Dash & Lily's Book of Dares...

I haven't written a book review in such a long time, for two main reasons.

1. I haven't had much time to read thanks to University assignments.

&

2. When I have had a chance I have been reading Game of Thrones which is hella long.

But now I am done with uni, I have been taking time to relax, and while I am still reading Game of Thrones (and loving it as much as the TV series!) I took a small break and read a short fun YA book. I am linking up with Heather for this one!

The novel is by the authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which I haven't read, but I did enjoy the film. When I saw a review for Dash & Lily I knew I had to give it a go! Fun fact is, the two authors Rachel Cohn & David Levithan write separately  Rachel wrote Lily's chapters and David wrote Dashes and they would email each chapter back and forth with little prior planning. It just seems like such an interesting way to develop separate characters!

“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? 

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

Pros

• The characters are so different. They are developed perfectly throughout the story, you understand why they are the way they are, and you empathise with them. They are both outcasts, but completely uniquely. Lily is a weird, socially awkward "adorkable" character, while Dash is more of a sullen hipster type, with an deep love for the English language.

• Each chapter switches focus between Lily or Dash, giving you the different sides of the stories as they pass the red moleskin back and forth. It is always enjoyable to be able to read the same situation from different points of view, it makes the literary journey more realistic and exciting.

• The story is set around Christmas. Now you may not know this about me, but Christmas is my favourite time of year. I love the films, songs, decorations, trees everything! So setting a novel during Christmas is a sure way to win me over. It also plays an important part in the characters development. Lily is a Christmas fanatic (much like myself) while Dash hates Christmas.

• Contemplation is a huge part of this book. While the characters are only 16, they are very wise and it is shown through the use of language and literary references throughout the book.They discuss the meaning of life and the spirit of Christmas but manage not to stray from the light-hearted nature of the story.

Cons

• The use of language I mentioned previously does at times get out of hand. I found sometimes I didn't understand bits of what was written and could have used a dictionary next to me to look them up. However even though I didn't recognise the words, it wasn't hard to understand what was going on which was good.

• Dashes outlook on Christmas was a bit depressing. He was alone for Christmas by choice, he hated the busy streets and the Christmas displays, and at times it got me down. But this was only a minor con, and it was probably only me who picked up on it.

• Towards the end it does get a little cheesy and melodramatic, some very ridiculous and unrealistic things happen, but it does turn it around in time for a very sweet and romantic ending.

As you can see the pros dramatically outweigh the cons. The book was fun, quirky, witty, and romantic and I would definitely recommend it. It makes me want to leave my own notebook out there, just to see what happens...

So go on, read it... I dare you!