Review: Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Series: Standalone

Published: May 23rd, 2006

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

183 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Contemporary young adult

Acquired this book:

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Read my review of Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

 

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

 

For such a short book, I was left with a lot of mixed feelings about Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. There were parts of this story that I absolutely loved, but parts that I disliked so much it was hard to keep going at times. I was ready to give up from the very first chapter, but I stuck with it and I’m glad I did because for the most part I enjoyed this book.

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist takes place in the span of just a few hours. Nick and Norah meet in a club after Nick’s band plays, and the two of them go on this crazy adventure of getting to know each other, helping each other get over their respective exes, and learning a bit about life and love along the way. I loved the dialogue between the two - it was funny and sometimes even sweet, but their inner dialogue often drove me crazy because it was so chaotic it was hard to follow. There were moments that were surprisingly poignant, and for the most part I enjoyed these characters, and I also really liked that the story was told in alternating perspectives.

If you’re easily offended this is not the book for you. I don’t mind swearing but the gratuitous use of the word ‘fuck’ made me want to throw the book across the room. On one page I decided to count and Nick used the word 25 times. On one page! It was a little much. There’s also talk of religion, politics, sexuality, and other things that might be offensive to some people.

Overall, this was a quick, mostly enjoyable read. If you like books set in New York City, stories that revolve around music, and quirky humour, you should give this book a try.

“I shouldn’t want the song to end. I always think of each night as a song. Or each moment as a song. But now I’m seeing we don’t live in a single song. We move from song to song, from lyric to lyric, from chord to chord. There is no ending here. It’s an infinite playlist.” ~ Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist

Have you read Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist? What did you think? Have you seen the movie? I haven’t seen it yet but I’ve wanted to for awhile, and now I’m even more curious to see it after reading the book. 

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

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

Series: Standalone

Published: October 26th, 2010

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

260 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Contemporary young adult

Acquired this book: From the library

Warning: May contain spoilers

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“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 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. 

On the surface, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares seems like a fun read about what happens when a teenage boy and girl leave messages for each other in a red notebook and send each other on dares around New York City. While that aspect of the story was well done, a lot of fun, and often really funny, the book was about more than that - it was about possibilities, change, being open to things, taking risks, and learning some of the truths about life.

I’ll admit that at first I had mixed feelings about Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares. While I enjoyed the dares and the back-and-forth between the characters in the notebook, I had a little trouble getting past just how different Dash and Lily were from most characters. The way they talked, the way they thought, their behavior - it was so different, but I embraced it and them and ended up loving them.

Lily is overprotected, sheltered, and naïve. At times she seemed much younger than sixteen, while Dash often seemed much older. They appeared to be an unlikely pair, but they brought out the best in each other, even before they finally met. I connected with both of them more than I expected I would, and I also loved the secondary characters, particularly Great-aunt Ida and Boomer. They added a lot of humour and depth to the story. 

A quick, fun read that’s perfect for the holiday season - or any time of year - particularly if you enjoy books set in New York City, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares is sweet, funny, quirky, charming, and unexpectedly enchanting. 

 

Have you read Dash & Lily's Book of Dares? What did you think? If you found a red notebook in a bookstore and discovered it was full of dares, what would you do?

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