Everyone should read They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END
by Adam Silvera

HarperTeen
Publication Date: September 5, 2017

From Goodreads:

On September 5, a little after midnight, Death-Cast calls Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio to give them some bad news: They’re going to die today.

Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but, for different reasons, they’re both looking to make a new friend on their End Day. The good news: There’s an app for that. It’s called the Last Friend, and through it, Rufus and Mateo are about to meet up for one last great adventure—to live a lifetime in a single day.

Like a lot of people that start reading this book, I had a few thoughts going into it:

1. I’ve heard it’s amazing, but can it really be THAT good?
2. I know the title says it, but surely they don’t actually die at the end

I won’t be talking about that second point, except to say you’re going to be trying to figure it out the entire time. You’ll think things like, “Maybe because of [perfectly logical reason], but maybe NOT because [equally logical reason].”

As for the first point, yes, it really is that good. 

I read of ton of people saying that they thought they were ready for this book, but they weren’t. They weren’t ready for the emotional rollercoaster ride, the heart-warming moments, or the poignant moments of these kids coming to terms with their own oncoming deaths.

How many times in the average day you think about something that you have to do tomorrow, or next week, or even within the next 5 years! How many things do you have on your bucket list?

Now imagine someone, who’s never been wrong before, tells you that today is your last day on Earth. You can’t put anything off until tomorrow or next week. All those things on your bucket list, they aren’t happening. You have one day. Less than that, actually. You’re dying sometime that day. Could be in the morning. How would you process that? How would it flavour your every decision and interaction?

They address a lot of cool concepts, like the way funerals have changed. A lot of people have them while they’re still alive, so their family and friends get to say a real goodbye. And there are discounts everywhere for someone who’s dying, and special ‘rides’ and ‘attractions’ meant to make a moment before the end.

It’s the characters that took centre stage, and really drove this book. They’re strangers in the beginning, much as they are to each other, but by the end, they’re family. Their highs and lows are yours to share.

Everyone should read this book. It’s the kind of book that I think and hope will be taught in high schools one day. There’s so much deep meaning underneath the story. I discovered and thought about a lot of it, and I’m sure there’s a ton more that I didn’t notice.

Seriously, just read this book.

Fun fact about this post: Happy Birthday to my lovely wife!