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emrodav's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe my favorite Adam Silvera book to date, which I didn't expect!
For a book that spans less than 24 hours, the start was kind of slow and confusing. This is mostly has to do with some awkward exposition and characterization.
As far as exposition, there's some dialogue related to the world building that feels a little bizarre when it's used as though the reader should understand, especially the terms like "Decker" for those who have received their phone calls notifying them of their impending doom. There's also some plot holes about how Death Cast could operate without a million paradoxes, but that's not something I feel like getting into a lot.
There was a lot of telling and not showing about Mateo in the beginning. Within the first few (short) chapters, it's very clear that Mateo hasn't "lived his life tot he fullest" because he's scared. It just feels kind of cliche and obvious.
However, as the book goes on and Mateo and Rufus get to know each other better and share their stories and their last day together, I really loved the book. There was just something really beautiful about two boys with their own issues, their own heartbreaks, coming together to push each other to truly live on their last day. It may seem hard to believe that two people could forge such a deep connection in such a short amount of time, but it was just so well executed that it felt completely real -- and thus totally devastating.
I also really loved how Silvera gave little snippets of the perspectives of other characters in the universe. We got to see how the stories of Rufus and Mateo were connected to so many more people, and how they affected those people before and after their last day. It could have been kind of gimmicky, but I think it was really effective.
I can't recommend Silvera's books enough.
For a book that spans less than 24 hours, the start was kind of slow and confusing. This is mostly has to do with some awkward exposition and characterization.
As far as exposition, there's some dialogue related to the world building that feels a little bizarre when it's used as though the reader should understand, especially the terms like "Decker" for those who have received their phone calls notifying them of their impending doom. There's also some plot holes about how Death Cast could operate without a million paradoxes, but that's not something I feel like getting into a lot.
There was a lot of telling and not showing about Mateo in the beginning. Within the first few (short) chapters, it's very clear that Mateo hasn't "lived his life tot he fullest" because he's scared. It just feels kind of cliche and obvious.
However, as the book goes on and Mateo and Rufus get to know each other better and share their stories and their last day together, I really loved the book. There was just something really beautiful about two boys with their own issues, their own heartbreaks, coming together to push each other to truly live on their last day. It may seem hard to believe that two people could forge such a deep connection in such a short amount of time, but it was just so well executed that it felt completely real -- and thus totally devastating.
I also really loved how Silvera gave little snippets of the perspectives of other characters in the universe. We got to see how the stories of Rufus and Mateo were connected to so many more people, and how they affected those people before and after their last day. It could have been kind of gimmicky, but I think it was really effective.
I can't recommend Silvera's books enough.
justpeachyj13's review against another edition
5.0
When I tell you I bawled my eyes out reading this book, I mean it. It's so beautifully written and very heartbreaking. While reading this there were plenty of times that I had thought each person was going to die but they never did and then they died in a way I did not expect. Even though you know how the book ends based on the title, it is still such a good book and I never expected what was going to happen next and I am so glad that I read this book.
ebarrett3's review against another edition
5.0
There's an interesting bit of playing with fate in this story. Terminally ill people obviously die from their terminal illnesses it's just a matter of when. But what about the people who get the call and then go do something reckless because well, they're already fated to die, they just don't know how. That's how it is for Matteo and Rufus. If they hadn't recevied their phone calls, what would they have been doing instead? Or is the method and date of death always fated but the where/how of it are variable?
I want to read the blog posts of people who are anti-DeathCast and want to abolish it. I see their point.
I want to read the blog posts of people who are anti-DeathCast and want to abolish it. I see their point.
mabss's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
c_ab_bage's review against another edition
5.0
the irony in the way mateo died made me sob, wtf. this book just pumps out quotes and somehow brings you to care about every character you meet even if we only know them for a few pages. the author did a stunning job building the bond between our main characters and somehow still made the end heart wrenching even though the title essentially spoils the ending. absolutely recommend to people who read for the characters and not the plot, this is your kind of book :)
bsellers39's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
5.0
You would think reading the title you would be prepared for the ending. I wasn’t. I was nervous more times than I could count. I laughed out loud, I got cute little butterflies, and I cried. And cried. And cried.
It was beautifully written. I was able to truly connect with the characters and this book tore me to shreds by the very end. This will take me a little while to recover from.
It was beautifully written. I was able to truly connect with the characters and this book tore me to shreds by the very end. This will take me a little while to recover from.
savble23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
ithappens's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
allloae's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0