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33vee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Car accident
etherealisnt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I didn't believe the book title and look were it got me :(
Woah, this was a ride.. I love Mateo and Rufus!! Their relationship was soooo greatly written. I loved the plot and concept as well, super interesting.
Oh lord, the ending broke me. I felt so hopeless and desperate when the ending came near. WTF.
Why didn't I believe the title right away? That They Both Die At The End? I tried to believe that it was just a title - foolish brain. Hope is a cruel drug, I just remember closing the book in shock, I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.
Woah, this was a ride.. I love Mateo and Rufus!! Their relationship was soooo greatly written. I loved the plot and concept as well, super interesting.
Oh lord, the ending broke me. I felt so hopeless and desperate when the ending came near. WTF.
Why didn't I believe the title right away? That They Both Die At The End? I tried to believe that it was just a title - foolish brain. Hope is a cruel drug, I just remember closing the book in shock, I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and Car accident
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book did a really good job of balancing the heaviness of its material with the need to tell a story that wouldn’t stay mired in existential dread. i appreciate that author wrote from Mateo’s and Rufus’ point of view and did so with distinct characterization. i admire as well how fleshed out all of the non main character felt as well. the story felt like a realistic depiction of what might go down in a world where Death-cast existed. At times, i found the theme being reiterated with slightly different phrasing that didn’t add to the story. i also feel that some people may read this story and not get the message the author intended. it’s a complicated topic, and I am glad someone made an attempt to address it through fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Grief, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Confinement, Gun violence, Medical content, and Stalking
adelekittey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Death, and Violence
maiabradley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Gun violence and Violence
nahtagain's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, and Death
Minor: Bullying
bertrandlm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Violence
sefalinde's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Car accident, Gun violence, Suicide, Hate crime, Death, and Grief
Minor: Chronic illness, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide attempt
jackslackofshelfcontrol's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
The concept of the book was unique, and I found it very compelling. I listened to the audiobook, which had multiple voice actors performing different parts.
My main criticism is that the ending of the book was extremely abrupt, and we didn't get closure on any of our minor storylines.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
My main criticism is that the ending of the book was extremely abrupt, and we didn't get closure on any of our minor storylines.
Overall, I really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, Cursing, Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence
The book obviously discusses death (and what it means to really live) for, essentially, the entirety of the text. There are some minor scenes referencing the potential triggers I tagged above but I didn't find it to be gory or gruesome or overly dark.agenericmirkwoodelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
3.5, but I’ll round up to 4!
I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did! It’s so different from what I usually decide to pick up. Perhaps I should stray out of my comfort zone more often, because I have definitely encountered some gems on the world of contemporary this year!
Let’s start with what I enjoyed:
- The concept. Depth and feeling is ingrained in the very nature of what this book is about. It makes for an interesting read- heavy themes paired with a writing styles typically used for lighthearted stories! I think that’s part of what makes it such an effective experience. I was leery of the simple prose at first, but truthfully, that was key to humanizing it!
I here someone compare it to the writing style of a journal, and I think that works well. Throughout the story, photography is used to capture the little moments. And, at its core, isn’t that what a journal does too?
I also thought the pacing was well done! It was slow and a bit meandering, but still perpetually moving. The way it was broken up really helped this effect as well! There was some semblance of a climax, but it really wasn’t what the story was building to. In fact, it was more akin to a high-action moment of setup. In the topic of setup, this story excels in that area! The inevitability of the outcome really drags readers through. We’re kept on our toes because we have no idea ho it’s going to come about. It’s the same tactic used by non-linear stories, such as Vicious, condensed beautifully!
It was very much an exploration of fate.
The ending didn’t hit me as hard as it might have, and I think that’s because the acceptance of it happening was the journey that the characters went on. And the journey that I, as a reader, went on with them. By the time they had learned t accept it, so had I.
So, why not 5 stars?
As much as I thought the writing was effective, I would have liked a little bit more in terms of scene description. It was someone’s hard to picture the environment the characters were in, which made it a little bit difficult to connect to the message of living life to the fullest in this world.
But yeah! I’m glad I read this book!
I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did! It’s so different from what I usually decide to pick up. Perhaps I should stray out of my comfort zone more often, because I have definitely encountered some gems on the world of contemporary this year!
Let’s start with what I enjoyed:
- The concept. Depth and feeling is ingrained in the very nature of what this book is about. It makes for an interesting read- heavy themes paired with a writing styles typically used for lighthearted stories! I think that’s part of what makes it such an effective experience. I was leery of the simple prose at first, but truthfully, that was key to humanizing it!
I here someone compare it to the writing style of a journal, and I think that works well. Throughout the story, photography is used to capture the little moments. And, at its core, isn’t that what a journal does too?
I also thought the pacing was well done! It was slow and a bit meandering, but still perpetually moving. The way it was broken up really helped this effect as well! There was some semblance of a climax, but it really wasn’t what the story was building to. In fact, it was more akin to a high-action moment of setup. In the topic of setup, this story excels in that area! The inevitability of the outcome really drags readers through. We’re kept on our toes because we have no idea ho it’s going to come about. It’s the same tactic used by non-linear stories, such as Vicious, condensed beautifully!
It was very much an exploration of fate.
The ending didn’t hit me as hard as it might have, and I think that’s because the acceptance of it happening was the journey that the characters went on. And the journey that I, as a reader, went on with them. By the time they had learned t accept it, so had I.
So, why not 5 stars?
As much as I thought the writing was effective, I would have liked a little bit more in terms of scene description. It was someone’s hard to picture the environment the characters were in, which made it a little bit difficult to connect to the message of living life to the fullest in this world.
But yeah! I’m glad I read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts