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

Published: 5th April
Publisher: Electric Monkey
Format: Kindle
Synopsis: Sam and Ilsa Kehlmann have spent most of their high school years throwing dinner parties, and now they’ve prepared their final blowout, just before graduation. The rules for the twins are simple: they each get to invite three guests, and the other twin doesn’t know who’s coming until the guests 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 – in rather surprising ways.

Writing this review is going to be one of the hardest things i've ever done - because I really just did not like it. It hurts even to type that! Rachel Cohn & David Levithan have been my writing duo heroes for a LONG time now. Their books are my absolute favourites (particularly Dash & Lily) and there are literally no words to describe how happy I was when I found out they were releasing a new book - and that I got it early. So what went wrong? *sigh*

Right from the off I disliked both Sam & Ilsa which is uh, kind of a big problem when the entire book is about them, their relationship with each other and their relationship with everyone else. I honestly just didn't care what they were going through. They were pretentious, terrible friends and really annoying to have to be with for an extended period of time.

It was really difficult to keep track of who was talking, which POV I was in etc as there wasn't a lot of substance to Sam or Ilsa for me to be able to easily identify them. It almost felt like Cohn & Levithan were trying really hard to be wacky with the dinner guests but they were actually completely overlooked. It was nearing the end of the book before I could even remember who their friend were. I think at one point a character appeared after being missing for a while and it genuinely took me a hot second to realise they weren't a new character and/or that that character had even been gone. It was kind of all over the place.

I'd say the most interesting character was their Grandmother and she didn't even feature in the book other than someone they occasionally talked about. I considered that maybe I was just too old to enjoy these books now but I was 100% here for Twelve Days of Dash & Lily book which only came out early last year so it can't be that. It's going to be very interesting to go and read reviews after this and see what everyone else thinks about it!

I wanted to love it wholeheartedly. I want Sam & Ilsa to be added to my list of fictional best friends. I wanted to throw a dinner party inspired by this book. None of those things happened. Honestly, I over-rated it on Goodreads purely because there's a sneaky little Nick & Norah reference and I was so overwhelmingly happy about it that I momentarily forgot that this didn't meet my standards.

I still love Cohn & Levithan. I'm going to definitely re-read this in a few months and reevaluate my opinion (we all have months of meh reading!). I haven't given up! But for now, if you're wanting something to blow you away - this isn't it.

Caragh Reviews - Are We There Yet? by David Levithan

Published - 5th February 2007
Publisher - Harper Collins
Format - Paperback
Synopsis - Sixteen-year-old Elijah is completely mellow and his 23-year-old brother Danny is completely not, so it's no wonder they can barely tolerate one another. So what better way to repair their broken relationship than to trick them into taking a trip to Italy together? Soon, though, their parents' perfect solution has become Danny and Elijah's nightmare as they're forced to spend countless hours "together." But then Elijah meets Julia, and soon the brothers aren't together nearly as much. And when Julia suddenly decides that maybe it's Danny she's really interested in, Danny has a decision to make: does he honor his relationship with the brother he thinks hates him, or does he follow his heart, which sorely needs some repairing of its own?

Christmas Day, 2011. That was the day I discovered David Levithan and since then I just can't get enough of his writing. There's just something about Levithan that really appeals to me. Though it feels like it's leaning towards YA, it also deals with very adult issues too such as sex, family, careers - particularly in Are We There Yet? Unlike his co-written books with Rachel Cohn, it took longer than usual to really get to know the Danny and Elijah but interestingly, by the end of the book I felt incredibly close to them. That's probably helped by the fact that we learn things about Danny that Elijah doesn't know and vice versa. 

On the surface, Are We There Yet? is a book about two brothers who, somewhere along the way, became separated and who are forced together on a trip to Italy. The book is split into each place they travel and Levithan applies some great travel writing, showing us the sights and sounds of Italy as well as unraveling the layers between Danny and Elijah. 

The plot was simple, easy to read and thought-provoking as always and Levithan has only moved further up on my list of favourite authors. I'd recommend him to anyone aged 16+ or mature younger readers (some adult content in his books!)

Review // Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List - Levithan & Cohn

Published - 26th August 2008
Publisher - Ember

Format - Paperback
Goodreads Synopsis - Naomi and Ely are best friends. Naomi loves and is in love with Ely, and Ely loves Naomi, but prefers to be in love with boys. So they create their "No Kiss List" of people neither of them is allowed to kiss. And this works fine - until Bruce. Bruce is Naomi's boyfriend, so there's no reason to put him on the List. But Ely kissed Bruce even though he is boring. The result: a rift of universal proportions and the potential end of "Naomi and Ely: the institution." Can these best friends come back together again?

After being a long time fan of the film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, last year I discovered the book by Levithan & Cohn. I immediately read the book, followed by Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (which has since become my most adored book) and now this, the wonderful Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List.

It took me longer to get into the book than it did with the others but Levithan & Cohn are such brilliant writers, that before long I was deeply engrossed and couldn't get enough. It's a shorter than average book but I read it in just 3 hours! The thing I love most about Levithan & Cohn is that there characters are always flawed - completely loveable and relateable. 

As always with these two authors, my book is now covered in post-its of lines that I love and don't want to forget. The authors are not afraid to say it how it is and are open to discussing sex, sexuality, family breakdowns, what love is and what it means to be a friend. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List is scattered with references to music (with Gabriel's playlists amongst others), television (LOTS of spoilers for Buffy & Dawson's Creek!) and the thing that got me the most was the repetition of the Nick & Norah reference from both Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. Though none of these books are related in anyway, they always find themselves in that same bathroom... It was just brilliant to read and had me nostalgic for quite a while. And of course the drag queens. 

I would definitely recommend not just this book but anything by the two authors, David Levithan & Rachel Cohn. Now that i've exhausted their joint books, I look forward to seeing what they do as single authors.

Review // Dash & Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

Published - 11th October 2011
Published By - Ember (Random House)
Format - Paperback
Goodreads Sypnosis - 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?

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is the third book that Cohn and Levithan have produced together. As a fan of their work, I can happily say that this book did not disappoint. In fact, it has now become my favourite book of all-time. The journey that Dash & Lily take in the game of dares is one of sadness, joy, friendship, love and a journey of self discovery for both Dash, Lily and the reader.


Questions are raised in this book, which I have found with most YA books, about growing up, belief and what it means to be yourself. I really connected with this book on a level that is hard to explain. 


I found my nerd senses tingling at the discussion of words, and was particularly moved (if that's the right word) by Dash's hopes to own the unabridged OED. What literary nerd doesn't want that?
I stuck post it notes all over this book referring to lines that made me think and that I felt attached to. Which, by the way, is something that is mentioned in this book! There were so many things that I loved so here's just a quick few.

I loved the relationship between Lily and Mrs Basil E. It's a similar relationship that I have with my own family and it was so refreshing to see it.  It was easy and relaxed and you could feel the carefree atmosphere through the interactions.


The reference to Nick & Norah (of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist) was lovely! I loved that the little bit they put in was there and I immediately felt safe. It was written in such a great way that even those who haven't read their previous book wouldn't feel like they missed out on something.


Last but not least, was the explanation of why Dash didn't want to give his name. It was so beautiful that I have to share this line, "I'd like to remain at that one delicate remove, so you can get to know me without the distraction of other people's noise". SO GOOD.


I could write about this book forever and keep finding new things that are simply perfect but there are too many books out there waiting to be discovered :) So I will leave you with another piece of this book, which I think not only explains Dash & Lily, but explains my reading experience of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares.


I urge you to read this book!

We are reading the story of our lives

As though we were in it,

As though we had written it.

Review // Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Nick's just seen the girl who dumped him walk in...with a new guy. What else can he do but ask the strange girl next to him to be his new girlfriend for the next five minutes?
     Norah would do anything to avoid conversation with the not not-friend girl who dumped Nick...and to get over the Evil Ex whom Norah never really totally dumped. What else can she do but answer Nick's question by making out with him?
     With one electric, unexpected kiss, the five-minute couple of Nick and Norah set off on an un-charted adventure called the "first date" that will turn into an infinite night of falling in and out (and in and out, and maybe in and maybe out) of love. Theirs is a first date of music, laughter, heartache, confusion, passion, taxi driver wisdom, and a jacket named Salvatore. And of course a killer soundtrack.
     As Nick and Norah wander through the middle-of-the-night mystic maze of Manhattan, they share the kind of night you want to never end, where every minute counts and every moment flickers between love and disaster.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist was given to me as a Christmas gift. I have been a fan of the film since its release in 2008 and until recently I had no idea that it was based on a book. It is my second time reading a co-written book starring David Levithan (unfortunately I didn't get chance to review it!) but my first time reading something by Rachel Cohn.

I loved the dynamics between Nick and Norah! Sometimes, when you read a book about teenagers in love, it can get a bit too much. Too much gushing and fawning over each other and making you want to vomit but this is different. We hear the inner thoughts of both Nick and Norah and of course they talk about the things they like about each other but more importantly we learn about THEM.
From the meeting of the characters to the inevitable end, we are taken on an adventure in which they discover love and arguably the main thing; they discover themselves. Both Nick and Norah are striving to get over a bad breakup and let's be honest - who hasn't been there? ;)

I particularly liked the music references throughout the book. The blurb mentions a killer soundtrack and it's not lying! I found myself looking up songs on YouTube to set the mood and it was refreshing. I thought that the idea of 'Salvatore' was really cute too. Many times i've worn boyfriends clothes or whatever and it's just felt nice, and makes you feel close to them when they're not around. It's something simple but it really works.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves YA books, and music lovers. Of course, it's a book for anyone, but I think music lovers in particular will enjoy Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist.


Books Read in 2012 - 3.
Currently Reading - Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare / A Study In Scarlet - Arthur Conan Doyle