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

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Synopsis from Goodreads:
“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.

This is one of those books that is definitely best read in December when all the lights are up and christmas is in the air. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is about 2 teenagers with very different outlooks to the christmas period. Dash can only see the mad shopper crowds, overpriced novelty gifts, and the crowded commercial madness of christmas, whereas Lily loves christmas, for the lights, the goodwill, and a chance to spend time playing games with her family. But with most of her family away travelling this year, Lily is faced with the prosect of spending this christmas alone and it terrifies her. Dash on the other hand has engineered it so that he can spend christmas alone, without any family dramas.


They meet by writing notes to each other in a journal, sharing secrets and setting each other dares. Lily is the cutest sixteen year old New-Yorker I've ever heard of, roping in various members of her extended family across New York to help her with her notebook dare schemes. These dares often had me laughing out loud, because they were so funny told in Dash's very stoic voice. The best thing about this book is it's quirky humour, it's weird coincidences and meaningful mistakes. But also, for a kooky, funny book it is also very intelligently written- the humour in it is witty rather than overly silly. I loved both of these characters, they were so sweet together and this is definitely a book full of heart.


Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is a fun, cute read that had me giggling out loud in places. This is a cosy christmassy read that left me feeling as warm and fuzzy as a glass of mulled wine! Recommended.