Two best friends create a computer that can predict the future. But what they can’t predict is how it will tear their friendship—and society—apart.
If you had the chance to look one year into the future, would you?
For Ben Boyce and Adhi Chaudry, the answer is unequivocally yes. And they’re betting everything that you’ll say yes, too. Welcome to The Future: a computer that connects to the internet one year from now, so you can see who you’ll be dating, where you’ll be working, even whether or not you’ll be alive in the year to come. By forming a startup to deliver this revolutionary technology to the world, Ben and Adhi have made their wildest, most impossible dream a reality. Once Silicon Valley outsiders, they’re now its hottest commodity.
The device can predict everything perfectly—from stock market spikes and sports scores to political scandals and corporate takeovers—allowing them to chase down success and fame while staying one step ahead of the competition. But the future their device foretells is not the bright one they imagined.
Ambition. Greed. Jealousy. And, perhaps, an apocalypse. The question is . . . can they stop it?
Told through emails, texts, transcripts, and blog posts, this bleeding-edge tech thriller chronicles the costs of innovation and asks how far you’d go to protect the ones you love—even from themselves.
I didn’t need to read the complete description before I requested this book. Creating a computer that connects to the internet one year in the future? Then marketing it to the public? My mind was spinning with ideas before I even read the first page.
The way this story is told – through emails, texts, transcripts, and blog posts – may put off some readers, but I’ve read other books with similar formats, and it’s a style I enjoy. I think it works particularly well with this novel. You may have to read between the lines in a couple of places, but it’s not difficult to figure out. The characters’ distinct personalities come through loud and clear.
Ben and Adhi seem like a perfect team – Ben with his business expertise and Adhi with his genius brain. I enjoyed seeing how they got this business off the ground, but I enjoyed reading about the science behind it even more. Yes, disbelief must be suspended, but this science nerd was doing a happy dance. Imagine having a console in your home that allows you to see one year into the future. You’ll know who wins the Super Bowl, find out which companies to invest in, see the state of the world. You may also discover obituaries of loved ones or even yourself or come across pictures of your spouse/significant other with someone else. What can go wrong with this concept? Think about it. Then consider how free will may or may not be connected to what you learn.
At its base level, this story is also about friendship – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and the lengths people will go to hang onto it. The ending is everything and left my head spinning. It’s perfect.
The Future Is Yours is easily one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read this year (2020). You’ll be thinking about it long after finishing the last page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Books and Such 
So. Many. Thoughts.
I wish I had that and am glad I don’t. Sounds like an awesome story.
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Exactly! While reading this book I had to set it down and think about things. If you read something about yourself a year from now – new job, spouse, etc – does that mean you have to make those decisions when the time comes? Do you even have a choice? My mind was spinning, Staci.
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Right? So much to consider!
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Wow, Teri! Great review of an intriguing sounding book. I think I might be chicken to read this one. (And I KNOW I’d be too chicken to ask for a look into the future in real life. It would totally disrupt my ability to live in the NOW, I’m afraid.) But when it comes to books on subjects like this, I definitely trust your judgement, so I just may give it a go. Possibly. *shiver* 😀
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After the year we just had, I don’t think I’d want to know the future, Marcia. If I did, I definitely would have stocked up on toilet paper and Clorox wipes months before the pandemic hit, lol. This one would make a great book club selection. Lots of discussion.
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Boy, this sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for the terrific review, Teri!
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It really was, Jill. So many things to think about.
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I don’t normally enjoy techno-epistolary formats, but for a story like this, it’d be perfect! Good review.:-)
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It was perfect for this story, Priscilla. It’s amazing how much character development you can do with this format – their personalities really come through in their communications.
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I’m really intrigued by this one. I’ve seen buzz about this book around the blogosphere and it’s all positive. Reading it will probably make my head spin, but I think it’s going to have to be on my TBR! 🙂
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Head spinning is right, Mae. Books like this always leave me thinking, and this one certainly did.
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I’m looking forward to reading it this weekend! I’m with you, that description sold me before I even finished it. Wonderful review!
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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Tessa. That ending is something. No peeking!
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Never 👀
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The concept is interesting with full of possibilities. Amazing review, Teri!
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So many possibilities, Yesha. Several times I wondered which direction the story would take me.
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I think this is a clever idea for a book, Teri, and I like the style idea. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is written entirely as diary entries and letters. This is the same, just more modern.
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Dracula is probably the first book I read in this format, Robbie. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. It absolutely did for this novel.
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What an interesting premise. It raises tons of questions for me, Teri. Like… by knowing the future can you change the future? Don’t get on that plane! Lol. The use of emails and texts as a way of delivering the story sounds unique too. I haven’t read any stories using that format, but it sounds interesting. Thanks for the tantalizing review. 🙂
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Yes! Like I mentioned to Staci above – if you know what will happen to you in the next year, do you still have a choice? Is everything set in stone? It’s a bizarre concept.
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Wow! What a concept! How life-altering it would be to have a computer that could see one year into the future. I’m not sure I’d want to know – well maybe the stock market or lottery numbers. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your view on this book. Intriguing!
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Yep – maybe I’d use it for those reasons, but I wouldn’t want to know anything about my or my family’s lives. But still, an outstanding concept.
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Sounds like a fun one.
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That’s an understatement, lol.
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Ooo I love the concept of this one. Not so sure about the format of the book (emails, texts, blogs etc), but I’m open to trying anything once!
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Even though I’ve read other books with this format, I was a bit skeptical if it would work for this one. But it was perfect in my opinion.
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Oh wow you are really smitten aren’t you?
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Couild you tell, Sophie? Such a profound concept – I was still thinking about it days after.
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I like the story idea, but I’m not sure I would enjoy the format.
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I was skeptical the first time I read a book in this format, but I actually enjoyed it. And it’s perfect for this novel.
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