What do you think?
72 Hours of You
Sydney Hoffman can tell when someone has less than 72 hours to live, and it's left her sarcastic, cynical and alone. Until she meets Peter, who changes everything she believes about life—and death.
This swoony, emotional, and tragically romantic debut is perfect for fans of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam and Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End.
"Choke-on-your-drink funny, stomp-on-your heart tragic, and without a doubt one of the best debuts I've ever read." —Clare Edge
72 hours before someone dies, Sydney Hoffman sees a pink clock over their head, counting down their final minutes. Seeing death's status updates in real-time without being able to save anyone is . . . pretty much the worst. Which is why she never gets involved.
But then she meets Peter Beckett, her optimistic, book-obsessed, and (annoyingly) attractive new classmate. When he discovers what Sydney can do, he convinces her she doesn't have to handle the countdowns alone. Together they make a plan to wander NYC, looking for pink clocks and helping strangers live their best final hours.
The more people they secretly help, the more Sydney believes she can let go of the memories that haunt her and hold on to Peter instead. But then the universe deals a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
This swoony, emotional, and tragically romantic debut is perfect for fans of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam and Adam Silvera's They Both Die at the End.
"Choke-on-your-drink funny, stomp-on-your heart tragic, and without a doubt one of the best debuts I've ever read." —Clare Edge
72 hours before someone dies, Sydney Hoffman sees a pink clock over their head, counting down their final minutes. Seeing death's status updates in real-time without being able to save anyone is . . . pretty much the worst. Which is why she never gets involved.
But then she meets Peter Beckett, her optimistic, book-obsessed, and (annoyingly) attractive new classmate. When he discovers what Sydney can do, he convinces her she doesn't have to handle the countdowns alone. Together they make a plan to wander NYC, looking for pink clocks and helping strangers live their best final hours.
The more people they secretly help, the more Sydney believes she can let go of the memories that haunt her and hold on to Peter instead. But then the universe deals a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 3, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
72 Hours of You 4.5/5⭐
I will never see neon pink the same way.
Age Rating: 14-15+
Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity
✨Plot✨
Sydney can see the countdown of the last 72 hours of someone's life. A pink neon clock will appear above their head that only she can see. She hasn't told anyone and has carried this burden which has affected how she sees the world. Until she meets Peter, who changes everything she believes about life and death. Before she knows it they are helping people enjoy their last 72 hours and skipping school to run around New York. But then she is dealt a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
✨Characters✨
I loved the characters and I can't believe the ending it was crazy but at the same time I saw it coming but still like whyyyyy.
🖤Sydney🖤
I feel so bad for my girl🥲😭. She was a fun character to follow around, I really felt for her and dude I almost cried.
🐕Peter🐕
The definition of a golden retriever mmc. very cinnamon roll-like. Loved him he was so sweet and helped Sydney get out of her dark mindset.
✨Romance✨
Cute, and wholesome, and TRAGIC😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
anyway, they were cute. . .*sniffle*
✨Writing Style✨
Not my favorite but pretty intriguing and I always felt like I was right there with the charecters!
✨Would I Recommend It?✨
If you like sad rom-coms but with twists like If You Could See The Sun you'll love this!
72 Hours of You 4.5/5⭐
I will never see neon pink the same way.
Age Rating: 14-15+
Don't forget to follow me on YouTube, where I post all about my favorite clean books! https://www.youtube.com/@ItsRenity
✨Plot✨
Sydney can see the countdown of the last 72 hours of someone's life. A pink neon clock will appear above their head that only she can see. She hasn't told anyone and has carried this burden which has affected how she sees the world. Until she meets Peter, who changes everything she believes about life and death. Before she knows it they are helping people enjoy their last 72 hours and skipping school to run around New York. But then she is dealt a devastating blow, forcing her to reckon with what it truly means to live your last 72 hours with no regrets.
✨Characters✨
I loved the characters and I can't believe the ending it was crazy but at the same time I saw it coming but still like whyyyyy.
