“On September 5th, 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.”
What is the book about?
On September 5th, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio both receive a call from Death-Cast announcing the end of their lives – they will never live to see another day. Both are perfectly healthy and incredibly young, neither of them thought that it would end so soon, but death can strike at any person at any time or place. Mateo is a complete introvert, almost never leaving his house unless it is 100% necessary. Rufus has been through a tough few months after losing his family and feels like he is almost already dead. Mateo and Rufus are total strangers, but they are both looking to make a new friend to help them live their End Day to the fullest. Fate (or an app called the Last Friend) brings Rufus and Mateo together to live one last extraordinary adventure before their time on Earth ends. Together they are going to help each other create wonderful memories and live a whole lifetime in a single day.
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
A few weeks ago, I asked one of my friends to lend me some books and she happily sent me home with a bag full of them. I had never actually heard about They Both Die at the End and when I found it in the bag I was curious to see what it was about. From reading the title I already knew how the book would end, but I was still intrigued to know everything about Mateo and Rufus before their lives ended. I had so many questions before I had even started to read and I was glad when the book started immediately. It was quite shocking to see how quickly everything happened, and how sudden it all was for the characters. By the time I had finished the first page I had already been completely absorbed into the story and felt I was really there with the characters. From the very start Mateo and Rufus already knew that it was the end, even though to me, as the reader, their story was only just beginning. Even though I had only just begun to read, I already felt like my time with them was ending, and it was really sad but also amazing to see how even after only reading a few chapters I was already quite attached to the characters.
Who was your favourite character and why?
Mateo and Rufus would both have to be my favourite characters and not just because they were both amazing main characters but because they were both incredible in their own unique way. At the start of the book, Mateo reminded me a lot of myself because of how introverted he was. He constantly spent his time in his room reading or playing video games, never really participating in life. Mateo was also really (and I mean really) nice. He helped anyone that came his way and sometimes was way too nice but this made him an even better person and made it clear that he did not deserve to dies. My favourite thing about Mateo was how much he changed. He started to really live when he found Rufus and began to show the bravery he never thought he had in him. Rufus was also my favourite character because he was literally the opposite of Mateo. Rufus was brave and he went out and lived a more extroverted life. He wasn’t mean, but he didn’t go showing his kindness to every person who needed help – he kept to himself. Rufus had gone through a lot in his life and sometimes thought of himself as a terrible person, and sometimes it was true, but most of the time he was really good person who just didn’t like to show it. Meeting Mateo really helped him become the best version of himself: a person he no longer disliked. The main reason I couldn’t choose between Rufus and Mateo is that without the other, neither of them would have become the person they wanted to be and they wouldn’t have live the best End Day possible.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
I actually have 2 favourite parts, when they are at the World Travel Arena and when they are at Clint’s Graveyard (a dance club not an actual graveyard). This is because Mateo and Rufus each overcome one of their fears in one of these places. When they were at the World Travel Arena Rufus had the opportunity to get past every upsetting thought he had after his family died and jump into some water getting some closure after everything he went through. This helped him look past the person he always thought was real, the person who abandoned his family, and see the person he really was. Then at Clint’s Graveyard Mateo overcame his insecurities and his introverted, antisocial ways and became the brave person he wished he always was. He was able to look past all his failed time on Earth that he didn’t spend living and finally properly enjoy himself and live. I loved both of these places because I think that they are when Rufus and Mateo really feel that they would leave the world without any regrets and really made them feel alive.
What was your overall impression of the book?
They Both Die at the End was an amazing book – both devastating and wonderful at the same time. One thing I liked about the book was how it was split into parts and there was a beautiful quote on each one that was relevant to that part of the story. Another thing that I loved about the book was how it really got you thinking about death and how it can happen at any given time with no warning whatsoever. It really started to make your brain work thinking of all the thing people miss out on when they die so young. However, the book showed how even though you could get hurt or even die doing crazy but magnificent things, it is important to live your life taking risks and not worrying about the possibility of death. Mateo and Rufus really showed me that it is important to experience everything you can in life and not miss out on any opportunities because one day you will regret it. One last thing that really made They Both Die at the End stand out to me was how even though I already knew they were going to die from page 1, I was still crushed and utterly devastated when it happened. That really made me think about how remarkably the book was written and how every word made you even more attached to the characters, preparing you for having your heart destroyed. The book was absolutely perfect and there is nothing I would change about it, I cannot wait to read it again and revisit Mateo and Rufus in their last adventure.
Would you recommend this book?
I would definitely recommend this book particularly to anyone over 13 who enjoys adventure, friendship and some romance. It is definitely an incredible boom to try out if you are interesting in reading something new.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A bold, heart-breaking and devastating novel I won’t ever forget.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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