Summary
They Both Die at the End is a 2017 young adult novel by bestselling author Adam Silvera. Set in a future world similar to our own, it follows two teenagers, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, during their very last day on Earth. Shortly after midnight on September 5th, Mateo and Rufus receive a call from Death-Cast, a company that can predict when someone will die, informing them that they only have 24 hours left to live.
As strangers, Mateo and Rufus decide to meet through the Last Friend app and spend their End Day together. They embark on a whirlwind adventure, seeking to make the most of every minute they have left. Along with experiencing thrilling activities at a club specifically catering to "Deckers"–people who have been notified of their impending death–they visit Mateo's father in the hospital and say goodbye to loved ones. Through it all, and despite their differences, Mateo and Rufus form a deep bond and fall in love.
The novel explores themes of mortality, life's meaning, and the power of human connection. Silvera masterfully weaves subplots involving minor characters whose lives intersect with Mateo and Rufus's journey. Ultimately, They Both Die at the End is a poignant and uplifting story that celebrates living life to the fullest and the beauty of found family and love in the face of death.
Themes
Mortality and the inevitability of death
Importance and impact of friendship
Living life to the fullest in the face of death
Acceptance and dealing with loss
Finding love and connection in unexpected places
Quest for meaning and purpose in a finite life
Impacts of technology on social interactions and human experiences
Confronting personal fears and stepping out of comfort zones
Fate versus free will
The concept of predestination
LGBTQ+ relationships
Racial and cultural identity
Setting
Set in an unspecified near-future time, They Both Die at the End takes place primarily in New York City. The story unfolds over the course of a single day, September 5th, as the two protagonists, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, explore the city after receiving calls from Death-Cast, a service that can predict when someone will die. Their adventure sees them visiting various locations across New York, including a hospital, a cemetery, and a club specifically catered to "Deckers"–people who have been notified of their impending death.
While the majority of the novel's events transpire within the confines of New York City, Silvera's narrative also briefly touches upon other settings. Subplots involving minor characters offer glimpses into the lives of individuals in different parts of the country who have also received Death-Cast notifications, subtly implying that the society depicted has a national, or perhaps even global, scale.
By grounding the story in the familiar yet futuristic setting of New York City, Silvera creates a poignant juxtaposition between the characters' extraordinary circumstances and the recognizable urban backdrop. This contrast amplifies the emotional weight of Mateo and Rufus's shared journey, as they navigate both the bustling metropolis and the profound realization of their mortality on their "End Day."
Characters
Mateo Torrez: A shy, skinny, and socially anxious Puerto Rican boy who has spent most of his life indoors.
Rufus Emeterio: A street-smart foster child with Cuban origins and a troubled past.
Lidia Vargas: Mateo's best friend and the mother of his goddaughter, Penny. She lost her boyfriend, Christian, to a Death-Cast call a year prior to the novel's events.
Mateo Torrez Sr.: Mateo's father, who has been in a coma for two weeks at the time of the novel's events.
The Plutos: Rufus's foster home group, which includes his two closest friends, Malcolm Anthony and Tagoe Hayes, and his ex-girlfriend, Aimee DuBois.
Patrick "Peck" Gavin: Aimee's new boyfriend, who has a vendetta against Rufus.
Delilah Grey: A reporter who receives a Death-Cast call but thinks it’s a prank. ex-fiancé.
Andrea Donahue: The Death-Cast employee who informs Mateo of his impending death.
Kendrick O'Connell and Damien Rivas: Members of Peck's gang.
Howie Maldonado: A famous actor who receives a Death-Cast call and meets with Delilah for a final interview.
Vin Pearce: A Decker and former boxer who plans a murder-suicide with the bomb that nearly kills Rufus and Mateo.
Deirdre Clayton: An employee at Make-A-Moment who has attempted suicide multiple times but decides against it after seeing Mateo and Rufus.
Zoe Landon: A Decker who spends her End Day with Gabriella, a girl she met on the Last Friend app.
Dalma Young: The creator of the Last Friend app.
FAQs
What is the book They Both Die at the End about?
They Both Die at the End is a young adult novel by Adam Silvera that tells the story of two teenage boys, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, who receive a call from Death-Cast informing them that they will die within the next 24 hours. The novel follows their last day together as they aim to live a lifetime in a single day, exploring themes of friendship, life, and the acceptance of death.
How do Mateo and Rufus meet?
Mateo and Rufus meet through an app called Last Friend, which is designed to help people on their End Day find someone to spend their final hours with. Despite being complete strangers at the beginning, they embark on an adventure that changes their perception of life and death.
What themes does the book address?
The book addresses several themes, including the significance of living life to the fullest, the impact of friendship, the acceptance of death, and the exploration of love and loss. It prompts readers to contemplate the value of every moment and the importance of connections with others.
What has contributed to the book's popularity?
The book gained a resurgence in popularity in April 2020, thanks to #BookTok, a community of readers on the social media platform TikTok. The support from this online community helped the book return to The New York Times Best Seller list, showcasing the power of social media in promoting literature.
Is there an audiobook version available?
Yes, there is an audiobook version of They Both Die at the End available. It has received favorable reviews for the emotional depth brought by the voice actors Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond, and Bahni Turpin, who voice the characters of Mateo and Rufus, and other parts of the story, respectively.
Are there any sequels or related books?
Yes, a prequel titled The First to Die at the End was released on October 4, 2022. It provides an introduction to the Death-Cast system and introduces new characters. Additionally, a third installment in the series is planned for publication in September 2024.
Is They Both Die at the End being adapted into a TV series or movie?
Yes, They Both Die at the End is currently in development for adaptation into a series by eOne, with Bridgerton creator Chris Van Dusen and author Adam Silvera executive producing. Netflix picked up the series in January 2023, with Bad Bunny and Drew Comins also serving as executive producers.
Quotes
“You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”
“Stories can make someone immortal as long as someone else is willing to listen.”
“Maybe it's better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs.”
“Entire lives aren't lessons, but there are lessons in lives.”
“No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end.”
Quick facts
They Both Die at the End was published on September 5, 2017, the same date as the plot begins in the book, providing a unique real-time reading experience for those who may have started the novel on its release date.
They Both Die at the End experienced a significant resurgence in popularity in April 2020 due to its mention on #BookTok, a popular TikTok hashtag for book lovers, resulting in its reclaiming a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
They Both Die at the End was nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2017, underscoring its immediate impact and popularity among readers.
The two main characters, Mateo and Rufus, are revealed to be gay and bisexual, respectively, providing LGBTQ+ representation.
Before Netflix picked up the series in January 2023, it was initially in development as a half-hour TV miniseries at HBO with J.J. Abrams set to executive produce, highlighting the book's potential crossover appeal in different forms of media.
Adam Silvera's engagement in the Netflix adaptation as an executive producer alongside Chris Van Dusen and Bad Bunny ensures a level of authenticity and adherence to the book's original themes and messages.
A planned sequel is set for publication in September 2024, promising fans of the series further exploration of its themes and perhaps new characters.
About the author
Adam Silvera is an author known for his young adult novels that explore themes of LGBTQ+ identity, love, and loss. He first gained attention in 2015 with his debut novel, More Happy Than Not. The novel quickly became a New York Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.
In 2017, Silvera published two novels, History Is All You Left Me and They Both Die at the End. The latter, a poignant exploration of mortality and friendship, solidified his reputation and has been optioned for television, with Silvera directly involved as creator, screenwriter, and executive producer. He has also written two YA novels with Becky Albertalli, What If It's Us in 2018 and Here’s To Us in 2021, and the Infinity Cycle, a fantasy series launched with Infinity Son in 2020.
Born on June 7, 1990, Silvera was raised in the South Bronx by his Puerto Rican mother, a dedicated social worker. His passion for writing emerged early, and he initially channeled his creativity into fan fiction. Before achieving success as an author, he worked as a barista and a bookseller. His openness about his personal life, including his struggles with depression and borderline personality disorder as well as his experiences as an openly gay man, deeply inform his novels.
In recognition of his contributions to literature and the LGBTQ+ community, Silvera was named one of the 50 heroes leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people by Queerty in 2020. As of 2023, Silvera resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to write full-time.
