At the urge of her lucky-in-love brother, sixteen-year-old Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on her favourite bookshop shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. Curious, Dash isn’t one to back down from a challenge – and the Book of Dares is the perfect distraction he’s been looking for. As they send each other on a scavenger hunt across Manhattan, a whirlwhind romance ensues on paper. But finding out if they share their on-page chemistry in real life could be their biggest dare yet….
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is everything I want from a young adult romance: clever, cosy and full of heart. The epistolary structure is an absolute joy as the back-and-forth dares and notes create such momentum, and it's impossible not to root for Dash and Lily as their voices slowly unfold. This is festive without being saccharine, wholesome without being dull, and genuinely funny in places. New York at Christmas feels like a character in its own right, adding warmth and sparkle to an already charming story. It perfectly captures that fluttery feeling of connection, vulnerability, and hope that defines the very best YA romances. I'd happily recommend this to my older students at work; it's ideal for readers looking for romance that's thoughtful, kind, and a little bit magical. A seasonal comfort read that still feels timeless. And sometimes, even us grown ups can enjoy a spot of YA reading. For me, a pleasant and surprising 5 Stars!
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