Cover Image: The Five Year Plan

The Five Year Plan

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Member Reviews

I started reading The Five Year Plan by Jodi Gibson last night and I am totally hooked!

Having finished this book at last, I loved the way the main character essentially left her whole life (that was frankly going down hill) in Melbourne, Australia to fly half way across the world to Italy. Visiting her father’s estranged family with whom neither her father or mother have talked to since they moved to Australia. Upon arriving in Italy she starts to realize that not only is their an obvious familial feud and underlying reasons as to why her uncle and father don’t talk but! Across the street of her Italian family’s café another family has their own cafe and there is an apparent feud going on there too.

This contemporary novel is not short of feuds for sure and when Demi (main character) starts to feel something towards Leo, the son of her family’s “sworn enemy” well.. this story gets just a bit more interesting!

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Demi has everything she thought she would ever want. A cafe that she will take over one day, a boyfriend that is successful, an awesome family and friends. Her best friend Anna and her put together a five year plan for their lives. Demi wants to take over the cafe, have a lovely boyfriend and be happy. This all comes crashing down one day. Everything she thought she had has disappeared. Her father has given the cafe to her oldest brother and he boyfriend is not who she thought he was.

Demi made the decision to go to Italy to get away but also learn about her culture. She wants to prove to her father that she should run the cafe and come back with a new business plan. What she didn't expect though is to me a cute Italian guy on the plane named Leo. She later finds out that he is part of the family feud between her family and his.

<spoiler>That was such a cute read! I know it is basically stating the obvious but it was so Italian with the family feud and secret love between the families. Leo was very charming and there were moments where I was hoping he wasn't using her to get between the family feud but he was genuine the entire time. Leo and Demi were so cute together and their love made my heart ache.

I definitely feel like we were told about their love more than showed sometimes. We got lots of kissing but that was about all. I wish I felt more of a physical as well as emotional connection between the two love interests. I think that would have made me connect with them a lot more. </spoiler>

Overall, this was a very cute book that made the main character grow and mature even when you a bit older. It really showed that you don't have to have it all together by 25. I enjoyed the characters. They were all fun and colorful. I could hear the Italian accents through the dialogue and it made me smile.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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3.75 stars
The start of this book is pretty slow but hang in there, the story keeps getting better. This book is about Demi Moretti an Australian with Italian roots and how she was in a point of her life where she kind of forget her goals so throughput the book we get to see her think about the old plans and rethinking what's the best for her.
The romance is definitely there but I actually think this books is more of accomplish yourself even if it is not the way you thought it will be.

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I think this book just fell a little flat. I loved the premise and the set up, but for some reason the writing wasn't particularly enjoyable for me. The dialogue seemed a little stunted, though I am aware it's possible it was written that way to emphasize the language barrier, and the characters, other than Demi, didn't seem well developed. It was still a fairly enjoyable read, and I loved the incorporation of food and culture, but I'm not sure how often I'd go bad and reread it.

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I really enjoyed this book, my first by this author. The characters were believable and the locations were well written. There is quite a bit of descriptions of food but this is all relevant to the storyline and made me want to try some of the recipes. The location of the old town of Bari in Italy sounded lovely.
I definitely recommend this book.

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3.5 stars
A story with highs and lows and not much inbetween.
Highs:
-The luscious depictions of cobbled streetscapes, historic architecture and ocean views in Bari Italy and several neighboring cities.
-Passages describing handmade preparation of family specialty pasta on the front stoop and setting up large family meals on tables in the nearby Bari public square.
-Romantic encounters and dates between Demi (Australian Italian) and Leo (Italian).
-The friendship between Demi and Anna.

Lows:
Demi’s indecision about so many things:
-Family is everything, until its not.
-Demi’i whiplash treatment of Leo. Is Leo her soulmate or a vacation dalliance?
-How many times can she apologize for a mistake in judgement then immediately do the exact same thing again?
-Why does she feel compelled to raise difficult topics again and again with her Bari family and then berate herself for doing so?
-There is zero appeal to her home city of Melbourn as depicted.

The story was enjoyable if you are a reader who can eyeroll through all the manufactured drama and savor the high points.

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for access to an advance copy.
#TheFiveYearPlanNovel
#NetGalley

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⭐ REVIEW ⭐

Sometimes you need to read a book with no surprises, where you most likely know where it's headed and you enjoy every moment of it.

That was this book.

Though a little slow in the beginning, this was so very enjoyable. The Italian food and scenery were simply divine, especially as we are unable to travel anywhere these days.

The love story, the setting all making this a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.

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This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Brio Books/Verb Publishing and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Chick-lit read perfect for a night in!

