Review: In Five Years
To say I was not expecting this book to be as great as it was would be an understatement. I thought I was in for a classic twist of fate romance, and it was, but it also wasn’t! I’m not going to say much more about the plot because I don’t want to spoil this for anyone who hasn’t read it. I will provide a brief synopsis, though…
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle follows New York Lawyer Dannie Kohan as she seemingly gets everything she wants and has worked hard for. A strange dream with a strange man that takes place five years in the future rattles her as it felt so real, but she goes on with her life until she meets the man from her dream five years later.
This story has so many twists and turns; it might give you whiplash. I marvel at Serle’s ability to tell a story so heartbreaking and yet so uplifting. Bittersweet would be the word I would use to describe In Five Years. Like a sad song with breathtaking lyrics, you can’t help but listen to over and over again, even though it makes you cry.
Dannie has many qualities I think many of us can relate to, and her journey poses a question many ask: I’ve come so far down this one path; is it okay to wonder if I’ve taken a wrong turn?
Her story explores her ambition and drive, the powerful bond of friendship, and how it can sometimes be the strongest love we’re lucky enough to have. Plus, the concept of a soulmate, do they exist, and has Dannie found hers?
I cannot and will not talk about this book without mentioning two very important characters: the first is Bella, Dannie’s best friend. If Dannie was the steady beat of this book, Bella was the guitar licks and slides. The splash of colour disrupting a rather well-stencilled world. The second is, of course, New York City itself. Any book set in NYC needs to understand it’s a character, too, and it deserves to be described like one. Serle did a great job of breathing life into the setting and exploring the city like the characters, knowing it inside and out.
It’s rare for me to find books I’d read again these days. Even books I’ve loved aren’t necessarily repeat reads for me, but I would absolutely reread In Five Years. I feel like there’d be more to see and explore, which is very rare in a book!
Rating: ***** (5/5)
