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They Both Die at the End #1
They Both Die at the End
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2017)They Both Die at the End
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 2017
44604 people are currently reading
854987 people want to read
About the author
Adam Silvera
37 books36.6k followersAdam Silvera is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End and More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me and Infinity Son and Infinity Reaper and with Becky Albertalli, What If It's Us and Here's to Us.
His next book The First to Die at the End releases October 4th, 2022, with the final Infinity Cycle book to follow soon after.
He was born in New York and now lives in Los Angeles where he writes full-time.
He is tall for no reason.
His next book The First to Die at the End releases October 4th, 2022, with the final Infinity Cycle book to follow soon after.
He was born in New York and now lives in Los Angeles where he writes full-time.
He is tall for no reason.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98,238 reviews
August 13, 2018
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I have been hyping it up for myself since about 2015 and it absolutely did not disappoint!
They Both Die At The End is a fascinating speculative-YA about living vs. dying. It also features a gay Puerto-Rican main character and a bisexual Cuban main character, and I am ALL ABOUT this ownvoices representation.
As always, Adam’s writing style is wonderful. His teens always speak like teens – the excessive but totally realistic amount of times Rufus said “mad” really spoke to the New Yorker in me. He excels in striking the correct balance between depth and comedy, and his talent for dark humor REALLY shined in this book. I didn’t know it was possible to laugh so much on the last day of two boy’s lives, but it happened.
Normally, I’m not a big fan of books that have super insignificant characters as an additional perspective, but I think it worked really well for this book. Throughout the novel, there are maybe 10 people additionally to Mateo and Rufus that get at least one chapter in regards to if they are dying or not today. Though I’m usually not pleased with this sort of format, it was executed extremely well. It gave us a lot of insight into how DeathCast has affected others, and it was interesting to see how so many of these seemingly unimportant character were connected to the larger part of the story.
I really loved both of our main characters. Mateo is the SMALLEST LIL BEAN, I wanted to protect him with my life. The way his anxiety manifests is very unique, unlike other fictional characters I’ve read before, and I enjoyed seeing him conquer his fears and gain control over his intrusive thoughts. Rufus, on the exterior, seem very rough around the edges, but he is actually a very compassionate, selfless individual. I think I particularly fell for Rufus hard because of that contrast between a boy hardened by trauma and a man willing to sacrifice everything for the ones he loves. Mateo and Rufus complement each other in the best way. Individually, they’re wonderfully-constructed characters. Together, they’re an unstoppable force.
I have to say, this book really transcended the pages for me. I wasn’t just concerned about the characters or the storyline, but it forced me to address my own fears regarding death. I’ve been facing a lot of severe anxiety related to death as of late, and They Both Die At The End made it impossible for me to shove those feelings down any longer. It was triggering in that respect for me, but it was more comparable to exposure therapy by compelling me to confront my issues rather than solely creating more anxiety, so ultimately, it was a positive outcome. I think it’s for that reason that TBDATE is such a powerful novel; Although Death-Cast doesn’t exist and presently we don’t have an exact expiration date, the feelings, the questions, the fears, and the rawness highlighted in this novel are all very real.
What I loved about Death Cast was how WELL DEVELOPED the world around it is. There are so many minute details about how society would be changed if we all knew we were going to die that I really appreciated seeing. I swear, I need another 7 sequels of stories set in this world because of how many possibilities there are! The only small issue I had with the novel is that I feel I didn’t understand Death-Cast that well. I understood that they can determine the day you will die with a combination of science and medicine and such, but my understanding ends there. I think I would have liked just a few more pages explaining how this totally new sort of technology worked!
All around, They Both Die At The EndAlso come hangout with Adam, Michael BookLion & I at his Lauch Party on September 5th at Barnes & Noble Tribeca @6 pm! You can find the rest of his tour dates at the link above.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins at Book Expo 2017. I had no obligation to review this book and all opinions are my own.
They Both Die At The End is a fascinating speculative-YA about living vs. dying. It also features a gay Puerto-Rican main character and a bisexual Cuban main character, and I am ALL ABOUT this ownvoices representation.
As always, Adam’s writing style is wonderful. His teens always speak like teens – the excessive but totally realistic amount of times Rufus said “mad” really spoke to the New Yorker in me. He excels in striking the correct balance between depth and comedy, and his talent for dark humor REALLY shined in this book. I didn’t know it was possible to laugh so much on the last day of two boy’s lives, but it happened.
Normally, I’m not a big fan of books that have super insignificant characters as an additional perspective, but I think it worked really well for this book. Throughout the novel, there are maybe 10 people additionally to Mateo and Rufus that get at least one chapter in regards to if they are dying or not today. Though I’m usually not pleased with this sort of format, it was executed extremely well. It gave us a lot of insight into how DeathCast has affected others, and it was interesting to see how so many of these seemingly unimportant character were connected to the larger part of the story.
I really loved both of our main characters. Mateo is the SMALLEST LIL BEAN, I wanted to protect him with my life. The way his anxiety manifests is very unique, unlike other fictional characters I’ve read before, and I enjoyed seeing him conquer his fears and gain control over his intrusive thoughts. Rufus, on the exterior, seem very rough around the edges, but he is actually a very compassionate, selfless individual. I think I particularly fell for Rufus hard because of that contrast between a boy hardened by trauma and a man willing to sacrifice everything for the ones he loves. Mateo and Rufus complement each other in the best way. Individually, they’re wonderfully-constructed characters. Together, they’re an unstoppable force.
I have to say, this book really transcended the pages for me. I wasn’t just concerned about the characters or the storyline, but it forced me to address my own fears regarding death. I’ve been facing a lot of severe anxiety related to death as of late, and They Both Die At The End made it impossible for me to shove those feelings down any longer. It was triggering in that respect for me, but it was more comparable to exposure therapy by compelling me to confront my issues rather than solely creating more anxiety, so ultimately, it was a positive outcome. I think it’s for that reason that TBDATE is such a powerful novel; Although Death-Cast doesn’t exist and presently we don’t have an exact expiration date, the feelings, the questions, the fears, and the rawness highlighted in this novel are all very real.
What I loved about Death Cast was how WELL DEVELOPED the world around it is. There are so many minute details about how society would be changed if we all knew we were going to die that I really appreciated seeing. I swear, I need another 7 sequels of stories set in this world because of how many possibilities there are! The only small issue I had with the novel is that I feel I didn’t understand Death-Cast that well. I understood that they can determine the day you will die with a combination of science and medicine and such, but my understanding ends there. I think I would have liked just a few more pages explaining how this totally new sort of technology worked!
All around, They Both Die At The EndAlso come hangout with Adam, Michael BookLion & I at his Lauch Party on September 5th at Barnes & Noble Tribeca @6 pm! You can find the rest of his tour dates at the link above.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins at Book Expo 2017. I had no obligation to review this book and all opinions are my own.
December 23, 2023
This book smelled like tears and self-sabotage.
And, well, it's safe to assume that yes, indeed, it was.
But then again, you can’t walk out of a Silvera book and not feel something. His are the kind of books that hold you tightly you can feel it three days later. The kind of books that will make you dissolve from your sitting position and lay your head on a pillow, missing someone you’ve never met, and feeling like your entire self is one terrible scarlet bruise, throbbing mercilessly. I know people will experience this book in vastly different ways, but I've experienced it in an almost unutterably personal way. I’m starting to think that’s just the Silvera effect.
Now. Imagine getting a call, at midnight, telling you that you have less than 24 hours to live. Twenty four hours to get through everything that you wanted to do. Twenty four hours to be all the people you were supposed to be before you could become yourself. Twenty four hours to grow out of phases and mindsets before you could learn what to stand up for. Twenty four hours to rewrite the diaries that have, until then, been scribbled in invisible ink. Twenty four hours to make the memories of a lifetime. Twenty four hours to say goodbye.
How unspeakably awful is that? I mean, mortal life is as fragile as the shaft of a feather and we're all just a transient fixture in the inexorable enormity of the universe and one day we must all inevitably succumb to oblivion, void, and nothingness. Everyone knows that. We just don’t like to think about it. But imagine knowing beyond that. Imagine knowing exactly what that day is, the terrible equivalent of being trapped in a huge hourglass that threatens, any moment, to suffocate you with sand.
Think of all the many strangers' stories you won’t get the chance to make into, the many versions of yourself that you won’t become, the many places that you've longed to visit but which you won't be able to set foot in, the many people that will impact your life but which you won't get the chance to meet, the many life views that you would've learned and the ones that you would've eventually unlearned. The songs that you won’t dance to alone in your kitchen at 3 am, the second movie ticket that you won’t get to give to a dear friend, and the books that you won’t gush about online for an embarrassingly long stretch of time.
Think also of the happy memories you've deprived yourself of because you lied and said you were busy and the many people you could have had an amazing connection with but you were too afraid to say hello. The many opportunities to reinvent yourself that you've missed out on because you were ambushed by insecurity and paralyzed by fear of failure. Think of the many years that you've wasted on hate and grudges and meaningless conversations and relationships that barely left an indentation on the surface of your life and the many true friendships that you took for granted until it was too late.
