The Future is Yours by Dan Frey is an epistolary novel told through emails, texts, and transcripts. The format makes for a very quick read. If you've never read an epistolary novel before, it may take you a chapter or two to really get into the rhythm of the story, but the plot will pull you in quickly.

I was drawn to The Future is Yours after loving Recursion and Dark Matter so much but thought the story was a little flat and a few of the storylines never quite felt complete.

If you enjoy time travel and sci-fi storylines, give this one a shot.

Thank you @delreybooks @netgalley for my review copy.

Q: If you could look one year into the future, would you?

Best friends, Ben and Adhvan, have founded a tech startup that boasts technology the world has never seen. They’ve created a machine that can look one year into the future.

So I want to start this off saying that I don’t normally read science fiction. So take my review with a grain of salt.

I didn’t like the format the author used. I think this book had so much potential, but the way it was written was just not the best way to tell the story, in my opinion. It’s written as a series of texts, transcripts, and emails between the characters. It just never really grabbed my attention. It was also a slower paced book and I was just expecting there to be more action.

The story was definitely an interesting concept and it did make me stop and think about what I would do. If I had the opportunity to see a year in the future, would I? I think I would. But only one year into the future. I wouldn’t want to know beyond that!

If you’re a science fiction fan and don’t mind the format or a slower pace, this one might be for you. It comes out 2/9/21!

#bookreview #netgalley #thefutureisyours #arc #ebook #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igreads #bibliophile #scifi #readersofinstagram #reader #bookcommunity #booksofinstagram #thetipsyreader

In the future, apparently, novels are not written but rather assembled, like a model kit for a jet fighter. In a continuous series of emails, texts, letters and congressional testimony we are told the story of a device that can see into the future, allowing the user to outwit the stock market, wager successfully on any sport and get a Netflix rollout schedule before their neighbors. The Future -- the cleverly chosen name for the device -- runs up against the past of its inventors. Unfortunately, The Future -- the book, not the device -- is all plot and nothing but the plot. This future is not for me.

I gotta tell you that I am not even sure why I requested this book from Netgalley. This is definitely not the type of story that I normally choose. With that said, I found it to be engaging and well, I wanted to continue to the end.

This is the story of 2 tech fella's that created a machine that gives them the ability to look into the future. Does anyone really think that is ever a good idea? Read it and find out!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in February 2021.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

This book took me completely by surprise. I finished it in one day. It's fast-paced, and there's a sense of mystery throughout. You're wondering, "How will this end?" Because it seems like you should be cheering for Ben and Adhvy, but the more you read about The Future and the consequences of using it, the more conflicted you become. I really liked the uncertainty. Part of me wanted to see the time machine released to the public, and the other part of me thought it was a terrible idea. This story really kept you guessing, and I thought the ending was perfect. Just open-ended enough to hint at how the story might be changed due to Advy's actions. We want him to succeed, but there's no confirmation that he will.

I adore books that tell a story through nontraditional means. The Future is Yours hit all the right spots. We read emails and texts, transcripts from a congressional hearing, journal entries, and news articles. I think that's a really clever and unique way of telling a story, and it definitely made me flip to the next chapter and the next and the next.

Interesting take on technological advances and what the cost is. I've read better but still enjoyed it.

If given the chance, I will always open Pandora’s box.

There are things I really liked about this novel...and just as many things I didn't care for.

What I enjoyed:
1. The structure of the book is pretty freaking cool. It's written entirely in an archival, historical fashion - emails, texts, Tweets, blog posts, newspaper articles, government documents, and a variety of other multi-media. It makes for a very quick, addictive read. I read this in about three hours total.

2. Although not particularly ground-breaking, I still thought the plot was fascinating.

3. The two main characters were very flawed, but they also felt very real to me.

What I didn't enjoy:
1. I wish the story had focused more on the technology, and how it affected the world and it's inhabitants...instead of devolving into petty bickering and affairs. It felt like a lost opportunity - as thought it went from the sci-fi novel to domestic fiction.

2. There were small areas I just had to skim, because the science was so far over my head, I think my eyes crossed.

Overall, I think most people will enjoy this book, even if sci-fi isn't their preferred genre. It's fun, plain and simple.

Available February 9, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for my review copy.

The premise of this book is very unique and the format was interesting, especially given the ending. However, I did not feel any particular connection with any of the characters and the story fell a little flat at times. It was definitely a quick, entertaining read though. I would recommend this book for people who enjoy books like Recursion. Thank you to Del Rey Books and NetGalley for granting access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review tomorrow to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book, which follows two friends determined to make their impact on the tech world. Overall, I'd say that I mildly enjoyed this book. I really had fun with the formatting of this story, as much of it is told through texts, emails, and Congressional records. However, I didn't enjoy the characters and felt that much of their personalities were clear stereotypes of Silicon Valley tech execs. This book is for those who are fascinated with the promise of the future, but who are wary of the consequences.

Tech bros Ben and Adhi create limited time travel in a sense by finding a way to let computers access the future one year from now. The device can predict the future perfectly and they use it to chase success but others aren't so sure the device should exist. In fact it could end the world. The book is told through transcripts of a court trial over the device as well as emails, blogs, and texts.

Due to the format sometimes I could only take in a few chapters at a time, but that also made for a good read when I only had time for a chapter or two. The writing style of using emails and blogs and the like gave the story a unique spin that at times really worked for me, and at other times felt too limiting. I really wanted to love this book but I found myself not liking the main characters from the start and sometimes the story format just couldn't keep my attention. I think this was a case of the format just not working for me personally, but I loved the concept and fresh take on possible time travel.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book. Interesting, but the story gets a little convoluted and I felt the ending a bit of a let-down. Telling the story through text, email and correspondence was also interesting. Still worthwhile.

"The Future is Yours" by Dan Frey is the perfect book for fans of "Recursion" and "Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch! This entertaining science fiction novel follows the story of two best friends who develop technology that allows them to see one year into the future. After quitting their jobs and creating a company to further develop and sell their "time machine, " Ben and Adhi quickly discover that their invention could change the world forever.

Creatively told through a series of emails, texts, and hearing transcripts, "The Future Is Yours" is a fast-paced and thrilling read. It shows how dangerous some technology can be if it is used by the wrong hands and how greed can ruin lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this intriguing book in exchange for my honest review.

My best suggestion after finishing this book? Don't read it right after you've smoked a joint. Heck, don't even try it after you've had a couple of beers. It's mind-boggling enough without any outside help.

That's not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy it - truth is, the story is highly thought-provoking and tantalizing; if you could see a year into the future, would you look (especially knowing there's nothing you can do to alter what you now know happens)? On a much larger scale, if this kind of technology were possible today, what would it mean for the U.S. military (to know who won the war or who is secretly (until now) building up a nuclear arsenal? International relations (which of today's friends will be tomorrow's enemies)? Or how you treat your mother-in-law now that you know she won't be around for Christmas next year?

On a basic level, the story tracks the progress of The Future, a high-tech business started by college friends Ben Boyce and Adhi Chaudry. The actual technology, beyond having heard the term "quantum computing," was beyond me - but once I got the gist of what was happening, it simply didn't matter. Ben is the outspoken motivator and public relations guru; Adhi is the socially shy mastermind behind the technology. Their goal is to launch their company, which builds and sells desktop-type units that allow end users to link to their futures - and for all intents and purposes (including raising tons of start-up money), they'll be off and running right on schedule.

But there's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, and once the secret gets out, opposition rears its questioning head in the form of government investigations not unlike today's quibble over the pros and cons of social media. All that is woven throughout using emails, text messages, blog posts and even Congressional testimony that shifts in time to create one of the most unusual book formats I've ever read (not to mention sort of freaky, but by golly, it works). Needless to say, I couldn't wait to finish; I can't say much more about the plot without giving too much away, but the ending brings a surprise that, given the rest of the book, really shouldn't have been.

