They Both Die at the End | Book Review
Book: They Both Die at the End
Author: Adam Silvera
Rating: 5/5
Age Rating: 14+
Description:
They Both Die at the End is a young adult fiction/romance novel that takes place in a world where advancements in technology have created Death-Cast, a service that can predict the day on which a person is going to die. Death-Cast then notifies these deckers, people who are going to die that day, to break the news. The novel follows teenagers Mateo and Rufus who both receive their Death-Cast calls on the same day; they then meet up using an app called Last Friend which allows deckers to connect with other deckers who are destined to die that day. Mateo and Rufus spend their “last day” together having the adventure of a lifetime, connecting to each other on a deeper level than anyone could have imagined; all while the inevitability of their deaths festers in their minds as the hours slip away.
The Review:
Captivating until the very last word, They Both Die at the End is a mesmerizing look at the inevitability of death, the value of relationships, and how one person can change your entire outlook on life, even if it’s at the very end. It is truly remarkable to see both Mateo and Rufus develop as characters, bringing out the best in each other while deepening their own unique bond.
Adam Silvera creates an immersive, futuristic New York City setting that will leave the reader wondering if what he wrote on the page may one day become a reality, while also letting the reader come to their own conclusion about the moral implications of a service that lets people know the day of their death.
The entire novel shifts between the perspectives of both Mateo and Rufus, along with other side characters. This not only allows us to find out exactly what our protagonists are feeling, but it also opens our eyes to what this world is like for people who work at Death-Cast, people who know their best friend is going to die within the next few hours, or even individuals plotting a murder. Silvera manages to make these transitions from different perspectives flow effortlessly, embedding details in each account that are guaranteed to weave together a greater image as the novel progresses.
Final Statements:
This book truly is amazing, and I for one would recommend it to just about everyone. I actually finished it in one day, unable to put it down once I started. My favorite part of the novel was the relationship between Mateo and Rufus, which will leave even the most stone-hearted person sheepishly smiling down at the pages. However, it was the ending that stuck with me the most after reading the novel, and I spent a good number of days lying awake at night thinking about the last chapter.
Since this is a spoiler-free review, I’ll refrain from giving anything away; however, I will say that anyone who can finish this book with a dry eye is definitely in the minority. So, anyone who wishes to laugh, cry, and become hooked on an amazing novel should definitely give They Both Die at the End a shot, and I guarantee they will fall in love with this beautiful novel.
