[Review] 10 Blind Dates - Ashley Elston

Summary: 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? (Pub Date: Oct 01, 2019)

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Edelweiss. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Fun and endearing, you'll fall in love with Sophie's big family even if I'm not sure I wish they were mine.

Sophie loves her sister, who's about to have a baby, but when her parents decide to go there and stay with the mother-to-be, Sophie sees it as the perfect opportunity to have a bit more fun with her boyfriend. And that's when she finds out that's not a pleasant surprise for him. Heartbroken, it will take her crazy family and the childhood friend neighbor plus ten blind dates to show her her true self.

This is a good twist to the list troop that was going on for a while some time ago, this time we have a list of ten dates but no idea who they'll end up to be. Stranger, weirdo or...? But not only the parade of dates are fun, all the characters are too. The writer did an amazing work of keeping us in track with all the different people, I don't think I ever felt lost about anyone's identity and I'm not the best to remember anything.

As far as romances go, I think this was the weakest part in the book. Our book boyfriend is cute but committed for most of the story, and it felt like no moments really made my heart race. They were a good match, though, and I was surely cheering for them.

I also like the ever-present family theme. It's a heartwarming and fun story that makes you crave for Sundays with the family.

Rating: 4 out of 5.