I don't think I've ever read a more heartbreaking yet beautiful novel before. Doug Jones will go down on my list of very favorites. The Fantasies of Future Things is a masterpiece that I cannot wait to see the world devour.

Thank you NetGalley, Summit Books, and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a touching story about two men navigating major cultural changes during preparations for the 1996 Olympics. It explores gentrification, family, and intimacy through Jacob and Daniel. The author’s writing style made me miss Atlanta deeply. During my 6 years living there I unfortunately was not able to explore Summerhill. This book gives the reader a very realistic picture of life as a normal human who makes mistakes but keeps going.

The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall worked. I’ve found myself thinking about this book since I finished.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. If you've ever read Moonlight, I think you would enjoy this book as well. Follows these two men, Jacob and Daniel and how they meet and all they go through separately and together. It was a very emotional read.

Doug Jones’ debut novel, *The Fantasies of Future Things*, is a powerful historical fiction that explores intersectionality through the lives of two Black queer men. Set in mid-1990s (in the midst of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics preparations), the novel delves into their struggles with identity and career as these two men work as real estate agents. As they witness the displacement of their own communities, these characters struggle emotionally and psychologically with the role they are playing. Jones expertly weaves a moving narrative that highlights often overlooked experiences, making it a truly compelling and thought-provoking read. I loved this book and will definitely be recommending it for all my queer reading friends. I cannot wait to discuss it with them!

Please note - This book is perfect for book club discussions.

Doug Jones' debut novel, The Fantasies of Future Things, is a masterpiece of historical fiction that intricately weaves together intersectional communities for a deeply emotional read. Set against the backdrop of preparations for the 1996 Olympics, the story follows two Black queer men navigating the complexities of their identities and careers. As real estate agents, they witness firsthand the displacement of their own communities, a reality that weighs heavily on their social and psychological well-being.

What makes this novel stand out is its refreshing expansion of traditional Black narratives—highlighting experiences often overlooked in literature. While I, like many others, wished the ending had been fleshed out more, the novel remains a compelling and necessary addition to the genre. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 and will definitely be purchasing a hardcover copy, even after reading the ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Summit Books, and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

What a beautiful, moving story. This book weaves the story of two men at the intersection of major cultural changes amidst the preparations for the 1996 Olympics. Gentrification, family, and intimacy as experienced by Jacob and Daniel. I appreciated the author's writing style. Sometimes I felt like I was reading non-fiction; I even ended up reading some articles and looking at archived pictures of Atlanta homes in Summerhill prior to the Olympics. On the flipside, I felt a connection to the characters. These could be my brothers, my friends, my roomates, and even when they made mistakes I rooted for them.

There was a part at the end where it felt a bit rushed in its pacing, but it made sense in context to the larger story. The title is befitting because I'm left fantasizing about the future of these characters. There is so much to think about with this book. I'll be carrying this book in my heart for a long time.

I loved this book overall it shined in every aspect of storytelling. Everything from the characters to the writing style was well done. And the different plot lines were very well balanced. Definitely a well-rounded book. However, the ending really disappointed me it felt like the book kinda just dropped of out of nowhere and left me unsatisfied.
.
4/5⭐️
Thank you to net galley the publisher and the author for this arc copy.

During the 1996 Olympics, The Fantasies of Future Things follows two Black men who work for a development company that is helping to revitalize the Summerhill neighborhood. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jacob, a recent Morehouse graduate, must balance his future aspirations with his parents' expectations, while Daniel, a native of Atlanta, is disillusioned with his job. Both men struggle with their sexuality, familial pressure, and the challenges of their positions (helping to gentrify a predominantly black neighborhood).Daniel's family dynamic and history was a highlight for me; he has a somewhat tense relationship with his mother that caught my attention, and the flashback scenes included were beautifully written and truly made me ache for his character, his mother, and his siblings. The scenes in this novel are presented so vividly, the language is evocative, and it really centered me in this reading experience. From the first few pages of The Fantasies of Future Things, there is this deliciously, simmering tension that really drew me in.In this tenderly crafted character study, Jones uses the 1996 Olympics and the revitalization project as a very compelling backdrop to explore a number of issues. The Fantasies of Future Things explores what it means to be Black and queer, and how those identities intersect, in a raw and vulnerable way, neatly tying the political and personal (which are inseparable, but even more so for others) in a narrative that is forceful and highly effective. In terms of length and readability, this is a work that is easy to breeze through, but it is much more enjoyable to take the time to appreciate and digest Jones’ words.

This was such an emotional read for me, at the end of the book ,i left left looking at the wall lol. the ending and overall structure do need a little bit of work. But it is good.

I loved this book. The writing is beautiful and the two separate timelines and points of view was really great. The characters each had their own issues related to their sexuality. I think it is a very genuine portrayal of queer men and complicated family and community dynamics. I really enjoyed it!

The Fantasies of Future Things is a reflective novel told from two POVs: one, from a Morehouse alum who is struggling coming out to his family, and the other, an Atlanta native who has a lot more to be worried about. As a former Morehouse student I was excited to see how the institution played a role in the novel as Doug Jones told a provacative story in the midst of Atlanta's urban renewal projects in preperation for the '96 Olymptics. Jones did a great job exploring the interiorities and external envivronments of the characters and how they impact their personhood.

I unfortunately did not finish this book, as I stopped around 60% through. There is a lot packed into this small volume.
While the writing was beautiful, the way the timeline jumped back and forth felt disjointed and, at times, difficult to follow.
Additionally, I wasn’t invested in the characters as a pair. On their own, Daniel and Jacob’s stories were interesting, but their connection simply did not resonate with me.

I requested and received and eARC of The Fantasies of Future Things by Doug Jones via NetGalley. The Fantasies of Future Things follows two Black men working for a development company heralding in the revitalization of the Summerhill neighborhood during the 1996 Olympics. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Jacob is a recent Morehouse graduate who must balance dreams of his future with his parent's expectations. Daniel is an Atlanta native and who is disillusioned with his job. Both men grapple with their sexuality, familial pressure, and the difficulty of the situation they find themselves in with their job (aiding in the gentrification of a predominantly black neighborhood.)

The scenes in this novel are presented so vividly, the language is evocative and really centered me in this reading experience. From the opening pages of The Fantasies of Future Things, there is this deliciously, simmering tension that really drew me in. This tension is well-reflected through Jacob and Daniel’s internal struggles, as they wrestle with their roles in the project and the hidden pressures of their personal lives. Daniel’s family dynamic and history was a highlight for me. Daniel has a somewhat fraught relationship with his mother that captured my attention, and the flashback scenes included were wonderfully written and really made me ache for his character, his mother, and his siblings. I was equally fascinated by Jacob and his story with Sherman, but I really think this novel shines when Daniel and Jacob share the page.

Jones uses the 1996 Olympics and the revitalization project as a very compelling backdrop to explore a variety of issues in this tenderly crafted character study. The Fantasies of Future Things interrogates what it means to be Black and queer, and how those identities intersect, in a way that is raw and vulnerable, neatly intertwining the personal and the political (which are inseparable, but even more so for other) in a narrative that is forceful and highly effective. In terms of length and readability, this is an easy work to breeze through, but it’s much more pleasing to spend take time appreciating Jones’ words and digesting them. He has a lot to say in this book and does it exceedingly well through a narrative that is beautifully and thoughtfully written

This book was achingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. At its heart, we have a love story between two men, Jacob and Daniel. Each man is at a crossroads at their lives, but they somehow are able to connect and fit together in an undeniable way. The writing is stunning and at certain points in the book I did need a tissue. I would highly recommend this book for everyone to read and I look forward to more work from Doug Jones.

This a a beautiful debut novel explores the lives of two black gay men and societies expectations of them. Daniel and Jacob are both struggling with the morality of their jobs and their internalized homophobia all while simultaneously trying to overcome the obstacles they face. The writing in this book was so beautifully done with the past and present weaved together in a way that keeps you hooked. The only reason this was not a perfect 5 ⭐️ for me was because I felt like the ending was too abrupt. Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.