FREE delivery Monday, October 17. Details

Or fastest delivery Tuesday, October 11. Order within 18 hrs 53 mins. Details

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

As an alternative, the Kindle eBook is available now and can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. Want to listen? Try Audible.

[{"displayPrice":"$9.99","priceAmount":9.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"IEKewpeYnZaNA1OeDlpGL4cS38lGbq3XRGrrzduIWT1hAooDEDfZUQgzKvOAjKs6%2F9ynwWb%2BPDm2eOUla3k6iTm8f8JcVupxY%2B5UyVjTGAZNlBzFS2ORs7XwQHpf4D3H0aLLaV6smJNpPMZ%2Fq03sDO3s3%2F7O%2BHcV3iVB1YBv5gnSe8u4kBIFisJYOWBb2myi","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"},{"displayPrice":"$6.46","priceAmount":6.46,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"6","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"46","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"TK8%2BrGGKjNWkVe3EVrTcxWvtVvzjBER5HTcwvY%2BNiYIlwC2yk4JqHi19Uwmois%2BOLO0rIWnvIFNzwIYIt6Wkg29sxNR6sC97T76hqkjBeFIM8O1b3gXjFl3FQz4%2Fr4kii%2F86nN0jThT688l%2BwWPSZiGFpnjiZMPqrBqjbRDkPGYBR83yNdWpl1IM3oFJrrsa","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED"}]

$$9.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Secure transaction

Ships from

All Things Read Only

Sold by

All Things Read Only

Details

Ships from

All Things Read Only

Sold by

All Things Read Only

Return policy: Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Thursday, October 13 if you spend $25 on items shipped by Amazon

Select delivery location

Pre-owned: Acceptable | Details

Sold by Eternal Exchange

Fulfilled by Amazon

Share <Embed>

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$11.97
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: Milandan Books & Beyond

Added

Not added

$12.99
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: Nilya Store

Added

Not added

$13.98
FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: Amazon.com

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Authors

Rachel Cohn

David Levithan

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist Paperback – Illustrated, January 1, 2008

by David Levithan (Author), Rachel Cohn (Author)

512 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$9.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Library Binding

"Please retry"

$20.80

$1.54

Paperback

"Please retry"

$9.99

$7.90

$1.35

Paperback, Illustrated, August 26, 2008

$9.99

$7.27

$0.99

Digital

"Please retry"

—

Enhance your purchase

The New York Times bestselling he-said/she-said rock n’ roll romance that inspired the motion picture starring Michael Cera (Juno, Arrested Development) and Kat Dennings (Thor, TV’s 2 Broke Girls)!

"I know this is going to sound strange, but would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?"

Nick frequents New York's indie rock scene nursing a broken heart. Norah is questioning all of her assumptions about the world. They have nothing in common except for their taste in music, until a chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band's secret show and ends up becoming a first date that could change both their lives.

Co-written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, co-author of WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON with John Green (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS), NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story that reminds you how you can never be sure where the night will take you…

This movie tie-in edition also includes an 8-page photo insert from the film, as well as a map of Manhattan, detailing all of the sites Nick and Norah go to on their all-night date.

Print length

183 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Ember
Publication date

January 1, 2008
Grade level

9 - 12
Reading age

14 - 17 years
Dimensions

5.25 x 0.46 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

037584614X
ISBN-13

978-0375846144
Lexile measure

1020L
See all details

Frequently bought together

$9.99

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Ships from and sold by All Things Read Only.

$8.99

Get it as soon as Tuesday, Oct 11

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

$10.99

Get it as soon as Tuesday, Oct 11

In Stock.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Some of these items ship sooner than the others.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

M.T. Anderson
1,592
Paperback
220 offers from $1.15
Randi Pink
68
Paperback
49 offers from $1.89
Stephen Chbosky
23,959
Paperback
in Teen & Young Adult Literary Fiction
229 offers from $1.49
Rachel Cohn
123
Paperback
86 offers from $1.43
John Green
16,869
Paperback
415 offers from $0.99
John Green
62,097
Paperback
541 offers from $1.00

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Electric, sexy . . . and genuinely poignant, this is a compelling story of the risks and thrills of burgeoning intimacy." - "The Bulletin, "Starred

" Electric, sexy . . . and genuinely poignant, this is a compelling story of the risks and thrills of burgeoning intimacy." - "The Bulletin, "Starred

About the Author

Rachel Cohn is a graduate of Barnard College. She lives and writes in Manhattan.

