View source for Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

{{infobox2
|title=Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
|author=Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Teens
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1848451728
|pages=272
|publisher=MIRA Ink
|date=October 2012
|aznuk=1848451725
|aznus=1848451725
|cover=1848451725
|website=http://www.rachelcohn.com/
|video=
|summary=Ultra-sweet read with two fabulous narrators who have excellent chemistry between them. A Christmas must-read.
}}
Just before Christmas, sixteen-year-old Lily leaves a notebook on the shelf of her favourite bookshop, in an effort to find the kind of love that has made her brother so happy. Dash finds it and follows the instructions, setting off a chain of passing the book back and forth trading their hopes and dreams. Could the two be just as right for each other in person as they are in writing?

This is a reread for me - I read it two years ago near Christmas time and reached for it again this year. I have to admit, originally, I struggled with the first quarter of the book - Dash is super-snarky and it took me a while to get into his voice. Once I got used to it, however, I absolutely adored this book. (Interestingly, I'm finding his early sections much easier to read this time around.) There's a pair of fabulous narrators, an intriguing plot, and some wonderful supporting characters. I particularly liked the chemistry between Dash and Lily despite them not actually meeting until fairly late in the novel - their notes to each other really do a great job of teasing out both of their characters, and the dares they take part in are silly but fun. It also captures the atmosphere of both the setting of New York City and the timing of the Christmas period perfectly.

I've mentioned recently that the amount of Christmas-themed YA books out there is rather low, but that's made up for by the quality of what's available. I think that this is just about the best of all of the ones that I've found - it's a short and light read, but it's surely got to put a massive smile on your face as you get to know both characters, and the lovably eccentric supporting cast. Hugely recommended; this is one you'll want to read over and over again (especially at Christmas time.)

The other two Christmas-themed YA ones I've read in the last couple of years are [[My True Love Gave to Me by Stephanie Perkins (Editor)]] and [[Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle]]. Both are hugely recommended!

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[[Category:Rachel Cohn]]
[[Category:David Levithan]]