4.5/5 stars

**HUGE thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for granting me an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!**

Representation: Gay, Latinx, disabled main character; gay Latinx main character; Afro-Latina side character; multiple Latinx side characters

Content Warnings: parental death (off-page), mentions of 9/11, mentions of cancer, mentions of a car accident, mentions of death in childbirth, homophobia, religious trauma, heart disease, grief, gun violence/death, heart attacks, organ transplants, hospitals, domestic abuse, blood, fall-related injuries, sex, death

It's the debut of Death Cast, which promises to call every American who will die that day. At the launch party in Times Square, gay teens Orion and Valentino hit it off immediately. Orion, a native New Yorker with a serious heart condition, has already signed up for Death Cast. Valentino, who just arrived from Arizona, signs up at the last minute for the sake of his twin sister. At midnight, Death Cast will call just one of the boys, prompting the excursion of a lifetime across the city.

I had my doubts since I adored "They Both Die at the End," but "The First to Die at the End" was a surprisingly excellent prequel! Although the premise remains the same, the story didn't feel repetitive -- Silvera's plot twists were fantastic. The characters were compelling and I loved all the interconnectedness between narrators. It was also so much fun seeing cameos from the first book!

Have you forgotten the stress of reading They Both Die at the End? Are you a "It completely wrecked me; here, read it" type of reader? Would you like to feel the full range of human emotions, from blood pressure-spiking fear to sobbing? Have I got a book for you!

This book, the second in the series, doesn't quite live up to the very high bar set by the first title. Perhaps it is because you know that Death Cast does work as intended when you start reading the book. As such, a little of the urgency is missing to race through this title and see if they actually manage to outsmart death. That is not to say that this title is not a good story. In fact, I believe if this were the first title in the series it would be looked upon much the way The Both Die at the End is. However, with advanced knowledge, this is just a slightly less magical read, with a 4.5-star rating vs. the original book's 5-star rating. I believe this will be in high demand in the library, especially among young LGBTQ readers.

I had to read this one after reading They Both Dis at the End! It was interesting to learn more about those running the app and the selection process kept me reading to find out if the phone call could possibly be wrong!

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This author and their books. 1000/10 would recommend, and would read again!
This is just.

It’s 2010 and Death Cast is just about to be launched. Valentino just moved to New York City to start his life as a model with his twin sister Scarlet supposed to follow in just a few hours. Stoked for his first modelling gig, he couldn’t be more excited to be in the Big Apple and doesn’t really care about the new program that calls people on the day they die so they can live their last hours to the fullest. All that changes when he meets Orion, who’s already living dangerously close to death. With a genetic heart condition that has caused him many trips to the hospital in his life, Death Cast feels like a relief to him—no more second-guessing and instead knowing when he will die is a load off his back. When these two boys meet by chance only for one of them to end up getting one of the very first phone calls, time becomes a gift and a curse as they’re running against the clock to get the most out of their last day together.

Truth be told, I don’t quite know how to feel about The First to Die at the End. While some of the elements of the novel felt quite repetitive to me, I think that hardcore fans of They Both Die at the End will love all the nods to the source material, the many cameos and the inclusion of key moments the characters in They Both Die at the End also went through.

While I did enjoy that aspect (we love a good cameo, after all), there were times where this story felt too similar to They Both Die at the End and I would have loved a bit more diversity in the setting or at the very least in the characters’ progression of their one-day romance. Depending on which book of the two you read first, you might not enjoy the other one as much because they’re basically the same. Some moments also just felt a bit cringey, like Orion basically disregarding his best friend because of a guy he only met five minutes ago or the profusions of love and devotion that were on every other page. This again comes down to repetition—this story could have worked a bit better if the whole “carpe diem, live life to the fullest” cycle didn’t happen in every single chapter and that way would have had more of a punch. But this is coming from a person who isn’t the biggest fan of instalove or repetition, not to mention that I did compare this way too often with the first novel, so take this with a grain of salt.

All that being said though, Silvera is an excellent writer and knows how to pull on your heartstrings and this book showed this just as much as his other novels. There are full-circle moments that feel like a reward and sweet musings that make you question your own goals in life. There’s also a plethora of uplifting quotes for young readers that remind you to live life to the fullest and not let chances pass you by because you might not get another one. As we learn more about Valentino and Orion’s background, we also get to see more of what makes them tick and pursue the things they are working toward in their lives and that makes you really feel for the characters’ dilemma.

