Adam Silvera - They Both Die at the End

Huge thanks to the entire HarperCollins team for embracing me. Rosemary Brosnan is a fierce joy in this universe. Erin Fitzsimmons and artist Simon Prades created this undeniably gorgeous and clever cover—legit love at first sight. Margot Wood is always casting Epic witchcraft and wizardry. Thanks to Laura Kaplan for all things publicity, Bess Braswell and Audrey Diestelkamp for all things marketing, and Patty Rosati for all things School & Library. Janet Fletcher and Bethany Reis made me look smarter. Kate Jackson championed this book before even meeting me. And to the many people whose fingerprints are on this book, I look forward to meeting you and learning your names.

The Bent Agency, especially Jenny Bent, for championing my books.

My assistant, Michael D’Angelo, for continuing to boss me around. And his crying selfies.

My friend group has grown because of words we wrote and that will never not be cool to me. My sister/work wife, Becky Albertalli, and my bro/fake husband, David Arnold-Silvera, for group chats and group hugs. Corey Whaley, the first person I hit up when I had the idea for this book in December 2012. My wealth of unbelievable friendships also includes Jasmine Warga, Sabaa Tahir, Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas, Victoria Aveyard, Dhonielle Clayton, Sona Charaipotra, Jeff Zentner, Arvin Ahmadi, Lance Rubin, Kathryn Holmes, and Ameriie. And then the friends who have been there long before More Happy Than Not , like Amanda and Michael Diaz, who have suffered me since the very beginning of our lives, and Luis Rivera, who is a literal lifesaver. Thank you all for always knowing when to get me away from the laptop and ultimately inspiring me to return to each story.

Lauren Oliver, Lexa Hillyer, and the entire Glasstown gang. I’ve never had the privilege of writing a book through the company, but I’ve learned so much about storytelling by working with this beyond-talented group.

Grateful for early feedback from Hannah Fergesen, Dahlia Adler, and Tristina Wright, to name a few.

My mom, Persi Rosa, and Gemini soul-sister, Cecilia Renn, my role models and cheerleaders who’ve always encouraged me to chase every dream (and every dude).

Keegan Strouse, who proved someone can change the game up on you in under twenty-four hours.

Every reader, bookseller, librarian, educator, and publishing badass who give us their everything to keep books alive. The universe sucks less because of all of you.

And, lastly, to every stranger who didn’t call the cops on me when I asked them “What would you do if you found out you were about to die?” None of your answers inspired anything in this book, but wasn’t it absolutely fun having a stranger make you observe your mortality?

Photo by K. W. Strauss

ADAM SILVERAis the New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not and History Is All You Left Me , and he was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start. Adam was born and raised in the Bronx. He was a bookseller before shifting to children’s publishing and has worked at a literary development company and a creative writing website for teens and as a book reviewer of children’s and young adult novels. He is tall for no reason and lives in New York City. Visit him online at www.adamsilvera.com.

More Happy Than Not

History Is All You Left Me

They Both Die at the End