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72 Hours of You
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Expected 1 Sep 26Sydney Hoffman can tell when someone has less than 72 hours to live, and it’s left her sarcastic, cynical and alone. Until she meets Peter, who changes everything she believes about life—and death.
This swoony, emotional, and tragically romantic debut is perfect for fans of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam and Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End.
"Choke-on-your-drink funny, stomp-on-your heart tragic, and without a doubt one of the best debuts I’ve ever read.” —Clare Edge
72 hours before someone dies, Sydney Hoffman sees a pink clock over their head, counting down their final minutes. Seeing death’s status updates in real-time without being able to save anyone is . . . pretty much the worst. Which is why she never gets involved.
But then she meets Peter Beckett, her optimistic, book-obsessed, and (annoyingly) attractive new classmate. When he discovers what Sydney can do, he convinces her she doesn’t have to handle the countdowns alone. Together they make a plan to wander NYC, looking for pink clocks and helping strangers live their best final hours.
The more people they secretly help, the more Sydney believes she can let go of the memories that haunt her and hold on to Peter instead. But then the universe deals a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
This swoony, emotional, and tragically romantic debut is perfect for fans of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam and Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End.
"Choke-on-your-drink funny, stomp-on-your heart tragic, and without a doubt one of the best debuts I’ve ever read.” —Clare Edge
72 hours before someone dies, Sydney Hoffman sees a pink clock over their head, counting down their final minutes. Seeing death’s status updates in real-time without being able to save anyone is . . . pretty much the worst. Which is why she never gets involved.
But then she meets Peter Beckett, her optimistic, book-obsessed, and (annoyingly) attractive new classmate. When he discovers what Sydney can do, he convinces her she doesn’t have to handle the countdowns alone. Together they make a plan to wander NYC, looking for pink clocks and helping strangers live their best final hours.
The more people they secretly help, the more Sydney believes she can let go of the memories that haunt her and hold on to Peter instead. But then the universe deals a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 1, 2026
169 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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February 6, 2026this looks so tragic and beautiful ;)
February 22, 2026
I just spent the last two hours sobbing, at four AM no less; thanks for that.
But, also, there aren't enough stars in the world for this book.
Full review to come.
But, also, there aren't enough stars in the world for this book.
Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Disney Publishing Worldwide, for providing an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
When Sydney Hoffman’s grandmother died, she left Sydney with a gift– or from Sydney’s perspective, a curse. Sydney can tell when someone has less than 72 hours to live. When someone is 3 days from dying, Sydney sees a pink clock over the person’s head that counts down to what she calls “Zero Hour.” Over time, Sydney has learned that there’s nothing she can do to change this outcome, no matter how much she wishes that weren’t true. Once the pink clock appears, the person’s fate is sealed. Sydney lives by 3 rules: don’t tell anyone about the clocks, don’t try to intervene, and never witness a “Zero Hour.”
Because of her ability, Sydney is cynical, isolated and lonely. Then she meets Peter Beckett. Peter is positive, calm, and he loves to read. He connects with people easily (unlike Sydney) and is instantly likeable to everyone he meets. Sydney soon finds herself trusting Peter with her secret, and the two begin taking trips to New York City to look for “Clockers,” finding small ways to bring people happiness in their last hours.
This book is heartbreaking and dark, but it’s also hopeful. The story is well-written with a strong message about living life to the fullest no matter your age or how long you may live. Sydney and Peter are well-developed characters that seem like polar opposites in the beginning. While Peter is hopeful and optimistic, Sydney is cynical and sarcastic. Peter and Sydney balance each other out, so the more difficult sections to read, which usually involve Sydney, are softened by Peter’s presence. Their connection is sweet, and I appreciated how they were able to learn from each other.
I would recommend this book for older teens. Some of Sydney’s thoughts as well as her sense of humor are quite dark, in the beginning especially. The language and jokes made by Sydney and other characters are also pretty crude at times. With that said, the plot makes this book hard to put down. This is a unique story that will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page.
