Dash i Lily. Czy to się uda?

Dash & Lily #3

by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan

Dash i Lily byli ze sobą bliżej niż kiedykolwiek... dopóki nie rozdzielił ich ocean. Dash dostaje się na Uniwersytet Oksfordzki, Lily zostaje w Nowym Jorku. Para stara się, aby związek na odległość wypalił. Kiedy jednak Dash informuje dziewczynę, że nie wróci do domu na święta, Lily podejmuje decyzję: jeśli on nie może do niej przyjechać, to ona dołączy do niego w Londynie. Romantyczny poryw serca szybko wymyka się Lily spod kontroli. Niespodziewanie przepaść między dziewczyną a chłopakiem rośnie, mimo że znajdują się w tym samym mieście. Czy Londyn połączy ich na nowo – czy wręcz przeciwnie?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction, Holiday, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2020

About the author

Rachel grew up in the D.C. area and graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in Political Science. She has written many YA novels, including three that she cowrote with her friend and colleague David Levithan. She lives and writes (when she's not reading other people's books, organizing her music library or looking for the best cappuccino) in New York City.

Reviews

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠]

Excuse u BUT:

WHO FORGOT TO TELL ME THAT THIS SERIES WAS GETTING ANOTHER BOOK A N D A Netflix SERIES??????????

[Melina Souza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really hope Netflix continues the series because I'd love to see the second and third books played out on screen. Pleeeease, Netflix!
It was super nostalgic read about Winter Wonderland in London ♡

[Alyssa Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted it to be. I knew the angst would have a happy ending and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I feel so protective of Dash and Lily because they seem so real in a lot of ways and I just love their love.

I feel like I highlighted half of this book, there were so many good quotes!

Honestly I hope there is a 4th book. I will continue reading Dash & Lily adventures until I'm 50 if possible!

-----------------------------------------------
Whaaaaat is this?!?!?!?! I have such a soft spot for Dash & Lily. I'm beyond excited for this book!

[Janne Albert · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the idea of Dash and Lily finding their own way but reading the book just screamed "Privileged" into my face. Like in "I will slap you with how privileged I am". Like a very cringe fanfiction.

I did like that Dash&Lily's relationship had taken a more adult turn but there was too much going on to actually enjoy it. I will just list everything that I did not like but where to start?
- Lily is suddenly a world-known dog influencer. Yes, let's start the cringe there.
- Lily's family is so overreacting that it is cringe. I mean you do not cancel Christmas for the whole 40+ family because "the baby" decided to not follow "the legacy" and wants to find her own way
- Suddenly Dash has a grandmother that is exact equivalent of Mrs. Basil E. (private house in ridiculously expensive neighborhood, knows a LOT of famous people, has good taste) - I mean it was such a copy and paste
- "Oxford sucks" mindset that came from not only Dash but also from other characters and even if it does (which I do not know since I've not studied there myself) I find it very privileged mindset ("Oxford doesn't suit me, so I'll just try somewhere else, like *enter other very hard to get into universities that are out of reach for everyone whose parents aren't made of money or who do not have connections in the school)
- and of course Dash's random classmate in Oxford was Sophia's classmate in high school before Sophia moved to NY. And another equally random connection happens at the end of the story as well and let me tell you: the world is small but not that small.
- which brings us to the next point about connections. Lily's mom has acquaintance at Barnard whose lectures Lily can "check out", Dash's grandmother calling one of the best editors in the world for interview?? What is it saying to the readers?? Of course I am pissed off thinking how much I've worked to get into the publishing world, how much my sister is worrying about getting into a uni in England and how she's going to pay for it! And I know I'm being unjust right now but just knowing that some other people are scraping together all their money and effort in order to make it... Just no.
-and the last one: let's have two christmases because if if we fly to NY at the right time we can celebrate both in London and NY. Good luck with getting the tickets for the right plane and hoping nothing gets delayed. But then again - I'm sure their connections will find a way.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm almost entirely convinced that this book was written solely to bank off of the new Netflix series. It's been what, 4, almost 5 years since the second Dash & Lily book came out? How convenient that the release of the 3rd book corresponds with the premiere of the show (I think not).

Speaking of convenience, there's not a single event that happens in this book that isn't based on convenience or serendipity. I hate when books rely on convenience to move the plot forward. It's so unbelievable. Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily was actually giving the Outlander series a run for its money on the convenience front. Yeah, I know, suspension of disbelief and whatnot, but, it makes for a boring, tedious, and eye-roll inducing read. Almost every aspect of Dash and Lily's New York world somehow makes an appearance in London. Cue eye-roll into the next dimension here.

Don't even get me started on the plot. Complete waste of time and lack of story. Why can't publishers/authors understand that if there isn't a natural story left to tell, that that most likely means the series doesn't need a new book? Oh yeah, they do it because they know suckers like me are going to buy the book anyways, because, how are unsuspecting (okay, somewhat suspecting) readers to know that the book was going to stink without having purchased and then read it? Emphasis on purchase.

Lily gets more annoying with each installment. I wanted to drop kick her back to New York most of the time. Dash deserves better in my opinion. Did I even mention that Dash and Lily are only together for maybe about a quarter of the book? Ugh, what a rip off.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I loved this one! Definitely my favorite installment of the Dash & Lily books! I really hope Netflix continues the TV version so that I can see this book played out on screen! 💚❤️💚❤️

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75/5 Stars.

I was very happy when I heard the news that there will be in fact a third book in Dash & Lily saga.

And since it became a tradition for me to read a Dash & Lily book a day before the year ends, I did the same in 2020 too. So yes, this was my last book of 2020
Oh, and also I read this immediately after I watched Dash & Lily's netflix adaptation.

But I guess I'm kind of (hopefully not entirely) growing out of young adult contemporaries, that's why I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to.

[Eeva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh wow, look, another obvious cash cow being obvious.

This series should have been a standalone and that's a fact. There's no reasom for this book to even exist besides just briong more money in.

This book has nothing original in it. Even the new characters are just repetitions of people we already know. Dash's granmum is basically Mrs Basil E. copy - quicky, kind , with lots on people she knows (and who are extremely helpful), with lots of her pasts stories.
Even that nice Oxford Girl Whatshername - just another Sofia. Intimidating, rich, aloof, and yet lovable and kind.

So, the "plot"...
Lily becomes a DOGFLUENCER, jesus christ *heavy sigh*, so she can afford staying in a hotel for a few nights. In Claridge's. Over christmas. the cheapest room in there costs like 700 quid. I'm sure there would be a free room for her to book for this spontanious trip. OVER CHRISTMAS.
Dash is in Oxford and lo and behold no one really appreciates his snarliness. Don't get me wrong I love Dash (but now I prefer the Netflix Dash than Book Dasj (#sorrynotsorry) but 18yo person shocked that living in another country, studying in one of the most prestigious unis in the world would bring some challenges? I guess you're not higher education material after all, boyo.

Also, Lily my girl, don't be so happy with the prospect of you being in Twickenham and Dash in Oxford as it's not "close". It's like 2h long trains (plural) ride.

[BookNightOwl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch the first season on Netflix!!! As for this book I enjoyed reading from these characters again this time it is set in London.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

i sipped down this sweet series finale over the weekend after thanksgiving, and it was a wonderful way to start the holiday season. like the other dash and lily titles, it's an easy, festive read.

in this installment, dash and lily have finished high school and made their relationship long distance, as dash has moved abroad to study at oxford. the book takes place over just a few days leading up to christmas.

the characters feel much more mature than they did when we first found them (yay, growth!), and it's nice to see them struggling to figure out what futures they want, without ever doubting that those futures will be shared. such warmth and comfort in having such faith in another.

I cued up Ella Fitzgerald's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and her voice filled the room as we held each other in our sleigh, the delicate, brave bird nestled between us. Here we were, heartbeats and darkness and breath and wings and glass and love and music and nowhere else in the world we wanted to be. Here we were, and here we'd be, until we stepped off our sleigh and traded it for a plane.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

These characters and their story have my whole heart and honestly, at this point, Christmas wouldn't feel right without some Dash and Lily. I'd happy continue to follow their story book after book, year after year.

Whilst I didn't love this addition quite as much as the past two, I think that's purely down to being Brit who's familiar with London, so I definitely missed the escapism of the NYC setting.

However, the story, relationships, characters, mental illness rep, books, dogs and Christmas magic delivered on all fronts. This was a lovely addition to this gorgeously festive couples story and whilst I hope it won't be the last, I can't wait to continue to reread (and rewatch) their story for many Christmases to come.

