Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

“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 New York Times 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?
{taken from goodreads.com}

Let me just say, this book was so much FUN to read!!  I started it at work this morning & finished not too long ago (with mild interruptions in between).  I really enjoy a premise that involves a mission at hand.  This book had been on my TBR list since I first heard about it a few months back.  I knew I'd enjoy it & I was correct!

The story begins in the heart of Manhattan with Dash visiting his favorite bookstore The Strand (which btw - is the same bookstore I am dying to visit one day myself!).  He stumbles across a red notebook tucked away in the stacks.  A promising challenge lay before him.  Inside the notebook is a list of instructions, or clues rather, given by the unknown Lily.  And so the fun begins!  The game starts out with Dash answering Lily's dares & following through with her instructions. But then the game is turned on Lily & Dash has left his own set of dares for her to complete as well. 

Amongst the dares the two begin to share a little about themselves in the notebook (which gets passed between them with each new dare, located in a different spot through out the city).  It is Christmas time and we learn that both Dash & Lily have been deserted by their parents for the holiday season.  For Dash, this has become a dream come true.  Not wanting to relish in the Christmas spirit, he preferred spending the Holiday alone.  Lily, on the other hand, is left saddened & feels abandoned by her parents who decided to take a "2nd honeymoon" to Fiji for Christmas.  Lily is the epitome of Christmas.  From caroling, to baking cookies, to visiting Santa at Macy's - she loves all things Christmas. 

As the dares continue, Lily starts to realize that she's been afraid to step out of her comfort zone; always having been sheltered by her family members.  She used to appreciate this, but now felt the need to fly from this nest and break out in to her own person.  Dash, having a hard shell due to his parents divorce when he was younger, is starting to realize that in order to become close to someone - you have to let that guard down sometimes.  The exchange of the notebook continues, yet Dash & Lily have yet to meet.  The anticipation builds, and as the reader you feel yourself rooting for the two of them! 

I liked that their first chance meeting wasn't planned, that it happened by accident, in between dares.  I think that brought humility to the story.  Dash & Lily's fairy tale does not end there though.  Dash realizes that the girl in his head, the one he's been reading about through their red notebook, may not be the same Lily who stands before him.  Lily is afraid she may not live up to the expectations that have been set forth through the spontaneity and bravery that's been written for her in that same notebook.  The innocence shared between the two of them is delightful.  I enjoyed the different take on boy meets girl, girl falls for boy, but does boy fall for girl back?  The words are written very playfully & humorous.  I literally caught myself laughing out loud quite a few times.  But the story gives a hidden message underneath all those laughs.  I closed this book with the notion that life presents us with challenges, and it is up to us if we choose to take that risk.  You can't be afraid of the unknown.  The unknown is what makes life so much fun & exciting!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun, easy read this Holiday season.  All of the pop culture & geographical mentions in this book really made me want to visit New York City for Christmas!  Perhaps I too could find a book of dares waiting for me nestled between the rows of books at The Strand =)