Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

This book started out really good and i really enjoyed the two main characters these are the kind of characters that you wish you could meet in real life, smart, witty, bookish... overall i really enjoyed this book.

Such a cute book. Great holiday story and a wonderfully rebellious tale of two New York kids finding companionship during a potentially lonely time of year in a rough world. Read it in under 24 hours!

Biggest waste of money EVER! The author attempts to use strong vocabulary and unfortunately takes away from the story. I could only read 2 pages before I put it down, forever. I typically always finish a book I start. This one is NOT worth it.

"This notebook is a strange instrument - the player doesn't the music until it's being played."
I am so freaking unbelievably glad to have bought this book. This is one of the books that makes me a proud reader. One of the reasons being that this book begins on December 21st, a day before my birthday!
This story is told in both of Dash and Lily's POV and for the longest time, I couldn't choose who my favorite was. They both had an amazing sense of humor that caught me by surprise at how new it was for me. They were, to put it mildly, incredibly unique. But... if it came down to it and I had to choose, it would be Dash. Of, course. His humor and beliefs matched my personality perfectly.
Lily is absolutely and undeniably adorable. She is as nice as they come, reads, and loves anything and everything Christmas related. I loved witnessing her interactions with her brother the most since he was as hilarious as she was, if not more. There was a particular part of the book where I wanted to strangle the living daylights out of her, but only because I loved her and she disappointed me beyond belief. She redeemed herself in the end though.
Dash is a sarcastic dork and of course, loves books as well. (Since that's where this story begins.) He isn't a fan of Christmas but he puts his feelings aside since he isn't afraid to take a dare. His point of views brought the most laughs out of me and he always kept me on my toes. I never knew what he was going to say or do next and I loved it with all my being.
The events these two went through were hysterical and ridiculous, in the best way. I wanted them in my life so bad, just to hear the crazy stories they would be able to tell me. Still do. What I found even more admiring, was that these two made me forget their age. They are teenagers but didn't act with the immaturity that comes with that title, so it made me think of them as if they were a little older.
The similarities these two had overlapped and it made me giddy with happiness every time they did. But, as similar as these two spectacular characters are, they are also incredibly different.
This book made me laugh and smile until it hurt and I couldn't do anything else.
"I love a man who doesn't let go of the leash, even when it leads him to ruin."
I've never, ever, ever, in my experience as a reader, read a book with a story line like this one nor the characters like these. Once again, I am so freaking proud to have been united with this book. I might have to make it a tradition to read this book every year. And by might, I mean I will. After being forced into a book hangover a couple days ago, I am so glad I read this. This book brought so much joy into my life when I needed it the most and I can't wait to dive back in someday soon.
This story was something I didn't know I craved and for that, I will recommend this book to everybody I meet from now on. Dash and Lily are unforgettable and I live for the day that these two authors will get together and revisit these two characters again. Even if they don't, the hope of it is making me unbelievably happy.

At four in the morning, I was awakened suddenly by this realization: "Dash and Lily" are named after the American writers Dashiell Hammett and Lillian Hellman. Duh. And this realization came not only after reading this story twice, but having a dog named Dash who is partly named for Mr. Hammett. Again, duh. I'll let you Google both people to learn all about them, but there you are. You're welcome.

If you enjoyed Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist which was written four years prior, you will already know the rhythm of the writing. The characters swap chapters, New York City is the locale, and the two mains are a little different than their peer group. Similar base formula here, but instead of meeting at the beginning of the book, it is quite a while until Dash and Lily come face-to-face.

It's Christmas time, which happens to be Lily's most favorite time of the year (like the song [almost] goes). Usually her holidays are full of family, but this year, her parents decide to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary by vacationing in Fiji. To keep Lily out of his (and his boyfriend's) hair, her brother, Langston, creates a notebook for Lily and instructs her to leave it at the Strand, a NYC bookstore. If the finder of the notebook answers the questions correctly, he can choose to participate in the game of dares, and Lily will be occupied over the break. Dash is the finder, and he is intrigued enough to concoct some dares of his own. They are both alone during Christmas and discover that they are enjoying this exchange quite a bit. Lily's family gets involved with great gusto which helps Lily to step way out of her comfort zone.