TW: anxiety, panic attacks

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If the Netflix Dash and Lily show is book 1, this is book 3, and each one is Christmas themed (because Lily loves Christmas.) Dash has been at Oxford and Lily comes for a visit, and...not a lot happens. The authors really want a happy ending so conflict is pretty minimal, and I'm not sure there was a lot there other than the usual holiday rom-com elements - there are friends and quirky relatives, dogs and winter scenes, and of course at least one bookstore. Nice to have two narrators in audio because it goes by quickly, and was a rom-com ending to my winter vacation.

I had access to this through the Random House Volumes app, and it came out in November 2020.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily didn't finally slap every member of her family, but I like to think it was just because she was across an ocean from them. Sweet Saint Nicholas, people! There's not being ready for the baby of the family to grow up, and then there's destroying lives because you're controlling assholes!

However.

It was super cute to see Dash and Lily, New Yorkers to the core, take on London, which is my favorite city. I liked additions of Gem and Asra, especially Asra, and now I have the goal to stay at Claridge's one day. Really liked how this explored what these two crazy kids really want to do with their lives, and how they might start down that path.

[Ivonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es ist Jahre her, seit ich den ersten Teil der Dash & Lily Reihe gelesen und mich unsterblich in Story, Charaktere und vor allen Dingen auch in das Setting und die wunderschön weihnachtliche New Yorker Atmosphäre verliebt habe. Nachdem mich sodann der zweite Teil The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily leider nicht mehr ganz so überzeugen konnte, wie noch der erste Teil, stolperte ich in diesem Jahr über einen neu erschienen dritten Teil, was mich – trotz meiner eher vorhandenen Enttäuschung über Teil 2 – zu freudigen Luftsprüngen veranlasste. Was gibt es schöneres, als eine romantische Liebesgeschichte im weihnachtlichen New York? Blöd nur, dass dieser dritte Teil nicht in New York, sondern vielmehr hauptsächlich in London spielt. Schon mal eine Sache, mit der ich falsch lag. Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily spielt ein Jahr nach dem zweiten Teil. Dash studiert mittlerweile an der Universität von Oxford, während Lily sich ein Jahr Auszeit nimmt und sich auf ihr Geschäft als Hundeausführerin konzentriert, was zwischenzeitlich zu einem richtigen Erfolg geworden ist.

Leider wird man als Leser gleich zu Beginn des Buches überhäuft mit Informationen, die meinem Empfinden nach lediglich dazu dienen sollen, den Leser auf den neuesten Stand zu bringen, immerhin klafft zwischen den beiden Teilen eine zeitliche Lücke von genau einem Jahr. Ein Jahr, in dem wahnsinnig viel passiert ist. Das erste Kapitel ist also ein Tornado an Informationen, was irgendwie ein bisschen gehetzt wirkt und den Leser ggf. gar ein wenig überfordert.

Leider wirkt die erste Hälfte des Buches ein wenig unbeholfen. Zwar sind seit dem ersten Teil mittlerweile zwei Jahre vergangen, doch wirklich weiterentwickelt scheinen sich die Charaktere nicht unbedingt zu haben, am allerwenigstens Dash und Lily, mit deren Handeln und Denken ich bereits im zweiten Teil so meine Probleme hatte. Zwischen den beiden herrscht eine riesige Fehlkommunikation, was darin begründet liegt, dass keiner der beiden tatsächlich in der Lage zu sein scheint, zu kommunizieren, was meiner Meinung nach in einer Beziehung das A und O ist. Auch die Eltern, sowie Lilys Großvater und auch ihre Tante wirkten irgendwie ein bisschen out of character. Hat man sie insbesondere im ersten Teil wahnsinnig lieb gewonnen, so waren aus den sonst so verständnisvollen und liebenswerten Erwachsenen plötzlich völlig andere Menschen geworden, gar nicht so, wie man sie aus den vorherigen beiden Teilen kennt. Wobei man dazu sagen muss, dass Lily es in diesem dritten Teil teilweise schon wirklich sehr auf die Spitze treibt, weshalb man das Verhalten ihrer Eltern etc. pp. zumindest bis zu einem gewissen Grat nachvollziehen kann.

Was mir gefallen hat ist die Tatsache, dass dieser dritte Teil ein wenig moderner wirkte. Auch wenn innerhalb der Geschichte nicht unbedingt viel Zeit vergangen ist, so hatte man dennoch das Gefühl, dass Dash und Lily trotzdem irgendwie in unserer Zeit angekommen sind, spielt z. B. Instagram und Lilys Leben als mittlerweile bekannte und berühmte Influencerin doch eine wichtige Rolle. Die beiden Autoren haben so ein wenig die positiven und negativen Seiten des Influencer-Seins aufgezeigt, was mir wirklich gut gefallen hat. Ebenfalls wurde die Thematik Vorurteile angesprochen, die viele noch immer gegenüber diesem Job haben.

Ebenfalls als sehr positiv aufgefasst habe ich den Versuch der Autoren, eine Diskussion über Mental Health in die Geschichte mit einzubauen. Nachdem Dash sein Leben in New York aufgegeben hat, um in Oxford zu studieren, seiner absoluten Traumuniversität, stellt er schnell fest, dass die Wirklichkeit nicht unbedingt mit seinen (Traum-)vorstellungen konform geht und viele seiner Erwartungen nicht erfüllt werden. Ganz im Gegenteil. Vielmehr ist er einsam und gestresst; auch Panikattacken werden zum Thema gemacht, was mir wirklich sehr gut gefallen hat, auch wenn man diese Thematik sicherlich noch mehr hätte ausbauen können. Denn leider hat man stellenweise das Gefühl, dass Dashs Panikattacken verherrlicht bzw. beschönigt werden, was mir wiederum etwas negativ aufgestoßen ist. Wie gesagt, hier hätte ich mir definitiv mehr gewünscht, wenn man sich schon dazu entschließt, ein solches Thema mit in die Geschichte einzubauen.

Leider blieb während der ersten Hälfte des Buches das weihnachtliche, gemütliche Gefühl, das ich so sehr aus den Vorgängern geliebt habe, auf der Strecke. Erst gegen Ende hin kommt eben dieses Gefühl auf und der Leser wird mit festlichen, wunderbar weihnachtlichen Ereignissen verwöhnt. Von dieser weihnachtlichen Atmosphäre hätte ich mir definitiv ein wenig mehr gewünscht.

LOHNT SICH DAS BUCH?

Auch wenn ich das Buch wirklich von Herzen lieben wollte, so hat es mich doch eher enttäuscht, statt begeistert zurückgelassen. Ich habe viel gelacht, hatte Spaß und habe mich unterhalten gefühlt, doch mit den Vorgängern, insbesondere mit dem ersten Teil, kann dieser dritte Teil meiner Meinung nach einfach nicht mithalten. Ich hätte mir mehr Weihnachten und dafür weniger Drama gewünscht. Alles in allem war es aber eine schöne Geschichte für zwischendurch und sicherlich ein kleines Schmankerl für alle Dash & Lily Fans, auch, wenn es nicht perfekt war. Aber was ist das heutzutage schon?

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the second anniversary of Dash and Lily’s relationship, but they won’t be spending it together. Dash is struggling with the workload and the misplaced expectations of Oxford University, and Lily is in New York, where her dog-walking business has expanded into an online crafts store for other dog lovers. Her parents want her to attend Barnard University after her gap year, but she isn’t sure college is for her. When Lily decides to surprise Dash in London for Christmas, she’s expecting a happy reunion. But things have changed for both of them, and she felt closer to Dash when they still had an ocean between them. Trigger warnings: panic attacks, depression.

Dash and Lily are my favorite Levithan/Cohn collaboration, and I was thrilled to find out they’re now a trilogy, especially after I binged the Netflix show in one day and fell totally in love with it. (Sometimes I just need a fluffy three-hour Christmas movie in my life.) There was pretty much no way this book was going to disappoint me because I just love being back in their world, navigating their relationship together. It’s true that none of the books have been as strong as the first, and I’m not sure it’s a totally necessary sequel in terms of what happens, but I don’t care. I’ll read them all again, possibly next Christmas and the one after that.

Mind the Gap continues some of the themes of Twelve Days, where life takes Dash and Lily in two different directions, and they have to decide–again–whether and how they’re going to work through it together. I really like a YA series that focuses on long-term relationships, good communication, and choosing each other, and I like that we’re able to revisit these characters once a year to see how things are developing. If you’re wondering what happens after the guy gets the girl, this is the series for you. I like how Dash and Lily have their mishaps, but they often go the extra mile for each other.

