A Twist on Fate and Love: My thoughts on In Five Years

Title: In Five Year

Author: Rebecca Serle

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Age rating: 13+

Genre: Contemporary, romance, friendship, Domestic fiction, Time Travel fiction

When I first picked up In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, I was expecting a straightforward romantic story with a touch of time travel or magical realism. but as I started reading, I quickly realized that this book was so much more. It wasn't just about romance or destiny: it was about friendship, loss and the unexpected turns life can take. What I thought would be a typical love story became a deeply emotional journey, and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. 

Introduction & Summary: In Five Years follows Dannie Kohan, a meticulous lawyer with her life perfectly planned. After a successful day when she lands her dream job and gets engaged, she has a vivid dream that transports her five years into the future, living a different life with a different man. When she wakes up, she dismisses it as just a dream. But four and half years later, she meets the man from her vision under unexpected circumstances, forcing her to question everything she thought she knew about love, fate, and the future. The story explores the unpredictability of life, relationships, and the power of true friendship.

The Story That Gripped Me:  What gripped me most was how this book defied my expectations. I thought it would be a story about Dannie chasing after the mysterious man from her dream, but it turned out to be so much deeper. The plot twist that brings this man into her life is both surprising and heart-wrenching, and it completely shifts the narrative from a simple romance to something far more complex and profound.

The friendship between Dannie and Bella is the true heart of the story, it's rare to see a book that centers on female friendship in such a sincere and touching way. As Dannie navigates the reality of her future, her bond with Bella becomes a source of strength, showing how love can manifest in many forms beyond romantic relationships.

Themes & Writing Style: In Five Year explores themes of love, fate, friendship, and life's unpredictability. It highlights how the future we plan isn't always the one we live in, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment and embracing changes. Rebecca Serle's writing is elegant, concise, and emotionally charged, blending simplicity with depth. Her introspective, almost poetic style beautifully conveys profound emotions, making the story deeply moving without being overly sentimental.

                                                     

Relationship & Main Trope: The core relationship is between Dannie and her best friend, Bella. Their deep, supportive friendship forms the emotional heart of the story, overshadowing the romantic elements. The book's main trope is the "what-if" scenario- seeing a glimpse of the future and confronting its impact on the present. This twist on the classic time-travel trope is used to explore deeper themes beyond romance, focusing on love, friendship, and life unpredictability.

Ambiance: The book setting is modern New York City, and Serle captures the city vibe with subtle, vivid details. The fast-paced, bustling atmosphere mirrors Dannie's own busy, controlled life, while the quiet, more intimate scenes reflect her moments of vulnerability and introspection. There's a contrast between the predictable, planned world Dannie has created for herself and the chaotic, unpredictable nature of life that unfolds around her, which adds to the overall ambiance.

Quotes:

~"You mistake love. It's not about the grand gestures. it's about simple things.  "

~"You cannot plan your life. you cannot make decisions based on possibilities and maybes "

~"Some things are too beautiful to be forgotten, too painful to be remembered "

~"We only get one life. We don't have to go around measuring it, comparing it to someone else's"

~" You mistake love. You think it has to have a future in order to matter, but it doesn't. It's the only thing that does not need to become at all. It matters only in so far as it exists. Here. Now. Love doesn't require a future."

~" I think sacrifice is in direct opposition to manifestation. if you want your dreams you should look for abundance, not scarcity."

~" You aren't wrong for loving what you do. You are lucky. Life doesn't hand everyone a passion in their profession."

~" The future is one thing you can count on not abandoning you, kid, he'd said. The future always finds you. Stand still, and it will find you. The way the land just has to run to sea."

General Thoughts: In Five Years deeply moved me, evolving from a seemingly typical romance into a profound exploration of life, love, and friendship. The unexpected plot twist reshaped my perspective on the story, and Serle masterfully blends humor, warmth, and heartache, making it feel relatable. The portrayal of female friendship was a standout, with Bella's free-spirited nature complementing Dannie's practical side. Their Genuine, heartfelt dynamic emphasized the power of friendship, which was refreshing to see.

Final Reflection: In Five Years is a touching, thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love and challenges the idea of fate. Rebecca Serle crafts a story that's both heartbreaking and uplifting, reminding us that life is full of surprises, and the path we take isn't always the one we planned. It's a beautifully written, emotional journey that lingers long after the last page.

Playlist:

The Night We Met by Lord Huron

Ribs by Lorde

Breath Me by Sia

Fix You by Coldplay

All We Do by Oh Wonder

Never Let Me Go by Florence

This Year's Love by David Gray

Yellow by Coldplay

Champagne Problem by Taylor Swift

Somebody Else by The 1975

You Are The Reason by Calum Scott

In the Star By Benson Boone

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