In Five Years: A GMA Book Club Pick (a Novel)

I absolutely loved this book. It is such a lovely story. Kept me engaged and I couldn't put it down. Just a wonderful book that is an easy read and a soul touching story. LOVED it!!!

My first read by this author was not disappointing. However, the early plot twist got me hooked, and I finished it the same day. Something I did not expect to do. The reviews were compelling and surprisingly accurate, although the reading journey came with many plot twists and unexpected results. The unique story and beginning sets the stage for this lively first-person storytelling that begins in a world of well-planned certainly of a young, successful woman, Dannie, an attorney, and dedicated New Yorker, having her own way. Then things change, or truly she changes. This story is about discovering who she really is, against all her better judgment, guided by a childhood friend, Bella, whose artistic and bohemian lifestyle often seems at odds with Dannie's buttoned-up and logical approach to life. This introspective narrative engages the reader in a personal quest for meaning amid all the false rewards of professional success. The author's canny storyline exposes the lies we tell ourselves about life, while never really living. This is a compelling read, even for the non-New Yorker, of what true friendship is and endures, while waiting for the elusive "love" that never seems to come. Although the book did not end the way I wanted, it was still an enjoyable read and satisfying finish. The Audible narration added dramatic pacing and emphasis that enlivened the depth of the story and plot. The Kindle version also included supplemental book club questions and notes, along with some additional Q&A comments by the author. Although I found the book interesting and extremely well written, I wished the author had developed the ending and the final resolution more completely.

So beautiful, so sad. I’m heartbroken, but glad I read this book. It was such an honor to be immersed in a story that will stay with me for a long while. It was very difficult to read the last paragraph and know that I would no longer have these beautiful characters in my life anymore.

Sometimes we forget the greatest love we will ever know is that of our friends. This story explores love in all its forms, as well as grief, and making sure you are living life to the fullest. This was an easy and quick read yet so raw at times. I loved it for a change from suspense and action.

Accountant Dannie Kohan has the perfectly planned controlled outlook on life that only the young can afford. She has everything planned out, especially the next five years. On the night of her by the book marriage proposal she falls asleep only to wake up in the future lying in another man’s bed with a wedding ring on. Shook by the vision, she forgets about it until she runs into the man four years later. I really like Dannie, our number loving main character. She is an authentic and clever protagonist for this brilliantly crafted story. Fantastical but believable, I was hooked immediately! Dannie believes one must sacrifice to achieve their dreams. Refreshingly, her best friend Bella is the opposite of Dannie’s non carefree existence. Bella is spontaneous, fluid, carefree, artsy, wide open. Serle beautifully and descriptively captures big emotions – “I feel as if all the air on the sidewalk has been sucked back into the sky. We’re going to suffocate out here.” And this book is full of big emotions. Heartbreaking and physically moving, this book wrecked me. I had to put sunglasses on to hide my tears. In Five Years is NYC in a book. There are such vivid descriptions of NYC; especially all the super fun restaurants and their delicious entrees. I can’t wait to recreate some of the dishes mentioned! I wished that there had been more development for supporting characters. I felt attached to Dannie and no one else in a very egotistical way. Thanks to Libro.fm for my ALC. I give my honest review in return.

The book wasn't what I expected, but in a good way. The story keeps you locked in, reading more than expected. Beautiful story telling of different loves we all have in our lives, their gravity of how the love shapes us; the unexpected paths we take and loss so deep we'll never see our way to happiness and healing yet somehow the human soul does. Beautiful read.

I devoured this book in one day, and I’m very glad I didn’t read reviews first. Go in blind if you can—the jacket gives just enough and nothing more. At first, it feels like a story about control. Dannie—who has planned every detail of her life—has everything working exactly as intended. Until one night she falls asleep and spends an hour five years in the future. It doesn’t feel like a dream. It feels like inhabiting a premonition—something real, physical, and undeniable. When she wakes up, everything shifts. The story moves from careful planning to knowing—and not being able to change what’s coming. It’s not the story you think it will be. But it is a very good love story. What I appreciated most is how it explores what love actually asks of us, without dressing it up or making it easy. It’s a quick read, but it lingers. And somehow, I’m not even mad at the author for taking me on an unexpected journey.

Dannie has had her life planned out since she was a little girl. Get into the good school, find the right job, meet the guy, find the perfect job, get engaged, get married, buy the house, and maybe one day, have the kid. So far, everything is going according to her plan. She has made it to the "get engaged" moment and it is perfect. She has the man of her dreams and everything is on track to meet all of her goals. But the night of her engagement, something makes her swerve off course. She dreams a very vivid and real dream that it is 5 years in the future and she is in a different apartment and has a different ring on her finger, and there is a different man in her life. She wakes up suddenly and tries to forget. 4 and a half years go by and Dannie still hasn't set a wedding date...life keeps getting in the way. One night she and her fiance meet her best friend, Bella, for dinner on a double date only to find that her best friend's date is the man she dreamed about. All Dannie can think about why he is in her life and more importantly, how she can change the future. Along the way, Dannie has to learn many hard lessons, including accepting the unexpected. Told from Dannie's perspective, this fast paced and heart breaking novel, examines love and one's chosen family. The author uses "the dream" to frame the entire story and I loved the feel and rhythm of this book. It feels suspenseful knowing Dannie is on somewhat of a countdown. This isn't a romance book (believe me, not my thing) but it is a love story. It is a rather short novel, which made it a fast read, but I found myself wanting more. I would have liked to have seen a little more plot development before the story's major twist occurred. But overall, I really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone wanting a heartfelt, yet not sappy, summer read.

This is the first book that I've read by this author and it was absolutely fantastic, you literally could not take your eyes from the pages, it has you complete;y hooked right from the first page and doesn't let you go until you have finished the whole book. This story line is awesome and you will be desperate to see how everything plays out until the end its not what you expect at all, it's awesome. Where do you see yourself in five years ? This is the question a lot of us ask ourselves at some point or another throughout our lives. Dannie has everything or so it seems, she has a high flying career and is about to have a massive important interview of her life that she aces. Her boyfriend has just proposed and after having a few glasses of champagne to celebrate she falls asleep thinking that she is way up on her five year plan. That is until: BOOM! When she wakes up she is some where totally different, different home, different husband and ring and a completely different life, when she realises after looking at the TV five whole years have passed. She decides to ignore what ever it was that happened, a dream a premonition whatever it was she decides to ignore it. The question is will fate let her ignore it or did it happen for a reason? ( NO SPOILERS) As soon as I started reading this book I was very intrigued and I was desperate to see what was going to happen I couldn't take my eyes of the pages. The characters in this book were written so good and the friendship between Dannie and Bella is so beautiful to see and also so heartbreaking. These two are like sisters and go through so much together that your emotions will be on a roller coaster ride, you will really need the tissues when reading this book because some moments are totally heartbreaking. This book is a very powerful read and the love story between the pages that is blossoming is beautiful to see. I really enjoyed seeing how this story was going to play out, this book is a complete page turner and I couldn't put it down, I was hooked from page one and I will highly recommend this book to everyone because it is one of the best five star reads that Ive ever read and its a book you have to read. I'm glad that ive found another fantastic author to read. I will definitely look forward to more of this author's work in the future. This book is out now.

This story is incredible. It has the effect of contemplating your life choices. Are you a good person? Have you truly loved and been loved? Or have you settled for good enough? I highly recommend this novel. It’s also a quick read. I plowed through it in 2 days.

Hella bad story. Cheating on your dying bestfriend involved. Won’t recommend. But good books seller.

Eu não estava preparada pra profundidade dessa história. Acho que vou chorar até ano que vem ! Uma bela leitura, com um texto maravilhoso, que faz emocionar e refletir!

The ending is completely unexpected ! The story in itself is a beautiful and in my opinion a genuine life lesson.