Think of the many times you were scared to call other people out or stayed away from controversial topics because your hands shook at the notion of confrontation and your throat closed up at the thought of sticking your neck out for your beliefs, and your heart threatened to burst out of your collarbone at the possibility of losing friends and family and safety for choosing to align yourself with good causes and the many times your head had hit that pillow at night only to be tortured by the nagging thoughts of 'what ifs'.
These are the thoughts that lingered, like lightening, long after I turned the last page. And many others that I cannot possibly bear in comprehensible words. But the one that I keep turning over and over in my head is this: I owe an older version of myself some semblance of a past—not a past to outrun but to turn around and embrace. I owe them memories of some kind of happiness, of deep-bone contentment. Like the characters in this book, I don’t want to find myself at the finish line, realizing that I’ve never run the race.
And, well, it's safe to assume that yes, indeed, it was.
But then again, you can’t walk out of a Silvera book and not feel something. His are the kind of books that hold you tightly you can feel it three days later. The kind of books that will make you dissolve from your sitting position and lay your head on a pillow, missing someone you’ve never met, and feeling like your entire self is one terrible scarlet bruise, throbbing mercilessly. I know people will experience this book in vastly different ways, but I've experienced it in an almost unutterably personal way. I’m starting to think that’s just the Silvera effect.
....'you're supposed to be a lifer.'
Now. Imagine getting a call, at midnight, telling you that you have less than 24 hours to live. Twenty four hours to get through everything that you wanted to do. Twenty four hours to be all the people you were supposed to be before you could become yourself. Twenty four hours to grow out of phases and mindsets before you could learn what to stand up for. Twenty four hours to rewrite the diaries that have, until then, been scribbled in invisible ink. Twenty four hours to make the memories of a lifetime. Twenty four hours to say goodbye.
How unspeakably awful is that? I mean, mortal life is as fragile as the shaft of a feather and we're all just a transient fixture in the inexorable enormity of the universe and one day we must all inevitably succumb to oblivion, void, and nothingness. Everyone knows that. We just don’t like to think about it. But imagine knowing beyond that. Imagine knowing exactly what that day is, the terrible equivalent of being trapped in a huge hourglass that threatens, any moment, to suffocate you with sand.
Think of all the many strangers' stories you won’t get the chance to make into, the many versions of yourself that you won’t become, the many places that you've longed to visit but which you won't be able to set foot in, the many people that will impact your life but which you won't get the chance to meet, the many life views that you would've learned and the ones that you would've eventually unlearned. The songs that you won’t dance to alone in your kitchen at 3 am, the second movie ticket that you won’t get to give to a dear friend, and the books that you won’t gush about online for an embarrassingly long stretch of time.
Think also of the happy memories you've deprived yourself of because you lied and said you were busy and the many people you could have had an amazing connection with but you were too afraid to say hello. The many opportunities to reinvent yourself that you've missed out on because you were ambushed by insecurity and paralyzed by fear of failure. Think of the many years that you've wasted on hate and grudges and meaningless conversations and relationships that barely left an indentation on the surface of your life and the many true friendships that you took for granted until it was too late.
Think of the many times you were scared to call other people out or stayed away from controversial topics because your hands shook at the notion of confrontation and your throat closed up at the thought of sticking your neck out for your beliefs, and your heart threatened to burst out of your collarbone at the possibility of losing friends and family and safety for choosing to align yourself with good causes and the many times your head had hit that pillow at night only to be tortured by the nagging thoughts of 'what ifs'.
These are the thoughts that lingered, like lightening, long after I turned the last page. And many others that I cannot possibly bear in comprehensible words. But the one that I keep turning over and over in my head is this: I owe an older version of myself some semblance of a past—not a past to outrun but to turn around and embrace. I owe them memories of some kind of happiness, of deep-bone contentment. Like the characters in this book, I don’t want to find myself at the finish line, realizing that I’ve never run the race.
September 5, 2017
2 1/2 stars. The concept behind this book is fantastic - in an alternate world, a company called Death-Cast calls people to tell them when their last day has arrived so they can say their goodbyes, live in the moment, and tie up any loose ends. Of course, knowing you are going to die is also horrifying, especially if you feel you haven't lived your life to the full. An app called Last Friend brings together those who are dying and enables them to find someone to enjoy their last day with.
It sounded like it should be an extremely powerful read, and yet I found that They Both Die at the End had far less of an emotional impact than More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me. It's my least favourite Silvera book to date.
Though there are some sci-fi elements, I would call this a contemporary. No explanation is given as to how Death-Cast knows when people will die, and this kind of isn't the point. Instead, the book focuses on the End Day of two teens - Puerto Rican Mateo and Cuban-American Rufus - as they eat food, walk around town, ride on bikes, visit Mateo's comatose father in the hospital, and sing karaoke. For me, parts of it really dragged.
Where Silvera's other two books had me gripped with emotion, huge chunks of this book were very slow. I also expected it to be deeper than it was. It was kind of a mediocre take on an exhausted message - the old "carpe diem", "live your life to the full", "make the most of today", etc. Because it is driven by its message, many of the conversations feel unnatural and didactic and, perhaps because of this, I wasn't sold on the development of "love" between Mateo and Rufus. Though, as in Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star, I'm always skeptical of one-day love stories.
Interestingly, and on a more positive note, one of my absolute favourite parts of the book also reminded me of Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star. This was the inclusion of random chapters from other characters' perspectives. In between Mateo's and Rufus's story, we get a brief glimpse into the lives of many other characters. There's something about this that I love - the suggestion that no character is throwaway, that even though some characters are not central to the story being told, they all have their own lives and stories going on.
I'm sad that I didn't like this more than I did. The ending still packs a punch, though, even when knowing what will happen. Looking back over the story, I feel like it has a great premise (which is revealed by the blurb) and a great ending (which is revealed by the title), but the middle chunk that we must read the book to discover lets it down. Very little actually happens that we don't know about before starting the book.
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It sounded like it should be an extremely powerful read, and yet I found that They Both Die at the End had far less of an emotional impact than More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me. It's my least favourite Silvera book to date.
Though there are some sci-fi elements, I would call this a contemporary. No explanation is given as to how Death-Cast knows when people will die, and this kind of isn't the point. Instead, the book focuses on the End Day of two teens - Puerto Rican Mateo and Cuban-American Rufus - as they eat food, walk around town, ride on bikes, visit Mateo's comatose father in the hospital, and sing karaoke. For me, parts of it really dragged.
Where Silvera's other two books had me gripped with emotion, huge chunks of this book were very slow. I also expected it to be deeper than it was. It was kind of a mediocre take on an exhausted message - the old "carpe diem", "live your life to the full", "make the most of today", etc. Because it is driven by its message, many of the conversations feel unnatural and didactic and, perhaps because of this, I wasn't sold on the development of "love" between Mateo and Rufus. Though, as in Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star, I'm always skeptical of one-day love stories.
Interestingly, and on a more positive note, one of my absolute favourite parts of the book also reminded me of Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star. This was the inclusion of random chapters from other characters' perspectives. In between Mateo's and Rufus's story, we get a brief glimpse into the lives of many other characters. There's something about this that I love - the suggestion that no character is throwaway, that even though some characters are not central to the story being told, they all have their own lives and stories going on.
I'm sad that I didn't like this more than I did. The ending still packs a punch, though, even when knowing what will happen. Looking back over the story, I feel like it has a great premise (which is revealed by the blurb) and a great ending (which is revealed by the title), but the middle chunk that we must read the book to discover lets it down. Very little actually happens that we don't know about before starting the book.
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December 31, 2024
Adam Silvera, what have you done to me!?((...continues wailing))
Imagine you are told you have 24-hours to live. What would you want to do with your remaining time?
A lot of people may understandably say, spend that time with loved ones.
But what if they were unavailable to you, then what would you do with your last 24?
You wouldn't want to be alone would you? Curled up with your books...
Okay, maybe YOU would, and maybe I would, but most people would want to go out there, live life, have experiences, but with who?
For Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio these are very real questions. The day is September 5th and they both have received their Death-Cast alerts.
It's official. Both boys will die within the next 24-hours. Due to unfortunate circumstances, neither of them have loved ones to spend their last day with.
Through the use of a cleverly-imagined social app called, Last Friend, they connect with one another and thus begins the last adventure of their lives.
To say this book gutted me would be an understatement.
Once I started down the path of Ruf and Mateo's journey, I could think of nothing else.
I read this, via audio and hardcover, within the course of 24-hours, which seemed fitting considering the subject matter.
Upon completion, I immediately added it to my 'Favorites' shelf, an act I do not take lightly. The emotions that Silvera is able to draw out with this one; it's exceptional.
I would recommend this to anyone who has a heart and wants to read about what it means to LIVE. All the stars!!!
Imagine you are told you have 24-hours to live. What would you want to do with your remaining time?
A lot of people may understandably say, spend that time with loved ones.
But what if they were unavailable to you, then what would you do with your last 24?
You wouldn't want to be alone would you? Curled up with your books...
Okay, maybe YOU would, and maybe I would, but most people would want to go out there, live life, have experiences, but with who?
For Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio these are very real questions. The day is September 5th and they both have received their Death-Cast alerts.
