*Trigger Warning: death, terminal illness, grief, loss, emotional distress, suicide
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you only had 24 hours left to live? Would you live your life differently? Would you take risks? In They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are forced to answer those questions after receiving a call from the mysterious Death-Cast service, which informs them that they will die that very day. Despite knowing they won’t survive, they try to make the most of their final hours. This story is about death, love, and the unexpected connections that can change your life in an instant.
Book Summary (Spoiler Free):
Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio are total strangers at first, but they both receive a call from Death-Cast saying they will die that day. Death-Cast is an organization in charge of calling people and informing them that they’re going to die in the next 24 hours. These people are named Deckers, and on this particular day, Mateo and Rufus both got the call.
Faced with the knowledge that their time is limited, both of them decide to download the Last Friend app, which pairs deckers with each other, helping them make a last friend. Fate paired them together, so they decided to spend their final hours in each other’s presence.
What begins as a random meeting quickly becomes an unforgettable last journey about living life to the fullest, cherishing every second left, and discovering love. As Mateo, the quiet, shy teenager, and Rufus, the more adventurous and rebellious one, journey through their last day together, their last hours together, and their last seconds together, they learn about each other, themselves, and how they want to leave the world.
Book Review:
The unique story of They Both Die at the End had me hooked from the start. The idea of receiving a phone call telling you when you’ll die is scary, yet the author, Adam Silvera, brings an emotional weight to the story that makes you sympathize with the characters.
Mateo and Rufus are both characters you want to root for. Mateo is a quiet, anxious person who has spent most of his life hiding from the world due to his fears.
“My favorite character is Mateo because I can relate [with] him; he is introverted and likes staying at home,” said Sophia Marroquin, a freshman at Mt. SAC Early College Academy (MECA).
On the other hand, Rufus is more adventurous and willing to enjoy whatever time he has left. Their differences are what make their bond so powerful. Despite the clock ticking down, they find solace in each other and discover what it means to truly live.
The pacing of the book works really well. With only 24 hours to tell a story, every moment feels significant. Sophia stated, “I like the pacing. Obviously, it’s moving a little bit quickly because they only have one day to live, but I think Adam Silvera wrote it really well.” Silvera doesn’t waste time, and each chapter takes you closer to the inevitable ending.
Makenna Chung, a freshman at MECA, shared, “I think it was a really well-structured book, and I enjoyed reading it, and I think that the author is really able to convey a good storyline.” The way Silvera writes about topics like death and love is heartbreaking. But at the same time, the writing is hopeful. Even though they know they will die, Mateo and Rufus make the most out of their last day, teaching readers that it is never too late to take chances and appreciate the small moments in life.
While Chung found the characters “kind of grayish” because she read the book a long time ago, she thinks, “It’s very interesting seeing their backstory, and [how they’re] still able to protect each other and try to be together.”
The ending, of course, was bittersweet. Since the title gives it away, we know from the beginning that Mateo and Rufus won’t make it, but readers still can’t help but feel devastated when it happens. Even if you can see the ending coming, it’s still hard to shake the feeling of loss when the book ends. Iliana Maldonado, a freshman at MECA, shared, “I really did [expect them to die at the end]. I was like things are going way too well in this, they’re gonna die.”
“I assumed the characters would die by the end, but it still hit me hard… It was just a sad way for them to go, but at least they made the most of their last day,” Marroquin said.
Chung, Marroquin, and Maldonado agreed that even though the book was about death, it’s really about the importance of cherishing the people you love and living without regret.
Ultimately, They Both Die at the End is more than just a story about two boys facing death; it’s a deep exploration of living with urgency, embracing love, and making the most of every moment. Adam Silvera’s writing takes you on an emotional journey where you can’t help but reflect on your own life. It’s a reminder to appreciate every moment, no matter how small, because you never know when your time will come.
If you enjoyed They Both Die at the End, Chung recommends the book Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, which is also an LGBTQ+ romance book.