I am a fan, for sure, and I think you will enjoy the story about finding yourself and you find someone who likes you just as you are. My only issue would be that the ending was a little less than satisfactory, but I'll let you decide. Oh and that in my copy, there is a reference to a girl working at FAO Schwarz who is dressed as Hermione Potter. Wha?

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan was published October 26, 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher, the Author and NetGalley.

Rating: 4

Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 12 and up

I have previously read Levithan's Every Day which I absolutely adore and Cohn's Beta which sadly I didn't. The authors take turns writing chapters...Levithan for Dash and Cohn for Lily. I know that I enjoy this sort of dual narration technique but how well would it be pulled off with alternating writers as well? Surprisingly well!

I adored both Dash and Lily's voices though I must confess to liking Dash a bit more. Yes he may have been "snarly" and too much of a "hipster" (What is a hipster anyway?) but I loved him in all his Unabridged OED precociousness glory. Lily was also an extremely likable character who was easy to connect with. Do they seem like complete opposites who never would have met without the machinations of the moleskin? Yes, Completely. Do they make a great couple? Undoubtedly.

I loved the concept...I mean really..who doesn't dream of finding a hidden note in a book or bookstore and that leading ne to an amazing guy/gal. *looks around* (I hope it's not just me...well if I weren't already married that is...ahem...eh...moving on...)

The setting of New York at Christmas time almost made me want to hop a train and take a Saturday in the city...and I still might. Yes there are horrid crowds...but it is so worth it:) The supporting characters like Dash's friend Boomer (who I also love...yes lots of love to go around here..) and all of Lily's relatives, especially her aunt, make the book even that much more enjoyable. Dash & Lily's Book of Dare's is perfect lighthearted yet at times quite thought provoking holiday fare. So grab a glass of eggnog and dig in!

Note: Review copy accepted from publisher in exchange for an honest review

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

When I saw this book available at NetGalley, I didn't hesitate to request it. And when my request was aproved, I could hardly believe it... After all, I had read so many positive reviews about the books written by Rachel Cohn e David Levithan that I was super curious!

Maybe it was a case of having too much expectations, but I was a little disappointed... I don't mean by this that I didn't like it, cause I did, I just didn't love it. I thought I would get caught up in the story and with the characters, in an exciting and unforgetable story of love and disencounters, but it just didn't happen.

I really liked the premise of the story, two teenagers who never met and that start a relationship using a red notebook, left at the shelf of a bookstore, and where they exchange dares, impressions and thoughts and where they strip their soul to each other. My biggest problem was with the characters, cause I couldn't relate to them. Lily was particularly annoying. I just can't believe that a 16 year old girl, living in New York, with a great family dinamics, who practices sports and is perfectly integrated in her community, doesn't have, nor has ever had, any friends. And she's too naive and childish, she sometimes has attitudes more apropriate to a 12 year old... I think the authors (or Rachel Cohn, cause I read that they wrote the chapters alternately) wanted Lily to come across as adorably excentric, but she just felt weird and childish to me. Oh, and for such a close family, with lots of Christmas traditions, to go their separate way at Christmas, leaving Lily alone with her brother, just made no sense...

Dash I liked better because, even though his relationship with his family is complicated, he was able to surpass it by adopting an alternate family composed by a hand full of friends, also a bit misfits themselves, and clinging to books. Although he came across as an annoying know-it-all sometimes, it's understandable that it's a sort of defense mechanism, and the way he is there for Lily when she needs him totally redeemed him in my eyes.

It's a sweet story, just not magical as I thought it would be. But if I ever reread it, it will be at Christmastime!

Sweet, lighthearted, and so much fun!!

I may be the last person alive that hasn’t read Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. And after reading and loving this one so much, I will be remedying that asap. ;)

This story was told using alternating points-of-view. The two different narrators really brought this story to life. Such opposites, roaming the streets of New York City, both looking for ways to cope with their personal loneliness. I was routing for their inevitable meeting from the first page!

Dash, otherwise known as “snarly”, was just that. He was also a bit cynical and sarcastic at times. After a tough upbringing, coupled with the tough divorce of his parents, he has a reason to feel that way. Lily, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. Sweet, fun, and totally nerdy, she won be over instantly. She reminded me of Sue from The Middle, and while listening to this audio I couldn’t help but pictured Sue the entire time. :) Lily was overly in love with Christmas, but sadden by the “worst Christmas ever” that this one had turned out to be. Dash, on the other hand, hated Christmas, the cheer of others around him, and was most certainly NOT a happy little elf.

I loved the idea surrounding this story. Though I probably wouldn’t have had the guts to do half of the stuff these two dared each other to do (yeah, I’m a big baby at times.) I loved the fun-nature of its premise. I was smiling and happy, laughing constantly throughout this story. It was exactly what I needed to get me in the holiday spirit!

This was the perfect silly, super-sweet and totally fun story to get me in the mood for the chilly season that’s upon us. I adored this book, and I have a feeling others that enjoy fun-loving contemps will enjoy it as well!

My heart simply gushes with emotion when I recall this book. This is a book about two book lovers, with a setting that begins in a famous bookstore, a clue of trails that darts from book to book and a series of notes and messages exchanged in a red, moleskine notebook. Oh my God, if I could sing praises of this I really would, I love this book oh so much!!! I would gladly recommend this book to all book nerds!

I especially love this particular line from the book that seemed like was describing me exactly, “I’m the only person who gets along with everyone, by way of not being friends with anyone.”

Also a very beautiful line on heartbreak and moving on, “The important people in our lives leave imprints. They may stay or go in the physical realm, but they are always there in your heart, because they helped form your heart. There’s no getting over that.”

I didn't have very high expectations from this one, but still I was disappointed. I've never read anything from either of these authors, so I wasn't sure what to expect from a writing standpoint.

This was just incredibly pretentious. The writing was pretentious. Both of the main characters came off very pretentious, especially Dash. There was an excessive number of literary references, mainly in Dash's chapters, most completely out of context.

Dash was whiny and "disillusioned", but nothing has really ever happened to make him that way. Lily was cute, but spoiled. She is a sensitive girl, a little too sensitive for my liking. But there wasn't much else wrong with her as far as I'm concerned. This book would have been GREATLY improved by Lily having been the only narrator. Dash's narrative voice just ruined this for me.

When I read contemporaries, I'm looking for realism. The whole notebook idea was a really good one, but things went downhill for me after they actually met. The ridiculousness was out of control. There wasn't much about this book or these characters that seemed entirely realistic.

There was definite potential here, but the overall execution left much to be desired.

While wandering around his favorite bookstore, Dash finds a red Moleskine notebook. Inside it gives him the option to follow some clues or to put the book back on the shelf for someone else to find. Dash cannot resist the challenge, and so the interplay between Dash and Lily begins, each coming up with more sophisticated dares for the other, some of which require a touch of suspension of disbelief. The two are very different; Lily loves Christmas and has had a happy family life, while Dash dislikes the holidays and is the child of a divorce, but each has been left to their own devices this Christmas season. They get themselves into some crazy situations and have some missed connections along the way. The book alternates between their perspectives and hits a nice holiday note in the end.

This festive, split perspective, co-author written, quirky novel is best read in the wintertime. Not only does it take place during the end of the month December, but it shows readers that spending Christmas with someone you love does happen to make an impact on your life. Or at least that's what I got out of the book.

In this book, Lily is quite the interesting character. Written by Rachel Cohn, she has the mind of a girl no doubt--a girl that doesn't quite fit in with the teenage population in her city. She's been nicknamed Shrilly for her shrill-like responses to drastic situations. Her parents have gone off on a Christmas vacation holiday...without her and her brother. Fed up with Lily, her brother decides to find her a guy for Christmastime by having her write up a book of dares and putting it on a shelf in the bookstore.

Now there's Dashiel, or as he likes to be called, Dash. He's the polar opposite of Lily, being that he is a diehard misanthrope. Levithan's writing reminds me of John Green's writing. I know that this comparison has been made a lot in the YA literature word, especially since the two authors wrote a book together. Nonetheless, I've come to realize that both authors have an MO--misanthropy characters. But just like Dash hates humankind, he also hates Christmas. (What a shame.) So he spends his days before Christmas in a bookstore. When he comes across Lily's book of dares, he figures that it shouldn't be to hard to do them. And what started off as a way to get Lily a companion for the holiday season turned into a budding relationship between opposites.

But you know what they say: opposites attract.