It's official. Both boys will die within the next 24-hours. Due to unfortunate circumstances, neither of them have loved ones to spend their last day with.
Through the use of a cleverly-imagined social app called, Last Friend, they connect with one another and thus begins the last adventure of their lives.
To say this book gutted me would be an understatement.
Once I started down the path of Ruf and Mateo's journey, I could think of nothing else.
I read this, via audio and hardcover, within the course of 24-hours, which seemed fitting considering the subject matter.
Upon completion, I immediately added it to my 'Favorites' shelf, an act I do not take lightly. The emotions that Silvera is able to draw out with this one; it's exceptional.
I would recommend this to anyone who has a heart and wants to read about what it means to LIVE. All the stars!!!
Read
March 31, 2018This wasn't as heartbreaking as I thought it was going to be to be honest! Does that make me cold hearted?? I can't really explain my reasoning for this, because I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL ANYTHING. I felt like there were times when the book was really pushing the YOLO message, which is a message I'm here for, but I also wanted that message to be a little less outright than it was. I really liked how things played out throughout the story and how we see these two boys bond and connect over what they're facing. I loved seeing them grow together and open up to each other. By the end of it you really felt that genuine connection between them. It's not just that they were under this horrific circumstance, but that they had also found other ways to relate to each other. There were parts that I felt could've been cut, but trust me, I've seen worse. I just felt things were starting to drag at certain points. A major thing that I LOVED about this book is how it got me thinking about DEATH. I know death isn't a fun thing to think about, but it really had me thinking about how I'd live my life differently if I lived in a world like this. Overall I thought this was a great book and I definitely think it's worth checking out if it sounds interesting to you.
(BUT ALSO I'M TRASH FOR MORE HAPPY THAN NOT SO READ THAT BOOK FIRST AND THEN READ THIS ONE KBYE.)
(BUT ALSO I'M TRASH FOR MORE HAPPY THAN NOT SO READ THAT BOOK FIRST AND THEN READ THIS ONE KBYE.)
October 1, 2018
An interesting concept & premise that paves potential for bigger world building (which unfortunately was not explored). I appreciate that this book has emotionally resonated so many people, and that it is centered around queer latinx boys with a healthy and wholesome relationship. I think about all the young boys grappling their sexuality and reading this book and seeing themselves in it, and that means a lot for such a marginalized and underrepresented group.
That being said, the diversity and concept were not enough for me to enjoy the book and ignore its flaws. Rufus and Mateo were predictable tropes, and their didactic conversations lacked chemistry. The side characters and other POVs contributed nothing of value to the story, and instead read like filler put in to make the book longer. The writing was cliche to the point where I cringed a lot, and Rufus’s dialect was very unnatural and awkward. The “carpe diem” theme the story tried to convey was trite. The ending and outcome of the characters did not pay off what I think the author was aiming for.
Overall, many things about this story missed the mark for me. I couldn’t care for any of the characters; instead I can only care for the book’s impact on others who may find it more meaningful.
That being said, the diversity and concept were not enough for me to enjoy the book and ignore its flaws. Rufus and Mateo were predictable tropes, and their didactic conversations lacked chemistry. The side characters and other POVs contributed nothing of value to the story, and instead read like filler put in to make the book longer. The writing was cliche to the point where I cringed a lot, and Rufus’s dialect was very unnatural and awkward. The “carpe diem” theme the story tried to convey was trite. The ending and outcome of the characters did not pay off what I think the author was aiming for.
Overall, many things about this story missed the mark for me. I couldn’t care for any of the characters; instead I can only care for the book’s impact on others who may find it more meaningful.
October 12, 2018
Either I’m heartless or everyone’s emotional.
It was a sad story indeed but I expected to be destroyed and... I was not.
I loved Mateo with everything in me. He was, to put it mildly, the epitome of goodness but had a hard time connecting with Rufus. He was inconsistent at best.
I also loved their instant connection and bond but I was not down with the insta-love.
I simply can’t wrap my head around the idea that two people can fall head over heels in love with each other after only a few hours of meeting each other. It’s just too... nope. Just can’t.
If they’d had a bit more time together, at the very least, I would’ve believed it.
I HATED those side character POVs. They just felt nuisance and kept pulling me out of the story. And what’s more, they weren’t even just a few POVs here and there, they were SO FREQUENT! And almost none of them were connected to either of the boys. Just random people they’ve passed by throughout the day. I found it extremely aggravating.
All in all, had I read this before all the frenzy, no doubt I would’ve found it a lot more emotional, alas, I did not.
It was still a good read and loved the message it was trying to relay.
It was a sad story indeed but I expected to be destroyed and... I was not.
I loved Mateo with everything in me. He was, to put it mildly, the epitome of goodness but had a hard time connecting with Rufus. He was inconsistent at best.
I also loved their instant connection and bond but I was not down with the insta-love.
I simply can’t wrap my head around the idea that two people can fall head over heels in love with each other after only a few hours of meeting each other. It’s just too... nope. Just can’t.
If they’d had a bit more time together, at the very least, I would’ve believed it.
I HATED those side character POVs. They just felt nuisance and kept pulling me out of the story. And what’s more, they weren’t even just a few POVs here and there, they were SO FREQUENT! And almost none of them were connected to either of the boys. Just random people they’ve passed by throughout the day. I found it extremely aggravating.
All in all, had I read this before all the frenzy, no doubt I would’ve found it a lot more emotional, alas, I did not.
It was still a good read and loved the message it was trying to relay.
December 4, 2021
i spent this entire book thinking they weren't both going to die at the end
March 26, 2022
omg they died
September 6, 2022
i hope they stay dead
December 9, 2018
Yeeeeah.. this was boring.
And Mateo was ANNOYING.
That's pretty much all I have to say lol.
And Mateo was ANNOYING.
That's pretty much all I have to say lol.
September 2, 2022
If Jake Paul ever sat down to write a touching story where he can appear deep and woke all at the same time, I feel like this would be that book
The writing was clunky at best and downright cringe at worst. It was chalk full of unnecessary details, and the discussions of the death were all repetitive and shallow to the point where I was rolling my eyes. In terms of the characters, there were so many POVs and all of them were 2-Dimensional and the reason I think of as to why they all exist is to build this futuristic type world where everyone is in an exestential crisis. But every reason this story exists is so contrived that I can't connect
The two main characters had no chemistry and I probably should have known that instalove would have been a trope that would be used. I was a fool for believing otherwise
The writing was clunky at best and downright cringe at worst. It was chalk full of unnecessary details, and the discussions of the death were all repetitive and shallow to the point where I was rolling my eyes. In terms of the characters, there were so many POVs and all of them were 2-Dimensional and the reason I think of as to why they all exist is to build this futuristic type world where everyone is in an exestential crisis. But every reason this story exists is so contrived that I can't connect
The two main characters had no chemistry and I probably should have known that instalove would have been a trope that would be used. I was a fool for believing otherwise
June 29, 2017
Maybe more of a 3.5*
This was really good! I found that it did drag a little bit at times, definitely more of a slow going read but it was such an interesting concept and I think it was very well executed. (It's actually a concept I had thought of for one of my novels, great minds think alike!)
This was really good! I found that it did drag a little bit at times, definitely more of a slow going read but it was such an interesting concept and I think it was very well executed. (It's actually a concept I had thought of for one of my novels, great minds think alike!)
September 17, 2017
FULL REVIEW COMING SOON
What I will say for now is: ADAM YOU ARE SO CRUEL, MY HEART CANNOT FORGIVE YOU.
The title 'prepares' you for the end, but that doesn't lessen the pain one bit. I sobbed the hardest I ever have while reading a book...
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What I will say for now is: ADAM YOU ARE SO CRUEL, MY HEART CANNOT FORGIVE YOU.
The title 'prepares' you for the end, but that doesn't lessen the pain one bit. I sobbed the hardest I ever have while reading a book...
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2019
‘for those who need a reminder to make every day count.’
from the moment i read the dedication, i knew this story would be a meaningful one. adam silvera took a heartbreaking moment and turned it into pure poetry. this book is proof that there can be beauty in the unplanned and that its sometimes the unexpected which makes life worth living.
↠ 4 stars
from the moment i read the dedication, i knew this story would be a meaningful one. adam silvera took a heartbreaking moment and turned it into pure poetry. this book is proof that there can be beauty in the unplanned and that its sometimes the unexpected which makes life worth living.
↠ 4 stars
August 20, 2017
Don't let the title fool you. This isn't a book about death, but about life. It's about becoming the person you want to be without fear holding you back. It makes you face your own mortality head on and asks the question, if you knew today was your last day would you be happy with the life you lived? This is truly a book you come out of a different person then you went in.
September 27, 2017
I should have known from the title that this book would be heartbreaking...
Read
January 12, 2022"You may be born into family, but you walk into friendships. Some you'll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk."
Death calls just after midnight. Mateo and Rufus will die today. They don’t know each other yet, but their paths will cross on this last day of their lives.
Adam Silvera is one of my favourite YA authors for several reasons. His characters are flawed and relatable. His stories are original and like nothing I’ve read before. And even though they’re depressing and heart-breaking, their message is an empowering one.
There is nothing that I appreciate more than a well written lgbt book by a lgbt author. There are many gay and lesbian, transgender and asexual storytellers out there but we only get to hear a few voices. Which is why I’m even more grateful for Shaun David Hutchinson, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Alice Oseman, Victoria Schwab and of course Adam Silvera. They speak from experience, which makes it so much easier to connect with them and their stories.
The concept of They Both Die At The End was just as creative as Silvera’s debut novel, More Happy Than Not. You can even find the one or other connection between these two books. What I loved most about this book were the many different POV’s. We get to see a big variety of characters and what’s going on in their heads and hearts. Lidia’s might just be my favourite one.
While these POV’s were brilliant and emotional, I had a hard time connecting with Mateo and Rufus. I was definitely less emotionally involved in this book than in the previous two. The plot took a while to pick up and I believe that Adam Silvera could have made more out of this fantastic concept. The execution was too grey and unexciting for my taste.
Now if you don’t want to see spoilers better skip this paragraph. The romance part was a let-down. I was waiting for Rufus and Mateo to fall in love and when it finally happened, it was seriously underwhelming. There was no build-up of (romantic) feelings, and as I said before, what happened hardly stirred up my emotions. The kiss came out of nowhere and left me cold. It didn’t feel real or believable to me. At this point I rather they would have stayed friends – there are far too few platonic relationships between gay characters out there anyway.
I’m super critical, I know. That’s because I’m comparing Adam Silvera to Adam Silvera, and the standard he set with his previous novels is extremely high. Which is why I am a little disappointed in this book. For me it lacked in emotional depth. However, I still hope that this will finally get Adam on the NYT bestseller list. He totally earned it.
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Death calls just after midnight. Mateo and Rufus will die today. They don’t know each other yet, but their paths will cross on this last day of their lives.
Adam Silvera is one of my favourite YA authors for several reasons. His characters are flawed and relatable. His stories are original and like nothing I’ve read before. And even though they’re depressing and heart-breaking, their message is an empowering one.
There is nothing that I appreciate more than a well written lgbt book by a lgbt author. There are many gay and lesbian, transgender and asexual storytellers out there but we only get to hear a few voices. Which is why I’m even more grateful for Shaun David Hutchinson, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Alice Oseman, Victoria Schwab and of course Adam Silvera. They speak from experience, which makes it so much easier to connect with them and their stories.
The concept of They Both Die At The End was just as creative as Silvera’s debut novel, More Happy Than Not. You can even find the one or other connection between these two books. What I loved most about this book were the many different POV’s. We get to see a big variety of characters and what’s going on in their heads and hearts. Lidia’s might just be my favourite one.
While these POV’s were brilliant and emotional, I had a hard time connecting with Mateo and Rufus. I was definitely less emotionally involved in this book than in the previous two. The plot took a while to pick up and I believe that Adam Silvera could have made more out of this fantastic concept. The execution was too grey and unexciting for my taste.
Now if you don’t want to see spoilers better skip this paragraph. The romance part was a let-down. I was waiting for Rufus and Mateo to fall in love and when it finally happened, it was seriously underwhelming. There was no build-up of (romantic) feelings, and as I said before, what happened hardly stirred up my emotions. The kiss came out of nowhere and left me cold. It didn’t feel real or believable to me. At this point I rather they would have stayed friends – there are far too few platonic relationships between gay characters out there anyway.
I’m super critical, I know. That’s because I’m comparing Adam Silvera to Adam Silvera, and the standard he set with his previous novels is extremely high. Which is why I am a little disappointed in this book. For me it lacked in emotional depth. However, I still hope that this will finally get Adam on the NYT bestseller list. He totally earned it.
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October 1, 2018
“Maybe it's better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs.”
This is a masterpiece of speculative fiction. Speculative fiction, to me, is meant for emotions, and meant for exploration and discovery. This book is a story of a last chance and a last day for two very different people, but it's a story that's best observed personally - this story asks you to reinvent yourself every single day.
The strength of this book is that somehow, everything here feels so natural and personal. The amount of side point of views here is perhaps the best part of this book - it's hard to ignore how personal this story is when you feel as if you could be dropped into the book at any time.
I can't go on being the kid who keeps his head low because all that did was rob and being out there with you- maybe I could have met some of you sooner.
Emotionally, this story is fantastic. The characters are lovely and well-developed. And as an added bonus, the diversity is fantastic - Mateo is Puerto Rican and queer, while Rufus is Cuban-American and bisexual.
Let’s talk characters, because hey, this is a character-driven book primarily.
➽ Mateo Torrez: My nerdy, character-development-full son. Mateo is a homebody and a bit of a nervous wreck trying to have one final day.
➽ Rufus Emeterio: The fact that he put down “Professional Time Waster” as his job in his deathday profile is all you need to know, honestly. In contrast to Mateo, Rufus has accepted his fate. Oh, and he's also hilarious.
What's odd about this is the romance plotline is this book comes sort of out of nowhere, but I loved it anyway? Mateo and Rufus do not have a meet-cute. They do not have sexual tension for the first eight hours before they kiss. And you know what? I think the lack of slow burn is perfect. It works very well as a desperate, last-ditch relationship, between two characters who aren't in love yet. But they could be.
Basically, this book was worth the hype and Adam Silvera can go fuck himself for writing it. This buddyread with my oncoming depression was an absolute success.
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December 9, 2019
”Mateo, I regret to inform you that sometime in the next twenty-four hours you’ll be meeting an untimely death. And while there isn’t anything we can do to suspend that, you still have a chance to live.”
Imagine a stranger calls you in the middle of the night and tells you those exact words. Did you end up in a horror movie? Nope. You’re in the future and by now technology is so advanced that people are informed when they are going to die. But of course there’s a catch. They inform you 24 hours before you die and they neither know how it’s going to happen nor when. A car crash, an elevator, an explosion, choking on food? In three hours, right now when you receive the call, 23 hours and 59 minutes from the moment you’ve been called? Everything is possible.
”I was raised to be honest, but the truth can be complicated. It doesn’t matter if the truth won’t make a mess, sometimes the words don’t come out until you’re alone. Even that’s not guaranteed. Sometimes the truth is a secret you’re keeping from yourself because living a lie is easier.”
So what are you supposed to do? Try to fight it? Stay at home and hope you’re safe there? Go out and live your last day to the fullest? Deny it or rather use the chance to say goodbye to your loved ones? It’s up to you but whatever you do, “Death-Cast” is never wrong and sooner or later death will find and claim you. It doesn’t matter if you’re 90 or 5. A mother, father, child, husband, aunt, best friend or a celebrity, death doesn’t care about those things, it makes no difference.
”I look ahead at the empty streets, and I start walking towards Rufus and his bike, walking towards death with every minute we lose, walking against a world that’s against us.”
Mateo and Rufus both received the call and neither of them is able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Rufus made a mistake that caused his friends to be “unavailable” and Mateo’s father is in a coma and won’t even notice when his son dies. Thankfully there’s an app for situations like that (I just loved this! I mean nowadays there’s an app for everything, right? *lol*) and our two boys meet over “Last Friend”. They are both going to die and they decide to spend their last day together…
”You shouldn’t donate to charity, help the elderly cross the street, or rescue puppies in the hopes you’ll be repaid later. I may not be able to cure cancer or end world hunger, but small kindnesses go a long way.”
And here is the moment when I’m finally going to talk about those two young and sweet boys that only have one day left to do whatever they feel like doing. This book really made me think and it certainly caused me to feel. I could relate to their struggle so much and a little part of me broke when Mateo threw his books across the room knowing full well that it wouldn’t matter if they got ripped or destroyed because in a few hours he wouldn’t be there to care about it. There were so many little moments that ripped my heart out. T_T Mateo singing for his dad who couldn’t hear him, Rufus hoping the Plutos would show up, Mateo taking care of his best friend’s kid so she could have a few moments to herself, Rufus thinking that Mateo is pure… IT. BROKE. MY. FREAKING. HEART!!!
”Entire lives aren’t lessons, but there are lessons in lives.
You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”
What Mateo and Rufus have at the end of their lives is so special! They get to know each other in a way not many people are able to. They speak about the important things, they don’t shy away from difficult topics and they get involved with each other. Without prejudices, without a second thought! But would they have been so open if it wouldn’t have been their last day? I doubt it. There are things you’re too scared to say, things you don’t even dare to think about, but what if the only person that’s holding you back is actually yourself?
I lean in to his ear. “I want to go to Jones Beach and race you to the waves and play in the rain with our friends. But I want quiet nights, too, where we talk about nonsense while watching bad movies.” I want us to have history, something longer than the small window of time we’re actually sharing, with an even longer future, but the dying elephant in the room crushes me.”
I loved that Rufus helped Mateo to find himself and I adored the way Mateo was able to get under Rufus’s skin. What if they would have been given more time together? How much they could have achieved and done; how good they could have lived! It’s just so unfair! Or at least it seems to be like that because if there is one thing you can say about death, then it’s that it’s actually fair. It makes no difference between young or old, married or single, famous or not, good or bad, sick or healthy, queer or straight, happy or unhappy. It’s just death and it … well, it happens. Sooner or later we all have to go. We’re born and we die, whatever happens in the middle is up to us.
