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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Unavailable
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Audiobook6 hours

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Narrated by Ryan Gesell and Tara Sands

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

A whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist!

"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."

16-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Dash, in a bad mood during the holidays, happens to be the first guy to pick up the notebook and rise to its challenges.

What follows is a whirlwind romance as Dash and Lily trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City. But can their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions, or will their scavenger hunt end in a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Co-written by Rachel Cohn (Gingerbread) and David Levithan, co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green (The Fault in Our Stars), Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is a love story that will have readers scouring bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateNov 16, 2010
ISBN9780307915870
Unavailable
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Author

Rachel Cohn

Rachel Cohn was born in Maryland but now also lives in New York. Her first novel, Gingerbread, was published in 2002. Since then she has gone on to write many other successful YA and children's books, three of which were in collaboration with David Levithan.

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Reviews for Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Rating: 3.8597482641509435 out of 5 stars
4/5

795 ratings115 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story of Dash and Lilly and their adventures was sweet and light and a joy to listen to. The audio was good although at first the female voice annoyed me. But the more I got to know Lilly the more it worked for her. I will definitely be reading/listening to the next one. 4 ⭐️
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A fun and light-hearted book! Enjoyed it immensely.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    very cute and fun read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I should have read this book during Christmas season. The story is so cute. If only I will have someone like that. I like Dash's nerdy personality. And I like their anonymity dares.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    *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!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved Dash & Lily's Book of Dares! I don't think it's realistic for how teenagers really are but it won me over anyway. The characters! Wonderful, fully-fleshed out characters and I fell in love with so many. Lily was so refreshing - it was nice to meet a teenage girl character who is happy and positive and secure in her quirkiness. She's not your typical YA star. Dash was a bit confusing for me. I loved him, but I didn't understand why people described him as snarly but Lily never saw that and I didn't really get that from him either. Also, they both seemed to have a lot of money, time, and no parental supervision to do whatever they wanted to. So, add the characters to a lot of wacky experiences, along with humor (I laughed out loud a lot) and you've got a winner for me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was looking for a light hearted book that was FUN. Something to keep me motivated to read and that was a step away from reality. This book achieved that perfectly! Not only was it completely different than the work related books or materials that are on my desk, it took place during the holidays (which are now done), and in snowy NYC (I am in Southern California)... Perfect.

    SPOILERS TO FOLLOW...

    I know that not all readers enjoyed the work of the authors, but I found it refreshing. I think the authors gave each character a particular voice and I got a sense of their personalities due to the switching off of the chapters. While other reviewers have been annoyed with Lily, I must say, she grew on me. Originally, she was just sort of a brat, and you could tell that her brother just wanted her GONE. However, I learned to love her extended family so much! My only regret with her was that her was that we never REALLY got to see the homecoming of her parents. Not sure what would happen next with that.

    Dash was my favorite. There's a bit too much realism with him and his non-communicating parents. Quirky but adorable. My favorite word in the entire book described him - snarly. Such a great word. I just about died with laughter with the Santa scene. His escapades always had me in stitches, but that one just made me cringe.

    Reading this made me want to check out the other books written by these authors, but eventually. I'm not rushing to read them right now, but know that when I do, I'll enjoy them.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    It's always a tricky business when it comes to YA for me, as I can't technically class myself as one any longer - not that it should matter, of course, a good story, should be a good story regardless of age.

    After reading this, I mediated a little on whether or not my teen self would have liked this book, and suffice to say I think she would have thrown this book against the wall. I seem to have mellowed as the years have gone by - that, or I really didn't want to damage my kindle.

    Let's start with the positives. I must say it was a lovely idea...and again, it was a lovely idea - and that's it.

    I found that Dash & Lily's Book of Dares suffered from the same problems that Confessions of a Wallflower had - a hundredfold: Pretentious, to try hard and unrealistic characters. And if I'm moaning about something being pretentious, there's definitely a problem somewhere. I am the only person I know who adored The Fountain, after all.

    Lily, the book's protagonist is the a 'quirky girl' with a whole lot of angst, but I was buggered if I could find what the hell it was she she had to be upset about. She had very loving family, seemed to have quite a bit of money given the amount of time she spent shopping, and lest I forget, for someone who has little to no friends, she seemed to manage to build quite a rapport with complete strangers with ease.
    I found myself disliking her more and more as the story went on.

    And Dare? What teenage boy talks, thinks and acts like that? None. Boys like that do not exist. End of.

    1.5 - for the idea if nothing else.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I won't give any details since I was lucky to read this super early but I might love it more than Nick and Norah's.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved this short book. I found myself laughing out loud more than once. It was refreshing to have two teen characters that were articulate, three dimensional characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love this book! Can you say rich, vibrant characters?! This book definitely has them. Lily is quirky, but in the best sense of that word (story for another time on the NOT so good side of quirky). Dash was, well...quite dashing and intriguing. Loved these characters and their interaction. They melded well together. The whole idea of the notebook was fantastic! I don't know that I would have had the nerve to follow through with it all, but it was one great read. They were funny, easy to like and interesting enough to keep the story crusin' along. I'm giving this one 5 daring kisses!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Do you ever really enjoy a book, but also feel like you don't have a ton of complimentary things to say about it at the same time? This happens to me every so often, and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is most definitely one such book for me. While I turned pages excitedly and squeed over the concept, a lot of the execution left me seriously cold and rolling my eyes.

    Starting with the good stuff, Dash & Lily's hooked me immediately. Cohn & Levithan pretty much guarantee that no bookish person will be able to stop reading within the first couple of sentences. While perusing shelves in the Strand, Dash discovers a red Moleskine notebook tucked in among editions of one of his favorite books, Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger. Inside this notebook, he finds a little scavenger hunt of sorts, which takes him around the bookstore from awkward book to awkwarder book, in an effort to see if he just might be the right guy for the notebook's author Lily.

    Turns out, though, that Lily was sort of put up to this little endeavor, largely out of the boredom of a holiday spent without her family (all off on romantic endeavors on their own). Dash, also left to his own devices for the Christmas holiday, instead of leaving a way to contact him as instructed, leaves Lily instructions for some dares of his own. For several days, they travel to some of the most famous of New York's sites, while falling in like with the person on the other side of the notebook. This whole concept was just completely adorable, and what bookish person hasn't wanted to find someone via the medium of bonding over a shared favorite book? This book also makes you feel like you're traveling around NYC yourself, which I always really love.

    While the writing is quite well done and full of brilliant observations, I just felt like Cohn and Levithan were trying to hard. Dash and Lily both failed to really coalesce into actual people for me, as though the characters took a backseat to highlighting just how clever the authors are. Since I've read books by both of them and I know they don't always write this way, I'm not sure what happened here, but it just didn't have a natural cadence.

    Dash made more sense as a character, and seemed much more consistent as a whole than Lily. However, he's also incredibly obnoxious. Basically, the whole time I was hoping they would meet and hate each other (which would have been really believable). I would even prefer Lily hooking up with Edgar, the smarmy guy who was an accessory to the tragic show-and-tell murder of her gerbil in elementary school, than with Dash. I just found him incredibly obnoxious and superior, the stereotypical annoying hipster. Also, everyone Lily asks describes Dash solely as 'snarly,' but when she meets him, she doesn't mention that at all, which struck me as hugely inconsistent. All of a sudden it's all about how he rocks a fedora and how incredibly gorgeous his blue eyes are. Changing his character entirely to sell the big ending doesn't work for me.

    Lily, on the other hand, feels completely thrown together. She has so many unique component parts that do not seem to glue together into a person. For all that she has all the idiosyncrasies that should combine into a personality, she always bored me. Other than the filling out of the journal, she comes across as extremely young, constantly throwing temper tantrums (Shrilly), has no friends, which she seems hardly to notice, and doesn't make smart choices (like wearing one shoe and one boot around so her snarly prince can find her). Worse still, the journal, which would seem to evince what a clever person she is, was not even her idea in the first place. Her own challenges were much more poorly conceived than the original created by someone else. Dash annoyed me and Lily bored me.

    The best character by far in this piece is Lily's incredibly sassy aunt, who she calls Mrs. Basil E., for the sassy older woman in Konigsburg's classic. Mrs. Basil will say absolutely anything, such as when she interrogates Dash about his intentions (frankly, they have more chemistry than he and Lily do). Lily's aunt will happily assist in any sort of fiendish plot and says things like "I never married because I was too easily bored" (154). Now, this is my kind of woman. If only she had had a larger part in the book.

    Dash & Lily's is fun, no question, but I feel like it could easily have been so much better. In the end, it's just hard to sell a romance novel where I don't see the couple lasting for longer than a week, because Dash will find the bloom is off the Lily within a matter of hours, I suspect.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm going to upset the cosmic balance when I say that I did not enjoy this book. Gasp! I know. This is proof that sometimes there are books that aren't meant for everyone. This is my example. I will start by saying that I thought the way the book was written was very unique. I didn't know the two authors shared the story-- and by that I mean, one wrote Lily's perspective and the other write Dash's. Considering that they weren't sitting together writing this out, it was nicely done. I also thought the red notebook idea was a nice touch. It made for a great adventure of the literary sort. I enjoyed reading the clever clues and seeing where the story would go. I also appreciated that these characters were not perfect and living in a sugary snow globe. They had flaws. So why did I not like this book? I don't know. I honestly can't give words to adequately capture my feelings. I couldn't connect with the characters because I have nothing in common with either of them. I'm not sugary sweet like Lily and I'm not completely "snarly" like Dash. I enjoy Christmas and believe in God. I think that may have been my biggest hurdle. I try to be open when I read, but when something is so 'in your face' from the start, it's hard. For someone that can handle that, this would be a fun read. It's light hearted enough with just a touch of somber relationship drama. It is not, a holiday read, so don't be fooled by the back cover. I'm not even sure I would call it a romance. It's an interesting combination of many things.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There was a LOT of hype around this book when I bought it, and recently it's been mentioned around the blogosphere as a favourite Christmas reread, so I had very high hopes. I'm sorry to say that although it was a pleasant diversion in the busy run-up to Christmas, I found it quite disappointing in some ways. I LOVED the notebook-swapping at the beginning, as we got to know Dash and Lily via their written thoughts and traded dares, and I also thought the ending, back in the Strand Bookstore, was perfect and very sweet. It was the chunk in between I didn't like as much, when the notebook exchange had faltered and Real-Life Contact Had Been Made. It felt a little dull and a little contrived and I definitely drifted a bit at that point. It was a nice read, and Dash and Lily were pretty great characters (book-loving quirky oddballs? YES!), but I won't be making it a Christmas tradition, I'm afraid!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5/5 stars.This is a book I'd been hearing about since it was first released, but never actually picked up. However, I'm participating in WinterHaven Books' Sleigh Tour, and our first task was to read a Christmas or Winter-themed book, and this one seemed like a perfect fit (and also a perfect excuse to finally read it). And I'm glad I made it my choice, because overall I did really enjoy this book quite a bit. It definitely had a wonderful holiday feel to it.Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is told in alternating viewpoints. You get Dash, a rather "snarly" teenage boy, who discovers a red notebook hidden in the shelves at The Strand, and decides to take it upon himself to follow its clues and quests. The other narrator is Lily, a (perhaps too angelic and sweet) teenage girl who actually created the notebook (with help). What follows are some rather funny, rather heartfelt, rather cute entries between the two as they use the notebook - and rather funny quests - to get to know each other. I have to admit that I was drawn more to Dash's narration than I was to Lily's, mostly because I couldn't help but love his rather sarcastic and straight to the point way of talking about himself and the world around him. My one complaint is that his voice sounded far older than his supposed age of sixteen, but nonetheless was enjoyable and created several laugh-out-loud moments (particularly their adventure with Boris the bullmastiff). Likewise, Lily also sounded too old for sixteen, and there were little things about her that sort of grated on me. This is not to say I didn't enjoy her chapters, because I did, but I didn't really find myself relating to her as much as I think I was supposed to. This is just a personal issue, though, so of course, your mileage may vary!I was surprised a bit by the fact that there was quite a bit of personal introspection here; I was expecting all humor all the time, but the journal entries were really quite serious at some points. To me, that helped keep the book from tipping completely over into over-the-top saccharine sweetness (even though there is plenty sweet), which I feel would have been detrimental to the whole point of the book. I definitely appreciated the "aww"-inducing moments, and loved the humor, but was also pleased to see that there was more to the book than that.If you're looking for a fun holiday read, definitely give Dash & Lily's Book of Dares a try. I think everyone could find something to enjoy about this book, whether you're like Dash and can't stand the holiday, or love it just as much as Lily!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. I am going to start by saying I gave it 5 stars. It was original fun and exciting. It had some great elements that I feel are needed in a great 5 star book: great characters that you can relate to, a setting and time that is familiar, an interesting story that keep you turning pages and some twists and turns along the way...this book had all that and then some! I loved the whole premise of this book and I encourage everyone to read it, especially this winter....
