to stay with her grandparents and extended family of cousins. But before she heads to her family’s house, Sophie goes to a party to hook up with her boyfriend Griffin, since she'll be missing him for a while.
When Sophie arrives, she overhears Griffin telling his friend he’s happy Sophie will be away and that he’s considering breaking up with her, that she's gotten boring and too serious. Shocked and devastated, she heads to her grandparents’ house.
Before the pressures of school and spending time with Griffin took priority, Sophie used to spend so much time at her grandparents' house, inseparable from two of her cousins and the son of her grandparents' next door neighbor. They used to be like the Four Musketeers, and it isn't long before they fall back into that pattern.
Sophie’s grandmother doesn’t want to see her miserable, so she proposes a plan: let 10 members of the family set her up on blind dates, one a day, and hopefully it will take her mind off her heartbreak. She gets one opportunity to say no to a date as well. While the whole thing makes her a little nervous given certain members of her family (they all insist one set of first cousins are evil), she figures she has nothing to lose.
Some dates are fun and some are ridiculous—like participate in a live nativity scene as Mary, having to fend off a handsy date and a goat enamored with her costume. Her family gets ultra-competitive about all aspects of every date, too, but the whole exercise mostly makes Sophie feel better about things. Of course, Griffin begs and begs for another chance, which confuses her, as does her feelings for a person who has always been out of reach for her.
I predicted what would ultimately happen in this book very early on and yet I didn’t care in the slightest that I was totally right. 10 Blind Dates is so charming, so endearing that I fell in love with it completely. It’s the perfect start to my month of reading mostly rom-coms and romance!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/
Good lord, this book is just one giant ball of adorable!!
Sophie’s pregnant older sister is on bed rest, so their parents decide to visit her for Christmas, leaving Sophie to stay with her grandparents and extended family of cousins. But before she heads to her family’s house, Sophie goes to a party to hook up with her boyfriend Griffin, since she'll be missing him for a while.
When Sophie arrives, she overhears Griffin telling his friend he’s happy Sophie will be away and that he’s considering breaking up with her, that she's gotten boring and too serious. Shocked and devastated, she heads to her grandparents’ house.
Before the pressures of school and spending time with Griffin took priority, Sophie used to spend so much time at her grandparents' house, inseparable from two of her cousins and the son of her grandparents' next door neighbor. They used to be like the Four Musketeers, and it isn't long before they fall back into that pattern.
Sophie’s grandmother doesn’t want to see her miserable, so she proposes a plan: let 10 members of the family set her up on blind dates, one a day, and hopefully it will take her mind off her heartbreak. She gets one opportunity to say no to a date as well. While the whole thing makes her a little nervous given certain members of her family (they all insist one set of first cousins are evil), she figures she has nothing to lose.
Some dates are fun and some are ridiculous—like participate in a live nativity scene as Mary, having to fend off a handsy date and a goat enamored with her costume. Her family gets ultra-competitive about all aspects of every date, too, but the whole exercise mostly makes Sophie feel better about things. Of course, Griffin begs and begs for another chance, which confuses her, as does her feelings for a person who has always been out of reach for her.
I predicted what would ultimately happen in this book very early on and yet I didn’t care in the slightest that I was totally right. 10 Blind Dates is so charming, so endearing that I fell in love with it completely. It’s the perfect start to my month of reading mostly rom-coms and romance!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/
October 6, 2021
4.5 stars
A little cheesy, and yes, full of rom-com tropes... but in the best way possible. Like, sometimes you absolutely freaking need a syrupy sweet and fluffy YA romance in your life, and Ashley Elston knocked this one out of the park if you ask me!
A little cheesy, and yes, full of rom-com tropes... but in the best way possible. Like, sometimes you absolutely freaking need a syrupy sweet and fluffy YA romance in your life, and Ashley Elston knocked this one out of the park if you ask me!
December 5, 2018
This book was super fun.
Great characters and a large, well meaning family made for a quick read that had me laughing out loud at several places and screaming in others.
I can’t wait to read it again.
**Huge thanks to Ashley for asking me to beta read**
Great characters and a large, well meaning family made for a quick read that had me laughing out loud at several places and screaming in others.
I can’t wait to read it again.
