“It was the first time I realized that love was a two-way street, and that sometimes, you had to be willing to give a little to get a little.”
— Josh reflecting on his early interactions with Emma and their developing relationship.
Archivist's Choice
The Future of Us
Jay Asher (2011)
Genre
Fantasy / Science Fiction / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
300 min
Key Themes
See below
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In 1996, two estranged best friends find a magical AOL CD that shows them their future Facebook profiles, making them confront their current choices and fix their broken friendship.
Synopsis
In 1996, best friends Josh and Emma find a mysterious AOL CD. After installing it, they log into their Facebook profiles—fifteen years in the future. They quickly realize that their present actions directly impact their future lives, visible with every page refresh. Emma, seeing her future self married to a seemingly perfect Michael, tries to guide her present toward that future, often manipulating situations and pushing Josh away. Meanwhile, Josh, seeing his own less-than-ideal future, tries to impress a new girl and repair his friendship with Emma, all while dealing with his feelings for her. As they navigate their changing futures and the ethics of knowing too much, their choices create a ripple effect, revealing unexpected connections and making them confront their relationship and what truly makes them happy.
Reading time
300 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Nostalgic, Reflective, Romantic, Lighthearted
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy nostalgic 90s settings, 'what if' scenarios involving time-traveling tech, and stories about first love and the consequences of choices.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike love triangles, teenage drama, or plots where characters make questionable decisions based on future knowledge.
Plot Summary
A Mysterious AOL CD and a Glimpse into the Future
It's 1996, and the long friendship between next-door neighbors Josh and Emma is tense after something happened last November. Josh's mom gets a free AOL CD and insists he take it to Emma's house so she can install it on her new computer. They reluctantly start the installation. Once connected, they are surprised to find themselves logged into a website called 'Facebook,' which they've never heard of. Even more surprising, the profiles are their own, but fifteen years in the future. They see future photos, relationship statuses, and posts, quickly realizing they've found something extraordinary and potentially life-changing.
Initial Reactions and Future Shock
Emma is at first excited to see her future self, but her excitement quickly turns to dismay when she finds her future self is engaged to a man named Michael. This is a shock because she doesn't know anyone named Michael, and more importantly, her future self does not appear to be with Josh. Josh, on the other hand, is disappointed to find his future self still living with his parents and seemingly single, with no impressive career. The clear difference in their future lives, as shown by Facebook, creates immediate tension and confusion between them, making them confront their current feelings and hopes.
Experimenting with the Future
Curious and wanting to change bad future outcomes, Josh and Emma start experimenting. They realize that by making different choices now, even small ones, and then refreshing their future Facebook pages, they can see immediate changes. For example, when Emma decides to be kinder to a classmate she usually ignores, her future self's wall reflects a new, positive interaction. This discovery is both thrilling and frightening, as it gives them great power but also places a heavy responsibility on their current actions, making every decision feel huge.
Emma's Pursuit of Michael
Determined to understand her future engagement, Emma becomes set on finding Michael in the present. She uses school yearbooks and local directories to track him down. She eventually finds him and starts subtly inserting herself into his life, trying to build a connection. She does this to ensure her future happiness and to understand why she ends up with him, rather than Josh. This pursuit creates friction with Josh, who feels increasingly left out and jealous as Emma focuses on this stranger.
Josh's Attempts to Impress and Change
Motivated by his bleak future Facebook profile, Josh decides to act. He starts trying to impress a popular girl, Sydney, hoping a successful relationship with her will lead to a better future. He also starts thinking more seriously about his career, looking for ways to avoid his future self's seemingly aimless life. His efforts are often clumsy and driven by a desire to prove himself, both to Emma and to his future self. These attempts often lead to humorous or awkward situations, but also show his underlying insecurities and desire for a meaningful future.
The Shifting Landscape of Relationships
As Josh and Emma continue to manipulate their present choices, their future Facebook profiles constantly change. Emma's relationship status with Michael fluctuates, and Josh's posts reflect varying degrees of success or failure with Sydney. Importantly, their future friendship with each other also changes, sometimes appearing strong, other times strained or nonexistent. This constant change creates anxiety and makes them consider the far-reaching consequences of even seemingly minor decisions, showing how interconnected their lives and choices truly are.
Conflict and Misunderstandings
The pressure of knowing their potential futures and wanting to control them begins to affect Josh and Emma's friendship. They argue often about the best course of action, who is making the right choices, and whose future is more important. Emma's focus on Michael makes Josh feel neglected and undervalued, while Josh's clumsy attempts to impress Sydney and change his own future frustrate Emma. Their once strong bond is tested, revealing underlying feelings and insecurities that neither of them had fully acknowledged before.
