Waiting On Wednesday ... Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

*** minor spoilers for the first two books in the series ***

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

Timed to the release of DASH AND LILY on Netflix comes a new helping of love--this time across the pond as best-selling authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan send Dash and Lily to jolly old England.

Dash and Lily are feeling closer than ever...it's just too bad they're also an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York to take care of her dogwalking business, the inseparable couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won't be coming home to New York for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can't come to New York, she'll go to London. But will Lily pull off the ultimate surprise--or will Christmas in London backfire?

The wait for this one isn't very long at all seeing as it comes out next week. If the first two books are any indication this will be an excellent holiday season read!

These books are just adorable and remind me of a warm cup of candy cane hot chocolate.

If you haven't read the first two please do so immediately. There is also a Netflix series coming out November 13th to entice you to read at least the first book before it comes out.

Expected release date - November 3, 2020

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews)

I've had a few fun books make their way into my mailbox this week!

First up is one I borrowed from my friend Ciara.

Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (goodreads) 

Next up is is an exciting package from Simon and Schuster Canada. I huge thank you to them for these amazing sounding reads. I am especially excited about the new Siobhan Vivian!

Love and Luck by Jenny Evans Welch (goodreads)
Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian (goodreads)
Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett (goodreads)

What bookish goodies made their way into your mailbox this week? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Release Date - April 10,  2018
Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 224 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5
**borrowed from a friend**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

The New York Times Bestselling duo behind Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily return with twins out to throw the party of a lifetime--or at least the best party of high school!

Siblings Sam and Ilsa Kehlmann have spent most of their high school years throwing parties for their friends--and now they've prepared their final blowout, just before graduation.

The rules are simple: each twin gets to invite three guests, and the other twin doesn't know who's coming until the partiers show up at the door. With Sam and Ilsa, the sibling revelry is always tempered with a large dose of sibling rivalry, and tonight is no exception.

One night. One apartment. Eight people. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, we all know the answer is plenty. But plenty also goes right, as well...in rather surprising ways.

David Levithan and Rachel Cohn are known for cute, almost rom-com like reads. I enjoyed the previous books they released, and was excited to see that they had a new one coming out. Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah feels a little more serious than their previous works, while still filled with the charm they are known for.

This novel offers up a whimsical dinner party that is filled with an eclectic, larger than life, cast of characters. The characters are a vibrant contrast to the deeper, more serious elements that the novel eventually introduces. There is a lot of heft to this novel that I wasn't expecting and I wish some of these topics had been fleshed out a little more as there was a lot of interesting elements at play within the plot the authors constructed.

Sam is the perfect twin, or that is how everyone sees him He's hiding a lot from those he loves (or at least thinks he is). He's someone who falls in love with pretty boys, and uses cooking as a way to distract himself from some of the things he is dealing with. He struggles with the future, and what he wants from it in a way that is pretty relatable. Who isn't nervous or scared about leaving home for the first time? It is a turbulent time, and filled with unknowns and that is reflected in Sam perfectly.

Ilsa is the twin that is always in trouble. She feels that everyone likes Sam more than her (and admits that she would like him more too if she were someone else). She also thinks she is hiding things from those she loves, and is struggling with letting go. There are many similarities with what Ilsa and Sam are going through, even if they wouldn't admit it to themselves. Ilsa also undergoes a discovery about herself at this party. Ilsa discovering her bisexuality was one of my favourite elements of the novel. It's done in a way that felt realistic. She isn't sure what it means, but she knows she is attracted to Li and wants to see where it goes. It's sweet and filled with promise without being instalove.

The romance between Sam and Johan is sort of a bittersweet one. It's filled with promise and potential but also with a heavy dose of reality. Both of the romances within this novel are pretty realistic in that neither is promising forever. All of these characters are starting off on different journeys. College, and other things, are taking them in various directions. I appreciated that this book didn't try to make these some grand romances. The hint of a possibility and the hope for something more is enough in a case like this, along with the reality that the future could hold endless other possibilities for them.