”Why can’t we knock on Death’s door and be or barter or arm-wrestle or have a staring contest for the chance to keep living? I’d even want to fight for the chance to decide how I die. I’d go in my sleep.”
Conclusion:
I guess you can already tell that this book made me think really hard. To be honest I never stopped thinking about it and I’m pretty sure this is one of those books that will stay with me for quite a while. Adam Silvera painted a vivid picture of a world in which we all know when it’s time to go. Whether this is good or bad is up for discussion and we readers are encouraged to give it some serious thought. The different POVs only add to that thought process and the way all those lives are connected and interwoven gives the reader a profound sense of life and its scope as well as its associated mechanisms. Or in other words: It’s like with the figuratively pebble that’s thrown in the pond. An infinitesimal action has huge consequences.
I won’t tell you how this ends because you know, “They Both Die at the End”or not?? but I will admit that close to the ending my thoughts were all over the place and I found myself yelling: “Oh, sh**! It can’t be!!!” All told this was a great book that no doubt, will leave its mark.
”There are questions I can’t answer. I cannot tell you how you will survive without me. I cannot tell you how to mourn me. I cannot convince you to not feel guilty if you forget the anniversary of my death, or if you realize days or weeks or months have gone by without thinking about me.
I just want you to live.”
____________________________
This book was already on “My Book List 2018” and I think it’s about time to read it! Better late than never, right? ;-)
Also I’m still holding out hope that the title doesn’t give away the entire plot. I mean they can’t both die at the end, this would be so sad! T_T
But then again this is a Silvera book and he loves nothing more than to make us suffer so there’s at least an 85% chance that the book delivers what the title promises.
Guess the only way to find out is to read it.
So here I go!
I hope my heart won’t be broken into thousand little pieces in the end! XD
Imagine a stranger calls you in the middle of the night and tells you those exact words. Did you end up in a horror movie? Nope. You’re in the future and by now technology is so advanced that people are informed when they are going to die. But of course there’s a catch. They inform you 24 hours before you die and they neither know how it’s going to happen nor when. A car crash, an elevator, an explosion, choking on food? In three hours, right now when you receive the call, 23 hours and 59 minutes from the moment you’ve been called? Everything is possible.
”I was raised to be honest, but the truth can be complicated. It doesn’t matter if the truth won’t make a mess, sometimes the words don’t come out until you’re alone. Even that’s not guaranteed. Sometimes the truth is a secret you’re keeping from yourself because living a lie is easier.”
So what are you supposed to do? Try to fight it? Stay at home and hope you’re safe there? Go out and live your last day to the fullest? Deny it or rather use the chance to say goodbye to your loved ones? It’s up to you but whatever you do, “Death-Cast” is never wrong and sooner or later death will find and claim you. It doesn’t matter if you’re 90 or 5. A mother, father, child, husband, aunt, best friend or a celebrity, death doesn’t care about those things, it makes no difference.
”I look ahead at the empty streets, and I start walking towards Rufus and his bike, walking towards death with every minute we lose, walking against a world that’s against us.”
Mateo and Rufus both received the call and neither of them is able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Rufus made a mistake that caused his friends to be “unavailable” and Mateo’s father is in a coma and won’t even notice when his son dies. Thankfully there’s an app for situations like that (I just loved this! I mean nowadays there’s an app for everything, right? *lol*) and our two boys meet over “Last Friend”. They are both going to die and they decide to spend their last day together…
”You shouldn’t donate to charity, help the elderly cross the street, or rescue puppies in the hopes you’ll be repaid later. I may not be able to cure cancer or end world hunger, but small kindnesses go a long way.”
And here is the moment when I’m finally going to talk about those two young and sweet boys that only have one day left to do whatever they feel like doing. This book really made me think and it certainly caused me to feel. I could relate to their struggle so much and a little part of me broke when Mateo threw his books across the room knowing full well that it wouldn’t matter if they got ripped or destroyed because in a few hours he wouldn’t be there to care about it. There were so many little moments that ripped my heart out. T_T Mateo singing for his dad who couldn’t hear him, Rufus hoping the Plutos would show up, Mateo taking care of his best friend’s kid so she could have a few moments to herself, Rufus thinking that Mateo is pure… IT. BROKE. MY. FREAKING. HEART!!!
”Entire lives aren’t lessons, but there are lessons in lives.
You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”
What Mateo and Rufus have at the end of their lives is so special! They get to know each other in a way not many people are able to. They speak about the important things, they don’t shy away from difficult topics and they get involved with each other. Without prejudices, without a second thought! But would they have been so open if it wouldn’t have been their last day? I doubt it. There are things you’re too scared to say, things you don’t even dare to think about, but what if the only person that’s holding you back is actually yourself?
I lean in to his ear. “I want to go to Jones Beach and race you to the waves and play in the rain with our friends. But I want quiet nights, too, where we talk about nonsense while watching bad movies.” I want us to have history, something longer than the small window of time we’re actually sharing, with an even longer future, but the dying elephant in the room crushes me.”
I loved that Rufus helped Mateo to find himself and I adored the way Mateo was able to get under Rufus’s skin. What if they would have been given more time together? How much they could have achieved and done; how good they could have lived! It’s just so unfair! Or at least it seems to be like that because if there is one thing you can say about death, then it’s that it’s actually fair. It makes no difference between young or old, married or single, famous or not, good or bad, sick or healthy, queer or straight, happy or unhappy. It’s just death and it … well, it happens. Sooner or later we all have to go. We’re born and we die, whatever happens in the middle is up to us.
”Why can’t we knock on Death’s door and be or barter or arm-wrestle or have a staring contest for the chance to keep living? I’d even want to fight for the chance to decide how I die. I’d go in my sleep.”
Conclusion:
I guess you can already tell that this book made me think really hard. To be honest I never stopped thinking about it and I’m pretty sure this is one of those books that will stay with me for quite a while. Adam Silvera painted a vivid picture of a world in which we all know when it’s time to go. Whether this is good or bad is up for discussion and we readers are encouraged to give it some serious thought. The different POVs only add to that thought process and the way all those lives are connected and interwoven gives the reader a profound sense of life and its scope as well as its associated mechanisms. Or in other words: It’s like with the figuratively pebble that’s thrown in the pond. An infinitesimal action has huge consequences.
I won’t tell you how this ends because you know, “They Both Die at the End”
”There are questions I can’t answer. I cannot tell you how you will survive without me. I cannot tell you how to mourn me. I cannot convince you to not feel guilty if you forget the anniversary of my death, or if you realize days or weeks or months have gone by without thinking about me.
I just want you to live.”
____________________________
This book was already on “My Book List 2018” and I think it’s about time to read it! Better late than never, right? ;-)
Also I’m still holding out hope that the title doesn’t give away the entire plot. I mean they can’t both die at the end, this would be so sad! T_T
But then again this is a Silvera book and he loves nothing more than to make us suffer so there’s at least an 85% chance that the book delivers what the title promises.
Guess the only way to find out is to read it.
So here I go!
I hope my heart won’t be broken into thousand little pieces in the end! XD
December 13, 2022
Glad they died
February 9, 2018
"Maybe it's better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs."
This was my first ever Adam Silvera book, and I'd been warned by so many people to prepare myself for ALL OF THE FEELS, but nobody could have really made me understand just how fast and hard I would fall in love with Adam's writing voice. This book made him an auto-buy author literally by the 25% mark, and I don't think any author has ever made my auto-buy list so fast in my life.
PLOT ➳➳
Imagine a world where someone has perfected the ability to predict when someone is going to die. Now, imagine that same world involving a call center whose staff's entire purpose is to call each unlucky soul between midnight and 3am and to inform them that this is their End Day. Now, imagine that some kind soul has created an app, much like a dating service, that allows people to find someone to spend their End Day with so they don't have to face it alone.
Mateo has spent his entire life living inside a bubble; meanwhile, Rufus' bubble was burst when his entire family died right before his eyes. The two teens are vastly different, but when they find that they share an End Day, they decide to spend their final hours together, and show one another what living is all about.
THE BOYS ➳➳
Mateo is this adorable, precious little thing who is just terrified of the entire world around him and I just spent so much of the book feeling sorry for him because he is filled with such an immense amount of regret when he gets his phone call. He's spent his short life too afraid to get out and live, and now that he's got less than 24 hours until the end, it's all he wants to do. He just broke my heart so many times.
Rufus, on the other hand, has gotten out and lived, but he's got his skeletons, too. Despite his own fears and regrets, though, he's solidly determined to make this last day of Mateo's life meaningful, even though they only met today. He's got a heart of absolute gold and I adored the chapters from his perspective. He's got such a fun narrating voice, and the way he viewed Mateo as this pure, innocent soul gave me all the fuzzies!
THE FEELS ➳➳
I expected this book to wreck me, and it did, but not in the ways that I expected. I can't say much, because the title spoils enough of the book, and this is one of those stories that you're better off going into with as little information as possible. Let me just tell you to have a box of tissues on standby, and probably also some chocolate or ice cream or something, and maybe a puppy to hold if you can spare one?
