Review: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares 

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Hardcover, 260 pages
Published October 26th 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Other works by these authors:

A Long Story...Short!

This book is something very special. You can never know for sure, of course, but I don't think you're going to find something like this again very soon. Because Dash and Lily are...real people in a real world with real lives. Teenagers that don't get wasted or do stupid things, but who actually think about the world and life and its purpose and who stay true to themselves instead of pretending. I thought I'd have to wait until Christmas to read this book, but while it's great company during the holidays you can read it whenever. I recommend now, though. Like...right at this moment.

Rating: 3/3 Smarties

Review for You: 

Actually, I don't have all that much to say about Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. You know when you pick up a book and every page is like ice cream slowly dissolving on your tongue. Yeah, like that. I fell in love with both, Dash and Lily. Dash is just a super sympathetic guy - not as seemingly brainless as some other members of his age group/gender. He has this calm, thoughtful aspect to him which I really loved. I can totally imagine marrying him. And Lily is just funny. And nice. She's that totally likable girl that just assumes no one her ages wants to be friends with her. 

Not only the characters in this novel are unique, though - their voices are, as well. Often, the problem with books told from two points of view bother me because you can't tell there are two different people speaking. With two authors, that problem is solved, of course, but I think these authors weren't just good, they were great at giving their characters their own voices - and at doing it consistently. Lily was not just quirky during the first few pages, but throughout the whole novel. 

Also, I liked how Dash and Lily were both developing as the story progressed, I could always follow their actions, then their thoughts, then see how what they had experienced changed them a little bit.

All in all, you probably guessed what I'd tell you: if you don't read this novel, you miss out on something very sweet and very beautiful. By the way, it doesn't matter if you like contemporary or not. You will like this novel anyway.

Review for me:

Favorite Quote( this is only one out of MANY):
“There are just lots of possibilities in the world...I need to keep my mind open for what could happen and not decide that the world is hopeless if what I want to happen doesn't happen. Because something else great might happen in between.”

What I Learned From this Book: To just be myself. And to let life lead me to wherever, whenever. To not worry too much. To go out there and see and experience the world around me. Every shiny, lively element of it.

What I want to remember from this book: How Dash decided to spend his Christmas Eve. And how jealous I was that he could do it. Without thinking he was weird. He just did what he felt like doing, no matter what others consider normal. No, actually the fact that Dash and Lily always did what they felt like doing. That they could be themselves without wasting a second to care about what other people think!

When should I reread this book? The holidays! Or, when I struggle to be myself again. When I need someone or something to remind me to just trust whatever feels good and right to me. That it's okay to be a bit weird.