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72 Hours Of You
Rachel Stark at Disney Hyperion has acquired, at auction, in a six-figure deal, Darianne Schramm's debut novel, 72 Hours of You. Aimed at fans of John Green and They Both Die at the End, the tragically romantic YA follows Sydney, a sarcastic nihilist with the heartbreaking ability to see when someone has less than 72 hours to live, as she falls for Peter, the annoyingly cute and optimistic boy who changes how she sees life—and death. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency did the deal for North American rights.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
August 24, 2026
Je sais pas trop si c’est moi qui ai terminé le livre ou si c’est le livre qui m’a terminé. Mais j’ai adoré chaque précieuse seconde passée aux côtés de Sydney et Peter, chaque échange plein d’esprit et de sarcasme, chaque perle de sagesse qu’ils nous ont partagé. Bref j’ai adoré ce roman qui est aussi déchirant qu’il est beau et original. BANGER GUYS, BANGER.
July 25, 2026
I just spent the last two hours sobbing, at four AM no less; soooo…thanks for that. 😂
But, also, there aren't enough stars in the world for this book.
I don't know that this is the book I needed to be reading at this point in my life, but what I do know is that every second I spent reading this book was beautiful. You kind of go in knowing exactly what's going to happen. There's enough in the synopsis that you can pretty easily clue in to the overall trajectory of the story. The important part here, I think, is that you don't know the journey. And even though there are aspects of Peter and Sydney's story that are predictable as hell, the truth is that 72 Hours of You still manages expertly to keep you on your toes.
I finished reading Darianne Schramm's debut novel at four in the morning, on a Sunday, when I very much had work in three and a half hours, which is hardly enough time to get a decent amount of sleep. But when you're reading a book like this, the sort you truly just can't put down for the sake of how much you care about the characters, staying up as long as you need to to complete it is a no-brainer. Work be damned.
There are stories out there that grab hold of you, make you feel so many things, teach you something—perhaps—or just reinforce a truth you'd already learned. I think 72 Hours of You is one such story. And you know, this is coming on the heels of the Stranger Things finale, which I've thought about a lot over the past few months. But it's a reminder to me, I think, that sometimes the ending you hope for works and sometimes it doesn't.
Even more, it's a reminder that there are some characters and some outlooks out there in the void that people simply need in their lives. Peter is one such character.
There's a real juxtaposition in the placement of Sydney and Peter, in the connection they build with one another and how it plays out through each page turn. I found myself frequently second-guessing the events I knew were coming, trying to weigh out how all of this could possibly be a misdirect, as I so desperately hoped. And even still, as I fell in love with these characters, laughing and adoring this journey of learning who they were and seeing their impact on each other, this certainty I felt that I knew how the story would end somehow did not take away at all from the exceptional emotional impact of its ending.
Schramm keeps just enough information from her readers to leave them sobbing in a puddle of tears by the end of the story, connecting each slow-dripped piece of information provided until finally we fully understand all this has been building toward. We're drenched in emotional turmoil, wondering how, exactly, the author managed to send us hurtling toward doom with every hope we could possibly have built up in ourselves for these characters despite the fact that she literally told us what would happen.
But that's the point, really. The point is to hope, to appreciate, to love despite knowing the end. The point is the emotional journey, and how it changes us along the way.
I lost my soul dog to brain cancer in May of 2025 and I've been reeling ever since. And in this regard, this review feels very personal for me. There's a right way to tell a story like this and there's a wrong way. I remember experiencing November and December with extreme excitement, a thrilling anticipatory expectation for what I would see once Stranger Things aired its finale. I rewatched both part one and part two several times as I waited for that last episode. To date, I still haven't rewatched the finale; because the journey did not point to the end we received, it in fact told us the exact opposite on so many different occasions so that when it came, so many of us sat back and wondered how that could even have been a possibility for the choice the Duffers would make. I still think it was one of the worst mistakes in a show in all of history; it's almost worse than Game of Thrones.
And I remember sitting on my couch, crying, not because I appreciated the journey but because I felt that the ending was not what I needed, spat in the face of every single character in the entire show and that's without even getting into how it did so to the actors and everyone who watched it. At the time, I truly thought the intensity of my emotional disappointment was centered around the idea that, after everything I had been through that year, I just needed a happy ending.
But after reading 72 Hours of You, I'm able to recontextualize that feeling. No, I didn't need a happy ending. I just needed an ending that made the journey worth it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
But, also, there aren't enough stars in the world for this book.
But what I do know is that he looks at the world in this (delusional) way that no one else does. Like it might actually be an okay place.
He sees beauty where I see booby traps. And like, I'm right, obviously, but damn, I wonder what it's like to live like that.
I don't know that this is the book I needed to be reading at this point in my life, but what I do know is that every second I spent reading this book was beautiful. You kind of go in knowing exactly what's going to happen. There's enough in the synopsis that you can pretty easily clue in to the overall trajectory of the story. The important part here, I think, is that you don't know the journey. And even though there are aspects of Peter and Sydney's story that are predictable as hell, the truth is that 72 Hours of You still manages expertly to keep you on your toes.
I finished reading Darianne Schramm's debut novel at four in the morning, on a Sunday, when I very much had work in three and a half hours, which is hardly enough time to get a decent amount of sleep. But when you're reading a book like this, the sort you truly just can't put down for the sake of how much you care about the characters, staying up as long as you need to to complete it is a no-brainer. Work be damned.
It is nothing. And it's also something. It's everything.
There are stories out there that grab hold of you, make you feel so many things, teach you something—perhaps—or just reinforce a truth you'd already learned. I think 72 Hours of You is one such story. And you know, this is coming on the heels of the Stranger Things finale, which I've thought about a lot over the past few months. But it's a reminder to me, I think, that sometimes the ending you hope for works and sometimes it doesn't.
Even more, it's a reminder that there are some characters and some outlooks out there in the void that people simply need in their lives. Peter is one such character.
"It's an honor, you know," he says into my neck, "to be the one you look for in a crowd."
There's a real juxtaposition in the placement of Sydney and Peter, in the connection they build with one another and how it plays out through each page turn. I found myself frequently second-guessing the events I knew were coming, trying to weigh out how all of this could possibly be a misdirect, as I so desperately hoped. And even still, as I fell in love with these characters, laughing and adoring this journey of learning who they were and seeing their impact on each other, this certainty I felt that I knew how the story would end somehow did not take away at all from the exceptional emotional impact of its ending.
Schramm keeps just enough information from her readers to leave them sobbing in a puddle of tears by the end of the story, connecting each slow-dripped piece of information provided until finally we fully understand all this has been building toward. We're drenched in emotional turmoil, wondering how, exactly, the author managed to send us hurtling toward doom with every hope we could possibly have built up in ourselves for these characters despite the fact that she literally told us what would happen.
But that's the point, really. The point is to hope, to appreciate, to love despite knowing the end. The point is the emotional journey, and how it changes us along the way.
Maybe that's how it always is, I thought—we all just go along, catching glimpses of one another, thinking we know everything.
I lost my soul dog to brain cancer in May of 2025 and I've been reeling ever since. And in this regard, this review feels very personal for me. There's a right way to tell a story like this and there's a wrong way. I remember experiencing November and December with extreme excitement, a thrilling anticipatory expectation for what I would see once Stranger Things aired its finale. I rewatched both part one and part two several times as I waited for that last episode. To date, I still haven't rewatched the finale; because the journey did not point to the end we received, it in fact told us the exact opposite on so many different occasions so that when it came, so many of us sat back and wondered how that could even have been a possibility for the choice the Duffers would make. I still think it was one of the worst mistakes in a show in all of history; it's almost worse than Game of Thrones.
And I remember sitting on my couch, crying, not because I appreciated the journey but because I felt that the ending was not what I needed, spat in the face of every single character in the entire show and that's without even getting into how it did so to the actors and everyone who watched it. At the time, I truly thought the intensity of my emotional disappointment was centered around the idea that, after everything I had been through that year, I just needed a happy ending.
But after reading 72 Hours of You, I'm able to recontextualize that feeling. No, I didn't need a happy ending. I just needed an ending that made the journey worth it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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review
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thank you to netgalley, publisher, & author for this arc in exchange for my honest review <3
✨✨✨✨ ~ 4.1 stars rounded to 4
oh my word, this book. I felt so many feelings and honestly I'm still thinking about it days later. it is such a classic disney book and yet I would still watch the movie if they released one. yes, I read it in less than 24 hours, yes, it kept me on edge, and yes, Darianne both delivered and followed through in the book. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the emotions. I would 100% recommended this book to anyone.
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pre-read
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this sounds so good omw, so glad i got the arc!
review
╰───┄ °❀
thank you to netgalley, publisher, & author for this arc in exchange for my honest review <3
✨✨✨✨ ~ 4.1 stars rounded to 4
oh my word, this book. I felt so many feelings and honestly I'm still thinking about it days later. it is such a classic disney book and yet I would still watch the movie if they released one. yes, I read it in less than 24 hours, yes, it kept me on edge, and yes, Darianne both delivered and followed through in the book. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the emotions. I would 100% recommended this book to anyone.
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pre-read
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this sounds so good omw, so glad i got the arc!
August 9, 2026
If you were a 2012s The Fault In Our Stars emotional damage lover then this is the book for you ❤️🩹
Sydney can see a pink neon countdown above someone’s head 72 hours before they die, she meets Peter and they begin trying to make strangers last hours as meaningful as possible.
What stayed with me most was the reminder that when people know their time is running out they suddenly start living life to the fullest and do the things they’ve always wanted to do/say what they’ve been scared to say. But I just kept thinking why do we need a countdown clock to do that 😭
I didn’t expect this book to affect me as much as it did. I don’t think it’s just for romance readers and there is something here that everyone can take away from. This book really made me think about how much we take for granted and reminded me that we never know how much time we have with people. I laughed so much, cried so much, SOBBED at the end. Even when I thought I knew what was happening I was floored.
This is one that’s going to stick with me for a long LONG time. Highly recommend ✨
Sydney can see a pink neon countdown above someone’s head 72 hours before they die, she meets Peter and they begin trying to make strangers last hours as meaningful as possible.
What stayed with me most was the reminder that when people know their time is running out they suddenly start living life to the fullest and do the things they’ve always wanted to do/say what they’ve been scared to say. But I just kept thinking why do we need a countdown clock to do that 😭
I didn’t expect this book to affect me as much as it did. I don’t think it’s just for romance readers and there is something here that everyone can take away from. This book really made me think about how much we take for granted and reminded me that we never know how much time we have with people. I laughed so much, cried so much, SOBBED at the end. Even when I thought I knew what was happening I was floored.
This is one that’s going to stick with me for a long LONG time. Highly recommend ✨
August 25, 2026
4.5⭐️
oh my heart, this book finished me❤️🩹
beautiful and unique concept for the plot and it was easy to follow. there were moments i was laughing because i understood the sarcastic humor. peter was everything in this book and loved the fruition of the relationship with sydney.
i loved the meaningful depth of the time concept and how we should make the most of it. i really enjoyed this read and looking forward to reading more by this author. also btw i can totally see this as a Netflix movie.
thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the eARC.
oh my heart, this book finished me❤️🩹
beautiful and unique concept for the plot and it was easy to follow. there were moments i was laughing because i understood the sarcastic humor. peter was everything in this book and loved the fruition of the relationship with sydney.
i loved the meaningful depth of the time concept and how we should make the most of it. i really enjoyed this read and looking forward to reading more by this author. also btw i can totally see this as a Netflix movie.
thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for the eARC.
August 20, 2026
Complete emotional annihilation.
I’m calling it now, this book is going to be this generations “A Fault in our stars”.
72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm is a beautifully written and unique YA romance that will stay with me for a long time!
We follow Sydney who has a seriously heartbreaking ability, whenever someone has less than 72 hours to live, she can see a pink countdown clock above their head. After years of watching people’s time run out, Sydney has become reclusive and guarded in order to protect her heart from the grief. That is until she meet Peter, her polar opposite who’s sunshiney outlook on life completely changes Sydney’s view of the clocks and the pair start to hunt down people with clocks and attempt to make their final moments brighter.
Somewhere during this journey, Sydney starts to let her guard down and starts falling for Peter but the universe gives Sydney a devastating reminder that even when you know when someone is going to die, that doesn’t mean you have time to emotionally prepare for it.
Although going into this book, I was prepared to have my heartbroken, I was blindsided by how it happened and found myself crying on public transport.
