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

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Author: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Release Date: October 26th, 2010

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Age: Young Adult

“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.

What an interesting book! I've been wanting to read Dash and Lily's Book of Dares since forever, because I've read so many good things about David Levithan and Rachel Cohn.

I'm so glad I did. It's a different book, that managed to surprise me (which isn't easy). The story starts with Dash, a very lonely and snarly boy who is alone for the holidays and on his favorite library he finds a red notebook. The notebook have clues only a boy like him would follow, and the prize of all these clues will be Lily.

Lily is a very weird girl. She's very delicate, shy and kind of awkward, but a nice and lovely girl. I think the characters aren't very realistic, it's difficult to imagine someone as Dash to exist, but I have to say I really liked them as a couple.

Their exchanges with the notebook were amazing, I loved to read them. I really wanted them to finally met, but I think I preferred when they only talked via the notebook, they were so backward when they finally met.

I think it worked that each author wrote one character and every chapters is written by the point of view of one of the protagonists. It helped to understand what was happening on their heads.

Overall, I loved Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, specially because it's an original book, and it surprised me with every turn. It's a cute story, and I recommend it if you are looking for a sweet young adult romance.

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