Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Pages: 260 (hardcover)
Summary: “I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.”

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My Thoughts: My favorite parts of this book were when Dash and Lily wrote in their book of dares, went and did the dares, or tried to figure out who they were writing to was. The scenes like where Dash would go to a party just to be told something by someone of little importance to the plot line (in my opinion) that maybe one of his other friends could've pointed out felt a little slow and boring to me. I loved the little clues Dash would leave Lily and vice versa. They challenged each other to go outside their comfort zones and to better themselves as people.

This novel is very much a wintery read, but honestly the wit and unique story line transcend the seasonality of this book. And Levithan and Cohn bring New York City to life through the adventures if Dash and Lily. I had high expectations for this book, and it fell slightly short, but I wasn't too upset about that. Also, although some of it wasn't very believable (catching babies midair, seeing everyone in your acquaintance by chance around one of the biggest cities in the world, a boy who uses the word "heretofore") and the main characters were slightly pretentious, the novel tries to inspire the reader to step outside their box and try something new, and succeeds in doing so.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars