shelbysaldan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
it's very interesting how the story plays out, you don't except most of the plot, the only REALLY predictable thing is the ending, for obvious reasons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical content, Drug use, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Panic attacks/disorders
chrisoverbye's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence
Minor: Violence, Car accident, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
thelostbookmark11's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Drug use
cookiecat73's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Physical abuse, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Violence, Car accident, Cursing, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Lesbophobia, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Drug use, Pregnancy, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders
thattheatrekid's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
All I can say is, wow.
The good:
This book is extremely thought provoking on the matter of fate and death. I loved the questions it very subtly raised. The characters were both relatable and showed two different ways you might react emotionally and physically if you knew you would die in the next 24 hours. There was a tension throughout the book that was very unique because you already know the way it will end, but as the pages go by you’re more and more tensed for the inevitable ending.
The bad:
I thought the switching between all kinds of characters and past and present tense and 1st and 3rd point of view was confusing and distracting. I would have much preferred if it had stayed between Mateo and Rufus; I feel like the author got sidetracked and tried to make everything intertwined and it really just lost me. The way Matias died was kind of rushed and lame in my opinion because so much time was spent building up to it. Rufus’ death was genius though and took me a second to register.
But! Overall really loved it and if you’re an insane literature analyzer like me it’s a good read.
The good:
This book is extremely thought provoking on the matter of fate and death. I loved the questions it very subtly raised. The characters were both relatable and showed two different ways you might react emotionally and physically if you knew you would die in the next 24 hours. There was a tension throughout the book that was very unique because you already know the way it will end, but as the pages go by you’re more and more tensed for the inevitable ending.
The bad:
I thought the switching between all kinds of characters and past and present tense and 1st and 3rd point of view was confusing and distracting. I would have much preferred if it had stayed between Mateo and Rufus; I feel like the author got sidetracked and tried to make everything intertwined and it really just lost me. The way Matias died was kind of rushed and lame in my opinion because so much time was spent building up to it. Rufus’ death was genius though and took me a second to register.
Spoiler
The other thing I thought was kind of rushed and hard to believe was Rufus and Matias’ romance. It kind of came out of nowhere mid book and felt like a romance for the sake of a romance. I think it would have hit harder if it was obvious they liked each other but they never got to the point of kissing or saying it. It would really have captured regrets and how we don’t always finish business before death.But! Overall really loved it and if you’re an insane literature analyzer like me it’s a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Cursing, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Abortion and Car accident
lucy_warren's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use
abbycrotts's review against another edition
okay so i actually didnt finish the book i just read like a fourth and then read the summary for my book club but thats because i just DIDNT LIKE IT!!!!! even though the ending was pretty crazy. i can enjoy that. it just made me feel stupid. like my lexile score was actively decreasing the more i kept reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
nicamooch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
PAIN !!!!!!!
Obviously, knew what I was getting into but PAIN !!!!!!!
Obviously, knew what I was getting into but PAIN !!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Murder
ghost0id's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
Moderate: Drug use
taliahsbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Don't let the title fool you - though it may seem like this book is about death, it is in fact the opposite. This book is full of life. This book is about life. What happens when you live? Although they both die at the end, they both live before.
While reading this book, I found myself often grappling with the concept of mortality - what does being alive really mean? What impact do we have on other people even though we have no idea? How do the tiniest interactions we have with the people around us affect their daily lives in more profound ways than we can even imagine? These are all questions that I was asking as I read Silvera's work. Profound, though not difficult, I think everyone should read this book at least once, if even just to appreciate the tiny details that set it apart from other works in the same realm.
My recommendation to everyone is to follow along the characters using Instagram as a tool - Silvera did wonderfully with connecting a real Instagram account and posts that match everything that happened perfectly, and it made immersion so much better. Although it broke from the story, the feeling of really seeing what was going on made it incredibly worthwhile.
But that wasn't the only symmetry I appreciated - although our two main characters both receive a call that today is their End Day, there are so many other characters who get a piece of the story. We see their lives through their own eyes, but also through the eyes of our two main characters as they find themselves going through their final day. The symmetry between each of the chapters of everyone who didn't receive a call is stunning, and it faces the reality of death head-on.
As I write reviews for books, I do my best to find the flaws in a book - what did I like, what didn't I like, and why didn't I like it? Because everyone has different tastes, some may like a book I don't, and vice versa. However, for this particular book, I recommend it to everyone, regardless of your typical taste in literature. This was a journey that forced me to come to grips with some of life's most profound questions, the kind of questions people typically put off until those questions arise right in front of them. It's been more than a month since I finished this book, and I still think about it regularly and come back to those questions I mentioned at the beginning of this review. Give it a read - see what life really means to you.
Favorite quotes:
While reading this book, I found myself often grappling with the concept of mortality - what does being alive really mean? What impact do we have on other people even though we have no idea? How do the tiniest interactions we have with the people around us affect their daily lives in more profound ways than we can even imagine? These are all questions that I was asking as I read Silvera's work. Profound, though not difficult, I think everyone should read this book at least once, if even just to appreciate the tiny details that set it apart from other works in the same realm.
My recommendation to everyone is to follow along the characters using Instagram as a tool - Silvera did wonderfully with connecting a real Instagram account and posts that match everything that happened perfectly, and it made immersion so much better. Although it broke from the story, the feeling of really seeing what was going on made it incredibly worthwhile.
But that wasn't the only symmetry I appreciated - although our two main characters both receive a call that today is their End Day, there are so many other characters who get a piece of the story. We see their lives through their own eyes, but also through the eyes of our two main characters as they find themselves going through their final day. The symmetry between each of the chapters of everyone who didn't receive a call is stunning, and it faces the reality of death head-on.
As I write reviews for books, I do my best to find the flaws in a book - what did I like, what didn't I like, and why didn't I like it? Because everyone has different tastes, some may like a book I don't, and vice versa. However, for this particular book, I recommend it to everyone, regardless of your typical taste in literature. This was a journey that forced me to come to grips with some of life's most profound questions, the kind of questions people typically put off until those questions arise right in front of them. It's been more than a month since I finished this book, and I still think about it regularly and come back to those questions I mentioned at the beginning of this review. Give it a read - see what life really means to you.
Favorite quotes:
"Stories can make someone immortal as long as someone else is willing to listen."(116)
"When someone puts their journey out there for you to watch, you pay attention - even if you know they'll die at the end."(33)
"Entire lives aren't lessons, but there are lessons in lives."(334)
"No matter when it happens, we all have our endings. No one goes on, but what we leave behind keeps us alive for someone else."(303)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Cursing and Suicide
Minor: Biphobia, Car accident, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, and Homophobia
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