🖤Sydney🖤
I feel so bad for my girl🥲😭. She was a fun character to follow around, I really felt for her and dude I almost cried.
🐕Peter🐕
The definition of a golden retriever mmc. very cinnamon roll-like. Loved him he was so sweet and helped Sydney get out of her dark mindset.
✨Romance✨
Cute, and wholesome, and TRAGIC😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
anyway, they were cute. . .*sniffle*
✨Writing Style✨
Not my favorite but pretty intriguing and I always felt like I was right there with the charecters!
✨Would I Recommend It?✨
If you like sad rom-coms but with twists like If You Could See The Sun you'll love this!
August 31, 2026
“Seventy-two hours of you is worth an entire lifetime.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“sᴀᴛᴜʀɴ” x sʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʟᴀsᴛ
2:26 ────♥───── 4:49
This was such a different kind of reading experience for me. Even from the blurb, I was slightly hesitant because I knew this was probably going to break my heart, and unfortunately, I was very correct. But underneath the sadness, this book offers such a meaningful perspective on life, death, grief, and what it actually means to live fully.
Sydney and Peter’s relationship was easily the emotional center of the book for me. Watching them grow closer was beautiful, but there was always this quiet sadness underneath everything because as a reader, you know what kind of story you’re holding. Peter brings so much warmth into Sydney’s life and slowly challenges the way she has learned to view death. He helps her understand that death does not have to control the way you live, and that the people we lose do not have to keep us trapped in our grief forever.
I really appreciated how much this book made me think about the difference between living and simply existing. There is something strangely comforting about the idea that every moment matters—not just the final ones. The book felt like a reminder to stop waiting for the perfect time to say something, do something, love someone, or let yourself be happy. It was emotional in a way that felt revealing rather than simply sad.
And yes, I sobbed. Actually sobbed my little heart out. I had a very strong feeling about where things were headed, and somehow that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for the emotional impact of it. The ending genuinely wrecked me.
I will say, my only complaint is that the excessive swearing did feel unnecessary at times, and some of the slang used by Sydney’s sister was a little too cringe for me. But honestly, those things became easy to overlook because I was so invested in the heart of the story.
This was heartbreaking, thoughtful, and unexpectedly eye-opening. I finished it feeling sad, but also so grateful. And at the end of the day... life isn’t measured by how much time we have, but by what we choose to do with the time we’re given
favorite quotes ↓
“What white really is,” Peter goes on, looking me in the eyes, “is misunderstood. But the most interesting things in life usually are.”
“You can scream to me,” he says. “I’ll hear you.”
“I’m insufferable.”
“I’d suffer you any day.”
“It’s an honor, you know,” he says into my neck, “to be the one you look for in a crowd.”
“Peter said we don’t get an epilogue in real life, but I think we do. The people who are left behind have to keep going—they have to keep turning the page. And if you’re really lucky, those people write you into everything they do. Or at least they try.”
“Everyone is living. But everyone is also dying. We all are. All the time, every second. It’s not just the last three days that matter. It’s all of it.”
things to know about the book ↓
⏰ friends → lovers
⏰ YA romance
⏰ grumpy x sunshine
⏰ opposites attract
⏰ grief & loss
⏰ bookish MMC
⏰ bittersweet romance
⏰ life-changing connection
⏰ single POV (hers)
swearing: yes (a lot)
spice rating: just kisses
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
august 31st- this blurb 😭 i dont think im ready for this story 🥺🥺
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
“sᴀᴛᴜʀɴ” x sʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʟᴀsᴛ
2:26 ────♥───── 4:49
This was such a different kind of reading experience for me. Even from the blurb, I was slightly hesitant because I knew this was probably going to break my heart, and unfortunately, I was very correct. But underneath the sadness, this book offers such a meaningful perspective on life, death, grief, and what it actually means to live fully.
Sydney and Peter’s relationship was easily the emotional center of the book for me. Watching them grow closer was beautiful, but there was always this quiet sadness underneath everything because as a reader, you know what kind of story you’re holding. Peter brings so much warmth into Sydney’s life and slowly challenges the way she has learned to view death. He helps her understand that death does not have to control the way you live, and that the people we lose do not have to keep us trapped in our grief forever.
I really appreciated how much this book made me think about the difference between living and simply existing. There is something strangely comforting about the idea that every moment matters—not just the final ones. The book felt like a reminder to stop waiting for the perfect time to say something, do something, love someone, or let yourself be happy. It was emotional in a way that felt revealing rather than simply sad.
And yes, I sobbed. Actually sobbed my little heart out. I had a very strong feeling about where things were headed, and somehow that did absolutely nothing to prepare me for the emotional impact of it. The ending genuinely wrecked me.
I will say, my only complaint is that the excessive swearing did feel unnecessary at times, and some of the slang used by Sydney’s sister was a little too cringe for me. But honestly, those things became easy to overlook because I was so invested in the heart of the story.
This was heartbreaking, thoughtful, and unexpectedly eye-opening. I finished it feeling sad, but also so grateful. And at the end of the day... life isn’t measured by how much time we have, but by what we choose to do with the time we’re given
favorite quotes ↓
“What white really is,” Peter goes on, looking me in the eyes, “is misunderstood. But the most interesting things in life usually are.”
“You can scream to me,” he says. “I’ll hear you.”
“I’m insufferable.”
“I’d suffer you any day.”
“It’s an honor, you know,” he says into my neck, “to be the one you look for in a crowd.”
“Peter said we don’t get an epilogue in real life, but I think we do. The people who are left behind have to keep going—they have to keep turning the page. And if you’re really lucky, those people write you into everything they do. Or at least they try.”
“Everyone is living. But everyone is also dying. We all are. All the time, every second. It’s not just the last three days that matter. It’s all of it.”
things to know about the book ↓
⏰ friends → lovers
⏰ YA romance
⏰ grumpy x sunshine
⏰ opposites attract
⏰ grief & loss
⏰ bookish MMC
⏰ bittersweet romance
⏰ life-changing connection
⏰ single POV (hers)
swearing: yes (a lot)
spice rating: just kisses
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
august 31st- this blurb 😭 i dont think im ready for this story 🥺🥺
Want to Read
September 3, 2026Pre - Release ! 💗
EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY THAT I GET THIS ARC🥺🥺🙏. My request is still pending and I actually wanna read this book SO BADLYYYYY😍😍😍. Hopefully I get it🤭
Update : IM TOO LATE😭💔
EVERYONE PLEASE PRAY THAT I GET THIS ARC🥺🥺🙏. My request is still pending and I actually wanna read this book SO BADLYYYYY😍😍😍. Hopefully I get it🤭
Update : IM TOO LATE😭💔
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.
February 22, 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
❀° ┄───╮
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.
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
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.
❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀
this sounds so good omw, so glad i got the arc!
September 8, 2026
J'ai bien aimé le personnage féminin qui est assez sarcastique et touchante. J'ai bien été prise au début puis j'ai un peu décroché sur la seconde moitié, où je me suis ennuyée. La fin est brutale et trop rapide à mon goût. Ça manquait de développement. Ça reste sous développé sur certains points. Sinon, j'ai trouvé intéressant les messages passés autour du deuil.
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 24, 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.
September 10, 2026
Endlich hat mich ein Buch mal wieder so richtig zu Tränen gerührt und emotional komplett zerstört. 💔
Fantastisch geschrieben, mit einem tollen Tempo und Charakteren, die sich unglaublich echt und nahbar anfühlen. Eine Geschichte, die noch lange nachwirkt.
Fantastisch geschrieben, mit einem tollen Tempo und Charakteren, die sich unglaublich echt und nahbar anfühlen. Eine Geschichte, die noch lange nachwirkt.
June 30, 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....
September 14, 2026
The fault in our stars Vibe
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 14, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I swear I don't remember requesting 🫢 but I'm not complaining
I didn’t have any expectations for this one, but ugh my heart was throbbing after reading. Think of fault in our stars with a sprinkle of a more cynical main character (Sydney)
So Sydney has a “power” if you want to call it that- she can see when someone is going to die 72 hours before - hence the title. It’s described as a little bar that pops up above their head. Blessing or curse to have this power? ehhh I’m between the middle, you can know and try to stop it right? But doesn’t always work that way because what if you stopping it is only allowing the chain of events?
So Sydney is a big BIG pessimistic character, doesn’t have hope for others, cynical, but also dark humor (I mean I loved it). It wasn’t a “woe is me” character more life can suck at times and it is what it is. I honestly loved her as a person in this book, she was blunt, honest even if it was harsh, & embodied humor.
Then you have Peter, good ole sweet Peter. New kid in town & happens to be partnered up with Sydney for a project and things take off from there but not that insta love !!
Packing of this was just the right amount, watching the relationship build, seeing what’s next. Now you *kind of* know what’s going to happen but still…
I did not expect to full on sob at the end.😭😭 this is not necessarily for the lighthearted if you struggle with grief, but the banter and relationship between Peter and Sydney id love to read about again.
Highly recommend!! - I’ll have to purchase and add to my physical shelf
I swear I don't remember requesting 🫢 but I'm not complaining
I didn’t have any expectations for this one, but ugh my heart was throbbing after reading. Think of fault in our stars with a sprinkle of a more cynical main character (Sydney)
So Sydney has a “power” if you want to call it that- she can see when someone is going to die 72 hours before - hence the title. It’s described as a little bar that pops up above their head. Blessing or curse to have this power? ehhh I’m between the middle, you can know and try to stop it right? But doesn’t always work that way because what if you stopping it is only allowing the chain of events?
So Sydney is a big BIG pessimistic character, doesn’t have hope for others, cynical, but also dark humor (I mean I loved it). It wasn’t a “woe is me” character more life can suck at times and it is what it is. I honestly loved her as a person in this book, she was blunt, honest even if it was harsh, & embodied humor.
Then you have Peter, good ole sweet Peter. New kid in town & happens to be partnered up with Sydney for a project and things take off from there but not that insta love !!
Packing of this was just the right amount, watching the relationship build, seeing what’s next. Now you *kind of* know what’s going to happen but still…
I did not expect to full on sob at the end.😭😭 this is not necessarily for the lighthearted if you struggle with grief, but the banter and relationship between Peter and Sydney id love to read about again.
Highly recommend!! - I’ll have to purchase and add to my physical shelf
August 29, 2026
4.5⭐️
My gosh. Even when you knew what was going to happen, this one hit hard.
Sydney sees a pink countdown clock above people’s heads 72 hours before they die. This has given her a negative outlook on life, and has made her closed off and avoidant of so many things. She meets Peter who gives her a whole new outlook on the clocks. He runs around NYC with her looking for Clockers and helping bring some joy to their final days.
This book was both heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time, and it dealt with the most complex of topics. Sydney was so closed off to the world. She was dealing with grief as well as this permanent weight on her shoulders with the clocks. Her enjoyment for life had completely been sucked out of her. Peter on the other hand is like sunshine and a pure breath of fresh air. He’s obsessed with books and lives in the moment, whilst dealing with his own troubles.
This book gave me ALL of the feels. I just wanted to hug everyone I love immediately after finishing it. This book made me just sit and think, in the sense of am I living life to the fullest? Do I hold myself back? It was that sort of emotion that I finished this book with and just sat there absorbing. This book isn’t just a love story, it’s so much deeper than that and it’s one that is going to stick with me for a while for sure.
The concept in itself was very interesting. You understand exactly why Sydney is as cynical as she is and you really feel for her from the get go. I loved seeing her change as she became closer to Peter. Peter understands her, is patient with her, and is just all round a beautiful character. Jules added some really fun moments to this book, she gave great little sister energy.
