My review of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares bu David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Release Date: October 26th, 2010 (US), October 5, 2012 (UK)
Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository

“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 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?

When I first heard of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares I expected an edgy and romantic novel full of hard-core dares, not a short and unsatisfying read. I really wanted to love this book but at times I found it boring and I wanted to put it down. However, the characters are likable and there are some funny moments that will brighten your mood.

Basically, this book is about a boy named Dash who finds a book in his local book shop daring him to take on the challenges it has in store for him. He doesn't know that the book belongs to a girl named Lily who's just looking for a guy who shares her quirky interests. Together they take it in turns to write in the book and leaving it in a secret place. They slowly fall for each other on paper but what will happen when they meet for real?

What frustrated me about this book was the fact that the characters did not meet until the last quarter of the book. I turned every page thinking, "When are they going to freakin' meet already?" Let's not even mention the boring life stories that went on and on. I do know that that's part of getting to know each other and all, but I just got really bored reading endless diary entries that seemed to be going around in circles with absolutely no purpose.

The characters were interesting, they led very different lives with different motivations. I enjoyed reading about their lives when they were not on a silly book hunting game. The title of this book suggests Dash and Lily daring each other to do things by communicating through the book. Sadly, that's not what happens. They just write about their lives and tell the other to leave the book at the place they dare them to go. Boring, boring, boring. Yawn.

I didn't hate this book, I just didn't love it. I must admit that it did keep me entertained for the period of time it took me to find another book and some bits of the book was actually quite fun and I did enjoy. Don't get the wrong impression and think that the whole entire book is boring because it isn't. There were a few chapters that made me smile and laugh. 

If your looking for an exciting and heart-racing book full of adventures and edgy dares then, sorry to break it to you, your not going to find it in Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. On the other hand, if your looking for a short, cute and descriptive book with a teeny sprinkle of first love then this book is for you.

Rating

- Thank you Mira Ink for providing me with a review copy.