They Both Die at the End (They Both Die at the End Series, 1)

Adam Silvera reminds us that there’s no life without death and no love without loss in this devastating yet uplifting story about two people whose lives change over the course of one unforgettable day.

#1 New York Times bestseller * four starred reviews * A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * A Kirkus Best Book of the Year * A Booklist Editors' Choice * A Bustle Best YA Novel * A Paste Magazine Best YA Book * A Book Riot Best Queer Book * A BuzzFeed Best YA Book of the Year * A BookPage Best YA Book of the Year

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.

In the tradition of Before I Fall and If I Stay, They Both Die at the End is a tour de force from acclaimed author Adam Silvera, whose debut, More Happy Than Not, the New York Times called “profound.”

Featuring a map of the novel’s characters and their connections, an exclusive essay by the author, and a behind-the-scenes look at the early outlines for this critically acclaimed bestseller.

Plus don't miss The First to Die at the End: #1 New York Times bestselling author Adam Silvera returns to the universe of international phenomenon They Both Die at the End in this prequel. New star-crossed lovers are put to the test on the first day of Death-Cast’s fateful calls. 

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Published Dec 18, 2018

416 pages

Average rating: 7.33

181 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

DebBW
Sep 15, 2025
6/10 stars
Read it for Banned Book month. Definitely more suited to the YA crowd. However, it touched important issues for young people and led to a very interesting bookclub discussion. Should NOT be on a banned book list.
Rianna
Aug 07, 2025
2/10 stars
Boring at the beginning and middle, gets more interesting at the end… Mateo was a little bit irritating for me and I feel like some of the scenes were kinda pointless… I could not cry at the end, mostly because they didnt get to really develop their relationship or anything, but then again thats the name of the game. I wish there was an explanation on Death-Cast. Reading this kinda got me thinking about my own death and living life to the fullest, so thats a plus.
lexismith
Jun 02, 2025
8/10 stars
this book was surprisingly really enjoyable. i got attached to the storyline and was trying to guess what they would do next. not my favorite book of all time but pretty good
na_na_cakes
May 28, 2025
10/10 stars
Amazing, made me cry a bit, i LOVE the undertones, themes, and character development
Booksilike
May 20, 2025
9/10 stars
Loved the unique concept

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