A review by kayoticreadz
The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera

dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

I really wanted to give this 5 stars because it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. But unfortunately, it didn’t fully live up to my expectations for most of the book. 

The story mainly follows Paz and Alano in a kind of forced “gay awakening” situation, where they basically cling to each other trying to find joy in just surviving. If you’re looking for a healthy queer romance, this isn’t it. The book deals with a lot of heavy stuff (suicide, guilt, BPD, codependency, surviving abuse) and honestly, the way their relationship is portrayed felt more toxic than romantic. That alone dropped it a star for me. 

That said, I did really appreciate how the book ties in with the other Death-Cast novels. It adds more depth to the whole universe and brings up some really interesting questions about fate and whether knowing your death date is actually helpful or harmful. Adam Silvera definitely knows how to mess with your emotions in the best (and worst) way.
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