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

Cynical Dash and quirky Lily don't know each other. But one Christmas they start to communicate through the pages of the red notebook Lily leaves on a shelf in her favourite New York bookshop (this is a book with an entirely laudable appreciation for bookshops).The dares they set each other escalate, and Dash and Lily start to see the world differently as they adventure through their snowy city, together but apart.

But when they meet outside the pages of the notebook, they both find that the rules have changed and their friendship is no longer a game. Can Dash and Lily hold on to each other in the real world? Or will interference from parents, useless friends, demented dogs, ex-girlfriends, santa, santa's elves and finally the police drive them apart?

This Christmassy story has been out a while. Still, it would be a huge shame to miss it, especially if you're a fan of John Green. It's a charming and beautifully written tale of two witty misfits learning about love, chance and the importance of taking risks. My heart was warmed. Yours will be too. 14+

Other books and authors you might like; Jaclyn Moriarty's Feeling Sorry for Celia, Sarah Dessen's Just Listen, Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall. And of course John Green.