In Five Years: A Novel by Rebecca Serle published in 2020
Rebecca Serle's In Five Years: A Novel is a medical drama which meets a story of friendship, heartbreak, and ultimately love.
To start, I want to say that while my love for journalism has given me a longing for "real-life" and therefore thwarted my taste in novels rooted in fiction, love and lust--I am moving into a space where I've become increasing curious in reading and writing fiction.
With that being said this novel shows us planners and daydreamers how drastically life can change, in a matter of five years. Dannie Cohan is our main character, who ponders, after an important interview, what will life be like in 5 years? That night after going to bed she awakes in a new bed, a new apartment, and next to a new man that isn't hers. Realizing that this isn't the reality she's used to she nearly has a panic attack when realizing that she's now five years in the future.
Attempting to act as if she belongs, Dannie pretends to understand her surroundings and get as much information out of this mystery man without seeming insane.
Dannie's character flaws
I love the science fiction element mixed in with the reality that we all think about--what will my future look like in five years? I didn't, however, find the character of Dannie believable. Dannie is a go-getter, an attorney with big dreams, in none other than New York City of course. This character dynamic is a bit of a cliché, and beyond that the character didn't have much emotional depth beyond the frustrations of her and her fiancé. While the subtle romantic undertones may keep you reading, it's the underlying story of friendship that Dannie and supporting character Bella have that encompasses the overarching theme.
Is this the right book for you?
If you love New York, and you're interested in stories of time-travel, or alternate realities, and stories of friendship and heartbreak, then this might be worth the read. If you are looking for characters that really sing to your spirit and make your heart melt, break, and mend itself, I'm not sure if this is the story for you. Dannie's internal conflict is quite shallow, and her attempts at remedying this internal struggle by changing her habits throughout the story seem predictable and expected. The external struggles of her best friend being sick towards the middle of the story add a sense of urgency and sadness but I had trouble connecting with these characters to begin with.. so it seemed lackluster when the climax happened.
The final score
This book was a quick read, and for that I would say why not? But don't hold your breath for a jaw-dropping ending. Overall rating: 6/10.
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