**Huge thanks to Ashley for asking me to beta read**
September 23, 2019
this was unbelievably cute! it was the perfect christmas rom-com book
July 27, 2019
2.5 stars
There is a good chance that Netflix will make a movie out of this story that I’ll like better than this novel itself, kind of like they did with To All the Boys I've Loved Before. If they find the right (hot) love interest, if they invest time into developing various family members’ personalities, and if they drop the pregnant sister/baby subplot altogether. (I mean, was this written for teens or for moms? Do teens like reading about pregnancy complications and cooing over babies? I am a mom and I wanted none of that baby business in my light romance. And who would go on dates and attend parties when her closest relatives’ lives are in peril? All of this didn’t jive well together at all for me.)
The story does have good bones though. It has a bland (read: self-insert), but very desirable protagonist, a group of fun friends, a big, loud family a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding (just with many more unpleasant people), and a sweet love interest. Half of the dates were meh, but #2 was a real riot.
There is a good chance that Netflix will make a movie out of this story that I’ll like better than this novel itself, kind of like they did with To All the Boys I've Loved Before. If they find the right (hot) love interest, if they invest time into developing various family members’ personalities, and if they drop the pregnant sister/baby subplot altogether. (I mean, was this written for teens or for moms? Do teens like reading about pregnancy complications and cooing over babies? I am a mom and I wanted none of that baby business in my light romance. And who would go on dates and attend parties when her closest relatives’ lives are in peril? All of this didn’t jive well together at all for me.)
The story does have good bones though. It has a bland (read: self-insert), but very desirable protagonist, a group of fun friends, a big, loud family a la My Big Fat Greek Wedding (just with many more unpleasant people), and a sweet love interest. Half of the dates were meh, but #2 was a real riot.
November 24, 2020
O Plano da Avó-Cupido
Griffin terminou repentinamente o seu relacionamento com Sophie, deixando-a de coração partido!
Para evitar que a neta entrasse em modo tóxico depressivo, a avó elaborou um plano preventivo que consistia em dez encontros consecutivos com desconhecidos, programados por diferentes familiares de Sophie.
A cada encontro foi associado um tema:
Na Festa do Presépio Vivo, Sophie é a Virgem Maria — leva nos braços um bebé que urra pela mãe e traja um vestido bafiento com um longo manto que um bode se entretém a mastigar...
O encontro é abortado e o Presépio termina num caos com os bodes a vomitar o manto da Virgem e Jesus num pranto continuado...
No Festival de Luzes há um Pai Natal que conduz um trenó puxado a caranguejos, nozes pecãs caramelizadas, empadas de carne ao momento... e o ambiente é de festa.
Sophie faz de DJ na viagem até lá, brinca com a neve a fingir, e diverte-se à brava!
Na Festa da Camisola Feia, Sophie, com alguma ajuda doutros, engendra uma camisola horrenda, e... espera não ser a vencedora! 😉
“— Quando eu acabar de enfeitar esta camisola, serás a vencedora.
Atiro a cabeça para trás e fito o teto.
— É precisamente disso que tenho medo.”
Etc, etc...
Será esta uma via para arrebatar a almejada Alma Gémea?!
Bem... com a autora foi um tiro na mouche, pois Ashley Elston encontrou o Amor da sua vida num Blind Date no dia de S. Valentim. Pode ser que outros também acertem?!... 😉
Leiam e divirtam-se (à brava!!!)😍👍
Griffin terminou repentinamente o seu relacionamento com Sophie, deixando-a de coração partido!
Para evitar que a neta entrasse em modo tóxico depressivo, a avó elaborou um plano preventivo que consistia em dez encontros consecutivos com desconhecidos, programados por diferentes familiares de Sophie.
A cada encontro foi associado um tema:
Na Festa do Presépio Vivo, Sophie é a Virgem Maria — leva nos braços um bebé que urra pela mãe e traja um vestido bafiento com um longo manto que um bode se entretém a mastigar...
O encontro é abortado e o Presépio termina num caos com os bodes a vomitar o manto da Virgem e Jesus num pranto continuado...
No Festival de Luzes há um Pai Natal que conduz um trenó puxado a caranguejos, nozes pecãs caramelizadas, empadas de carne ao momento... e o ambiente é de festa.
Sophie faz de DJ na viagem até lá, brinca com a neve a fingir, e diverte-se à brava!