David Levithan is a children’s book editor in New York City.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1. NICK
I find Dev at the bar, talking to a guy our age who looks familiar in that Type kind of way. When I get to where they’re standing, I’m introduced as “the bass god, Nick,” and he’s introduced as “Hunter from Hunter.” Dev thanks me for being equipment bitch, and from the way the conversation doesn’t continue from there I know I’m interrupting. If it was Thom, my agitation would probably be noticed. But Dev needs you to spell emotions out for him, and right now I’m not in the mood. So I just tell him where I left the stuff and pretend I’m going off to search for a clear spot on the bar to summon the bartender from. And once I’m pretending that’ s the truth, I figure it might as well be the truth. I still can’t see Tris, and there’s a small part of me that’s wondering if it was even her in the crowd. Maybe it was someone who looked like Tris, which would explain the guy who didn’t look like anybody.

Are You Randy? stop playing their instruments one by one, until the lead singer croons a final, a cappella note. I wish for their sake I could say the club falls into silence at this, but in truth the air is one-half conversation. Still, that’s better than average, and the band gets a lunge of applause and cheers. I clap, too, and notice that the girl next to me puts two fingers in her mouth to whistle old-fashioned style. The sound is clear and spirited, and makes me think of Little League. The girl is dressed in a flannel shirt, and I can’t tell whether that’s because she’s trying to bring back the only fashion style of the past fifty years that hasn’ t been brought back or whether it’s because the shirt is as damn comfortable as it looks. She has very pale skin and a haircut that reads private school even though she’s messed it up to try to hide it. The next band opened for Le Tigre on their last tour, and I figure this girl’s here to see them. If I was a different kind of guy, I might try to strike up a friendly conversation, just to be friends. But I feel that if I talk to someone else right now, all I’ll be able to do is unload.

Thom and Scot would probably be ready to go if I wanted them to, but I’m pretty sure Dev hasn’t figured out yet whether he’s coming back with us or not, and I’d be an asshole to put him on the spot and ask. So I’m stuck and I know it, and that’ s when I look to my right and see Tris and her new guy approaching the beer-spilled bar to order another round of whatever I’m not having. It’s definitely her, and I’ m definitely fucked, because the between-band rush is pressing toward me now and if I try to leave, I’ll have to push my way out, and if I have to push my way out, she’ll see me making an escape and she’ll know for sure that I can’t take it, and even if that’s the goddamn truth I don’t want her to have actual proof. She is looking so hot and I am feeling so cold and the guy she’s with has his hand on her arm in a way that a gay friend would never, ever think of, and I guess that’s my own proof. I am the old model and this is the new model and I could crash out a year’s worth of time on my bass and nothing, absolutely nothing, would change.

She sees me. She can’t fake surprise at seeing me here, because of course she fucking knew I’d be here. So she does a little smile thing and whispers something to the new model and I can tell just from her expression that after they get their now-being-poured drinks they are going to come over and say hello and good show and–could she be so stupid and cruel?–how are you doing? And I can’t stand the thought of it. I see it all unfolding and I know I have to do something–anything–to stop it.

So I, this random bassist in an average queercore band, turn to this girl in flannel who I don’t even know and say:

“I know this is going to sound strange, but would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?”

2. NORAH
Randy from Are You Randy? insists the bassist from the queercore band is a ’mo, but I told him No, the guy is straight. Whether or not he’s responsible for his band’s shit lyrics (Fuck the Man / Fuck the Man–what’ s that trite crap?), I have no idea, but he’s ‘no ’mo. Trust me. There are certain things a girl just knows, like that a fourth minute on a punk song is a bad, bad idea, or that no way does a Jersey-boy bassist with Astor Place hair who wears torn-up, bleach-stained black jeans and a faded black T-shirt with orange lettering that says When I say Jesus, you say Christ, swing down boy-boy alley; he’s working the ironic punk boy—Johnny Cash angle too hard to be a ’mo. Maybe he’s a little emo, I told Randy, but just because he doesn’t look like a Whitesnake-relic-reject like all of your band, does not automatically mean the guy’s gay.

The incidental fact of his straightness doesn’t mean I want to be NoMo’s five-minute girlfriend, like I’m some 7-Eleven quick stop on his slut train. Only because I am the one loser here who hasn’ t lost all her senses to beer, dope, or hormones do I have the sense to hold back my original instinct–to yell back “FUCK, NO!” in response to NoMo’s question.