The Weight of Responsibility
As they continue to experiment, Josh and Emma begin to grasp the ethical implications of their power. They realize that changing their own futures can unintentionally affect the lives of others, sometimes negatively. They see friends' future statuses change, sometimes for the worse, because of their actions. This realization weighs heavily on them, making them question whether they have the right to meddle with fate and if the potential benefits outweigh the risks of unintended consequences. The responsibility becomes a significant burden.
Discovering Unseen Connections
Through continued refreshes, Josh and Emma start to notice subtle connections between their future profiles that they initially missed. They see how a decision made by one of them impacts the other's life in unexpected ways. For instance, a future post from Emma might reference an event that only makes sense in the context of Josh's future, and vice versa. This revelation shows the depth of their intertwined destinies and makes them question whether they truly want separate futures, or if their happiness is linked.
The Truth About Michael and the Dance
Emma eventually realizes that her future engagement to Michael might not be as perfect as it seemed. She learns more about his personality and discovers that the future she's been striving for might not be what she truly wants. At the same time, the school dance approaches, a big social event where both Josh and Emma's actions could have major effects on their future Facebook profiles. The dance becomes a moment where they must make important decisions about their current relationships and their true feelings for each other.
A Moment of Clarity and Confession
After navigating the complexities of the dance and the continuous revelations from their future Facebook, Josh and Emma reach a breaking point. They have a heartfelt conversation where they finally admit their true feelings for each other, acknowledging the romantic tension that has always existed between them. They realize that their obsession with their future profiles has distracted them from what truly matters in the present and the genuine connection they share. This confession marks a turning point in their relationship and their understanding of the future.
Embracing the Present and an Uncertain Future
Having confronted their feelings and the overwhelming pressure of the future Facebook, Josh and Emma decide to stop obsessing over it. They realize that constantly checking and trying to manipulate their future prevents them from truly living and experiencing their present. They choose to embrace the uncertainty of life, understanding that genuine happiness comes from making choices now, based on their true desires, rather than trying to engineer a predetermined outcome. They decide to face the future together, whatever it may hold, by focusing on their present relationship.
Principal Figures
Emma
The Protagonist
Emma learns to let go of her need to control the future and trust in the present, realizing that genuine happiness comes from authentic connection rather than a predetermined path.
Josh
The Protagonist
Josh gains confidence in himself and his feelings, learning to prioritize authentic connection over superficial achievements or external validation.
Michael
The Supporting
Michael's role primarily serves to facilitate Emma's growth, as he remains largely unchanged but his perceived desirability shifts in Emma's eyes.
Sydney
The Supporting
Sydney remains a static character, serving mainly as a plot device to illustrate Josh's early, misguided attempts at self-improvement.
Emma's Mom
The Supporting
None, her character's primary function is initiating the plot.
Josh's Mom
The Supporting
None, her character's primary function is initiating the plot.
Themes & Insights
The Allure and Danger of Knowing the Future
The main theme explores the double-edged sword of foresight. Initially, Josh and Emma are excited by knowing their future, believing it will help them avoid mistakes and find happiness. However, this knowledge quickly becomes a burden, leading to obsession, anxiety, and constant questioning of their present choices. Their attempts to manipulate their futures often lead to unintended consequences, showing the danger in trying to control what is meant to unfold naturally. This is clear in Emma's frantic pursuit of Michael and Josh's desperate attempts to impress Sydney, both driven by their future profiles, often at the expense of their present happiness and friendship.
“"The future was a moving target, and we were chasing it blindfolded, trying to hit it with a slingshot made of our present decisions."”
The Importance of Living in the Present
As Josh and Emma become more consumed by their future Facebook pages, they start to neglect their current lives, relationships, and genuine feelings. They learn that true happiness and growth come from making authentic choices now, rather than constantly trying to create a specific outcome. Their journey ends with the realization that obsessing over the future stops them from experiencing the richness and spontaneity of the present. This theme is powerfully shown when they decide to stop checking Facebook, choosing instead to focus on their real-world connection and allowing their future to unfold naturally.
“"Maybe the best way to get to a good future was to just live a good present."”
The Nature of Free Will vs. Destiny
The book constantly deals with the question of whether our lives are predetermined or if our choices truly shape our destiny. The future Facebook initially suggests some predestination, but the ability to change the profiles through present actions implies free will. This creates an internal conflict for the characters, as they struggle to understand how much control they truly have. The constant change of their future profiles illustrates the delicate balance between fate and choice, ultimately suggesting that while certain tendencies might exist, our active decisions play a crucial role in forming our paths.
“"Every refresh was a reset, a chance to prove that we were the authors of our own stories, not just readers."”
The Complexity of Friendship and Love
At its core, the novel is a story about Josh and Emma's changing relationship. Their long-standing best friendship is tested and changed by what their future reveals. The future Facebook makes them confront their unspoken romantic feelings, their jealousies, and their insecurities. Their journey shows how deeply intertwined their lives are and how difficult it can be to navigate the line between platonic affection and romantic love, especially when external pressures and visions of the future are introduced. Their ultimate decision to prioritize their genuine connection, regardless of what Facebook shows, highlights the lasting power of their bond.
“"It wasn't about who we were going to be, but who we were right now, together."”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Future Facebook
A supernatural social media platform that shows users their lives 15 years in the future.
This is the central plot device. Discovered on an AOL CD in 1996, it allows Josh and Emma to see their future selves' profiles. Its key function is its ability to update and reflect changes based on their present-day decisions. It serves as both a source of information and temptation, driving the plot, creating conflict, and forcing the characters to confront their desires, fears, and the consequences of their actions. It's a magical realism element that grounds the fantastical premise in a relatable, albeit anachronistic, technological format.
The AOL CD
The seemingly mundane object that provides access to the future.
The AOL CD acts as the catalyst for the entire story. It's a mundane, period-specific object (1996) that unexpectedly serves as the portal to the fantastical future Facebook. Its ordinary nature makes the discovery even more surprising and helps to ground the supernatural element within a familiar, nostalgic setting. It's the 'magic lamp' of the story, a seemingly innocuous item that unlocks extraordinary power and profound challenges for the protagonists.
The 'Refresh' Button
The mechanism by which present actions are reflected in the future.
The refresh button on the future Facebook page is the interactive element that links present choices to future outcomes. It's the tangible representation of cause and effect, allowing Josh and Emma to immediately see the repercussions of their decisions. This device creates a sense of urgency and direct responsibility, making their experiments with the future feel like a real-time game with high stakes. It's crucial for demonstrating the theme of free will versus destiny.
The 1996 Setting
The specific historical context that highlights the anachronism of Facebook.
Setting the story in 1996, before the widespread internet and social media, is a crucial plot device. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of discovering Facebook, making it feel truly out of time and therefore magical. This setting also creates a stark contrast between the characters' innocent, pre-digital lives and the overwhelming, information-rich future they glimpse. It adds a layer of nostalgia and highlights how much the digital world would change human connection and personal identity.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“The future isn't something that just happens. It's something you make.”
— A recurring theme as Josh and Emma grapple with the implications of seeing their future Facebook profiles.
“Sometimes, the smallest decisions can have the biggest consequences.”
— After Josh makes a seemingly minor change to his status that affects Emma's future.
“You can't live your life looking at someone else's. You have to live your own.”
— Emma's friend, Sarah, advising her on her obsession with Josh's future.
“Maybe knowing too much about the future isn't such a good thing.”
— Josh expressing doubt and anxiety after seeing a troubling future event.
“The past is gone, the future is unwritten. All you have is now.”
— A moment of realization for one of the characters about living in the present.
“True love isn't about finding someone perfect, it's about finding someone who's perfectly imperfect for you.”
— A romantic reflection on the nature of Josh and Emma's evolving feelings.
“Every choice you make sends ripples into the future.”
— An internal thought by Emma as she considers the impact of her actions.
“You can't predict happiness. You have to create it.”
— A conversation between friends about actively pursuing joy rather than waiting for it.
“Sometimes you have to break things to make them better.”
— When a difficult decision is made to alter a negative future outcome.
“It’s not about what you see, it’s about what you do with what you see.”
— An important lesson learned by the protagonists about the responsibility of their unique ability.
“Friendship is just as important as love, sometimes even more so.”
— Emma reflecting on her bond with Sarah amidst her romantic entanglements.
“The scariest thing isn't not knowing the future, it's knowing it and being powerless to change it.”
— A moment of despair when Josh feels trapped by a future he doesn't want.
“Even if you could see everything, you'd still have to live through it.”
— A wise observation from an adult character about the journey of life.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The central premise revolves around Emma and Josh, two estranged best friends in 1996, who discover a mysterious Facebook-like website on Emma's new computer. This website shows them their lives fifteen years in the future, revealing the impact of their present-day choices on their future selves.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
