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I Dare You
An unforgettable story about dangerous dares that will make you laugh and cry, for fans of Holly Smale and Jacqueline Wilson.
"How far would you go for a friend? A shocking, poignant, powerful read with a message all young teens need to hear." Cathy Cassidy
Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn't get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it's worth it.
But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea. An idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble. An idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.
"How far would you go for a friend? A shocking, poignant, powerful read with a message all young teens need to hear." Cathy Cassidy
Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn't get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it's worth it.
But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea. An idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble. An idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.
- GenresYoung Adult
368 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2025
30 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Tamsin Winter
7 books172 followers"Tamsin Winter is fast becoming a favourite for younger teenagers, chronicling those first years at secondary school with warmth and honesty."
- The Observer
Tamsin Winter grew up in a tiny Northamptonshire village where she spent her childhood reading books and writing stories. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at university, and has taught English at secondary level for many years.
Her award-winning novel, Being Miss Nobody (Usborne Publishing) tells the story of eleven-year-old Rosalind who can't speak. The book tackles themes of bullying, anxiety and social media in a fresh, funny and compelling voice and recently won the Awesome Book Award 2019. Tamsin's second novel, Jemima Small Versus the Universe is a bold, funny, heartwarming novel dealing with big themes of weight-related bullying, body-shaming and, most importantly, learning to be happy with who you are. It was Children's Book of the Month in The Guardian and has recently been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2020.
- The Observer
Tamsin Winter grew up in a tiny Northamptonshire village where she spent her childhood reading books and writing stories. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at university, and has taught English at secondary level for many years.
Her award-winning novel, Being Miss Nobody (Usborne Publishing) tells the story of eleven-year-old Rosalind who can't speak. The book tackles themes of bullying, anxiety and social media in a fresh, funny and compelling voice and recently won the Awesome Book Award 2019. Tamsin's second novel, Jemima Small Versus the Universe is a bold, funny, heartwarming novel dealing with big themes of weight-related bullying, body-shaming and, most importantly, learning to be happy with who you are. It was Children's Book of the Month in The Guardian and has recently been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 31, 2025
absolutely brilliant.
Previously, I hadn't read many of Tamsin's books, but recently, as you can probably see, I read Being Miss Nobody. It was fantastic, and then what do you know? I walk into Waterstones and here this book is. And I just think, oh, why not give it a try?
So I did. And, I'm telling you now, it was not a mistake.
This book told the story of two teenage girls called Alma and Willow. Willow is daring, with a thirst for fame. Alma is sensible and talented, and she has a great life at home. Willow is still getting used to her soon-to-be stepdad, Tom, who is "a moustached weirdo", and finds being at home difficult sometimes.
These two girls have been best friends since the first day they met in Year 4, and they decide to turn to online challenges to get the fame they want. They create a TikTok account and start filming dares, their likes and followers slowly growing as they do so. However, these challenges quickly turn from fun and hilarious to scary and a little unsafe. And the whole time, Alma has a secret...
The final challenge is written so well that it made me panic when I read it, and thank God there's a DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME warning at the start, because this book definitely needs one! You can really see the dares progressing into the high-risk category, and also Alma sometimes being afraid to say no. Willow seems not to care whether the challenges are dangerous, desperate to irritate her mother, but she does take into account Alma's fear, and participates in some of the dares alone.
I really enjoyed this book. I also noticed the underlying themes of speaking up and out against what's wrong, which seems to appear in all of Tamsin's books (or, the ones that I've read, anyway). I really recommend Tamsin's writing, because it's so heart-wrenching, and really touching in parts. Also, the friendship between Willow and Alma was just golden, and it was a great multi-perspective read.
Thanks for reading my review! See you in the next one.
Previously, I hadn't read many of Tamsin's books, but recently, as you can probably see, I read Being Miss Nobody. It was fantastic, and then what do you know? I walk into Waterstones and here this book is. And I just think, oh, why not give it a try?
