Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - In Five Years

Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

29 reviews

hflh's review against another edition

mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This book was fine. I liked most of the twist as a concept, but the characters felt a bit one-note and the book revolves around a trope that I have no interest in.

Big spoilers:

This is the messy platonic love story of two old friends after one gets diagnosed with cancer

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whillsjournal's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was not about what I thought it would be (the flap did not lie). I was able to predict the ending around the two-thirds mark due to the given context clues and foreshadowing, though the journey of getting there was not so obvious. This was incredibly sad, and the twist half way through made it clear the tone of this was going to be much more The Fault in Our Stars than a triumphant love story. Dannie was somewhat unlikable, as I wanted her to be happy and succeed, but she never did what she needed to in order to do that, which caused a lot of harm to others, further perpetuating the state of affairs that ultimately seem unbelievable they would last so long without change when they are observed and acknowledged by those affected. Worth a read yes, but a masterpiece it is not.

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stellahadz's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This is the first book in a while that I've finished in a single day. It's definitely a page-turner, and even though you think you know what's coming the entire time, you never quite do. The premise of the book was interesting, and the feel of the story reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reid's One True Loves (although I have to say I liked OTL a little more than In Five Years!)

It's a fun, cute romance novel, and I loved reading about Dannie and Bella's friendship. However, the "magic" of the book started to fade for me about halfway through, and the second half of the book felt rushed, which was a shame because it dealt with topics that could have been beautifully and profoundly explored. The ending did redeem the book just a bit, specifically the final line: "So be it, so let it be." Overall it's great as a quick, fun read, but if you're looking for something on the same level of depth as One Day or About Time, which deal with similar themes, you might be disappointed.

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yesdnil's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The flashback to the future in the opening chapters immediately drew me in. I needed to know how Dannie ended up in an apartment with a different man and I read In Five Years in two days to find out. However, while the "twist" was a bit surprising, it was unsatisfying. Ultimately, the book is not a romance and instead about the profound love that can exist in friendships (which sometimes outlasts romantic/familial relationships). I did enjoy New York City/Brooklyn as secondary characters and reading about spots I recognize.

- I hate that Dannie and Aaron kissed while Bella was still alive. Grief does not forgive infidelity. Dannie also accepts the apartment as a gift, anyway. It almost invalidates their entire friendship.
- Suggesting that Dannie dates Bella's oncologist next is absolutely ridiculous.

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lizziaha's review against another edition

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2.5

The heart of this book is just so different from what the book actually is. It’s about Dannie finding the great lives of her life—and I’m not talking about either of the men that feature in this story. I honestly think that the book would’ve been better without either of them being in it. It’s about growing older and growing up. It’s about love, and the unexpected places we find it. It’s about passion. And the completely whack premise of one hour of time travel ruins all of that. I spent the first half of the book waiting for something bad to happen, and the second half getting angrier and angrier at the idea that the author was really going to follow through with the whole crazy thing. It’s not just implausible—it’s laughable. There wasn’t enough work done to set up the ending. And speaking of bad writing, this book is the epitome of telling not showing. I found it hard to engage with that kind of writing. This idea had a lot of potential, but I think it was just not executed very well. I actually feel a little angry about it because it could’ve been a book that I absolutely loved.

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aisle4b's review against another edition

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sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I was intrigued with the beginning of the book, but didn't enjoy where it went. I had a hard time relating to Dannie and other characters, and for all of the talk of love and friendship it feels like we don't actually see these things. The ending didn't sit well with me and also left me wondering what the point of the story was -

random time travel

that's never explained and there's nothing Dannie can do to change it?

It's totally okay to hook up with your best friend's fiance as soon as she dies because that's apparently how they both express their grief? Oh but don't worry about the one night stand, Dannie maybe actually gets together with the oncologist that was treating her best friend. What the actual hell.

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meglau384's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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butilikeit's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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expecto_padronum's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This was not at all what I was expecting, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I was shook that the protagonist was so toxic - Rory Gilmore level of terrible friend and girlfriend - and the constant cringiness of her choices knocked the rating down a little for me. I wonder if the author intended for readers to dislike Danielle as much as I did. That being said, I was hooked and I devoured this book in 2 days so points for that + the unique premise. I’ll go on a rant with spoilers but at the end of the day, this book is a reminder that characters don’t need to be likeable for a story to be interesting and thought provoking.

your best friend is literally DYING and she gifts you a whole apartment, personally decorated, and you repay her by…. Kissing her fiancé?!?!? Wtf!!! And when her best friend was diagnosed with cancer she called her weak and said she couldn’t handle it!! I repeat: wtf!!!! I was cheering for David when he finally broke up with her AND kicked her out of the apartment. Should’ve done it 3 years earlier but better late than never Dave. Her re-proposing to you and then only wanting you to finish her off instead of having a mutual intimate moment was a big fat red flag (waving proudly among many other giant red flags from this woman). And I know Rebecca Serle didn’t invent the concept of the best friend + boyfriend hooking up after the funeral, but good lord I hate that trope. So uncomfy. Lastly, I found some of the details in the premonition scene to be a bit of a stretch to make us think she and Aaron were together. I personally probably wouldn’t wear my best friend’s engagement ring after she died. I also find it hard to believe that Aaron left sweatpants at her apartment from when he was working on it… in a drawer… after she’s been living there for weeks…. Oh well.

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sarahmae531's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Nothing says I love my best friend like

sleeping with her fiancé a week after she dies of cancer.

I literally have nothing else to say on the matter. 💀

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