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A review by lastingliterature
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I truly don’t know how to rate this book.
On one hand, I loved the boys and the message; however, on the other hand, there were some problems with the storyline that kept me a bit distant from full emotional attachment. Let’s break it down.
Things I liked:
-The relationships!
-I like that Mateo and Rufus’s relationship was drawn out very slowly and built over a true connection. It didn’t feel like they got together simply because they were dying or because they were the only ones around
-The friendships with the Plutos and Lidia. Beautiful.
-The representation! Mateo is gay and Puerto-Rican and Rufus is bisexual and Cuban-American. There is also rep. with the foster care system, which you don’t see all too often in YA.
-Interlocking storyline. I always like stories where people’s lives interweave.
-The ending. I won’t spoil anything, but I really like how it played out and wasn’t as predictable.
-The title. Some didn’t like how it “spoils” but is going to happen or they imagine they will get out of it somehow, but I loved knowing what was inevitably happen but had to work to find out how it would.
Things I didn’t like:
-No explanation for any of the fantasy/sci-fi elements. No reason was ever given for how or why they know when people are going to die. Everyone in the book just accepts it and doesn’t care about if a person should have the choice over knowing
-The Necro app (enough said)
-The whole Peck storyline. It seemed too forced and easy for me.
-Choppy at times. With all of the extra characters added, sometimes I felt it dragged.
-Emotional attachment. I can’t narrow it down fully, but I just wasn’t *that* emotionally involved in this one. It made me sad to read the ending, but I didn’t tear up and I didn’t have one of those glorious book hangovers that I was expecting.
This is a book that will stay with me. The themes are endless with this one—living life to the fullest, the true value in friendship, the beauty of connection with another human, life is short, etc., etc. It really puts things into perspective.
Maybe I will change this rating, but for now:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
On one hand, I loved the boys and the message; however, on the other hand, there were some problems with the storyline that kept me a bit distant from full emotional attachment. Let’s break it down.
Things I liked:
-The relationships!
-I like that Mateo and Rufus’s relationship was drawn out very slowly and built over a true connection. It didn’t feel like they got together simply because they were dying or because they were the only ones around
-The friendships with the Plutos and Lidia. Beautiful.
-The representation! Mateo is gay and Puerto-Rican and Rufus is bisexual and Cuban-American. There is also rep. with the foster care system, which you don’t see all too often in YA.
-Interlocking storyline. I always like stories where people’s lives interweave.
-The ending. I won’t spoil anything, but I really like how it played out and wasn’t as predictable.
-The title. Some didn’t like how it “spoils” but is going to happen or they imagine they will get out of it somehow, but I loved knowing what was inevitably happen but had to work to find out how it would.
Things I didn’t like:
-No explanation for any of the fantasy/sci-fi elements. No reason was ever given for how or why they know when people are going to die. Everyone in the book just accepts it and doesn’t care about if a person should have the choice over knowing
-The Necro app (enough said)
-The whole Peck storyline. It seemed too forced and easy for me.
-Choppy at times. With all of the extra characters added, sometimes I felt it dragged.
-Emotional attachment. I can’t narrow it down fully, but I just wasn’t *that* emotionally involved in this one. It made me sad to read the ending, but I didn’t tear up and I didn’t have one of those glorious book hangovers that I was expecting.
This is a book that will stay with me. The themes are endless with this one—living life to the fullest, the true value in friendship, the beauty of connection with another human, life is short, etc., etc. It really puts things into perspective.
Maybe I will change this rating, but for now:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content