They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera book review: An emotional tour-de-force

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera: The review

They Both Die at the End isn’t my usual read, and I’ve certainly never read a book whose title tells me exactly what’s going to happen. You see, this book is set in an alternative reality where a service called Death Cast calls you on the day you’re going to die. It follows teenagers Rufus and Mateo, who both get the call shortly after midnight. Using the ‘Last Friend’ app, a service designed to help people make friends after receiving the Death Cast call, the teens connect to spend their final hours together.

There’s no big plot twists and, for the most part, no big thrills: They Both Die at the End is simply an exploration of the emotions that one must feel, knowing their life is soon to be over. It’s packed with feeling, and I’m not ashamed to admit I teared up several times over the course of reading. You’ll learn more about both boys’ lives, their families, and their personal struggles. They’re both very different, but the way they connect is beautiful.

You will be kept on the edge of your seat, however, because you simply don’t know when Rufus and Mateo’s day will end. We know what’s coming, but not how it will happen. And considering both boys are healthy, we know it’s likely to be something unexpected and sudden. I found myself wishing that somehow they’d beat the odds, that Death Cast got it wrong. After all, we don’t know everything about the world they live in; maybe that’s something that happens occasionally. Ultimately, these boys are so wonderfully written that I simply wanted to spend more time with them.

They Both Die at the End is split into very short chapters, which are timestamped over the course of Mateo and Rufus’ last day. Chapters switch between both boys’ perspectives, written in first person, and the odd chapter from a different character, written in third person, is occasionally thrown in too. It’s a nice touch, giving a wider view of the world Adam Silvera has created. Most other characters may be inconsequential, but the way they overlap with Mato and Rufus’ story is a very neat touch.

This is a YA novel, but Adam Silvera’s writing is so beautiful that it never feels basic or simplistic like others in the genre can. If you enjoy character-driven stories and like emotional narratives, you won’t regret reading this.

With thanks to Tandem Collective UK and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book.