A love story with a difference - an unforgettable tale of life, loss and making each day count.
On September 5th, 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.
Another beautiful, heartbreaking and life-affirming book from the brilliant Adam Silvera, author of More Happy Than Not, History Is All You Left Me, What If It's Us, Here's To Us and the Infinity Cycle series.
What did I think?
I've had my eye on They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera for quite a while so I was delighted to be invited to take part in the Tandem Collective readalong.
It's such an original idea for a world where each person who is going to die that day gets a call from Death-Cast to let them know today is the day. With one day left to live there are things to do and people to see but simply not enough time to do everything you haven't done, especially if you're teenagers like Mateo and Rufus.
Mateo and Rufus don't know each other at the start of the book but they find each other through the Last Friend app and together they cram as much into their last day as they possibly can. As well as chapters about Mateo and Rufus, there are a lot of chapters about other characters who either did or didn't get the call from Death-Cast and I loved how they all linked together like a finely woven fabric.
Whilst it is sad, it wasn't as heartbreaking as I expected as I had the whole book to come to terms with the two main characters both dying at the end...it says so in the very title. It's their last day of living that the book is all about and it's really thought-provoking and strangely uplifting. Why is it that we only decide to really live when we're told we are about to die?
The book also had me questioning how I would feel about getting a call from Death-Cast and whilst it would be devastating and scary it also made me think about the days where I didn't get a call. As someone who worries about her loved ones dying, it takes the worry out of every day if you know they will get a call on the day it will inevitably happen.
Highly original and incredibly thought-provoking, They Both Die at the End is a massive wake-up call to live your best day every day. It feels strange to say I enjoyed it but I really did and I will be most surprised if it doesn't end up being made into a film or miniseries. An unforgettable and highly recommended read.
I received a gifted copy to read for the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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