Sydney and Peter’s love story was so bingeable, I couldn’t put it down (I literally read it in a single sitting) and Darianne’s writing was so poignant and beautiful that it’s made me stop to appreciate the time I have on this earth.
I loved this book and I couldn’t recommend it more but have some tissues on standby because you’re going to need them.
I’m calling it now, this book is going to be this generations “A Fault in our stars”.
72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm is a beautifully written and unique YA romance that will stay with me for a long time!
We follow Sydney who has a seriously heartbreaking ability, whenever someone has less than 72 hours to live, she can see a pink countdown clock above their head. After years of watching people’s time run out, Sydney has become reclusive and guarded in order to protect her heart from the grief. That is until she meet Peter, her polar opposite who’s sunshiney outlook on life completely changes Sydney’s view of the clocks and the pair start to hunt down people with clocks and attempt to make their final moments brighter.
Somewhere during this journey, Sydney starts to let her guard down and starts falling for Peter but the universe gives Sydney a devastating reminder that even when you know when someone is going to die, that doesn’t mean you have time to emotionally prepare for it.
Although going into this book, I was prepared to have my heartbroken, I was blindsided by how it happened and found myself crying on public transport.
Sydney and Peter’s love story was so bingeable, I couldn’t put it down (I literally read it in a single sitting) and Darianne’s writing was so poignant and beautiful that it’s made me stop to appreciate the time I have on this earth.
I loved this book and I couldn’t recommend it more but have some tissues on standby because you’re going to need them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you disney hyperion for giving me this arc via netgalley in exchange for my honest review!!!
I was pulled in immediately with this book and plot then it lost me for a bit there in the middle but got pulled back in that last like 20% of the book.
Let me get this off my chest first jules character needed to go😭 I could NOT stand her what so ever!! I found her to be so annoying anytime she had a scene ( i'm sorry) just the way she spoke and things she said was ?????
I liked peter a lot I wish we got to learn more about him though. It felt like he was there just to help develop sydney along. If we had more character building his character could've been sooo much better!! I know sydney was dealing with so many things in life but her back and forth mood swings were confusing at points??
One of my big things was I felt this book would've been SOO much better if the characters were aged a little more. Even just college instead of high school!! Like I just didn't understand how they can just off and to new york randomly in the day without issues or questions! It also made so many of jules lines so uncomfortable. It would've felt a little less cringy as well.
Obviously it's not a real thing but I wish we understood more about the clock?? It was passed on by her grandmother I get that but how?? where did i originate?? are they the only people to have it at a given time?? Just wish there was a little more explanation about it since it's the books big plot point!
Overall I thought the plot and idea was good! I found myself enjoying it at time but also questions a lot. It's a nice book for YA readers if you ignore jules character completely and all the cursing....
I was pulled in immediately with this book and plot then it lost me for a bit there in the middle but got pulled back in that last like 20% of the book.
Let me get this off my chest first jules character needed to go😭 I could NOT stand her what so ever!! I found her to be so annoying anytime she had a scene ( i'm sorry) just the way she spoke and things she said was ?????
I liked peter a lot I wish we got to learn more about him though. It felt like he was there just to help develop sydney along. If we had more character building his character could've been sooo much better!! I know sydney was dealing with so many things in life but her back and forth mood swings were confusing at points??
One of my big things was I felt this book would've been SOO much better if the characters were aged a little more. Even just college instead of high school!! Like I just didn't understand how they can just off and to new york randomly in the day without issues or questions! It also made so many of jules lines so uncomfortable. It would've felt a little less cringy as well.
Obviously it's not a real thing but I wish we understood more about the clock?? It was passed on by her grandmother I get that but how?? where did i originate?? are they the only people to have it at a given time?? Just wish there was a little more explanation about it since it's the books big plot point!
Overall I thought the plot and idea was good! I found myself enjoying it at time but also questions a lot. It's a nice book for YA readers if you ignore jules character completely and all the cursing....
August 14, 2026
So ein unfassbar gutes Jugendbuch, das mir das Herz gebrochen hat. Es gibt so viele schöne Sätze in diesem Buch. Ich hab so unfassbar doll geweint.
Einziger Kritikpunkt: die 72 Stunden hätten mehr Raum einnehmen können, finde ich.
Einziger Kritikpunkt: die 72 Stunden hätten mehr Raum einnehmen können, finde ich.
August 21, 2026
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy .
You can’t present me a mmc who likes colleen hoover and expect me to root for him.
This book was very similar to that genre of wattpad books like 27 days , that’s what pulled me in. The cover art and premise are both intriguing . The story fell flat for me , everyone felt one dimensional. Her entire thing was tragedy, his entire personality was being a quirky reader . I like that they attempted to break norms by giving this trait to the male love interest, but it felt very forced . In an emotional conversation and even in his final moments he’s ripping out random quotes and it made me roll my eyes .
I particularly held a grudge with the colleen hoover mention, for reasons most readers will understand . Just google a thread and you’ll find information on that.
The ending was also unfinished. This big shootout just ends and we don’t really find out where it was going or what happened or why.
You can’t present me a mmc who likes colleen hoover and expect me to root for him.
This book was very similar to that genre of wattpad books like 27 days , that’s what pulled me in. The cover art and premise are both intriguing . The story fell flat for me , everyone felt one dimensional. Her entire thing was tragedy, his entire personality was being a quirky reader . I like that they attempted to break norms by giving this trait to the male love interest, but it felt very forced . In an emotional conversation and even in his final moments he’s ripping out random quotes and it made me roll my eyes .
I particularly held a grudge with the colleen hoover mention, for reasons most readers will understand . Just google a thread and you’ll find information on that.
The ending was also unfinished. This big shootout just ends and we don’t really find out where it was going or what happened or why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2026
⭐️4.50
How dare a book that I knew would make me cry make me cry!
I really enjoyed this though I do feel a bit conflicted about whether the synopsis is to detailed for how long it takes for it all to happen (ie 70% of the book is the synopsis)
But thank you to the publish for this proof 😭😭
How dare a book that I knew would make me cry make me cry!
I really enjoyed this though I do feel a bit conflicted about whether the synopsis is to detailed for how long it takes for it all to happen (ie 70% of the book is the synopsis)
But thank you to the publish for this proof 😭😭
Want to Read
February 6, 2026this looks so tragic and beautiful ;)
May 14, 2026
72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm was such an emotional read. The idea of being able to see when someone only has 72 hours left immediately pulled me in and I really liked the mix of grief, hope, and romance throughout the story.
Sydney is guarded and carrying so much loneliness while Peter brings warmth and heart to the book. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow while helping people through their final days. Their connection felt genuine and was what kept me turning the pages.
Some parts dragged a little for me, but the emotional moments were done really well and the ending definitely leaves an impact. Peter and Sydney stayed with me after I finished.
A good pick for readers who enjoy emotional YA romances with heavier themes and bittersweet relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I laughed. I cried. I hoped. I grieved. I stared at the wall for hours, wondering how I'd ever move on from this book, which I let emotionally mug me in broad daylight.
72 Hours of You is one of those books that feels almost impossible to explain without sounding slightly unhinged, because yes, it’s about a girl who can see pink neon countdown clocks over people’s heads when they only have 72 hours left to live…but it’s also about grief, love, loneliness, being seen, letting people in, and the terrifying beauty of living when you know life is fragile.
Sydney Hoffman has spent years building walls around herself. She’s sarcastic, cynical, closed-off and fully committed to her people-repelling era (real!), but the more you understand her, the more she absolutely breaks your heart. She’s not cold because she doesn’t care; she’s cold because she cares too much, has lost too much, and she knows too much. Watching her slowly, painfully, and reluctantly open herself up again was genuinely gorgeous.
And then there’s Peter Beckett.
Peter. Freaking. Beckett.
This boy is sunshine with a book in his hand and emotional devastation in his pockets. He’s optimistic without being shallow, philosophical without being pretentious, and somehow manages to look at Sydney like she’s a person, not a tragedy. He sees the beauty in the world where Syd sees danger signs, and the two of them together? The contrast? The banter? The aching softness underneath all the sarcasm? I was gone.
Their dynamic is everything. Syd is sharp edges and dark humour. Peter is warmth and wonder. She thinks she’s too much darkness; he sees the light around it. He doesn’t try to fix her or run from the ugly parts. He just stays, and that ruined me more than anything.
The whole story of the “Clockers” was both genius and brutal. It was such a beautiful concept to have Syd and Peter wandering around New York City, finding people with clocks and trying to brighten their last hours. These tiny acts of kindness, whether they resulted in a hot dog, a bottle of water, or a used book, seemed insignificant until you realised that, sometimes, being noticed, even for a brief moment, is everything.
That’s exactly who Peter Beckett is. He sees people; he really notices them; he makes them feel like they matter, even if it’s only for a minute. Then he does the same thing for Syd in all these tiny, quiet ways that absolutely ruined me.
And yes, I spent most of the book knowing this was probably going to hurt me. The vibes were absolutely giving The Fault in Our Stars levels of “Oh God, I’m about to be emotionally destroyed, aren't I?” but I still hoped, against all evidence, like a fool...and then Darianne Schramm came for my soul anyway.
There’s also a mystery woven through the story that I really appreciated. I thought I had things figured out in some ways, but there was a twist that crept up on me right at the end and made me look back at the whole book like, "Wait... WAIT!" That was so cleverly done.
I also loved the family dynamics, especially how grief affected Syd, her dad, and Jules in their own ways. Jules brought wild little-sister energy but had so much heart. Watching Syd’s view of her change by the end was full of pain, growth, and great character development, which I really enjoyed.
The way this book talks about life and death doesn’t let you hide from the fact that life is temporary, yet somehow it still makes that feel beautiful rather than simply terrifying.
The love story between the characters is so touching because it’s not about forever in the usual sense. Instead, it’s about making the most of the time you have and being brave enough to love, even when you know it could cost you everything.
The last part of the book completely gutted me. I knew it would hurt, but I wasn’t ready for the mix of desperation, hope, and grief that came together in a scene with the Empire State Building and a tiny piece of physics. I was sobbing because it showed such a devastatingly human kind of hope: the kind where you know it probably won’t change anything, but you have to try anyway.
The way grief is written in this book is beautiful. Not just the big, obvious grief, but also the quiet kind that changes how you see everyday things. It helps you understand why people leave flowers, books, notes, and little pieces of themselves behind at “altars”: sometimes love after loss needs a place to go for those who remain.
The book was honestly infinitely quotable and said everything I feel about grief and the people we lose. The people we love don’t just disappear from our story. We carry them, writing them into everything we do. We keep turning the page, even when it hurts.
Just as a heads up, this is YA, but there is quite a lot of swearing and sexual innuendo throughout. Personally, I didn’t mind it at all, and some of it genuinely made me laugh out loud, but if you prefer your YA very clean, it’s worth knowing. On the page, though, we only really see kissing.
This book is tragic, romantic, funny, devastating, and weirdly life-affirming all at once. It made me think about death, but more than that, it made me think about what it means to actually live: To stay. To love. To let someone see you. To keep turning the page after someone else’s story ends.
This is an easy 5-star read for me. My heart is in pieces, but somehow, they feel beautifully arranged.
I will absolutely be reading whatever Darianne Schramm writes next, preferably with tissues, emotional support chocolate, and a therapy session at the ready.
Thank you so much to Electric Monkey for sending me a proof copy of this book, which I shall treasure always, and to Darianne Schramm for allowing me to read this hauntingly beautiful story early.
72 Hours of You is one of those books that feels almost impossible to explain without sounding slightly unhinged, because yes, it’s about a girl who can see pink neon countdown clocks over people’s heads when they only have 72 hours left to live…but it’s also about grief, love, loneliness, being seen, letting people in, and the terrifying beauty of living when you know life is fragile.
Sydney Hoffman has spent years building walls around herself. She’s sarcastic, cynical, closed-off and fully committed to her people-repelling era (real!), but the more you understand her, the more she absolutely breaks your heart. She’s not cold because she doesn’t care; she’s cold because she cares too much, has lost too much, and she knows too much. Watching her slowly, painfully, and reluctantly open herself up again was genuinely gorgeous.
And then there’s Peter Beckett.
Peter. Freaking. Beckett.
This boy is sunshine with a book in his hand and emotional devastation in his pockets. He’s optimistic without being shallow, philosophical without being pretentious, and somehow manages to look at Sydney like she’s a person, not a tragedy. He sees the beauty in the world where Syd sees danger signs, and the two of them together? The contrast? The banter? The aching softness underneath all the sarcasm? I was gone.
