A review by arielmerm8
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

5.0

I ranked this as my NUMBER ONE favorite read of 2022.

"Sometimes the truth is a secret you're keeping from yourself because living a lie is easier."

There are really no words for how much this book took me by surprise and grabbed my heart right near the end of 2022! Yes, I'm late to the TBDATE party, but I came wearing platform shoes and a smokin' outfit!
I'll start by saying that the world-building is incredible. It's very much a modern day New York, but an alternate universe where Dream Cast can predict the day you're going to die 24 hours before you do. The book asks the existential questions: Would you want to know when you were going to die? And What would you do your last 24 hours on earth? All wrapped up in the most tender love story between two boys.
The title doesn't lie. I went into it knowing the title didn't lie. And yet I was heartbroken and destroyed in the very best way by the story of Rufus and Mateo. So much so, that I bought the prequel immediately (which also killed me). If Adam Silvera wrote a phone book, I'd buy it and devour it (I know. Phone book. I'm dating myself.)
Ultimately, this book is a great fantasy love story that has beautifully written, rich characters who will live rent-free in my head (at least in there, they'll live).