Na Festa da Camisola Feia, Sophie, com alguma ajuda doutros, engendra uma camisola horrenda, e... espera não ser a vencedora! 😉
“— Quando eu acabar de enfeitar esta camisola, serás a vencedora.
Atiro a cabeça para trás e fito o teto.
— É precisamente disso que tenho medo.”
Etc, etc...
Será esta uma via para arrebatar a almejada Alma Gémea?!
Bem... com a autora foi um tiro na mouche, pois Ashley Elston encontrou o Amor da sua vida num Blind Date no dia de S. Valentim. Pode ser que outros também acertem?!... 😉
Leiam e divirtam-se (à brava!!!)😍👍
February 8, 2020
I received this book for free as part of a blog tour.
This was such a cute YA Christmas romance! I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, I loved the premise. 10 blind dates picked by family members is a hilarious idea. The execution was great as well. There were some cute dates and some OMG dates (like the one that her twin cousins set up).
I also loved the emphasis on family, both with her immediate and extended family. I loved the bond Sophie had with her pregnant older sister, Margot. It was so heartwarming to see how much they supported one another. Additionally, Sophie’s extended family was insane, but so lovable. You couldn’t help but laugh at their craziness (like them placing bets on what time she came home from her dates). Despite that, they all cared for Sophie and wanted to help her get over her heartbreak.
The pacing of the book was amazing. It was faced paced but at the same time everything was well developed and there was no insta-love. This book could have very easily dragged on in some parts, but didn’t.
Overall, this was the perfect YA holiday read. It’s light, fluffy, and full of Christmas cheer!
This was such a cute YA Christmas romance! I honestly wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, I loved the premise. 10 blind dates picked by family members is a hilarious idea. The execution was great as well. There were some cute dates and some OMG dates (like the one that her twin cousins set up).
I also loved the emphasis on family, both with her immediate and extended family. I loved the bond Sophie had with her pregnant older sister, Margot. It was so heartwarming to see how much they supported one another. Additionally, Sophie’s extended family was insane, but so lovable. You couldn’t help but laugh at their craziness (like them placing bets on what time she came home from her dates). Despite that, they all cared for Sophie and wanted to help her get over her heartbreak.
The pacing of the book was amazing. It was faced paced but at the same time everything was well developed and there was no insta-love. This book could have very easily dragged on in some parts, but didn’t.
Overall, this was the perfect YA holiday read. It’s light, fluffy, and full of Christmas cheer!
December 29, 2021
Releitura 2020:
Amei relembrar dessa história e ficar com o coração quentinho :)
*************************
Aaaaaah que leitura gostosa!
Um livro muito amorzinho que se passa nos últimos dias de dezembro, ou seja, melhor época do ano ♡
Já entrou na lista de livros quentinho no coração e livros para reler todo final de ano :)
Amei relembrar dessa história e ficar com o coração quentinho :)
*************************
Aaaaaah que leitura gostosa!
Um livro muito amorzinho que se passa nos últimos dias de dezembro, ou seja, melhor época do ano ♡
Já entrou na lista de livros quentinho no coração e livros para reler todo final de ano :)
July 23, 2019
This was truly everything I wanted it to be! Ah!! Just the right amount rom-com tropiness, but with the best big Southern family vibes that warmed my lil Georgia heart.
December 20, 2020
10 Blind Dates was a nice romance for the holiday season. It's a relatively quick read that got me excited to usher in the upcoming December festivities.
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
When her boyfriend breaks up with her, Sophie’s family comes up with an idea to cheer her up. Each day until New Years, they’ll set up a blind date for her in the hopes that she’ll forget about her ex and enjoy the holidays. Ten dates are scheduled, and Sophie has no idea what to expect.
~★~
While a lot of things about 10 Blind Dates were average, in the end I had a pretty fun time reading. For a relatively short book, you might be thinking that ten dates is a tall order to execute well. You’d be correct in that judgement; unfortunately most of the dates seemed rushed, and I didn’t find myself caring for any of the boys Sophie went out with.
What I did enjoy was the integral role of family within this story. Sophie is vising her out-of-town relatives for the holidays, and we are introduced to an abundance of important people. It was nice to see her interactions with cousins and aunts and uncles while also keeping in contact with her pregnant sister back home. The bonds between Sophie’s family were represented nicely considering how large of a cast was present.
