Valentino can’t believe he’s finally made it. The Big Apple. His dream city. New York! The only thing that would make it even better is if his twin sister Scarlett was next to him on his way into Time Square. She’s working on an important photo shoot and will join him tomorrow, so it’s all good.

Catching a signature NYC yellow cab seems impossible, so Valentino walks the few blocks to get there. It’s a big night, not only for Valentino but for everyone, especially Death-cast – the new company that believes they can predict a person’s death. How can they do that? Is it a scam? Will it really change lives like the marketing campaign spins? These are the questions on everyone’s lips at the launches around the country.

Orion is also in Time Square with his best friend Dalma. He has already signed up for Death-cast. He’s already lost important people in his life and the shock of it took years to recover from. Never again. He has even more personal reasons too – he has an unstable heart, and is always on edge and super careful not to overstress it. Maybe Death-cast could warn him something is about to happen?

When Orion sees Valentino he is intrigued, not wanting to lose sight of him in the swarming crowds. He introduces himself and Dalma, wanting to know more about this gorgeous stranger.

Little do they know they will hardly leave each other’s side over the next 24 hours.

One of them receives a phone call from Death-cast at midnight. They are the very first to get a Death-cast call and know they will die before midnight the next day.

It’s not often a prequel is better than the original, but I found The First to Die at the End even better than the smash hit They Both Die at the End.

Even though we learn who receives the Death-cast call quite early in the novel, there is still so much uncertainty as to whether Death-cast are for real, whether another character will survive his unstable heart and whether loved ones will reunite in time.

I really enjoyed the seemingly random character connections in They Both Die at the End and there are even more in this prequel. Each time one is made in the story, it was if it made it even more solid in my mind – people connecting with people. It certainly made the high-impact-climax nail biting and, unfortunately for one – heart pumping.

This novel is a little bit thriller, a flight to freedom, a list of dreams achieved and others that never will be. It’s sweet, sometimes funny and a beautiful, authentic love story between two guys who’ve found their perfect match – only for it to be snatched away.

Stunning writing, characterisation and story, perfectly leading readers into The First to Die at the End.

Its premise is one we must remember more often. Be true to who you really are and want to be. Live your life the way you want to live it, and enjoy every single day if you can.

A personal 2022 favourite.

Author – Adam Silvera

Age – 15+

(2022, Harper Collins, Prequel, Series, Love, Relationships, LGBTQ+, Gay, Friendships, Twins, Model, Photoshoot, Photographer, NYC, New York, Death prediction, Apps, Truth, Family, Loss, Grief, Heart, One day left, Stranger connections, Random people connections, Domestic Abuse, Fear, 911, Crime, Shooting, 24 hours, Romance, Bromance, Kindness, Attraction, TikTok)