In Five Years

A Novel

By: Rebecca Serle

Narrated by: Megan Hilty

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Good Morning America, FabFitFun, and Marie Claire Book Club Pick

“In Five Years is as clever as it is moving, the rare read-in-one-sitting novel you won’t forget.” —Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists

Perfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day—a modern classic and powerful love story following an ambitious lawyer who experiences an astonishing vision that could change her life forever.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers.

She is nothing like her lifelong best friend—the wild, whimsical, believes-in-fate Bella. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content.

But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake. In Five Years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you’re expecting.

Critic reviews

"Megan Hilty delivers a stellar narration as Danny in this unforgettable story of love and friendship. The novel opens on the last day of 2019, when an engagement is on the horizon. Danny dozes off and wakes in a new apartment, with a new guy, five years in the future. Hilty adds so much to the narrative and dialogue with pauses and emphasis that listeners will feel Danny's anxiety and perplexity. Back in 2020, the story takes a sad turn, and Hilty adjusts her pacing and tone to enhance the mood. Hilty's talent especially shines again at the end, when listeners revisit the scene from five years earlier. Now, knowing the path that led to that night, Hilty delivers the same scene with reverence, clarity, and longing."

Interesting and enjoyable

This is an interesting book that ties together friendship, ambition, love, and loss. I thought the narrator did a very good job as well. The story unfolds nicely and kept my interest, and it doesn’t turn out how I thought it would, which was nice. I would definitely recommend it.

Like others say, great book but needs an advisory note

I enjoyed the book greatly. Narrator was great, as was story. But I read someone else’s review before finishing which I don’t usually do as don’t want spoilers. But, yes this is a book that is thought provoking and should definitely have one of new advisories you now see, content potentially upsetting for those who have suffered recently with depression or something.
I don’t want to give away the story. But it was not the ending I expected because it is advertised as a chick flick girly drama whereas in fact it is a story about love, loss and also grief. If I had known before reading/ listening I would not have purchased simply as the storyline hit too close to home. Especially during covid.
So reader, it’s a great book but if you have suffered a lost loved one recently I don’t know if it is the book for you.

I expected to be more moved than I was.

I had read the reviews before I listen to this book on Audible so I was a prepared for a not-so-happy ending. I didn't find it as moving as I thought it was going to be. It was sad and touching but not in the way that similar books have been. I had a hard time connecting to the main character. she felt pretty one-dimensional. Bella was a more moving character and I found myself rooting for her even though I knew what was going to happen.

Solid 3/5

Cons: I found it hard to like or even root for the main charachter, there is definetly one specific plot point I would've changed that would've totally transformed the book. There was no resolution- not a cliff hanger in a good way it just kind of dropped off.
Pros: I really liked the concept and the writing style! Most of the other characthers were very likeable and it was an easy read.

Eyeroll

It’s an Interesting premise but so cliche and trite. By chapter 4 I found myself yelling at my speaker “we get it- you live in New York!”