The highlight of The First to Die at the End are the insights we get into Death Cast from other POVs. While we still don’t get real answers as to how Death Cast works (I guess there will be future books where this is explored and actually more of a topic), we at the very least get a glimpse behind the curtain of Death Cast’s first outing in the world, the ups and downs of launching a new program like it and who’s affected by it whether they signed up to learn on which day they die or work for the company that makes life predictable. We also meet the creator of Death Cast and, hate him or love him, we see just how important this venture is to him. I really hope that future installments will dive more into how Death Cast works because that part is so fascinating!

A bittersweet love story infused with Silvera’s trademark talent to pull on your heartstrings, The First to Die at the End is perfect for anyone who’s wanted to get a closer look at Death Cast’s inner workings ever since reading They Both Die at the End or anyone who wants to celebrate the lasting impact people can have on your life.

Wow. Just…. Wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did the first. However, I am currently still drying my tears and wiping my nose after finishing this amazing story. This novel was so full of love- romantic, familial, and even self love. At first, I was somewhat bored, as I felt as though the characters were doing mundane things. But… they were, weren’t they? That’s what causes you to fall in love with the characters even more. Silvera does such an amazing job at creating these relationships between characters and readers, that it’s hard to separate my own feelings from theirs. Phenomenal read.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the digital ARC of "The First to Die at the End" by Adam Silvera.

I started crying the moment I read the lines "I write short stories because I am one. I wish I was a novel" - there was so much beauty and truth in those two simple sentences, and they tied perfectly into the very last pages.

I was barely halfway though, and already telling people how great it is. I really liked "The Both Die at the End"... but I loved this prequel more. It broke my heart even more when I realized this is where Mateo and Rufus' story began, they just didn't know it yet.

5/5

The night before Death-Cast goes live, everyone wonders if it can actually predict death. And how it predicts death. For Orion, death has alwasy been on his mind. He’s lived with a serious heart condition all his life, so he signed up for Death-Cast so he knows when the end is coming.

Meanwhile, Valentino is ready for his life to start. On his first day in New York, he only registered for Death-Cast because of his sister’s recent near death experience. When Valentino and Orion happen to meet at Death-Cast’s opening party, it’s an instant connection. However, when the first round of calls come out, one of them receives a call and one of them doesn’t.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an advanced copy of The First to Die at the End to review! I can vividly remember reading They Both Die at the End. I was intrigued to see the origin of Death-Cast. Of course, I knew that it was going to get emotional by the end. It’s Adam Silvera!

If you enjoyed the format of the story in They Both Die at the End, you’ll definitely enjoy this prequel. Silvera has a knack for writing characters that you’re bound to fall in love with in a short period of time. I also enjoyed all of the character connections in this. It’s like an intricate web, and it made the book even more enjoyable for me.

While I enjoyed the story and the characters, it did feel like the story lagged a bit in the middle. There were just aspects of it that felt repetitive; they didn’t feel like they were moving the plot or character development forward. For the most part, though, I was invested. There’s just something about this kind of story, where you sort of know what the ending is going to be, so it’s all about the journey there. And that little sliver of hope that maybe you’ll be wrong.

If you haven’t read They Both Die at the End yet, I’d say you could probably safely read this one first. There are just some character cameos that might not be as meaningful if you don’t read They Both Die at the End first.

All in all, I think this is a strong prequel, and I would be interested in reading more Death-Cast stories for sure!

I was a fan of the original book in the series, and while I found that this was a cute revisit to a previously established universe, I also found that it didn't really answer some of what I hoped it might. The relationship was touching, but a little rushed for my tastes.

The First to Die at the End was a great addition to the universe established in They Both Die at the End. It gave good insight to the world that exists, although it did leave me with more questions than answers. The shifting perspectives made for a very well-rounded understanding of the story as a whole. I would have like a bit more background on Death-Cast, but the mystery of it all was still intriguing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, Adam Silvera has left me in tears after an ending that is literally spelled out in the title. I can't decide if I like this book more than the original, or about the same. I may have to sit with it awhile to decide.

I'm still not a huge fan of people falling in love after knowing each other for less than a day, but the story was sweet nonetheless (if occasionally predictable). I loved the call outs and tie-ins to TBDATE, especially the glimpses into young Rufus and young Mateo's lives.

I know many people weren't fans of the digressions to other people's POVs and stories in the original, but I actually liked them, and I also liked the POV switches in this one. Discovering the story of the man who created Death-Cast was intriguing, even if I'm dying to know how it's done, which is, once again, not revealed.