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
I had literally not a single complaint about this book. It is so rare that a story is a pure, unadulterated 5-star read for me, but this one achieved that. I would recommend anyone and everyone to pick up a copy of They Both Die at the End. Even if you don't like YA contemporary, or don't like sad stories... get this one. It's absolutely worth your time.
Thank you so much to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the ARC of this incredible book! All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
This was my first ever Adam Silvera book, and I'd been warned by so many people to prepare myself for ALL OF THE FEELS, but nobody could have really made me understand just how fast and hard I would fall in love with Adam's writing voice. This book made him an auto-buy author literally by the 25% mark, and I don't think any author has ever made my auto-buy list so fast in my life.
PLOT ➳➳
Imagine a world where someone has perfected the ability to predict when someone is going to die. Now, imagine that same world involving a call center whose staff's entire purpose is to call each unlucky soul between midnight and 3am and to inform them that this is their End Day. Now, imagine that some kind soul has created an app, much like a dating service, that allows people to find someone to spend their End Day with so they don't have to face it alone.
Mateo has spent his entire life living inside a bubble; meanwhile, Rufus' bubble was burst when his entire family died right before his eyes. The two teens are vastly different, but when they find that they share an End Day, they decide to spend their final hours together, and show one another what living is all about.
THE BOYS ➳➳
Mateo is this adorable, precious little thing who is just terrified of the entire world around him and I just spent so much of the book feeling sorry for him because he is filled with such an immense amount of regret when he gets his phone call. He's spent his short life too afraid to get out and live, and now that he's got less than 24 hours until the end, it's all he wants to do. He just broke my heart so many times.
Rufus, on the other hand, has gotten out and lived, but he's got his skeletons, too. Despite his own fears and regrets, though, he's solidly determined to make this last day of Mateo's life meaningful, even though they only met today. He's got a heart of absolute gold and I adored the chapters from his perspective. He's got such a fun narrating voice, and the way he viewed Mateo as this pure, innocent soul gave me all the fuzzies!
THE FEELS ➳➳
I expected this book to wreck me, and it did, but not in the ways that I expected. I can't say much, because the title spoils enough of the book, and this is one of those stories that you're better off going into with as little information as possible. Let me just tell you to have a box of tissues on standby, and probably also some chocolate or ice cream or something, and maybe a puppy to hold if you can spare one?
FINAL VERDICT ➳➳
I had literally not a single complaint about this book. It is so rare that a story is a pure, unadulterated 5-star read for me, but this one achieved that. I would recommend anyone and everyone to pick up a copy of They Both Die at the End. Even if you don't like YA contemporary, or don't like sad stories... get this one. It's absolutely worth your time.
Thank you so much to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for the ARC of this incredible book! All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
August 22, 2017
My first Adam Silvera book and also an ARC
I didn't hate this book but there isn't anything that I like either. The chapters are short so that makes for an easy read.
Most of the time I am just bored out of my mind. The romance is unrealistic. What do Matteo and Rufus even see in each other? Its a great friendship yes but romance I don't think so. The romance part is so overdone and unnecessary.
Matteo and Rufus both receive an alert informing them they are dying. They met each other on a chance encounter in the Last Friends app. From there they go for play date after play date or play stupid Traveller games or exchanging their life wisdom which are uninspiring btw. Last day to enjoy before they die.
The whole book is so incredibly childish. I didn't experience any emotional impact at all. Why would I? There is no plot twist, secrets revealed or deep writing to make me truly feel for them in their situation. All they do is play date after play date.
The ending wasn't bad but it did little to make up for the book. It didn't hit me as hard when I don't even care about them or their romance to begin with
I didn't hate this book but there isn't anything that I like either. The chapters are short so that makes for an easy read.
Most of the time I am just bored out of my mind. The romance is unrealistic. What do Matteo and Rufus even see in each other? Its a great friendship yes but romance I don't think so. The romance part is so overdone and unnecessary.
Matteo and Rufus both receive an alert informing them they are dying. They met each other on a chance encounter in the Last Friends app. From there they go for play date after play date or play stupid Traveller games or exchanging their life wisdom which are uninspiring btw. Last day to enjoy before they die.
The whole book is so incredibly childish. I didn't experience any emotional impact at all. Why would I? There is no plot twist, secrets revealed or deep writing to make me truly feel for them in their situation. All they do is play date after play date.
The ending wasn't bad but it did little to make up for the book. It didn't hit me as hard when I don't even care about them or their romance to begin with
July 20, 2021
Claramente este libro no fue para mí.
Sé que es un libro super overhypeado en booktok, pero aún así no le tenía taaantas expectativas, así que no fue por ese lado.
Mi problema ya empezó desde el principio: terminé el libro hace cinco minutos y todavía no entiendo el mecanismo de este mundo. Habré entendido lo que era un "Fiambre" a 150 páginas del libro, jajajsja. Pero lo que más me dio pena es que la idea me parece muy buena, tiene mucho potencial, nada más que a mí no me resultó como se ejecutó.
Pasaron 345 páginas, osea el libro entero, y yo no me había enganchado. Simplemente no me daban ganas de agarrar el libro para seguir leyéndolo. Pero es que sentí que no pasaba (y no pasó) NADA. La trama no daba giros importantes, iba todo en línea recta, nada sorprendía, nada emocionaba.
Me resultó un poco insulso y sinceramente no me convenció del todo.
Lastimosamente es un libro que me dio igual. No me generó nada :(
Sé que es un libro super overhypeado en booktok, pero aún así no le tenía taaantas expectativas, así que no fue por ese lado.
Mi problema ya empezó desde el principio: terminé el libro hace cinco minutos y todavía no entiendo el mecanismo de este mundo. Habré entendido lo que era un "Fiambre" a 150 páginas del libro, jajajsja. Pero lo que más me dio pena es que la idea me parece muy buena, tiene mucho potencial, nada más que a mí no me resultó como se ejecutó.
Pasaron 345 páginas, osea el libro entero, y yo no me había enganchado. Simplemente no me daban ganas de agarrar el libro para seguir leyéndolo. Pero es que sentí que no pasaba (y no pasó) NADA. La trama no daba giros importantes, iba todo en línea recta, nada sorprendía, nada emocionaba.
Me resultó un poco insulso y sinceramente no me convenció del todo.
Lastimosamente es un libro que me dio igual. No me generó nada :(
November 5, 2017
The best way I can describe this is The Sun is Also a Star meets Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.
May 9, 2019
Did I read the same book as everyone else? This was borderline torture. The writing was enjoyable but the story didn't make sense. There was a beginning, an end and a bunch of stuff in between that felt like filler fluff. I had DNFed this book in the past but recently bought a used copy because it was a pick for a book club. I don't often try to read a book I've DNFed because I usually regret trying again, as is the case with this mess of pages.
January 29, 2023
"I doubt the world is in the mood for a miracle, so we know not to expect a happily-ever-after. I only care about the endings we lived through today. Like how I stopped being someone afraid of the world and the people in it."
(***Note to self: try using less exclamation marks and smilies)
I don't want to be reasonable when I write about what I think of this book. This book? No, my damn precious little piece of heaven.
I feel so 'drugged' at the moment after having absorbed each and every word this book had to offer me. (Ok, as for the time being just calling it as a book is easier and short instead of 'my damn precious little piece of heaven' 😪)
Of course, this book is not perfect but yes, it has put me under its spell this whole time. (I still cannot believe it made me not to watch Xmen 😳)
I love how human this book turned out to be!
One of the young adult fiction done right. No, this book ain't perfect. There are seemingly character development flaws, weak parts in the writing and some unwelcomed characters. Let's call this one a perfect read for someone who finds the main characters a little too relatable.
I just love the writing style and I am sure I will read the other books by this author (except the latest book of a series, of course). The writing is straightforward and reach you the moment you set your eyes on it
More than the slow burn romance, I was rooting for the found family dynamics, as well as the best friendships you will ever read about. Character representation is well etched out.
Sometimes the story seems a little too convenient. But it's okay. (I felt so hungry now and then while reading this book while the two main characters just kept on having adventure after adventure without eating and sleeping much.)
Ok, I can tell they were having the best times of their lives and they were not caring about everything else as much as we muggles do. And as much as I was invested in the book, I did fall asleep twice while reading it because I am a muggle and a sleepy mundie which I cannot help becoming. I was so worried about them that it got exhausting in between. Damn, all the uncertainties and the unpredictability in fiction.
I woke up. I continued reading it, I kept crying here and there, I kept blushing (actually shouted 'FINALLY!' and Rufus did the same! I wasn't expecting a fictional character to shout out the exact same word as I did!) and yes, I was more calm and happier towards the end of the book.
Did I say the characters lacked development?
No, not the main characters. They are so wholesome.
In fact, the whole story is wholesome. It spoke in volumes about life and unavoidable situations. It seems so real. The story started with a plot built on something like a dystopian sci-fi (yes, I actually felt this way when I started reading the book). Eventually the good parts took over and I felt so connected with everything that's happening there.
Some may feel the lines come out a bit cheesy when it comes to Rufus and Mateo (I ship them so much!) but they talked about things that matter and they were as exactly who they were meant to be. Young adult done right, I repeat.
*One misconception about this book:
You must have heard everyone talking about how sad this book is and it will break your heart. Yes, it's sad I am not denying it. But this book will not break you. I have read books dealing with sensitive, heavy themes which totally broke me aka A Little Life, The Kiterunner to take a few example.
But this read is more like wholesome and hopeful like some books dealing with similar sensitive issues aka Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of Universe, I Wish You All The Best.
But of course, you will cry 💔
.
.
.
.
Until the last chapter happened.
Forget everything I said!
I cried buckets and buckets!
The ending....is.... devastating. Save me. Please.
(***Note to self: try using less exclamation marks and smilies)
I don't want to be reasonable when I write about what I think of this book. This book? No, my damn precious little piece of heaven.
I feel so 'drugged' at the moment after having absorbed each and every word this book had to offer me. (Ok, as for the time being just calling it as a book is easier and short instead of 'my damn precious little piece of heaven' 😪)
Of course, this book is not perfect but yes, it has put me under its spell this whole time. (I still cannot believe it made me not to watch Xmen 😳)
I love how human this book turned out to be!
One of the young adult fiction done right. No, this book ain't perfect. There are seemingly character development flaws, weak parts in the writing and some unwelcomed characters. Let's call this one a perfect read for someone who finds the main characters a little too relatable.
I just love the writing style and I am sure I will read the other books by this author (except the latest book of a series, of course). The writing is straightforward and reach you the moment you set your eyes on it
More than the slow burn romance, I was rooting for the found family dynamics, as well as the best friendships you will ever read about. Character representation is well etched out.
Sometimes the story seems a little too convenient. But it's okay. (I felt so hungry now and then while reading this book while the two main characters just kept on having adventure after adventure without eating and sleeping much.)
Ok, I can tell they were having the best times of their lives and they were not caring about everything else as much as we muggles do. And as much as I was invested in the book, I did fall asleep twice while reading it because I am a muggle and a sleepy mundie which I cannot help becoming. I was so worried about them that it got exhausting in between. Damn, all the uncertainties and the unpredictability in fiction.
I woke up. I continued reading it, I kept crying here and there, I kept blushing (actually shouted 'FINALLY!' and Rufus did the same! I wasn't expecting a fictional character to shout out the exact same word as I did!) and yes, I was more calm and happier towards the end of the book.
Did I say the characters lacked development?
No, not the main characters. They are so wholesome.
In fact, the whole story is wholesome. It spoke in volumes about life and unavoidable situations. It seems so real. The story started with a plot built on something like a dystopian sci-fi (yes, I actually felt this way when I started reading the book). Eventually the good parts took over and I felt so connected with everything that's happening there.
Some may feel the lines come out a bit cheesy when it comes to Rufus and Mateo (I ship them so much!) but they talked about things that matter and they were as exactly who they were meant to be. Young adult done right, I repeat.
*One misconception about this book:
You must have heard everyone talking about how sad this book is and it will break your heart. Yes, it's sad I am not denying it. But this book will not break you. I have read books dealing with sensitive, heavy themes which totally broke me aka A Little Life, The Kiterunner to take a few example.
But this read is more like wholesome and hopeful like some books dealing with similar sensitive issues aka Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of Universe, I Wish You All The Best.
But of course, you will cry 💔
.
.
.
.
Until the last chapter happened.
Forget everything I said!
I cried buckets and buckets!
The ending....is.... devastating. Save me. Please.
November 8, 2017
I wasn't a huge fan of Silvera's More Happy Than Not so I assumed I wasn't going to like this one either. I wasn't even going to bother with this one. But seeing all the heartbreaking reviews from my friends had me intrigued, as well as that title and synopsis.
It's honestly the best decision I've made in a long time?? Lmao.
I was promised tears, heartbreak and all the emotional feels and it's safe to say that, yes, I did get all those things. And I can't be any more happy. It's no surprise I love sad, heartbreaking books and reading this one really really destroyed me in the best way possible.
When a book makes you cry 3 chapters in, write down my words son, it's going to wreck you in the best way possible. I just loved this so much, I want to buy a copy for each and every person then throw the book in their face and scream at them to read this!!
Imagine sitting down, reading your favorite book while sipping your coffee or trying to be that perfect grade A student doing nothing but studying all day and not having any fun in your life when suddenly!!!!! you get a call saying you'll die in the next 24 hours and that's all the time you have to do whatever you want (except bad illegal things). Then, you'll just die.
That's what happened to Mateo and Rufus. They got called by Death Cast and were told that they only had 24 hours to live that day and they should enjoy their last day on Earth.
It's just so cruel and torturous knowing you'll die and not being able to do anything about it except spend the time you have left with the people you love and doing things you would have denied yourself if it were any other ordinary day. It's especially cruel, knowing you have an exact, certain amount of time left and you have to do this and this and this before you go.
It's especially cruel having to tell those you love that you're dying and watching them break down in front of you knowing the loneliness, sadness, but memories of happiness you'll leave with them.
This is what happened to Mateo and Rufus.
But they found a friend, something more in each other. They didn't mope around about their deaths, cry about it, sit silently about it. They found each other and wanted to spend their last day together finding friendships, love and trying new things. They spent their last day with all their loved ones doing things that made them happy. Doing things they never had the balls to do.
They truly lived life the day they were going to die.
It's impossible not to cry when reading something like this.
Like I can't stress how much this book made me realize that I'm pretty much just in this world living, no not living, just existing when I could be doing so much more.
oh no the tEARS ARE BACK.
Mateo is gay and Rufus is bisexual coming from Cuban and Puerto Rican backgrounds. Learning about their families, lives and situations made me want to wrap these two in warm blankets, feeding them chocolate chip cookies and never let them go. They are the sweetest cinnamon rolls to ever exist omg!!
The side characters are literally the most loving and sweetest people to bless this book. Except for that guy whose name starts with a P. He, he can choke. Rufus' two friends aka The Pluto's are so loving, loyal, caring and sweet!!!! They're more like family and always got each other's backs and I loved reading about how they're always there to love and support each other!!
My only complaint with this book was that it really dragged in the middle leaving me bored, which is why 4.5 stars.
But like, overall, you guys don't know how much you need this book in your life. For me, this book is literally the world and I really hope it's the same for you.
Pre-review:
Bitch, I better die at the end of this book because of them feels.
It's honestly the best decision I've made in a long time?? Lmao.
I was promised tears, heartbreak and all the emotional feels and it's safe to say that, yes, I did get all those things. And I can't be any more happy. It's no surprise I love sad, heartbreaking books and reading this one really really destroyed me in the best way possible.
When a book makes you cry 3 chapters in, write down my words son, it's going to wreck you in the best way possible. I just loved this so much, I want to buy a copy for each and every person then throw the book in their face and scream at them to read this!!
Imagine sitting down, reading your favorite book while sipping your coffee or trying to be that perfect grade A student doing nothing but studying all day and not having any fun in your life when suddenly!!!!! you get a call saying you'll die in the next 24 hours and that's all the time you have to do whatever you want (except bad illegal things). Then, you'll just die.
That's what happened to Mateo and Rufus. They got called by Death Cast and were told that they only had 24 hours to live that day and they should enjoy their last day on Earth.
It's just so cruel and torturous knowing you'll die and not being able to do anything about it except spend the time you have left with the people you love and doing things you would have denied yourself if it were any other ordinary day. It's especially cruel, knowing you have an exact, certain amount of time left and you have to do this and this and this before you go.
It's especially cruel having to tell those you love that you're dying and watching them break down in front of you knowing the loneliness, sadness, but memories of happiness you'll leave with them.
This is what happened to Mateo and Rufus.
But they found a friend, something more in each other. They didn't mope around about their deaths, cry about it, sit silently about it. They found each other and wanted to spend their last day together finding friendships, love and trying new things. They spent their last day with all their loved ones doing things that made them happy. Doing things they never had the balls to do.
They truly lived life the day they were going to die.
It's impossible not to cry when reading something like this.
Like I can't stress how much this book made me realize that I'm pretty much just in this world living, no not living, just existing when I could be doing so much more.
oh no the tEARS ARE BACK.
Mateo is gay and Rufus is bisexual coming from Cuban and Puerto Rican backgrounds. Learning about their families, lives and situations made me want to wrap these two in warm blankets, feeding them chocolate chip cookies and never let them go. They are the sweetest cinnamon rolls to ever exist omg!!
The side characters are literally the most loving and sweetest people to bless this book. Except for that guy whose name starts with a P. He, he can choke. Rufus' two friends aka The Pluto's are so loving, loyal, caring and sweet!!!! They're more like family and always got each other's backs and I loved reading about how they're always there to love and support each other!!
My only complaint with this book was that it really dragged in the middle leaving me bored, which is why 4.5 stars.
But like, overall, you guys don't know how much you need this book in your life. For me, this book is literally the world and I really hope it's the same for you.
Pre-review:
Bitch, I better die at the end of this book because of them feels.
October 1, 2024
I feel...
... disappointed.
All of you, with no exception wrote heartfelt and emotional reviews talking about how magical and amazing this book was. Every single one of you.
But you know what?
