Would you want to know if you were going to die today? Mateo and Rufus have just found out they have less than 24 hours to live in Adam Silvera's novel, They Both Die at the End. This book surprised me, despite having a title that seems like a spoiler in itself. There are such great character arcs given the limited period of time and a huge emotional payoff.
The story centers around two young men who have both received a call telling them that today is their last day to live. As they both tie up loose ends and decide how to spend their final hours, they find each other through an app for Last Friends. The app's purpose is to connect you to someone with whom to spend your final hours and help you fulfill any last wishes. This is how Mateo and Rufus find each other, total strangers who go on to play transformational roles in the rest of each other's lives.
The title They Both Die at the End grabbed my attention immediately. It could be argued that the title itself is a spoiler, but I disagree. The fact that both Mateo and Rufus are supposed to die is laid out at the beginning of the book. It's no secret to the reader or the characters themselves. Doing so makes the story less about how they die and more about how they choose to live their last moments which is much more meaningful. What gave me hope was the name fumble early on that could mean one of the main characters is wrongly told it is his day to die. This moment gave me hope for an ending different than the one the title suggests. Therefore, I didn't assume anyone would die for sure.
The concept that Silvera is playing with in They Both Die at the End is an interesting one and raises many questions. Knowing we are going to die changes how we intend to live. It gives us an opportunity to say goodbye and plan for our death in a way that is meaningful to us. It also gives us the chance to leave without as many regrets. Knowing death is imminent would also cause stress and anxiety, perhaps causing some to live their last minutes in fear trying to avoid death altogether. Would you want to know or would you rather go on in blissful ignorance? I think I would like to know. To say my last goodbyes and spend time with the people I love most is a comforting thought.
Although I won't tell you if they do both die at the end, I will tell you I loved the ending and highly recommend that you read it for yourself. It is full of moments of bravery, love, and growth. As I finished the last few pages I was left in awe. I didn't realize how moved I was until I was turning the last few pages and holding back tears. This the kind of story that keeps me coming back to young adult fiction.
Yours Literarily,
Lauren.
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