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

Summary from Goodreads:

"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 "New York Times" 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? 
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

I had a hard time coming up with a review for Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. It happens every time I truly adore a book. It just had me from the first page. I knew right then and there that this'll be something that I will love.

It is only apt that the authors decided to have Dash and Lily's names on the title of this book because they are stellar characters. Dash, I happen to love more than Lily. There is just something endearing about this smart-ass, Christmas-hating, persnickety, and snarly boy. And then there is Lily's opposite personality of positivist  holiday-loving, fun-filled, sunshiney girl. But both are unusual kids, quirky and different. It also doesn't hurt that both are book and word nerds, something that I can relate to.   

It all started with a red moleskin notebook, a vessel that carried their communication back and forth. While the so-called dares were fun to read. Thrusting Scrooge Dash into the commercial world of the holidays via Santa malls and the throngs of the Christmas shopping rush hour and touristy areas. Putting wholesome sweet Lily outside of her comfort zone via night clubs and back of the store toy warehouse. But it's really the questions and the answers that they volley back and forth that pulled me in. The bits that they write which gives away a little of who they are each time, to each other. The notebook acted like a journal which they both shared. The profundity of these two kids just surprised me. I could find a hundred quotable quotes all throughout the story. I found myself nodding, uh huh-ing, and this-is-so-true-ing, a couple of times.  And it has none of the looking-at-each-other-from-afar, pakipot, campy, romance. It was the sweet, subtle, and unexpected kind. Very wholesome. There were certain parts that seemed far fetched, like the whole baby thing which I won't elaborate further to avoid any spoilers.  

All in all, it's just a lovely book. I am going to kick myself for this simile but there is no other way to describe the book. It's like a hot cocoa on a cold winter's day. It will warm you up and give you a sugar high just like Lily's lebkuchen spice cookies. It made my Christmas all the more Christmasy. :D