Dash & Lily's Book Of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

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"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 ofNick & 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 cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

 Review:
A very fun and entertaining read, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares had me turning the pages until the last. It was a sweet and funny romance between two 16 year olds written in alternating his and her's point of view. Admittedly the dialogues and word usage were very sophisticated for a couple of teenagers. It however gave credence how odd and quirky they are among their peers but still very much accepted. 
The chapters are divided by the dates starting two days before Christmas and ending on New Years Day. Dash starts out the first chapter.  Told from a first person narrative, it introduces the readers to a very cynical young man, who happens to use in his inner monologue such sophisticated language, that it threw me off, making me think he was at the least a college student.  He was 16, and as described by other secondary characters later on, a snarly boy.  We find him browsing at The Strand, a bookstore in New York.   There he finds, stuck between the books,  a red moleskin notebook.  As soon as he turns the page his  adventure begins.  The next chapter is devoted to Lily.  This time the tone of the chapter is different.  Lily was a more innocent, still believes in the magic of Christmas type of teenager.  Some would say a little naive for a 16 year old.  The language was more in tone with the lightheartedness, which is pure Lily.  As the story progresses, you get the gist of why these two young people are so different in outlook from night and day and yet they click in that undefinable  way.  
The his and her point of views were brilliantly done, and definitely gives you the sense that two people were really telling you their story.  In fact two people were.  The authors version of collaboration was writing their parts independently and just swapping chapters with each other, like their characters.  How meta can you get? Brilliant!
The developing relationship is definitely something most people regardless of any age will appreciate. Mostly for the sentiments, the dream of an ideal and the finding out that love just sometimes happen but its up to you to chase it.


Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Authors: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Published: January 1,2010 (first published) Paperback ed: October 11, 2011
Publisher: Ember (Random House Teens)
Rating: ♨♨♨♨ 4 of 5 (An amusing, hilarous, quirky and unique Christmas Love Story. It also has some insightful heartfelt moments people of any age can appreciate.)

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