REVIEW: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

 

 

Description

“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?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

About the Author

Rachel Cohn & David Levithan have written three books together. Their first, Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, was made into a movie starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, directed by Peter Sollett. Their second, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. For their third book, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, David wrote Dash’s chapters and Rachel wrote Lily’s. Although they did not pass the chapters back and forth in a red Moleskine notebook, they did email them to each other without planning anything out beforehand. That’s the way they work.

Rachel’s previous books include Gingerbread, Shrimp, Cupcake, You Know Where to Find Me, and Very LeFreak. David’s previous books include Boy Meets Boy, The Realm of Possibility, Are We There Yet?, Wide Awake, Love Is the Higher Law, and How They Met, and Other Stories.

For more information about Rachel and David, you can find them at RachelCohn.com and DavidLevithan.com, respectively. You may also catch them in the aisles at the Strand.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375866590
• ISBN-13: 978-0375866593

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS:
LOVED IT

**SPOILER ALERT**  Don't read the second paragraph!

If you are looking for the holiday romance book of the season, this is it! I haven't read a more perfectly put together romance like this in a long time.  The story mostly takes place at the Strand, the famous NYC bookstore.  Lily's brother pretty much tells her she is a loser and when her parents and grandfather take off over the winter break, she finds herself truly alone.  Her brother hits on the idea that she should leave a book of dares stashed on the shelf at the Strand.  Dash discovers the book and he starts to communicate with Lily through the journal.

After several madcap adventures and quips traded back and forth in the journal, Lily finally meets Dash face to face.  There are several difficult moments with lots of character growth.  This one will make you go "awwww" quite a few times and there is enough action to keep the plot moving.  There is some alluded to sex mentioned and an instance of alcohol, but overall not much to worry about.