This novel is really about Sam and Ilsa at its core. It's about the complex dynamics that exist between siblings. It's about the pain and excitement of growing up and growing apart. It's about the fear of starting out on your own and making something that is just yours when you're so used to be part of a set. This dinner part is a goodbye in more ways than one and those emotional beats are perhaps the strongest elements of this novel.

My only real complaint is that the fast, almost frenzied pace, of this novel doesn't really allow for the more serious parts of the novel to breathe. The impact isn't felt as deeply as it could have and that just feels like a missed opportunity. There is a lot to unpack here and I am not sure it got the time to do it.

Fans of David Levithan and Rachel Cohn's other works will find much to love within these pages. Readers who are new to their work will discover a whimsical dinner party that is actually about so much more than you expect when first opening the novel. It's a perfect read for those wanting something quick and enjoyable. 

The Twelve Days Of Dash And Lily

The Twelve Days Of Dash And Lily by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
Release Date - October 18, 2016

Publisher Website - Penguin Random House
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 272 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Cohn and David Levithan are back with a life-affirming Christmas romance starring Dash and Lily.

Dash and Lily have had a tough year since readers first watched the couple fall in love. Lily’s beloved grandfather suffered a heart attack, and his difficult road to recovery has taken a major toll on her typically sunny disposition.

With only twelve days left until Christmas—Lily’s favorite time of the year—Dash, Lily’s brother Langston, and their closest friends take Manhattan by storm to help Lily recapture the holiday magic of New York City in December.

Told in alternating chapters, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily reunites two beloved characters and is bound to be a Christmas favorite, season after season. 

The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily is, at its heart, a holiday story. It captures the essence of the holidays but is also so much more. It's a story of finding yourself after you've been lost. It's about the vulnerability of letting someone in. It's about not having all the answers, but having a little faith in the face of that uncertainty. It's about reclaiming a little of that Christmas magic, even when you feel like it might be permanently lost.

This co-write, like Dash and Lily's Book of Dares, is seamless. The characters voices are so strong and unique that they stand out on their own while still complimenting each other. This creates one cohesive story, which sometimes doesn't happen when more than one writer is involved in creating a novel. The chapters flow into each other, and the pacing remains steady throughout.

The secondary characters have a charm all their own. Some of the are larger than life characters that demand to be noticed, others are the quiet support Dash and Lily need through the ups and downs they are experiencing. It's a quirky, interesting cast of characters that add a little something extra to this already wonderful book.

The humour adds an additional touch to this story. There are plenty of heartwarming moments to be found within these pages, but the humour is really what makes this story work. The more outlandish parts of the story are the ones that shine the brightest and help breathe life into the characters and the story.

The ups and downs of Lily and Dash's relationship are natural for the stage they are at. They felt organic to who the characters were and how they would have progressed. The simple act of communication is key to any relationship and that is certainly lacking between them. There may be moments where you want to scream at them for not opening up to each other, and for assuming things before talking them out, but this path is the one they have to take to get to where they need to be. It's messy, filled with uncertainty and that pretty much defines what love is, particularly in the beginning stages.

A holiday time read for those who are not looking for something sugary sweet, and who like a dose of humour with their holiday cheer. It's a holiday story for those who don't really want a holiday story. I think fans of Dash and Lily's Book Of Dares will be just as charmed by this sequel  and will hope for a third novel to turn these stories into a trilogy. 

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Release Date – May 23, 2006
Publisher – Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages - 183
My Rating- 8/10


Here is the synopsis from Good Reads

So you're a guy; you're at a band show and your ex, the girl who dumped you, walks in with the new guy. Looking for a safe exit, you ask the girl you happen to sitting with to be your girlfriend for five minutes . You're a girl; you're at a get-together and your least favorite female strolls in. The stranger sitting next to you asks you to be his five-minute date. So what do you? You lock lips . Nick and Norah's instant connect begins a roller-coaster "first date" that takes them through Manhattan and into themselves.

I picked this up because I enjoyed Dash and Lily’s book of Dares (see review here). I knew that there was a movie made from this book but had not seen it. I am so glad I hadn’t.

Nick and Norah both seemed very well developed and interesting. As in Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares the authors rotated chapters so we get to see things from each of their points of view. It provided you with two unique perspectives and with two main characters that I fully enjoyed. I liked that they both had their own issues and insecurities. It made them more relatable.

The premise of the book is that a chance encounter leads Nick and Norah to a “first date” that could turn into something more. I love that their meeting didn’t seem unusual. It seemed like it could actually happen. Too often in novels and movies the characters meet in an incredibly cute but illogical way. The highs and lows happen during their date make you realize how unique a first date is. It’s all there - nervousness, hope, interest, and promise. We all look for something on a first date (a relationship, a connection, a spark) and the authors capture that very well. They also capture the self cautiousness, and worry that can also be present.

The most important part of the book is the relationship or non-relationship that it building between Nick and Norah. The chemistry had to be there and the authors made it work. I honestly bought into the chemistry and was hoping for them to get together.

This book is filled with amazing pop culture references. My favourites were the Dirty Dancing and Heathers references. I love both movies so it was awesome to see them quoted. The fact that Nick and Norah played off each other using pop culture references was adorable (it might just be because I love quoting them myself).

The only warning I might give is that there is quite a bit of swearing in the book. It feels like it should be there and seems authentic to the characters so you don’t really notice it, but if you are sensitive to it you may want to consider it before picking up the book.

New York is almost a character itself. Nick dancing in Time Square in the room, to the hot make-out session in a hotel, to the few clubs they visit. You get a sense of what “hipster” New York would be like. The dialogue and locations seemed very “cool” and “hipster”. It was different from Dash and Lily but so much fun to read.

If you enjoyed the previous work by either author, or love pop culture (or even just New York) this is worth a read.

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

Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Release Date – Oct 26, 2010
Publisher – Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages - 272
My Rating- 8/10

Here is the GoodReads synopsis

“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 favourite 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?

One of the things that I thought was interesting about the book right from the beginning was that the authors rotated chapters. I am sure this is common when two authors co-write a book but I think it was highly effective here. You can distinguish the two styles, and it gave Lily and Dash unique voices. I like to imagine the authors not really planning anything out and each having to read the chapter they just received to see how they would proceed with their own next chapter (I am sure I am hugely mistaken).

I loved how funny this book was. It has been awhile since a book made me laugh as much as this one did. OUT LOUD! The baby scene, the sitting on Santa’s lap scene, and Lily talking to her parents were just some of the hilarious scenes that came to mind. It was also easy to like both Dash, Lily and so many of the other characters we meet. Lily’s brother and extended family, Dash’s friends, all made the story what it was. Lily’s shy, quirky, animal loving self is someone I could relate to. Dash was the snarly, sarcastic sense of humour guy with the heart of gold underneath. Loved him so much. I love that he refers to himself as “bookish” it’s probably one of my favourite quotes from the book. Ultimately, I love that both Dash and Lily learn something about themselves and step outside their comfort zone…it’s something everyone should do once and awhile.

The dares themselves were fun (and often funny). The whole concept of this book was adorable to me. It’s something I would totally want to do with a friend for like a Secret Santa thing. However, it really only works because Dash and Lily don’t know each other. It’s a way for them to get to know each other without meeting face to face. The premise is fanciful and almost fairytale romance (it would never happen in real life between strangers) but it was nice to take the journey with them. It made you want to wish for there to be a red moleskin book on the shelf at your local thrift bookstore.

The inclusion of the Christmas season was a nice touch. It fit the warm fuzzy feeling the book gave you and made me want it to be Christmas again. The fact that it took place in NYC was just icing on the cake for me. I have been and fell in love with the city while I was there. Reading about the places they had them visit during the dares made me excited to go back in May.

I ended this book with a huge smile on my face. It’s one of those light, feel good, sweet reads that really just make you happy. I dare you to read it…