Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

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It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City;and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be;and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you'll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

 

I keep telling myself that I am going to read all the David Levithan books in all the land.   But inevitably my attention is needed elsewhere and my poor lonely Levithan books are yet again left on my bookshelf lacking the love and attention they deserve.   

Then miracles, upon miracles, I had time to *gasp* read books on my real life bookshelf.  So I grabbed Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and once again lost myself in the emotional wonder that is Mr. Levithan’s writing and in the process discovered the genius that is Rachel Cohn. 

Nick, “a non-queer bassist in a queercore band”, was brutally dumped three weeks, two days and twenty-three hours ago.  His ex-girlfriend, Tris, has decided to show up at a club that his band is playing and he is not ready to deal with that drop in the emotional roller-coaster ride that he has been enduring.  When he sees that Tris and her date are making a move to say “hi” to him, he grabs the girl next to him and asks her to be his 5 minute girlfriend.   

Norah will pretty much do anything to avoid her classmate, Tris.  And pretty much anything includes laying a hot kiss on the boy that just asked her to be his 5 minute girlfriend.  She didn’t expect that kiss to be the hottest she’s ever had.  And she didn’t expect the boy to be the famously wonderful boyfriend that Tris has been bragging about for the last six months.  Norah feels like she knows this boy so she decides to finally take a chance in life and get to know him better.  

There isn’t a character in this book that I didn’t like for one reason or another.  Norah is not the most loveable character but I think a lot of girls will relate to the way she naturally holds back because she is afraid of the consequences of taking a leap that comes with no guarantees.  Nick was a perfect combination of hot musician and quiet forever boy.  He is incredibly sensitive and intense.  So intense that a certain make out scene left me breathless.  And I mean BREATHLESS.  Dear heavens.  Then there is the small ensemble of players that come in and out of Nick and Norah’s night of discovery.  And they all have a significant impact.  Even Tris plays her part in making sure these two get together.

This book is about so much more than a first date.  It is about loss, lust, love.  It is about learning to let go so you can grab what’s right in front of you.  If you are fan of edgy contemporary romance and Happy For Now endings, then you must read Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.   

 

Nat