The Future of Us (2011)

The Future of Us is a 2011 contemporary fiction novel written by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. The novel was published on November 21, 2011 by Razorbill, a division of Penguins Young Readers Group.

Plot

Josh and Emma are about to discover themselves—fifteen years in the future.

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 everything changed. Things have been awkward ever since then, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD-ROM in the mail, his mom makes him take it to Emma so she can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they are automatically logged onto Facebook, which has not been invented yet. Josh and Emma are looking at themselves fifteen years in the future. Their spouses, careers, homes, and status updates—it is all there. And every time they refresh their pages, their futures change. As they grapple with the ups and downs of their future, they're forced to confront what they're doing right—and wrong—in the present.

They end up discovering that they have feelings for each other and end up dating each other.

Characters

Josh Templeton is a friendly, somewhat awkward redheaded kid.

Emma Nelson is a friendly, more social character.

Graham Wilde is Emma's boyfriend who she tries to breakup with in the beginning of the story.

Tyson is Josh best friend and is dating Kellan.

Kellan is Emma's friend and is dating Tyson.

Reception

The novel has received mixed to positive reviews.

The film option rights for the movie version of the book has been sold to Warner Bros.