The Futures: A New York love story

I really enjoyed this book, it's reminiscent of other great coming of age books. I found the portrayal of Julia and Evan to reflect the trials and tribulations of becoming an adult -- with all the ups and downs that a relationship can bring. As a Londoner, I loved the setting in New York and it brought back good memories of times in NYC in my twenties. If you like books about relationships, New York or twenties angst, then you'll enjoy this book

An interesting and engrossing first novel by a young author. The love and struggles of this young couple as they negotiate their lives after college felt real. I did not find them very likeable, but that was not the author's intent. Julia and Evan represent a tiny, privileged subset (that I am pleased not to live among) but the pain in their lives - both from decisions made, youthful indiscretions, and social pressures are well described and make a good read.

Pitoniak is an interesting writer whose shrewd observations about love and betrayal have a tone similar to Curtis Sittenfield's 'Prep'. The story is a simple one set in New York right before the market crash in 2008 with young and in love Yale graduates Evan and Julia moving to the city where Evan lands a job at a prestigious hedge fund, and Julia struggles to find footing in both her career and identity. I found myself marking the touchstones of the plot on the way, predicting things before they happened to the characters, but in hind sight I'm not sure this wasn't the authors intention from the start. This was a book I found I ultimately enjoyed, but strangely didn't leave me with any lasting impressions beyond a pleasant read.

"The Futures," offers a story with two alternating narrators, both in their early twenties and taking their first steps out into the "real world," after college. Evan is a small-town boy from British Columbia who parlays his talent for ice hockey into an admission to Yale, after which he takes a well-paying job in a New York financial firm. (Unfortunately, however, this is circa 2008.) His girlfriend, Julia, who moves in with him after graduation, finds a job through a family member as an assistant to a nonprofit, though it takes a struggle for her to decide what to do. Although they both have an active social life, as time goes on, Julia begins to feel a distance developing between her and Evan, something that makes her seek out an old classmate, Adam, who now works as a reporter, and with whom she has a complicated past. For his part, Evan tries to "check off all the boxes" when it comes to being a good partner, but he is preoccupied with a new project that a senior partner has recruited him for. While he can't help but be flattered, signs are showing that there may be something shady about the deal - specifically with international tariffs, bribery and manipulation of the market. Not only that, but there is tension between Evan and his colleagues, as other firms begin layoffs in the face of crisis. As Julia and Evan each grapple with their ethical and moral dilemmas, things threaten to come to a head that will tear their relationship apart.

I thought that this book had both distinct strengths and weaknesses. First, it needed more development of some of the secondary characters. For instance, Evan mentions his college roommate again in a later chapter, and I couldn't remember anything about him, much less that he and Evan had any kind of lasting relationship. Also, time seemed to be handled oddly - there were many times where the characters would go to a party or other place and then seem to leave a few paragraphs later without accomplishing much. However, the novel did succeed in creating two recognizably flawed but decent people coming to terms with the fact that simply having the trappings of adult life does not necessarily mean you are finished becoming an adult. Both grew in the end and realized that growing up is perhaps a lifelong process for most.

Anna Pitoniak's The Futures is one of those books that you can tell by the first few pages that it is going to be a great read. A book that you will be sad to put down when you are finished. Her storytelling of two lives connected from freshman year of college is so accurate you feel like you know Evan and Julia. I cannot wait to read other books by Anna.

I really enjoyed The Futures. It's definitely my favorite so far for 2017. The book is written exceptionally well and tells the story of a young couple's life after college. The chapters alternate between Evan and Julia, which makes it more interesting. Highly recommend.

Review
Last updated on 16 Jun 2017
I thought that this book was well written.The problem was that I couldn't get to like either of the main characters.I think that it was more of a mystery than a love story.In fairness the ending had a good twist that I didn't see coming.I think that a younger reader reader might identify more with the characters than I did.

"The Futures" follows Julia, a twenty-something who had just graduated from Yale and can't seem to find what she wants to do in life, and her Canadian boyfriend, fellow Yale graduate Evan, as they move to New York following Evan getting hired as a hedge fund associate there. The story alternates between both view points--Julia's and Evan's--and e get to learn about the trials and errors of both, as Julia barely finds an entry level job at a foundation through family connections and has to deal with hostile co-workers while Evan, seemingly embraced by his boss, soon finds out that something shady is happening with the deal he was supposed to run. To complicate the situation, Julia meets an ex-crush and fellow Yale student Adam, who is now a hot financial journalist, and is dangerously close to starting an affair with him, after Evan's busy work life takes a toll on their relationship. But Adam has his motives.

Overall, I think this book touched a lot of important themes--early adulthood, navigating hostile/secretive work environments, living in the big city, social class, relationships, cheating, etc. I found the story and the plot meaningful. One thing I would change is that occasionally some of the characters seemed too straightforward--telling other characters everything, which I find a little unrealistic since people tend to be complicated creatures and not necessarily open, or at least fully open with others. This was initially conveyed in the love triangle between Julia and Adam/Evan, but as crucial events take place at the end of the story, the characters suddenly freely tell others about them, which I found a bit unbelievable. Otherwise, an interesting story that kept my interest during the entire duration of the book. I liked how the perspectives from both characters was written in first person--which makes me feel close to the characters. I also liked how there were only two alternating view points--Julia and Evan--rather than multiple which would have convoluted the story. Furthermore, the alternating of view points wasn't just used as a device to fill the pages--as I have found with some books--but actually contributed to a developing plot line, as both characters experience events that ultimately impact the last part of the book.

Gosh. I really wanted to want to finish this book. I was intrigued by the prologue, but everything I read (I stopped not far into Evan's first narrative), was a mix of pretty good writing, not great writing and some odd metaphors. The editor in me was rewording every other sentence. I thought that perhaps Evan's character was a little dim and that I was supposed to glean that from his first person thoughts, but as I continued, nope--Evan made lofty, well-spoken statements interspersed with phrases that just could have been said...differently. Better. I think Ms. Pitoniak probably had a good idea, but due to a lack of strong editing, I don't have a desire to find out.

relatable characters, good writing - vivid analysis of how a breakdown in communication and an overall relationship can happen when couples transition to new phases in life, encountering growing tension because of their own stress and confusion from life adjustments.

Wow. WOW! I opened The Futures a couple of days ago and basically could not put it down. Though it has been a long, long time since I was in my early twenties, I remember that time with a stinging freshness. Pitoniak perfectly captures the exhilaration and inertia of that yearned-for but shocking transition from childhood to adulthood. I applaud her fluency, her confidence and I stand in awe of the skill with which she pulls off the magic trick of point of view. A wonderful read.

Few books have felt as if they were reading their characters, moments, explorations, and stories from pieces of my life as this one -- the vividness with which Pitoniak paints the first unscripted years of life after college couldn't have been more enthralling. A beautifully written novel that I am already sending to friends left and right.

Great read! I kept wanting to know what would happen next each time I had to stop reading. The book is written from the perspectives of the two main characters which made it very interesting. The things they are feeling and doing feel very real. I loved the end-it made me want more-hope there will be a sequel! :)

What a wonderful read on a lazy Sunday. Warning: make sure your schedule is open....you won't be able to stop reading.

I've been struggling to find a good book to grab my interest. This was a page-turner from the start.

Debut novel..First of all In want to comment about the fact that there was a whole lot of drinking in this book. If you have a problem with drinking and maybe are trying to stay away from it, avoid this book. It's like an alcoholic going on a cruise.....there is drinking everywhere.
To be honest I just couldn't stay with this book. Stopped at about page 100. Did not hold my interest.

Another drinking and drugging book, with lots of drinking. I read a LOT of these kinds of stories but didn't realize it applied to Hedge Fund operators - why? I don't know any hedge fund people. Sad to say that things are no different no matter how much money you make or what kind of job you have. But it's a good story for me since it is a life I will never lead, but perhaps it will help me to understand some of those who do. Thank God for AA and recognition of addiction. Maybe things will change for *some* people and most of all for the ones that are around them.