Audiobook Sample
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- Title: They Both Die at the End
- Author: Adam Silvera
- Narrator: Bahni Turpin, Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond
- Length: 08:11:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 05/09/2017
- Publisher: Quill Tree Books
- Genre: Teen, Tough Topics, LGBTQ+, Teen, Tough Topics, LGBTQ+, Teen, Tough Topics, LGBTQ+
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
As someone who has spent years chasing stories across continents – from the bustling markets of Marrakech to the quiet temples of Kyoto – I’ve learned that the most powerful narratives often emerge from life’s most fragile moments. Adam Silvera’s “They Both Die at the End”, brought to life by the exceptional narration of Bahni Turpin, Michael Crouch, and Robbie Daymond, is one such story that lingers long after the final chapter.
### “”A Story That Unfolds Like a Sunset””
The premise is deceptively simple: Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio receive a call from Death-Cast informing them they will die today. What follows is a day-long journey of connection, fear, courage, and love – a lifetime compressed into 24 hours. Silvera’s prose is both tender and unflinching, weaving a tale that feels as urgent as a heartbeat. Listening to this audiobook, I was reminded of a night I spent in Oaxaca, where an elderly storyteller spun tales under a sky full of stars. There was a rawness to her voice, a way she made each word “matter”. That same intimacy permeates this audiobook.
### “”Narration That Feels Like a Shared Secret””
The trio of narrators – Bahni Turpin, Michael Crouch, and Robbie Daymond – deliver performances so nuanced they feel like confessions. Turpin’s warmth brings depth to the secondary characters, while Crouch’s portrayal of Mateo is achingly vulnerable, his voice trembling with the weight of a life unlived. Daymond’s Rufus, on the other hand, crackles with defiance and humor, a perfect counterbalance to Mateo’s introspection. Their voices intertwine like old friends, making the inevitability of the title all the more devastating.
### “”Themes That Resonate Like a Distant Bell””
Silvera doesn’t just ask “What would you do if you knew today was your last?” – he forces us to sit with the discomfort of that question. The book explores grief, queer love, found family, and the small, sacred moments that define a life. It’s a story that mirrors my own travels in unexpected ways. Once, while driving through Chile’s Atacama Desert, I listened to “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, and the surreal landscape blurred with García Márquez’s magic realism. Similarly, “They Both Die at the End” blends the ordinary (text messages, diner meals) with the extraordinary (the looming specter of death), creating a world that feels both familiar and dreamlike.
### “”A Few Shadows in the Light””
No story is flawless, and this one stumbles briefly in its pacing – some middle sections drag slightly, as if catching its breath before the final sprint. Yet, even this feels intentional, a reflection of how time stretches and contracts when every second counts.
### “”Who Should Listen?””
If you’ve ever stayed up too late wondering about life’s fleeting nature, if you’ve ever sought solace in stories that make you “feel” deeply – this audiobook is for you. It’s a love letter to the present, a reminder to hold tight to the people who make your time here meaningful.
### “”Final Thoughts””
“They Both Die at the End” is more than an audiobook; it’s an experience. The narrators don’t just read – they “breathe” life into Silvera’s words, making the heartbreak and beauty of Mateo and Rufus’s journey impossible to forget. It’s the kind of story that stays with you, like the taste of salt after swimming in the ocean or the echo of a song you can’t quite place.
With stories in my suitcase and a heart full of words,
Marcus Rivera