This book also introduces a new issue that I’ve seen cropping up more in YA lately, and I’m glad it’s being addressed. There’s a culture of academia that insists everyone has to go to college (the best college possible) and work themselves to the bone, regardless of their interest in the subject or, you know, their actual health. It can very easily grow toxic, and like any toxic relationship, it can be difficult to pull yourself out of it. Dash and Lily have to work through it in different ways, both of which I think could be important to people struggling with similar things. It’s resolved a little too neatly for my tastes (a testament to Dash and Lily’s largely unacknowledged privilege, but that’s always been the case), but I’m always glad to see characters I love get happy endings. Can I cross my fingers that this series keeps going?

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know about any of you, but I was ecstatic when I learned we were getting a new Dash & Lily book. Once again, we caught up with this duo during the holiday season. This installment took us to England, where Dash was studying at Oxford. It was their first reunion after several months of separation, and because this was Dash and Lily, it did not go smoothly.

I consider it a special treat to have the opportunity to revisit these characters and check in on the state of their relationship, which continued to change along with Dash and Lily. Though part of the story involved the distance between them, and how they were coping with the separation, a bigger focus was on their impending futures.

Moving from high school to college can be a challenge for a lot of people. Many leave home for the first time, leaving behind the life they were accustomed to and the people they loved. It's also a time, when people realize that maybe what they wanted in life has changed. Dash and Lily are both dealing with a combination of these issues in different ways, and it was fantastic that these things were explored in this installment. Seeing these two start to see their futures take form was exciting and rather satisfying for me.

It was also fantastic to celebrate the holidays with one of my favorite couples. I have grown to love Christmases in NYC, but Levithan and Cohn treated me to an incredible time in England. I attended many events and shared some great meals with people Lily and Dash hold dear. A good time was had by all.

I feel like I will forever ship these two, and I hope the authors have more adventures in store for them. I will keep my fingers crossed, that we get to attend a wedding with these two, AND that they are the bride and groom.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

[exorcismemily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

This one was a bit more of a downer than the previous two books, but it was still a fun read.

CW - anxiety, panic attack

[Martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

This was a nice and realistic ending to Dash and Lily... Or better a nice coming to adulthood.
I both liked and hated the fact that their love story was so dry (?) but sure. They are soulmates, and they're young, and they want to build their lives as a person with the certainty to have the other there. They are not afraid of long distance.

Dash is finally caroling and admitting he loves Christmas (with Lily) 🩷

[Galy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5
So after really liking the first one and being disappointed by the second one I'm happy to say I liked the third one.

This is the third book in the Dash and Lily trilogy.

It was cute and it was happier than the last one so that's good. I kind of hoped for more Christmas scenes but it was fine.

I liked that the main plot of the book are Dash and Lily finding out what they want for their futures. I feel like it's a common thing growing up and it felt good to read about it.

Lily was more like herself in this one, that was my main complain in the second one.

A cute and short read.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF bei ungefähr 80%

Lily ist plötzlich eine sehr berühmte Instagram Dogfluencerin und ihr Freund Dash hat bizarrerweise keine Ahnung von ihrem Internet-Fame. Dabei verkauft sie schon eigene Hundeprodukte und Leute wollen Autogramme von ihr 😅.

War insgesamt alles so abgedroschen und ich konnte es nicht ernst nehmen.

[Steve Alcorn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this one was a disappointment. Let's get this out of the way up front: this book has no plot. Lilly goes to London to visit Dash and they individually fret over what to do with the rest of their lives. That's the entire plot. No real goal, no real conflict, no ticking clock so no suspense, no mystery. No plot.

A book with no plot must rely on great character development. But these two characters, who I loved in the previous two volumes, come across as self-absorbed jerks for the entire first half of the book.

The second half of the book is somewhat salvaged by some interesting character interactions )although not really between Dash and Lily), but these are based on a series of coincidences that stretch the reader far beyond any limits of credulity. Everyone seems to know everyone else in this book, meet them serendipitously, and the entire world seems to be in London for Christmas.

The last part of the book reads like a promotional brochure for Claridge's Hotel. I've been to Claridge's, and it's very nice, But I don't need page after page of description of the various amenities, even if that did enable the authors to, presumably, write off the research on their taxes.

Maybe Dash and Lily have simply aged out of the YA market. They're adults now, and need to start acting like it.

