Books › The Future of Us
The Future of Us
384 pages
A nostalgic, sliding-doors exploration of how the tiny choices we make today ripple into the people we become tomorrow.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a time capsule of the mid-nineties, complete with the screech of dial-up internet and the acute, all-consuming anxiety of high school. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, driven by a high-concept hook that keeps you turning pages to see how one small change ripples into a completely different tomorrow. Yet beneath the playful, speculative premise lies a deeply earnest and tender exploration of friendship, destiny, and the fear of growing up. The dual perspectives are conversational and accessible, wrapping the reader in a cozy, wistful atmosphere. It is a delightful, thought-provoking experience for anyone who loves sliding-doors scenarios and the messy, hopeful transition from childhood friends to something more.
- Mood
- 90s-nostalgic
- hopeful
- wistful
- anxious-yet-cozy
- Tone
- earnest
- nostalgic
- playful
- reflective
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the butterfly effect · fear of the future · shifting friendships · self-determination · coming of age
- The writing
- The dual-POV narration is conversational, breezy, and deeply rooted in the authentic, slightly awkward cadence of nineties teenagers.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from a frantic obsession with controlling tomorrow to a tender, grounded appreciation for the messy reality of today.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for fans of sliding-doors scenarios, dial-up internet nostalgia, and sweet, character-driven stories about friends navigating the blurry lines of romance.
Content notes
- mild relationship anxiety
About the book
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.
Description from Open Library.
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