Short Story Sunday: A Re-Read of The Father Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Father Does Not Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: November 1, 2022
42 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: June 4, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
I re-read this short story after my re-read of They Both Die at the End. I will be reading The First to Die at the End again (and most likely ugly crying again) and finally the new novel that came out last month: The Survivor Wants to Die at the End.
I can’t really say more than I did the first time reading this short story. The link to my first review is here.
Purchase Link for the Collector’s Edition:
Please note that as far as I know that the Collector’s Edition is the only place you can read this short story. For me it was worth it to have another copy to be able to find out what happens when Mateo’s father wakes up from his coma and finds out his son has passed away.
Amazon US
Amazon seems to be the only place where I could find a link to this edition. There may be other locations, but this was all I could find.
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
Audiobook Review: So Happy Together by Olivia Worley
So Happy Together
Author: Olivia Worley
Narrator: Michelle H. Lee
Published: June 3, 2025
Audiobook: 8 hours 47 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 1-5, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Jane and Colin are soulmates. He just doesn’t know it yet.
For twenty-four-year-old Jane, finding love in New York City is even harder than making it as a playwright—especially when all her swiping through the apps leads to one meaningless connection after another.
So when Jane meets Colin, a sweet software engineer, she can’t believe her luck: they’re perfect for each other. Even when Colin breaks off their blooming relationship after six dates, Jane is certain this is just a stumbling block. She’ll get him back. She knows she will.
That is, until Colin starts dating Zoe—perfect, luminous, up-and-coming Brooklyn artist Zoe. Even worse, she’s actually kind of nice. But Zoe doesn’t have what it takes to love Colin. She’d never stay with him through thick and thin. All Jane has to do is prove it, and they’ll be so happy together.
But when Jane sneaks into Colin’s apartment, she makes a shocking discovery—one that will ensnare them all in a dark and complicated web of lies, secrets, and murder.
Jessica’s Review:
The cover of So Happy Together caught my attention and after I read the book description I wanted to read it: We have a female stalker! And I did enjoy it. The novel takes place in New York City. Jane meets Colin through an app (as people do these days) and they have six dates; they sleep together and after that Colin ends it. But Jane knows they are meant to be together, so she starts stalking him! I was all about reading a female stalker! Jane worms her way back into Colin’s life and one day sneaks into his apartment, and discovers something that is shocking to her.
It would help if you know some about Hamlet and Ophelia as Jane is a playwright and written a play about Ophelia. I am not familiar with this play at all. I don’t feel I missed out on anything not knowing a thing about Ophelia or Hamlet.
This story has a lot of twists and goes in several different directions. We have disappearances and murder. I enjoyed listening to this one. The narrator, Michelle H. Lee did a good job with her narration. Her interpretation of Jane was ‘fitting’ for a stalker and her narration kept me involved in the story.
Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me a copy to listen to and review.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK