BOOK REVIEW: THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END

Mental health - family - friends - love - letting go

Author: Adam Silvera

Genre: YA Fiction

Page Count: 368 pages

Trigger Warnings: death, tragic past, poor mental health, gun violence, gangs

“I've spent years living safely to secure a longer life, and look where that's gotten me. I'm at the finish line but I never ran the race.”

“You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”

When both Rufus Emeterio and Mateo Torrez receive a call from Death-Cast informing them of their incoming death in less than twenty-four hours, the two go through many different routes. As Mateo, afraid of any chance of death, stays in his room without a trace of his character in the outside world, Rufus spends the day running from cops, as well as fighting a rivalry gang on the lookout for him. As the two arbitrate paths, their bond and friendship grow increasingly strong, but they cannot help but realize how indifferent they are -- with Rufus being more focused on the moment, and Mateo, on the long-term event. With their differences tapering in shadow of their desire to live their last day as their longest, the two embark on a journey that is to change the course of their lives.

They Both Die At The End is Adam Silvera's third novel, followed by his critically praised, 'More Happy Than Not', as well as 'History is All You Left Me.' The YA novel follows two young boys meeting with the knowledge that it is each one of their dying, or last days. With the advancement of new technology, called Death-Cast, Adam Silvera ventures into a world where knowing the date of one's death is possible. The bond over this hovering cloud of death fabricates a strong emotional attachment for the two boys, and it is only seen to build their connection -- given that the two are easily able to find topics of conversation, and beyond that, venture into tangible, or sensitive discussions. Adam Silvera writes an everlasting, yet fragile, tale of each moment spent in this fractional life of ours, and how the need to spend it wisely is highly regarded to be a necessity.

Though the enthrall of the characters does come of charm when thinking of novels such as this, the plot seemed to be of lacking where the characters were outstanding. Put aside the heavily awaited interest in the story, which took much too long to get into, Adam Silvera follows a tangible string of plot events. The beginning part of the book proves to be tedious, almost boring, from the lack of connection between the reader and character. It took almost the first quarter of the book to noticeably begin to care about the characters, making the book a drag to push through when starting it. When following both characters into the world in which they explore, it seems that their connection, or willingness to venture into some events seems unrealistic -- and it was almost far-fetched to think that such a connection between Rufus and Mateo could be established so quickly. Though this connection proves to be my favorite aspect of the book later, it seems that the early stance of it made it difficult to follow through the start of the novel. Along with these such complications, the extra points of view included sparsely through the book that of which follows characters other than Mateo and Rufus proved to be unnecessary, and cumbersome to the story. While it is seen that none of which the extra characters are those the reader cares about, it proves to be a muddle through which we must push through to return back to the story. Not only that, but there proved to be no real focus with these extra points of view -- and they were a disconnect from the actual story. These points aside, Adam Silvera, does however, do a praisable job at world-building -- with the creation of a world including such indifference to our known world here, it seemed almost natural to live in a world with a feature such as Death-Cast. That such expertise made it seem almost as if I were to live in this world, and none of it felt of disbelief or surprise, even though such technology in this world seems to be unlikely -- the world-building added a fruitful taste to the concept of this book. And while I would say the concept is one to be appreciated, its execution is one that was such of lacking.

Put aside the lack of tangible plot, the characters in this story seem to make up for what it had missed -- they proved to connect with me with a few mere string of sentences. While it took much time to indistinct this connection, it was one that relayed of excitement, among other emotions that would soon take place once it did happen. In eulogize of Mateo and Rufus, the two proved to have delectable character arcs, ones that would claim to face many such obstacles, and while I feel those such realizations are lacking for a character as Rufus, Mateo learns much through the course of the novel. Through the end of the journey, we can see that Mateo is a different entity of a person, and he is shaped through the lessons and events that he faced throughout the day. While Mateo would prove to be an emotionally stringing character, Rufus was one that lacked -- where there was no such development to acquire from him. He had stayed nearly the same nearly through the entire novel, because he was built as a character that was already perfected for one living through their death day. There was nothing much to better, because his flaws, as well as strengths, all seemed to work with the situation at hand. The two, however, each have a sense of their own individuality, as well as develop a sense of great connection -- and while that connection was made shorthand, it was one that was long-lasting, even through the end of the novel. As seen, their friendship soon grows into something akin to a romance, and while both forms of connection give such a breather, I found that their undeniable relation is one that would be of purpose, no matter what form it came in. Both boys created a sense of nostalgia in a person that they hadn't met before, and that connection provided solace grown to a certain satisfaction in the reader through the course of the novel. While the character of Rufus left something to be desired, that of Mateo and the two's overall connection lead to strong, and deeply, emotionally rooted characters.

Though not incredibly acclaimed on my list of books, Adam Silvera writes a book with many such lessons to be provided from it -- the lessons prove to align with the actual story, leaving a sense of disclosure. One of the highlights would prove to be the most appreciated, and that would be to spend every moment wisely. Mateo, in the course of the novel, says, “I've spent years living safely to secure a longer life, and look where that's gotten me. I'm at the finish line but I never ran the race.” This only leads to a stronger belief in my disposition, and it proves to be a centralizing theme in such a novel -- Adam Silvera teaches me how important the smaller picture, even those as small as moments are, and of what should come of them. It is often overlooked, these moments, but through the perspective of a 'last day,' it becomes increasingly clear that there really is, no time to waste. To shed light on another such topic, Adam Silvera ties into this book, many themes of family, friendship, romance -- it is shown, through this book, the undeniable significance of your family, friends, and loved ones. To appreciate those that love you, and those you love is to live, as either you or they shall be left one day -- either you or they shall no longer be there. This is seen with both Mateo and Rufus -- with Rufus's connection to his ex-girlfriend and his gang of friends (the Plutos), while with Mateo, it is seen in his connection and visits to his father, as well as his best friend. Both are seen to regret the time they spent with their loved ones, and it bites back on their tongue like a winter chill -- that regret is of which lasts a lifetime. Adam Silvera never proves to bring anything less than purposeful in a novel, as is seen with the themes demonstrated, and through each book, I come out a better than prior.

A story of a lifetime told in the span of a day, Adam Silvera never fails to bring anything less than purposeful in his novels, as is with 'They Both Die At The End'.

Characters: 3/5

Plot: 2/5

Pacing: 4/5

Overall: 9/15

Recommended for fans of The Song of Achilles, We Were Liars, and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.