Adam Silvera

In a near-future New York City where a service alerts people on the day they will die, teenagers Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio meet using the Last Friend app and are faced with the challenge of living a lifetime on their End Day.

They Both Die at the End

Saraya Boyce

“𝐈 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞.“

Aistė

No, even if he didn't die a hero's death, he died a hero.

I kiss my Last Friend because the world can't be against us if it brought us together.

People have their time stamps on how long you should know someone before earning the right to say it, but I wouldn't lie to you no matter how little time we have. 

People waste time and wait for the right moment and we don't have that luxury.

(...) But because we're about to die, I want to say it as many times as I want-- I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.

"My Last Message would be to find your people. And to treat each day like a lifetime."

In the future, Rufus is a travel blogger and I'm an architect. We have tattoos we got together. We've gone to so many concerts he can't keep them straight in his head. 

I almost wish we weren't so creative in this moment, because these fake memories of friendship feel incredible. Imagine that-- reliving something you never lived.

I want us to have history, something longer than the small window of time we're actually sharing

We take it slow, and out of all the ways I've lived today, maintaining eye contact with Rufus is really hard; it's easily become the most intense intimacy ever I've ever experi- enced. 

He leans in to my ear, throwing me into this weird phase where I'm relieved to be free of his gaze but also miss his eyes and the way he looks at me, like I'm good enough 

No one will send messages to friends about the lame kid who had no rhythm. And in this moment, how stupid it was to care hits me like a punch to the face.

I wasted time and missed fun because I cared about the wrong things.

That love is a superpower we all have, but it's not always a superpower I'd be able to control. Especially as I get older. Sometimes it'll go crazy and I shouldn't be scared if my power hits someone I'm not expecting it to.

but he should fear never beginning to live.

but that is not what ships are built for.

Aaron Richardson

Aimee :)

I return my attention to the video, his voice blasting in my ears.

I cross the street without an arm to hold me back.

Makes me wish I'd known him since childhood.

No, even if he didn't die a hero's death, he died a hero,

I talk to the boy in the body bag about all the things we said we'd do together, but he can't hear me.

I'm sitting on the curb when the medics bag Mateo Torrez up.

"Come on, Mateo, it's me, Roof. You hear me, right? It's Roof. Wake up now. Please wake up.”

Another medic opens the ambulance's rear doors, but he doesn't put Mateo in the back. He pulls out a body bag.

A medic checks Mateo's pulse and looks at me with sympathy and it's fucking bullshit.

I'm not going to add a review but I got about 2-3.5 hours into the audiobook and I just had to return it. It felt like the characters just kept repeating the same things. I heard good things about this book so maybe i needed to get further but after reading that long and the characters just repeating "oh no I'm going to die today" without doing anything to live just was a bit boring.

I think the concept of the book was interesting but it was a bit too slow for my liking.

Ashley Denktas

I'm not going to add a review but I got about 2-3.5 hours into the audiobook and I just had to return it. It felt like the characters just kept repeating the same things. I heard good things about this book so maybe i needed to get further but after reading that long and the characters just repeating "oh no I'm going to die today" without doing anything to live just was a bit boring.

I think the concept of the book was interesting but it was a bit too slow for my liking.

It was a heartfelt journey and brought a tear to my eye. Really gets you in your feels for some parts of the book. A good read for those that want a reminder about life.

Kayla Pham

"They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera is a profoundly moving and heartbreaking novel that left me emotionally shattered. Despite the foreboding title, the unexpected impact of the characters' fate hit me with an overwhelming wave of sadness. 

“I would’ve loved you if we had more time.” The plot of "They Both Die at the End" revolves around the fleeting lives of Mateo and Rufus, and their short-lived (pun intended) love story which unfolds over the course of a few hours. Despite the brevity of their time together, their connection feels deep and profound. Adam Silvera expertly captures their chemistry and the sense that they have known each other for much longer. Mateo and Rufus love and the tragic inevitability of their fate left me yearning for more time for them, highlighting the cruel irony of their circumstances. 

Mateo, one of the protagonists, is absolutely my personal favorite. He's portrayed as an astonishingly sweet and kind-hearted boy. I couldn't help but feel a deep connection to him, wanting to protect him and encourage him to seize the opportunities he's going to miss with death knocking on his door. His vulnerability and longing for experiences resonated deeply with me. 

Rufus was a polar opposite to Mateo in terms of personality. He brought a different dynamic to the story. While I found his speech patterns, particularly his frequent use of "mad," very repetitive and even annoying at times, I appreciated the contrast it provided to his tough exterior. Despite their differences, Mateo and Rufus complemented each other beautifully. They created a love story that was both tender and bittersweet. 

Aimee's presence in the story added a sense of danger for Rufus because of Peck. But also because she broke his heart. Her character felt like a ticking time bomb — I feel like she was way more aggressive than Rufus was letting on. 

Peck was a character I disliked most, rightfully so. I wanted him hto get a call from Death-Cast next. His actions and behavior left me frustrated, and I was dying for consequences to catch up with him. 

The Plutos, particularly Malcolm, brought a touch of sweetness to the narrative. Their endearing nature and the role they played in Rufus and Mateo's story added a sense of warmth amidst the impending tragedy. 

Conclusion In conclusion, "They Both Die at the End" beautifully delves into themes of love, loss, and the importance of seizing the moment. Adam Silvera's portrayal of characters like Mateo and Rufus evokes a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving a lasting impact on you as a reader.

Tali 🧸ִֶָྀི𓂃

Rating: ★★★★★ 

"They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera is a profoundly moving and heartbreaking novel that left me emotionally shattered. Despite the foreboding title, the unexpected impact of the characters' fate hit me with an overwhelming wave of sadness. 

Plot Analysis 

“I would’ve loved you if we had more time.” The plot of "They Both Die at the End" revolves around the fleeting lives of Mateo and Rufus, and their short-lived (pun intended) love story which unfolds over the course of a few hours. Despite the brevity of their time together, their connection feels deep and profound. Adam Silvera expertly captures their chemistry and the sense that they have known each other for much longer. Mateo and Rufus love and the tragic inevitability of their fate left me yearning for more time for them, highlighting the cruel irony of their circumstances. 

Character Analysis 

Mateo 

Mateo, one of the protagonists, is absolutely my personal favorite. He's portrayed as an astonishingly sweet and kind-hearted boy. I couldn't help but feel a deep connection to him, wanting to protect him and encourage him to seize the opportunities he's going to miss with death knocking on his door. His vulnerability and longing for experiences resonated deeply with me. 

Rufus 

Rufus was a polar opposite to Mateo in terms of personality. He brought a different dynamic to the story. While I found his speech patterns, particularly his frequent use of "mad," very repetitive and even annoying at times, I appreciated the contrast it provided to his tough exterior. Despite their differences, Mateo and Rufus complemented each other beautifully. They created a love story that was both tender and bittersweet. 

Aimee 

Aimee's presence in the story added a sense of danger for Rufus because of Peck. But also because she broke his heart. Her character felt like a ticking time bomb — I feel like she was way more aggressive than Rufus was letting on. 

"Peck" 

Peck was a character I disliked most, rightfully so. I wanted him hto get a call from Death-Cast next. His actions and behavior left me frustrated, and I was dying for consequences to catch up with him. 

The Plutos (Malcolm & Tagoe) 

The Plutos, particularly Malcolm, brought a touch of sweetness to the narrative. Their endearing nature and the role they played in Rufus and Mateo's story added a sense of warmth amidst the impending tragedy. 

Conclusion In conclusion, "They Both Die at the End" beautifully delves into themes of love, loss, and the importance of seizing the moment. Adam Silvera's portrayal of characters like Mateo and Rufus evokes a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving a lasting impact on you as a reader.

Im crying. That was such a beautiful and heart-warm/heartbreaking book. I'm feeling so many emotions.

dezzy

elinabel hidalgo 

It's like Romeo and Juliet, but instead of poison, they get an exploding apartment. How romantic!

It was kind of predictable but it was worth the read.

Gina-Sophie Franz

Morana 

“Please promise you won’t go dying before me. I can’t see that.”

“Only if you promise the same thing.”

“Then I’m not promising my promise,” Mateo says. “I don’t want you to see me die, but I can’t watch you die either.”


It's a good story. I love how they lived their life in less than 24 hours. I guess fate led them to each other.

and Victor and Deliliah😭

Am Ende sterben wir sowieso

Ich hab die Bedeutung hinter dem Buch verstanden, ich fand sie auch echt süß. Als sie gestorben sind, musste ich tatsächlich bisschen weinen, weil es so herzzerreißend war. Ich empfehle das Buch an Beziehungen, die meistens nicht die Zeit mit deren Partner*in schätzen. Das ist ein recht lehrreiches Buch für‘s Leben, der Titel; Am Ende sterben wir sowieso, sagt schon einiges aus. 

Sofia 

(2.5) I am DNFing this as I can not finish this book. It is very very boring with the conversations unnatural and often times cringy. It had lovely messages and a nice concept but failed to convince me and make it into an emotional rollercoaster. Oops!

Anna 

Nahlédnout do posledního dne dvou náhodných kluků byl větší zážitek, než jsem si myslela. Bojácný Mateo se vzchopí a v poslední den jde ven s Rufusem, člověkem, kterého zrovna potkal na seznamce pro ztracence. Rufus musí utéct od pěstounské rodiny a začít odznovu. I když jen na den.
Oba na konci zemřou mě překvapila. Mile překvapila. Nečekala jsem nic extra, jen nějakou nudnou knížku o dvou chlapcích. Ale ve skutečnosti jsem si uvědomila docela dost věcí. Že nikdy nevíme, kdy umřeme, a že strach z neznáma je zbytečný. Musíme žít naplno, jako kdyby každý den byl náš poslední. Smrt prostě jednou přijde, a my to musíme pochopit a Smrti za to předem odpustit.
Byl to moc hezký příběh, i když to v podstatě byl jen obyčejný den.
✩
4,5*/5*, romantická linka mi tam přišla taková.. nechci říct nucená, ale obešla bych se bez ní. Konec byl celkem otevřený, to mě docela zklamalo. Ale jinak se mi knížka líbila a hlavně se četla vážně rychle.