So I did. And, I'm telling you now, it was not a mistake.
This book told the story of two teenage girls called Alma and Willow. Willow is daring, with a thirst for fame. Alma is sensible and talented, and she has a great life at home. Willow is still getting used to her soon-to-be stepdad, Tom, who is "a moustached weirdo", and finds being at home difficult sometimes.
These two girls have been best friends since the first day they met in Year 4, and they decide to turn to online challenges to get the fame they want. They create a TikTok account and start filming dares, their likes and followers slowly growing as they do so. However, these challenges quickly turn from fun and hilarious to scary and a little unsafe. And the whole time, Alma has a secret...
The final challenge is written so well that it made me panic when I read it, and thank God there's a DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME warning at the start, because this book definitely needs one! You can really see the dares progressing into the high-risk category, and also Alma sometimes being afraid to say no. Willow seems not to care whether the challenges are dangerous, desperate to irritate her mother, but she does take into account Alma's fear, and participates in some of the dares alone.
I really enjoyed this book. I also noticed the underlying themes of speaking up and out against what's wrong, which seems to appear in all of Tamsin's books (or, the ones that I've read, anyway). I really recommend Tamsin's writing, because it's so heart-wrenching, and really touching in parts. Also, the friendship between Willow and Alma was just golden, and it was a great multi-perspective read.
Thanks for reading my review! See you in the next one.
November 19, 2025
This book crackles. Properly.
It’s fast, sharp, and painfully believable in that oh no, I’ve seen fourteen-year-olds actually do this kind of way. Winter has an uncanny sense for how teens talk, think, spiral, and push each other right up to the edge, all while insisting they’re having the time of their lives.
Willow and Alma feel real. Not “YA real”, but actual teenage girl real. Best friends with big dreams, tangled insecurities, and that subtle, simmering envy that creeps into even the closest friendships. Alma has the nicer life. Willow has the sharper hunger. And when Willow locks onto the idea of fame as salvation, she drags Alma into the whirlwind with her. It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s exactly how those dynamics play out in real classrooms and corridors.
The dares escalate exactly the way you dread they will. Funny at first, daft and chaotic, until suddenly they’re not funny anymore and you can see the crash coming from a mile away. Willow’s obsession with views and validation hits a bit too close to home. Alma’s reluctance, followed by guilt, followed by fear, is heartbreakingly spot on.
What makes this so good is the emotional truth underneath the spectacle. The jealousy, the frustration, the longing to be seen, the way social media pressures turn ordinary kids into stunt performers for an invisible crowd. Winter never talks down to her readers. She just shows the reality and lets it sting.
It’s brilliantly written. Quick, gripping, and full of that knot-in-your-stomach tension you only get when you care about the characters and want to shake them at the same time.
And honestly? Every secondary school should stock this. Every parent should read it with their teen. It’s a mirror held up to the culture our kids are swimming in, and it does the job beautifully.
A smart, vivid, necessary read. I’ll be recommending it to every student who wanders into the library looking for something “dramatic but real”.
It’s fast, sharp, and painfully believable in that oh no, I’ve seen fourteen-year-olds actually do this kind of way. Winter has an uncanny sense for how teens talk, think, spiral, and push each other right up to the edge, all while insisting they’re having the time of their lives.
Willow and Alma feel real. Not “YA real”, but actual teenage girl real. Best friends with big dreams, tangled insecurities, and that subtle, simmering envy that creeps into even the closest friendships. Alma has the nicer life. Willow has the sharper hunger. And when Willow locks onto the idea of fame as salvation, she drags Alma into the whirlwind with her. It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s exactly how those dynamics play out in real classrooms and corridors.
The dares escalate exactly the way you dread they will. Funny at first, daft and chaotic, until suddenly they’re not funny anymore and you can see the crash coming from a mile away. Willow’s obsession with views and validation hits a bit too close to home. Alma’s reluctance, followed by guilt, followed by fear, is heartbreakingly spot on.
