"It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present."- summary from Amazon
You have no idea how much I loved this book. The 90s nostalgia alone is just amazing, but factor in the whole Facebook aspect, an awkward friendship, and a dual narrative and you have made me one happy blogger.
Reading Emma and Josh's story was such a quick, compelling read; it was so hard to put down. The dual narrative really helps and it was interesting to see both sides, especially when the friendship was strained and awkward because it really gave the reader a good sense of what's going on in both of their heads. Both characters go through a fantastic journey and are clearly changed for the better by the end of it.
Going back to the 90s nostalgia, I just loved it- the Macarena, watching Friends and Seinfeld when they were new, not knowing Ellen DeGeneres was gay (by the way, her 90s sitcom was hilarious- you should all check it out), and so many other things. The authors make it so that even if you weren't very aware of the late 90s, you can still understand the references in a way based on the context. I will say there was a funny part for me when I was reading and I forgot it took place in 1996. Emma was in her car and said it didn't have a CD player but she had found a cassette tape of a Green Day album to play. I was like “How did you find a cassette tape nowadays?!” and then I remembered it was 1996 and not current day. Also, interesting fact I found out on Pop Up Video- the phrase “cassette tape” has actually been removed from the dictionary.
Overall, just a fantastic book and a wonderful collaboration between Asher and Mackler. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
FTC: Received ARC from publisher (1st at BEA, then another came in the mail). Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.
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I just ordered this! I can't wait for it to get here! Glad to see you enjoyed it! I grew up in the 90s so I can't wait to remissness!
ReplyDelete"the phrase “cassette tape” has actually been removed from the dictionary"
ReplyDeleteSeriously? That doesn't make any sense. There are all kinds of obscure and old-fashioned words in the dictionary (doublet, blunderbuss, telegraph), and aside from the fact that people might want to know what cassette tapes were from a historical standpoint--I still HAVE cassette tapes!
I am beyond excited to read this book! Hello, 90s! :)
ReplyDeleteJenn- I know!! I think it's only been removed from one dictionary (Oxford). I saw the fact on a Pop Up Video and then they showed words that had been added (like "woot" and "mankini").
ReplyDeleteAlso, I still have cassette tapes too. I don't use them, but I have them.
I'm so excited to read this book. It's been sitting on my shelf FOREVER, hopefully I can get to it sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteNice review, James!