Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Atria Books, and Rebecca Serle for the gifted copies of In Five Years. I was lucky enough to meet Serle at an author event last summer. She is as stunning as her novel.
It is hard to put into words how much this book touched me. I went into In Five Years thinking it would be some cheesy love story, but wow, was I wrong. This is not your typical love story and is more about soul connecting love, giving up control and living in the moment. Let me preface this by saying, I rarely cry over a book, but the last few chapters of this one had me in complete ugly tears. I full on sobbed and had to do so quietly because it was late at night and my husband was sleeping next to me. All I needed was for him to wake up and comment on the fact that I was crying over a book. I was a hot mess! All I can say is make sure you have tissues nearby because you will need them.
Dannie is exactly where she predicted she would be in life, because that is how she planned it. She is meticulous and Type A to the extreme. She has her entire life mapped out and her fiancé, David, fits right into that plan. On the evening Dannie and David get engaged, something strange happens. Dannie falls asleep on the couch and wakes up exactly five years in the future. She is in a completely different apartment, wearing completely different clothes, and a completely different man is with her. Who is he and what is going on? She lives one hour, five years in the future, before waking up to the present. The mysterious man fills her thoughts for days, months, and years to come, until that premonition date nears closer. She relies heavily on her free spirited best friend, Bella, who she shares a kindred spirit with. Without giving too much of the plot away, I will say, In Five Years is not your typical love story.
Dannie and Bella's friendship hit me the hardest. They share a friendship that is deep and rare. I thought of my best friend, Sarah, as I read this book. We rely on each other more than we do our significant others. We have been attached at the hip for the past 14 years and I can't imagine a world without her. When I look back on my life, I was able to get through the hard times because I had her by my side, cheering me along the way. Sarah and I are both similar to Dannie, in the aspect of craving control of our lives. Dannie learns to give up some of the control in order to truly be present in her life, feel all the deep emotions, and connect with those around her.
In Five Years has some very heavy topics, including terminal illness and death of a loved one, but the overarching theme is simply beautiful. You can plan and plan six ways to Sunday, but are you truly living? Life is not about planning what the next day, week, month, or year will look like. It is about living each day for what it is, a blessing, and being present with all of your being. I did not realize how much I needed to hear this message. This book touched my soul and I cannot recommend it enough. For those who are fans of contemporary fiction and are not afraid of a tear jerker, you will adore these characters and connect with each of them in a different way.
Happy reading!
Mel
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