What makes this so good is the emotional truth underneath the spectacle. The jealousy, the frustration, the longing to be seen, the way social media pressures turn ordinary kids into stunt performers for an invisible crowd. Winter never talks down to her readers. She just shows the reality and lets it sting.
It’s brilliantly written. Quick, gripping, and full of that knot-in-your-stomach tension you only get when you care about the characters and want to shake them at the same time.
And honestly? Every secondary school should stock this. Every parent should read it with their teen. It’s a mirror held up to the culture our kids are swimming in, and it does the job beautifully.
A smart, vivid, necessary read. I’ll be recommending it to every student who wanders into the library looking for something “dramatic but real”.
November 18, 2025
Okay, this book spoke to me on so many levels. I loved how Tamsin could keep up the raw reality by how she presented the two friends, Alma and Willow. When a challenge goes wrong, the girls suddenly seem to go viral. To keep on that high, Willow encourages Alma to do more and more dangerous challenges, picking them from the trending tags.
There's a certain grittiness, a certain darkness in this tale, which, to me, made it all the more interesting, because it brought it close to home. As someone who has seen (and felt) online pressure, I was hoping for the girls to snap out of it. But, of course, there's more at play here.
On the one hand, we have Willow, who's clearly not too happy in her current home situation. Apart from the standard hormonal struggle most teenagers are forced to face, we see a cry out for attention. Partially, because of fear. A cry, which, arguably, as an adult, is a little exaggerated. Which brings it back mostly on hormones. Nothing weird there, hormones can give us such extreme feelings. Add a broken family/or a changing family situation on top and Bwam. Yes, this is something I've seen happen as a teenager. I knew several kids like Willow. I buy it.
And on the other hand, we have Alma, who is hiding a secret from her best friend and therefore feels guilty; it is the reason why she doesn't dare to say no. Everything becomes more painful when you realize how close their friendship used to be. >> If Willow's truly your best friend, if she cares, she'll act accordingly.....
Yeah, we all have had such a friend, haven't we? I know I've had. The friend you didn't dare to say no to. The friend who, in the end, turned out to be jealous over something extremely trivial (like... having longer hair than them), who set out to ruin your life while you weren't even aware. While you thought you were friends, while you hoped you did everything to please them and wasn't aware that behind the friendship, there was malice. You'll find it out, sometimes much later. And it's always the hard way, isn't it?
So yes, I absolutely disliked Willow, and for me to hate a character this passionately, you did something right, author. Because I seldom dislike a character. Yet, it was because of this that I kept reading. I wanted to see the end. I wanted to know how far things would go and if there'd be any salvation, any hope. I understand why the author decided on that final line (also, because she discussed it in her afterword). To me, those final lines might have been the most unrealistic thing in the entire book. But, the tale still stands.
This story stayed with me for so many days. I finished this book weeks ago, yet keep talking about it to friends, recommending it, I received it to review for our libraries, ended up enjoying it, seeing the value in nowadays society, seeing it is, in its own way, a treasure.
So, thank you, Tamsin Winter, for writing and sharing this precious tale. I hope our libraries will add it to their collection. I know I recommended them to do so.
There's a certain grittiness, a certain darkness in this tale, which, to me, made it all the more interesting, because it brought it close to home. As someone who has seen (and felt) online pressure, I was hoping for the girls to snap out of it. But, of course, there's more at play here.
On the one hand, we have Willow, who's clearly not too happy in her current home situation. Apart from the standard hormonal struggle most teenagers are forced to face, we see a cry out for attention. Partially, because of fear. A cry, which, arguably, as an adult, is a little exaggerated. Which brings it back mostly on hormones. Nothing weird there, hormones can give us such extreme feelings. Add a broken family/or a changing family situation on top and Bwam. Yes, this is something I've seen happen as a teenager. I knew several kids like Willow. I buy it.