Their dynamic is everything. Syd is sharp edges and dark humour. Peter is warmth and wonder. She thinks she’s too much darkness; he sees the light around it. He doesn’t try to fix her or run from the ugly parts. He just stays, and that ruined me more than anything.
The whole story of the “Clockers” was both genius and brutal. It was such a beautiful concept to have Syd and Peter wandering around New York City, finding people with clocks and trying to brighten their last hours. These tiny acts of kindness, whether they resulted in a hot dog, a bottle of water, or a used book, seemed insignificant until you realised that, sometimes, being noticed, even for a brief moment, is everything.
That’s exactly who Peter Beckett is. He sees people; he really notices them; he makes them feel like they matter, even if it’s only for a minute. Then he does the same thing for Syd in all these tiny, quiet ways that absolutely ruined me.
And yes, I spent most of the book knowing this was probably going to hurt me. The vibes were absolutely giving The Fault in Our Stars levels of “Oh God, I’m about to be emotionally destroyed, aren't I?” but I still hoped, against all evidence, like a fool...and then Darianne Schramm came for my soul anyway.
There’s also a mystery woven through the story that I really appreciated. I thought I had things figured out in some ways, but there was a twist that crept up on me right at the end and made me look back at the whole book like, "Wait... WAIT!" That was so cleverly done.
I also loved the family dynamics, especially how grief affected Syd, her dad, and Jules in their own ways. Jules brought wild little-sister energy but had so much heart. Watching Syd’s view of her change by the end was full of pain, growth, and great character development, which I really enjoyed.
The way this book talks about life and death doesn’t let you hide from the fact that life is temporary, yet somehow it still makes that feel beautiful rather than simply terrifying.
The love story between the characters is so touching because it’s not about forever in the usual sense. Instead, it’s about making the most of the time you have and being brave enough to love, even when you know it could cost you everything.
The last part of the book completely gutted me. I knew it would hurt, but I wasn’t ready for the mix of desperation, hope, and grief that came together in a scene with the Empire State Building and a tiny piece of physics. I was sobbing because it showed such a devastatingly human kind of hope: the kind where you know it probably won’t change anything, but you have to try anyway.
The way grief is written in this book is beautiful. Not just the big, obvious grief, but also the quiet kind that changes how you see everyday things. It helps you understand why people leave flowers, books, notes, and little pieces of themselves behind at “altars”: sometimes love after loss needs a place to go for those who remain.
The book was honestly infinitely quotable and said everything I feel about grief and the people we lose. The people we love don’t just disappear from our story. We carry them, writing them into everything we do. We keep turning the page, even when it hurts.
Just as a heads up, this is YA, but there is quite a lot of swearing and sexual innuendo throughout. Personally, I didn’t mind it at all, and some of it genuinely made me laugh out loud, but if you prefer your YA very clean, it’s worth knowing. On the page, though, we only really see kissing.
This book is tragic, romantic, funny, devastating, and weirdly life-affirming all at once. It made me think about death, but more than that, it made me think about what it means to actually live: To stay. To love. To let someone see you. To keep turning the page after someone else’s story ends.
This is an easy 5-star read for me. My heart is in pieces, but somehow, they feel beautifully arranged.
I will absolutely be reading whatever Darianne Schramm writes next, preferably with tissues, emotional support chocolate, and a therapy session at the ready.
Thank you so much to Electric Monkey for sending me a proof copy of this book, which I shall treasure always, and to Darianne Schramm for allowing me to read this hauntingly beautiful story early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
****Many thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an advanced eArc in exchange for my honest opinion****
This is hands down one of the worst books I have ever read in the entirety of my reading career. 72 Hours I WILL NEVER GET BACK.
Look the premise of this book is what hooked me, she can see death clocks counting down the last 72 hours a person has left to live. I can understand how a person especially a 17 year old girl could be impacted by that such a curse. But good lord, could the author have made a more unpleasant character then Sydney?
The first 10 times the word Fuck was used in the FIRST chapter made me almost toss this book down, I should have saved myself the hassle of finishing this first draft copy of a "book". Look I'm no prude, I myself say the word many a times but with GUSTO. I don't toss the word around like it's a punctuation mark. To me this dumbs down the gravity of the situation where the word is being used. The overuse of it at this point is irresponsible and just plain stupid.
Sydney is introduced in a swirl of Fucks, her sister Jules is introduced by sexual innuendos and Peter is introduced as the cliché "not like the other boy's" boy reading at the high school party.
It isn't until 26% we get a mention of any parental figure in this book. When Sydney trips and falls and Peter brings her home it's Jules who knows about it and somehow adds an innuendo about the event, she doesn't text her father when she is stuck in New York its Jules she texts. I'm like who is paying the bills?? Whose house do they live in?? At 26% apparently we out their father locks himself in his study? Super informational Darianne thanks for that basically pointless information at that point in your book.
I might 30 years old but the language usage in this book is BULLSHIT. I could feel my brain cells dying off.
"He looks happy. Which, like... why?" - Sydney
"And like every boys favorite color is blue. It's peak American indoctrination." - Sydney
Tall tallness?
"Fucking fuck" - Sydney
"Her ponytail is the ponytail of an entitled bitch". - Sydney
"Whole other bag of dicks" - Sydney
"This isn't some ouija board middle school shit" - Sydney
"#DefundNoah'sDad" because he is a cop" - Sydney
"No fuck this, fuck the packet, fuck peter. Fuck all of it." - Sydney
Personal Favorite's:
"If someone is going deep sea diving for your pearl I deserve to know" - Jules
"You don't have to tell me if Peter Beckett is attending your one person clam bake"- Jules (UM WHO TF TALKS LIKE THIS?)
"A menty B." - Jules - correction should HAVE BEEN having a mental break down.
"That's so aggro?" - Jules (I don't even know what that fucking means -proper use of the word Darianne)
"My B broseph" -random guy at a bar (I wish I was kidding but no that is a real line.)
"Ohh look at you staring at Peter and gripping the steering wheel. You've SO got WAP" - Jules
"Okay so we are doing the whole depresh thing again?" -Jules
"I thought that little smoky sausage coming over would've fixed you right up." - Jules
Continuing on to the shortening of words unnecessarily like: DM (direct message), Insta (Instagram), Starbs (Starbucks), PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte). In addition to all the so's, like's and whatevers.
Sydney is just a judgmental bitch, Jules is someone I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. Peter is the only saving grace of this book and of course he dies... as if it makes the moment sentimental or pulls the cluster fuck of a book together or something. Laughable.
If I were to somehow rework this book I would have split it up into 3 different parts. Part 1 with her meeting Peter and seeing Liam's clock. Part 2 with seeing Ms. Jegstrups clock and starting to do something nice for others whose clocks are counting down with Peter. And part 3 would be with Peter and his 72 hours. Slash the fucks and shits from the story altogether. Give Sydney and Jules more background with their father and flashbacks to her mother. And make Sydney at least 5% likeable and I think it could have been at least a 3 star book.
As it stands now, directly after finishing. I want to go ponder the decline of humanity (some of which will actually like this book) in the safe Alaskan wilderness. I'd take this book but only for toilet paper.
This is hands down one of the worst books I have ever read in the entirety of my reading career. 72 Hours I WILL NEVER GET BACK.
Look the premise of this book is what hooked me, she can see death clocks counting down the last 72 hours a person has left to live. I can understand how a person especially a 17 year old girl could be impacted by that such a curse. But good lord, could the author have made a more unpleasant character then Sydney?
The first 10 times the word Fuck was used in the FIRST chapter made me almost toss this book down, I should have saved myself the hassle of finishing this first draft copy of a "book". Look I'm no prude, I myself say the word many a times but with GUSTO. I don't toss the word around like it's a punctuation mark. To me this dumbs down the gravity of the situation where the word is being used. The overuse of it at this point is irresponsible and just plain stupid.
Sydney is introduced in a swirl of Fucks, her sister Jules is introduced by sexual innuendos and Peter is introduced as the cliché "not like the other boy's" boy reading at the high school party.
It isn't until 26% we get a mention of any parental figure in this book. When Sydney trips and falls and Peter brings her home it's Jules who knows about it and somehow adds an innuendo about the event, she doesn't text her father when she is stuck in New York its Jules she texts. I'm like who is paying the bills?? Whose house do they live in?? At 26% apparently we out their father locks himself in his study? Super informational Darianne thanks for that basically pointless information at that point in your book.
I might 30 years old but the language usage in this book is BULLSHIT. I could feel my brain cells dying off.
"He looks happy. Which, like... why?" - Sydney
"And like every boys favorite color is blue. It's peak American indoctrination." - Sydney
Tall tallness?
"Fucking fuck" - Sydney
"Her ponytail is the ponytail of an entitled bitch". - Sydney
"Whole other bag of dicks" - Sydney
"This isn't some ouija board middle school shit" - Sydney
"#DefundNoah'sDad" because he is a cop" - Sydney
"No fuck this, fuck the packet, fuck peter. Fuck all of it." - Sydney
Personal Favorite's:
"If someone is going deep sea diving for your pearl I deserve to know" - Jules
"You don't have to tell me if Peter Beckett is attending your one person clam bake"- Jules (UM WHO TF TALKS LIKE THIS?)
"A menty B." - Jules - correction should HAVE BEEN having a mental break down.
"That's so aggro?" - Jules (I don't even know what that fucking means -proper use of the word Darianne)
"My B broseph" -random guy at a bar (I wish I was kidding but no that is a real line.)
"Ohh look at you staring at Peter and gripping the steering wheel. You've SO got WAP" - Jules
"Okay so we are doing the whole depresh thing again?" -Jules
"I thought that little smoky sausage coming over would've fixed you right up." - Jules
Continuing on to the shortening of words unnecessarily like: DM (direct message), Insta (Instagram), Starbs (Starbucks), PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte). In addition to all the so's, like's and whatevers.
Sydney is just a judgmental bitch, Jules is someone I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. Peter is the only saving grace of this book and of course he dies... as if it makes the moment sentimental or pulls the cluster fuck of a book together or something. Laughable.
If I were to somehow rework this book I would have split it up into 3 different parts. Part 1 with her meeting Peter and seeing Liam's clock. Part 2 with seeing Ms. Jegstrups clock and starting to do something nice for others whose clocks are counting down with Peter. And part 3 would be with Peter and his 72 hours. Slash the fucks and shits from the story altogether. Give Sydney and Jules more background with their father and flashbacks to her mother. And make Sydney at least 5% likeable and I think it could have been at least a 3 star book.
As it stands now, directly after finishing. I want to go ponder the decline of humanity (some of which will actually like this book) in the safe Alaskan wilderness. I'd take this book but only for toilet paper.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My rating is 4.5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
seeing death coming 🤝 cynical FMC 🤝 sunshine book-boy 🤝 "oh no... i'm emotionally attached and there is literally a countdown involved"
WHO GAVE DARIANNE SCHRAMM PERMISSION TO DO THIS TO ME???
because the premise alone???
a girl who can see a countdown above someone's head when they have less than 72 hours to live???
and then she meets a ridiculously optimistic, book-loving boy who decides that instead of being terrified of it...they should DO something about it??? yeah, i was sold.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
what i loved was SYDNEY AND PETER.
the contrast between these two???
PERFECT.
Sydney has spent years seeing people die and has basically built her entire personality around protecting herself from caring too much.
she's sarcastic she's cynical and guarded and honestly??? i get it.
because imagine being able to see exactly when someone is going to die and knowing you can't actually stop it.
of course you'd eventually start putting walls up.
and then Peter comes along like "hey! what if we stopped being afraid of the clocks and actually made those last hours count?"
SIR PLEASE 😭
Peter is basically sunshine in human form, and i really loved the way he slowly challenges Sydney's way of looking at the world.
he doesn't magically "fix" her, he just makes her consider the possibility that maybe knowing someone is going to die doesn't mean you have to stop yourself from loving them.
and THAT??? got me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
I also really loved the way the book balances humor and grief.
because somehow this book had me laughing at one moment and then sitting there staring at the page like oh.
