MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

by Rachel Cohn

🌶️🌶️mild·Dash & Lily #1·Ongoing Series
3.7 on Goodreads (102,636)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A pitch-perfect holiday romance told through a notebook of dares. The dual POV format (Cohn writes Dash, Levithan writes Lily) gives each voice genuine personality, and the NYC setting is practically a character.

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 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.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

NON-ROMANTASY FLAG: This is a YA contemporary holiday romance with zero fantasy elements. No magic, no supernatural creatures, no alternate worlds. It is a sweet Christmas scavenger-hunt love story set in NYC. Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (of Nick and Norah fame). There is a sequel (The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily) and a Netflix adaptation. Should be reviewed for whether it belongs in a romantasy-focused catalog—it does not fit the genre.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.74 ★ (102.6k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

260 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2010

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Contemporary Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Dual Narration (M+F)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Ryan Gesell, Tara Sands

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
meet cuteholiday romanceopposites attractbet/wager romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

whimsicalromanticplayfulheartwarminglightheartedcozynostalgichumorous

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

wittyconversationalbanter-heavyhumorouswhimsical

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

light

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

low

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

scavenger hunt love story across NYC at Christmasnotebook pen pals who dare each other into romanceStrand Bookstore as matchmakerholidays in New York through two very different eyeshipster cynicism meets holiday optimism

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

sunshine/optimistbookworm/scholar

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

scholar/intellectualrogue/scoundrel

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

bantergrumpy sunshinemutual piningintellectual connection

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

closed doorromantic / sweetplayful / fun

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

playful bantertensionanticipation

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (1)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
substance abuse
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

contemporary

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

big city / metropolislibrary

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

humans only

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

gayLGBTQ+ Identity

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

feel-goodthe swoonromantic fulfillmentpure joy

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

christmas

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

holiday seasoncozy eveningbedtimelazy Sundaypalate cleanser read

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.260
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2010
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.74 ★ (102.6k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Dash & Lily #1
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Similar Books

Cover of Love on the Brain

Love on the Brain

Ali Hazelwood

🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
forced proximityenemies to loversslow burn
Cover of Story of My LifeKU

Story of My Life

Story Lake, #1

Lucy Score

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
forced proximityhomecoming / small town returnfake dating
Cover of Act Your Age, Eve Brown

Act Your Age, Eve Brown

The Brown Sisters, #3

Talia Hibbert

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
forced proximityworkplace romanceopposites attract
Cover of Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

When in Rome, #3

Sarah Adams

🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV
enemies to loversforced proximityrivals to lovers
Cover of The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2)KU

The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2)

Off-Campus, #2

Elle Kennedy

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
second chancesports romancecollege romance
Cover of Funny Story

Funny Story

Emily Henry

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️·first person
fake datingforced proximityroommates
Cover of The Cheat Sheet

The Cheat Sheet

The Cheat Sheet, #1

Sarah Adams

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
fake datingfriends to loversathlete romance
Cover of Fangirl Down

Fangirl Down

Big Shots, #1

Tessa Bailey

🌶️🌶️·dual POV
grumpy sunshinesports romanceopposites attract