I highly recommend this book. So emotional yet so thought provoking.
My gosh. Even when you knew what was going to happen, this one hit hard.
Sydney sees a pink countdown clock above people’s heads 72 hours before they die. This has given her a negative outlook on life, and has made her closed off and avoidant of so many things. She meets Peter who gives her a whole new outlook on the clocks. He runs around NYC with her looking for Clockers and helping bring some joy to their final days.
This book was both heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time, and it dealt with the most complex of topics. Sydney was so closed off to the world. She was dealing with grief as well as this permanent weight on her shoulders with the clocks. Her enjoyment for life had completely been sucked out of her. Peter on the other hand is like sunshine and a pure breath of fresh air. He’s obsessed with books and lives in the moment, whilst dealing with his own troubles.
This book gave me ALL of the feels. I just wanted to hug everyone I love immediately after finishing it. This book made me just sit and think, in the sense of am I living life to the fullest? Do I hold myself back? It was that sort of emotion that I finished this book with and just sat there absorbing. This book isn’t just a love story, it’s so much deeper than that and it’s one that is going to stick with me for a while for sure.
The concept in itself was very interesting. You understand exactly why Sydney is as cynical as she is and you really feel for her from the get go. I loved seeing her change as she became closer to Peter. Peter understands her, is patient with her, and is just all round a beautiful character. Jules added some really fun moments to this book, she gave great little sister energy.
I highly recommend this book. So emotional yet so thought provoking.
August 29, 2026
I knew this book was going to be sad. The entire premise basically warned me. I thought I was prepared.
I WAS NOT. 😭
I finished this book on a flight and was literally trying not to cry in front of everyone. At some point I just had to accept that this book got me. I wanted to immediately start something light afterward, but nope. I needed a minute.
One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was because I loved You’ve Reached Sam, and I could see why this would appeal to readers who loved that book too. But after reading it, I want to make it clear that 72 Hours of You is very much its own story.
I loved the concept of Sydney seeing a countdown when someone has less than 72 hours to live. What made it hit me wasn’t simply knowing that death was coming. It was everything surrounding that knowledge. If you can’t stop someone’s death, does that mean there’s nothing you can do for them? Or can making the time they have left a little better still mean something?
Sydney and Peter’s journey made that question feel so much more emotional than I expected. There were moments that made me think about how differently we might live if we actually knew how limited our time was.
And somehow, even though I went into this KNOWING it would probably hurt, I still wasn’t prepared for how much it would hurt.
Darianne Schramm, you made me cry on a plane. 😭 You officially have one more fan, and I’ll absolutely be watching for whatever you write next.
Thank you to the Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me with an eARC.
I WAS NOT. 😭
I finished this book on a flight and was literally trying not to cry in front of everyone. At some point I just had to accept that this book got me. I wanted to immediately start something light afterward, but nope. I needed a minute.
One of the reasons I was drawn to this book was because I loved You’ve Reached Sam, and I could see why this would appeal to readers who loved that book too. But after reading it, I want to make it clear that 72 Hours of You is very much its own story.
I loved the concept of Sydney seeing a countdown when someone has less than 72 hours to live. What made it hit me wasn’t simply knowing that death was coming. It was everything surrounding that knowledge. If you can’t stop someone’s death, does that mean there’s nothing you can do for them? Or can making the time they have left a little better still mean something?
Sydney and Peter’s journey made that question feel so much more emotional than I expected. There were moments that made me think about how differently we might live if we actually knew how limited our time was.
And somehow, even though I went into this KNOWING it would probably hurt, I still wasn’t prepared for how much it would hurt.
Darianne Schramm, you made me cry on a plane. 😭 You officially have one more fan, and I’ll absolutely be watching for whatever you write next.
Thank you to the Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing me with an eARC.
September 6, 2026
I absolutely adored 72 Hours of You. This was one of those books that was just genuinely FUN to read; the kind where you keep telling yourself “one more chapter” and suddenly you’ve blown through half the book.