I have to think about Caroline. I always have to think about Caroline.

I noticed NoMo loading equipment after his band’s set while his bandmates abandoned him to score some action. I understand that scene. I am that scene, cleaning up everyone else’ s mess.

NoMo dresses so bad–he has to be from Jersey. And if Jersey Boy is equipment bitch, he has a van. The van’s probably a piece of scrap metal with a leaking carburetor that as likely as not will pop a tire or run out of gas in the middle of the Lincoln Tunnel, but it’s a risk I have to take. Somebody’s got to get Caroline home. She’ s too drunk to risk taking her on the bus. She’s also so drunk she’ll go home with Randy if I’m not there to take her back to my house where she can sleep it off. Groupie bitch. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d kill her.

From behind him I don't see Caroline but I do see that stupid bitch, Tris, rhymes with bris, cuz that's what she'll do to a guy, rip apart his piece. She's doing her Tris strut with her big boobs sticking out in front of her, wiggling her ass in that way that gets the instant attention of every dumb schmo in her wake, even the gay boys, who seem to be highly represented here tonight, NoMo notwithstanding. She's coming right toward me. No No NOOOOOOOOOOO. How did she find out Caroline and I would be here tonight? Does she have lookouts with text pagers set up every place Caroline and I go on a Saturday night, or what?
Boyfriend to the rescue! I answer NoMo's question by putting my hand around his neck and pulling his face down to mine. God, I would do anything to avoid Tris recognizing me and trying to talk to me.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ember; Media tie-in edition (January 1, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 183 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 037584614X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375846144
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 17 years
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1020L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.46 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #242,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #48 in Teen & Young Adult Music Fiction
- #400 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Dating & Sex (Books)
- #728 in Teen & Young Adult Social Issues

Customer Reviews:
512 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

David Levithan
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
David Levithan is the author and co-author of over twenty YA novels, many of them bestsellers. His first YA novel was Boy Meets Boy in 2003. For more about David and his books, you can check out his website davidlevithan.com. His lover's dictionary can also be found on Twitter at @loverdiction.
See more on the author's page
Rachel Cohn
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.
The great wish of my adolescence was to be diagnosed with scoliosis. Then I would be like Deenie. I LOVED the book "Deenie" by Judy Blume. I wanted to look like Deenie; I wanted her disease; I even wanted to live in Deenie's town, Elizabeth, New Jersey, a short hop from my dream destination, New York City. Although now that I live in Manhattan as an adult (with a fairly normal spine, I'm told), Elizabeth, New Jersey is more known to me as the place with the long lines at IKEA instead of as the hometown of Deenie. Like Deenie, my priorities eventually shifted.
I never did get that scoliosis diagnosis, but from my favorite childhood authors such as Judy Blume, E.L. Konigsburg and Ellen Conford, I did get inspiration for another goal: to write. I can't remember a time when I wasn't trying to create stories. When I started seriously writing fiction, I didn't set out to write specifically for young adults, but as my writing matured, it became clear that when I got stuck writing in teen voices, it was a good place to be stuck. The author question I get asked most often now is how I am able to write from the perspective of a teenager, as if I were in that character's head. The honest answer is, I don't know. I try not to think about it too much, for fear of ruining it. But I do feel like I can readily channel my own teenage self and tap into those feelings, and that's something I try to convey through the written word.
When teen readers write to me now telling me how much they relate to characters I've created -- Cyd Charisse in "Gingerbread" and "Shrimp," Annabel and Lucy in "The Steps" and "Two Steps Forward," or Wonder in "Pop Princess" -- I think, I relate, too: I wanted to be Deenie!
See more on the author's page

Customer reviews

5 star		61%
4 star		20%
3 star		12%
2 star		3%
1 star		4%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Tracy E. Etheridge

Infinite Heartbreaks?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

When you hear that two people came together to write a book, you expect it to be all over the place with different tones and opinions. But Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is completely opposite of that. After reading the title I started thinking of some normal, romantic, love story. I thought that it would be like any other romantic novel, such as The Notebook, but I soon realized it was nothing like that. The book took me inside the two character's heads and made me feel what they were feeling. I felt their anger, happiness, and sadness. While reading it I could also relate to most things in my life that have happened. I thought it was one of the best books I have ever read.

Nick and Norah are two normal teenagers who both have recently had their hearts broken. They never think they'll be able to love again, but what happens when they decide to be a five minute couple? It soon takes their two worlds spiraling out of control. Nick's Yugo takes them all around Manhattan on an adventure that will change their lives. They have more in common then they think. They have one major connection...music. Their same taste in music brings the closer together as the book progresses on. It keeps bringing them together again, even when they try to go separate ways. But in order to be together, they need to learn to let go of past loves and find new ones. But, nobody knows if they'll be able to do that.

The plot of this book reminds me a lot of the book Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn. They both have two characters who meet through one certain object. As the stories go on, that object keeps pulling the two people together even after everything else tries to pull them apart, even themselves. In the end the only way that they can ever end up together is learning to let go of the past and fight for what they want, even if they are unsure if that is what is right.

Most people while reading will fall in love with the protagonist character and learn to dislike the antagonist character. Norah, being the protagonist character, I thought was very bossy and rude. Sure, at times she was nice, shy, sweet, and even funny, but there were times when she would just be so mean that I would hate reading about her. The antagonist character, Tris, starts off as mean. She's cruel, annoying, and your basic mean girl. She breaks Nick's heart and Norah thinks Tris used him but "he said 'I love you' and, you know, I was just not feeling it back...I felt like now it was time to set him free, so he could find someone else...so I took the brutal route"(Cohn/Levithan91) which means Tris broke up with him so she wouldn't lead him on, but in the end she still looked like the bad guy. As the story goes on I soon realized why she did the things she did and how there is a more deeper meaning to them than I thought. She may be mean and cruel, but she doesn't hide herself behind a wall of innocence, and most of what she does is out of kindness, even if nobody else can see that.

Most of the book is seeing things from Norah's and Nick's thoughts. Every chapter will switch over to the other character's point of view and I got to see their point of view on the current situation. I feel like that was an important element that the 2 authors put into the book simply because I got to see how they reacted differently in their head to each situation that was happening, I thought it was much better than reading the dialogue which never really went into depth. The dialogue never really taught me anything about the characters, but reading their thoughts helped me understand what kind of people they are.

To me, this book would more appeal to teenage girls. It may be interesting for some guys, but it is nothing but love and music. For the music part, I recommend people who like metalcore and alternative to read it. That is what most of the music in this book is and if they listen to that genre of music, they may feel some sort of connection to it like I did.

In the end, I thought this book was amazing. I liked the storyline and how they switched between two characters, especially one being a boy and one being a girl. The plot kept me interested. I like how the music genre in it was more metalcore and alternative because most books that have to do with music never think to use those genres. I thought the book was excellent and it is a definite read.

Helpful

N. S.

Richie's Picks: NICK AND NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 26, 2006

Verified Purchase

NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST has such a pounding and infectious beat that it's as if a mp3-saturated microchip were implanted in the book. From the instant you crack open the cover, screams of loud, moaning guitar come slicing through your synapses, to be followed immediately by a vocalist's machine-gun rapid rant caressing your face. And then, when you succeed in getting your eyes back into focus for a moment, you realize you're hovering slightly above a tightly packed, pulsing crowd and that something's compelling you to focus on the goings-on taking place in one little corner of the evening's virtual insanity.

There they are: Two young, complete strangers who in the same moment of desperation and fortuitous fate are attempting to avoid the very same person and are about to send their parallel universes irretrievably crashing into each other.

"All the tables have been shoved aside now.

"Fuse: lit.

"Fuse: burning.

"Ready.

"Set.

"Explode."

And, so, the evening -- and the story -- begins.

Nick:

"She sees me. She can't fake surprise at seeing me here, because of course she f---ing knew I'd be here. So she does a little smile thing and whispers something to the new model and I can tell just from her expression that after they get their now-being-poured drinks they are going to come over and say hello and good show and--could she be so stupid and cruel?--how are you doing? And I can't stand the thought of it. I see it all unfolding and I know I have to do something--anything--to stop it.

"So I, this random bassist in an average queercore band, turn to this girl in flannel who I don't even know and say:

" 'I know this is going to sound strange, but would you mind being my girlfriend for the next five minutes?' "

Norah:

"I answer NoMo's question by putting my hand around his neck and pulling his face down to mine. God, I would do anything to avoid Tris recognizing me and trying to talk to me."

