They Both Die at the End question

I don't see how people are saying that the relationship felt forced. No, I don't think they would have met any other way, but I do believe that they were soulmates, they were just meant to have each other for a painfully short time. I wonder how much of people not liking them together is just internalized homophobia (would people be saying this if either Rufus or Mateo were a girl?)

I think them ending up together was just a natural response due to the situation.

ok so I see we don't all agree...I mean I thought it was obviously fate. There couldn't have been a more perfect match. Plus the entire plot revolved around their love for each other. Without their love, there would be no plot, and they would have died lonely. It wasn't spontaneous cause they had opportunities to separate and they chose to stay together even up to their final moments. RUFUS AND MATEO ARE GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think they were meant to be.

I think that they belong together , they had a very great day with eachother and experienced a different type of life, and of course their death wasn't related to eachother. That was a really good story.

I liked them ending up together. No, they probably wouldn't have met if not for Deathcast's existence, but I think that they worked really well together. Rufus brought Mateo out of his shell and Mateo showed Rufus that he can process losses and let go. It's really sweet overall.

I can understand why some feels that they were only together because of their circumstances. But in reality, aren't all meaningful connections we make with people because of circumstance? I think if you go into this book thinking about romance and the relationship aspect, it takes away from Rufus and Mateo and who they are as people. They both led different lives. However, they also coincidentally fit each other. They were able to push each other to do things they may not have done if they didn't meet. If they didn't decide to use Last Friend and choose to meet. So it was fate.

Jersey wrote: "I do not think that they were meant to be together. I think that they were just such good friends it would have been weird to date. This is just my personal opinion Ido not mean to come after anyon..."

Definitely not. Probably the most obvious example of love by proximity I've ever heard of. It's not necessarily a bad thing, because their relationship was cute, but nothing special would've happened between them if it weren't for the circumstances. One could argue that the circumstances are proof that they really were meant to be together, but that feels like an easy way out of admitting they did not have that much real chemistry and that their romance was only sweet because they were about to croak.

I think them both knowing they were going to die enhanced their desire to create friends before it happened. I do think they were meant for one another (soulmates I suppose), but I don't think it would've happened so quickly if they hadn't had this assumed "ultimatum" upon their shoulders.

I mean yeah, I don't see why. and yes, it's true if they hadn't gotten the call, they would not even have known that the other person existed but idk they seemed well together and looked like a pretty good pair.
personally, I would have loved to see more of them I wish they hadn't died their bond was nice.

I think there's zero chemistry between the two and they definitely don't belong together.

honestly, when reading the book I didn't know it was a romance going in, so I was surprised when it happened. I didn't mind it, but it felt a bit sudden(?) if that makes sense. I think if they knew each other longer I could see it, but after they got together their only personality trait was just swoony and that's it. I would have preferred maybe people who have known each other longer or no romance at all. TFTDATE was much better, IMO.

I think that in the long run, they wouldn't have been good together and eventually they would have split up. Considering the circumstances, they were perfect for their final day together. The entire relationship though, was based on the circumstances, not because they were actually in love; they hardly even knew each other. I still thought they were cute, but not soulmates.

I feel like the way that their relationship was written didn't give them the connection that everyone thinks they have. It wasn't that deep and meaningful until the last few hours which I know could've changed if they had more than a day. Overall they had a cute relationship though and I think that they really do belong together

I feel that they did belong together but they would have never ended up together in any other situation. I feel like they're getting together and love for each other was because of their shared trauma and memories made in a time limit. Because Mateo was so sheltered he would have never put himself out there especially not to such an extrovert like Rufus, but despite their situation they were able to find a love for one another. But then again it is my belief that you have more than one soulmate it just depends on who you meet first. Mateo and Rufus just happened to meet each other because of their grave situation. And for those saying it felt forced, your opinion is valid but i feel that the plot literally revolved around them forming a bond and falling in love because of that bond.

These comments really opened my eyes, when I originally read the book I was so happy they got together but after reading the replies its so obvious a matter of circumstance, Mateo and Rufus are just too different to have ever got together under any other circumstance which is so heartbreaking to say 3

unpopular opinion but imma say no.i feel like it was a spontaneous thing that just wasnt right i didnt see it coming and i didnt get the vibe of them that they liked eachother it just came out of nowhere i think given more time and with them getting to know eachother more it defo would have felt right but i feel that it was kinda forced

I think that if it weren't for their situation they wouldn't have been together.

They were cute, and it's hard to tell since the circumstances forced them to go out of their comfort zone and try new things, especially for Mateo. If they had more time, they probably would have known more about eachother.