They Both Die at the End
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.
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."
Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera writes young adult fiction that is unafraid of the inevitable. His stories often begin with a premise that feels almost cruel in its honesty, a fixed ending, a ticking clock, a choice that cannot be undone, and then turn their focus to what truly matters, the fragile, beautiful space in between. In contemporary YA literature, his voice stands out for its emotional precision and its quiet insistence that living fully is an act of courage.
Raised in the Bronx, New York, Silvera grew up surrounded by the intensity of city life, where stories were everywhere if you knew how to listen. He began writing at a young age, first through fan fiction, long before publishing felt like a realistic path. Instead of a traditional academic route, he learned the industry from the inside, working in bookstores and later in publishing. Those years shaped his understanding of readers, not as an abstract audience, but as real people searching for connection, recognition, and sometimes reassurance.
They Both Die at the End
Some stories begin with possibility. This series begins with certainty. From the first page, the reader steps into a near-future world where a phone call can redraw the meaning of an entire lifetime, turning ordinary hours into something painfully precious. What makes They Both Die at the End endure is not its premise alone, but how quietly and intimately it explores what people do once the future is no longer a mystery.
They Both Die at the End consists of three books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
