Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Loved this clever, smart, fresh YA novel. These are the kind of teenagers I want to know! 16 year-old Lily is a little 'freakish' by her own definition, socially misfit, but worldly intelligent with a passel of relatives that are probably more fun than typical teen friends. A cousin that works at the Strand bookstore, a Grandpa who owns their apartment building, a brother who is named for Langston Hughes, a great Aunt (Mrs. Basil E. - nicknamed for the book character) who works in Tussaud's wax museum and parents who decided to vacation in Fiji for the holidays, leaving Lily in care of the older Langston. He and his boyfriend, Benny come up with an idea that form the basis of the book: leave a red Moleskine notebook strategically at the show more Strand with a scavenger hunt concept that will hopefully lead Lily to a boy her own age. She is all in favor and takes on the project from there. Dash is the bookish, misanthropic (snarly) teen who picks it up and takes on the hunt. Various family members of Lily are part of the back and forth plan, vetting Dash as acceptable and having good intentions. Dash relies on a network of friends on his end. His divorced parents are each out of town with significant others and Dash has played that off to stay home and mope for the holidays. Lily meanwhile couldn't be more Christmas obsessed, full of cheer and cookies and sparkle. They pass the notebook back and forth for days without meeting - coming up with clever places and activities the other must complete to get the notebook back, all the while getting to know each other in a way that has a intimacy and depth to it they hope will carry over in person. NYC makes a great playground! A series of events conspire to bring them together before they are 'ready': a missed phone call, a missing boot, an ex-girlfriend, an impromptu snowball fight, a social media alert and a big slobbery dog. Kaboom! Truly the legends of rom com, though it never feels forced or schmaltzy because the two authors are that good - and don't pander. This is a collaboration between Rachel Cohn and David Levithan who both know just how smart and savvy their teen readers are, making this a joy for adults as well. Sprinkled with poetry quotes from Marie Howe and Mark Strand, OED etymology, and plenty of self-reflective angst - so normal! this fun holiday read will make you smile and sigh and swoon. show less

I cannot think of a better way to describe this book than to use the word "magic". Seriously, it is pure magic. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is guaranteed to have you grinning from the first page and wondering why real life keeps getting in the way of allowing you to read straight through. Are you one of those people who gets hooked on a book and can't put it down? Don't start this book when you have other prior commitments. Trust me.

My favorite part of Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's books have always been their characters. They have the ability to write such sweetly and perfectly flawed characters that I fall in love instantly. It's one of the reasons that each time I see their names on a book, I dance with happiness. I have yet to show more be let down! Dash is the definition of my perfect man. He dresses well, oozes snarky humor, and charisma does not even begin to describe his witty banter with people. From the the very first page he was introduced, I was smitten! Then I met Lily, who I wish I knew in real life to be honest. She's funny, slightly awkward and has the best taste in clothing I think I've ever seen. Majorette boots? Kudos Lily! Needless to say, these characters had my heart in their hands.

Then, oh then, the adventures began. I found myself giggling in delight as they went to great lengths to one-up the other person. There are seriously parts of this book that made me laugh so hard that I cried. Watching these two characters communicate via the written word was (and yes I realize I already said this) pure and utter magic! I was so absorbed in learning their inner thoughts through their letters. The differences between Dash and Lily's personalities were apparent, but the way they meshed together was beautiful. This book stole my heart. Plain and simple. Seeing these two bond over their mutual love of books and adventure just fed my romantic side. Magic I tell you, magic!

As you can probably tell from this jumbled review, I am utterly in love with this book. Sadly the copy I read was not my own. I need to remedy that as soon as possible, so I can get to rereading this and dog-earing the pages. This is bound to become one of those books that I will need to buy in hardcover format, because otherwise it will fall into pieces from my taking it along with me everywhere. Guess what my bookish friends will be receiving for Christmas?

If you enjoy snarky wit and humor, if you simply love characters that will touch your heart, give this book a read. I hereby stamp it "100% recommended by Jessica". show less

For what is essentially a boy-meets-girl book, facilitate by a literary meet-cute moment, this story ws was actually very entertaining. Cohn and Levithan switch perspectives back and forth between Dash and Lily (our two potential lovebirds) in such a way to keep the reader constantly on their toes and cmpletely engaged. Using the back and forth treasurehunt with the notebook was a clever way to bring these two quirky personalities together, and it is surprisingly believable. All I want to know now is where the heck is MY red notebook?!?!

