A review by avu_writes
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

2.0

it’s a beautiful book about friendship, [platonic] love, and grief… but I’m disappointed because that isn’t what the synopsis promised. maybe 10 chapters out of the 42 total were about Dannie’s dream with her mysterious future lover, but that’s about it. 

warning: spoilers & ranting —

half of the book could’ve easily been fast-forwarded (and there’s already a 4 year time skip, mind you) & it’s not because there were unnecessary scenes but because a lot of scenes felt dragged on. then, the other half of the book was about a completely unexpected subplot… which ended up being the main plot. & finally, the conclusion to Dannie’s dream felt unsatisfactory and anti-climactic. the synopsis set up a promising premise of love & drama, but I ended up reading 42 chapters just for them to have sex because they’re both grieving Dannie’s best friend? which by the way, seems kinda messed up, especially after Aaron did his best to prove he really loved Bella. there was just no chemistry between the Aaron & Dannie (I understand it’s cleared up with the plot twist of not sharing love but grief, but come on?) & at some points, Dannie felt so strongly towards her best friend, I was half-expecting a plot twist where they run off to the sunset together. which wouldn’t seem so bad considering Dannie talked more lovingly about her best friend than the man who was supposed to be the main love interest (or at least, that’s what the synopsis promised! *sigh*)

perhaps it’s also the character voice that bored me. reading about how a 33-year-old woman viewed life just isn’t interesting to a 16-year-old girl. a lot of words felt like filler & she elaborated on her feelings in a way that seemed unnatural for how stoic (and quite frankly, bland) she acted on the outside. but in the end, the way the book handled the topic of friendship & grief was lovely. I just wish the synopsis prepared you for that being the main plot point & Dannie’s romance life as secondary (or nearly non-existent).
 
~ ★★☆☆☆

soundtrack: 
♬ harry styles - ever since new york 
 
“must this hurt you, 
just before you go? 
understand I'm talking to the walls, 
I've been praying ever since New York.” ♡