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A good book, full of the richest flavors of Italy, family and a protagonist who is determined to take charge of her life
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From the beginning Demi and the Moretti's take you by the hand leading you through a typical Italian immigrant family who made of their little coffee a legacy.
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Demi is the only one of her siblings who stayed in the cafe helping her father and dreaming of the day when she could take the reins and make it a little more her own, while she believes that she is checking each item on her five-year list for her ideal life, things begin to fail. It is then that Demi decides to fulfill one of her forgotten dreams of wanting to meet Bari and the rest of her paternal family with whom they lost contact and learn the true Barista's way
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Demi's story is that of many women who are unsure of the path they had decided on, but it adds the tinge of family obligations, responsibilities to parents and older siblings with the mixture of love and ideals
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Old feuds and disputes put her between wall and a blade, between what her heart desires and what she should do. In the midst of this madness is Leo Russo with their walks along the most beautiful italian's seashore
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I liked the story of Demi and her family, the flavors and colors through her eyes and I liked the ending it felt good and fluid
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It is a beautiful book to read with music by Malika Ayane or Laura Pausini and a glass of your favourite Italian aperitif. Lovers of travel stories and romance this is your book without a doubt
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Thanks to Jodi Gibson for give me this Beautiful Book in exchange for my honest opinion, I really enjoyed it

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This book was just what I needed to get myself out of a reading slump. It follows a woman named Demi who takes a chance and steps out of her comfort zone and heads to Italy. This decision spirals and changes her perspective on everything she had deemed to be important. Such a sweet romance. I also really enjoyed the dynamic that we see between Demi and her best friend Anna, as well as Demi and her family. Overall, a very quick and enjoyable read that I would recommend.

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It's not until Demi's plans start to unravel that she's forced to reevaluate her life and choices. A trip to Italy to figure things out sounds like the best plan so far. When there it finally begins to get clear what wasn't working. A road to self discovery amongst the italians sounds like the perfect place to figure it out. A fun travel journey but a little long at some points that dragged things out a bit.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC for me!

Demi has always been a planner. She has a whole five year plan that covers her career, love life, and goals. But what do you do when your plans have blown up in your face and you dont know what to do next? Maybe a spontaneous trip to Italy to learn more about your culture and yourself.

I did enjoy the love story in this book, along with the stories for the other characters as well. You are very much drawn in and invested in what Demi chooses to do in this book. But it honestly took me about 50% in to really get invested and find out how Demi’s story played out. The plot of the book really got a bit better then and i just wasn’t very interested in the beginning. I did also really enjoy reading Demi’s character development along with the representation of the Italian culture.

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3.5/5
I’m a sucker for a story with a culinary trope in any format so I was rather excited to read this sweet story! The Five Year Plan is half family drama, half rom-com mixed with a lovable main character on a journey of self-discovery. The protagonist, Demi is a planner, but when life as she knows it falls apart, Demi sees an opportunity to do something she’s always wanted to do: Travel to Italy. What enticed me about this book was its setting, Demi travels to Italy to learn about her families recipes and traditional ways of cooking Italian dishes so that she can then bring a taste of traditional Italy back to her family cafe back home in Australia, that she is set to inherit once her father retires.

There are a number of things that I really enjoyed about this one, such as the setting, the characters, and the focus on delicious Italian cuisine. The forbidden lovers trope that was present was also quite enjoyable, despite it feeling rushed. There were parts of the story that dragged on and I wanted the writer to just cut to the chase, overall it was a light, quick read with a good message that reminded me that you can make many plans and have expectations in life but sometimes the best things occur and find their way of working out when you just let life happen.

A big thank you to Brio Books/Verb Publishing and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy of this Book!

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I am happy I got to finish this one before summer’s end! It ended up being a perfect summer beach read with just enough fluff and just enough drama.

Some if it was predictable but, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I really liked Demi’s character as a whole so that was able to keep my interest during the slower beginning of the book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

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Synopsis from the back of the book:
At 33, Demi’s five-year plan is on track. She’s moved in with boyfriend, Wil, and is waiting patiently for her father to retire so she can take over the running of the family café. But when her father blindsides her by handing the café to her older brother Nick, and discovers Wil is hiding something, Demi’s five-year plan crumbles like crostoli.
🇦🇺
Determined to get her life back on track, Demi travels to Italy to learn about her Italian heritage and mend her frayed heart — hoping her father will come to his senses while she’s away. However, Demi’s Italian escape isn’t so perfect. Long-held family feuds, a love triangle from the past, and a surprising new friend in Leo, find Demi questioning everything; especially her five-year plan.
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Will Demi get her plan back on track? Or will she learn that the best plans are the ones you don’t make?
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‘A thought hit me. I’d been waiting for things to fall into place as though by magic things would materialise in front of me. I’d been happy to sit in my comfort zone rather than push the boundaries & make things happen.
🍝
Charming contemporary fiction, I happily fictionally jetted away & immersed myself in the sights & tastes of Italy. I enjoyed Demi’s journey both physically & through her determination to grow as a person & achieve her goals even though it didn’t follow her planned sequence of events. I loved the Melbourne references; Italian cafes, estate agents & the Toorak bubble screamed Melbourne to me! 😂

Thanks @netgalley @jgibson & @briobooks for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

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I absolutely loved this book! It was a 5 star read for me, mostly because it transported me to another place with travel, tantalizing descriptions of food, a love story and, of course, a little drama. I read this book in a day because I was so into the characters and what was going to happen. Some of it was predictable but, I feel like that is to be expected with a "beach read" type book. I really enjoyed the character development in this book, especially with Demi and there were enough side characters to keep the story interesting and not overly focused on her. All in all I highly enjoyed reading it and look forward to more books by Jodi!

Thank you to Brio Books / Verb Publishing and #NetGalley for the ARC of #thefiveyearplannovel!

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If Hallmark dos does not make this book into a movie, they really should take another look at the people who make decisions for them. I am quite the Hallmark fan, and I rarely ever think a book is “Hallmark worthy.” Jodie Gibson’s The Five Year Plan is one of those rare gems.

When I first started reading The Five Year Plan, I thought this was going to be predictable and boring. I was not sure I would even finish the book. It started a little slow, and I felt like there may not be much entertainment value, which I desperately needed. I could not have been more wrong!!

When Demi’s world comes crashing down around her, she does not just step out of her comfort zone to figure out what she should do next. She literally flies away from everyone and everything she has ever known. Demi leaves Australia to travel to Italy to stay with family she has never met in order to learn about her family and real Italian traditions and food.

A shattered dream, a betrayal, an unexpected encounter, a family rivalry, and a family secret that is accidentally uncovered all play a part in Demi’s (and the reader’s) whirlwind of emotions. The only real stability seems to be her best friend Anna, who Demi never imagined would turn out to be the true voice of reason when her world is in turmoil. Demi has always been the one who had everything planned out and in order. Anna, on the other hand, is much more impetuous. However, following Anna’s advice, even when her parents are against it, turns out to be the best decision Demi could make for herself.

Life got in the way of my reading The Five Year Plan. When not reading, I often found myself dreaming about the food and beautiful views only seen in Italy. Jodi Gibson gives us a fun, entertaining read that is a wonderful escape from the stress life throws our way.

Hallmark seriously needs to snatch this one up before someone else does.

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A family drama, that changes pace to a rom-com mixed with self discovery. A highly enjoyable read!

I loved the family dynamics, rivalries and loyalty displayed throughout the book.

As we grow, along with other factors our plans change. Demi comes to know this very quickly when her dream is suddenly turned upside down. She takes it upon herself to go to the place her family is from: Italy. It’s in Italy that Demi discovers rivalries, and family secrets along with the skills she plans to take back to her family’s Trattoria. Here in Italy Demi discovers love, and is willing to chance being with the enemy. Is there a way for Demi to keep this love, and her dream of running her family’s trattoria alive? Or have her dreams changed altogether?

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The Five Year Plan is a lovely, heartwarming rom-com between Demetria ’Demi’ Moretti and Leo Russo who have a meet-cute at an Austrailian airport, only to meet again in Italy. Demi is leaving her friends and family behind in Australia after realizing that her "Five Year Plan" hasn't exactly worked out for her - her boyfriend is either cheating on her or doing something very illegal, her friends are moving on without her, and her father has decided to pass on the family cafe to her brother instead of her, despite the fact that he has no interest in it while she has grand plans for its future. She decides to go to Italy to reconnect with her parents’ families and learn from them about her heritage and culture, including the food they make in their cafe. In true Italian fashion, Demi learns that her family and Leo's family are enemies and their rival cafes competition in their small town. She and Leo keep their relationship secret, but when Demi’s family finds out, she has to decide where her loyalties lie...

This is an affirming story for any thirty-something that feels trapped by their own expectations and “five year” plans, who find themselves lost in their own life. Sometimes the only way to find yourself is to get lost somewhere else. And when you do find what you want and where you belong, you have to fight for it.

Thanks to Jodi Gibson, Brio Books/Verb Publishing, and NetGalley for the advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. I especially love the descriptions of the Italian towns in Demi’s travels and the food! I wish the recipe for Moretti’s orecchiette with roasted cauliflower and walnut brown butter pesto was included in the book!!!

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Thank you Netgalley and Brio Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was meh. The author fixated on weird things. Like Demi’s suddenly clumsy around Leo, always smoothing down her curls, and shes obsessed with this photo of her mom and uncle when it’s obviously before she was born and has no baring on her current life or how things stand. She’s also kind of petty. I understand being disappointed about the restaurant being given to her brother not her, but after months in Italy, she’s still hoping for a meltdown? Like girl, you’re living your best life.

I also feel like stuff with Leo moved really quickly which I don’t love in any book. While it’s a cute story and a fun concept, it’s lacking in execution.

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