Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760878283.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. A reprint tying in with the Netflix series,
readers will be sure to enjoy the original book first printed in
2010. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again produced a sparkling
collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash, passing
dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a shelf
in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge over
the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They both
have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares, but
will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the witty
repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken
up with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more
enjoyable and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of
books and the many literary allusions made the story one for book
lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out
for his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her
gradual coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended
family that she could manage on her own. All the supporting
characters were well rounded and interesting, especially Lily's
homosexual brother Langston, who instigates the notebook dare and
Boomer, Dash's friend. These supporting characters added to the
depth of the story and gave the reader an insight in Dash and Lily's
personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an
engrossing romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Their story continues in The
twelve days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap,
Dash & Lily.
Pat Pledger