And on the other hand, we have Alma, who is hiding a secret from her best friend and therefore feels guilty; it is the reason why she doesn't dare to say no. Everything becomes more painful when you realize how close their friendship used to be. >> If Willow's truly your best friend, if she cares, she'll act accordingly.....
Yeah, we all have had such a friend, haven't we? I know I've had. The friend you didn't dare to say no to. The friend who, in the end, turned out to be jealous over something extremely trivial (like... having longer hair than them), who set out to ruin your life while you weren't even aware. While you thought you were friends, while you hoped you did everything to please them and wasn't aware that behind the friendship, there was malice. You'll find it out, sometimes much later. And it's always the hard way, isn't it?
So yes, I absolutely disliked Willow, and for me to hate a character this passionately, you did something right, author. Because I seldom dislike a character. Yet, it was because of this that I kept reading. I wanted to see the end. I wanted to know how far things would go and if there'd be any salvation, any hope. I understand why the author decided on that final line (also, because she discussed it in her afterword). To me, those final lines might have been the most unrealistic thing in the entire book. But, the tale still stands.
This story stayed with me for so many days. I finished this book weeks ago, yet keep talking about it to friends, recommending it, I received it to review for our libraries, ended up enjoying it, seeing the value in nowadays society, seeing it is, in its own way, a treasure.
So, thank you, Tamsin Winter, for writing and sharing this precious tale. I hope our libraries will add it to their collection. I know I recommended them to do so.
May 7, 2025
Willow & Alma are thirteen-year-old best friends and joint owners of the 'Wilma' TikTok account where they video each other doing dares and challenges in the hopes of going viral and finding fame as influencers. When the basketball hoop challenge goes wrong they have to be rescued by the fire brigade, but the video is a huge hit and they get caught up in trying to do increasingly extreme challenges to chase the high of social media views. The chilli challenge and the duct tape challenge are marginally successful, but when Willow sees the fireball challenge she knows this is their ticket to finally going viral. Alma is not so sure about the fireball challenge, she'd rather focus on her stage school audition, but she lets Willow talk her into it and the aftermath of that decision will change both of them forever.
This story is told from the perspective of both girls, and despite the fact that they both love acting, their lives are very different. Willow is the stronger character but her family is not as affluent as Alma's, which means she has stronger motivation to seek internet fame as a means of escape from their small town. Alma is easily led by Willow, especially as she feels guilty for not telling Willow that she has applied to a stage school that Willow would never be able to afford.
'I Dare You' is the very definition of a cautionary tale. It is painful to watch Willow and Alma consistently make the wrong decisions over and over again, but also easy to understand how they are sucked into the relentless and addictive quest for social media affirmation. Once again Tamsin Winter proves her capacity to write for the teen category with authenticity, empathy and insight - a thought-provoking and frighteningly plausible read.
This story is told from the perspective of both girls, and despite the fact that they both love acting, their lives are very different. Willow is the stronger character but her family is not as affluent as Alma's, which means she has stronger motivation to seek internet fame as a means of escape from their small town. Alma is easily led by Willow, especially as she feels guilty for not telling Willow that she has applied to a stage school that Willow would never be able to afford.
'I Dare You' is the very definition of a cautionary tale. It is painful to watch Willow and Alma consistently make the wrong decisions over and over again, but also easy to understand how they are sucked into the relentless and addictive quest for social media affirmation. Once again Tamsin Winter proves her capacity to write for the teen category with authenticity, empathy and insight - a thought-provoking and frighteningly plausible read.
November 18, 2025
I Dare You is a teen novel centred around two friends, Willow and Alma, who carry out social media challenges and dares in order to go viral. Being a fan of Tamsim Winter's debut, Being Miss Nobody, I decided to give this book a try.
I found this book important, because it highlights the dangers of carrying out social media challenges in a way that teenagers can relate to. The two main characters participate in the dares, finding them fun, until one dare goes horribly wrong and there is disastrous consequences.