When Sydney Hoffman’s grandmother died, she left Sydney with a gift– or from Sydney’s perspective, a curse. Sydney can tell when someone has less than 72 hours to live. When someone is 3 days from dying, Sydney sees a pink clock over the person’s head that counts down to what she calls “Zero Hour.” Over time, Sydney has learned that there’s nothing she can do to change this outcome, no matter how much she wishes that weren’t true. Once the pink clock appears, the person’s fate is sealed. Sydney lives by 3 rules: don’t tell anyone about the clocks, don’t try to intervene, and never witness a “Zero Hour.”
Because of her ability, Sydney is cynical, isolated and lonely. Then she meets Peter Beckett. Peter is positive, calm, and he loves to read. He connects with people easily (unlike Sydney) and is instantly likeable to everyone he meets. Sydney soon finds herself trusting Peter with her secret, and the two begin taking trips to New York City to look for “Clockers,” finding small ways to bring people happiness in their last hours.
This book is heartbreaking and dark, but it’s also hopeful. The story is well-written with a strong message about living life to the fullest no matter your age or how long you may live. Sydney and Peter are well-developed characters that seem like polar opposites in the beginning. While Peter is hopeful and optimistic, Sydney is cynical and sarcastic. Peter and Sydney balance each other out, so the more difficult sections to read, which usually involve Sydney, are softened by Peter’s presence. Their connection is sweet, and I appreciated how they were able to learn from each other.
I would recommend this book for older teens. Some of Sydney’s thoughts as well as her sense of humor are quite dark, in the beginning especially. The language and jokes made by Sydney and other characters are also pretty crude at times. With that said, the plot makes this book hard to put down. This is a unique story that will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i am sobbing. uncontrollably.
at first, this book was not what i thought it was going to be like. i mostly hated it until like the last 40%-ish. some things that (sadly) made me lower my rating: the amount of swearing in this book. it was just unnecessary sometimes. also some VERY questionable lines 😭. the mentions of pop culture kept appearing and i was about to throw my laptop across the room because i was getting tired of them. i read to escape reality, why are you forcing me to read about it 😔 but really, that's just me and maybe other's don't care about that. there was also an overuse of the word 'like', and it was getting pretty annoying. also the mean comments towards Christians :(. the unnecessary hate toward peter in the beginning was so annoying and i was getting tired of syd often criticizing him. girl, he's just trying to make sure you're okay and he is such a golden retriever I love him so much. which brings me to my next point.
i loved Peter. oh gosh where can i find myself a man like HIM omg. he is so sweet, gentle, kind, etc. the way he tries to see the good things in life, and still accepts syd for who she is. This book is set in autumn, i think? but lowk i was getting major winter vibes and i was definitely eating that up 🙂↕️. syd and peter wanting to make people who didn't have much time left a better day was so heartwarming.
i really liked the dynamic between Jules and Syd!! it kind of reminds me of the relationship between my own sister and i, telling each other about our days. Jules was also VERY unhinged but i was giggling hehe.
that ending broke me. even though i predicted it because of the description it didn't fail to bring me to tears. sobbing actually. i love books like this omg. thank you to the author and netgalley for giving me the experience to read this book!
some quotes and my thoughts:
"God, why do boys think that if they call you by your last name you're contractually obligated to swoon?" i love this
"the one thing that's giving me peace is that Liam at least got to eat some of his burger before he died" help what
"like, we get it. you're two teenage girl besties!!!" GIRLLL
"I can't wait to see what you two cook up together" 😭
"my jokes come from my real actual brain" what?
"she giggled and looked at me I was a superhero" (chapter 8 20% might be an error)
chapter 14 may be an error "your red-eye because take off your shoes"
"what the actual fucking fuck was i thinking?" girl why are you talking like that i'm sorry
"I have this thing where I don't insult girls that are cooler and smarter and prettier than me. I guess THAT'S my kink." gtfo 😭😭😭
"My passenger princess demanded we hit Starbs so she could document the first PSL of basic szn on her insta,"
wth did i just read 😭🙏🏻"
s: 194
f: 230
b: 18
a: 25
date started: feb 19 2026
date finished: feb 19 2026
at first, this book was not what i thought it was going to be like. i mostly hated it until like the last 40%-ish. some things that (sadly) made me lower my rating: the amount of swearing in this book. it was just unnecessary sometimes. also some VERY questionable lines 😭. the mentions of pop culture kept appearing and i was about to throw my laptop across the room because i was getting tired of them. i read to escape reality, why are you forcing me to read about it 😔 but really, that's just me and maybe other's don't care about that. there was also an overuse of the word 'like', and it was getting pretty annoying. also the mean comments towards Christians :(. the unnecessary hate toward peter in the beginning was so annoying and i was getting tired of syd often criticizing him. girl, he's just trying to make sure you're okay and he is such a golden retriever I love him so much. which brings me to my next point.
i loved Peter. oh gosh where can i find myself a man like HIM omg. he is so sweet, gentle, kind, etc. the way he tries to see the good things in life, and still accepts syd for who she is. This book is set in autumn, i think? but lowk i was getting major winter vibes and i was definitely eating that up 🙂↕️. syd and peter wanting to make people who didn't have much time left a better day was so heartwarming.
i really liked the dynamic between Jules and Syd!! it kind of reminds me of the relationship between my own sister and i, telling each other about our days. Jules was also VERY unhinged but i was giggling hehe.
that ending broke me. even though i predicted it because of the description it didn't fail to bring me to tears. sobbing actually. i love books like this omg. thank you to the author and netgalley for giving me the experience to read this book!
some quotes and my thoughts:
"God, why do boys think that if they call you by your last name you're contractually obligated to swoon?" i love this
"the one thing that's giving me peace is that Liam at least got to eat some of his burger before he died" help what
"like, we get it. you're two teenage girl besties!!!" GIRLLL
"I can't wait to see what you two cook up together" 😭
"my jokes come from my real actual brain" what?
"she giggled and looked at me I was a superhero" (chapter 8 20% might be an error)
chapter 14 may be an error "your red-eye because take off your shoes"
"what the actual fucking fuck was i thinking?" girl why are you talking like that i'm sorry
"I have this thing where I don't insult girls that are cooler and smarter and prettier than me. I guess THAT'S my kink." gtfo 😭😭😭
"My passenger princess demanded we hit Starbs so she could document the first PSL of basic szn on her insta,"
wth did i just read 😭🙏🏻"
s: 194
f: 230
b: 18
a: 25
date started: feb 19 2026
date finished: feb 19 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you author and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm rolling this one up to 5-stars because of the excellent Jewish rep, but I have to say the coincidental reading of two speculative YA books back to back in which a grumpy girl is reminded life is worth living by an adorable golden retriever manic pixie dream boy while they bumble around NYC (Tashie Bhuiyan's Right as Rain) was definitely a mind-screw.
Unfortunately, Sydney was a bit too mean-spirited for my taste. The kind of girl who judges and puts down other girls and has prejudiced opinions about certain folk, has horrible things to say about the city I love, and that whole portion about school shootings left a bad taste in my mouth. And the author did the one thing I hate the most in books like these. She created a mystery in the beginning of the book (the thing that happened 11 months ago) and then dragged it out all the way to the end like she wasn't confident we'd keep reading otherwise. And I just have to tell you, I did not care about that mystery at all. I was just reading because I wanted to see the romance between the two characters. Like trust your story sis, you don't need cheap gimmicks!
Like I said, solid 4-stars, rolled up to 5 for the good Jewish rep.👍🏼
Non-spoiler TW - It should be evident from the blurb that characters we meet on-page will be dying in this one. There is also violence.
I'm rolling this one up to 5-stars because of the excellent Jewish rep, but I have to say the coincidental reading of two speculative YA books back to back in which a grumpy girl is reminded life is worth living by an adorable golden retriever manic pixie dream boy while they bumble around NYC (Tashie Bhuiyan's Right as Rain) was definitely a mind-screw.
