What is 'The Future of Us' about? 3 things to know about Jay Asher's second novel

13 Reasons Why is the latest Netflix series ready and waiting to be binge-watched.

The Selena Gomez-produced series is based on the novel of the same name by Jay Asher. In addition to 13 Reasons Why, Asher also has another young adult novel that is waiting to be read called The Future of Us.

The plot

The Future of Us is about two lifelong friends and how everything could change with a look into their futures. The book, written by Asher and his co-author Carolyn Mackler, tackles the tricky relationship between two next door neighbors but with a sci-fi twist. 

The book is set in 1996, so bust out that yellow Walkman and take a trip back to the '90s.  Best friends for life Josh and Emma have lived next door to each other for as long as they can remember. Everything changes one day when their friendship is altered after Josh does something unexpected and the two of them take a little trip into the future. 

The futuristic twist

Don't worry, this isn't a major spoiler. 

While things have been weird between them, one day Josh's family gets a free-trial disc for AOL. This was a defining moment for any family in the '90s. Emma comes over to help install it and as the two work on bringing AOL to the family computer, they log on and their Facebook pages appear. As this is 1996, they don't know what's happening. The two then get a glimpse into their futures, and it doesn't look bright. 

Why you should read it

The book uses its Facebook twist to show how friendships can change when you get older. As the two try to investigate how they've become witness to their future internet selves, they discover the impact of what they're currently doing now could be on their lives in the coming years. 

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