Review: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
November 11, 2010 in Children's & Young Adult, Reviews
Dash and Lilly is the third collaboration between Rachel Cohn & David Levithan, after Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Naomi & Eli’s No Kiss List.
The former I really enjoyed and the later not-so-much (mainly because I didn’t particularly like Naomi or Eli) Still this one went straight on the wishlist when I realised it was due out. 
The book opens just before Christmas with Dash perusing the shelves of his favourite bookstore in New York, The Strand. Nestling next to one of his favourite authors is a small red notebook. (The fact that it’s a Moleskin just adds perfectly to sense of bookish love that permeates the entire book is just a perfect detail).
In it are a set of instructions that should he dare to follow them, promise an entertaining diversion from the horrors of the festive season.
Rather than just follow the rules exactly, he decides to tweak them slightly, to gain some measure of revenge for the eclectic and embarrassing selection of books he gathers at the start of the game.
As the Moleskin is passed back and forth, each dare designed to push and tweak the other slightly, the two strangers slowly get to know each other and open themselves up through the pages of the notebook. Told in alternating chapters much like Levithan & Cohn’s previous books, we as the reader get to meet the characters outside of the dares and their mutual responses to them.
Their flirting (for that is what the game in reality is) is pretty sweet to watch, and that is because both Dash and Lily are really likable characters. The supporting cast is also filled with fun and loveable characters, especially, Mrs Basil E, Lily’s Great Auntie, and her conversation with/interrogation of Dash when he turns up at her door looking for Lily is just perfect. 
If you’ve read either of their two previous novels together, it will come as no surprise that the setting of New York plays an important part in the book, you can really feel the love the town authors clearly have for the city.
I also need to point out the book is also really, really funny, I’ve not snorted and giggled so much while reading a book for ages!
So just in case you hadn’t worked it out, let me tell you, I loved this one! It’s a really fun story, with characters, that this time around I adored and cared about.
While I don’t think it’ll challenge say Monsters of Men or Mockingjay for my favourite book of the year, simply because they hit the mark on so many levels of what a book can do. I can say without any doubt that this one was the most outright enjoyable book I’ve read this year (so far).
Buy: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan from The Book Depository
Kailana (37)
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Carl V. (10)
Nikki-ann (9)
Yay! I’m with you on both the other two Cohn & Levithan books, so I’m glad this one ended up being good! I didn’t want to repeat another N&E. This sounds like a good book to read around Christmas – I hope I can get my hands on it before then!
Christmas would be a perfect time to re-read the book, I’m considering re-reading then myself!
I haven’t read these authors before, but this book has really caught my attention.
Marg´s last blog post: The Passionate Brood by Margaret Campbell Barnes
It’s a lot of fun to read. Definitely worth your time!
This book is adorable! It was such a fun read. I really enjoyed it as well.
Cialina´s last blog post: Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve
Wasn’t it just?!
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Oh I will definitely be adding this to my TBR pile now!
Amused´s last blog post: Louisa May Alcott- Book Review and Giveaway!
Yay! Hope you enjoy it!
I cannot wait for this one! It sounds LOVELY.
Clover´s last blog post: REVIEW- Notes From the Teenage Underground by Simmone Howell
It’s brill!
I’m glad to see you’re so enthusiastic about this one. I’ll have to move it up on my to-read list!
alisonwonderland´s last blog post: Authors Who Have Influenced Me
You so should, it’s a fantastic and fun read!
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