The chemistry was EVERYTHING. The banter, the tension, the little moments between them… I was completely invested. Their connection felt natural and believable, which made all of the romantic moments hit that much harder. I was smiling, kicking my feet, and rooting for them basically the entire time.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was how much heart it had underneath the romance. It was funny and swoony without feeling shallow, and the characters felt like actual people I wanted to spend time with. I loved watching their relationship unfold over those 72 hours, and by the end I genuinely did not want to leave them.
Fast, charming, romantic, and ridiculously easy to devour. This is exactly the kind of romance that reminds me why I love reading romance in the first place.
An EASY five stars.
The chemistry was EVERYTHING. The banter, the tension, the little moments between them… I was completely invested. Their connection felt natural and believable, which made all of the romantic moments hit that much harder. I was smiling, kicking my feet, and rooting for them basically the entire time.
But what really made this a five-star read for me was how much heart it had underneath the romance. It was funny and swoony without feeling shallow, and the characters felt like actual people I wanted to spend time with. I loved watching their relationship unfold over those 72 hours, and by the end I genuinely did not want to leave them.
Fast, charming, romantic, and ridiculously easy to devour. This is exactly the kind of romance that reminds me why I love reading romance in the first place.
An EASY five stars.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Electric Monkey for my gifted copy!!
This book is just so beautifully heartbreaking, in so many ways.
It really puts life into perspective. How short it is, how at any given moment it could all be over, and how many of us actually take that for granted. So many of us do.
But reading this book genuinely made me want to just LIVE.
Honestly? The writing was really good. Easy to read, it flowed beautifully and was 100% on par with a YA book. I really enjoyed that.
The storytelling was great from start to finish, and the characters all made complete sense within the story.
Although I wasn't particularly attached to Sydney, I did feel for her massively. I think when you throw a golden retriever like Peter into the mix alongside a character like Sydney, Peter is always going to shine, and that's exactly what happened.
I loved their friendship, their growing relationship and all the will they, won't they. One is too scared to let someone in, while the other wants it so badly that it becomes consuming in its own way.
Imagine living like Sydney does. Seeing a clock above people's heads, knowing they're going to die within three days, but being completely powerless to stop it. And feeling like you can't tell a soul.
It's such a heavy concept.
Then Peter comes along and, somehow, he starts opening her eyes to actually living.
And then something happens.
Suddenly, those 72 hours mean something completely different.
And then you throw THAT ending at me?
Absolutely NOT.
I genuinely did not see it coming.
The only thing I would have liked was a little more consistency with the pacing. I would have loved for the ending, especially that final 20%, to be stretched out a little more. It felt like it was over and done with before I'd even had time to process everything.
But either way, I loved this book.
It's one of those stories that makes you stop and think about your own life, the people around you, and whether you're actually living or simply letting the days pass.
And I think that's why it's going to stay with me.
This book is just so beautifully heartbreaking, in so many ways.
It really puts life into perspective. How short it is, how at any given moment it could all be over, and how many of us actually take that for granted. So many of us do.
But reading this book genuinely made me want to just LIVE.
Honestly? The writing was really good. Easy to read, it flowed beautifully and was 100% on par with a YA book. I really enjoyed that.
The storytelling was great from start to finish, and the characters all made complete sense within the story.
Although I wasn't particularly attached to Sydney, I did feel for her massively. I think when you throw a golden retriever like Peter into the mix alongside a character like Sydney, Peter is always going to shine, and that's exactly what happened.
I loved their friendship, their growing relationship and all the will they, won't they. One is too scared to let someone in, while the other wants it so badly that it becomes consuming in its own way.
Imagine living like Sydney does. Seeing a clock above people's heads, knowing they're going to die within three days, but being completely powerless to stop it. And feeling like you can't tell a soul.
It's such a heavy concept.
Then Peter comes along and, somehow, he starts opening her eyes to actually living.
And then something happens.
Suddenly, those 72 hours mean something completely different.
And then you throw THAT ending at me?