I like how this story is doing the wrong thing and having to deal with the consequences. It's about peer pressure, what happens when you don't have the courage to speak up against doing something which is wrong and dangerous, and about learning to speak up for yourself.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book is the product placement. I really didn't think it is necessary to mention certain brands, franchises and celebrities in order to tell this story. I also think that Willow should have had a say in what outfit she wore at the wedding instead of having to wear something she doesn't like or feel comfortable in.
One of Tamsim Winter's strengths is that she writes books featuring a younger teen protagonist which contains themes and writing appropriate to the age group (unlike some novels which feature a 13 or 14 year old protagonist which are written for middle grade). With I Dare You, she has done exactly that.
I found this book important, because it highlights the dangers of carrying out social media challenges in a way that teenagers can relate to. The two main characters participate in the dares, finding them fun, until one dare goes horribly wrong and there is disastrous consequences.
I like how this story is doing the wrong thing and having to deal with the consequences. It's about peer pressure, what happens when you don't have the courage to speak up against doing something which is wrong and dangerous, and about learning to speak up for yourself.
The only thing that I didn't like about this book is the product placement. I really didn't think it is necessary to mention certain brands, franchises and celebrities in order to tell this story. I also think that Willow should have had a say in what outfit she wore at the wedding instead of having to wear something she doesn't like or feel comfortable in.
One of Tamsim Winter's strengths is that she writes books featuring a younger teen protagonist which contains themes and writing appropriate to the age group (unlike some novels which feature a 13 or 14 year old protagonist which are written for middle grade). With I Dare You, she has done exactly that.
October 12, 2025
I Dare You by Tamsin Winter is a sharp, heartfelt, and deeply relevant story that captures the rush and recklessness of growing up in a world obsessed with validation. Through Willow and Alma’s friendship, Winter explores the intoxicating pull of online fame and the devastating cost when boundaries blur between courage and danger.
What makes this novel remarkable is its balance of humor and heartbreak. The dares start as funny, harmless fun waxing an eyebrow, eating chillis but each challenge pushes the girls closer to emotional breaking points. Beneath the chaos lies a poignant commentary on the pressures young people face to be seen, liked, and remembered.
Winter writes with empathy and insight, refusing to villainize her characters. Instead, she exposes the fragile insecurities behind the laughter and the longing for connection that drives their choices. The result is a story that feels both timely and timeless a mirror held up to adolescence in the digital age.
I Dare You is not only a cautionary tale but also a celebration of friendship, forgiveness, and self-worth. It reminds readers that real courage isn’t in taking reckless risks it’s in learning when to say no, and in valuing oneself beyond the screen.
What makes this novel remarkable is its balance of humor and heartbreak. The dares start as funny, harmless fun waxing an eyebrow, eating chillis but each challenge pushes the girls closer to emotional breaking points. Beneath the chaos lies a poignant commentary on the pressures young people face to be seen, liked, and remembered.
Winter writes with empathy and insight, refusing to villainize her characters. Instead, she exposes the fragile insecurities behind the laughter and the longing for connection that drives their choices. The result is a story that feels both timely and timeless a mirror held up to adolescence in the digital age.
I Dare You is not only a cautionary tale but also a celebration of friendship, forgiveness, and self-worth. It reminds readers that real courage isn’t in taking reckless risks it’s in learning when to say no, and in valuing oneself beyond the screen.
March 23, 2025
Another good, thought-provoking read from Tamsin. From the start you can see how the two girls get sucked in to chasing likes and approval on social media and it is believable to see how that escalates. By acknowledging why someone might do it, it helps readers to see how they could end up there. Throughout runs the theme of friendships and the bonds they create, but also how as you get older they can start to change and drive someone to do something they might otherwise not do. I liked that the ending was not an easy answer as one of the girls tries to hide what she has done, even though really she knows it will come out eventually.