"I've just seen a face I can't forget the time or place where we just met

She's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see we've met

Mm mm mm mm mm mm

Had it been another day I might have looked the other way

And I'd have never been aware, but as it is I'll dream of her tonight

La la la la la la."

--Lennon and McCartney, "I've Just Seen A Face"

If it weren't for what she so erroneously spews about how the Beatles are completely overrated, Norah Silverberg would easily be contending for my favorite female character for 2006. And after reading and rereading NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST, Norah Silverberg has become such a part of my reality that I'm illogically wishing she actually reads this so that I can bring her down a notch by snapping back about how overrated SHE is.

"I extract my wrist from his grip. But for some reason, instead of walking away, I pause for a moment and return my hand to his face, caressing his cheek, drawing light circles on his jaw with my index finger.

"I tell him, 'You poor schmuck.' "

The fact is that I'd been aware for quite a while that these two YA authors whom I've long adored individually had been collaborating on a project together, but only in my dreams could I have imagined that the fruits of that shared labor would morph into the unforgettable evening-long, sensual, thrillingly adventurous, utterly charming and sweet, head-bangingly lyrical story that has our students passing a precious advance copy from one to another to another and begging us to organize a trip down to the City when the David and Rachel tour passes through SF in June.

Tune into NICK & NORAH'S INFINITE PLAYLIST, or be way sorry you missed it.

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

DSP

Frantic and fun

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 15, 2013

Verified Purchase

I picked this up (insomuch as you can pick a kindle version of a book up) after recently watching the film version for a second time. I'm always a bit wary about this, as more often than not, the 'second' version of something doesn't live up to the original - even if the 'second' version came first. Which was the case here - the film was an adaptation of the book.
Well I thoroughly enjoyed the film so I thought I'd give this a whirl.

I was slightly put off by the fact that it was described as teen, or young persons, fiction. As far as I'm concerned, once you're past 'The Hungry Caterpillar', books are for everyone, unless they're particularly violent, sexual etc. And this one, apart from apparently being sponsored by the 'F' word, given its prevalence, isn't.

It's the just the story of Nick, Norah, and the night they spend in New York after a chance meeting.

I really enjoyed it. As others have mentioned, the mechanism used by the authors, whereby the chapters alternate between Nick, and then Norah's viewpoint may not be wholly original, but it works extremely well.
And credit to the authors too, for the seemingly breathless pace they inject into the writing, particularly in the middle section of the book. Your eyes race across the page in an effort to keep up.

It helps if you're a music fan - if you aren't, then deduct one star - not for any particular mention of a band or song, but just for the way the writers evoke that familiar buzz you get from going to see a band, or just sitting around with your friends discussing music to the nth degree.

So to sum up - if you liked the film, I think you'd like the book. It's similar enough that you won't think 'Oh, it's been spoiled because they didn't do x, y or z.', but it differs in sufficiently subtle ways that it keeps your interest despite the fact that you think you know where it's going.

It's a bit short - you could probably read the whole thing in one sitting - but given that plenty of books outstay their welcome, short isn't necessarily a bad thing.,

Recommended.

D. Cotton

A quick, entertaining and witty read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 25, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book has lingered near the top of my to-read pile for close to a year now, but I took my time in making the leap to actually picking it up. I don't know why, especially after I read and enjoyed Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by the same authors, earlier this year. It's a short read and sounded exactly like the kind of story I really enjoy. But all that matters not is that I have finally picked it up and read it. I'm so glad I did.

Seeing as it's so short (just shy of 200 pages), I read it in less than 24 hours, but I think, even if it had been longer, I would have read it just as fast.
The first chapter was pretty good, introducing the reader to Nick, but I wouldn't say that I really got pulled into the story until the end of the second chapter, when I had not only seen things through Nick's perspective for the first time, but also Norah's. It was immediately clear that the two characters were pretty similar to one another (both in personality and predicament), an I knew that the chemistry between them would not take long to show.
Both are music-obsessed; Nick is the bassist and only straight member of a 'queercore' band, and Norah, who is in the crowd at their gig at the beginning of the novel, happens to be the daughter of a rich and influential music producer. As a result, both characters talk about music a lot - sometimes I understood what and who they were on about, and sometimes I didn't (my musical knowledge does not extend very far) - but I found that, either way, my enjoyment of the book was not too badly affected. I think if I had greater knowledge of the music that was being discussed I may have gotten a little more out of the book, but I don't think, overall, that it made much difference at all. I mention this because, having spoken to other readers who are yet to read this book, this seemed to be a fairly large concern, but I'm here to say that even if, like me, you have a limited knowledge of all things musical, it's still more than possible to seriously enjoy this book.