Mathieu Schwab

An absolutely enchanting and original novel. The use of the dual narrators was excellent both in establishing their own voices and showing the plot the way it deserved to be shown. (view spoiler)[ The romantic twist was expected, and I'm normally really not a fan of books that show someone falling in love for the first time right before they die and so their life had Meaning. However, the way it was portrayed in this book felt absolutely natural and did not push the idea that romantic love is somehow intrinsically more important and more valuable than any other kind of love, and that was refreshing and I absolutely loved it.  (hide spoiler)] All in all, I was absolutely impressed by this novel, and cannot wait to start recommending it to everyone I can!

Meaghan

** spoiler alert **
           3.5 ⭐️
Maybe I missed it but this sort of reads like a YA novel, not sure if it is or not but it still had a great concept and story line. Some of it seemed rushed, like the fact that they survive an explosion, basically a terror attack and ride away like it was nothing. 

The way they find love in the end is very sweet and it made my heart swell knowing it wouldn’t last. 

Excited to read the prequel!

Matt Eaves

So lovely, a super entertaining read. Love how the timeline is strictly linear, yet told through many POVs

Andrea Morales

meh, a 3.5 ☆ read, rounded down to 3 stars
i liked the characters, and the romance felt cute at times, but couldn't really connect with it since the last third of the book felt very rushed and the world building was next to inexistent.

Naomi Waldorf

I liked this book a lot. It was very deep and emotional; special. I once dreamed about it, and I think that says a lot. It did take me a while to finish, but I'm glad I read it slowly. <spoiler>It was so fucking unfair that they died and someone gets to choose that for them.</spoiler> I wish I cried. Only shed a few tears... loved Mateo 😞

Bria

** spoiler alert **
           Why would Silvera make me fall in love with these characters who fall in love on the day they're going to die? Why did I underestimate how much I was going to love these character? And if Aimee doesn't leave that piece of shit, she never deserved Roof.

It's such a good book. I knew that this book would make me cry and it did. The last 60 pages I was in tears. I screamed when Matteo and Rufus finally kissed. I loved all the relationships between the characters. And I hate Patrick ( I think that's his name. I don't remember it exactly).  

Laura

It's such a good book. I knew that this book would make me cry and it did. The last 60 pages I was in tears. I screamed when Matteo and Rufus finally kissed. I loved all the relationships between the characters. And I hate Patrick ( I think that's his name. I don't remember it exactly).  

This book is a solid 4,5/5 ⭐️

Elisavet Rozaki 

a cute read, i wasn't sad but it was nice knowing how they lived their last day

They Both Die At The End

Sehr interessantes Konzept und wilder Schreibstil, aber das Ende ey☹️

Leon

ebrar

** spoiler alert **
           Although it has an interesting subject, I did not like the way the subject was handled and I found it unnecessary to read the point of view of the side characters. Especially when I empathized with Mateo, I think I wouldn't spend my last day like this and treat the people I love like this. If it was my last day on earth, I would not live like this in any way and It's not because I want to live my last day to the fullest.
Also the book reminded me of the midnight library and the fault in our stars and frankly I liked them more.

Caroline

“Two dudes meet. They fall for each other. They die.”

WOW! Yes you heard me right, some book just do not need long reviews to describe how you feel about it, just a simple WOW says it all. As the title suggest, you know that 2 people are going to die in the end but still you are hoping, praying and convincing yourself for a happy or different ending as you go deeper not just into the book but also deeper in the lives of the 2 characters Mateo and Rufus. 

For me personally the end was something I totally did not see coming though I knew it was going to be sad but I still did not expect it to hit me right in the face when I wishing for something happy to happen. Author Adam Silvera sure is a clever writer. The end was there right through in front of my very eyes but yet so difficult to spot. 

The book was also very thought provoking, it made me think of how I would love to spend my last day if I received such an alert?

Everyone should atleast read this book once.

kait

I was really rooting for this book and I had seen so many online reviews of it being just okay. I really wanted it to be good but it was...not? Like, it wasn't bad but it also just wasn't that good. I thought it was just deeply alright. In this book, we follow Mateo and Rufus who get a call during the early morning of September 5th that that are going to die before the day is up. As they realize that their time is going to run out, they decide to make a Last Friend in each other. They meet up for one epic final day as they say their goodbyes and live their lives to the fullest (as much as they can at least). Throughout this book, I thought that it began to get repetitive and the characters were not developing much. I wished that Rufus would say more or that the story would even get more exciting. I feel like, just as Mateo and Rufus were playing it safe, so was the author of this book. This book is, by no means, bad. I just wished it would give me more. One positive of the book is that it did make me emotional as they described death and how they were feeling as they knew they were gonna die but it wasn't the tearjerker, tug of the heartstrings I was searching for.

They Both Die at the End

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