Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Review: The Future of Us by Asher & Mackler

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The Future of Us
Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler
Release date: November 21st, 2011
by Razorbill

Goodreads / Purchase

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.

*A copy was provided by Penguin Group for review purposes*
Logging on to your future Facebook account, 15 years ago? Now that would have been interesting! This is what happens to Josh and Emma after Emma gets her first computer in 1996.

Growing up in the 90s, I got a real nostalgic feeling while reading this. Talk of Walkmans, VCRs and scrunchies was simply amusing. I did feel there were a few unnecessary parts thrown in only to add more ’90s detail, but they worked to dig up old memories. It’s not a deep, emotional read like Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why, this is a lighter, much more fun story.

From the dual perspective of Josh and Emma, you’ll realize that seeing the future may not be as fun as you’d think. The mere fact of having dual gender point of views gives the book a fresh vibe. Josh and Emma are both great characters with normal teenage insecurities, which grows tenfold after seeing what their future holds. Time travel can be a touchy subject for me. I often find big loop holes that make the story illogical. However, Asher and Mackler constructed it smoothly and, under the circumstances, credibly. You don’t like what you see? Make a new stain on the carpet – refresh: new future. I was always intrigued by the new developments in their lives. I even got anxious each time they logged on to see what was in store for them. As for their future selves being contemplated in 1996, that was incredibly fun due to the true nature of it: If you would have been told, 15 years ago, that announcing on the Internet what kind of sandwich you ate that day was “the thing of the future” – seriously, you would have laughed!

-“I flinch. “What the hell happens to Pluto?””


Even though the outcome is predictable, the story is fun and unique, with a lot of charisma. I’m not sure how younger readers will relate to this book, but for those like me who grew up in the 90s era, you can’t help but feel that this was written just for you.

4 Hot Espresso
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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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28 Responses to “Review: The Future of Us by Asher & Mackler”

  3. Amy

    I really have to get this one. I keep hearing about it, but I keep passing it over. It sounds like a book I would enjoy. Great review Giselle.

  5. Alexa

    It was an interesting, easy to read novel and I enjoyed it. It may not be one of my favorites, but it is worth a read at the very least 🙂

  6. Shelby

    I’ve been wanting this book – it just sounds so good! I was born a year after it takes place, so I’m obviously not going to get much of that sort of connecting, but the story sounds fun.

  9. Savannah

    Dede, all the references so brought me back to time we got our first computer and internet. I thought I was so cool for having AOL! Nice review!

  10. Tee

    LOL..I have this book on my nightstand and I keep saying I am going to pick it up but dont..but for some reason I have read the Pluto line and laughed. After reading this I think I might have to pick it up quicker

  15. Ashley @ Book Labyrinth

    I agree, I was reading it and thinking that people younger than me would have a hard time relating. I mean, not that they wouldn’t get it, but that it wouldn’t be as enjoyable… or hey, maybe it would be amusing and they’re thinking “wow, what would it be like to use a pay phone??” =b But yah, a few too many “wink wink nudge nudge” references for my taste, but it was funny to think back about getting our first Windows computer, etc. Anyway, this wasn’t my favourite by any stretch of the imagination, but it was cute and amusing enough to keep my interest, for sure.

  18. Candace

    i really want to read this one because I was a teen in the 90’s and I wanna go back! I’ve seen some mixed reviews though so I’ve been a little nervous but I’m still really wanting to read it and your review has me wanting to read it even more! I’ll definitely have to watch for it really cheap or at the library cause I gotta read this one!

  20. Eden (The Prickly Reader)

    This sounds so cool if only because I wonder what I would have thought of my Facebook page if I could have seen it in the 90s. Oh man. I can’t even imagine logging onto my AOL account on our dial-up modem and seeing that. This sounds like a fun read.

  21. Jessica

    I really want to read this. It sounds so cool. I’m been addicted to facebook and can’t really imagine life without it. Hopefully I stumble on or hunt this book down soon.

  22. Rebecca

    Aww, I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. I love the the 90s flashbacks and the whole book just seems interesting! Really great review.

  24. THE DRIFTING girl

    Haha, I loved the Pluto quote! Poor Pluto. 🙁

    I am a child of the ’90’s as well. This book sounds really interesting to me. thank you for sharing a great review! I will be checking it out 🙂

  25. Mary @ BookSwarm

    Time travel can work really well or really badly–nice that you liked it! I’ve heard such a variety of opinions about this book, I think I’ll have to check it out for myself.

  27. Dead Trees and Silver Screens

    I glanced at your sidebar and I noticed that we are the same age. (That sounds kind of stalkerish creepy, doesn’t it…sorry! lol) I’m excited that we are the same age because so many bool bloggers are either younger or older than us, exciting! And you and I will have a different POV of this book because we were teens during this time period vs those younger and older than us…..

    Anyway, great review! I am so excited to read this book. I’m so addicted to facebook now but 15 years ago I would have thought it was crazy!

    http://deadtreesandsilverscreens.blogspot.com/

  28. Giselle

    @Dead Trees and Silver Screens: Haha thanks ok I love my stalkers! I always check out that About the blogger section too. I have met a lot of bloggers around my age though and I agree this book will be a different experience for us than for the younger gen!