Unfortunately, Sydney was a bit too mean-spirited for my taste. The kind of girl who judges and puts down other girls and has prejudiced opinions about certain folk, has horrible things to say about the city I love, and that whole portion about school shootings left a bad taste in my mouth. And the author did the one thing I hate the most in books like these. She created a mystery in the beginning of the book (the thing that happened 11 months ago) and then dragged it out all the way to the end like she wasn't confident we'd keep reading otherwise. And I just have to tell you, I did not care about that mystery at all. I was just reading because I wanted to see the romance between the two characters. Like trust your story sis, you don't need cheap gimmicks!
Like I said, solid 4-stars, rolled up to 5 for the good Jewish rep.👍🏼
Non-spoiler TW - It should be evident from the blurb that characters we meet on-page will be dying in this one. There is also violence.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
if you can only read one book this year (or in your lifetime) choose this one.
The whole thing is just a perfect storm of emotion, and angst, and the tragedy of finding your perfect person in a life that refuses to let you have nice things.
Sydney's voice is mesmerising and unrelenting, and you can't help but stand in her shoes and just... get it. I kind of feel like I've lived her life too?
And Peter. Oh my god Peter. If you don't fall in love with Peter then you are evil and irredeemable sorry I don't make the rules.
It's rare that a book hits you so hard that it becomes somehow a permanent part of your psyche, but hey, that's where we are now, and I will never forget my 72 hours with Syd and Peter. I suggest you experience the same.
I will read anything Darianne Schramm ever writes from this moment onward. and, like, rabidly. frothing at the mouth.
okay go read your new fav book already, bye
The whole thing is just a perfect storm of emotion, and angst, and the tragedy of finding your perfect person in a life that refuses to let you have nice things.
Sydney's voice is mesmerising and unrelenting, and you can't help but stand in her shoes and just... get it. I kind of feel like I've lived her life too?
And Peter. Oh my god Peter. If you don't fall in love with Peter then you are evil and irredeemable sorry I don't make the rules.
It's rare that a book hits you so hard that it becomes somehow a permanent part of your psyche, but hey, that's where we are now, and I will never forget my 72 hours with Syd and Peter. I suggest you experience the same.
I will read anything Darianne Schramm ever writes from this moment onward. and, like, rabidly. frothing at the mouth.
okay go read your new fav book already, bye
March 28, 2025
72 Hours of You is heartbreaking in the best way! You fall in love with Sydney whose one-liners and philosophy on death are poignant and funny. Her journey with Peter and how she comes to terms with life and death will have you grabbing for the tissues. My favorite is Jules--the sister who will tell you exactly how it is with no punches pulled. This is YA at its best.
It's John Green meets Rebecca Serle with sarcastic teenage angst thrown in. You don't want to miss this book!
It's John Green meets Rebecca Serle with sarcastic teenage angst thrown in. You don't want to miss this book!
March 28, 2025
Wait till you read this book! 😱 It is so fast paced and draws you in immediately. The characters will have you laughing and crying. The story is compelling and so different. Beautifully written and heartbreaking and charming all at once. Hold on, it’s a wild ride of a story! This is one to preorder because everyone will be talking about it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gutted, devastated, Darianne Schramm— you can break my heart any day. This book is pitch-perfect — voicey, funny, sharp, smart, and did I mention heartbreaking? I want to give it to everyone I know with a pack of tissues.
March 28, 2025
Legitimately the best book I’ve ever read. Depth of character is amazing and the writing is top notch.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'll just say I have aphantasia and yet somehow the author was able to paint me a picture. A must read!
February 18, 2026
I’m distraught 😭 why did i decide to finish this at 7 in the morning right before work. I’ll be thinking about this book all day. Such a heartbreakingly beautiful book.
March 30, 2025
I've been lucky enough to read this book from the very first draft to the final and I am utterly biased and completely correct in saying that it is impossible to read this book without laughing out loud, and even more impossible to read this book without crying. Peter Beckett is a book boyfriend to be reckoned with.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews