In Five Years by Rebecca Serle is a story of friendship and finding one’s self. The main character is perfectly flawed and the writing is captivating. It is a perfect read for fans of One Day in December.

Dannie and Bella have been friends since childhood and although they are complete opposites, their friendship is one that is everlasting. They make a great pair and it is enjoyable to discover how each woman has helped the other to grow over time. As well, it is refreshing to read a book about women who lift one another up. While there is a similar love triangle to One Day in December in this novel, it is actually a book about friendship and not a romance.

A THEME OF SELF-DISCOVERY

Another theme that Rebecca Serle has woven into In Five Years is self-discovery. Dannie is a character with quite a few weaknesses, including her Type A personality. She has her entire life plan mapped out and it seems as though things are going according to plan until she has a strange glimpse into the future. It is interesting to watch how Dannie reacts to the shifts in her world and comes to a realization about herself. Although Dannie has an experience at the beginning of the book where she travels in time, the story is not one that I would consider a time travel book. The step into the future merely shapes the rest of the story.

FAST-PACED AND SURPRISING

This novel has beautiful writing and it is a very quick read. The descriptions of New York are vivid and will give any reader a sense of wanderlust. Also, the book has an ending that will surprise most and completely catch them off guard.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle is an interesting book that digs deep into the themes of friendship and discovering one’s true self. The characters are uniquely flawed and the story is well-written. Definitely a novel that requires a box of tissues close by.

I don't always reach for chick-lit because of it's predictable nature, so I wasn’t expecting to like this one as much as I did. The overall effect this story had on me, stayed with me for days and weeks and yet it’s difficult to review because I can’t pinpoint what exactly it was that did that to me.

On one hand, I enjoyed being thrown off a bit by this story on multiple occasions in the sense that it wasn’t just a typical chick-lit: boy meets girl, they fall in love, en of story. On the other hand, mid-way through the book you start to realize that the ending can only happen one of very few ways and therefore ends up being slightly predictable.

I really didn’t like how Dannie and Aaron ended up becoming intimate so quickly. I thought it was distasteful given the situation and really could not picture ANY one I know acting this way, so for me, that was not a believable or necessary action that drove the plot forward. I think building on their friendship would have been just as sweet and much more conceivable.

The friendship between Dannie and Bella was very touching and made me think about my own friendships and the value I put on them. I connected with them both in different ways and flip flopped between their differing opinions throughout the book.

Overall, this was a four star read for me. It was quick and easy but also made me think about it long after I was finished.

Thanks NetGalley for this one, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I think what really made this book for me was the female friendship aspect; it really outshined the love story part of it in my opinion. This book was compulsively readable and I could barely put it down. I think it fed my TJR hangover a bit actually, which made me happy. And, of course I shed a few tears at the end, even though it did leave me feeling just a little a bit unsettled and confused. I guess the ending just lets you decide for yourself what the future might hold for the main character by leaving it a bit open ended. This is probably the only reason I’m not rating it a full five stars, but I still really liked it.

This book was definitely different than I thought it would be, but in a good way. It took many turns that I was just not expecting, and made it feel more like a mystery rather than a romance. I'm glad that there was a time jump, to be honest. Dragging out this one dream-like sequence over five years seemed impossibly boring, but I liked that the author chose to skip it. For the MC, it turned her "vision" into something that was getting farther and farther away and less and less real as time went on. Which means when she finally met the man in the "vision" out of the blue, only to discover that he was seeing her best friend, it was violent and surprising, despite her spending the last five years worrying about it in solitude. And as the book went on and we got closer and closer to the date of her "vision", I was getting more and more intrigued about how it would finally turn around. Of course, not all is what it seems. There are things happening in the "vision" that we assume, but turn out to be misleading. Ultimately though, I don't think this book turns out to be a romance between Dannie and either of her two men. Sure it can still be a romance, but I think the strongest relationship is between Dannie and Bella, her best friend. Platonic romance can be a thing, right? Without spoiling anything huge, their relationship is the real centre of the story, and the events they go through together really cement what it means to be soulmates for life. We can skip to the end and see Dannie living with a different man than she was at the beginning of the book, but then you cut out all the things that lead you to there. Even though I would have preferred the ending to be not quite to absolute, I still enjoyed how all the pieces showed up and fit together over the course of the story. There isn't really any part of this book that I would change for the better.

It’s 2020 and Dannie is a lawyer in NY happily living with her partner David when one night she has an unsettling ‘dream’ that feels more like a premonition about what her life will look like in the year 2025 and the man she’s with isn’t David. Fast forward five years and she meets this stranger from her dream but in a way she did not expect. The synopsis makes you think you’re in for a love story and while that most definitely is the case, it isn’t the love story you expect. In Five Years is a love story of female friendship, the kind that you’re lucky to find once in your life. Dannie and Bella’s friendship and love for each other through the toughest of times broke my heart and I cried so hard at this book. It’s one that I know I’ll think about for a long time. It was a quick read mostly because I couldn’t put it down. Rebecca Serle is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors! In Five Years is released on 10th March 2020 and when you read it (which you definitely should!) make sure to have your tissues nearby!

Wow! This book flew right by. I was instantly sucked into the story and could not put it down until I finished it. Except for a moment in the middle when I could tell something was going to take a turn and I was worried I wouldn't sleep if I continued. :) These characters were lovable, the plot was thick and intense and so captivating, and of course I felt a wide range of emotions. Phew. Highly recommend this short but powerful book.

When I first read the synopsis for In Five Years, I was hooked. It wasn't just an interesting plot - it was something that completely and utterly resonated with me.

In Five Years follows Dannie, a woman in her mid-twenties who is living her life on a schedule of her own making. She arranged her life into a series of calculated steps - find a boyfriend, move-in, get the perfect job, get engaged, get married - all on a specific timeline. And everything's going according to plan - she's dating a sensible man with ambitions as great as her own who's set to propose, and she's about to score the job of her dreams. Everything appears to be falling into place, until she wakes up five years in the future.... And she's with a different man. Suddenly, things aren't as straightforward as they once were and she begins to question her life plans.

For me, this book was perfectly timed. Living life on a schedule was a toxic idea I struggled with as I entered my twenties. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to get on with your life straight away after leaving high school. And it's even harder to grasp when you're not doing things the way others are. Maybe someone gets engaged before you, or gets a job right out of school, or maybe it takes you a little longer to complete your degree. In the past I've completely planned out every aspect of my life - but this book totally changed my perspective.

I didn't anticipate this book to be anything more than a story about letting go and living your life naturally. However, in actuality, it was a love letter to female friendship. The real storyline here revolved around Dannie and her childhood best friend, Bella. As the story approaches the 2025 'vision' date, the focus of the story shifts to their friendship almost entirely. Although they are polar opposites, Dannie and Bella's friendship is one for the ages. And Bella's free-spirited attitude towards life is exactly the mental shift that Dannie needs. In fact, although the vision contributes to Dannie's decision-making throughout the novel, I believe that it's her relationship with Bella that actually motivates her to reevaluate her life choices.

All this good stuff aside, there was one qualm I had with this novel. I thought the time jump at the beginning of the novel was a tad awkward. We started in 2020 with the proposal, then flashed forward to 2025 in the vision... And then took a half-step backwards to early 2025. It was quite jarring. I understand why it was done, because going through five years of plot would have made the book a thousand pages long. But it kind of made the book a bit difficult to get into. Eventually, the pacing of the book became a lot more fluid but this first impression to me was odd.

The moral of this story is that you can't plan life. Even when you think you know how things are going to turn out, even if you have a vision that shows you exactly what will happen in five years time, you still are as blind to the future as anyone else. I wanted to finish off with a quote from Rebecca Serle's acknowledgements; a quote that really resonated with me. I hope it resonates with you, too:

"Even after midnight, especially after midnight. Continue moving toward that which is moving toward you."

**Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After having a dream about living a different life with a different man five years in the future, Dannie tries hard to brush it off. Until four years later, she meets the man in real life. Aaron, except he's happily in love with her best friend Bella. Happy for her best friend and happily settled in her own relationship, Dannie does everything she can to prevent her vision from happening, despite the fact that us readers believe it will.

But in the end I loved the direction that the book took. All the while we as readers were intently focused on the romantic aspect of the plot, Rebecca Serle was setting the theme of everlasting friendship as true love. I loved the nod to empowering female friendships, which evoked a few tears out of me. It was refreshing to finally realize that In Five Years this wasn't the typical love triangle I expected to find, but rather the revealment of a strong bond between childhood friends. I applaud Rebecca Serle for that.

I loved the concept of this! In 2020, Dannie has everything figured out. She has a great job as a lawyer, nailed a job interview for a new position, and she's about to be engaged to a man she loves. Everything is going according to plan.

Until she wakes up one morning five years in the future--in a different apartment, with a completely different man, and a different ring on her finger. When she wakes up again in 2020, everything seems normal. But she can't shake that premonition that things will go terribly wrong in five years. Especially when she meets the man from her "dream."

The novel doesn't jump back and forth between 2020 and 2025, which I expected it to, but I really liked the direction it did take. I loved the revelations along the way, especially when we see how the best-laid plans can go horribly awry and how so much can change in just five years.

I initially thought this would be a romantic relationship book. Maybe where their lives go over the 5 years. But it really wasn't. This is about the love between 2 best friends, life long best friends. It was so good I read it in one sitting, I could not stop reading, I had to know what would happen. Dannie and Bella's story is loving, and beautiful but sad still. It was a good honest read. The writing was fantastic, the world building was perfect Rebecca Serle is a brilliant writer and I will read anything she puts out.

“In five years” is a novel about two women’s friendship. They met when they were young. They are now in their thirties and share new moments together: work accomplishments, love, successes and losses. The main character, Dannie, has a life plan full with the right job, the right apartment in the right location, the right life partner. One day, she has a dream in which she is in a new apartment, with a man she does not know in five years time as indicated on the tv. Time goes by and we move toward the fateful day which brings closure to a beautiful story. This is a very well written novel. It keeps you guessing to what will really happen to these beautiful characters. A must-read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for an ARC copy.

