Customer Reviews

Dare Truth or Promise

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There isn't much that I can say about this novel that other people have already said. I can say that this book was so unbelievably incredible, it left me with my head spinning for days after I read it. The writing alone is utterly brilliant. This book is filled with honest, clever and elegant prose that I think future writers should take note on. As for the story, I don't think there was a better way Paula Boock could have delivered it. It wasn't simply a story of two girls having a lesbian fling. It's a story of deep, painful, heart-wrenching love and the tortures people can endure in this life. The novel was centred on the main characters Louie and Willa, but readers got to see other characters' perspective on the situation. Every minor character was given their own dues. This is not a novel where the author forgets about her 'background' characters, and I appreciate that she cares for them, instead of just sticking them in for plot progression. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was the themes building off of love. Familial love, self-love, the strength of friendship, that is, platonic love, and most importantly, passionate love for another human being. It was almost difficult for me to read this novel; it hurt too much. The realism of which this story is told is gripping and beautiful. Also, it isn't a fairy tale. These characters face so much anguish that none of them deserve.
Pick up this book. Read it. You might be in tears at the end.

This was a great book. Whether your are gay, bi, straight, or curious, you will enjoy it. It answers the questions a curious mind may have... and it helped me to decide to come out. I reccomend it to anyone. Even if you just want to read something, this is good reading, otherwise my school library wouldn't own it.

a trim but suggestive narrative style makes this story of young lesbian love something worth reading even after you're long past the high school years. In terms of sheer literary quality, it stands up there with Jean Stewart's lovely Emerald City Blues (though the latter is considerably more explicit, and not so tightly focused on the main protagonists' personal angst). Anyway, Boock can really write.

At first i wasn't very interested in reading this book. I was looking for something along the lines of "empress of the world", and amazon.com reccomended "Dare, Truth, or Promise" as a good follow up. I was in the car on a road trip, and with nothing else to do, i opened it. I read the book in only a few days, which is unusual for me. I just couldn't get my nose out of it. Paula Boock writes so good you just want to know what happens next. I guess i can say, the story she wrote flows. It all comes together, and at the end you're wishing there was more. I really reccomend this book if you're looking for something along the lines of lesbian romance. It was cute, and very charming. It almost makes you wish you were there...

The reason this book caught my eye was that it had a young pair of lesbians. But upon reading it, I realized that this book was much more than the average lesbian love story. This book had no sappy ending about love overcoming all odds, and it showed people in their environments. There was a different flavor that some people may not like, but I totally enjoyed.

Dare, Truth or Promise is not just a great teen book, it is a great book period. Telling the tale of Louis and Willa and their relationship, it presents its young protagonists as people with depth and feeling, who love one another despite significant odds against them, and who take their gayness as a matter of course. The writing in this novel is superb; sparse, yet extremely poetic. There are passages of surpassing beauty; the first kiss, which occurs near the end of an airline runway just after a plane takes off, is breathtaking, and the penultimate passages of the book, when Willa saves Louis and then breaks down in the hospital, will have you in tears. The story does not play out at all as one might expect. Solace comes where it is not expected. A young priest offers Louis words that, while not directly answering her questions, offers her the means to move forward with her love for both Willa and her parents. The despair that Willa feels when Louis is forced away from her is despair that we feel as well, as we watch Louis fall into the depths of pain. Her appearance at a dance is unexpected and sets the stage for the final denouement of the story; her face is described at the time as a "death mask." I cannot speak highly enough of this incredibly moving story. Buy it now, read it and then read it again.

I just finished reading this book for the third time and I can't believe how I keep forgetting how amazing this book is. Yes, it is about 2 girls falling i love, but don't let that put you off- it's much better written than most girl-boy romance books, partly of course because it's not exactly a romance as such. What made it even better for me was that it is set in my hometown (Dunedin) and written by someone who I see at the parties I go to with my parents. But I think that even if there was no connection there, I would still love this book. The story is excellent, it keeps you interested and captivated all the way through, the characters are real, and I won't say too much more because this is one of those rare, indescribable books. Just read it for yourself and you'll be so happy you did. It's the second book EVER too make me cry. OK, thats all. Bye :)

I saw this book a few times in book shops but never thought much of it. However, when I read the reviews on Amazon then the book began to intrigue me. I bought it and to my amazement the book left me breathless, even speechless. I cried through it a few times. It describes passion, the pain of being in love, in a so true to life manner. It's really a slice of life about pure, unadulterated love. It avoids clichés, develops an emotional rollercoaster and has an exhilarating end.

I warn you: You're not going to like this book. You're gonna LOVE it!!!!

Dare Truth or Promise was an amazing book. It was like a Romeo and Juliet for homosexuality. The book made me, being striaght, think about how homosexuality is dissaproved in church and life in general. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone.

Buy this book! I'll make this short, because a lot of good has been said about the book anyway. I loved this book so much that I stayed up till 5am reading it! I couldn't put it down. Paula Boock shows that she is an excellent story-teller and writer. Her story is believable and the characters almost become real people. I absolutely loved this book! It's definitely one of my favorites now!! Such a good story! Read it nowwww!!