Audiobook note: same readers as the previous volumes, and they're fine except that this book forced them to put on fake English accents, and they really got annoying after a while.

[Sarai · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not recommend reading the 2nd and 3rd book because contemporary sequels are not meant to be.
If in case you decide to continue, DON’T listen to the audiobook. Please. The British accent is hella annoying.

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's Dash and Lily--- but in England

hurrah!

cute, quick read

[Dani Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this Dash and Lily trilogy more than I thought I would. The emphasis is not so much on the romance between the two of them, though this is necessary. It focuses on relationships as a whole, between the two of them or with their friends or family, romantic or otherwise, and on problems that everyone faces in life. So, yes, they deal with issues that momentarily take them away from each other and find their way back in the end as in all good romance stories, but it is about more than that. These books demonstrate how to maintain and strengthen any good relationship.

Quotes:

"Love teaches you that fitting is overrated; what you need to do is change the shape of your life to make the connection."

"'Sweet and sour are not antithetical,' he assured me. "I happen to think they complement each other nicely.'
'I get that,' I assured him back. 'But I'm also no fun when I'm despairing.'
'I think that's healthy.'
'You do?'
'Well, it's far better than thinking you are fun when you're despairing. Those are the people to watch out for. You can revel against despair, but you should try not to revel within it.'"

"I turn against myself all the time. But my advice is still sound. It's easier for a surgeon to treat a patient than to operate on himself."

"If I were going to give you more advice that I myself can't seem to take, I would tell you that in order to build character, you don't invent a new self, you instead build on what's already there. The good parts. The things you love."

"Be okay with being alone, Salinger. Make sense of it. Figure out what your heart wants . . . then go to it. It's not the gilded prize or the biggest present that we seek, my new friend -- it's the forest."

"I am lost, for sure.
But there is value in being lost.
And one of the values is the way being lost can lead you to see what you want to find. It helps you sense where you want to be found. Or who you want to be found by."

"What better way is there to clear your head than to stroll in a normally crowded space that's now empty of all people?
I needed that aloneness . . . and then I needed to return from it."

"'The only elixir to pass my lips was solitude,' I assured her.
'Be careful you don't drink too much of that,' Gem warned. 'It needs to be balanced by a rich diet of fine company. Otherwise, the benders can be cruel.'"

"I thought that's what you were supposed to do when you loved someone: If you start to disagree, prepare the sentences more carefully, in the hope that they will take you back to a better place.
You don't cut and run.
So I was pissed. And at the same time, I wasn't at all pissed, because I knew that Lily would never do something so dramatic if she didn't feel she needed to."

"'You're quiet,' Lily observed.
'Not in my head,' I told her. 'Never in my head.'"

"A mismatch is the only kind of match that's worth making...A match is two separate things coming together. Otherwise you're not a match, you're . . . a set. Two identical spoons. Boring."

"I'd thought, for my higher education, that I'd wanted scholarship and erudition. But really, I'd just wanted to have people to sit across from at a diner, to talk about whatever was on our minds, Bronte sisters or Jonas Brothers, Carl Van Vechten or Carly Rae Jepsen."

"To be the right person at the right time for someone else is the highest service we can perform."

playlist <3
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3co...

[martita ♡&#x1fae7; · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grudzień bez Dasha i Lily dla mnie nie istnieje już od wielu lat. Przeczytanie całej trylogii idealnie dopełnia moją miłość do tych postaci oraz ich historii.

Trzecia część mnie naprawdę zaskoczyła. Jednakże w pozytywnym sensie. Cała fabuła tej części była kompletnie inna od poprzednich dwóch książek. Może i było mniej świątecznej atmosfery, lecz tak naprawdę wcale mi to nie przeszkadzało. Z zaciekawieniem czytałam o rozterkach Lily i Dasha związanych z ich przyszłością oraz tym co chcą w życiu robić. Też bardzo urocze było to, że mimo wielu różnic Dash i Lily dojrzeli i ich związek uważają za pewnik w swoim życiu. To było bardzo ale to bardzo pocieszające, że nawet jeżeli kłócili się, nie rozumieli siebie w stu procentach, to i tak pracowali nad tym i nie oddalali się od siebie, tylko wspierali się w tym trudnym czasie. Co prawda plot twist z Mrs. Basil E. mnie bardzo zadziwił, gdyż ekhm jaki ślub do cholerki?? Gem jako nowa postać była cudownym dopełnieniem. Podobnie jak pojawienie się Boomera i Sofii.