All in all, I don't think fans of They Both Die at the End will be disappointed. This book was an excellent prequel to it.

Really interesting dystopia with great characters who have major heart. There were portions of the book where I felt like I was missing something major, which shouldn’t happen in a prequel, but it didn’t lower my overall enjoyment. Some of the messages were extremely heavy handed, so this would be better for the younger crowd.

I have not read book 1. This does stand alone, mostly.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

The prequel to 2017's They Both Die at the End follows two teens who fall in love against the backdrop of New York City during the Death-Cast launch. Orion is a teen convinced he's living on borrowed time thanks to his serious heart condition. He signed up for Death-Cast - an app that alerts subscribers on the day they are going to die - so that he would know when it was coming. Valentino just arrived in New York; a young model ready to take the City by storm, he signed up for Death-Cast on a lark after almost losing his sister to a car accident. The two meet and the attraction is instant: but one of them receives a call and the other doesn't. Is Death-Cast real, or is it a hoax? The two don't have time to mull it over; they have a day to create a lifetime. While it isn't necessary to read They Both Die at the End before reading The First to Die at the End, you'll want to. It's a gorgeous story, and you'll get a little more context from characters who make an appearance in this prequel. Using the space of one day, Silvera creates a story that is filled with expectation, joy, tension, and longing. His fully realized characters have no time to waste; they spend the most memorable day together, moving through relationship milestones and daring to to love in the face of the unthinkable. Thought-provoking discussions between the characters will translate well to discussion groups, and supporting characters and the connections made over the course of the day expand the Death-Cast universe and make this an unputdownable story that teens will devour. An essential first purchase.

I am always nervous about prequels because I grow tired of unoriginal work being used to make money, but I felt like this book was a natural building block for the world of They Both Die at the End.

It's 2010 and Valentino has just moved to New York City to start the life he has always dreamed of with his twin sister, Scarlet. He has his first big-time modeling job booked and endless optimism in his heart. Death Cast is just beginning its first day of calls and he's dubious about the practice.

Orion is already living each day in a dance with Death. With a genetic heart condition that has landed him in the hospital many times before, Death Cast comes as something of a relief for him. Finally, he'll be able to live each day without worrying if it will be his last.

I mean...this book is devastating. That's kind of the name of the game here. With New York still in the shadow of 9/11 and a morbid theme of living out your life like you're dying, I spent the whole book dreading the ending. I think book one was so special because even with the title I could be optimistically hopeful. Maybe they WON'T die at the end, right? Ha ha... Good joke, Silvera. There's something so much more tragic about hurtling towards an end you can't prevent...which is the whole meaning of the books.

I do not think this book was as good as the first, but I still felt really emotionally invested in it. There is obviously insta-love here, and I wonder if it would be more tragic to lose a stranger or someone you have loved for some time. Either way, I am in pain and forever wondering how people ENJOY reading sad books.

https://bruner-books.com/2022/08/31/arc-the-first-to-die-at-the-end-by-adam-silvera/

Many readers were drawn into the world of Adam Silvera’s They Both Die At The End, a story about a world in which death is just a phone call away. I was one of them. The basic concept of that novel was that the day you are going to die, you receive a phone call, letting you know that it’s your last day on Earth. How does the service Death Cast know? Who knows. As the first novel covers the story of Matteo and Rufus, two young men who received their call, the second book, The First to Die at the End covers the lives of two young men, but their stories are very much different.

A prequel to the first book, set in the year 2010, this novel follows Orion, an eighteen year old with a heart condition destined to limit his time and Valentino, a young model who left home and his homophobic family, looking to make a life in New York. Death Cast, the service from the first book, is just beginning. The two young men meet at the launch of the program, only for a phone to ring…

Without spoiling anything, the book was just as gripping with its emotional prose and the concepts it brings to life. Would knowing you were about to die make life easier? Also, what makes life worth living? Valentino and Orion’s lives are inexplicably drawn together, tied up in a single day’s time. The book demonstrates a lot of core values, values about life and letting other people in. It deals with grief and the way that grief presents itself in our day to day lives.

One of the strengths the book has lies with its characters. Valentino and Orion are two unique voices who have gone through very unique experiences in their lives up until the point of meeting. The supporting cast is great too. Orion’s best friend Dalma, who ends up being the creator of the Last Friend app from the first book is noteable. Her support and love of her best friend shines through, genuine and emotional.

