Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (2010)

Similar to Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist in tone, but completely different in story. A couple of intelligent and independent teenagers get to know each other in a very old-fashioned way in a modern environment. There were lots of interesting twists and turns, and I'm always a sucker for stories told from alternating perspectives. This is a great read- especially during the holidays! ( )

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan team up to alternate the writing of the story of two teens, just looking to connect with someone. Both of these are fantastic writers, so the thoughts and writings of the teens can be a little too eloquent to be realistic. Still, a good read for Cohn/Levithan fans, especially Nick & Norah (there's even a sneak reference). ( )

Originally posted at Thinks Books: http://thinksbooks.blogspot.com/2013/...

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares was such an endearing piece of work. I was immediately interested in Dash. He just seems like my kind of snarly guy. And what I might have liked best about Dash is that he stayed himself, even in situations where it would have seemed easier to be someone else. Lily was all over the map with her thoughts and sense of self. However, watching her grow into the girl she is at the end of the book is totally worth it.

I very much enjoyed the supporting characters as well, even those with the smallest parts. Mrs. Basil E. was perhaps my favorite sense of humor throughout the book. Boomer was the perfect best friend for Dash because he is loyal and optimistic.

This book was really cute and fun and I loved the alternating points of view throughout the book between Dash and Lily. Overall, a very highly recommended read. Oh, especially for Christmas time! I didn't realize it when I started but the entire book mainly occurs around Christmas. Felt a bit odd reading it in March. LoL.

5 stars to Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. ( )

This is the third offering from writers Cohn and Levithan. Their previous efforts were the popular Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which was turned into a pretty cute movie, and the lesser-known Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List. All of the books feature a hero and heroine who meet-cute and go on some sort of adventure. It's gimmicky, but it works for many readers. Unfortunately, I am not one of those readers.

Although both Cohn and Levithan are capable writers with undeniable skill, the characters seemed too quirky and too cutesy for me to connect with them. I found Lily to be especially grating, because although she's led a sheltered life, she plays up her innocence to the point where it becomes annoyingly precocious instead of endearing. Where Lily is precocious, Dash is pompous, and neither character is particularly sympathetic. What starts out as an intriguing (if slightly preposterous) premise quickly devolves into something that's a bit tiring. The idea of two teenagers who have never met corresponding in a notebook that they drop off at specific locations is hard to swallow. As the two continue to get to know each other through the notebook, the dares and revelations offer more insight into both Dash and Lily, but the entry into the inner-workings of both characters is actually a detriment to the overall story, which slows down midway through the book.

The secondary and tertiary characters in the book are supposed to provide a bit of comic relief (and Dash's friend Boomer actually does, occasionally), but they mostly feel like stock characters from other books, characters whose quirks and quips define--instead of enhance--them. Although there are some genuinely funny moments in the story--not to mention some good writing and some genuinely funny commentary about New York and being young--the authors also try to tackle more serious issues. The sudden veering into Heavy Issue Territory bogs down the plot and confuses the light-hearted romance that is supposed to be at the center of the story.

Despite my lack of love for this book, it will find an audience somewhere. Fans of Cohn's and Levithan's other offerings are probably predisposed to enjoying this light read about romance during the holidays. It would be best to go in with lowered expectations, though, because for Cohn and Levithan the third time wasn't the charm.
( )

Loved this-- humorous and warm and fun with a dash of angst. Collaborations between two authors don't always work out so well but in this case, the outcome was greater than the sum of its parts! ( )