The story is told from the viewpoint of the two main characters. At times I did find it hard to work out who it was and had to flick back to check the chapter heading. I would have liked to have more distinct voices for each character.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
The story is told from the viewpoint of the two main characters. At times I did find it hard to work out who it was and had to flick back to check the chapter heading. I would have liked to have more distinct voices for each character.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
January 29, 2026
Wow! Loved this - and apparently the shock on my face when I reached the climax of the story was visible to all in my school library!!
Alma and Willow love a dare; they love recording their dares; they love getting likes online. So their dares get ever more daring... and dangerous.
The 'Do not try this at home' warning on this book couldn't be more vital but it's also a valuable book for its message about the foolishness of dangerous dares - and of caring more about likes and what others think of you than anything else.
I really enjoyed Alma and Willow's friendship, the insight into their very different family lives and the message about the need to think REALLY carefully before you act in a foolish way. I was shocked that the story went where it did - but also glad that Tamsin Winter didn't shy away from hard truths.
Very much looking forward to meeting Tamsin at our local school book awards later this year :)
Alma and Willow love a dare; they love recording their dares; they love getting likes online. So their dares get ever more daring... and dangerous.
The 'Do not try this at home' warning on this book couldn't be more vital but it's also a valuable book for its message about the foolishness of dangerous dares - and of caring more about likes and what others think of you than anything else.
I really enjoyed Alma and Willow's friendship, the insight into their very different family lives and the message about the need to think REALLY carefully before you act in a foolish way. I was shocked that the story went where it did - but also glad that Tamsin Winter didn't shy away from hard truths.
Very much looking forward to meeting Tamsin at our local school book awards later this year :)
August 30, 2025
I found this book a bit younger and shallower than I was expecting still a good read.
The plots based on two girls willow and Alma who come from very different backgrounds but share the love of making TikTok’s and performing.
They perform harmless pranks until one not so harmless one (getting stuck in a basket ball hoop) happens . From that hey are inspired to perform more and more dangerous pranks until one goes seriously wrong causing Alma to be hospitalised.
I found the characters quite fun and relatable however the message was dissapointing as it was such a slap in the face! Not discrete not really hard hitting because of how obvious it was .
The plots based on two girls willow and Alma who come from very different backgrounds but share the love of making TikTok’s and performing.
They perform harmless pranks until one not so harmless one (getting stuck in a basket ball hoop) happens . From that hey are inspired to perform more and more dangerous pranks until one goes seriously wrong causing Alma to be hospitalised.
I found the characters quite fun and relatable however the message was dissapointing as it was such a slap in the face! Not discrete not really hard hitting because of how obvious it was .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2025
Tamsin Winter’s books perfectly capture the essence of being in your early teens; her writing beautifully portrays the nature of childhood friendships and modern family life. I Dare You is about social media and how the pursuit of more and more likes and followers and the desire to go viral can be an addiction that takes over from common sense. We all remember doing dares with our friends but sharing them online takes things to a completely different level.
A story which is totally authentic and believable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
A story which is totally authentic and believable.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 16, 2026
Really enjoyed this story about 2 BFFs who get embroiled in ever increasingly stupid TikTok challenges in search of "Likes" and the consequences thereof ... which has to be the most pompous description I have ever given!
The girls are 13 (but read more like 11 - I guess they were written slightly older to comply with current social media age restrictions), but I think my students aged 10+ would really enjoy this story.
The girls are 13 (but read more like 11 - I guess they were written slightly older to comply with current social media age restrictions), but I think my students aged 10+ would really enjoy this story.
June 28, 2025
This is a really thought-provoking and gripping book. I just could not put it down!
October 12, 2025
Huge twist at the end which was very shocking!
November 21, 2025
Definitely one for younger teens and teens and with a big flashing warning of DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Or anywhere else for that matter. Very much highlights the dangerous side of social media.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews