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allisonlantagne's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
_katiekat_'s review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
baancs's review
3.0
Only then did I see it clearly: everyone was figuring it out. Everyone except me. I had no passion, no plan, nothing that made me stand out from the crowd. I had absolutely no idea what kind of job I was supposed to get.
About the hopes, fears, and uncertainties in the transition to adulthood. It was an okay read, though a bit on the privileged side.
randiroo's review
4.0
More like 3.5 stars. I loved how the city of New York was captured throughout the novel. I appreciated the alternating point of view by chapter; this made the book fly by, though I probably wouldn't have been in so great a hurry if it weren't for the fact that I needed to return this book to the library. I wasn't completely satisfied by the ending, as it seemed to wrap up a bit too smoothly. Overall, I think this book will satisfy a very particular kind of reader - one content with a more literary book with little romance.
awesomeeallyson's review
3.0
This book was a rollercoaster, and by that I mean I started out liking it, towards the middle I hated it and by the end I loved it. The Futures starts out by following two people who meet at an ivy league college and enter a relationship. After graduation they decide to move in together in New York and this where everything falls apart. Both in the plot line and my feelings about the book. It's hard not to hate the characters and every decisions they make. The relationship is failing and they're both to blame but they're both to lazy to try to do anything about it. Including end the relationship. There's some work drama, but throughout this entire section of the book the author jumps around in time, both forward and backwards to create some suspense. It takes a couple paragraphs for you the get your bearings and figure out when in time you are reading. It feels like the author relied on this way too much and that's what ruined the book for me. However, after they breakup and Julia moves back home this time travel technique slows down and I actually became invested in the book again.
The writing itself was really good and the conversations felt natural, but the plot itself and the writing technique is ultimately what ruined it for me.
The writing itself was really good and the conversations felt natural, but the plot itself and the writing technique is ultimately what ruined it for me.
pattireadsalot's review
2.0
I rode the struggle bus to finish this. I appreciate coming of age stories, particularly when older characters finish college and embark on full fledged adulthood in their careers/family of choice. This couple just couldn't hold my attention. I was vaguely curious about the trajectory of their lives, so I slowly finished it....but only because I'd invested over 100 pages. I almost skimmed to the last page, but didn't want to DNF a book when I'm already behind on my 2018 reading goal (silly, I know!). Perhaps I'm getting a bit burned out on contemporary reads? Can't say I'd strongly recommend this unfortunately, left me feeling a bit dull.
rhiasaurus94's review
2.0
See more reviews on my blog, rhiareads.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't blown away by this. I suppose I'm used to books with a little more tension, and this unfortunately just felt a little dull for me. I understand the message the book is trying to get across - that life isn't always what you expect, and it's certainly not easy - but I felt like there could have been a little more conflict in the narrative. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, as I found both Evan and Julia incredibly irritating.
I do think this could have been quite good, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy it, but it fell flat for me.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't blown away by this. I suppose I'm used to books with a little more tension, and this unfortunately just felt a little dull for me. I understand the message the book is trying to get across - that life isn't always what you expect, and it's certainly not easy - but I felt like there could have been a little more conflict in the narrative. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, as I found both Evan and Julia incredibly irritating.
I do think this could have been quite good, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy it, but it fell flat for me.
sbojo32's review
2.0
2.5 stars, rounded down.
I debated between two or three stars, but since there were a few points during the book where I just wanted to put it down, I decided on two. I read Necessary People first and really liked it, so I wanted to see what else this author had written. Necessary People was much better than this.
I followed the story of Julia and Evan, but couldn't bring myself to like either one of them. They both are privileged, have no concerns about money or going out in New York City all the time. They make selfish decisions in the name of "finding themselves." Eh, I get it, but it's hard to like it.
I'm sure plenty of people can relate and I'm sure this story isn't a new one, but it just didn't resonate with me.
I debated between two or three stars, but since there were a few points during the book where I just wanted to put it down, I decided on two. I read Necessary People first and really liked it, so I wanted to see what else this author had written. Necessary People was much better than this.
I followed the story of Julia and Evan, but couldn't bring myself to like either one of them. They both are privileged, have no concerns about money or going out in New York City all the time. They make selfish decisions in the name of "finding themselves." Eh, I get it, but it's hard to like it.
I'm sure plenty of people can relate and I'm sure this story isn't a new one, but it just didn't resonate with me.
betsy512's review
3.0
I liked this book, and it grew on me as I read. A few of the characters weren't really likable on the surface, but the author did a great job of painted multi-dimensional characters that I could and did care about despite their really egregious mistakes. A good vacation read or book club selection; some substance but not so much that it feels like homework.
pgchuis's review
4.0
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Evan, from a small town in BC, goes to Yale on a hockey scholarship, and there meets Julia. After they graduate they move to new York, where Evan works for a prestigious hedge fund and Julia finds work at an art foundation. Evan is drawn into a murky and time-consuming project at work and Julia seeks attention elsewhere.
I found this story strangely compelling, even though I didn't really warm to either of the main characters and found Julia in particular rather trying. She is cushioned by her parents' financial support and seems unable to commit to any purpose in life. Much is made of her mother's career sacrifice for her and her sister, but even this doesn't seem to spur Julia on to try anything of significance. I think we are meant to see the story as something of a coming of age tale, but at the end Julia is returning to exactly the situation she was in 12 months' earlier, albeit with more of a sense of agency. There was quite a lot of Julia musing about how it had all gone wrong because of Adam, because she was trying to do what was expected of her, because she was trying to copy her peers etc etc, which became both annoying and confused.
I disliked the way, when the chapters switched between the perspectives of Evan and Julia, there was an overlap in time, so we had to go back a week or two and revisit scenes from a different point of view. I hated the ending.
Evan, from a small town in BC, goes to Yale on a hockey scholarship, and there meets Julia. After they graduate they move to new York, where Evan works for a prestigious hedge fund and Julia finds work at an art foundation. Evan is drawn into a murky and time-consuming project at work and Julia seeks attention elsewhere.
I found this story strangely compelling, even though I didn't really warm to either of the main characters and found Julia in particular rather trying. She is cushioned by her parents' financial support and seems unable to commit to any purpose in life. Much is made of her mother's career sacrifice for her and her sister, but even this doesn't seem to spur Julia on to try anything of significance. I think we are meant to see the story as something of a coming of age tale, but at the end Julia is returning to exactly the situation she was in 12 months' earlier, albeit with more of a sense of agency. There was quite a lot of Julia musing about how it had all gone wrong because of Adam, because she was trying to do what was expected of her, because she was trying to copy her peers etc etc, which became both annoying and confused.
I disliked the way, when the chapters switched between the perspectives of Evan and Julia, there was an overlap in time, so we had to go back a week or two and revisit scenes from a different point of view. I hated the ending.