Book Review: The Survivor Wants to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Survivor Wants to Die at the End
Series: They Both Die at the End #3
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: May 6, 2025
Hardback: 720 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 15- September 13, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
In this third book of the USA Today and #1 New York Times mega-bestselling They Both Die at the End series, two strangers—each with their own complicated relationship to Death-Cast—help each other learn to live.
Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.
Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.
Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.
This book contains themes that some readers may find difficult.
Jessica’s Review:
Trigger Warnings: suicide, suicidal thoughts, self-harm
The trigger warnings above are to not be taken lightly. These instances are spread widely throughout this entire 700+ page novel. Also mentioned in the novel is BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). If you have had issues with these activities in the past then this novel could possibly trigger a reader. Silvera himself had some mental health issues while writing this novel, and a novel dealing with death is not the time to be dealing with those issues. I could see that Silvera is definitely writing from what he knows and has dealt with in his past.
Now away from the heavy trigger warnings: It’s another Death-Cast novel! This time Silvera has written his longest Death-Cast novel to date, and the story still isn’t finished! Alano and Paz’s story will continue next year with No One Know Who Dies at the End. There is just something about this unique world that calls to me and Silvera’s writing pulls me in! I re-read both previous books again before reading Survivor and I am glad I did as these books are so interconnected.
Moving away from the 24-hour time period that the other two Death-Cast books were written in, Survivor takes place over a week and on both US Coasts: New York and Hollywood. Our featured couple is Paz, who as a child killed his father protecting his mother on the first day of Death-Cast over 10 years ago, and Alano who is the Death-Cast heir. Both boys were in The First to Die.
At times the novel did run long for me, but I never lost interest in it. The constant references to the previous two books always bring out feelings from the previous books. (We get Penny and Lidia making a cameo from They Both Die! And Mateo’s father appears too! I had so many feelings with his brief appearance.)
Paz and Alano’s budding relationship is far from being a healthy one, but both of these young men have extremely heavy issues that they are dealing with. If they can somehow help each other by being together, then let them be together.
I had heard that there was a cliff hanger and when I got to the end: Yep…There it is! I would have never expected this. What a way to keep your readers in suspense until the next book is released next year Mr. Silvera! I also saw an interview on Instagram the Silvera is expanding the short story of when Mateo’s father comes out of his coma. Of course I will be getting that one too! It looks like we will have two Death-Cast releases in 2026 and I of course will be buying copies of them.
A Re-Read of The First to Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The First to Die at the End
Series: They Both Die at the End #0 (Prequel)
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: October 4, 2022
Hardback: 550 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: June 16- July 5, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
In this prequel to the bestselling phenomenon They Both Die at the End, two new strangers spend a life-changing day together after Death-Cast first makes their fateful calls. #1 New York Times bestseller!
It’s the night before Death-Cast goes live, and there’s one question on everyone’s mind: Can Death-Cast actually predict when someone will die, or is it just an elaborate hoax?
Orion Pagan has waited years for someone to tell him that he’s going to die. He has a serious heart condition, and he signed up for Death-Cast so he could know what’s coming.
Valentino Prince is restarting his life in New York. He has a long and promising future ahead and he only registered for Death-Cast after his twin sister nearly died in a car accident.
Orion and Valentino cross paths in Times Square and immediately feel a deep connection. But when the first round of End Day calls goes out, their lives are changed forever—one of them receives a call, and the other doesn’t. Though neither boy is certain how the day will end, they know they want to spend it together…even if that means their goodbye will be heartbreaking.
Told with acclaimed author Adam Silvera’s signature bittersweet touch, this story celebrates the lasting impact that people have on each other and proves that life is always worth living to the fullest.
Jessica’s Review:
I first read First to Die at the beginning of 2023 and wanted to read it again since another “Death-Cast” book was released in May (and another will be coming out next year!). I cried again, and can’t really say too much more than I did in my review from then which is here.
I would say to read They Both Die then read First to Die. Though First is a prequel, the reader gets so much more reading the books in order of publication. I really loved seeing the connections between the two books! It gave me all the feelings again!
I knew the cameos with Rufus and Mateo were coming, but I forgot that both Rufus and Mateo each got their own brief chapter pov as well! I loved reading those and even seeing some of their family members making appearances. With one family member have an extremely important presence to this novel.
I know the connections to all the books will continue in The Survivor Wants to Die at the End as the two young men featured are already connected and make appearances in First to Die! And seeing the future connections in First, I already know I am going to be loving this book as well!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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Book Review: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
They Both Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast #1
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: September 5, 2017
Paperback: 389 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: May 21-30, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
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.
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.
Jessica’s Review:
What else can I say about They Both Die at the End that I haven’t already said? Let’s find out:
Here are links to my double review with Kim and then when I listened to it a second time before the prequel came out.
My Double Review with Kim
My Second Listen/Read
Now, in 2025 a third in the series recently came out (with a fourth releasing next year!) So of course I have to re-read Silvera’s series! And this time I actually read it! Some friends of mine all switched books last year and we annotated them, so reading the book with their comments added to my enjoyment seeing what they thought!
Here is a picture with their commentary added in:
I just love this book. It is the journey that Mateo and Rufus go on for their last day. Knowing the ending from the title, you just can’t help but find yourself getting attached to these two teens and hoping against hope that Death-Cast is wrong. This book is not about dying, but learning just how to live.
Just a couple of quotes from the book this time:
“And you wouldn’t have waited for me to be brave. Maybe it’s better to have gotten it right and been happy for one day instead of living a lifetime of wrongs”.
“Two dudes met. They fell in love. They lived. That’s our story.”
Again, I did not cry reading it, but got emotional. And I know those ugly tears will reappear for my re-read of The First to Die at the End.
Throughout their end date Rufus takes pictures and posts them on Instagram. At the end of the book his username is mentioned. Be sure to note that once you have finished this book look him up. It is an actual Instagram account!
I just noticed that this book was released on September 5, 2017, which was Mateo and Rufus’ end date. I’m feeling so many emotions now!
Adam Silvera, you are brilliant with your writing in this world of Death-Cast. Keep bringing this world to us with more people meeting!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK