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They Both Die at the End (They Both Die at the End, #1)

Adam Silvera

Start date: November 1, 2017

Finish date: December 31, 2017

Discussion: group reads

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What Members Thought

Oct 20, 2017 Thomas rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, lgbtq, romance

Ugh, I really respect and appreciate Adam Silvera, but I did not love this book. They Both Die at the End follows two teens, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who have been told by Death-Cast that they will die today. Death-Cast lets people know on the day of their death that they will die, so people often spend their last day however they want - letting go of inhibitions, making new and final connections, or shutting it all out. Mateo and Rufus choose to spend their final day together, starting Ugh, I really respect and appreciate Adam Silvera, but I did not love this book. They Both Die at the End follows two teens, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who have been told by Death-Cast that they will die today. Death-Cast lets people know on the day of their death that they will die, so people often spend their last day however they want - letting go of inhibitions, making new and final connections, or shutting it all out. Mateo and Rufus choose to spend their final day together, starting out as strangers and then becoming closer and closer as their time runs out.

I have so much love for Adam Silvera because, in addition to making himself vulnerable and authentic on social media, he writes books that spotlight characters of color and LGBTQ+ characters. His debut novel, More Happy Than Not , still serves as one of the most innovative and powerful books I have ever read. While They Both Die at the End does well on the diversity front, it did not make much of an emotional impact. I totally admire Silvera's intention and premise with this book: to use a unique premise and deliver a heartfelt message about seizing the day and making every moment count. However, because our two main characters lacked the depth or nuance of past characters we have encountered in Silvera's work, the overall story fell flat. I wish we had gotten more background on and development of Mateo and Rufus, so that their last day felt more meaningful. Instead, They Both Die at the End came across more as a chronicle of things they did together, without the gravity or ingenuity we have come to love from Silvera's books.

Overall, an okay book, but not one I would rush out to buy. I much preferred Gayle Forman's Just One Day . Though this book also focuses on a romance that occurs within the span of one day, Forman hones in on her main character's emotions, background, and growth, so we walk away feeling connected with her and immersed in her development. While They Both Die at the End did not instill that same emotion of character-driven wonder within me, I am hopeful that Silvera will deliver many more splendid books in the future. ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Charlie Smith rated it liked it

When I read books with diverse characters I am grateful at least some of the world has evolved to the degree it has, and imagine how different my life might have been had I had novels like this when I was young.

This is the second book I've read by Adam Silvera and he has an easy, likeable style. The characters speak in authentic-sounding voices and exhibit a full range of humanity, meaning, they have flaws and shortcomings and their stories do not always end as we might like.

Adam Silvera's gift When I read books with diverse characters I am grateful at least some of the world has evolved to the degree it has, and imagine how different my life might have been had I had novels like this when I was young.

This is the second book I've read by Adam Silvera and he has an easy, likeable style. The characters speak in authentic-sounding voices and exhibit a full range of humanity, meaning, they have flaws and shortcomings and their stories do not always end as we might like.

Adam Silvera's gift is that he finds optimism and hope even in the dark.

That said, I confess I had some difficulty getting past the premise, or, rather, the lack of exploration of the premise within the text. In an alternate now there is a group called Death-Cast which alerts people they are to die sometime in the next 24 hours. There isn't any magic realism in the plot, really, this is just presented as fact, and although some of the characters wonder how Death-Cast knows people's death dates, it is not ever explored in the story. There are details about services and goods and apps that have been invented to serve the market of the soon to die, but I would have liked far more time spent on what was for me a very intriguing and unique proposition for an alternate reality.

However, this was not that book, and that's not a criticism, just a wish. This is a story about two young men, Mateo and Rufus, brought together for the first time on what they've been told are their final days to live, and all the ways in which coincidence, choices, accidents, and circumstance contribute to our fate, and, too, how much of that we never know or recognize as it is occurring; how our smallest action can change irrevocably the life of others.

That's some heavy thinking there and handled with a gentle touch rather than harangue. Adam Silvera has a gift for letting significant messages and fable-like morals happen through the characters' actions, without judgement.

A lovely work of art exploring big ideas on the scale of individual lives. Well done. And inclusive. Bravo.

I do, however, wish the AT in the title was an IN. They Both Die In The End. Just me. ...more

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Mar 18, 2018 Marty Webb rated it really liked it

Good writing but really 3.5

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Jul 24, 2022 L. rated it really liked it

Shelves: sciencefiction, lgbtq, romance, ya

Interesting format. The story was sad, but well told. Like a lot of Black Mirror type scifi, it's easy to point out the problems with the science, but overall it was a fun device for a sweet and fun story about life in the face of death. ...more

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Jul 16, 2020 Matt rated it really liked it

This novel had me contemplating about death and the fear of it repeatedly for three days straight. I am not a emotional reader but I definitely found it to be heartbreaking. I might have shed a tear or two. I can’t help it I was rooting for those two young men. This is a good sad read 🥺

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