Dash and Lily tell the story in alternating chapters - sometimes the chronology overlaps, but it's not confusing. You're reading both "their story" as it unfolds, while also reading their individual stories. The characters are well developed, and the supporting cast is hilarious and well-placed. It's an improv story of sorts: neither Dash nor Lily has any idea where it's going - it's just one mysterious clue, challenge, dare in the notebook after another. Until ... it's not anymore.

Dash & Lily is more than just a couple kids trying to keep themselves occupied during Christmas break though - it's a journey of self-discovery for the characters that will make you remember the days you were trying to figure it all out. It's about learning show more to be comfortable with yourself, while also learning how to be a friend. It's about opening up and taking chances - whether it's taking a dare or offering your very inner self. And it's laugh-out-loud funny, which will always earn a book bonus points. Fun read, quick read, but a read that will linger ... I want a sequel. But I also don't - because I want to continue Dash and Lily's story myself, in my head, as I live my own life and see their reflection in the seeming insanity of the moments that make memories, in the friends who surprise you and bring out the best (and sometimes worst) in you. show less

This is a delightful young adult meet-cute rom-com featuring an implausible quest and two extraordinarily bright teenagers, set in the fabulous city of New York during the Christmas season.

Dash is browsing in his favorite bookstore, when he happens upon a red Moleskine notebook, with a cryptic “clue” written inside. As he follows the prompts, he gets inspired to leave an equally intricate clue for the original writer. Lily isn’t sure what to make of this turn of events, but she’s game and so the dance / game begins.

It’s charming and clever and the two main characters are very likeable. And I loved the literary references. I even forgive the writers for that somewhat “cliff-hanger” ending, because I really DO want to read show more more of their adventures! show less

While browsing through the Strand, Dash finds a red Moleskine notebook tucked in between some of the books by his favourite author. Inside he finds a note from Lily and a dare, which he decides to follow up with a dare of his own. Thus begins a series of challenges between Dash and Lily that will take them across New York City and communicating with each other through the red notebook. But when Dash and Lily finally meet the question is raised of whether reality can ever mesh with the person they've imagined on the page.

A thorough charmer, like other Cohn and Levithan novels, the book is written with chapters that alternate in perspective. Dash and Lily are both fun characters with quirks and flaws, but ones to whom I found it easy to show more relate (I was Lily in a lot of ways in high school). The plot itself is quite fun as the characters do ridiculous (and often out of character) things at the prompting of the stranger on the other side of the notebook while also reflecting deeply on what makes us people and how we see others matching the reality of those people. The novel would make a great Christmas read, although in no way does it lose anything being read during the summer. show less

Yet another wonderful Cohn & Levithan book. It's similar to Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist in that (a) it takes place in Manhattan, (b) it takes place over a short period of time, (c) the parents are basically out of the picture for the duration of the book, and (d) there are a number of good friend/relative accomplices helping the two title characters get together. Once again I'm impressed how well the authors pull off the every-other-chapter handoff.

The setup of the story works well: Lily and Dash pass a notebook back and forth between them in a sort of treasure hunt without meeting for the first several times (they leave the notebook for each other to find, or enlist friends or relatives to pass it back and forth.) On top of this show more somewhat unusual plot, Lily is one of the most authentically quirky characters I've read in ages - tough for an author to pull off when you want the reader to get a sense of the character and connect right away - I had to revise my idea of her a few times before I felt I had it right.


I imagined each of their sentences started with the phrase Remember the time. (Dash, 95)

"You think fairy tales are only for girls? Here's a hint - ask yourself who wrote them." (Sofia to Dash, 131)

Maybe everything I saw was all in me. (Dash, 174)

I wanted to ask her, What does a stranger feel like? ...Because I really wanted to know if there was a difference, if there was a way to become truly knowable, if there wasn't always something keeping you a stranger, even to the people you weren't strange to at all. (Dash, 194)

Only the fictions we create [are dangerous], especially when they become expectations. (Dash, 195)

I need to keep my mind open for what could happen and not decide that the world is hopeless if what I want to happen doesn't happen. Because something else great might happen in between. (Lily, 227)

"You don't know who Nicholas Sparks is?" Dash asked.
I shook my head.
"Please don't ever find out," he said. (250) show less