A review by jessread_s
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

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

4.5

Review: A beautiful, yet devastating story on love, loss, and taking risks. 

 

“They Both Die at the End” follow Rufus and Mateo, total strangers that find friendship in each other as they spend their last day trying to live a lifetime. 

 

Silvera immediately captivated me with his unique and distinctive characters. Some are central to the storyline and others are more periphery, but each has their own voice and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into their lives in reading from their perspective. 

 

I especially gravitated towards chapters written from Mateo’s point-of-view because as a professional overthinker, I saw a lot of myself in his character. I loved watching him develop throughout the novel and get to a point where he could make the most out of his last day and be his most authentic self with Rufus at his side. I’m so glad he got to experience love and odd as it sounds, his journey gave me hope for myself. 

 

Despite knowing what would happen (as made clear by the title) I was still gripped by emotion. The build-up to the novel’s climax is slow and mundane, making the ending more jarring in my opinion. The bonus story in the collector’s edition is what really tipped me over the edge. I sobbed uncontrollably and I anticipate that the other two books in the series will make me do the same.