Danielle is a woman who always knew what she wanted. She has planned her life out from a young age and things were going to according to plan until they weren’t.
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Danielle has a stable job as a lawyer and a long time boyfriend. After her boyfriend proposes and she accepts during her celebration she has a dream that in 5 years she is with another man living in another home. This freaks her out and she does everything she can to change the future. The story also details her strong relationship with her best friend, Bella.
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Wow is this book a roller coaster of emotions but was a fantastic read. I think the few story lines puts life in perspective and makes you evaluate your own life. For me personally, it made me think about my relationship with my wife and that I should never take it for granted and need to do more to put her first. It also made me think about some of my friendships and how important they are. I think we all tend to get busy with life and don’t think about the big picture and what’s really important. This was a great book to remind us of it. I highly recommend this book to everyone!!!

An emotional story about love and friendship with a touch of magic. It took me less than 24 hours to finish this book - I could not put it down! For fans of “The Light We Lost” by Jill Santopolo and “One Day in December” by Josie Silver. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

What would you do if you dreamt of your life 5 years in the future and everything is completely different from what it was when you fell asleep? This is what happens to Dannie Cohan and when she wakes up she can’t shake what has happened.
Every so often you find a book that stays with you long after you’ve read it. In Five Years is one of those books. Every time I thought I knew what was coming, this book proved me wrong, surprising me on multiple occasions - there is nothing better than a book keeping you guessing while you read.
This book is raw and real and truly amazing. I think this is one that everyone needs to read.

This is a really heart warming story about love and friendship. Dannie is lost but doesn’t realize it; she has friends, the perfect career and the perfect boyfriend. Bella is Dannie’s best friend and her exact opposite. Bella is adventurous and takes risks trying to find true love and passion in her life. As best friends since childhood, Dannie and Bella complement and challenge one another. Eventually Dannie’s perfect life and bubble have to pop, but how will she survive such a dramatic blow to her perfectly orchestrated life?

This is ultimately a story about love in all it forms. As humans we have the ability to be passionate and love unconditionally. Rebecca Serle’s story shows us just how unpredictable love can be and how it reveals itself to us in unexpected ways. I appreciate how the narrative unfolds in the moment. Dannie tries to control every aspect of her life, but love cannot always be controlled and it can lead us on paths we never thought we would go. In one instance, Dannie and David’s relationship is referred to as a parallel path, I would argue that love does this as well. We have the ability to love in my forms at the same time without our love for one person affecting our love for another. If you appreciate a great story with many hidden connections and deeper contexts, then this is a great book for you! I would definitely not hesitate to recommend this book.

I also want to thank NetGalley and the Publisher Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review a copy of this novel.

I had accidentally downloaded two copies of this title. My review and social media links are in my previous submission.

Laurie

It’s only February and I think I’ve found my book of the year already.
In Five Years tells the story of corporate lawyer Dannie. The book opens with Dannie nailing an interview at a top law firm, and later that evening she becomes engaged. After all the excitement of the day, Dannie lays down to rest and when she wakes up, it’s the same day... but five years later. I won’t say too much more to ruin the surprise, but I was immediately hooked as soon as Dannie awoke in 2025. I would have finished the book in one sitting if it were for the fact I had to go to work.
I absolutely loved this book and found myself crying real tears towards the end. An incredible read I will be recommending to everyone.

I was really excited for this book, but I don't know if I had my expectations set too high or what, but I found it just okay. And just an fyi this isn't a love triangle, its a freaking love square. I just couldn't find myself hoping that Dannie and Aaron got together because of their whole situation, I liked the MC but I also didn't like her. I just couldn't relate to her at all which had me going a little meh. I know there are so many people who loved this book, so maybe it's just me, but I was left wanting more. I think I am finding myself very conflicted and confused in my review if we are being honest, which is why I didn't give it lower than 3 stars. It's an easy read to get through though, took me a little under 2 days, so if you want something quick to read this is worth a read. This book was kindly provided to me from the publisher on NetGalley for my honest feedback

I began this book thinking it was a heterosexual romance love story. Yes, it does have some romance.

But this story was a completely different love story- one between two best friends.

Dannie and Bella have been friends since they were children. Dannie always thinking she had to look out for Bella given her often absent parents. As the book begins, they are in their late 20s and trying to navigate jobs, love, and their lives.

One night, Dannie has a vivid dream about a man who isn't her financé..... but turns out to be Bella's boyfriend.

This book fast forwards 5 years- what happens when Dannie and this mysterious man meet?
What will happen to their friendship?
Will Dannie always look out for Bella?

By the end of this book, I was reduced to a sobbing mess- caused by both heartbreak and joy.
It's been quite some time since I've given a book 5 stars, but this one surely deserves it.

Now excuse me while I go call my best friend.

Thank Simon& Schuster Canada and Rebecca Serle.
I absolutely loved, loved this wonderful story.
On my first sitting I was 60% done and did not want to stop. If it wasn’t for previous engagement, I would have finished it all.
Heartbreaking, moving, loving story. Kleenex kind of book.
Highly recommend and will definitely go buy the book.
5 🌟