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!

What an interesting way to tell a story! The Future Is Yours is told through emails, letters, congressional hearings, and texts. The premise, two college friends invent a machine that can see one year into the future. Imagine the possibilities: knowing the winning lottery numbers, picking stock market winners, being prepared for a pandemic....the list is endless. Of course, who decides who has access to this wondrous machine? The wealthy or academics or the government or any number of choices. 
If you think about it, in the wrong hands it could have catastrophic ramifications. Even those without nefarious intent have issues with the havoc this could bring to people's lives. What if you saw your own death, could you somehow change the future, and if not, what would be the point of living. So many questions and not nearly enough answers.
You know what that means, it is time for government involvement, and this is how we will learn all about this invention. What could go wrong?
This was a quick read based on quite a thought-provoking premise. It seems like a given that most people would want to be able to see the future, but there are many things that I never even considered. Not my usual genre, but a very entertaining read.

Amazing story. Well developed characters that are in a twisted engrossing thriller. Highly recommended. Super suspense that comes to a satisfying end! Highly recommended . A true roller coaster thrill ride

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. 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.

3.5 stars, rounding up because I’m feeling charitable, and while the book shouldn't wain any awards, it is mostly what it purports to be: fun, mass-market sci-fi that explores what might happen if were possible to see up to a year into the future but not be able to change anything. Clever construction alternating among a few time frames and told through text-messages, e-mails, news stories, and congressional hearing testimony.

Characters are mostly straightforward, thin figures, but their interplay is fun enough to watch, and I particularly enjoyed watching the author shift among the various types of documents that told this story (at times reminding me of American War. A bit too much tell, not show, especially at the end (details omitted to avoid spoilers).

One other super minor gripe but that took me out of the world: a bit character is a Senator Greg Walden, who is a Democrat representing Oregon. But in reality, there’s a (soon-retiring) Representative. Greg Walden, who is from Oregon also but a Republican. Imagine the name stuck in the author’s subconscious and he didn’t realize he inadvertently included a real figure with some weird details off, but given all the other congressional figures had fake names, this annoyed me more than it probably should have should.

Thanks, NetGalley for the free ARC. Nothing earth-shattering, but a largely enjoyable way to pass a morning.

A modern day cautionary tale meant to be gobbled up in a few chunks.  Best college friends Adhi Chaudry and Ben Boyce have created a prototype device that can connect to the internet a year in the future.  Adhi is a virtual genius in Computing science and has developed the technology through quantum computing and quantum entanglement, while Ben provides the entrepreneurial skills to start up the company they call The Future.  Their vision is to have this technology available to everyone with an affordable desk top device.  But, do they realize the possible implications to society and the future?  Even with putting guidelines in place is this truly enough?  Will there be individuals who use financial information to profit by speculation?  Imagine how a terrorist group could use such information.  Does the mere presence of such technology refute the existence of free will?  Even before the consumer roll-out they find themselves as virtual billionaires and in receipt of an unwelcome buy-out offer from a national megacorporation.
    Dan Frey spools out this page-turner in an usual format ... utilizing emails, texts, blogs, news articles, and even congressional transcripts. The main drawback to this approach is the diminishment of characterization of our three main protagonists ...   Adhi, Ben and Leila ( college girlfriend and eventually lawyer, then wife to Ben).  However, motivations of one of our protagonists are uniquely provided in a blog on Tumblr: " Musings of an anonymous sci-fi Superfan "  Frey provides multiple reveals, illustrating that there are consequences to "poking the bear". Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this innovative novel in exchange for an honest review.   ( at readersremains.com)

I quite enjoyed this mind bending sci fi, near future, near apocalypse tale told primarily through emails, text messages and news clippings. The format was inventive and not in any way distracting from the story being told, plus the author's revelation at the end on the format really ties it together. This is a deep thinker that will leave you pondering our relationship to technology and future developments in that area.

Love love love the format of this book. I'm always drawn to books that are written as letters, emails, text messages, and any other format other than typical prose.

I have seen some say that they had a hard time connecting with the characters because of the format, but I had the opposite effect. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters in a different way and seeing how their relationships evolved over the course of the story.

I am always on board for a book about time travel or bending time. It makes my brain hurt in a wonderful way, trying to think through the repercussions, and this book was no exception. It gave me a Black Crouch type of feel which I love.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Dan Frey, and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to review.-

This book was amazing, it is unconventionally written. It uses everything from emails, text messages, and letters all the way up to articles and congressional record. 
Our story follows Adhi, Ben, and Leila from the beginning of their path (creating a machine that will connect to the internet a year in the future) through to their product's inception, all the way to having to meet with congress (Promise it's not a spoiler.) 
The book is very well-written and an absolute blast to read. I had a great time and found myself laughing out loud at points and actually gasping. I honestly would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Sci-Fi that is written surrounding new technology. If you loved Ready, Player One, I think you would definitely love this. I demolished it in less than 24 hours and I hope you will too! 

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I found this novel a bit difficult to get into at first (it may be the writing style, which is mostly emails, texts and written conversations). Once I got into the swing, I found an interesting plot that could have been a lot more engaging but I felt fizzled out. 

The Future is a company created by two best friends. They designed a computer that can look one year into the future. Who wouldn’t want to know what’s going to happen in their lives?! But while creating the company and moving forward with their prototype; the reader is also witnessing Ben, one of the creators during a Senate hearing in the actual future. And things aren’t looking good.

Two college friends invent a computer that will predict the future. Their company, The Future, attracts much attention and investors.  They find themselves to be billionaires before the computer is ever released to the public. Is it moral or even legal to offer such a machine?   Told through emails, text message transcripts, and congressional hearing records, the story follows the fascinating journey of what it might mean to the world if the future could be predicted.

I tried to read this but it doesn't have my interest.  I won't be reviewing it.  I'm sure that those who do a lot with computers and software will love it.

This was a fast read, which I'm sure is in part due to the quick memo/text/email format. The plot was interesting, though missing something. I've been trying to put my finger on just what didn't work in this book, for me, and I think it mostly has to do with the idea that a device that connects the internet of today to the internet of a year from now doesn't seem really all that interesting. I can't really imagine anyone being all that interested in paying some huge amount for a personal connection to a single year from now. I also can't imagine the world allowing a tech like this to exist for the lay person. There are SO many potential hazards that it seems like something specifically Black Ops. Though I suppose if a code breaking machine was invented during a time when social media is as it is today, perhaps that wouldn't have been kept secret, either. I suppose it's quite a thought experiment to think about something this groundbreaking, in terms of tech ability to see into the future at all, getting commercialized.

I have to say I didn't really care for the characters much. The "bro" nature of the conversations were really annoying to me. Add in the predictability and unoriginality of best-friends-forever-turned-crush-turned-love-triangle with workplace cheating, etc, etc, and blah. Could have done without that.

So on the whole, it was an okay read and an interesting thought experiment, but missing something to really get it great. It's a bit like a Blake Crouch read, from the sci fi tech standpoint, with a whole lot of "Devs" (Amazon Prime's series about using quantum physics to create a predicting machine).

The Future Is Yours by Dan Frey is a superb read with well-defined characters and plotline. Definitely a page turner and well worth a read!

The plot premise for this book was unique and intriguing: Imagine communicating with the future through computer communication links! 

Unfortunately I found the format (emails, texts, testimony) to be distracting: I often had trouble telling whose voice I was reading (an issue perhaps only with the ARC?) and I kept looping back to pick up the narrative thread.

I didn't find any empathy hook: A character or an incident that would tie me in to the reading until I could get fully engaged. Ultimately I did not finish the read.

This lack of engagement may be my fault: current life situation or lack of patience. The premise is, as I said, very intriguing. Others might find no hesitation in jumping right in. I'm not posting this review socially. I don't want to negatively influence the publication without adequate reading.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author Dan Frey for having the opportunity to read the advance copy of this book.

This is a work of science fiction, involving the creation of technology based on quantum computing to transmit information from the future to the present.

It is an easy, fast, engaging read. The dialog brings you onto the story, and keeps you wanting to turn the page to see what is next. The characters are developed to the point where I found myself relating to them and caring about what happens to them.

I definitely recommend this book. It offers escapism for the mind and has a nice reveal at the end that I won’t spoil.

I was really intrigued by this concept and very excited to start this book. I love time travel and the concept of an exactly one year time travel machine send offer cool potential. Unfortunately, the format of the book just did not work for me. I tend to struggle with non traditional narrative styles, but was so intrigued by the concept here that I was willing to give it a try anyway. But the format of testimony, emails, notes to self and the like just left me feeling like I was missing half the story all the time... It didn't allow for much character development and left me feeling like there were gaps in the story that never got filled when I needed them to in order to stay engaged. I'm definitelynot the right audience for this one...