In this society, the day you are going to die, you receive a phone call from the Death-Cast organization. They explain that today is your End Day and you are told the next couple hours are going to be your last. You get to plan your funeral and say goodbye to your loved ones. On one random night, Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio receive the phone call. Mateo panics and refuses to leave his bedroom, he’s alone, in his dirty empty apartment because his mom died at birth and his father is in a coma. Rufus, in the middle of beating up his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend, receives the phone call. Rufus is only seventeen and turns 18 in a couple of months. He lives in foster care with his “brothers”. Rufus leaves the fight scene and calls his ex-girlfriend to say goodbye in person. His ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend calls the police and Rufus’ only “family” gets arrested. Rufus then decides to sign up for an app called Last Friend. Mateo also logs onto an app and the two get paired to spend their last hours with each other. The app connects you with someone who was also told it was their end day. One of the things they do is visit Mateo’s mom’s grave and notice a worker digging Mateo’s grave. The rest of the day they do things together, say goodbye to everyone they knew and loved, and avoid near-death experiences knowing that could’ve been their execution. Later they go back to Mateo’s apartment, confess their lasting love for each other, and fall asleep in each other's arms. Mateo wakes up and makes tea for both of them, turning on the stove, it explodes and kills Mateo. Rufus dragging Mateo’s lifeless body, discovers Mateo has met his end. Rufus knowing he doesn’t have very much time left goes to the park they spent time at. When leaving the park, Rufus steps out onto the street not noticing the accelerating vehicle coming right for him.
The book was very emotional and heartbreaking, and the end left me wanting more. Even though both of the main characters were dead, I think if the next book goes more into the aftermath of Rufus and Mateo’s loved ones’ reactions and how it affects their emotional state I would want to read it. Another thing I would like to see in the next book is if Mateo’s father ever wakes up and discovers the painful death of his only son.
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