Published 26 October 2010
Summary - 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?
I am going to be shallow and admit that the number one reason why I wanted to read this book so much was the cover. Plus, who DOESN'T want to imgaine that there is some (super hot) guy out there who is willing to accept random challenges that you have laid out in a little red notebook hid in only *the* best bookstore in the city? As so, me and the book bonded over our mutual love of random occurances, notebooks and bookshops and most important of all THE JOY THAT IS CHRISTMAS.
Told from alternating points of view, we get to see a little into both Dash's (Dash's's?!) and Lily's head, which i think was crucial to the story because really, Dash and Lily weren't all that similar, except in the notion that they were fanciful enough to wander round the city and leave each other rather personal and heartfelt entries in a red moleskin. Dash with his super cute if a little intense obession with words. Lily with her naievty and knowledge that she was more than a little kooky. There are so many things I loved about the book. The fact that Lily feels the same as me about Hermione. The way that Dash wants a OED. The way Lily loves christmas so much because it truly is the most magical time in the world. Not to mention it's like a free excuse to drink in the daytime, because DER, it's the holidays. The witty one liners, namely, the scene with the king of christmas himself anf the envelope? Crap, I have never laughed so hard at such a simple line. You know which one right?
One of the best parts? I've always really thought of NYC as this magical place, where anything is possible, where nobody every sleeps and something amazing is ALWAYS happening, even in horrid places like grimey alleys and rundown hotels. Reading this book made me even more excited for my trip to the city this summer. I want to go and get lost in the miles and miles of bookshelves in the strand. I want to bug the guys at the information desk and regale them with random tales of my life in England. I want to go to the heaven that is described as Max Brenner where you can buy chocolate injections. CHOCOLATE INJECTIONS!!!! I even went online because surely this miracle was made up, as most literary works are conjured from people's imaginations, and OMG IT'S REAL!!
The story is built upon a seemingly carefree and unusual romance between two teenagers conversing through a notebook. It starts off quite laid back laced through with witty moments, and then takes a sharp turn to seriousnessville, and it weirded me out that the authors had choose to take the story down that particular route. Now, I may be being cynical here, but the exploration of how relationships work, and how dastardly they can be, took me out of the enjoyment for a while, because it seemed like I was being TOLD how introspective the characters actually were. Like I was being told, HEY LOOK, this isn't just a nice romance, it's also very very very intelligent. But still, I laughed my arse off. I wish they would stick to comedy in the future. Just pure comedy gold.
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