Adam Silvera’s They Both Die At The End Book Review

Hello reader friends!  Today I’m going to be sharing my They Both Die At The End book review. I know this title sounds depressing and maybe it is. But this book wound up being an extremely powerful read that I would recommend to any of my bookish friends. It’s a story that makes you consider life in a way you haven’t before. 

It made me think about how I would want to spend my last day, if I knew it was coming.

What is They Both Die At The End About?

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.

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. (from amazon.com)

Who is author Adam Silvera?

Adam Silvera is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of They Both Die at the End. He is also known for More Happy Than Not, History is All You Left Me, and the Infinity Cycle Series. He’s written two books with Becky Albertalli, who is known for the Simonverse series.

My Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel reading this story. Although the plot sounded interesting, I was worried that the story would be too dark for me. I don’t really like to think about death because it makes me sad. And the idea of losing two main characters who I would most likely learn to love during this course of this book seemed like too much.

I know this sounds cheesy, but this book really isn’t about the end. It’s about the journey the different characters take to get there. Mateo and Rufus become fast friends as they travel around New York City, trying to complete tasks on their bucket lists during their final hours.

Mateo and  Rufus each have a backstory which helps explain why they act the way they do. Mateo’s focus on his last day is visiting his dad and his best friend one more time. Meanwhile Rufus wants to say goodbye to his friends from his foster home (who wind up being very interesting side characters, might I say) and his first love.

Honestly, This Book Gave Me Anxiety

I’m a pretty anxious person, so although this book had a good message, it also made me feel very anxious. Every time the boys did anything, I was scared that they would get in a car crash or a subway crash or some other crazy situation. I can’t be the only one, right?

This book also features many sad situations, like Mateo’s backstory where he reveals he lost his entire family a long time ago. There are a lot of moving moments in this story, but there’s also a lot of sadness.

This story really took me out of my comfort zone, and that’s probably a good thing.

But, This Book Examines Death in a Really Interesting Way

How would you spend your final day on earth, if you knew you would die? It’s a lot of pressure. When both Rufus and Mateo receive the call from death cast telling them that the upcoming day would be their last, there is some panic. Rufus plans to attend his own funeral. Mateo plans to hibernate at home with his video games. But then thanks to the Last Friend App they meet each other, and everything changes.

This is a great book because it’s so realistic. The characters go through shock, panic, euphoria, complacency, depression, fear, and finally acceptance. At one point Mateo even points out that he could use a nap, which makes sense since the two of them had been awake since one o’clock in the morning.

The title of the book is a little bit depressing, but it’s honest. In the pages of this book, we meet high school aged characters who wind up being wise beyond their years. 

I thought the idea of death cast was really interesting. I felt so bad for the phone operators who had to make the calls. It must be so upsetting to have to tell people that they’re going to die. And the last friend app was really interesting too. It’s nice that people can meet up with and get to know people who are going through the same thing that they are going through.

My First Adam Silvera Book

​They Both Die at the End is my first time reading an Adam Silvera book. I enjoyed this book and I wonder if all of Adam’s books are this good? I guess I will have to read more to find out! Next on my list is reading the prequel to this book called The First to Die at the End.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Is the book They Both Die At The End LGBT?

Yes, They Both Die At The End is a LGBT book. The characters in this story fall on varying ends of the sexuality spectrum.

Do Rufus and Mateo fall in love?

I think that’s up for interpretation! On one hand, it is hard to fall in love with someone that you have known for less than a day. But on the other hand, there is something so special about the connection that Rufus and Mateo form over the course of the day. I consider theirs to be a love story.

Can a 12 year old read They Both Die at the End?

Yes, a 12 year old could read They Both Die At the End. They Both Die at the End is a young adult novel that features teenage characters. Like many young adult novels it covers topics like falling in love, fitting in, and learning to face your fears. It also examines death and the unpredictability of life, which is something I wish I had thought more about when I was growing up.

Is They Both Die at the End worth reading?

Yes, They Both Die at the End is absolutely worth reading! While the beginning was a little slow, the wonderful character development makes up for it. Over the course of an eventful day, Mateo and Rufus get to know each other through dark humor and personal stories. They share things with each other that they may not have shared otherwise, if it weren’t for their imminent deaths.

Although this story is fantasy in a way, it also felt like real life. It really reminded me that it’s important to enjoy the little things in life.

Is They Both Die At the End Inappropriate?

No, there is nothing inappropriate in They Both Die At the End. Unless you count death and dying as inappropriate?

Is there a They Both Die At The End sequel?

There is actually a prequel! They Both Die At the End is book one and The First To Die at The End is the prequel, although I think it focuses on different characters.

Does They Both Die at the End have any spicy scenes?

No, although this story features love it is not a romance novel. It does not have any spicy scenes.

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed today’s They Both Die At The End book review. This was a completely different kind of book for me to read. It was hard to process the story at times, but it’s a very meaningful story.

What would you do if you got a death-cast call? That’s something I’ve been thinking about ever since I finished this book. Mateo and Rufus’s story really warmed my heard and made me believe in one-day love stories.

Sometimes good things can come from bad situations. This book reminded me how precious precious last hours and last moments can be. If you enjoy young adult fiction that makes you think, definitely check this book out!

But wait, there’s more!

If you enjoyed today’s book discussion, you can read more of my reviews here.