Extra kudos for originality and entertainment value - and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

This book was original, believable, scary, and interesting. It took me a bit to get into it and then I was hooked. I love how the story was told through email, text, and other types of transcripts. I felt for the characters and needed to know what happened next. A good warning for any future tech.

I don't usually go for tech thrillers but this was such an interesting story! Ben and Adhi create a company called The Future that takes technology to the next level in terms of time travel. Told through emails, texts, and memos, the novel focuses on these two entrepreneurs who are both brilliant and savvy as they attempt to procure funding for their endeavor. But what repercussions does this have for society? What if you could not only predict the future but change it as well? It's a chilling thought as Frey speaks to themes of jealousy, greed, betrayal, and remorse. The future is in our hands; how we choose to deal with it is anyone's guess!

While this is definitely a science fiction story, it feels very believable. I mean, we never would have expected to find ourselves living through a pandemic in 2020. Is it so hard to believe that the big brains in private and government sectors aren’t working on time travel tech? Seems legit to me.

I think the epistolary style adds an authenticity to the story because you can see the actual correspondence and honest reactions of the involved parties. There is some jumping around in the timeline, but it is not difficult to follow. I kept a list of dates and events that seemed important as I was reading, but never found myself needing to refer back to it. The exact dates are never as important as the flow of the story.

I honestly loved this story and look forward to reading more from this author in The Future ;)

Ben Boyce and Adhi Chaudry, best friends since college, form a startup called Welcome to the Future, and the idea is ground-breaking. They built a computer that connects to the internet one year from now. Imagine the possibilities, right?
This modern day cautionary tale is told through emails, texts, transcripts, and blog posts. You see the "behind the scenes" so-to-speak version of story, and how the rise to fame comes with its own costs of greed and jealousy. At times I felt the story was a little slow (especially the transcripts), but it had a great surprise ending, and overall was unique and enjoyable.

3.5 start rounded up.

Ok so this is the story of two Silicon Valley bro dudes starting up a company where they will sell a device that allows you to pull content from the internet up to a year into the future. Shockingly, things start going wrong and the novel gets more and more ridiculous as things start unfolding.

As someone who works in Silicon Valley and has seen so much of this up front and center, I enjoyed this epistolary style novel with emails and texts. I especially liked the Tumblr posts. I found a lot of the familiar things to be funny and in some cases over the top and in other cases spot on. There's quite a bit of stereotyping all over this book, much like Silicon Valley the TV show.

And while the novel might smell and sound like the Valley culture, I am not sure that makes for a great novel for the many people who might not get the jokes. The "don't poke the bear" nature of future-facing inventions that come to haunt you have been done in novels before and by the end of this one, I was rolling my eyes quite a bit and definitely did guess the twists at the end.

Having said all that, it was a super fast, addictive read and I didn't want to put it down.

with gratitude to netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting novel! I love love love the premise. I was so nervous about the writing style, as the story is told through things like emails, texts and blog posts. I was not sure if I would be able to connect or enjoy it in that way - I was!! It took a second to get used to, but then it totally made sense for the storyline. Loved the original take on the age old question of what the future holds.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Time travel is a premise well-trod but this book is a unique take on the idea. The entire book is comprised of texts, emails, news stories, and a transcript from a congressional hearing. Usually this epistolary style doesn't work for me because it is hard to create characterization using that premise but Dan Frey manages it. Not just characterization but character development. It is interesting to see how this technology changes the world as well as the characters who created and interact with it. I will say, reading it on the kindle, the text messages were a little confusing because I couldn't really keep track of who was who but that's a minor quibble. I'm also not sure if I cared for the deus ex machina/open end of the book but the fact that I'm still pondering it means something. Overall, I enjoyed this story and if you are a fan of creative sci-fi and you're looking for something different, you might want to try this!