Despite my past reviews, I quite enjoyed the spit POVs (point of view) in this particular book, and the fact that two different authors (make and female) wrote those two different POVs made the whole reading experience seem even more real. I never confused Dash and Lily for one another, not only because of the different writing styles, but also the two different monologues. Dash and Lily had two distinctive voices, and I liked that about them. I'm sure many readers out there would appreciate that as well, which is why I think this would be a good book for just about anybody.

Also, I liked Dash the most out of the entire book. I can relate to him in some ways. Although my parents are happily together, I can't help but admire his snarky attitude. I consider myself to be extremely sarcastic, which is pretty much the definition of Dash. His anti-people personality and responses make me laugh even if he can be a bit harsh. Dash may come off as a jerk to some people, therefore I'm not exactly sure how to write about him in this review. Some people may like his characters, others might not. I was obviously apart of the former.

I wasn't particularly too fond of Dash's ex-girlfriend Sofia. She wasn't the jealous time rather than the type that thinks they know what's best for their ex. Sure, she gave him advice, but it was crappy advice. She told him that Lily wasn't the perfect girl that Dash was imagining in his head. So what if she isn't? That's up to Dash to decide. Also, Sofia wasn't exactly a gem either when it came to being Dash's girlfriend.

I don't understand why YA characters these days always need a gay companion. I get it--you're [the author] not homophobic. Now, I'm perfectly fine with homosexual people, but I don't understand why it's such a big deal in YA these days. I swear, nearly every book I read contains a gay character. It's just something that I've noticed. Obviously, it's mostly in contemporary.

In conclusion, like I said above, I think any lover of the young adult genre will most likely enjoy this book. It's fun, fast, humorous, and has character. This is definitely a book that I will be recommending to everybody next Christmas!

I picked up this book after seeing it talked about on youtube by a few booktubers. I think it's a light contemporary read that I needed after the few dark and somber topic books I read.

Dash and Lily are each spending Christmas at home without their parents. Lily's brother suggests she try to find a boyfriend for the holiday by creating a book of dares for someone to find and complete. Lily plants a red notebook containing the dares on a shelf in the bookstore for the right guy to find. Dash, in all his bah humbugginess turns out to be the guy that finds it. The dares and sharing of the notebook continues back and forth with the two communicating and finding out more about each other from their questions. Then there is the day they will meet in person. Will they each be who the other has come to expect them to be from their adventures in the notebook?

Rachel and David build characters to whom the reader can relate no matter what age. The story is written switching viewpoints from Lily to Dash, which, in my opinion, keeps the story interesting. The reader isn't glued to one viewpoint throughout the entire adventure. Near the end of the book, some of the events do seem a little outlandish, but they keep the story lighthearted and help make it a nice feeling read. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for teenagers and up, and for anyone who likes a feel good love story.

http://bookyblurbs.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/dash-and-lilys-book-of-dares-by-rachel-cohn-and-david-levithan-review/

Lily is (unhappily) all alone during the holidays, thanks to her parents ditching her for a long-awaited vacation. In an effort to find someone who "gets" her, she leaves a red notebook on the shelf of a public bookstore. Dash, (happily) alone at Christmas after leting each of his divorced parents think he was spending the holiday with the other, is enjoying this quiet time to himself when he stumbles upon a red notebook on a shelf in The Strand. The notebook challenges Dash to complete a task and once he does, he challenges the notebook's author right back. So begins a weekend of getting to know each other by writing their thoughts, dreams and desires in the notebook.

Dash and Lily were fun characters. They were both sweet and kind. They were each dealing with their own personal issues, though none were what I would call "deep". They both seemed to know exactly what they wanted out of life, and how to get it. They had great senses of humor and were both willing to try something new and be adventurous. Before they met for real, you just knew they were going to get along fabulously.

There were a few things that bugged me, like the fact that Lily knew (or was related to) at least 1 person in practically every one of the city's most iconic landmarks. That eventually became too unbelieveable. Also, their characters were just too hipster for me. Like David and Rachel were creating the coolest, most nonconformist characters they could think of. But there were also things I enjoyed about the book, like the alternating points of view (Dash and Lily, natch). They were both authentic and that made it easy to get into their heads. I loved the little snippets of New York sprinkled throughout the book.

The cover is adorable and perfect for this light holiday read. The snow, the city street signs and the little heart in the crosswalk sign all work together magically.

MY REVIEW
My daughter and I received this paperback copy from Harlequin/Mira Ink UK in exchange for our honest reviews.
I like the cover, the buildings in the background and the way the title is incorporated into the overall design.It's quite a colourful cover so certainly draws your eye.
The story is about a girl who leaves a journal in a book store. The whole journal idea is her brother's idea for her to meet new people and potential boyfriends.
The book is found by Dashiell, Dash for short and then the wacky dares begin. Each one leaves clues to a certain item/place that has to be found, once there, there is another clue as to where to leave the book. The Lily (the girl) collects the book and follows her clues/dare and so this goes on and on.
Dash and Lily find themselves in some amusing situations. Thankfully Lily has a large family that help her retrieve the book from various places, such as her great aunt who works at Madame Tussards.
The "friend" relationship builds and they become quite attached to each other through the book. Could they be "more" to each other?Or have they built fantasies of each other in their own heads that are impossible to live up to when they finally meet in person?
This is a brilliant book, a great read anytime of the year. As the time in the book is set around Christmas time the book is especially poignant to read at this time of year.
My Christmas tree doesn't usually venture out of the loft until at least mid December.However I read this book and finished it on 1st December and I had to get the Christmas tree out and put it up 2nd December lol. It had a "Christmas effect" on me lol.
It is a lovely tale, heartwarming, funny, which features on family, friendship and Christmas traditions. Could there be a book #2? Maybe,would I read it? Definitely Did I enjoy this book? Yes, loved it, though it could be read anytime of year I am glad I read it in December!
Would I read more by these Authors?Yes would read more by both, either as single authors or together.

What first attracted me to this book was the cover. Then when I read the blurb I knew I had to read it.

Lily's a nice, quirky, 16 year old girl who for the first time in her life finds herself celebrating Christmas alone when her parents decide to travel to Fiji for an overdue honeymoon. This is her favorite holiday and she is definitely not a happy camper. Dash is a sarcastic, persnickety, 16 year old boy who decides to lie to his parents so that he can spend Christmas alone. Unlike Lily, he does not like Christmas and he would rather be alone than spend it with one of his parents.

I fell in love with Dash on the first page of the book. His sarcastic musings, humor and overall expressions just did me in. I found him to be adorable and as I continued reading I found myself even more endeared to him. Lily was adorable in her own right. The combination of bright personality and shy demeanor really made her seem more real to me, which in the end made it easier for me to connect to her. I liked them both. Their emotions, their humor and their thoughts made for a great read.

The writing was excellent. I loved how the authors managed to bring together the concept of two strangers developing a connection through written messages on a notebook. I was surprised that I liked it so much, being that dialog is one of my 'make-it or break-it' elements for me. However, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan expressed beautifully both Lily and Dash's thoughts, wants and emotions in those written messages that the lack of actual dialog between them was a non-issue for me.

The setting of New York was enchanting. I live in Puerto Rico, but have spent Christmas in New York and I loved it. So seeing it in the page through the eyes of two different characters was very interesting to see. The pace was perfect, each dare and each interaction with other characters was well placed. Although the story takes place within the span of a week, the connection between Lily and Dash did not feel rushed. It felt real and very believable and I attribute that to the way the authors placed each event.

The amount of humor in this book was off the charts. I laughed out loud within the first couple of pages. Dash's sarcastic remarks were hilarious. Some of the dares were very funny and there is this one scene that really just had me in tears of laughter. It was that good! Of course, as awesome as the humor was, the vulnerability and emotions of the characters were excellent too. I could feel Lily's insecurities and Dash's loneliness - their need to really connect with someone on a deeper level. It was amazing to see these character's development and be a witness of how they allowed themselves the chance to connect in the off chance of finding something worthwhile.

Lily and Dash's journey was a very enjoyable read filled with humor, deep thoughts and excellent characters. This is one of those books that leaves you with a lingering smile even after you finished reading it. I was really surprised of my reaction, not because it is a Young Adult book - I have read many of those. But because this story really touched me. This one is definitely a keeper!

Dash and Lily are each having miserable Christmases for different reasons. Dash just hates Christmas and has found a way to make sure he can spend it on his own, while Lily loves Christmas but is forced to spend it alone with her older brother (and older brother's boyfriend) while their parents are in Fiji. Of course, there's one thing that could make this Christmas a little more exciting...a scavenger hunt with a charming member of the opposite sex.

Enter the "red moleskin notebook". In an attempt to get Lily out of his way, her older brother sets up a scavenger hunt for a mystery boy in the stacks of New York bookstore "The Strand". As only happens in fiction, that notebook is found by Dash, a cute boy the same age as Lily who is more than happy to play the game. The two engage in a back and forth but anonymous courtship for most of the book, before finally meeting and wondering if it all wasn't better in the notebook or if life is meant to be lived in person. Leviathan and Cohn do a fantastic job of creating the characters of Lily and Dash. Each chapter feels like a journal entry written by a teen and it took me back to my high school days. The plot is not very plausible, the fact that not one bystander ever picked up the notebook is almost unbelievable, but it doesn't really matter. This book creates an adventure you don't want to end. The language is a little more educated than you would expect for high school students, but the entries are being written by bibliophiles and logophiles. While this makes for a more interesting book the less-literate young adult crowd might find it a little less entertaining than the avid teen reader.

That being said, this book takes you on a romantic adventure you can't help but envy, and I know I'll be looking for notebooks the next time I go into my favorite bookstore.

Honestly? I loved everything about this book. It's fresh, it's funny and it's different. I mean, the idea of leaving a small red moleskine in the middle of the most famous bookstore in New York that is full of dares and puzzles? Brilliant!
If I was younger (and not married) I would do it in a heartbeat. The adventures and the possibilities are so many that I have my head spinning just thinking about it.

To be honest there's no much to tell without giving spoilers away. And you don't need that, right? So let's say the basics.

Dash and Lily: Best couple ever... not. It's the truth. They are so different that I'm sure that under normal circumstances they would never have become friends.
But that's the beauty about this book, you know? To see two different people share their lives, their likes and dislikes only to influence the other in a good way.
Lily is sweet, naive and at times very innocent which is why sometimes she may get on your nerves. But don's despair, Dash's way of talking will keep you around easily. He is clever, an smart-ass and full of dimension.

The plot: Simple yet different. I enjoyed every second of it. What I most liked was to walk around New York with them.

Supporting characters: Best crew ever! No kidding here, Lily's brother and in fact most of her family, are the perfect support for this innocent girl. And they are weird and fun.
As for Dash's side just let me tell you, he has one of the most loyal, crazy and strange friends ever. I one want of those for myself right now!

The style: It's the first time I read a book written by two authors and honestly, I'm very, very pleased. Since Rachel wrote Lily's chapters and David wrote Dash's I got to feel and to understand the way both characters thought without missing anything.

The ending: Although I liked it I have to make a confession... I missed something. There was a tiny knot that the authors never got to wrap properly, at least for me, and it bothers me a little.
Saying that I assure you that the main plot was tied nicely. And a quick recommendation? Read this book during Christmas's break, it will give the book a whole new level and you will enjoy it even more. Specially if you add hot chocolate.

First line: "Imagine this: You're in your favorite bookstore scanning the shelves."

In alternating chapters, readers hear the story of two misfit, bookish teens who make a connection in Manhattan over Christmas-time. Ignore the fact that this would never, ever happen. It's just too unlikely, and there are too many weird coincidences and clever riddles solved in the nick of time for this to ever really come to pass. Once you suspend your disbelief, though, the book reads like some fun Alternate Reality Game or geo-caching adventure, where the protagonists leave obscure literary clues for each other around the city in a game of cat and mouse. There's something unbearably romantic, but also lonely about the way they connect with each other.

Dash didn't feel like the stereotypical red-blooded American male. He felt like a nebbish Woody Allen character. Towards the end of the book, he ends up locked in the basement of The Strand bookstore with Lily... and his first thoughts are about how exciting it is to be alone with the object of his affections: The complete multi-volume edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. There was a playful, intellectual connection between Dash and Lily, and a sense of madcap, Manhattan adventure. But there wasn't any real passion or spark between the two. If I had to guess, I'd assume that even if he doesn't know it yet, once Dash heads off to college, he'll probably come out of the closet, and find himself a nice boyfriend.

This wasn't quite as thrilling as Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist for me, but it was still an enjoyable read.

