If your teen is currently obsessed with "BookTok" or spends their time curated "cozy girl" aesthetics on Pinterest, they’ve probably stumbled upon Dash & Lily.

Based on the popular YA novel Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, the show follows two teenagers in New York City during the Christmas season. Dash is the cynical, "I hate the holidays" type who finds a red Moleskine notebook hidden in the stacks of the iconic Strand Bookstore. Inside is a dare from Lily, a bubbly, Christmas-obsessed optimist who is feeling lonely because her parents left her alone for the holidays.

The two spend the eight-episode season passing the notebook back and forth across the city, never meeting in person until the very end. They trade dares—like performing on stage with a Jewish punk rock band or finding a specific piece of art—and share their deepest secrets. It’s a refreshing break from the "ghosting" and "blue bubbles vs. green bubbles" drama of modern teen dating, even if the premise is a little "main character energy" (as the kids say).

In a world where everything is digital, there is something deeply romantic to a 14-year-old about a physical notebook. It feels "vintage" and "authentic"—words that carry a lot of weight in 2026.

The show also nails the NYC holiday "vibe." It’s basically a high-budget Hallmark movie but with better acting, snappier dialogue, and characters that actually feel like real people instead of cardboard cutouts. For kids who are tired of the "brain rot" content on YouTube or the high-stakes drama of Euphoria, Dash & Lily offers a middle ground: it’s sophisticated enough to feel "grown-up" but wholesome enough that they don't feel like they're watching something forbidden.

While the show is generally sweet, it isn't Bluey. Here’s the breakdown of what earned it that TV-14 rating:

You’ll hear the standard "teen" vocabulary. There are a handful of "s-words," "hells," and "damns." It’s not constant, but it’s there to make the characters sound like actual New York City teenagers and not Disney Channel characters. If your household has a strict "no swearing" policy, this might be a point of contention.

There is a scene involving an underground "Challah-back" party (it’s a Jewish punk thing—actually pretty cool) where teens are clearly drinking. One character gets noticeably drunk and has a bit of a rough morning. It’s portrayed realistically—not necessarily "cool," but not a heavy-handed "after-school special" warning either.

The romance is mostly "slow burn." There’s a lot of yearning and build-up. However, there are frank conversations about sex. Lily’s older brother, Langston, is gay and is often shown in bed with his boyfriend (kissing and cuddling, nothing graphic). There’s also a subplot involving a "breakup" that centers around one character feeling pressured or not ready for certain levels of intimacy.

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So, who is this for?

If you decide to let your teen watch it, or if they’ve already binged it, here are a few ways to turn it into a conversation:

Learn more about how to talk to your teen about healthy digital relationships

If your teen loved Dash & Lily, they’ll probably enjoy these as well:

If they liked the "pure" feeling of the romance in Dash & Lily, this is the gold standard. It deals with LGBTQ+ themes with incredible sensitivity and has a very low "anxiety" level for a teen show.

This is a bit more "drama-heavy" and focused on a love triangle, but it hits that same "literary adaptation" itch. Note: it’s a bit more mature in terms of teen partying.

If they liked the "romance through letters/notebooks" vibe, they might enjoy this book series which feels like The Bachelor meets a dystopian future.

For the kid who related to Lily’s "quirky girl" energy and optimism, this Netflix adaptation of Anne of Green Gables is stunning and heartfelt.

Dash & Lily is one of the better teen offerings on streaming right now. It celebrates literacy, NYC culture, and genuine emotional connection. While the TV-14 rating means you should expect some "teen reality" (language, drinking), it lacks the cynicism and toxicity found in many other modern teen dramas.

It’s a "deliberate decision" show—perfect for a rainy weekend or a holiday break binge, especially if you watch an episode or two with them to see how they’re processing the more mature themes.

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