As I said, I didn't think it would be too long until the chemistry between Nick and Norah began to show, and I was right on two counts. Neither character initially knows it, but the physical attraction is mutual from the first hasty kiss that begins their packed and unforgettable night together that spans the length of the novel. But it wasn't just a physical attraction that showed (initially from the characters' thoughts in their individual chapters), but also an intellectual, deeper attraction, that became increasingly obvious as the two of them talked and began to get to know each other. In fact, I would say that this attraction, for Norah, began almost as soon as she realised who he was, through mix tapes and song lyrics he'd created for his ex-girlfriend, Tris, who happens to be a kind-of0but-not-quite friend of Norah's.
I never quite got tot he point of feeling frustrated by the constant ups and downs of Nick and Norah's fledgling relationship because I was so utterly convinced that things were going to work out between them, so I decided to sit back and enjoy the ride, and enjoy it I did. The conversations between them were witty, humorous, sometimes profound and deep, and the situations they got in together were intense, and often laugh-out-loud hilarious (particularly towards the end - you'll know what I mean, if you've read it, or decide to). I enjoyed every moment of their rollercoaster relationship.

Aside from Nick and Norah, there was another character that I really feel I should mention. Obviously there are other characters in the book beside our leading couple, but most of them took a back seat, in my opinion. Apart from one; Nick's ex, Tris.
She starts out being an almost-antagonist, 'evil-ex' kind of figure - even Norah seemed to dislike her, and I was inclined to agree, from what I'd already seen through Nick's eyes. But as is sometimes the case, the male had misunderstood pretty much everything, and the female had purposefully confused. As the novel goes on, Tris' role in it evolves, and her final appearance really surprised me. It totally changed my opinion of her, and made her a much more interesting character.

The only reason I have not given Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist the full five star rating is because it did not have the unforgettable 'wow-factor', but I did really, really enjoy it. It was infinitely entertaining, witty, funny and compelling. The characters are intelligent, well-developed and loveable, and the prose is absorbing, clever and in places, beautiful.
This is a wonderful read, especially if what you're looking for is a quick, fun and uplifting story. I highly recommend it.

Originally written for my blog, Pen to Paper ([...])

One person found this helpful

Luna's Little Library

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is one marvelous adventure you do not want to miss out on.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 18, 2012

Verified Purchase

You have to read this! I don't know why I waited so long. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is proof that books don't have to have 300+ pages to have great character development and amazing storytelling. Fair warning though; if you don't like swearing this is not for you.

The story takes place over one night and is told in alternating chapters by Nick and Norah. Yes it is a love story but there is so much more. Both Nick and Norah bring their own set of problems and it's fun to read how differently they view the same situation. Norah might have known about Nick before they met but the reality is not the guy she pictured.

During their adventure the reader is treated to a tour of a New York I'd love to see. The club, Toni and a performance of Sound of Music like no other. Nick's band mates plus Caroline and Tris all have their parts to play and as sidekicks are much more developed than expected. Tris is particular. And let's not forget the Jessie the Yugo.

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist is one marvelous adventure you do not want to miss out on.

Lucy Taylor

I could read it, enjoyed some, hated others.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 17, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have wanted to read this book for as long as I can remember and when I got round to it, I couldnt help but be disappointed.
All set in one night, I couldnt help but question the relationship, question that it wouldnt happen like that and why things like this would have happened. I would have much prefered it if the book was written about a few months, and not just one night which is a one in a million opportunity.
I would recommend it, but its not on the highest of my read lists. Maybe I just didnt connect with the Characters, but I didnt find it difficult to read.

H. Stovring

Youth & Adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 14, 2012

Verified Purchase

Personally, I really liked the movie and that's what lead me to the book.
While the plot of the movie doesn't follow the book all the way, it does have the characters, the same spirit and the same general idea.

Two young people meet at a concert, are pushed together by circumstance and with each other's company they go out into an adventure that goes on until the early morning. They have a life-changing night colored by strange mishaps and even stranger people.

The book is capturing, oddly heartwarming and genuinely funny, plus it leaves you with a sudden need to go explore a city and have an adventure of your own.

See all reviews