Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David LevithanHardcover, Paperback, Kindle & Audio
272 pages
Published October 11, 2011 by Ember
ISBN-10: 0375859551
ISBN-13: 978-0375859557
“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (LET IT SNOW, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES is a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”
So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?
Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (LET IT SNOW, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), DASH & LILY'S BOOK OF DARES is a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
Authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan take
turns in narrating the story; Levithan writes the chapters on Dash, the bookish
loner who is spending his Christmas vacation alone and Grinch-like and Cohn
writes the chapters on Lily, the quirky teen with a fervent adoration of
Christmas, who believes in the red notebook full of challenges that lead her
and Dash all over Manhattan over the next few weeks.
I picked up this book because I connected
with the cover. It’s very winter in New
York, with the lamppost, the street sign and snow flurries. I was happy with the idea of the concept once
I read the description and the book came through, surpassing my
expectations. It’s not a typical
romance; much like the film Sleepless in
Seattle, the love interests spend our story apart until the end and we have
the pleasure of enjoying every moment of their whimsical journey to find each
other. It starts with a red notebook on the shelf at
the Strand Bookshop that Dash picks up and, intrigued, he follows the clues
that will begin a correspondence with Lily, who is none too sure this slight
take on You’ve Got Mail, with a dash
(no pun intended) of a scavenger hunt, is going to work. The backdrop of the two weeks or so
surrounding Christmas, with both teens being abandoned by their parents during
the holidays, gives Dash & Lily’s
Book of Dares a somewhat mystical quality.
Having the two teens running around New York City at Christmas really
does New York City justice. It’s easy to
mentally picture the two of them on their covert missions and, really, no other
city could have worked with this story.
Well, I suppose another city could have but New York adds a certain
charm that just goes with this story.
One of the things I really liked with the
story was that Dash and Lily didn’t necessarily talk and act at all times like
teenagers. Dash seems a bit pretentious
at first (but you will grow to like, if not love, him) and Lily, while kooky,
is that girl in high school that everyone would like if they give her the
chance. While this was a bonus for me,
it may score a tick in the negative column for actual teens reading this
book. In short, though, Lily is a strong
and courageous character who is a positive female role model.
If there are any negatives, it may be the
sideline plot of Boris and the baby. It
was a little weird and took me out of the story briefly. But it’s relatively minor.
Despite the plot centering on two teenagers
who are for the most part left unsupervised, there is a very small amount of
drinking and no sex. For any parents
concerned about their child reading this tale, the after effect of the drinking
is explored and is none too pretty. There
may be a few slang or curse words here and there (it is a book about teens, after all) but the book is a joyful and fun
read and not offensive in the slightest.
I would recommend Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares to young and older readers
alike. It’s a festive holiday read and a
warm and thoughtful read for any time of year.
Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is available
for purchase at major booksellers, including Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate. I will receive a small commission if you make
a purchase through my link.
FTC Disclosure: This book came from my own personal collection. I was neither compensated nor paid in any way for this review.
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