Book Review :: Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
Series: Dash & Lily #1
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
on October 26th 2010
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 260
Goodreads

“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.”

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?

Last updated on 6 April 2022

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What is Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares about?

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares follows the story of Lily, who, having been abandoned by her parents at her most favourite time of year – Christmas  – leaves a red moleskin notebook between the books on a shelf in the Strand with scavenger-hunt-like clues for a teenage boy who is worthy of figuring them out and following her instructions…should he dare.

Christmas-hating Dash finds the red notebook, and follows the clues around the book store until he comes to the last one, which tells him to leave the book with the clerk…and so the game begins.

The story follows, in alternating chapters, Lily and Dash as they leave the notebook in places around New York City, giving each other dares and clues to find the next little aspect in the game.

“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.”

Along the way, they are dealing with their own personal journeys, and often include these in writing within the pages of the red notebook. While they haven’t met, and only communicate in written word, they both have a sense of connection with the other.

When they finally meet, they have to learn how to talk to each other and actually be present, rather than continue to be those strangers connected by only words.

My thoughts on Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

I really liked Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. I think the whole notion of finding a notebook hidden within the shelves of a book store to be the most wonderful thing ever, and one day I secretly hope to find one.

That aside, my favourite thing about this book was actually the first half, where Dash and Lily are daring each other to do things, and where to leave the notebook when they’re done.

“You think fairy tales are only for girls? Here’s a hint – ask yourself who wrote them. I assure you, it wasn’t just the women. It’s the great male fantasy – all it takes is one dance to know that she’s the one. All it takes is the sound of her song from the tower, or a look at her sleeping face. And right away you know – this is the girl in your head, sleeping or dancing or singing in front of you. Yes, girls want their princes, but boys want their princesses just as much. And they don’t want a very long courtships. They want to know immediately.”

The characters themselves were all very different, and I especially liked the crazy Boomer, Dash’s friend, and the absolutely ridiculous things he said. They actually made me laugh out loud. I think I’ve only read one co-penned book before (where two authors write the different character’s chapters), and that was Will Grayson, Will Grayson, but I really liked how it worked in Dash and Lily, and how different the two voices were.

I did, however, get a little bit bored at about the end of 2-3rds mark, but it managed to draw me back in at the end. It was a quick listen – only 6hours and 40 minutes – however, I suspect if I had actually read it, rather than listened to it, it would be been faster, and I would have it read in a few hours. The paperback is only 260 pages, so if you’re after a quick cute and book-filled story with crazy characters and hilariously awkward, almost cringe-worthy dares, pick up Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. It really was a lot of fun.

Have you read Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares? What did you think?