OH NO.
the premise is obviously emotional, but i appreciated that it wasn't just nonstop sadness.
there's so much warmth in the story, the little adventures Sydney and Peter go on, the people they meet, the ways they try to make someone's final hours meaningful...
all of that made the story feel less like a book about death and more like a book about how to actually live and i think that's what made the emotional moments hit harder.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
BUT...i did see some things coming.
like...the general direction of the story isn't exactly a mystery.
you read the premise you understand the rules you meet these characters and eventually you're sitting there thinking "oh no."
so if you're looking for a book where the twists are going to completely blindside you, this probably isn't that.
for me, though, the predictability didn't ruin the experience because the important part wasn't necessarily what was going to happen.
it was how we got there.
and honestly? the emotional journey was enough to keep me invested.
i also would've loved just a little more time with certain parts of Sydney and Peter's relationship.
there were moments where i wanted to slow everything down and just stay with them a little longer.
because once i got attached...I WAS ATTACHED.
and apparently that was my mistake. 😭
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁.
overall, 72 Hours of You was such a beautiful, bittersweet read.
it made me laugh, it made me anxious it made me emotionally attached to two teenagers who really should have been allowed to have a normal amount of happiness.
and yes...it made me cry.
but more than anything, i loved what this book has to say about grief. about how knowing something will end doesn't make it less valuable.
about how sometimes you can't save someone...but you can still make their time matter.
and sometimes the best thing you can do with the time you're given is simply be there🥹
so if you like emotional YA romance with magical realism a sunshine x cynical duo, bookish MMCs, grief and healing, bittersweet stories They Both Die at the End/You've Reached Sam vibes and books that will probably emotionally destroy you...yeah.
read this one.
just maybe don't start it at 2 a.m. unless you're prepared to make some very questionable life choices.
My final thoughts;
i came for the 72-hour countdown...i stayed for Sydney and Peter...
and i left wondering why i willingly let a book give me a timer counting down to emotional devastation. 😭🩷⏳
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
seeing death coming 🤝 cynical FMC 🤝 sunshine book-boy 🤝 "oh no... i'm emotionally attached and there is literally a countdown involved"
WHO GAVE DARIANNE SCHRAMM PERMISSION TO DO THIS TO ME???
because the premise alone???
a girl who can see a countdown above someone's head when they have less than 72 hours to live???
and then she meets a ridiculously optimistic, book-loving boy who decides that instead of being terrified of it...they should DO something about it??? yeah, i was sold.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
what i loved was SYDNEY AND PETER.
the contrast between these two???
PERFECT.
Sydney has spent years seeing people die and has basically built her entire personality around protecting herself from caring too much.
she's sarcastic she's cynical and guarded and honestly??? i get it.
because imagine being able to see exactly when someone is going to die and knowing you can't actually stop it.
of course you'd eventually start putting walls up.
and then Peter comes along like "hey! what if we stopped being afraid of the clocks and actually made those last hours count?"
SIR PLEASE 😭
Peter is basically sunshine in human form, and i really loved the way he slowly challenges Sydney's way of looking at the world.
he doesn't magically "fix" her, he just makes her consider the possibility that maybe knowing someone is going to die doesn't mean you have to stop yourself from loving them.
and THAT??? got me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
I also really loved the way the book balances humor and grief.
because somehow this book had me laughing at one moment and then sitting there staring at the page like oh.
OH NO.
the premise is obviously emotional, but i appreciated that it wasn't just nonstop sadness.
there's so much warmth in the story, the little adventures Sydney and Peter go on, the people they meet, the ways they try to make someone's final hours meaningful...
all of that made the story feel less like a book about death and more like a book about how to actually live and i think that's what made the emotional moments hit harder.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁.
BUT...i did see some things coming.
like...the general direction of the story isn't exactly a mystery.
you read the premise you understand the rules you meet these characters and eventually you're sitting there thinking "oh no."
so if you're looking for a book where the twists are going to completely blindside you, this probably isn't that.
for me, though, the predictability didn't ruin the experience because the important part wasn't necessarily what was going to happen.
it was how we got there.
and honestly? the emotional journey was enough to keep me invested.
i also would've loved just a little more time with certain parts of Sydney and Peter's relationship.
there were moments where i wanted to slow everything down and just stay with them a little longer.
because once i got attached...I WAS ATTACHED.
and apparently that was my mistake. 😭
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ ݁.
overall, 72 Hours of You was such a beautiful, bittersweet read.
it made me laugh, it made me anxious it made me emotionally attached to two teenagers who really should have been allowed to have a normal amount of happiness.
and yes...it made me cry.
but more than anything, i loved what this book has to say about grief. about how knowing something will end doesn't make it less valuable.
about how sometimes you can't save someone...but you can still make their time matter.
and sometimes the best thing you can do with the time you're given is simply be there🥹
so if you like emotional YA romance with magical realism a sunshine x cynical duo, bookish MMCs, grief and healing, bittersweet stories They Both Die at the End/You've Reached Sam vibes and books that will probably emotionally destroy you...yeah.
read this one.
just maybe don't start it at 2 a.m. unless you're prepared to make some very questionable life choices.
My final thoughts;
i came for the 72-hour countdown...i stayed for Sydney and Peter...
and i left wondering why i willingly let a book give me a timer counting down to emotional devastation. 😭🩷⏳
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Unfortunately another one of those books that started off strong with a really interesting premise but ultimately failed to stay interesting and high-stakes til the end. I think the premise itself isn’t too creative (I swear there are probably kdramas out there that have done something similar), but that’s fine as long as the execution is original… which it was… somewhat.
I will say, the plot was interesting ENOUGH to keep my attention (I think I read this in like a day and a half). Pacing was pretty good for the most part too. And the cover was pretty.
(I’m trying to stay nice and positive at least for the first part).
And now… for the many things I disliked 🙂
-The subplot with Charles was veryyyyy underdeveloped. I feel like he’s only there to bait the readers into wondering what other trauma Sydney has going on and make sure we don’t feel completely at ease after she meets Peter but before we know of his 72 hours. I guess his existence itself is fine, but it felt sooo anticlimactic when she actually revealed what his whole deal was. It feels like his only purpose was to give Sydney more trauma, show up randomly, take out Peter, and call it a day. For all the tension that this subplot was trying to build, I really could not care less for Charles. Also, I lowk think it’s hilarious that the way Charles found Sydney was by logging in to his dead daughter’s Instagram account to find Peter’s account tagging her… it feels so unserious that such a big plot point relies on INSTAGRAM STALKING.
-Sydney’s character can be a bit annoying at times. I can forgive her to an extent because a) she is traumatized, whether she likes it or not, and rightfully so and b) I do enjoy her quips and inner monologues at times. But she does have a tendency to be overly negative and sooo “not like the other girls,” which kinda comes across as irritating and insufferable.
-There’s SO MANY unnecessary curses and dirty one liners. Normally, I don’t care too much, but there were so many to the point where I was just getting irritated. They didn’t add anything other than make Jules an annoying, immature, childish character (which could be because I’m older than her and to be fair, sixteen is a child). But it felt like the author was just inserting this stuff to make it appealing to younger readers, and I don’t think that’s the case. It felt like it was being shoved down my throat.
-I didn’t like all the references to Sabrina Carpenter and TikTok and scrolling Insta reels and all that. I get it’s to make the characters “relatable” and “modern” and whatnot, but I feel like it just dates the book?? Might just be a pet peeve of mine idk
-And lastly but most importantly… Peter was unfortunately a very one-dimensional character. He was supposed to be the PERFECT male lead, and that’s all he felt like. He was always so sweet and so understanding to the point where I don’t think he ever had a flaw. You could argue it was when he ran away from Sydney at first, but I feel like the whole Huntington’s plot is more than enough of an explanation?? The only bit of depth I felt was when he was talking about his relationship with his family, but even so, he always felt a little too perfect, like he was crafted only to support Sydney. I guess that lowkey is his purpose, but it takes away any stakes in their relationship.
I’d give this like a 3.5/5, give or take half stars. It was alright, but it was also just alright.
I will say, the plot was interesting ENOUGH to keep my attention (I think I read this in like a day and a half). Pacing was pretty good for the most part too. And the cover was pretty.
(I’m trying to stay nice and positive at least for the first part).
And now… for the many things I disliked 🙂
-The subplot with Charles was veryyyyy underdeveloped. I feel like he’s only there to bait the readers into wondering what other trauma Sydney has going on and make sure we don’t feel completely at ease after she meets Peter but before we know of his 72 hours. I guess his existence itself is fine, but it felt sooo anticlimactic when she actually revealed what his whole deal was. It feels like his only purpose was to give Sydney more trauma, show up randomly, take out Peter, and call it a day. For all the tension that this subplot was trying to build, I really could not care less for Charles. Also, I lowk think it’s hilarious that the way Charles found Sydney was by logging in to his dead daughter’s Instagram account to find Peter’s account tagging her… it feels so unserious that such a big plot point relies on INSTAGRAM STALKING.
-Sydney’s character can be a bit annoying at times. I can forgive her to an extent because a) she is traumatized, whether she likes it or not, and rightfully so and b) I do enjoy her quips and inner monologues at times. But she does have a tendency to be overly negative and sooo “not like the other girls,” which kinda comes across as irritating and insufferable.
-There’s SO MANY unnecessary curses and dirty one liners. Normally, I don’t care too much, but there were so many to the point where I was just getting irritated. They didn’t add anything other than make Jules an annoying, immature, childish character (which could be because I’m older than her and to be fair, sixteen is a child). But it felt like the author was just inserting this stuff to make it appealing to younger readers, and I don’t think that’s the case. It felt like it was being shoved down my throat.
-I didn’t like all the references to Sabrina Carpenter and TikTok and scrolling Insta reels and all that. I get it’s to make the characters “relatable” and “modern” and whatnot, but I feel like it just dates the book?? Might just be a pet peeve of mine idk
-And lastly but most importantly… Peter was unfortunately a very one-dimensional character. He was supposed to be the PERFECT male lead, and that’s all he felt like. He was always so sweet and so understanding to the point where I don’t think he ever had a flaw. You could argue it was when he ran away from Sydney at first, but I feel like the whole Huntington’s plot is more than enough of an explanation?? The only bit of depth I felt was when he was talking about his relationship with his family, but even so, he always felt a little too perfect, like he was crafted only to support Sydney. I guess that lowkey is his purpose, but it takes away any stakes in their relationship.
I’d give this like a 3.5/5, give or take half stars. It was alright, but it was also just alright.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2026
Countdown in den Tod
Mit niemandem darüber reden, niemals eine Stunde Null miterleben und sich nicht einmischen – diese drei Regeln hat Sydney für sich aufgestellt. Aber – mit Peter hat sie alle drei gebrochen. Was genau geschieht hier?
Mit Liam bin ich gleich mal hautnah dabei: Über seinem Kopf blinkt das pinke Licht, das nur sie sieht – Syd. Er wird heute Abend sterben, seine Lebensuhr läuft unerbittlich ab, dabei ist er putzmunter. Nun, es kommt, wie es kommen muss. Im Nachhinein betrachtet fügt sich alles zusammen, Liam ist tot. Wie er gestorben ist, werde ich hier nicht verraten, weitere werden ihm folgen. Sidney Hoffman weiß es 72 Stunden zuvor, sie hat diese besondere Gabe, die sie von ihrer Großmutter geerbt hat.
Und da ist der neue Mitschüler Peter Beckett, der ihr als Partner bei einem Schulprojekt zugeteilt wird, was sie rundweg ablehnt. Hilft aber nichts, sie muss sich mit ihm arrangieren, was sie dann eher zähneknirschend durchzieht. Der sehr intelligente, durchaus charmante und witzige Peter schleicht sich immer mehr in ihr Herz, sie verbringen Zeit miteinander und es bleibt nicht aus, dass sie ihn in ihr bis dahin gut gehütetes Geheimnis einweiht. Peter kann zwar die pinke Uhr der dem Tode nahen Menschen nicht sehen, geht aber auf diese Leute zu, schenkt ihnen eine Kleinigkeit oder auch nur ein Lächeln, ein nettes Wort, um ihnen ihre letzten Stunden zu versüßen.
Charles taucht wieder auf, Syd ist geschockt. Was hat er getan? Er scheint ein Stalker zu sein, meine Gehirnzellen rattern, meine Vermutung geht in eine bestimmte Richtung. Irgendwann wird klar, welche Rolle er in ihrem Leben gespielt hat. Zwischendurch dann bringt ihre jüngere Schwester Jules so einiges knallhart auf den Punkt. Syd is not amused.
Darianne Schramms „72 Stunden mit dir“ ist ein Jugendbuch, das habe ich mir vor allem anfangs immer wieder vor Augen halten müssen, denn die Story baut sich erst langsam auf, wird jedoch zunehmend intensiver. Gewisse Szenen aber kann ich nicht unbedingt etwas abgewinnen: Wenn etwa Syd in bestimmten Situationen sich irgendetwas Angespitztes ins Auge oder alternativ sich ein Steakmesser ins Bein rammen will – und das nicht nur einmal - war ich schon perplex ob dieser rohen Gewalt. Ist das Jugendsprech?
Die Figuren, allen voran die beiden Hauptfiguren, haben mir gut gefallen, vor allem Peter (mein absoluter Lieblingscharakter) verleiht der Story Tiefe und auch Ernsthaftigkeit, die man einem gerade mal erwachsenen Jungen gar nicht zutrauen würde. Und ja, die Story gewinnt zunehmend an Intensität, der flüssige Schreibstil ist trotz des ernsthaften Themas locker-leicht zu lesen und durchaus unterhaltsam.
Und dann läuft der Countdown… unerbittlich, 72 Stunden, bis zur Stunde Null. Ein beklemmendes Gefühl macht sich breit. Es wird Zeit, loszulassen.
Mit niemandem darüber reden, niemals eine Stunde Null miterleben und sich nicht einmischen – diese drei Regeln hat Sydney für sich aufgestellt. Aber – mit Peter hat sie alle drei gebrochen. Was genau geschieht hier?
Mit Liam bin ich gleich mal hautnah dabei: Über seinem Kopf blinkt das pinke Licht, das nur sie sieht – Syd. Er wird heute Abend sterben, seine Lebensuhr läuft unerbittlich ab, dabei ist er putzmunter. Nun, es kommt, wie es kommen muss. Im Nachhinein betrachtet fügt sich alles zusammen, Liam ist tot. Wie er gestorben ist, werde ich hier nicht verraten, weitere werden ihm folgen. Sidney Hoffman weiß es 72 Stunden zuvor, sie hat diese besondere Gabe, die sie von ihrer Großmutter geerbt hat.
Und da ist der neue Mitschüler Peter Beckett, der ihr als Partner bei einem Schulprojekt zugeteilt wird, was sie rundweg ablehnt. Hilft aber nichts, sie muss sich mit ihm arrangieren, was sie dann eher zähneknirschend durchzieht. Der sehr intelligente, durchaus charmante und witzige Peter schleicht sich immer mehr in ihr Herz, sie verbringen Zeit miteinander und es bleibt nicht aus, dass sie ihn in ihr bis dahin gut gehütetes Geheimnis einweiht. Peter kann zwar die pinke Uhr der dem Tode nahen Menschen nicht sehen, geht aber auf diese Leute zu, schenkt ihnen eine Kleinigkeit oder auch nur ein Lächeln, ein nettes Wort, um ihnen ihre letzten Stunden zu versüßen.
Charles taucht wieder auf, Syd ist geschockt. Was hat er getan? Er scheint ein Stalker zu sein, meine Gehirnzellen rattern, meine Vermutung geht in eine bestimmte Richtung. Irgendwann wird klar, welche Rolle er in ihrem Leben gespielt hat. Zwischendurch dann bringt ihre jüngere Schwester Jules so einiges knallhart auf den Punkt. Syd is not amused.
Darianne Schramms „72 Stunden mit dir“ ist ein Jugendbuch, das habe ich mir vor allem anfangs immer wieder vor Augen halten müssen, denn die Story baut sich erst langsam auf, wird jedoch zunehmend intensiver. Gewisse Szenen aber kann ich nicht unbedingt etwas abgewinnen: Wenn etwa Syd in bestimmten Situationen sich irgendetwas Angespitztes ins Auge oder alternativ sich ein Steakmesser ins Bein rammen will – und das nicht nur einmal - war ich schon perplex ob dieser rohen Gewalt. Ist das Jugendsprech?
Die Figuren, allen voran die beiden Hauptfiguren, haben mir gut gefallen, vor allem Peter (mein absoluter Lieblingscharakter) verleiht der Story Tiefe und auch Ernsthaftigkeit, die man einem gerade mal erwachsenen Jungen gar nicht zutrauen würde. Und ja, die Story gewinnt zunehmend an Intensität, der flüssige Schreibstil ist trotz des ernsthaften Themas locker-leicht zu lesen und durchaus unterhaltsam.
Und dann läuft der Countdown… unerbittlich, 72 Stunden, bis zur Stunde Null. Ein beklemmendes Gefühl macht sich breit. Es wird Zeit, loszulassen.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wenn man vorher weiß, dass jemand stirbt
Der Schreibstil von Darianne Schramm ist flüssig und sehr angenehm zu lesen. Die Länge der Kapitel ist gut gewählt und die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht der Hauptprotagonistin erzählt. Als Leser kann man der Zeitschiene gut folgen, denn es gibt auch ein paar Rückblicke in ihre Vergangenheit. Die Charaktere wirken authentisch und sympathisch, sodass man sich gut in die Situationen reinversetzen kann. Die Stimme der Hörbuchsprecherin ist angenehm, die Aussprache ist deutlich und die Emotionen werden gut transportiert. Das Cover ist schön und passend zur Geschichte gestaltet.
Die Hauptprotagonistin ist Sydney Hoffmann. Sie hat eine besondere Gabe, die sie aber manchmal auch als Fluch ansieht. Denn 72 Stunden vor dem Tod, sieht sie eine rosafarbene Neonuhr über dem Kopf desjenigen. Sie hat sich Regeln auferlegt, denn sie kann an dem Schicksal der Menschen, die dem Tode geweiht sind nichts mehr ändern. Sie kann Abschied nehmen, aber das bringt ihr kein wirklichen Frieden. Wäre es einfacher, wenn sie den Menschen sagen würde, dass sie nur noch 72 Stunden zum Leben haben? Las de neue Schüler Peter Beckett an ihre Schule kommt, kann sie nicht ahnen, dass ihre Verbindung tiefer gehen wird. Kurz nach seiner Ankunft, sind sie mit die letzten Personen, die einen Mitschüler vor seinem Tod sehen. Manchmal wird ihr ihre Gabe zu viel und so vertraut sie sich ihm an. Er versucht sie auf andere Gedanken zu bringen und so suchen sie sogar Menschen, die nicht mehr lange zu leben haben, um ihnen noch ein positives Erlebnis zu bescheren oder ihnen die Chance zu geben, sich mit ihren Liebsten auszusprechen. Sie bauen ein tiefes Vertrauensverhältnis auf und so erzählt sie ihm auch von ihrem Stalker. Der Vater ihrer verstorbenen Freundin sucht sie immer wieder auf, denn ihm hatte sie von ihrer Gabe erzählt und als er seine Tochter dann wirklich verlor, machte er ihr Vorwürfe. Er kann nicht damit abschließen. Doch zusammen mit Peter, will sie das Leben genießen und die schönen Seiten erleben. Auch wenn ihre Schwester sie damit regelmäßig aufzieht. Doch als plötzlich über Peter diese Uhr auftaucht, muss sie sich fragen, ob sie es verschweigt oder ob sie ihm die Chance geben möchte, sich von seinem Leben so richtig verabschieden zu können.
Was würde man machen, wenn man weiß, dass man nur noch 3 Tage zu leben hat. Würde es einen lähmen oder würde man Dinge machen, die man immer machen wollte? Wie fühlt es sich an, zu wissen, das jemand stirbt? Und wie ist es, wenn man sein Glück gefunden hat und dann auf einmal der Countdown läuft? Eine emotionale Schicksalsgeschichte mit Witz, Melancholie und viel Gefühl.
Der Schreibstil von Darianne Schramm ist flüssig und sehr angenehm zu lesen. Die Länge der Kapitel ist gut gewählt und die Geschichte wird aus der Sicht der Hauptprotagonistin erzählt. Als Leser kann man der Zeitschiene gut folgen, denn es gibt auch ein paar Rückblicke in ihre Vergangenheit. Die Charaktere wirken authentisch und sympathisch, sodass man sich gut in die Situationen reinversetzen kann. Die Stimme der Hörbuchsprecherin ist angenehm, die Aussprache ist deutlich und die Emotionen werden gut transportiert. Das Cover ist schön und passend zur Geschichte gestaltet.
Die Hauptprotagonistin ist Sydney Hoffmann. Sie hat eine besondere Gabe, die sie aber manchmal auch als Fluch ansieht. Denn 72 Stunden vor dem Tod, sieht sie eine rosafarbene Neonuhr über dem Kopf desjenigen. Sie hat sich Regeln auferlegt, denn sie kann an dem Schicksal der Menschen, die dem Tode geweiht sind nichts mehr ändern. Sie kann Abschied nehmen, aber das bringt ihr kein wirklichen Frieden. Wäre es einfacher, wenn sie den Menschen sagen würde, dass sie nur noch 72 Stunden zum Leben haben? Las de neue Schüler Peter Beckett an ihre Schule kommt, kann sie nicht ahnen, dass ihre Verbindung tiefer gehen wird. Kurz nach seiner Ankunft, sind sie mit die letzten Personen, die einen Mitschüler vor seinem Tod sehen. Manchmal wird ihr ihre Gabe zu viel und so vertraut sie sich ihm an. Er versucht sie auf andere Gedanken zu bringen und so suchen sie sogar Menschen, die nicht mehr lange zu leben haben, um ihnen noch ein positives Erlebnis zu bescheren oder ihnen die Chance zu geben, sich mit ihren Liebsten auszusprechen. Sie bauen ein tiefes Vertrauensverhältnis auf und so erzählt sie ihm auch von ihrem Stalker. Der Vater ihrer verstorbenen Freundin sucht sie immer wieder auf, denn ihm hatte sie von ihrer Gabe erzählt und als er seine Tochter dann wirklich verlor, machte er ihr Vorwürfe. Er kann nicht damit abschließen. Doch zusammen mit Peter, will sie das Leben genießen und die schönen Seiten erleben. Auch wenn ihre Schwester sie damit regelmäßig aufzieht. Doch als plötzlich über Peter diese Uhr auftaucht, muss sie sich fragen, ob sie es verschweigt oder ob sie ihm die Chance geben möchte, sich von seinem Leben so richtig verabschieden zu können.
Was würde man machen, wenn man weiß, dass man nur noch 3 Tage zu leben hat. Würde es einen lähmen oder würde man Dinge machen, die man immer machen wollte? Wie fühlt es sich an, zu wissen, das jemand stirbt? Und wie ist es, wenn man sein Glück gefunden hat und dann auf einmal der Countdown läuft? Eine emotionale Schicksalsgeschichte mit Witz, Melancholie und viel Gefühl.
Review of advance copy
Die Leseprobe von dem Buch hat mich sehr doll angesprochen. Ein Jugendbuch mit Dystopie-Element, was mich von der Leseprobe und dem Konzept her an Numbers von Rachel Ward und Am Ende sterben wir sowieso von Adam Silvera erinnert hat.
Seit dem Tod ihrer Großmutter sieht die Protagonistin Sydney einen 72 Stunden Countdown über den Köpfen von Menschen, die nach Ablauf dieser Zeit sterben werden. Zu Beginn des Buches laufen grade die letzten Stundes des Countdowns ihres Mitschülers Liam und kurz danach trifft es eine Lehrerin… in dieser Zeit freundet sich Sydney mit ihrem neuen Mitschüler Peter an, und er erfährt von ihrer Gabe. Statt schweigend den Menschen beim Sterben zuzusehen, beginnen die beiden, gute Gesten für die Angezählten durchzuführen. Doch dann erscheint die nächste Uhr, und nach Ablauf dieser 72 Stunden wird nichts mehr so sein, wie es war…
„72 Stunden mit dir sind ein ganzes Leben wert.“
Das Konzept klang wirklich richtig gut. Aber die Ausführung war sehr… amerikanisch? Es gab detaillierte Diskussion über Amokläufe, und die Art, wie Deutsche und den Holocaust in Verbindung mit dem Judentum geredet wurde, ist mir irgendwie aufgestoßen. Sydney erbt ja die Gabe von ihrer Großmutter, dem jüdischen Teil der Familie, und es wird angeschnitten, dass diese von den Nazis verfolgt worden sind und in einem Lager untergebracht waren, wo die Oma das erste Mal diese Uhren gesehen und verstanden hat. Vielleicht ist das einfach meine Perspektive als Deutsche, aber ich finde das irgendwie keinen… respektvollen und passenden Umgang mit der Geschichte. Und ich hätte mir auch noch irgendeine Art von Erklärung oder Ursachensuche zu den Uhren gewünscht, oder wenigstens ein Nachdenken über den Sinn der Sache. Wenn Peter schon so viel Sartre und Co. zitiert, dann hätte man ja hier auch die Existenz passenderweise hinterfragen müssen.
