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

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

Source: Library
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (Random House)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 260

"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 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.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares was an entertaining ride that allowed me to hop on right from the opening pages.

This novel switches perspectives from Dash and Lily, and I can't think of two more opposite characters. Dash is snarly, Lily is sweet. Dash is cynical, Lily is innocent. Nonetheless, they were such an adorable pair and I delighted in reading through their notebook exchanges. I really loved Dash from the moment I was introduced to him. He's the sarcastic, word nerd that was always up for a challenge and I always read his chapters with a smile (okay, I read the entire book with a smile). Lily, on the other hand, was a little annoying in the beginning because of how utterly innocent and fragile she was but after a while, I was won over by her sweetness and never looked back.

I'm not normally a person to make a huge deal of setting but in this book, New York was just such a prominent feature that I couldn't help but fall in love with it. All of the places described seemed magical and wonderful from Cohn and Levithan's descriptions. One day, I just want to take this book with me and read in all of the places in the book. Also, I need to visit the Strand sometime.

So, does the thought of a modern, bookish fairytale appeal to you? Well then look no further because that's exactly what Dash & Lily's Book of Dares was like to me. Cute, entertaining and creative.

Read it. I dare you.

Cover Comments: I really had no problem with this cover when I first saw it. I mean, it was nothing special, but whatever. Then, I saw this post from Heidi at YA Bibliophile (it's number two on the list) and I will never think of it in the same way again.