They Both Die At The End by Adam Silvera Book Review

 They Both Die at the End 

( They Both Die at the End #1)

By Adam Silvera 

Published Year: 2017

Page Count: 370 pages 

Medium Used: Paperback 

Genre : Speculative Fiction, LGBTQ, Coming Of Age, Young Adult, Facing Death, 2026-read.

Rating : 5/5 😀😀😀😀😀

Death Cast is a company that has come into existence six years ago, in 2011. By some miraculous maneuvering, they can predict the death of a person within a 24 hour window. Every morning, the company representatives, called Heralds, call up the people who are dying that day (within the next 24 hours) and alert them to the bad news. Mateo is spending his time alone in his apartment when he gets the call. His mother died in child birth and his father is in a coma. He is eighteen years old and completely freaks out. He wants to go visit his dad and bid his goodbyes but is scared to leave the safe haven of his apartment. Rufus is a seventeen year old teen who is thrashing up his girlfriend's new bf,Peck,when he gets the call. At the first chance he gets, Peck calls the cops onto Rufus and Rufus runs, leaving behind his band of friends whom he calls the Plutos. There is a "Last Friend" app which allows for these Deckers(those who got the alerts) to connect with other Deckers or non Deckers to spend the day with them, until they die, easing their tensions and restoring their self confidence. So Mateo and Rufus become last friends. Rufus draws Mateo out of his shell. Mateo allows Rufus to come to terms with his guilt of abandoning his dying parents months ago. They decide on what is to happen to their remains after they die. They assemble their friends and make the most of their day. They visit Mateo's comatose father, his mother's grave, play at fake skydiving, fake tour through all the major countries in the world, fake water jumping and finally, go to a pub where they can sing, dance and drink liquor or beer. In this time spending together, unknown to them, they fall in love. I felt really sad towards the end when Mateo has to die, leaving Rufus shattered for the period before his own death. 

Very sad but also very inspiring story. I loved how Mateo set all his affairs in order before his passing. He made the most of his last day. He is a good kid and I wished him some miraculous escape from death. Rufus is nice too but not in the pure way as Mateo. He seems to have more experience with life and the shady aspects of it. 

As I start to write this review, I know its not going to be an easy task. This story is an evocative, propulsive portrayal of facing death in its myriad forms, accepting it and coming to terms with it. What would we do if we know before hand, when we are going to die? Let's say, we are given atleast 24 hour heads up. What is the best way to finish off this life and whats there to look forward to? Some imagine spending an eternity of afterlife in heaven, some believe in reincarnation and others believing in nothing, despair. In this book, there are two main characters, Mateo and Rufus - who are dying -  and several other adjunct characters who directly or indirectly play a role in bringing about their deaths. I loved the arguments between Mateo and Rufus pertaining to the nature of afterlife and death and the universe being a puppet master. I felt really bad for both of them, who on their last day did find their true love. I guess the beauty of romance doesn't lie in the physical attraction or the wild, interminable sex but in the warmth and selfless commitment two people enjoy in the company of each other,even if only for a short period!