Want to go on a blind date with a book? – Modern Mrs Darcy

As far as recent literary trends go, the literary blind date is one of my favorites. A few years ago, in an effort to help customers not judge their books by their covers, Elizabeth’s Bookshop in Australia began wrapping books in brown paper, hinting at the contents with intriguing clues that don’t give too much away.

I was delighted to see the trend make its way to my local bookstore shortly thereafter, and went on my first blind date with a book a few years ago. (Interestingly, the description on that book isn’t really appropriate three years later. Click the link to read that post and you’ll see what I mean.)

Readers, if you don’t have a bookstore or library near you wrapping books in brown paper, this post is for you. I chose three books from my collection (let’s be honest—duplicate books), wrapped them up, and took a stab at writing intriguing clues that don’t give too much away. (It’s not easy! I tried to err on the side of being cryptic, but maybe I’m wrong and you’ll know immediately which titles I’m talking about.)

I’m giving them all away to three separate readers, one book per reader.

Based on these slim descriptions, how do these books sound to you?

book #1: historical fiction, pandemic, adoption, war, mothers and daughters

book #2: dark, small town, adventure, love, survival, cold, family saga

book #3: unlikely friends, terrible childhood, social awkwardness, unfiltered, baby steps

To enter: leave a comment that says which book you’re most interested in, identifying the book with the number 1, 2, or 3. We’ll choose the winners randomly, and reveal the books in Friday’s links I love post. (Winners will be notified by email.)

Giveaway ends Thursday, February 8 at 11:59 pm EST.

Good luck! I hope YOU win.

Have you gone on a blind date with a book? Have you let someone set you up with a novel you were skeptical of? Would you try it? I’d love to hear about your experiences in comments.