This book absolutely fascinated me. I had forgotten the blurb by the time I actually got round to reading it so I didn't know it was set in an alternate universe. Once I got over that initial surprise, I enjoyed every second.
The idea behind this book is very simple but extremely well-explored. People get calls from Death-Cast on the day they're going to die, letting them know they have a maximum of 24 hours left. No one ever survives this period and no one dies without getting a call. The book focuses on the two protagonists (Rufus and Mateo) who meet on their last day and decide to spend it together doing various things. However, the author also has occasional chapters about other people which are always brief but very well-written. It is through these cleverly-woven chapters that a lot of the concept is explored and it really is impressive how unobtrusive they are. It is so hard for an author to create a concept like this and fully explore it but at the end of this book, you're not left with many questions.
The two protagonists are a joy to read about. They absolutely came to life for me and knowing the tragedy of the situation, you become very invested in learning about who they are. Maybe some could argue that their romance is forced or rushed but for me, it was paced perfectly and I did believe it. The side characters aren't bad but apart from the three main Plutos, I wasn't that intrigued or invested in them. I didn't get Aimee in particular and Lidia just felt like she got in the way a bit once she was forced into the main story/ However, these are all minor complaints.
Was it perfect? No. But I was absolutely glued to my seat through every word of this novel. The ending I had mixed feelings on. [Highlight to see] Mateo's death was the kind of tragic thing I do enjoy but also it was so crushing to have him die essentially from stupidity. Rufus' was much better done and a good way to end the book, albeit a bit abrupt.
Overall, this is a beautifully-written book and one I am thoroughly impressed with. I enjoyed it much more than History is All You Left Me which is admittedly similar in themes and tone. I cannot recommend you read it enough, as a perfect example of how to create a world and concept if not for the characters and emotion.
Overall Rating:
.5