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.
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About the author
Adam Silvera
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.
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