Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us 
by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Release Date: November 21, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill 
Pages: 356
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Jay Asher: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Carolyn Mackler: Website | Facebook | Twitter

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future. By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

ADD TO GOODREADS

This is one of those books where I have reviewers to thank for getting me to read it. I really didn't know what it was about and then when I finally realized it had a best friends romance and a plot where the characters see their future facebook page I was all over it! I'm also very nostalgic about the 90s. I remember getting a million of those AOL discs back in the day.

Josh and Emma have been best friends all their lives until Josh made a move and Emma shot him down. After not speaking for six months after the rejection, Josh is sent over to Emma's house to give her the AOL free trial disc. Once it is uploaded they see their future facebook page. Josh ends up with the most popular girl at school and he is excited to talk to her and get started on his future life. Emma seems to have a bad marriage so she researches to make sure she keeps herself from ending up with him.

It is hard to judge your life off of a few status updates but every single one Emma sees she becomes obsessed with changing it and trying to make her life better. Josh is determined to not mess up his future with the most popular girl. Through it all Josh and Emma slowly become closer again. I thought it was a really unique and interesting plot line. I loved going back to the 90s and I thought Josh was a great guy. Emma was kind of annoying since she kept pushing Josh away and hurting him but I understand that risking a friendship can be difficult. I laughed a lot at how shocked they were with what people post on facebook. Loved the best friend romance and look back to the 90s.

This is one of those books that isn't super exciting and there isn't much of a mystery or anything. The facebook thing is never really explained. It was just a way for Emma and Josh to work out what they truly want in life. Things change and you can't control everything. You just have to live and do what you think is best. Josh worried about changing anything and Emma wanted to change everything. I loved the journey of Josh and Emma, the 90s references and ended up loving this book way more than I expected!



"Why does it say she has three hundred and twenty friends?" Josh asks. "Who has that many friends?"

Josh turns to me. "I can't believe she's writing these things."
"Not she," I say. "Me."
"Why would anyone say this stuff about themselves on the Internet? It's crazy!"

"I can't tell him what I'm about to do. My future husband didn't come home for three nights. Three nights! And now he's using my money to buy some gadget. Meanwhile, I can't even afford a therapist, which I most likely need in the future so I can talk about him!
I have to get rid of this guy."

"Then macaroni and cheese became lasagna. Maybe Emma doesn't think it's important that her dinner was different, but what if next time she cooks, something causes her to make meatloaf and she gets mad cow disease and dies because one little ripple changes her dinner plans in fifteen years?
But to change her future husband? On purpose? Those consequences are immeasurable!"

"He's drawing Pepe Le Pew," Kellan whispers. "I think our little Josh is finally learning how to hit on girls."
I grab Kellan's arm and pull her away. "If that girl wants a chauvinistic, sex-addicted sunk on her folder, that's her problem."

Rating: 5/5