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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I was going to give this book 4 stars before the underwhelming ending. Overall it was a cute YA book with a fun storyline and alternating POV. It was all very happy and easy to read, but felt unnecessarily long. Love the characters though, and very glad it was made into a Netflix series!
Christmas-loathing Dash is bored and alone for the holidays. And he’s okay with it. He doesn’t have many plans except to avoid the Christmas spirit while he stays home by himself. When he comes across a Moleskine notebook amongst the shelves of his favorite bookstore, he finds a list of “dares” and suddenly, he is embarking upon a journey of wits and emotions.
Lily not only loves Christmas but practically lives and breathes it as well. Dejected during the holidays as her parents take off for a tropical vacation and her brother holes up with his boyfriend, Lily is left on her own with only a book of dares to entertain her, and keep her out of her brother’s hair. Sheltered her entire life with a reluctant alter-ego known as Shrilly, childishly naïve Lily expects to find a best friend out of the notebook. She hardly expected logophile, holiday-cynic Dash to pick up her journal, but a friendship strikes without even knowing his name, and emotions transfer to paper in a way no speech can convey.
Like all of Cohn and Levithan’s collaborations, the setting is New York City, in the bustling this time of Christmas. Passing the notebook back and forth between each other upon the completion of dares (such as rubbing pedophile Santa’s belly, a scene filled with laughter; and sitting through Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, a movie positively atrocious to the Christmas-spirited Lily), the two come to know each other intimately. Before they even meet each other, they know each other’s secrets and dreams. The developing relationship is fluid, but not without its share of drama and complications. Tender and witty, readers will find themselves rooting for the blooming romance.
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan make a brilliant team, with their unique voices. They harmonize in the manner of whimsy evident in all their writing. As different as their voices are their characters, but it all works together so well. While the teenagers are hardly realistic, especially in the case of Dash, they remain believable, existing through their fantastic portrayal. Told in alternating chapters from Dash and Lily’s views, readers are taken on a trip through New York City, in to each others’ heads, and meet a cast of delightfully quirky characters. Both socially awkward and bookish, Dash and Lily take solace in each others' company, albeit not in person. Lacking parental guardians, despite Lily’s wealth of zany family members throughout the city, the teens adventure through their own hometown, through Christmas, snow, and festivity.
Lily not only loves Christmas but practically lives and breathes it as well. Dejected during the holidays as her parents take off for a tropical vacation and her brother holes up with his boyfriend, Lily is left on her own with only a book of dares to entertain her, and keep her out of her brother’s hair. Sheltered her entire life with a reluctant alter-ego known as Shrilly, childishly naïve Lily expects to find a best friend out of the notebook. She hardly expected logophile, holiday-cynic Dash to pick up her journal, but a friendship strikes without even knowing his name, and emotions transfer to paper in a way no speech can convey.
Like all of Cohn and Levithan’s collaborations, the setting is New York City, in the bustling this time of Christmas. Passing the notebook back and forth between each other upon the completion of dares (such as rubbing pedophile Santa’s belly, a scene filled with laughter; and sitting through Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, a movie positively atrocious to the Christmas-spirited Lily), the two come to know each other intimately. Before they even meet each other, they know each other’s secrets and dreams. The developing relationship is fluid, but not without its share of drama and complications. Tender and witty, readers will find themselves rooting for the blooming romance.
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan make a brilliant team, with their unique voices. They harmonize in the manner of whimsy evident in all their writing. As different as their voices are their characters, but it all works together so well. While the teenagers are hardly realistic, especially in the case of Dash, they remain believable, existing through their fantastic portrayal. Told in alternating chapters from Dash and Lily’s views, readers are taken on a trip through New York City, in to each others’ heads, and meet a cast of delightfully quirky characters. Both socially awkward and bookish, Dash and Lily take solace in each others' company, albeit not in person. Lacking parental guardians, despite Lily’s wealth of zany family members throughout the city, the teens adventure through their own hometown, through Christmas, snow, and festivity.
I thought this would be a cute read, having been entertained by the film version of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (written by the same co-authors as this book). I was also looking for a break from heavier books for a while. However, it is definitely a juvenile fiction item in all respects, and was too childish/hokey for me to really enjoy. I had a hard time getting through it. I'm sure a 11-14 year old girl would find it fun.
Such an adorable book. I'm never let down by David Levithan.
LOVED this book!!! The characters were well created and expansive. The plot and storylines were hilarious - there were many parts where I was laughing a lot while reading. I hope there's a sequel soon!!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I. loved. this. book.
I picked this up with some trepidation since I wasn't a big fan of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, but I fell head over heels after Lily's first POV section.
First of all, the premise is designed to entrap book lovers everywhere. A journal of scavenger hunt clues hidden in your favorite bookstore? Bestill my heart. I would have been happy with the book with just this idea to start with, but Dash and Lily also got me by the feels. Dash's POV, admittedly, does not sound anything like a teenage boys' voice (except the teenage boys in my dreams when I was of that age ANYway...), and some of the dialogue throughout the book came off as unrealistic (John Green esque you could say) but I honestly DO NOT CARE. There, I said it. Half the time, realistically written teens are hella annoying anyway.
The stories' themes on Christmas and family weren't super in your face, but just enough there to mark this clearly as a Christmas novel in my mind. I also really enjoyed the ideas explored concerning building up people inside your head, your "dream other half", and how expectation never quite adds up to reality, and that's okay!!
I'd highly recommend this book, especially for the Christmas/New Years time! I read it mostly lining up to the corresponding days in the header of each chapter, and it was truly delightful.
I picked this up with some trepidation since I wasn't a big fan of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, but I fell head over heels after Lily's first POV section.
First of all, the premise is designed to entrap book lovers everywhere. A journal of scavenger hunt clues hidden in your favorite bookstore? Bestill my heart. I would have been happy with the book with just this idea to start with, but Dash and Lily also got me by the feels. Dash's POV, admittedly, does not sound anything like a teenage boys' voice (except the teenage boys in my dreams when I was of that age ANYway...), and some of the dialogue throughout the book came off as unrealistic (John Green esque you could say) but I honestly DO NOT CARE. There, I said it. Half the time, realistically written teens are hella annoying anyway.
The stories' themes on Christmas and family weren't super in your face, but just enough there to mark this clearly as a Christmas novel in my mind. I also really enjoyed the ideas explored concerning building up people inside your head, your "dream other half", and how expectation never quite adds up to reality, and that's okay!!
I'd highly recommend this book, especially for the Christmas/New Years time! I read it mostly lining up to the corresponding days in the header of each chapter, and it was truly delightful.
I'm not one who usually watches the movie or TV show before reading the book first, but I admit that I watched Dash & Lily on Netflix last Christmas. So, I have been looking forward to reading the trilogy this holiday season.
I listened to the audiobook version of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, which I enjoyed because of its easy listening. The book alternates between two voice actors for Dash and Lily, and is 6 hours in total so it is short and quick to listen to.
The story is a cute YA Christmas romance where Dash finds a notebook in his favorite bookstore that is written with a secret code daring him to take this exhilarating adventure with a mysterious girl. Lily, the girl, is a sweet innocent character who loves everything about the holidays, while Dash is consistently referred to as snarly and, of course, hates the holidays. The two POVs for the main characters alternate each chapter as they task each other with new dares throughout New York City leading up to the Christmas holiday while they learn new things about one another. Throughout the plot, readers are introduced to different side characters that help define the characteristics of Dash and Lily. After running around the city searching for the notebook and the next clue, the MCs decide to finally meet each other, which ultimately happens in an untimely manner that damages initial expectations. They eventually give each other a last chance to see if the person they met through the pages of the red moleskin notebook meets their anticipations of true love.
I thought the story was cute and I found some parts absolutely hilarious. I like the overall concept of two strangers falling in love through the pages of a notebook (big fan of You've Got Mail here). I think the book would have been better if it was written from the perspective of adults rather than teens because I struggled to find the situations and characters believable. For example, Dash is written as if he is in his thirties, while Lily is appropriately written as a sixteen-year-old girl or younger. I can't imagine parents intentionally leaving their teenager home for the holidays while they vacation in Fiji unless this is a Home Alone situation, but clearly is not. The whole moving to Fiji subplot wasn't addressed at the end of the book either, which was added in the TV show, so maybe it is resolved in the second book. However, I do believe teens would finagle their way into being home alone for the holidays by telling divorced parents that they are with the other, especially if the parents are not on talking terms. Also, Dash being described as snarly was fine at first, but by the end of the book, I couldn't take much more of the word snarl or snarly due to the overabundance. On the note of characters, I couldn't stand the chapters with Boomer, Dash's best friend, because he seemed more like a child in middle school rather than a teenager. Now, I have nothing against children in middle school, the character just didn't work for me on a realistic level to think that he was a teen. I'm not sure if it was the way this character was narrated in the audiobook or the writing in general, but I much preferred Boomer in the TV show.
Alright, rant over, other than some character flaws, I thought the book was enjoyable and shared a lot of cute and funny moments between the MCs. I thought it was great that the authors included LGBTQIA representation (Lily's brother and his boyfriend) and supportive family/friendship dynamics. I'm also all for HEAs, so the ending was satisfying for me. I will most definitely rewatch the Netflix show now to get all the cutesy feels for Christmas.
On to read books two and three!
I listened to the audiobook version of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, which I enjoyed because of its easy listening. The book alternates between two voice actors for Dash and Lily, and is 6 hours in total so it is short and quick to listen to.
The story is a cute YA Christmas romance where Dash finds a notebook in his favorite bookstore that is written with a secret code daring him to take this exhilarating adventure with a mysterious girl. Lily, the girl, is a sweet innocent character who loves everything about the holidays, while Dash is consistently referred to as snarly and, of course, hates the holidays. The two POVs for the main characters alternate each chapter as they task each other with new dares throughout New York City leading up to the Christmas holiday while they learn new things about one another. Throughout the plot, readers are introduced to different side characters that help define the characteristics of Dash and Lily. After running around the city searching for the notebook and the next clue, the MCs decide to finally meet each other, which ultimately happens in an untimely manner that damages initial expectations. They eventually give each other a last chance to see if the person they met through the pages of the red moleskin notebook meets their anticipations of true love.
I thought the story was cute and I found some parts absolutely hilarious. I like the overall concept of two strangers falling in love through the pages of a notebook (big fan of You've Got Mail here). I think the book would have been better if it was written from the perspective of adults rather than teens because I struggled to find the situations and characters believable. For example, Dash is written as if he is in his thirties, while Lily is appropriately written as a sixteen-year-old girl or younger.
Spoiler
I can't pull myself within the story enough to believe that a sixteen-year-old loves the Old English Dictionary and wants all twenty unabridged volumes for Christmas.Alright, rant over, other than some character flaws, I thought the book was enjoyable and shared a lot of cute and funny moments between the MCs. I thought it was great that the authors included LGBTQIA representation (Lily's brother and his boyfriend) and supportive family/friendship dynamics. I'm also all for HEAs, so the ending was satisfying for me. I will most definitely rewatch the Netflix show now to get all the cutesy feels for Christmas.
On to read books two and three!
I really enjoyed this a second time but also was able to pick out some of the flaws within it therefore knocking it down a star.
Its stars come from David Leviathan's beautiful writing of Dash for me, the bookish feel and the, yes cheesy but ultimately fun, aspect of Christmastime in New York with such a unique twist.
I think this is a perfect light and fluffy read while also being able to go a bit deeper on themes of love and "the person inside our head"
Overall, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is a wonderful story.
Its stars come from David Leviathan's beautiful writing of Dash for me, the bookish feel and the, yes cheesy but ultimately fun, aspect of Christmastime in New York with such a unique twist.
I think this is a perfect light and fluffy read while also being able to go a bit deeper on themes of love and "the person inside our head"
Overall, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is a wonderful story.