ALC Review: We Burned So Bright by TJ Klune
We Burned So Bright
Author: TJ Klune
Narrator: Kirt Graves
To Be Published: April 28, 2026
Audiobook: 6 hours 25 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: March 24-27, 2026
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
The road stretched out before them. No other cars, just the headlights on the blacktop. Above, the cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky….
Husbands Don and Rodney have lived a good long life. Together they’ve experienced the highest highs of love and family, and lows so low that they felt like the end of the world.
Now, the world is ending for real. A wandering black hole is coming for Earth and in a month everything and everyone they’ve ever known will be gone.
Suddenly, after 40 years together, Don and Rodney are out of time. They’re in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington State to take care of some unfinished business before it’s all over.
On the road they meet those who refuse to believe death is coming and those who rush to meet it. But there are also people living their final days as best they know how—impromptu weddings, bright burning bonfires, shared meals, and new friends.
And as the black hole draws near, among ball lightning and under a cracked moon in a kaleidoscope sky, Don and Rodney will look back on their lives and ask if their best was good enough.
Is it enough to burn bright if nothing comes from the ashes?
Jessica’s Review:
This book will be in my Top 10 of 2026 and I cannot see anything beating it. We still have many months to go for 2026, but it really seems like We Burned So Bright will be my number one read this year. What would you find yourself doing if you only had a month left to live? There is no doubt about this fact as a black hole is coming towards Earth and the rest of our solar system, destroying everything in its path.
Our story focuses on Don and Rodney, husbands who have been together for over forty years. Now in their mid-70s, with the end of the world rapidly approaching they find themselves on a cross-country trip with a final destination in mind. They are determined to complete it before Earth and everything on it says its final goodbyes. Over the course of their journey, Don and Rodney come across a variety of people each facing their grief of the inevitable end in a variety of ways.
We Burned So Bright is a compelling heartbreakingly emotional read. I listened to an audio copy and the listener feels a sense of urgency: Will Don and Rodney reach their destination and goal before the end comes? The urgency increases as the novel progresses as it becomes even more apparent that this is in fact the end. The reason for their cross-country trip is slowly uncovered over the course of the novel and it is ultimately heartbreaking.
The narrator Kirt Graves is seemingly a perfect fit for this novel. He helps the listener experience everything the characters do and as the novel progresses, with Graves narration I could visually see what Don and Rodney experienced in my mind. This is the sign of a great narrator and superb writing by Klune.
The listener does get some LGBTQ history as we learn about Don and Rodney’s past through flashbacks of their long history together. Given they are a gay couple, the listener experiences what life was like for the two during the chaos of the time that they lived which includes the AIDS crisis. We Burned so Bright is a deeply touching novel that will stay with me for a while. Though I did not cry, I can see some readers/ listeners shedding some tears. For such a short read, it creates a lasting impact and everyone should read this one.
Many thank you to the publisher for granting me an advanced copy to listen to and review. I am going to have to purchase the Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition, as I will have to have that version on my shelf of favorite novels.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition
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.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
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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