Ashley Elston’s writing was pretty average, but to be honest I expected nothing more than an entertaining romance going in. That’s exactly what was delivered, something fun yet forgettable. I’d recommend it for anyone in need of a mindless read, especially during the holiday season!
~★~ What is this book about? ~★~
When her boyfriend breaks up with her, Sophie’s family comes up with an idea to cheer her up. Each day until New Years, they’ll set up a blind date for her in the hopes that she’ll forget about her ex and enjoy the holidays. Ten dates are scheduled, and Sophie has no idea what to expect.
~★~
While a lot of things about 10 Blind Dates were average, in the end I had a pretty fun time reading. For a relatively short book, you might be thinking that ten dates is a tall order to execute well. You’d be correct in that judgement; unfortunately most of the dates seemed rushed, and I didn’t find myself caring for any of the boys Sophie went out with.
What I did enjoy was the integral role of family within this story. Sophie is vising her out-of-town relatives for the holidays, and we are introduced to an abundance of important people. It was nice to see her interactions with cousins and aunts and uncles while also keeping in contact with her pregnant sister back home. The bonds between Sophie’s family were represented nicely considering how large of a cast was present.
Ashley Elston’s writing was pretty average, but to be honest I expected nothing more than an entertaining romance going in. That’s exactly what was delivered, something fun yet forgettable. I’d recommend it for anyone in need of a mindless read, especially during the holiday season!
November 24, 2019
This is so much fun and realy cute , this book puts you in an instant holiday mood , 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 27, 2019
BIG FAMILIES!!!! FLUFF & CUTENESS!!! STRONG SISTER RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!
this book turned me into a marshmallow bc im soft and 🥺
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this book turned me into a marshmallow bc im soft and 🥺
rtc
December 22, 2019
This was such a cute book! It was an easy and quick read but contained a lot of funny, relatable and entertaining content. I loved that, while the plot is obviously about romance and dating, there was also a lot of focus on family and friendship. Sophie's family is so loving and supporting, if not a tad bit over-bearing, but in the best way.
The plot was predictable but I didn't feel like this took away from the book too much overall. This was a fun read that left me super happy after I finished it. What made it even better is that it took place around Christmas, my favorite time of year!
Edit: Netflix is adapting this into a movie and will have the same producer as To All the Boys I've Loved Before!! I can't wait to get more news about it because I think it'll make such a cute holiday movie!
The plot was predictable but I didn't feel like this took away from the book too much overall. This was a fun read that left me super happy after I finished it. What made it even better is that it took place around Christmas, my favorite time of year!
Edit: Netflix is adapting this into a movie and will have the same producer as To All the Boys I've Loved Before!! I can't wait to get more news about it because I think it'll make such a cute holiday movie!
December 12, 2019
4/5 stars!
Very fun & festive! A light-hearted read with all the charm & merriment that a holiday young adult contemporary should have. I love reading stories that revolve around big families, especially when it's Christmas time! Such a whimsical time of year. I would definitely recommend :)
Very fun & festive! A light-hearted read with all the charm & merriment that a holiday young adult contemporary should have. I love reading stories that revolve around big families, especially when it's Christmas time! Such a whimsical time of year. I would definitely recommend :)
Read
December 6, 2019DNF halfway through :(
December 13, 2019
if i was sophie and i was forced to go on 10 blind dates by my own extended family i would simply not go
January 4, 2023
Eh this was just okay. I'm really not into young adult romances anymore (I read this for my students' book club I run at school) and I more listened to this passively just to get through it. The dates were cute, but there were often so many characters because she had such a big family that it was hard to keep everyone straight. I did love her close relationship to her sister who was pregnant. I don't know why she continue to give her ex the time of day. Maybe if we had seen them actually dating and I could care about their relationship like she did, I would have been more invested and on the edge of my seat of who she would choose in the end. But instead we were dropped into the story the night they broke up, so I just saw what a jerk he was. The Christmas setting was fun and I did love the sense of family in this book. It just felt very young, which it was and that's just not for me anymore.
September 1, 2021
(3.5/5)
For a YA contemporary romance novel, the one thing this book doesn't do well is the romance.
Why the high rating you ask? Well, 10 Blind Dates follows Sophie and all the chaos that transpires during her Thanksgiving Break, after she overhears that her boyfriend finds her boring. Her family take it upon themselves to set her up on a series of blind dates - if not to find her someone new, then to have fun.
One thing's for sure: I definitely had a lot of fun with this book, and most of it was unexpected.
While I did wish for something better from the main romantic plotline, the best part of this book is Sophie and her cousins (really, her entire family at large). They have that huge-chaotic-family-that-care-about-each-other vibe and it really shown through. Sophie's dynamic with her cousins and sister, in particular, were so precious, and I absolutely loved every moment of it.
That, of course, isn't to mention just how funny this book is. Seriously. It's so hilarious ??? Which I really wasn't expecting, all things considered. I think I might have even laughed out loud once or twice, which is pretty rare.
The characters themselves were alright. They did their job to help Sophie - who, to be perfectly honest with you, was fairly bland as the main character herself - with whatever she needed, and I just really loved the family dynamic that all of the characters held with one another; it was really vivid and one of the highlights of this book.
That being said, the biggest problem that I had with this book, a romance novel, was with the romance, and no, I am not joking.
See, the whole premise of this book is that Sophie is trying to get over her douche-y ex-boyfriend, Griffin (who, just for the record, listens to country music. I'm pretty sure that counts as a major red flag /hj). Her family sets her up on a series of blind dates, although it's fairly obvious who Sophie is going to end up with.
Honestly, I didn't have a problem with who Sophie ended up with.
Well, mostly. TBH he was fairly bland but the bar is extremely low at this point so we're just going to have to let it slide.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the insta-love, and the way everything just magically came together for the two. There was no chemistry to speak of - and I only say this because Sophie and LI only interacted three, maybe four times in the first three-quarters of the book???
Yeah. And then they end up together and everrrryone is happy because that's just how things work here.
:D
Anywho, bottom line is that if you're reading this book for the romance, you're going to be in for a disappointment. On the other hand, if you're reading it for the wholesome extended-family dynamic, you might actually be pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable this is.
For a YA contemporary romance novel, the one thing this book doesn't do well is the romance.
Why the high rating you ask? Well, 10 Blind Dates follows Sophie and all the chaos that transpires during her Thanksgiving Break, after she overhears that her boyfriend finds her boring. Her family take it upon themselves to set her up on a series of blind dates - if not to find her someone new, then to have fun.
One thing's for sure: I definitely had a lot of fun with this book, and most of it was unexpected.
While I did wish for something better from the main romantic plotline, the best part of this book is Sophie and her cousins (really, her entire family at large). They have that huge-chaotic-family-that-care-about-each-other vibe and it really shown through. Sophie's dynamic with her cousins and sister, in particular, were so precious, and I absolutely loved every moment of it.
That, of course, isn't to mention just how funny this book is. Seriously. It's so hilarious ??? Which I really wasn't expecting, all things considered. I think I might have even laughed out loud once or twice, which is pretty rare.
The characters themselves were alright. They did their job to help Sophie - who, to be perfectly honest with you, was fairly bland as the main character herself - with whatever she needed, and I just really loved the family dynamic that all of the characters held with one another; it was really vivid and one of the highlights of this book.
That being said, the biggest problem that I had with this book, a romance novel, was with the romance, and no, I am not joking.
See, the whole premise of this book is that Sophie is trying to get over her douche-y ex-boyfriend, Griffin (who, just for the record, listens to country music. I'm pretty sure that counts as a major red flag /hj). Her family sets her up on a series of blind dates, although it's fairly obvious who Sophie is going to end up with.
Honestly, I didn't have a problem with who Sophie ended up with.
I did, however, have a huge problem with the insta-love, and the way everything just magically came together for the two. There was no chemistry to speak of - and I only say this because Sophie and LI only interacted three, maybe four times in the first three-quarters of the book???
Yeah. And then they end up together and everrrryone is happy because that's just how things work here.
:D
Anywho, bottom line is that if you're reading this book for the romance, you're going to be in for a disappointment. On the other hand, if you're reading it for the wholesome extended-family dynamic, you might actually be pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable this is.
Read
May 24, 2020
Read
December 21, 2019I skimmed this - I'm just going to be honest about it. I'm not sure why I got this from the library because it doesn't even sound like something I would like. And it wasn't. It's definitely something for a younger audience, or maybe I'm just completely done with YA/contemporary romance. It could very well be both. Either way, I wasn't a fan.
November 22, 2019
This is the kind of read that is pretty much exactly what it looks like. It's contemporary, it's set around the holidays, there is a large boisterous family who conspires together to set up the newly heartbroken lead character on dates, of which there are ten of them. If this sounds like everything, or anything, you want from a romance, I don't think you’ll have any complaints.
I definitely loved the concept of these dates, the strange charm of the whole situation. I loved the idea of this big family but I'll admit.. in the beginning, it was too many names, too much at once, but it does get across that sense of chaos that comes from having many relatives — I assume. That isn't my family at all — and, near the end, it does narrow down a bit to a few key players, which makes things easier.
What surprised me, and ended up being my favourite part, was the connection between Sophie and her older sister, Margot, who is on bed rest, and then hospitalized, due to preeclampsia. There were a few moments between them, conversations via text, heck, even a few conversations between Sophie and her mother about Margot, that really got me. It hit a little close to home for me but also it was just really well done and hella emotional and lovely.
There was also a reunion between a friend group, most of them cousins, that I thought was great. Both the ups and the downs. All of it just felt super realistic and, despite some of the "remember this, that, and when.." retellings of stories to tell us how close they used to be, instead of showing, I really enjoyed all their interactions.
The dates themselves, much like the family members who chose them, were mostly over the top and ridiculous but a few were also fun and sweet. I definitely had a favourite but for the sheer surprise hilarity of it I don't want to ruin it. Ultimately, though, it's obvious pretty much from the get-go who Sophie is going to end up with. And though I did like it, I did feel things got kind of serious kind of fast and, personally, I would've preferred things to have been a little.. slower, I guess? I don't know. I wanted more engine revving than full throttle, I guess. Though I totally appreciate the maturity of how they are handling things big picture-wise as they prepare for university and the next stage of their lives.
Overall this was a fun read, with an emotional backbone, and a few laughs. Definitely one I would recommend for anyone looking for titles to add to their holiday tbr.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I definitely loved the concept of these dates, the strange charm of the whole situation. I loved the idea of this big family but I'll admit.. in the beginning, it was too many names, too much at once, but it does get across that sense of chaos that comes from having many relatives — I assume. That isn't my family at all — and, near the end, it does narrow down a bit to a few key players, which makes things easier.
What surprised me, and ended up being my favourite part, was the connection between Sophie and her older sister, Margot, who is on bed rest, and then hospitalized, due to preeclampsia. There were a few moments between them, conversations via text, heck, even a few conversations between Sophie and her mother about Margot, that really got me. It hit a little close to home for me but also it was just really well done and hella emotional and lovely.
There was also a reunion between a friend group, most of them cousins, that I thought was great. Both the ups and the downs. All of it just felt super realistic and, despite some of the "remember this, that, and when.." retellings of stories to tell us how close they used to be, instead of showing, I really enjoyed all their interactions.
The dates themselves, much like the family members who chose them, were mostly over the top and ridiculous but a few were also fun and sweet. I definitely had a favourite but for the sheer surprise hilarity of it I don't want to ruin it. Ultimately, though, it's obvious pretty much from the get-go who Sophie is going to end up with. And though I did like it, I did feel things got kind of serious kind of fast and, personally, I would've preferred things to have been a little.. slower, I guess? I don't know. I wanted more engine revving than full throttle, I guess. Though I totally appreciate the maturity of how they are handling things big picture-wise as they prepare for university and the next stage of their lives.
Overall this was a fun read, with an emotional backbone, and a few laughs. Definitely one I would recommend for anyone looking for titles to add to their holiday tbr.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
Shelved as 'dnf-zone'
June 21, 2020DNF 29% | 23/12/19
I thought I was going to have fun with this book, but nope.
There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just that I’m not interested in knowing what will go down in the rest of the book. I have read a good portion of it and I can already see it’s very predictable and bland. I wouldn’t necessarily call this boring, but let’s just say that reading this book wouldn’t add anything to my life.
I waited to see how the first blind dates would go before dnfing this, and I didn’t love them either. I don’t know if it’s because those first ones were with the guys Sophie doesn’t end up with, but they were rushed and they were described instead of being told as they happened, therefore they lost all the appeal they had in the synopsis for me.
I prefer reading a book I’m very excited about than going on with a book like this that I’m reading just to be done with it.