Zudem kommt in diesem Jugendbuch viel Jugendsprache vor, die ich persönlich eher als gezwungen empfunden habe. Auch die Anspielungen an Pop-Kultur waren für mich nicht so authentisch – das ist immer die Schwierigkeit, wenn Erwachsene Jugendbücher schreiben, ob sie einen authentischen Ton treffen oder nicht.
Das Buch hatte viel Potential für Emotionen und leider muss ich sagen, dass besonders zum Ende – also eigentlich dem emotionalsten Höhepunkt – Action und Drama an die Stelle kommen, an der ich gerne mehr Herzschmerz gehabt hätte. Generell war ich auch nicht so der Fan von der Charles-Storyline…
Und so bekommt das Buch von mir leider nur 2,5 Sterne. Es hat sehr spannend und stark angefangen, aber vieles an dem Konzept war einfach nicht so rund für mich.
Seit dem Tod ihrer Großmutter sieht die Protagonistin Sydney einen 72 Stunden Countdown über den Köpfen von Menschen, die nach Ablauf dieser Zeit sterben werden. Zu Beginn des Buches laufen grade die letzten Stundes des Countdowns ihres Mitschülers Liam und kurz danach trifft es eine Lehrerin… in dieser Zeit freundet sich Sydney mit ihrem neuen Mitschüler Peter an, und er erfährt von ihrer Gabe. Statt schweigend den Menschen beim Sterben zuzusehen, beginnen die beiden, gute Gesten für die Angezählten durchzuführen. Doch dann erscheint die nächste Uhr, und nach Ablauf dieser 72 Stunden wird nichts mehr so sein, wie es war…
„72 Stunden mit dir sind ein ganzes Leben wert.“
Das Konzept klang wirklich richtig gut. Aber die Ausführung war sehr… amerikanisch? Es gab detaillierte Diskussion über Amokläufe, und die Art, wie Deutsche und den Holocaust in Verbindung mit dem Judentum geredet wurde, ist mir irgendwie aufgestoßen. Sydney erbt ja die Gabe von ihrer Großmutter, dem jüdischen Teil der Familie, und es wird angeschnitten, dass diese von den Nazis verfolgt worden sind und in einem Lager untergebracht waren, wo die Oma das erste Mal diese Uhren gesehen und verstanden hat. Vielleicht ist das einfach meine Perspektive als Deutsche, aber ich finde das irgendwie keinen… respektvollen und passenden Umgang mit der Geschichte. Und ich hätte mir auch noch irgendeine Art von Erklärung oder Ursachensuche zu den Uhren gewünscht, oder wenigstens ein Nachdenken über den Sinn der Sache. Wenn Peter schon so viel Sartre und Co. zitiert, dann hätte man ja hier auch die Existenz passenderweise hinterfragen müssen.
Zudem kommt in diesem Jugendbuch viel Jugendsprache vor, die ich persönlich eher als gezwungen empfunden habe. Auch die Anspielungen an Pop-Kultur waren für mich nicht so authentisch – das ist immer die Schwierigkeit, wenn Erwachsene Jugendbücher schreiben, ob sie einen authentischen Ton treffen oder nicht.
Das Buch hatte viel Potential für Emotionen und leider muss ich sagen, dass besonders zum Ende – also eigentlich dem emotionalsten Höhepunkt – Action und Drama an die Stelle kommen, an der ich gerne mehr Herzschmerz gehabt hätte. Generell war ich auch nicht so der Fan von der Charles-Storyline…
Und so bekommt das Buch von mir leider nur 2,5 Sterne. Es hat sehr spannend und stark angefangen, aber vieles an dem Konzept war einfach nicht so rund für mich.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4 🌟 Stars
"72 Hours of You" was what I would simply describe as "unexpected." I picked up this ARC on a whim, and I'm glad I did (although my inner hypochondriac begs to differ). As it is the author's debut novel, I was skeptical. Even more so because I tend to dislike most stereotypical romance novels and especially high school romance stories at that. But the premise drew me in and I decided to give it a shot.
The first thing I noticed when I began reading is that the teenage characters all natually seemed so much more mature than the average high schooler. I had to research a bit to figure out if this was genuinely YA fiction because Sydney, Peter, and Jules all read like they are full fledged adults stuck in 16/17 year old bodies. It kind of threw me off how the parental figures/adults just weren't present throughout the story, thus contributing to the air of maturity from the characters since clearly they were capable of handling themselves without guidance. The small amount of interaction the reader has with the parents of these kids felt brief and unnecessary to some extent.
On the bright side, the character interactions were written spectacularly. The romance between Peter and Sydney felt tangible and real, and the sisterhood between Sydney and Jules seemed natural after what they each endured in childhood.
I had no issue visualizing this story in my head--in fact, I feel like it would make a great film if ever given the chance. My only true issue with "72 Hours of You" was the pacing. Very few parts felt like it dragged, but it wasn't until 50% of the way thru Sydney starts talking more about Charles and Caroline, and then the last quarter of the book everything comes to a head with their involvement in the story. Their characters felt as though they were made up just to give Sydney a tragic backstory for entertainment purposes, as well as a tool to wrap up the ending in an unnecessary manner.
Regardless the overarching themes of death and life were as unexpected as this book. I didn't expect high school aged characters to have such a grasp on the fragility of life and the inescapable inevitability of death. But, I will say it stirred something inside of me and perhaps that's why this tale will stick with me for a long while.
Live every day as if it were your last--but also never forget the same could hold true for the ones around you, too. ♡
"72 Hours of You" was what I would simply describe as "unexpected." I picked up this ARC on a whim, and I'm glad I did (although my inner hypochondriac begs to differ). As it is the author's debut novel, I was skeptical. Even more so because I tend to dislike most stereotypical romance novels and especially high school romance stories at that. But the premise drew me in and I decided to give it a shot.
The first thing I noticed when I began reading is that the teenage characters all natually seemed so much more mature than the average high schooler. I had to research a bit to figure out if this was genuinely YA fiction because Sydney, Peter, and Jules all read like they are full fledged adults stuck in 16/17 year old bodies. It kind of threw me off how the parental figures/adults just weren't present throughout the story, thus contributing to the air of maturity from the characters since clearly they were capable of handling themselves without guidance. The small amount of interaction the reader has with the parents of these kids felt brief and unnecessary to some extent.
On the bright side, the character interactions were written spectacularly. The romance between Peter and Sydney felt tangible and real, and the sisterhood between Sydney and Jules seemed natural after what they each endured in childhood.
I had no issue visualizing this story in my head--in fact, I feel like it would make a great film if ever given the chance. My only true issue with "72 Hours of You" was the pacing. Very few parts felt like it dragged, but it wasn't until 50% of the way thru Sydney starts talking more about Charles and Caroline, and then the last quarter of the book everything comes to a head with their involvement in the story. Their characters felt as though they were made up just to give Sydney a tragic backstory for entertainment purposes, as well as a tool to wrap up the ending in an unnecessary manner.
Regardless the overarching themes of death and life were as unexpected as this book. I didn't expect high school aged characters to have such a grasp on the fragility of life and the inescapable inevitability of death. But, I will say it stirred something inside of me and perhaps that's why this tale will stick with me for a long while.
Live every day as if it were your last--but also never forget the same could hold true for the ones around you, too. ♡
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was so devastatingly beautiful. 72 Hours of You is about grief, love, and moving on after loss. We follow Sydney, a jaded teen who has the ability to see a clock over a person's head counting down the final 72 Hours of their life. As the synopsis suggests, she has rules about how she handles the knowledge of a person's last three days of life and adamantly does not interfere in the countdown, but things change with Peter, the sweet, optimistic, new bibliophile in school. Sydney and Peter grow closer and he changes her perspective on this "Doom Scroll" sight that she has of the countdown clocks.
Even though the fate of one of the character's in this book is heavily foreshadowed and the ending can be seen from a mile away, you spend the duration of the book hoping that that foreshadowing is wrong, that it can't be possible. And you hope that there is a twist or some sort of loophole. But this book shows that, as with life, death is an inevitability that we all face and that the things that we have control over is how we react to that loss and continue to live beyond it. This book just so beautifully handles the topic of grief and moving on and living life to the fullest.
My only criticism with this book is that it was hard to suspend disbelief when Peter and Sydney consistently skipped school with zero repercussion, from school or their parents. If the characters were aged up to college, it might have been more believable, the lack of notice or opposition to their constant trips into the city during school hours and even overnight just pulled me out of the story a bit. And the character of Jules, though a comedic relief, was a bit too rough around the edges for me.
Otherwise though, I really, really enjoyed this book. It felt very reminiscent of The Fault in Our Stars in its existentialism and reflection upon the meaning of life and what it truly means to live.
The narration is slightly disjointed since it's written in Sydney's first person point of view and her voice is that of a typical teen. As the story progresses though, the narration gradually becomes more lyrical in nature, emphasizing Peter's influence on her outlook on life.
All in all, I was left heartbroken yet hopeful by the ending of this book. I had such a great time with it.
Thank you to Disney Publishing and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Even though the fate of one of the character's in this book is heavily foreshadowed and the ending can be seen from a mile away, you spend the duration of the book hoping that that foreshadowing is wrong, that it can't be possible. And you hope that there is a twist or some sort of loophole. But this book shows that, as with life, death is an inevitability that we all face and that the things that we have control over is how we react to that loss and continue to live beyond it. This book just so beautifully handles the topic of grief and moving on and living life to the fullest.
My only criticism with this book is that it was hard to suspend disbelief when Peter and Sydney consistently skipped school with zero repercussion, from school or their parents. If the characters were aged up to college, it might have been more believable, the lack of notice or opposition to their constant trips into the city during school hours and even overnight just pulled me out of the story a bit. And the character of Jules, though a comedic relief, was a bit too rough around the edges for me.
Otherwise though, I really, really enjoyed this book. It felt very reminiscent of The Fault in Our Stars in its existentialism and reflection upon the meaning of life and what it truly means to live.
The narration is slightly disjointed since it's written in Sydney's first person point of view and her voice is that of a typical teen. As the story progresses though, the narration gradually becomes more lyrical in nature, emphasizing Peter's influence on her outlook on life.
All in all, I was left heartbroken yet hopeful by the ending of this book. I had such a great time with it.
Thank you to Disney Publishing and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
**Thank you to Disney Hyperion for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!**
I'm a little torn on what to rate this book.
I had a good time with the plot, and I didn't want to stop reading.
However. I had issues with a few things, like the cursing, character development, and worldbuilding. First off, the cursing. Holy cow, there were so many curse words. I'm talking 3 or 4 per page. For 200+ pages. I almost DNF'd around 17% because it was so bad. They were so useless and just really annoying to read.
Second, the characters. Sydney really got on my nerves. She was so "not like other girls" that I wanted to rip my hair out. I think I only continued the book because I loved Peter, because if it was only about Sydney, I would have lost my mind. I just found her to be so annoying. She cursed and complained incessantly for probably 85% of the book. She was also incredibly one-dimensional. I don't think I could tell you a single character trait about her except that she's sarcastic. Peter, however, was an amazing character. 10/10.
Third, the world. I think the author had some great ideas for the plot, and the 72-hours thing is a great idea. However, I feel like it was just glossed over a bit too much. I understand its usefulness as a setup for the whole "we never know when we'll die, so might as well live every moment" idea, but it just felt like a convenient part of the story rather than a key driver of the plot. Also, I wish we got a little more background on it. I felt like some of the logistics/reasoning behind it was lacking.
Side note, but this book is the weirdest combo of explicit and clean in a sexual sense that I have ever seen. The cursing was awful, and Sydney's sister says a LOT of one-liners about sexual stuff, but Sydney and Peter barely even kiss on-page, and it's not described much. I really appreciated that, honestly (although there are mentions of sexual stuff in pretty much every scene that mentions alcohol).
Overall, the book was a kind of fun read, but it tried so hard to be deep that I honestly was laughing a little at the cliche-ness of the ending (although the pre-ending scenes really tugged on my heart). Combined with all of the other issues I outlined above, I think three stars is the best I can give.
I'm a little torn on what to rate this book.
I had a good time with the plot, and I didn't want to stop reading.
However. I had issues with a few things, like the cursing, character development, and worldbuilding. First off, the cursing. Holy cow, there were so many curse words. I'm talking 3 or 4 per page. For 200+ pages. I almost DNF'd around 17% because it was so bad. They were so useless and just really annoying to read.
Second, the characters. Sydney really got on my nerves. She was so "not like other girls" that I wanted to rip my hair out. I think I only continued the book because I loved Peter, because if it was only about Sydney, I would have lost my mind. I just found her to be so annoying. She cursed and complained incessantly for probably 85% of the book. She was also incredibly one-dimensional. I don't think I could tell you a single character trait about her except that she's sarcastic. Peter, however, was an amazing character. 10/10.
Third, the world. I think the author had some great ideas for the plot, and the 72-hours thing is a great idea. However, I feel like it was just glossed over a bit too much. I understand its usefulness as a setup for the whole "we never know when we'll die, so might as well live every moment" idea, but it just felt like a convenient part of the story rather than a key driver of the plot. Also, I wish we got a little more background on it. I felt like some of the logistics/reasoning behind it was lacking.
Side note, but this book is the weirdest combo of explicit and clean in a sexual sense that I have ever seen. The cursing was awful, and Sydney's sister says a LOT of one-liners about sexual stuff, but Sydney and Peter barely even kiss on-page, and it's not described much. I really appreciated that, honestly (although there are mentions of sexual stuff in pretty much every scene that mentions alcohol).
Overall, the book was a kind of fun read, but it tried so hard to be deep that I honestly was laughing a little at the cliche-ness of the ending (although the pre-ending scenes really tugged on my heart). Combined with all of the other issues I outlined above, I think three stars is the best I can give.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow; after finishing 72 Hours of You, all I can say is wow.
Initially, I was very skeptical of Sydney and the entire trajectory of the plot. For some strange reason, Sydney’s candor throughout the first several chapters made me critical of her behavior. (It wasn’t the constant cursing and crass teenage humor, but rather how Schramm’s depiction of the character made it seem as though Sydney was a stereotype, or possessed an affectation.) Bit by bit, however, the affectation of sorts disappeared, as did my skepticism; leaving me wholly impressed. (Jules, unfortunately, was a different story— perhaps her personality was a pointed/purposeful choice?)
As a middle school and high school teacher, I have spent time with at least a thousand students. Even so, I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever had a student who was as well read as Sydney and Peter. To be fair, I’m not even as well read as them. Thus, the dichotomy in Sydney’s interactions— skewing almost superficial with her sister, Jules, but quite insightful with Peter— made for a refreshingly nuanced take on today’s youth.
While I guessed at the conflict/twist early on, I was surprised by the manner in which Sydney seemed to mature before and after it (though, if I am honest, I don’t think she evolved as much as she could have). Peter was a delightfully adorable character; everyone deserves a Peter at one point in their lives. Their conversations compelled me to consider death from a new perspective, one I don’t think many works, let alone the YA genre, often address.
That said, the pacing in the last quarter of the novel felt off. It would have behooved everyone, readers and characters alike, had Schramm introduced the twist a bit earlier and/or slowed down the story during the climax.
As an aside, I loved when Peter mentioned that he wanted to live out a scene in a slice-of-life novel, for that is exactly what I would consider 72 Hours of You to be.
Given its theme, I believe readers of every age would benefit from reading Sydney’s (and Peter’s) story. Hopefully, it will resonate with others, as it has for me.
Thank you very much to Disney Hyperion, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this ARC!
Initially, I was very skeptical of Sydney and the entire trajectory of the plot. For some strange reason, Sydney’s candor throughout the first several chapters made me critical of her behavior. (It wasn’t the constant cursing and crass teenage humor, but rather how Schramm’s depiction of the character made it seem as though Sydney was a stereotype, or possessed an affectation.) Bit by bit, however, the affectation of sorts disappeared, as did my skepticism; leaving me wholly impressed. (Jules, unfortunately, was a different story— perhaps her personality was a pointed/purposeful choice?)
As a middle school and high school teacher, I have spent time with at least a thousand students. Even so, I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever had a student who was as well read as Sydney and Peter. To be fair, I’m not even as well read as them. Thus, the dichotomy in Sydney’s interactions— skewing almost superficial with her sister, Jules, but quite insightful with Peter— made for a refreshingly nuanced take on today’s youth.
While I guessed at the conflict/twist early on, I was surprised by the manner in which Sydney seemed to mature before and after it (though, if I am honest, I don’t think she evolved as much as she could have). Peter was a delightfully adorable character; everyone deserves a Peter at one point in their lives. Their conversations compelled me to consider death from a new perspective, one I don’t think many works, let alone the YA genre, often address.
That said, the pacing in the last quarter of the novel felt off. It would have behooved everyone, readers and characters alike, had Schramm introduced the twist a bit earlier and/or slowed down the story during the climax.
As an aside, I loved when Peter mentioned that he wanted to live out a scene in a slice-of-life novel, for that is exactly what I would consider 72 Hours of You to be.
Given its theme, I believe readers of every age would benefit from reading Sydney’s (and Peter’s) story. Hopefully, it will resonate with others, as it has for me.
Thank you very much to Disney Hyperion, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy
„Der Tod ist nicht das Gegenteil des Lebens, sondern ein Teil davon.“
In 72 Stunden mit dir von Darianne Schramm geht es um Sydney, die bei Menschen mit nur noch 72 Stunden verbleibender Lebenszeit pinke Uhren über ihren Köpfen sieht. Da sie ihren Tod nicht verhindern kann, lebt sie nach drei strengen Regeln und hat eine hohe Schutzmauer um sich aufgebaut. Als sie jedoch Peter begegnet, beginnt sich ihr Leben zu verändern, bis schließlich die wichtigsten 72 Stunden ihres eigenen Lebens anbrechen.
Das Buch ist eine wunderschöne und berührende Geschichte über das Leben, Freundschaft, Liebe und den Tod.
Der Schreibstil von Darianne Schramm ist flüssig, atmosphärisch und sehr unterhaltsam. Ich war sofort in der Geschichte drin und konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen.
Sydney ist anfangs ein sehr verschlossener Charakter. Sie lebt strikt nach ihren Regeln, denn die Fähigkeit zu sehen, wann ein Mensch sterben wird, belastet sie enorm. Deshalb lässt sie kaum jemanden an sich heran, führt keine Freundschaften und meidet Menschenmengen. Als sie Peter kennenlernt, beginnt er jedoch nach und nach ihre Schutzmauer einzureißen. Es hat mir unglaublich gut gefallen, ihre Entwicklung mitzuerleben.
Peter ist einfach ein großartiger Charakter. Er interessiert sich von Beginn an aufrichtig für Sydney und versucht behutsam, sie aus ihrem Schneckenhaus zu locken. Er ist einfühlsam, sympathisch und einfach zum Verlieben.
Die Entwicklung und Dynamik zwischen Sydney und Peter entwickelt sich zu etwas ganz besonderem. Es hat mir unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht diese zu verfolgen.
Da ich schon geahnt habe, dass etwas trauriges in diesem Buch passiert, hatte ich stetig ein gemischtes Gefühl aus Angst und Neugier. Konnte aber auch nicht aufhören zu lesen. Und das Ende hat mich trotzdem komplett zerrissen.
Ingesamt ist 72 Stunden mit dir eine emotionale und packende Geschichte über das Leben, den Tod und alles dazwischen. Mir hat es wirklich sehr gut gefallen und förmlich verschlungen. Für mich war es definitiv ein 5 ⭐️ Read!
In 72 Stunden mit dir von Darianne Schramm geht es um Sydney, die bei Menschen mit nur noch 72 Stunden verbleibender Lebenszeit pinke Uhren über ihren Köpfen sieht. Da sie ihren Tod nicht verhindern kann, lebt sie nach drei strengen Regeln und hat eine hohe Schutzmauer um sich aufgebaut. Als sie jedoch Peter begegnet, beginnt sich ihr Leben zu verändern, bis schließlich die wichtigsten 72 Stunden ihres eigenen Lebens anbrechen.
Das Buch ist eine wunderschöne und berührende Geschichte über das Leben, Freundschaft, Liebe und den Tod.
Der Schreibstil von Darianne Schramm ist flüssig, atmosphärisch und sehr unterhaltsam. Ich war sofort in der Geschichte drin und konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen.
Sydney ist anfangs ein sehr verschlossener Charakter. Sie lebt strikt nach ihren Regeln, denn die Fähigkeit zu sehen, wann ein Mensch sterben wird, belastet sie enorm. Deshalb lässt sie kaum jemanden an sich heran, führt keine Freundschaften und meidet Menschenmengen. Als sie Peter kennenlernt, beginnt er jedoch nach und nach ihre Schutzmauer einzureißen. Es hat mir unglaublich gut gefallen, ihre Entwicklung mitzuerleben.
Peter ist einfach ein großartiger Charakter. Er interessiert sich von Beginn an aufrichtig für Sydney und versucht behutsam, sie aus ihrem Schneckenhaus zu locken. Er ist einfühlsam, sympathisch und einfach zum Verlieben.
Die Entwicklung und Dynamik zwischen Sydney und Peter entwickelt sich zu etwas ganz besonderem. Es hat mir unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht diese zu verfolgen.
Da ich schon geahnt habe, dass etwas trauriges in diesem Buch passiert, hatte ich stetig ein gemischtes Gefühl aus Angst und Neugier. Konnte aber auch nicht aufhören zu lesen. Und das Ende hat mich trotzdem komplett zerrissen.
Ingesamt ist 72 Stunden mit dir eine emotionale und packende Geschichte über das Leben, den Tod und alles dazwischen. Mir hat es wirklich sehr gut gefallen und förmlich verschlungen. Für mich war es definitiv ein 5 ⭐️ Read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Genre 📚: YA Contemporary Fantasy, Romance
Tropes 💁♀️: Death countdown, Foreknowledge, Carpe Diem
Rep ✔️: Jewish American main character, queer side character
CW ⚠️: Loss of a loved one, grief, stalking/harassment, gun violence, cancer and other terminal illnesses
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
There are some fictional superpowers I wish I had and some I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. This? Yeah, this power falls into the latter. In Darianne Schramm’s debut novel, the MC Sydney knows when people have less than 72 hours left to live. She’ll see a neon pink countdown timer above the person’s head, essentially mocking her. Because even with this ability, there’s nothing she can do about it. She can’t save them.
For years, Syd has lived in a deep depression, keeping her ability a secret and holding in all that grief and anger. Then, there’s the new boy in town. Peter takes notice of Syd, and he immediately clocks her suppressed pain. He eventually gets the secret out of her, and as scary as it is, it’s also an incredible relief. He inspires her to team up and go out to the city, find more “Clockers” and do small gestures to make their last day a little better. It’s not saving them, but it’s doing something. And… well… This was fucking sad. I don’t know how else to say it.
There’s a lot of dark humor for the characters to cope, and probably for us readers to cope, but my god. It couldn’t prepare me for the total heartbreak that unraveled. Sydney’s rage was so big and loud that I felt that rage in me. Like, why IS she seeing these clocks? Why CAN’T she stop these deaths? Just, WHY? On the flip side, Peter’s kindness and patience was soothing. He was definitely the “manic pixie dream boy” type (the characters acknowledge this themselves), but he was still delightful. His and Syd’s whole love story was delightful, as painful as it was.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 72 Hours of You will be released on September 1, 2026.
Tropes 💁♀️: Death countdown, Foreknowledge, Carpe Diem
Rep ✔️: Jewish American main character, queer side character
CW ⚠️: Loss of a loved one, grief, stalking/harassment, gun violence, cancer and other terminal illnesses
Rating ⭐️: 4/5
There are some fictional superpowers I wish I had and some I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. This? Yeah, this power falls into the latter. In Darianne Schramm’s debut novel, the MC Sydney knows when people have less than 72 hours left to live. She’ll see a neon pink countdown timer above the person’s head, essentially mocking her. Because even with this ability, there’s nothing she can do about it. She can’t save them.
For years, Syd has lived in a deep depression, keeping her ability a secret and holding in all that grief and anger. Then, there’s the new boy in town. Peter takes notice of Syd, and he immediately clocks her suppressed pain. He eventually gets the secret out of her, and as scary as it is, it’s also an incredible relief. He inspires her to team up and go out to the city, find more “Clockers” and do small gestures to make their last day a little better. It’s not saving them, but it’s doing something. And… well… This was fucking sad. I don’t know how else to say it.
There’s a lot of dark humor for the characters to cope, and probably for us readers to cope, but my god. It couldn’t prepare me for the total heartbreak that unraveled. Sydney’s rage was so big and loud that I felt that rage in me. Like, why IS she seeing these clocks? Why CAN’T she stop these deaths? Just, WHY? On the flip side, Peter’s kindness and patience was soothing. He was definitely the “manic pixie dream boy” type (the characters acknowledge this themselves), but he was still delightful. His and Syd’s whole love story was delightful, as painful as it was.
**Much thanks to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 72 Hours of You will be released on September 1, 2026.
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
“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕.”
Sometimes you stumble upon books that leave an imprint on your heart, maybe even a little crack, but wow… this week I tripped and fell hard because 72 Hours With You took me completely by surprise. I devoured it in one sitting and was left in a puddle of my own tears at 2am on a Tuesday morning.
I’m a really big fan of books that tackle grief and loss by blending real-life emotion with magical realism, so I was drawn to the premise of this book immediately. The connection forged between Syd, a sarcastic and cynical teenage girl who can see when someone around her has 72 hours or less to live, and Peter, the new kid in town, was absolutely beautiful.
Yes, this book is filled with profanity and sexual innuendos, but honestly, as a mom who has navigated the teenage years both myself and now with my own kids, the dialogue felt authentic and believable. It strengthened the emotional weight of the story and really highlighted the emotional burden Syd carries every single day.
Never, ever did I imagine the emotional roller-coaster I would experience from a YA novel. While the author gives readers enough pieces to slowly start putting things together, there’s also a helplessness that comes from sensing where the story may be headed while being completely unable to stop it. I actually really appreciated how that mirrored the overall themes of the book itself.
Even if you think you know where the story is taking you, it’s the journey from point A to point B that makes this one feel so special. Grief touches everyone differently, and because of that, I think so many readers will connect with this story and take something meaningful away from it.
Also… keep tissues nearby.
This is a great choice for fans of Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics and A Novel Love Story.
Thank you to author @DarianneSchramm and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sometimes you stumble upon books that leave an imprint on your heart, maybe even a little crack, but wow… this week I tripped and fell hard because 72 Hours With You took me completely by surprise. I devoured it in one sitting and was left in a puddle of my own tears at 2am on a Tuesday morning.
I’m a really big fan of books that tackle grief and loss by blending real-life emotion with magical realism, so I was drawn to the premise of this book immediately. The connection forged between Syd, a sarcastic and cynical teenage girl who can see when someone around her has 72 hours or less to live, and Peter, the new kid in town, was absolutely beautiful.
Yes, this book is filled with profanity and sexual innuendos, but honestly, as a mom who has navigated the teenage years both myself and now with my own kids, the dialogue felt authentic and believable. It strengthened the emotional weight of the story and really highlighted the emotional burden Syd carries every single day.
Never, ever did I imagine the emotional roller-coaster I would experience from a YA novel. While the author gives readers enough pieces to slowly start putting things together, there’s also a helplessness that comes from sensing where the story may be headed while being completely unable to stop it. I actually really appreciated how that mirrored the overall themes of the book itself.
Even if you think you know where the story is taking you, it’s the journey from point A to point B that makes this one feel so special. Grief touches everyone differently, and because of that, I think so many readers will connect with this story and take something meaningful away from it.
Also… keep tissues nearby.
This is a great choice for fans of Ashley Poston’s The Dead Romantics and A Novel Love Story.
Thank you to author @DarianneSchramm and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the ARC of 72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm, provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ♾️
I would give this book infinity stars if I could. I went into 72 Hours of You expecting to like it, but I read the entire thing in one sitting and ended up a weeping, emotional wreck at 2 a.m. on a Thursday. So, yeah, that happened.
I’m always drawn to stories that explore grief and loss through a touch of magical realism, and this one grabbed me immediately. Syd, a sarcastic, cynical teenage girl who can see when someone has 72 hours or less to live, and Peter, the new kid in town, form a connection that got under my skin. It’s tender, messy, funny, and heartbreaking in all the right ways.
There’s definitely profanity and plenty of teenage sexual humor, but it felt real. As a mom who has survived the teenage years and is now raising kids through them, I found the dialogue never felt forced or overly polished. If anything, it made Syd feel more real and made the weight she carries every day hit even harder.
And then there’s the grief.
This book has that particular kind of heartbreak where you start to suspect where things are going, but you desperately hope you’re wrong. You can see the pieces falling into place, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop them. Somehow, that made the story’s message about grief feel even more powerful.
What I loved most is that this isn’t really about knowing what happens. It’s about the journey of getting there. Grief looks different for everyone, and I think that’s why this story will stay with so many readers long after they finish it.
Beautiful, heartbreaking, funny, and unexpectedly emotional.
Just keep tissues nearby.
If you loved The Fault in Our Stars, put this one on your list. 💔
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ♾️
I would give this book infinity stars if I could. I went into 72 Hours of You expecting to like it, but I read the entire thing in one sitting and ended up a weeping, emotional wreck at 2 a.m. on a Thursday. So, yeah, that happened.
I’m always drawn to stories that explore grief and loss through a touch of magical realism, and this one grabbed me immediately. Syd, a sarcastic, cynical teenage girl who can see when someone has 72 hours or less to live, and Peter, the new kid in town, form a connection that got under my skin. It’s tender, messy, funny, and heartbreaking in all the right ways.
There’s definitely profanity and plenty of teenage sexual humor, but it felt real. As a mom who has survived the teenage years and is now raising kids through them, I found the dialogue never felt forced or overly polished. If anything, it made Syd feel more real and made the weight she carries every day hit even harder.
And then there’s the grief.
This book has that particular kind of heartbreak where you start to suspect where things are going, but you desperately hope you’re wrong. You can see the pieces falling into place, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do to stop them. Somehow, that made the story’s message about grief feel even more powerful.
What I loved most is that this isn’t really about knowing what happens. It’s about the journey of getting there. Grief looks different for everyone, and I think that’s why this story will stay with so many readers long after they finish it.
Beautiful, heartbreaking, funny, and unexpectedly emotional.
Just keep tissues nearby.
If you loved The Fault in Our Stars, put this one on your list. 💔
August 27, 2026
Upon the death of her grandmother, Sydney inherits the ability to see a timer counting down the final 72 hours of life for those she encounters. Living in a small town limits the number of people she comes across with a death countdown, but as the book begins, we’re immediately faced with a countdown clock.
Peter enters early in the book and quickly inserts himself into Sydney’s life. Growth and trust and heartbreak ensue.
Peter does find out about Sydney’s ability, and while he understands that death can’t be avoided, he helps her believe that they can make a positive impact on those nearing death.
The main characters have been through a lot on their own. Sydney’s been hardened by the death of her mother and essential absence of her father, on top of the burden of knowing when certain people will die.
Peter is also dealing with a crisis within his family, one that readers aren’t made aware of until late in the book.
It’s also later in the book when Sydney opens up about another pivotal event in her life and the lingering effects.
The heartbreak is predictable, but the motivating event was not (for me). I didn’t love how events unfolded as the book neared its end, but overall I did enjoy the book.
A few additional points: There was a lot of adult language, dialogue that probably won’t age well, truancy, and a lot of sexual innuendo from Sydney’s sister, making this book best for the mature YA and above reader. On the flip side, the relationship between Sydney and Peter was not sexually explicit, and it didn’t need to be. I appreciated that. Lastly, don’t go into this book expecting to learn why this ability exists. It’s a story device and beyond a brief comment from Sydney’s grandmother, the “why” of it all is a non-factor.
I’d like to thank the publisher, Disney Hyperion, for the advanced copy of the book.
⭐️ 3.75/5
Peter enters early in the book and quickly inserts himself into Sydney’s life. Growth and trust and heartbreak ensue.
Peter does find out about Sydney’s ability, and while he understands that death can’t be avoided, he helps her believe that they can make a positive impact on those nearing death.
The main characters have been through a lot on their own. Sydney’s been hardened by the death of her mother and essential absence of her father, on top of the burden of knowing when certain people will die.
Peter is also dealing with a crisis within his family, one that readers aren’t made aware of until late in the book.
It’s also later in the book when Sydney opens up about another pivotal event in her life and the lingering effects.
The heartbreak is predictable, but the motivating event was not (for me). I didn’t love how events unfolded as the book neared its end, but overall I did enjoy the book.
A few additional points: There was a lot of adult language, dialogue that probably won’t age well, truancy, and a lot of sexual innuendo from Sydney’s sister, making this book best for the mature YA and above reader. On the flip side, the relationship between Sydney and Peter was not sexually explicit, and it didn’t need to be. I appreciated that. Lastly, don’t go into this book expecting to learn why this ability exists. It’s a story device and beyond a brief comment from Sydney’s grandmother, the “why” of it all is a non-factor.
I’d like to thank the publisher, Disney Hyperion, for the advanced copy of the book.
⭐️ 3.75/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dieses Buch war eine nette Lektüre. Wer ein schnelles Buch für zwischendrin braucht und dabei diverse Emotionen durchlaufen will, der ist hier an der richtigen Stelle. Mehr bekommt man aber auch nicht.
Zuerst einmal: Ich kam super schnell in das Buch rein. Die Kapitel hatten eine angenehme Länge und die Charaktere waren durchaus interessant. Sydney hat ihr ganz eigenes Trauma und das liest man auch auf jeder Seite. Und Peter ist der nette Junge von Nebenan, der aus irgendeinem Grund das Bedürfnis hat, Sydney die Welt zu zeigen. Eigentlich hat man nur von den beiden gelesen. Doch ihre Geschichte wird mich nicht mehr lange begleiten. Peter vielleicht, aber hier hat mir einfach mehr von seinem Leben gefehlt, welches leider erst sehr spät thematisiert wurde. Bis dahin wirkte er größtenteils nur seltsam.
Versteht mich nicht falsch, ich fand es selten so angenehm einfach nur Slice of Life zu lesen. Besonders da es oft einen so guten Humor hatte, dass ich laut auflachen musste! Es waren immer wieder kleine Jokes die ich nicht kommen sah, die aber trotzdem gut durchdacht waren. Anfangen mit dem Missverständnis der Notizbücher, welches man hatte kommen sehen aber sehr gelungen erklärt worden war.
Und was auch wirklich gut war, war der Spannungsbogen! Denn man weiß einfach, wie es ausgehen wird. Und mit jeder Seite die man umblättern wächst die Angst. Bis alles ganz schnell geht.
ACHTUNG SPOILER!!!
Die letzten hundert Seiten waren nervenaufreibenden und noch weiter hinten habe ich nur noch geheult. Ich hasse das Ende, aber gleichzeitig bin ich froh, dass die Autorin keine Ausnahme von ihrer eigenen Fähigkeit geschaffen hat.
... Trotzdem habe ich es der Rückseite des Buches die von einem schönen Ende sprach sehr übel genommen!
Zuerst einmal: Ich kam super schnell in das Buch rein. Die Kapitel hatten eine angenehme Länge und die Charaktere waren durchaus interessant. Sydney hat ihr ganz eigenes Trauma und das liest man auch auf jeder Seite. Und Peter ist der nette Junge von Nebenan, der aus irgendeinem Grund das Bedürfnis hat, Sydney die Welt zu zeigen. Eigentlich hat man nur von den beiden gelesen. Doch ihre Geschichte wird mich nicht mehr lange begleiten. Peter vielleicht, aber hier hat mir einfach mehr von seinem Leben gefehlt, welches leider erst sehr spät thematisiert wurde. Bis dahin wirkte er größtenteils nur seltsam.
Versteht mich nicht falsch, ich fand es selten so angenehm einfach nur Slice of Life zu lesen. Besonders da es oft einen so guten Humor hatte, dass ich laut auflachen musste! Es waren immer wieder kleine Jokes die ich nicht kommen sah, die aber trotzdem gut durchdacht waren. Anfangen mit dem Missverständnis der Notizbücher, welches man hatte kommen sehen aber sehr gelungen erklärt worden war.
Und was auch wirklich gut war, war der Spannungsbogen! Denn man weiß einfach, wie es ausgehen wird. Und mit jeder Seite die man umblättern wächst die Angst. Bis alles ganz schnell geht.
ACHTUNG SPOILER!!!
Die letzten hundert Seiten waren nervenaufreibenden und noch weiter hinten habe ich nur noch geheult. Ich hasse das Ende, aber gleichzeitig bin ich froh, dass die Autorin keine Ausnahme von ihrer eigenen Fähigkeit geschaffen hat.
... Trotzdem habe ich es der Rückseite des Buches die von einem schönen Ende sprach sehr übel genommen!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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