Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.
New York Times bestseller * 4 starred reviews * A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year * A Booklist Editors’ Choice of 2017 * A Bustle Best YA Novel of … of the Year * A Booklist Editors’ Choice of 2017 * A Bustle Best YA Novel of 2017 * A Paste Magazine Best YA Book of 2017 * A Book Riot Best Queer Book of 2017 * A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of the Year * A BookPage Best YA Book of the Year
On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.
Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.
In the tradition of Before I Fall and If I Stay, They Both Die at the End is a tour de force from acclaimed author Adam Silvera, whose debut, More Happy Than Not, the New York Times called “profound.”
Don’t miss Adam Silvera’s bestselling fantasy duology, Infinity Son, and Infinity Reaper!
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Well the title tells you the ending but the getting there is worth it. I really enjoyed the characters and the strange concept.
I went into this book thinking that neither of them will die in the end. Adam Silvera really messed with my head with this one.
I was not intrigued with this book when I first starting reading it. It honestly was close to receiving two stars for me. Until the end of the book. That’s where I felt everything. This is the third book this year to make me cry.
I loved the idea of this book. Although, with further discussion with my significant other, I’m not entirely sure I would want to know 24 hours in advance that I’m about to die. For fictional purposes, I love this idea.
You get to see two young men try and live out the rest of their time. Rufus and Mateo are genuine characters that wish they can beat Death Cast. They want to live. With their looming death, they do everything they can to live out the rest of their day.
I found most of this book kind of slow, boring almost. The ending is what really switched it up for me. My heart was aching for these boys. Even the side characters.
I really loved the multiple perspectives. We got a little something from everyone. It was great seeing how everyone is affected by the events throughout one day. I loved the timestamps also. It felt good knowing how much time was left. I was really rooting for them to make it. I didn’t want them to die.
I definitely plan on picking up more books by Adam in the future. I’ve heard they’re all heartbreaking. I can’t wait to cry some more.
3.75/5 Stars
The concept was original, and the writing was fitting given that the perspectives are from two teenage points of view. It was a little longer than it needed to be, but it did still hold my attention until the very tragic end.
This one was a bit frustrating.
I thought the idea was brilliant and full of potential – the execution was a bit disappointing.
It took me a long, long time to connect with either character. Until part four of the book, I couldn’t care less about them or their relationship, in fact, Mateo annoyed me more than once. And I wish we had more of Rufus, I felt the focus remained with Mateo and his insecurities for so long it made Rufus lack substance. I also didn’t get the random stories in the middle – yes, everything and everyone is connected, but those insights felt too random and forced. I wish we had spent the whole time with the two main characters OR that everyone was treated as a main character, which I think would have been way more interesting.
Part four, for me, was what the book should have been all along. This is when things really came to life and started making sense. I loved them in the club, I loved all the friends together, I loved their final moments and, most of all, I loved the way they died (it’s really weird to write this). I loved the suggestion that they’d die because they met, but I also loved the fact they would die anyway – if Mateo had never met Rufus and never left the house; if Rufus had never met Mateo and just went to his favorite park. I think this ending was very clever.
I loved the idea of the Last Friend, and I loved the idea of living everyday as it is a lifetime. I think it’s such a current message and something we really take for granted.
I was also really impressed by Mateo and Rufus different voices, I think Adam’s writing is really special. I just wish he had spent a little more time with this because the story is amazing.
Amazing!
If you had an doubts about how brilliant Adam Silvera is, then this book will remove all doubts indefinitely. I don’t even know how this book could be adventurous, funny, and sad all at the same time while begging the question, “how would you spend your last day on earth?”
Rufus and Mateo are lovable characters who I immediately connected with. They are complete opposites but find a unlikely friendship when faced with their death day. I like that they changed each other. Rufus was more adventurous and daring than Mateo and pulled him out of his shell and truly lived. Rufus is more guarded and Mateo helps him bring out his more generous side by helping those who have less than him.
So basically this book is truly fantastic. I really fell in love while knowing things would not end well for these two characters, but loving the ride all the same. Adam Silvera broke my heart with this book. He is a talented writer who comes up with very unique stories that really make you think. I can’t recommend this book enough. It is so worth reading.
I didn’t want it to end…!
Omg I love this book it’s so twisted and I recommended this book,,,,,,,,,,,
This was equal parts beautiful and crushing. The premise and the pacing of the story was excellent, but the characters really made it something special.