The Future of Us
By: Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Razorbill
ISBN-13: 9781595144911
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
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.
Review
Emma's life is okay, but her Father just moved away with her Stepmom and half sister to another state. Now she's stuck with her Mother and her third husband, a guy Emma thinks is a complete dork. She's also no longer really talking to her former best friend Josh, because of something that happened between them last November. So when Josh's Mom has him bring over the AOL cd they got in the mail for Emma to use on the computer her Dad bought her (guilt gift), things are awkward. Imagine their shock when they are connected to Facebook, a thing that shows them their future! Of course, things get even worse when Emma doesn't like the looks of her future and realizes that by changing her actions now, her future changes. In the course of a week, Facebook changes both Josh and Emmas' future and present realities. While coming to terms with the uncertainty of the future, Emma also comes to terms with the fact that everything changes and sometimes you just have to leap in without assurance. Will Emma admit her feelings for Josh are romantic, or will she continue to deny it and destroy what connection they have left to each other. I liked the alternate viewpoints in this book, because with a male and female author it turned out more realistically than one author writing two people's minds usually does. Emma was a average teenage girl, but she had so many layers. Her parents' divorce and her Mom's subsequent dysfunctional relationships have changed her more than she realizes. Emma goes out with guys she knows won't last, because she's too afraid of getting her heart broken. Josh loves Emma, but he's just about given up on her due to her lack of initiative. I also liked their best friends Kellan and Tyson, who have such an on-off relationship that you never know where they stand. Part of the plot is Emma trying to stop Kellan from getting pregnant as a teenager, because she learns on Facebook that Kella has a fourteen year old daughter, which means Tyson is most likely the Father. I thought that sub-plot was realistic and finished well. I liked that Josh and Emma were confused teens. One or the other wasn't the victim, they were both to blame for their fights and misunderstandings. The ending wasn't exactly unpredictable, but the book was so enjoyable I didn't mind at all. Not perfect, but close.
VERDICT: 4.25/5 Stars
*No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores and online.*
I loved this book! I haven't posted my review yet but I also thought it was great. I agree about the ending.
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