In this third instalment of the Dash & Lily series, Dash and Lily are struggling with their long-distance relationship; Dash has traveled to London to attend Oxford and Lily has remained in New York to maintain her successful dog walking business. When Dash announces that he won’t be coming home for Christmas, Lily decides to surprise Dash in London; but, will being in the same city for the holidays bring Dash and Lily closer together or drive them further apart?
I was a fan of the first two instalments of Dash & Lily (as well as the recent Netflix adaptation) and this third book did not disappoint. Furthermore, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of teen or young adult books featuring cute and nerdy romances. This book is ideally suited for reading during the winter because it (as well as the entire Dash & Lily series) takes place during Christmastime; but, since Dash and Lily’s relationship and future plans are the focus of this book, I feel it could be enjoyed at any time of the year. This book was relatively short, and I thought that it was a fun and easy read guaranteed to get you into the holiday mood.
I particularly loved Dash and Lily’s signature bookish wit as well as the romance and holiday festivities that took place in this book. Furthermore, I liked that this book took place in an entirely new and foreign setting; whereas the first two novels take place in New York, this third instalment is unique because it takes place almost entirely in London (and, of course, Dash and Lily do lots of exploring!). I am also a fan of Cohn and Levithan’s signature writing style where the chapters alternate between the two main characters’ perspectives; it is well-organised and easy to understand. One of my favourite parts of this book was the bibliophile scavenger hunt (which was very typical Dash and Lily) because it sounded super fun; I really wished that this portion of the book lasted more than a few chapters.
One critique that I have is that I wish that this book was a few chapters longer; without giving too much away, Dash and Lily make some major life decisions at the end of this book and it would have been nice to get some insights into whether or not these life changes worked out (and whether their families were a fan for these decisions). Additionally, at the beginning of this book, both of the characters (especially Dash) are struggling with their mental health; since this is such a relevant and relatable issue, I would have liked for the authors to have provided more information about these struggles as well as more in depth coping strategies. Furthermore, at the end of the book, I thought that the characters’ challenges seemed to get wrapped up unrealistically quick and easy.
Overall, I thought that this book was a fun read that’s perfect for the Christmas season. I enjoyed reading the entire Dash & Lily series and look forward to seeing if there will be a fourth book in the future.
Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
For Dash and Lily, it’s beginning to look a lot like…distance! Just in time for the series release of Dash & 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 England.
Dash and Lily were feeling closer than ever…it’s just too bad they’re now an ocean apart. After Dash gets accepted to Oxford University and Lily stays in New York to take care of her dogwalking business, the devoted couple are struggling to make a long distance relationship work. And when Dash breaks the news that he won’t be coming home for Christmas, Lily makes a decision: if Dash can’t come to her, she’ll join him in London. It’s a perfect romantic gesture…that spins out of Lily’s control. Soon Dash and Lily are feeling more of a gap between them, even though they’re in the same city. Will London bring them together again–or will it be their undoing?