I thought I was going to have fun with this book, but nope.
There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just that I’m not interested in knowing what will go down in the rest of the book. I have read a good portion of it and I can already see it’s very predictable and bland. I wouldn’t necessarily call this boring, but let’s just say that reading this book wouldn’t add anything to my life.
I waited to see how the first blind dates would go before dnfing this, and I didn’t love them either. I don’t know if it’s because those first ones were with the guys Sophie doesn’t end up with, but they were rushed and they were described instead of being told as they happened, therefore they lost all the appeal they had in the synopsis for me.
I prefer reading a book I’m very excited about than going on with a book like this that I’m reading just to be done with it.
December 19, 2020
10 Blind Dates is a quintessential cute and festive YA romance, complete with an upcoming Netflix adaptation in the works. This book follows our protagonist Sophie as her family sets her up on 10 dates on the lead up to Christmas, after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend. As you can imagine, a series of events unfold that are everything from bizarre to ridiculous to charming. While it isn't my favourite YA contemporary ever, it was the perfect read for the holiday season and thoroughly enjoyable.
For the first 100 pages or so, I was a little worried. I couldn't connect with the characters and found the writing pretty average. But once we got past that point and into the actual blind dates themselves I found it to be really fun and fast paced.
Don't go into 10 Blind Dates expecting to be surprised, because chances are you will figure out the ultimate love interest pretty quickly, and be able to predict most plot points from there. But that didn't really detract from my experience. The journey is what matters, and in this case the journey was a wild and entertaining ride.
My favourite part was definitely the dates themselves. They were the one part of the book that consistently took me by surprise, for example the date in which Sophie has to act as Mary in a live nativity scene, having to fend off a hungry goat and handsy date. Different members of Sophie's large family pick each date and so some end up better than others, but they are all nevertheless fun to read.
The family dynamic was also great to read about, especially in a genre/age range where the family is typically pushed to sidelines or eliminated all together (read: tragic car accident). This book shows that family should not be neglected in favour of romance or friendship development, as it can be equally compelling. I would love to see some of their scenes translated to screen as I can definitely picture the chaos and atmosphere.
I really loved the romance while I was reading it, but after having some distance I couldn't even tell you the love interest's name. That demonstrates my point that you will probably adore this book while reading it, but promptly forget about it afterwards. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though!
Overall, if you haven't picked this book up yet, there is still time to squeeze it in before Christmas! If not, definitely keep it on your radar for next year- by which time hopefully the adaptation will have been released. While it was predictable and not that memorable, it was also a super heartwarming, entertaining and charming read.
★★★☆☆.5 stars
For the first 100 pages or so, I was a little worried. I couldn't connect with the characters and found the writing pretty average. But once we got past that point and into the actual blind dates themselves I found it to be really fun and fast paced.
Don't go into 10 Blind Dates expecting to be surprised, because chances are you will figure out the ultimate love interest pretty quickly, and be able to predict most plot points from there. But that didn't really detract from my experience. The journey is what matters, and in this case the journey was a wild and entertaining ride.
My favourite part was definitely the dates themselves. They were the one part of the book that consistently took me by surprise, for example the date in which Sophie has to act as Mary in a live nativity scene, having to fend off a hungry goat and handsy date. Different members of Sophie's large family pick each date and so some end up better than others, but they are all nevertheless fun to read.
The family dynamic was also great to read about, especially in a genre/age range where the family is typically pushed to sidelines or eliminated all together (read: tragic car accident). This book shows that family should not be neglected in favour of romance or friendship development, as it can be equally compelling. I would love to see some of their scenes translated to screen as I can definitely picture the chaos and atmosphere.
I really loved the romance while I was reading it, but after having some distance I couldn't even tell you the love interest's name. That demonstrates my point that you will probably adore this book while reading it, but promptly forget about it afterwards. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though!
Overall, if you haven't picked this book up yet, there is still time to squeeze it in before Christmas! If not, definitely keep it on your radar for next year- by which time hopefully the adaptation will have been released. While it was predictable and not that memorable, it was also a super heartwarming, entertaining and charming read.
★★★☆☆.5 stars
November 2, 2021
how soon can next Christmas come???
also if anyone wants me to set them up on a blind date i have MANY ideas after reading this book.
also if anyone wants me to set them up on a blind date i have MANY ideas after reading this book.
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