PREDICTABLE, BUT CUTE AND AMAZING ~ 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston

TITLE: 10 Blind Dates
AUTHOR: Ashley Elston

RELEASED: October 1, 2019
PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion
FORMAT: Audiobook [Scribd!]

GENRE: YA Contemporary
GOODREADS RATING: 4.06

TRIGGERS: Talk about c-section, premature/preemie
REPS: Italian characters

SYNOPSIS
Sophie wants one thing for Christmas— a little freedom from her overprotective parents. So when they decide to spend the holidays 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?

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After seeing someone I know reviewing this book and not being very enthusiastic about it, I was wary of picking it up. But then I saw someone else I trust raving about 10 Blind Dates and.. decided I’d have to make up my mind myself. So when I was looking for my next audioread, I saw this one available. I immediately started listening and.. well.. Here’s my review!

First things first. Yes, it’s predictable, but I loved it all the more for it. I felt it was more about the journey towards the happy ending than the actual happy ending itself. Seeing Sophie going on all these dates – ranging from awkward to hilarious to frustrating to down-right over-the-top was.. amazing? It was such a good distraction from real life too!

The humor. There are some funny moments for sure, but I found myself actually having to hold in my laughter two or three times. If I hadn’t, I would’ve woken up Jamie and my other half so.. yeah.. Being able to get me wanting to laugh that hard? Brownie points!
Even more brownie points? It isn’t all fluff and cuteness and dating. Sophie’s sister is pregnant at the start of the story and.. stuff happens. It makes this book a bit heavier than it would’ve been otherwise. I appreciated that so much since it adds an extra layer to it, makes it more “realistic” in a way. On top of it, everything happening with Margot also showed an amazing sisterly bond – which is something I love seeing in books.

As for the other characters? I’m definitely a sucker for Sophie’s nonna. That woman is amazing, funny and.. well.. I think she was my favorite character? Sophie’s family definitely consists of a weird, funny bunch too though! And her friends.. I wish we got more of them but, as in every contemporary, it’s more about love anyway. In this book especially since it’s all about the dates. I didn’t really mind, but looking back I feel like I didn’t really get to know Charlie, Olivia and Wes the way I wanted to. But, repeat, I didn’t really mind while reading.

Since I listened to the audiobook, I do want to applaud the narrator as well. The voices of all characters – and with such a big, Italian family there are a lot – were so well done and unique! It was entertaining to listen to!

Is there no privacy in this family?’ Everyone at the table answers, ‘No.’

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while listening to this audiobook. It’s a fluffy, cute read with some awkward and hilarious moments. There’s a focus on family I haven’t seen much in YA contemporary AND I simply enjoyed the concept too!

What’s the last contemporary fluff you read and gave four or five stars?
How do you feel about predictability in contemporary books?