As this book takes place when Death Cast is brand new, it raises questions about the service itself. Can it have flaws? How does it work? Some of these questions are answered, while others are not. It makes the logical part of me kind of bristle inside that there’s no real explanation, but sometimes not knowing is better, right?

Overall, if you liked the first book you’ll love this.

Wow. I was really hesitant to read this one since I didn't think TBDATE needed a prequel/sequel/anything else. It stands alone beautifully. But this book... I was wrong. It was a terrific read and while not needed, a great addition to Silvera's TBDATE canon. I KNOW teens will be clamoring for this one...we can't keep TBDATE on our shelves at my library!

"The First To Die at the End" is a worthy prequel to the much-beloved and discussed "They Both Die at the End" that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you do not like to get emotional and/or cry when reading, this is NOT the book for you. It is an emotional rollercoaster and I went from grinning ear to ear to sobbing in the span of a few pages! Adam Silvera deftly weaves together multiple narratives and points-of-view, which make this novel soar!

Valentino is a model who is moving to New York with his twin sister Scarlett to start a new life, fulfill his dreams of a major modeling career, and get away from his uber-religious and homophobic parents. He wants to live his life as an openly gay man, away from the parents who turned their backs on him when he came out.

Orion is a life-long New Yorker who lost his parents in 9/11 and is living with his mom's best friend Dayana and her family. This family includes his best friend and "sister". He also has severe heart disease and he is going to soon be in need of a heart transplant.

Valentino and Orion meet in Times Square on the eve of the launch of Death-Cast, the program that calls members on the day that they are going to die. Death-Cast was the catalyst of the first book and in that book, it had been around for a long time. In this one, it is just starting. Orion was signed up, along with the rest of his family, by Dayana. Valentino sees the sign-up booth and decides last minute to sign up. After signing up, the two boys meet as Orion boldly makes a move to say hello. They spend the minutes leading up to launch together, along with Orion's bestie. Midnight strikes and one of the two boys receives the very first Death-Cast call and then the world explodes.

The tale that follows is heartwarming and heartbreaking and will leave you breathless until the final section. DO NOT look up which boy gets the call... that will ruin the story. It is worth the wait!

Oh, and you do see younger versions of Mateo and Rufus, the leads of TBDATE, in small sections in this novel and they are perfect!

Check this book out as soon as it is released! You'll be glad you did.

Thank you to Harper Collins for allowing me a chance to read this!

Valentino has just moved to New York City and can’t wait to move forward into the future. Orion has a bad heart and keeps expecting to not have another day. They meet in Times Square on the night before Death-Cast goes live. They both joined Death-Cast for different reasons, but when Valentino receives the very first phone call … their lives become intertwined forever. Neither boy knows how the day will end, but they do know they want to spend Valentino’s last minutes or hours together.

The First to Die at the End is the prequel novel to They Both Die at the End. The original book was released five years ago, but I actually just read it this summer for book club. Because of reading these two books so close, I was able to fully appreciate the cameo appearances of many characters from the original story. I will admit I didn’t like the language and sexual thoughts/descriptions, but it wasn’t enough for me to stop reading the book. A thoroughly enjoyable this prequel and I am glad I got to read about how it all started.

Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Childrens Books for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I had all the feels with this one! The story starts the night/morning that Death Cast is going live for the first time. No one knows if it is even real. Valentino has just arrived in New York to live, patiently waiting for his twin sister to join him later that day, she talks him into going to Death Casts opening party. Orion has had a lot of loss in his life and has been battling Death for a while. When the two meet at the Death Cast opening sparks fly, but when call comes in for One of them what will they do? Their story is so wonderfully beautiful! I have been hesitant to read They Both Die At The end because I knew it would be a tearjerker, plus it’s Adam Silvera and he always knows how to pull at the heartstrings! But when The First To Die At The End came out I wanted to read it! I’m so glad I did and I wasn’t wrong about this series totally heartbreaking! But there’s so much beauty in the way this to connect to each other and the way they view things is so tender! I also love the larger quandary that these books pose of if you knew you were going to die within 24 hours what would you do with the time you had left? There is a subplot to this story that connects to the larger story that was intriguing as well! I couldn’t put it down and now I’m finally starting to read They Both Die At The End! I have my guesses for who will be the mcs for Book 3 as well! I think this book is a must read! Can’t wait to read it again!