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    How can you read this book, and not fall entirely in love with the character of either Lily or Dash? Although I found Lily to be slightly more precocious than I like my characters, I found her particular brand of zaniness very refreshing. And Dash, he is the perfectly imperfect hero - articulate, hard-edged, but at the same time very sensitive and sweet. I don't need to summarize the novel for you, you can read the excerpt and find out what the book is about - in the passing of the book back and forth between the two of them, Dash and Lily become friends, and confidants, sharing with each other that which they would normally find impossible to share with others. This closeness leads them to really care about each other, and they spend all their time wondering what the other person must look, or be, like. But when they come face to face with each other, they are nothing like what the other expected. The story, and its circumstances, take it from being just a cute story about two teenagers to a coming-of-age novel where the characters realize that although things might turn out to be exactly as one expects, sometimes that which is different and unexpected is exactly what is needed to make life a better place. I thoroughly enjoyed this cute novel, and its incredibly cute characters. Along with all the cuteness, the novel is based around the holidays, which add extra warmth and fuzziness to it all. I loved it, and I'm sure you will too!!! :)
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was cute and amusing. I loved the premise that these two people would get to know each other through writings in a moleskine notebook. What didn't work for me was their age. At times I could believe they were young but at other times they sounded like adults with much more knowledge and perception than a sixteen year would have. I decided to just go with it so I enjoyed the book but didn't love it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is good young adult literature. the authors passed chapters back and forth much like Lily and Dash do. Lily is a very sheltered, sensitive 16 year-old girl who is facing some changes in her family life (moving to fiji for one, her grandfather moving permanently to florida and remarrying for another) who hasn't handled disappointment well in the past. She is quirky, loves dogs and books and has few friends - socially awkward because of her sensitivity, she keeps people at arms length. What is really cool is that her older brother is gay and its treated as a nonissue, which shows how far literature has come. Dash doesn't seem like a real character - he is so consumed by words and literature that he describes himself as "persnickety". however, this does take place in NYC, and the way they meet is through a notebook that has a "dare" on the inside, so I guess that only such a boy would be in a book store on a school vacation, and only such a boy would be looking for J.D. Salinger, and only such a boy would take the dare. He is honest about how he is worried that he is creating a girl in his head who is not real, which i can relate to, but it is interesting coming from a boy's perspective. Also, Boomer is a very interesting character. He seems to have some developmental disorder, but like Lily's gay brother, it isn't addressed - as if it doesn't matter, though as a reader I'm left wondering at Boomer's energy and misunderstandings. It gives Dash credit as a person/friend, however. overall, very entertaining, and a good book to teach about hope and the need for faith in the possibilities, and the need to open yourself up to them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book! I think it's the best from this pair of authors so far. It has the adventuring and crazy music of Nick & Norah coupled with the warm friendships and eclectic supporting characters of Naomi & Eli. I loved that Dash was 'snarly' and Lily was 'shrilly' rather than being too cool hipsters- after all, it's now game over for hipsters, right? I'm so glad I read this book this week as it's almost the same time of year as the setting.Finally, I loved this book because I have ALWAYS wanted to find a hidden message in a bookshop.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was the Btown Booksters December choice and I loved it - adorable contemporary Christmastime romance! Perfect book to read for the hols.This story really reflects current young folk culture...jeebus that makes me sound like an oldie :) This book has hipsters, nerds, over-eager friends and everything in-between. I connected more with Dash over Lily (odd because I'm probably more similar to Lily). I loved Dash's snarky attitude. I suppose I identify with his critical demeanor more than Lily's overly innocent mindset - although I totally agree with her Christmas-loving nature (still, Halloween is better)! Overall, it's a fun romantical holiday read that's akin to watching one of those well worn feel-good Christmas movies ("Love Actually," "It's a Wonderful Life," etc.). I highly recommend this to those looking for a holiday read...completely endearing!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and gave it a three star rating. But when I went back and started to think about a review a day or so ago, I wondered why I did that. I couldn't think of a single thing that would make me give it only three stars, so I went and upgraded it to four.This was a very cute read. The first two chapters will leave anyone will any kind of sense of humor smiling. Dash starts the book with a chapter that can only be described as anti-everything. Dash's growth throughout the book is amazingly realistic and fantastical at the same time. By the end he is a guy I would love to date. Or marry. I liked him that much. He's kind of every nerd school girl's fantasy. *Swoon*Lily isn't much to snub at either. Her character blooms and expands and becomes so rich throughout the book that it feels like you know her. Her family is hilarious and one of my favorite supporting characters is her brother just because of how funny their relationship as siblings places into the plot.The plot was what tied this amazing display of character development up with a pretty bow. Though it was a little slow in the middle, it was a realistic slowness. The feelings of Dash and Lily are given time to mature and grow like they would in real life. And though the idea that this red notebook always ended up back in their hands seems a little far fetched, it was cute. So adorable in fact this Christmas themed story is probably one I will want to re-read. :)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I usually don't go for anything that can be categorized as YA-lit, not because I have anything against it, but because I usually haven't found anything I really like from the genre. I don't know why I chose to read this book, but I'm glad I did! The authors took turns writing back-and-forth to one another to construct the adventures of Dash and Lily, and I think it worked out very well--the two characters have very distinct voices and personalities, and while they're above-average in introspection, intelligence, and language skills than a lot of 16-year-olds usually are, I really grew to love them both and to "root" for them. The supporting cast was great, too. There was a weird sub-plot having to do with baby theft (don't worry, it's not really how it sounds) that was a little much for me, but nothing that turned me off enough to stop reading or dislike the book. I am interested in reading more collaborations by Levithan and Cohn, like Nick & Norah's playlist.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Dash and Lily. They're two different people, living two different lives. But they just might have a mutual "friend". This is the story of how a red moleskin notebook brings them together. Coincidentally and Destiny-tally? :)This is the PERFECT Christmas/Holiday Read. It starts on the 21st of December (when I started reading it!) and goes through New Year's Day! It brings out the best of the holiday spirit - Lily is full of generosity! But Dash is who stole my heart! Oh, you cynical self proclaiming word-nerd, how you stole my heart! Some people might still think Dash is "snarly" but I enjoyed his dry sarcastic ways! And the audiobook really brought out Dash's humor.If you got gift cards during this holiday season, make sure you use it to get this book! It really is a great winter read! :)
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    We're all looking for that "someone" aren't we? That "special someone" that we can completely open ourselves to without fear, without masks, without regret. What if you decided to take a chance on someone that you had never met but only knew through the writings found in a notebook placed in a bookstore? That's just what Dash decides to do and thus "meets" Lily and so begins the exchange of dares placed within the pages of a red notebook.It was a little hard getting to know Dash in the first couple of chapters simply because of his slightly cynical nature while Lily was an adorable gem of a girl. However, after more of their backgrounds are revealed, I definitely saw myself falling for Dash, or at least wanting to hear more of his story. And for him to just take a risk like this on a whim, that really shows how much he wants to believe that life is more than just the cynicism he has felt. He definitely has a good heart, and it shows in the company he keeps, particularly in one John Boomer known by his friends as just "Boomer." This friend of Dash's while rather energetic is a definite example of the pure goodness one can find if they only look hard enough. And it is his association with Dash that really helps Lily to see more of the boy behind the words.Lily had quite a bit of growing up to do in order to find "herself" especially since she's been sheltered by her parents and grandfather for so long. I can definitely relate to her situation, though she wasn't sheltered from the things I was. Having an older brother like Langston was a definite blessing even if he became a bit dramatic at times, but he was there for her when she needed him. And without his involvement, Lily would not have even taken such a risk with getting to know and meeting Dash. I was surprised at some of her actions as the story progressed, but this was part of her growth process. Sometimes, one has to be ankle deep in sludge before they realize their real potential and who they truly are, and I know Lily learned that lesson well.Meeting Dash's friends and Lily's family through the tasks of giving the notebook to whomever needed it was a sheer delight. Out of all the side characters, my two favorites were probably Mrs. Basil E (Lily's great-aunt Ida) and Boomer. Their interactions with both Dash and Lily were intriguing, enlightening, and hilarious, thus helping to move the story, as well as Dash and Lily's relationship, forward. I was a little concerned when an ex-girlfriend came back into the picture and thought this would create more conflict, but she was surprising with the advice she offered to Dash. Levithan really created a different story for Dash in that regard, and I was happy with his choice. Overall, this was a wonderful and light read, and given the season of the story is nearing now, I would recommend it as a holiday book. This is one book readers will definitely want in their personal library.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My Summary: By some stroke of luck, Dash's parents have left him alone for the holidays in New York. Dash hates everything about the Christmas season - his idea of a perfect Christmas is spending the day with a stack of books.Lily's parents dropped the bomb this year: they're leaving for Fiji and wouldn't be back until around New Years. But what's a girl to do when there's no one around to spend her favourite holiday with? Easy: with the help of her older brother, Lily composes a moleskin notebook full of dares, hiding it between 2 volumes of her favourite book in one of the thousands of bookstore in The Strand, instructing the finder to follow the clues if they're brave enough. This, she hopes, will brighten up her dreary holiday.Dash finds the notebook and decides to complete a few of the dares. From walking around a bookstore holding The Joys of Gay Sex to feeling up the Macy's Santa on Christmas Eve, the dares keep getting tougher and tougher. But Dash is not going to let Lily win. He start leaving her dares as well, making the object of the game to get the red notebook back. But the notebook is not just where they leave their dares - it becomes a way for them to talk; to get to know each other through their words and opinions. But what'll happen when the dares run out and they finally meet? Will their visions of each other - formed thanks to the notebook - match up to who they really are, or are they doomed to be nothing but penpals?My Thoughts: Having just read one of Cohn and Levithan's other collaborations a few weeks ago (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist), I was expecting a lot from Dash & Lily. And I wasn't disappointed. Dash and Lily were great characters. I loved the way they contrasted each other, and the way they just kept pushing each other with the dares. It honestly made me wish there was someone I could start a red notebook with. Dash was definitely swoon-worthy (his word-play just made him that much more attractive - who can resist a guy who loves reading and sarcasm?). I also really enjoyed the plot. It wasn't a straight-forward 'finish-the-dares-and-we-can-meet' type of thing, which I really liked (probably because the authors didn't plan anything ahead of time). And the characters didn't fall head-over-heels in love the moment they saw each other - definite plus, because it made it seem more real (and if you read the novel, you'll know what I mean). Final Thoughts: This was a great light read. It was hilarious and kept me hooked until the end, and I definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something funny and cute to read around the Christmas season. Recommended for ages 14 and up, for both guys and girls.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Yes. It's October. And yes, this is a Christmas book. But I loved it anyway.Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a cute story about two seemingly opposite teenagers conversing solely through a red Moleskin notebook. Obviously, this causes them to make a lot of assumptions about the other one and it's funny to see how wrong, and yet how right the assumptions are.Dash, described as Snarly, seems so mature and knowledgeable but has so much more to learn still.Lily, descried as Shrilly, is so use to maintaining her childish ways that even she's taken aback by how grown-up she can be when she needs to.When they finally do meet, it's funny how awkward they are. I just love it!This book is full of adventure, hilarity and romance. It's a great book to read a few weeks before Christmas, when your snuggled up near a fire place and looking for something magical and inspiring!I don't know if this book will be turned into a movie, like Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist but if it does, I'll definitely go see it.Read this book, LOVE this book! NOW!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Pretty slick teen romance based in New York City around Christmas. I loved the way New York City was a character as well as the human characters. The authors really made the city breathe and come alive. I also loved the fact that there were very few hipsters in this book. Admittedly, Dash is described as a bit of a hipster, but he's not ridiculously hipsterlike, which would have made me nuts. And I also loved that these kids were not running about the city without any repercussions from their parents. Honestly when I read books like that, it rings untrue, since not many parents (good ones anyway) let their kids traipse about New York without some sort of supervision. Anyway, /endrant. Kept me entertained for a couple hours, and was worth the time I spent. Very sweet. :)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fun book to read. It all starts with a red moleskin notebook and the dares they each challenge the other to. When they finally meet they realize what they want from a relationship and dare themselves to try and "step out of the notebook".