The concept of the book was epic. I found the idea behind it spectacular. Two boys get a call that they will die at some point in the next 24 hours and become friends through an app that helps you find a friend for your last day and thus decide to spend their last day on earth together and be as fearless and as real as they've ever been, Genius.
And yet their day was filled with wasting time, wishing they were somewhere else and holding back their emotions and I am over here wondering, for fuck's sake WHY???
I'll start off with their characters. Both of them are different and boring flavors of vanilla maybe occasionally sprinkled with toffee or a few truffles on top but that's it.
I expected them to be more interesting BUT, I accepted that this book is about everyday people living their everyday lives until they don't. So I went with it. I even thought hey! This may be on purpose so that in their journey of death they blossom into who they really want to be! But no.
Rufus spent the entire day waiting for Mateo to decide if he's ready to leave the apartment or cross the street or get on the train, then followed him around everywhere and waited outside as he (Mateo) said his goodbyes and pretty much lived his last day as Mateo's personal life coach. What's worse is that throughout the whole day he kept wishing he was with his actual friends!
And I kept thinking why on earth don't you just go find them??! You could die any minute now and you're choosing to spend your last day waiting for Mateo, what if you die outside alone waiting for him? Every time he felt something close to an emotion he thought it would be best not to express it because it would make Mateo freak out...... I mean really I cant...I just... cant
Mateo on the other hand found out he was gonna die and did everything he could to delay living his last day. The first thing he did was take a nap and then he cleaned some dishes. Way to carpe the diem man, way to go, no you go glen coco!
He got to pick all the activities they did that day and none of them seemed like last day stuff. The whole day was meh. And I thought maybe Adam Silvera is doing this on purpose!
Maybe he's trying to show us that your last day does not need to be an extreme one where you try everything you were scared to do but a day where you savor life and just enjoy the simple things. BUT NO!
They didn't smell the metaphorical roses or take an extra puff of oxygen to value their last breaths. Nothing, nada, ничего, rien, τίποτα.
And then out of nowhere they decide their in love! I knew that was coming and it was part of the reason I wanted to read the book. But it was so random.
Throughout more than half the book other than just mentioning that Rufus is bisexual there was no flirting. If anything Rufus is constantly talking about how heartbroken he was over his ex girlfriend and how he was planning on getting back together with her....
There were no signs of either of them actually being attracted to each other and they randomly kiss and Rufus is like finally!
What do you mean finally where was all the wanting? Where was the anticipation? Did I miss it?
At the end of their day I thought that things were gonna romantic and cute as they isolated themselves . Which would have worked fine for friends but they're supposed to be more than that. They're supposed to be in love. Wouldn't it be the most romantic thing in the world for them especially to be intimate for the first and last time on their last hours on earth? Am I crazy for thinking this?
Aside from all the above mentioned flaws I found the writing to be very very basic. I get that this is modern NY and a certain amount of slang is needed but Rufus literally said "yo" or "mad" in every sentence. None of them had any interesting thoughts or really thoughts that we could relate to at all and the descriptions of everything were cold. Not raw, just cold.
Finally I found the random small side stories to be completely useless. They contributed to nothing and nothing would be affected if they were not there. They weren't even fun to read, they didn't add to the story or provide the reader with any ethical messages, they were just there, taking up pages.
You know I really don't know what it is everybody else felt and how exactly they judged it to me this was a hit and miss.
The idea was top and had endless potential but the execution for me at least was barely just okay.
Literally my reaction when they were both dead
... disappointed.
All of you, with no exception wrote heartfelt and emotional reviews talking about how magical and amazing this book was. Every single one of you.
But you know what?
The concept of the book was epic. I found the idea behind it spectacular. Two boys get a call that they will die at some point in the next 24 hours and become friends through an app that helps you find a friend for your last day and thus decide to spend their last day on earth together and be as fearless and as real as they've ever been, Genius.
And yet their day was filled with wasting time, wishing they were somewhere else and holding back their emotions and I am over here wondering, for fuck's sake WHY???
I'll start off with their characters. Both of them are different and boring flavors of vanilla maybe occasionally sprinkled with toffee or a few truffles on top but that's it.
I expected them to be more interesting BUT, I accepted that this book is about everyday people living their everyday lives until they don't. So I went with it. I even thought hey! This may be on purpose so that in their journey of death they blossom into who they really want to be! But no.
Rufus spent the entire day waiting for Mateo to decide if he's ready to leave the apartment or cross the street or get on the train, then followed him around everywhere and waited outside as he (Mateo) said his goodbyes and pretty much lived his last day as Mateo's personal life coach. What's worse is that throughout the whole day he kept wishing he was with his actual friends!
And I kept thinking why on earth don't you just go find them??! You could die any minute now and you're choosing to spend your last day waiting for Mateo, what if you die outside alone waiting for him? Every time he felt something close to an emotion he thought it would be best not to express it because it would make Mateo freak out...... I mean really I cant...I just... cant
Mateo on the other hand found out he was gonna die and did everything he could to delay living his last day. The first thing he did was take a nap and then he cleaned some dishes. Way to carpe the diem man, way to go, no you go glen coco!
He got to pick all the activities they did that day and none of them seemed like last day stuff. The whole day was meh. And I thought maybe Adam Silvera is doing this on purpose!
Maybe he's trying to show us that your last day does not need to be an extreme one where you try everything you were scared to do but a day where you savor life and just enjoy the simple things. BUT NO!
They didn't smell the metaphorical roses or take an extra puff of oxygen to value their last breaths. Nothing, nada, ничего, rien, τίποτα.
And then out of nowhere they decide their in love! I knew that was coming and it was part of the reason I wanted to read the book. But it was so random.
Throughout more than half the book other than just mentioning that Rufus is bisexual there was no flirting. If anything Rufus is constantly talking about how heartbroken he was over his ex girlfriend and how he was planning on getting back together with her....
There were no signs of either of them actually being attracted to each other and they randomly kiss and Rufus is like finally!
What do you mean finally where was all the wanting? Where was the anticipation? Did I miss it?
At the end of their day I thought that things were gonna romantic and cute as they isolated themselves . Which would have worked fine for friends but they're supposed to be more than that. They're supposed to be in love. Wouldn't it be the most romantic thing in the world for them especially to be intimate for the first and last time on their last hours on earth? Am I crazy for thinking this?
Aside from all the above mentioned flaws I found the writing to be very very basic. I get that this is modern NY and a certain amount of slang is needed but Rufus literally said "yo" or "mad" in every sentence. None of them had any interesting thoughts or really thoughts that we could relate to at all and the descriptions of everything were cold. Not raw, just cold.
Finally I found the random small side stories to be completely useless. They contributed to nothing and nothing would be affected if they were not there. They weren't even fun to read, they didn't add to the story or provide the reader with any ethical messages, they were just there, taking up pages.
You know I really don't know what it is everybody else felt and how exactly they judged it to me this was a hit and miss.
The idea was top and had endless potential but the execution for me at least was barely just okay.
Literally my reaction when they were both dead
October 6, 2018
"No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end."
This was wonderful! My first Silvera novel, but it definitely won't be my last. Mateo and Rufus both get a call from Deathcast that today is their last day on earth - in twelve hours, they will both be dead.
Last Friend is an app created for Deckers (people who have received the Deathcast call) to meet up and spend their final hours on Earth with a stranger. Mateo and Rufus meet via this app and decide to have the best last day together that they can.
From here we watch as their relationship grows from awkward strangers, to closer acquaintances and eventually best friends. They learn to face their fears, challenge each other and support one another through their final day. From cheesy memory making, to overcoming anxieties and self consciousness to actually running for their lives and surviving numerous dangers. But ultimately, their time is running out, and they can't run forever.
Beautiful, heart-breaking and honest. I loved meeting Rufus and Mateo and seeing them grow as people. This book raises some powerful questions on fate, and whether our lives (and death) are set in stone, or do we have the power to change it, and what it means to truly live. I loved this book and it brought tears to my eyes.
"Twelve hours ago I received the phone call telling me I'm going to die today, and I'm more alive now than I was then."
4.5 ⭐️
This was wonderful! My first Silvera novel, but it definitely won't be my last. Mateo and Rufus both get a call from Deathcast that today is their last day on earth - in twelve hours, they will both be dead.
Last Friend is an app created for Deckers (people who have received the Deathcast call) to meet up and spend their final hours on Earth with a stranger. Mateo and Rufus meet via this app and decide to have the best last day together that they can.
From here we watch as their relationship grows from awkward strangers, to closer acquaintances and eventually best friends. They learn to face their fears, challenge each other and support one another through their final day. From cheesy memory making, to overcoming anxieties and self consciousness to actually running for their lives and surviving numerous dangers. But ultimately, their time is running out, and they can't run forever.
Beautiful, heart-breaking and honest. I loved meeting Rufus and Mateo and seeing them grow as people. This book raises some powerful questions on fate, and whether our lives (and death) are set in stone, or do we have the power to change it, and what it means to truly live. I loved this book and it brought tears to my eyes.
"Twelve hours ago I received the phone call telling me I'm going to die today, and I'm more alive now than I was then."
4.5 ⭐️
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