I remember Gavin (from Gavin Reads It All) saying at some point something like "R.L. Stine doesn't write very good male MC" and I can say I agree with the sentiment. I don't think that 's always the case, though I don't remember much about the Goosebumps books I've read as a child.

"Blind Date" is the first YA novel from Stine and I think it shows. It's still has a good pace overall and some of the writing is clever. It's also immensely readable, even if you might roll your eyes now and then. That being said, there are issues.

If you're a 90s kid like me, you'll recognize the stereotypes used back then to portray teens and their adult parents. It's weirdly nostalgic, but also a bit uncanny.

My main problem with the book is how mental health/illness is depicted and relied upon heavily for plot twist. It's not good rep, let's put it like that. And I know a few of us really take issues when

the mental illness is part of the resolution at the end of the story

. I don't know if Stine learns his lesson down the road, but I might find out as I plan on reading quite a few YA horror from him in the foreseeable future.

It was fine.