Jestem bardzo zadowolona z końca, ale jednocześnie smutna, bo to już koniec czytania o tej dwójce. Najwyraźniej zostało mi już tylko obejrzeć po raz kolejny rok z rzędu serial, aby ponownie zakochać się w tej historii.

[Nadia Nellestein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit was niet mijn meest favoriete Dash and Lily book. In dit boek werd de aandacht zo op hun problemen, uitdagingen en keuzestress gelegd dat er bijna geen ruimte was om als lezer ook nog onder de indruk te zijn van de avonturen die ze ook heus beleefden.

Ik miste kerst, de sprankeling, het avontuur. Het was iets te veel kniezen en mokken. Maar zelfs met al het kniezen en mokken genoot ik van dit boek. Dat zich met name afspeelt in Londen en dat ik daar ook las. Het blijven Dash en Lily en ik blijf een beetje van ze houden. Daarom drie sterren. En Merry Christmas.

[Nelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4,5.

[Kat(ja) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was provided with an eARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!*

CW: depiction of anxiety/panic attacks

I’ve currently really been on a roll when it comes to Dash & Lily, reigniting my love for the characters by binging the Netflix show (several times) and following it up by reading the sequel and now this book that places them in London. It’s as if the authors allow you to watch them grow up a little more with each book and I appreciated that the most in Mind the Gap.

There was much I loved, but also a couple things that bothered me. A lot of it came down to one of my biggest pet peeves – bad communication. Despite being miles and miles apart, Dash and Lily really make the long distance thing work. They seemed so solid in their relationship that their troubles once they reunited felt … strange to me. Obviously, they were busy living their lives and struggling or thriving (depending on who you’re looking at) and didn’t talk about every little detail that happened while they were apart. Where Dash got disappointed by his own ambitions, Lily was turning into a little dog mogul without her family or friends noticing. All of that is understandable and just warrants a bit of time to talk it all out, catch up on the things you missed, but what does Lily Bear do? Once again she runs away. I was so frustrated with her, because poor Dashiell was just too overwhelmed.

Lily went to London surprising Dash without his knowledge. While he was glad to see her (because he is always glad to see her), it was also really bad timing. He didn’t want her to see him in this state of despair he found himself in. Oxford had drained him to the last drop and only his previously estranged grandmother, Gem, could raise his spirits. Instead of being glad that Dash had finally found a family member to connect with, Lily was jealous. She was legit jealous of Dash’ grandmother, a woman who is basically a slightly British version of Mrs. Basil E.

But once they got over those initial hick-ups, however annoying I might have found them, especially on Lily’s part, the book was really fantastic. I felt Dash’ state of being lost to the core. The way his world seemed to close in on him and he just did not know what to do now that what he had always envisioned for himself wasn’t as fulfilling as he thought it would be. I think that’s something a lot of young adults have to face. Their expectations of college/university aren’t always going to match up with reality and it takes a whole lot of strength to muster up the courage to find a new path.

Simultaneously, you have Lily’s own struggle with what the future holds. I think I found it a bit harder to connect to her here, because she is so much larger than life sometimes. Where Dash is relatable in his quiet despair, Lily has suddenly made mountains of cash (without her very meddling family knowing?) and has become a dog influencer who is even recognised on the street outside of New York City. I always knew her happy demeanor was contagious, but she basically had become a celebrity without the people in her life realising it. Maybe because she didn’t communicate clearly what she was doing and just how successful she was with it, her family kept pressuring her to go down a more traditional academic route. I enjoyed that she stood her ground in the end, but I never really had to worry about her not being okay. She was doing great for herself, Dash was much more worrisome.

The book ended with their relationship stronger than ever. While the story as a whole was not as fluffy and cutesy as the previous ones, it still filled my heart with a certain warmth that only Dash and Lily can provide. Those kids are not kids anymore and you just know they’re going to find their way.

Fazit: 3.5/5 stars! It was lovely to see them grow up like this.

[Quill&Queer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to visit London with Dash & Lily but so sad to see this series ending. Over the course of three books I've really grown to love the couple and their hilarious adventures, and I shall hold out hope for more books in the future, even a novella.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both Dash and Lily were too emo, and this didn’t really give me all the Christmas feels I was hoping for.