Compare to:

Jenna & Jonah's Fauxmance - Emily Franklin & Brendan Halpin
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour - Morgan Matson
Pretty Bad Things - C.J. Skuse

This book is amazing. Simply amazing. I loved the characters and all their quirks and flaws and the setting (gotta love New York!) Also they reference The Strand a lot (which is where I plan to go one day when I visit New York again.) If you don't know what The Strand is then you're not a true book lover. Sorry!
I don't think I've ever laughed so hard over a book. This book is incredibly funny. Especially in the beginning. Normally, I don't share what I'm reading with people but I just had to read a couple passages to my family because they were so funny.
Despite all the random quirks and funks of the characters I could really relate to them! This was really cool because after awhile you wish you were Dash or Lily and that you had someone that you could swap a notebook with.
The entire story pulls at your heartstrings and you are rooting for the characters at the very beginning. This book also took a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting which was great!
As usual, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have a very refreshing use of dialog and language which really appeals to teens. (Did you know that Ms. Cohn wrote Lily's chapters and Mr. Levithan wrote Dash's? Isn't that too cool, and then they switched back and forth? Brilliant.)
http://www.thepaige-turner.com/2012/01/dash-and-lilys-book-of-dares-by-rachel.html

I really enjoyed reading this book the whole way through. It is a short book, I finished it in a day easily, but it is filled with great characters and a clever adventure. The two main characters, Dash and Lily, are teenagers that find themselves alone during the week of Christmas. Lily loves Christmas and tries to enjoy the season though her parents are gone and Dash hates the crowds and shopping in New York City at this time of year and is just trying to get through the week. When Lily's brother puts a red notebook in a bookstore with clues inside he hopes the right guy will pick it up so Lily will have something to do with her time instead of bugging him. Dash finds the notebook, follows the clues, then makes some of his own for Lily to solve. So begins the adventure of these two very likable characters.

What I liked about the book the most was how bookish it was. Both Dash and Lily are big readers and a good part of the book takes place in The Strand, a bookstore in NYC. I particularly liked how Dash loved words and how both Dash and Lily play with words throughout the book, it was so much fun to read!

The clues they leave for each other are clever and cute and I found myself wishing I could have an adventure like they were having. There are a couple of twists and turns in their relationship that I did not see coming at all and they kept me reading when I should have been doing something else.

This is a cute, fun read that would be a perfect book to read in December. I would recommend it to any YA reader or any bookish person who enjoys light, fun reads.

If you're looking for a fun, lightweight holiday read, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares will hit the spot. Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the authors behind the bestselling Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, the book takes place in New York City during the winter holidays. I'll admit that I don't typically read this genre in the Teen Dept. The novel caught my eye because it takes place at The Strand, which is a really awesome used bookstore in NYC. They have over 18 MILES of books in their store, and I was lucky enough to stop in for a visit earlier this year (I meant to blog about going there, as well as to the flagship B&N, but it never happened. Sorry!). It's a truly amazing place full of books and people. The prices are pretty amazing, too, and they have hard-to-find out-of-print books (why I originally stopped in).

In the novel, Dash is browsing through the shelf housing his favorite author when he comes across a red Moleskin journal. He's on winter holiday, bored out of his mind, and attempting to hide from his least favorite holiday, Christmas, so when he picks up the journal and discovers instructions for a scavenger hunt around the store, he decides to follow them out and see what happens. The journal was left by a teenage girl named Lily, though it was her older brother's idea to do so in the first place. Lily is Dash's opposite: Rather than being jaded, she's in love with everything Christmas and immensely enjoys this time of year. When she pops into The Strand to see if anyone found her Moleskin, she discovers that Dash has created a new scavenger hunt for her to follow. The two wind up passing the journal back and forth and sending one another around the City without ever meeting, and readers can live vicariously as they travel to famous attractions such as the Wax Museum, busy stores such as FAO Schwartz, and even the "newest" Pixar film (which doesn't really exist, but fit in adorably). They form a friendship through the pages of the notebook, and suddenly, the holiday break is anything but boring.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It wasn't heavy, but light and uplifting. Sometimes, it's okay to sit back and enjoy something funny, especially during the holidays. I also LOVED the book cover design. The title of the book is listed across two Street Signs, the Directional Arrow lists the two authors, and the Pedestrian Light has a cute heart on it. The inclusion of snow added to the atmosphere, making it visually feel like a book wanting to be picked up and read at this time of year, preferably snuggled up with a cozy blanket and hot cup of cocoa.