Lance Rubin (1) (1981–)

In a world where everyone knows the date of their death from the moment they're born, Denton Little has always been aware that he won't survive to graduate from high school. But as his deathdate finally rolls around, several questions are looming for him. How, exactly, is he going to die? Did he really drunkenly cheat on his girlfriend last night? What are the secrets involving his birth mother that for some reason no one has bothered to talk to him about until now, and that he's still not show more getting any real answers on? Why does a horrible cop seem to have it out for him? And what is this weird purple rash on his skin?

I have very mixed feelings about this one. It's a cool premise. Maybe not entirely original, as I've encountered it several places before, but this one does do some interesting things with it. It's entertainingly and sometimes amusingly written, and Denton is a likeable enough character that contemplating his death has some actual emotional weight. In a lot of ways, I quite enjoyed it. But the longer it went on, the less patience I had with the teen relationship drama (which, I fully realize, I am not the target audience for), with the sometimes incredibly stupid ways in which people react to things, and the increasingly ridiculous plot. Also, it ends on kind of an unsatisfying note -- not a cliffhanger, exactly, but very much a setup for the next book in the series, rather than a solid conclusion. And, let's be honest, given the premise, even knowing there is a next book in the series is kind of a spoiler, but an unfortunately unavoidable one. show less

This might be my favourite book of 2015. I absolutely loved every minute of reading it! I read a lot of books that make me laugh silently while reading, but this book made me laugh out loud...while reading by myself! It is that funny! I found it so real that it was easy to visualize in my head...like watching a really good, really funny movie! I really love Denton! I loved his thoughts about life and death and friendship and love, as well as his banter with his friends, especially Pow! show more

Science has reached a point in Denton's world, where it can predict most people's date of death. You don't know how you're going to die, or the actual time of your death on that date, just that a some point between 12am and 11:59pm of a certain date, you are going to die. Does all the science make sense if you look at it closely...probably not, but it doesn't matter because it's just a springboard for the story and the story is enjoyable enough that you don't really care! In Denton's world, not only do most people know when they will die, but they actually attend their own funerals and there's food and dancing and speeches, after which they have Sittings...basically sitting with close family and friends at home waiting for death to come. Most people are scared to actually leave their homes at that point because they want to pass with their family near, and since you don't know how you die, anything could happen outside that could potentially cause your death!

I found that the little clues that were sprinkled here and there about "not trusting anyone" and the "government" kept me wondering what was really going on. There were strange events and mysterious coincidences all mixed in with Denton trying his best to cope with his impending death, his girlfriend, unexpected feelings for someone else, his biological mother, his father's reticence to be more open with information and a strange purple rash that has suddenly appeared and seems to be spreading. I'd say more but I don't want to give any more away.

I almost wish I wasn't finished yet because I will really miss reading about the characters. They all felt so real and so easy to care about, I want to see what is going to happen next with all of them! Highly recommended!

I'm really looking forward to the sequel coming out next year! show less

This is one bizarre and drama-filled ride, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s a little bit mystery, high school drama, science fiction, and government thriller, and a lot funny and quirky. And through all of it, Rubin never forgets the heart. Plus, that tagline “for fans of John Green and John Corey Whaley” may actually work here.

(Don't expect good science here. The premise--AstroThanatoGenetics--is implausible, but I don't think that's the point, so it didn't affect my review)

In a future where everyone in the first world is born knowing the exact date on which they will die, we meet Denton Little, whose death date is fast approaching--within the next 24 hours. Can I just say that the audiobook, narrated by the author, made me laugh out loud many times, though not at the idea of Denton's premature demise. No, Lance Rubin's voice is so authentic, so candidly teenage boy that you're too busy laughing to think about his passing on. And then you discover you're in the show more middle of a mystery. Someone wants to get to Denton before his death date, and there's a government connection to be continued in the sequel. I hope Rubin can keep up the humor. This was an entertaining and unusual story. show less