Absolutely NOT.
I genuinely did not see it coming.
The only thing I would have liked was a little more consistency with the pacing. I would have loved for the ending, especially that final 20%, to be stretched out a little more. It felt like it was over and done with before I'd even had time to process everything.
But either way, I loved this book.
It's one of those stories that makes you stop and think about your own life, the people around you, and whether you're actually living or simply letting the days pass.
And I think that's why it's going to stay with me.
September 14, 2026
4.75 ⭐️
Okay, this was SO much deeper than I expected 😭 I went in thinking it’d be a cheesy YA romance, but it actually deals with some heavy themes like grief and so much death, so definitely check the TWs.
I loved Peter Beckett!!! He’s so smart and well-spoken that I kept forgetting he’s supposed to be 17 😂 Sydney was also really likable despite being depressed and pessimistic, and the banter between them was SO good. The writing is beautiful, too.
BUT THAT ENDING??? 😭 I genuinely expected something different. I was fully hoping for some plot twist about bending her rules… alas, I was just being delusional. Now I’m emotionally devastated.
Okay, this was SO much deeper than I expected 😭 I went in thinking it’d be a cheesy YA romance, but it actually deals with some heavy themes like grief and so much death, so definitely check the TWs.
I loved Peter Beckett!!! He’s so smart and well-spoken that I kept forgetting he’s supposed to be 17 😂 Sydney was also really likable despite being depressed and pessimistic, and the banter between them was SO good. The writing is beautiful, too.
BUT THAT ENDING??? 😭 I genuinely expected something different. I was fully hoping for some plot twist about bending her rules… alas, I was just being delusional. Now I’m emotionally devastated.
September 3, 2026
I was looking forward to reading this book, it seemed like a really interesting concept. I didn’t expect it to break my heart quite so quickly!
Sydney’s life is so sad and difficult I really felt for her. She’s so young to see the world in such a bleak way.
Peter is really good for her, I loved watching their relationship develop.
Okay…so that ending had me sobbing. I was expecting something to go wrong but not quite that. It was so devastating and beautiful it’ll stick with me for a long time I think.
Sydney’s life is so sad and difficult I really felt for her. She’s so young to see the world in such a bleak way.
Peter is really good for her, I loved watching their relationship develop.
Okay…so that ending had me sobbing. I was expecting something to go wrong but not quite that. It was so devastating and beautiful it’ll stick with me for a long time I think.
September 11, 2026
I loved the characters in 72 Hours of You, and their love story was so beautiful. I knew going into this that it was going to be sad, but wow... I didn’t think it was going to be that sad. It was totally worth it, though because I really, really enjoyed it!
The only reason I didn't give it a 5 stars is because of how the main character's grief was handled. She was carrying so much grief, but it felt like the book just lightly touched on it. Since death is such a huge part of the plot, I think the author could’ve gone deeper with that. Still such a beautiful, heartbreaking read.
The only reason I didn't give it a 5 stars is because of how the main character's grief was handled. She was carrying so much grief, but it felt like the book just lightly touched on it. Since death is such a huge part of the plot, I think the author could’ve gone deeper with that. Still such a beautiful, heartbreaking read.
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 ;)
September 12, 2026
3.75 stars 🌟
September 6, 2026
Das erste woran ich dachte als ich den Klappentext gelesen habe, war die Horrorkomodie "The Frighteners". Da wusste ich schon, dass ich das Buch lesen muss. Irgendwie hat es mich einfach daran erinnert. 🙈
Syd hatte keine leichte Kindheit hinter sich. Was ich verstehen kann. Stellt euch vor ihr seht Uhren auf den Köpfen der Leute... 🫠
Peter ist eine Lesemaus, ja richtig gelesen, er hat immer ein Buch dabei. 📖 Also kann man ihn einfach nur mögen. Er sieht in allem etwas positives.
Die beiden sind einfach nur süß zusammen. Ich will nicht viel von der Handlung verraten, überzeugt euch selbst.
Ihr werdet es lieben, hassen und trotzdem durchsuchten wollen. 🤓
Syd hatte keine leichte Kindheit hinter sich. Was ich verstehen kann. Stellt euch vor ihr seht Uhren auf den Köpfen der Leute... 🫠
Peter ist eine Lesemaus, ja richtig gelesen, er hat immer ein Buch dabei. 📖 Also kann man ihn einfach nur mögen. Er sieht in allem etwas positives.
Die beiden sind einfach nur süß zusammen. Ich will nicht viel von der Handlung verraten, überzeugt euch selbst.
Ihr werdet es lieben, hassen und trotzdem durchsuchten wollen. 🤓
September 17, 2026
𑣲 4.4/5 stars ☆࿐࿔
꒰ঌ i. at a glance ໒꒱
• characters: I’m deducting a fraction of a point because Sydney was super edgy for a majority of the book—she really pumped out profanity, which was off-putting for me personally. Plus, Peter was overly doting (it made me wonder what drew him to Sydney specifically before he found out about the clocks). But hear me out in my thoughts section, please (ㅅ•́ ₃•̀)!
• plot: This genre is my shit. I love magical realism mixed with romance and grief, and I adore how Schramm executed it! Even though I half-heartedly predicted where the plot was going (I did not want to be correct), it was still tragic… but don’t worry, I’m into this genre.
• atmosphere: Pink clocks… I’m so happy Schramm provided enough exposition for Sydney’s… curse? Powers? (I suppose it depends on how you look at it… Peter would’ve called it the latter).
• pacing: Guys, it was perfect ദ്ദി(*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ) <3
꒰ঌ ii. thoughts ໒꒱
This book is the first book I spent my money on since reading She Gets the Girl, and I feel like that holds some weight to it. I have been anticipating this read since July, ever since I saw the cover. When I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it. I bought it as soon as it was published, and I’m glad I did because now my annotations are saved so I can reflect on how I felt when I read it (unlike with You’ve Reached Sam … I mourn those lost annotations almost every day).
In my thoughts below, I will be briefly mentioning Dustin Thao's ‘You've Reached Sam’ and Adam Silvera's ‘They Both Die at the End’!
꒰ঌ iii. recommendation ໒꒱
Sydney said yes to Peter Beckett, and I say yes, you should read this. This was a wonderful debut!!!
꒰ঌ i. at a glance ໒꒱
• characters: I’m deducting a fraction of a point because Sydney was super edgy for a majority of the book—she really pumped out profanity, which was off-putting for me personally. Plus, Peter was overly doting (it made me wonder what drew him to Sydney specifically before he found out about the clocks). But hear me out in my thoughts section, please (ㅅ•́ ₃•̀)!
• plot: This genre is my shit. I love magical realism mixed with romance and grief, and I adore how Schramm executed it! Even though I half-heartedly predicted where the plot was going (I did not want to be correct), it was still tragic… but don’t worry, I’m into this genre.
• atmosphere: Pink clocks… I’m so happy Schramm provided enough exposition for Sydney’s… curse? Powers? (I suppose it depends on how you look at it… Peter would’ve called it the latter).
• pacing: Guys, it was perfect ദ്ദി(*꒦ິ꒳꒦ີ) <3
꒰ঌ ii. thoughts ໒꒱
This book is the first book I spent my money on since reading She Gets the Girl, and I feel like that holds some weight to it. I have been anticipating this read since July, ever since I saw the cover. When I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it. I bought it as soon as it was published, and I’m glad I did because now my annotations are saved so I can reflect on how I felt when I read it (unlike with You’ve Reached Sam … I mourn those lost annotations almost every day).
In my thoughts below, I will be briefly mentioning Dustin Thao's ‘You've Reached Sam’ and Adam Silvera's ‘They Both Die at the End’!
꒰ঌ iii. recommendation ໒꒱
Sydney said yes to Peter Beckett, and I say yes, you should read this. This was a wonderful debut!!!
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews