In Five Years by Rebecca Serle: A Book Review & a Look into New York City
Hey everyone! I’m finally back on the blogging wagon to tell you all about the awesome book In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. In Five Years was recommended by my equally awesome friend Christine from The Uncorked Librarian.
Thank you, Christine, this book was a page-turner! Kathy, from Tasty Itinerary would agree. 😉
Summary of In Five Years
Dannie is with the man of her dreams and she’s planning her life out perfectly. Everything is on schedule, she’s engaged to the perfect man, and her career as a lawyer is on point. She’s got it all. Her man proposes to her but then out of nowhere, she sees her life In Five Years in the arms of another man! Whaaat!? Then girl wakes back up into her present-day life wondering WTH just happened?
Is she back with the man of her dreams? What would you do if you get a flash of your life in five years and it isn’t anything how you imagine? Would you go on pretending that earth-shattering moment didn’t happen? Dannie tries her best to grapple with what happened to her and move on from it. It’s hard for her to know what’s real and what’s not.
It’s very interesting to read how she navigates her life with that knowledge and the implications of it. And of course as a lover of romance, it had me excited to turn the pages. As more gets revealed, it’s pretty cool to see how it all comes together.
I also enjoyed the humor that is sprinkled throughout In Five Years.
Dannie on running: “In the early days of our relationship I used to try to get David to come with me, but he’d want to stop after a few blocks and get bagels so I started leaving him at home.”
David sounds like my kind of guy! I want a David. Where can I find a David?
Another relationship in the story is between Dannie and Bella. They have been the best of friends since they were kids. I loved seeing how their relationship evolved throughout the story. How their friendship began as kids and how it evolves will tug at your heartstrings.
New York City
With most of the books that I read, New York City is its own character. When you’re a New Yorker, reading a book set in NYC is kind of funny. All New Yorkers talk about their dream spot in the city they’d like to live in. My dream spot is the neighborhood where I lived before, so a cute brownstone in either Boerum Hill or Cobble Hill in Brooklyn. Let’s give it a backyard, might as well. The dog would enjoy it. I’d have laundry and a dishwasher in my apartment too because why not?
Dannie’s dream spot is a place in Gramercy Park. I was like, why? It’s not that exciting in that area. I took out my subway map, looked up where her dream job is located, and thought, hmm…maybe she should live on the Upper East Side right by Central Park? But I don’t like the Upper East Side either. Then I thought, ohhh she’s gonna be rich with her big-time lawyer job and David does something fancy too. She probably won’t be taking the 6 train and walking 17 minutes to her job. She’ll probably be taking a car. And she gets a private park away from the heehaws. Have at it Dannie! If that’s the life you dream, go for it.
I seriously loved In Five Years and highly recommend it. For more info about In Five Years, check out Rebecca Serle’s author page at rebeccaserle.com.
My Blog’s Future
I wrote a post back closer to the start of this global pandemic, however, as you all know, things changed rapidly for the whole world during this situation. What I feel today won’t necessarily be what I feel tomorrow. We are all in a trial and error period. This unknown is scary. All we can do is the best we can under the given circumstances.
My new idea is to keep reading books set in New York City that you all have lovingly recommended and then write about my possible future literary dates. I’ll need you to help me decide which tour(s) to go on (when it’s safe to go on them again). Sometimes I’ll do a New York City booklist with tour ideas and sometimes, I’ll do it like this one- full book review post along with a separate post with the tour ideas. There’s so much in this book that it inspired me to let you know every possible tour outing and you all can help me decide what to do.
Think Responsibly?
I’ll also need help navigating this new world responsibly. For instance, I usually go to lots of yummy spots and treat myself. You may not know, but what I do on my tours is not my regular life. Hardly! I often have said that they feel like a vacation day, so I have that vacation feel on my tours. In my regular life, I can’t spend money to eat out every night, go to Broadway shows, etc. On these tours, I treat myself. However, now I’ll want to take into consideration the economic situation in the world. So far, working at a hospital, I have a job and hopefully will continue to have a job. I feel grateful for that.
The financial hit hospitals are taking now is another story, so I do have to think of myself financially but also others. If someone is out of work, are they going to want to read my blog post about all the yummy spots in NYC I’m going to? I don’t know. Who will my audience be in this new world?
This book has a very long list of restaurants which I’ll share with you in my next post. I could never hit them all anyway, but I’ll have to figure out the right thing to do. If you all have any thoughts on it, please let me know. Sometimes I overthink (okay, I often overthink) but maybe I’m not with this?
NYC Travel?
Another thing to think about…here I go again…but my posts in the past could serve someone who is going to visit New York. The elephant in the room is who is going to want to visit NYC anytime soon? Anyone? Probably not. A lot of you have told me that you wish you could go on the tour with me. Could I bring you along virtually? I could do an Instagram live while on my tour, but could I do that without being awkward? Ha! I don’t know.
Anybody want to FaceTime or zoom with me? Coordinating that with different time zones could make my head explode. Not to mention, when in fact, restaurants do open, could you imagine me sitting alone in a restaurant on a zoom call? That would be so ridiculous! People will be like, “Doesn’t she know she doesn’t have to zoom anymore? She must have some sort of pandemic PTSD. She can’t let go of zoom.”
So much to think about! Either way, I’m definitely looking forward to sharing more NYC books with you. And if nothing else, maybe some of you will be curious to see how I’m navigating this new NYC world. It could serve to help people figure out when it’s safe to visit again.
Books Books Books
I asked Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for NYC book ideas and you all delivered! Keep the suggestions coming!
I created a survey so you all can help me pick out my next book!
Create your own user feedback survey
As I do with all my posts, I’ll continue to share pictures of my beloved New York City. These pictures aren’t inspired by the book but it’s a moment in history. What came first with my blog, books or New York City? They’ll always be together.
#NewYorkTough
April 3rd, 2020
March 27th, 2020
You had me cracking up at the commentary about where Dannie wanted to live. You’re so funny.
I enjoyed this summary. As you know I really liked this book, and like Christine, really wanted your to read it and do a book tour. I really do hope that you get to do a book tour.
In my humble opinion, I think you should tour what you feel safe and comfortable doing. But don’t hold back from posting anything because we are living vicariously through you and we want to see where you eat and what stops you made. Even if we can’t go there ourselves. That’s the point. Plus you give people something to look forward and you get to show NY healing from another disastrous time. We are rooting for the city to recuperate. That’s my take.
And you don’t have to do zoom, but you can totally do snippets of videos telling us where you are and what part of the book it was in. Tie it together into a longer video. I can help you if you need it. Just idea.
Looking forward to this literary date. Even if you choose just one scene out of the book.
Thanks for the mention in this post! Really enjoyed the book. First fun read since the pandemic started.
Haha! It’s exactly what I did, no lie. I broke out my google map, however. So I guess I kinda lied. Subway map sounds funnier.😉
Thank you so much Kathy for your thoughts! That makes me so happy. I couldn’t have said it better. It’s so good to know that people like you want to see the city come alive again and from the viewpoint of my little blog too. I have no words for how your comment makes me feel. Thank you!❤️
I would love to get better at doing videos. I will definitely have to get your pointers. Thank you again!!
I loved this book too!! I can’t wait to read more and also share the tour ideas too for this one.
I absolutely love your posts! I am from Oklahoma, but I’ve been to NYC 4 times. I love it there and so I get to live vicariously through your posts and pics. Please keep at it as best you can.
You mentioned in your review, “And she gets a private park away from the heehaws.” Do the residents on the Upper East Side have their own private park access/entrance/spot? All I know about the Upper East Side I learned on Gossip Girl. LOL!!
Hi Myria!! I’m so glad you love my posts! You seriously made my day with your comment. Thank you. It’s so good to know that people can find enjoyment out of living vicariously through my blog. I’m going to keep that in mind more. Hopefully it’ll encourage me be more adventurous to know that there are people out there counting on some vicarious enjoyment.😉 I have to step up my game! I will definitely keep at it. Thank you.
Haha! Dannie wanted to live in Gramercy Park, which is private for the residents there. Central Park is not private and it sits in between the upper west side and the upper east side. Gramercy Park is on the east side but downtown around 20th street.
I recently rewatched Gossip Girl because I had never finished it the first time around. I totally binged it! So good! I went to the hotel where Serena lived for one of my literary dates although I don’t think I realized it was a Gossip Girl site at the time. I went for the beautiful Christmas tree at the Lotte New York Palace. It’s so pretty to see if you’re ever in the city again during Christmas time.
Thank you so much for your awesome comment! Glad you like my blog.😍
Oh I was SO HAPPY to see this new post from you! This book sound so good, I need to add it to my TBR. I love the idea of getting a peek into your life in the future, it being totally different, and then being thrust back into your normal life in the present and scrambling to figure out what happened.
I love that you’re being open about the craziness of this time. I’m so sorry that book tours aren’t a possibility at the moment, but the way you’re rolling with the punches is so great! And gorgeous photos as usual! You look hotttt in that mask 😉 😛 Oh I would LOVE to Zoom with you! Maybe a group Zoom with Skye too?? It would be so fun!
Sarah! This book was so good. I love plot lines like this. A little what the hell is going on and a little romance. Yup!
Thank you Sarah for always supporting me. I will try my best to roll with the punches. I’m excited to read more NYC books to think about all of the possibilities and I’m excited for the time when NYC starts opening up again. You’re exactly right, I have to roll with the punches and support NYC in whatever shape it’s in. I’ll be exploring the city in a whole new world. Let’s see what comes.
Aww yay! You want to zoom! That would be cool if Skye joined although she’s seen NYC and lives here. Haha! But I bet she’d be game. Dannie runs across the Brooklyn Bridge so you guys can virtually cross the bridge with me. Hopefully I don’t fall off or get run over as I talk to you both. Hmm? Maybe I should rethink that.😂 Maybe I could try to break into Gramercy Park as I talk to you guys?😉 I’ll keep thinking!
I’m so pumped to read this!! You’re so welcome, I’m a huge fan of your blog and always more than happy to cheer it on!! 😀
And OMG yess of course I want to Zoom with you! Just let me know when you’re free, it would be so fun to see your face and chat 😀
Aww you’re the sweetest! We should. We should have a girls night with Skye! And maybe others?
This book is on my list to get to soon as well! I’m so happy to hear both you and Christine really like it since I trust your book recs! It’s eerie seeing your pictures of NYC with almost no one in them. However, I think you should still continue these types of posts and encourage responsible travel and eating out and the like! Even if that means take out for now or postponing a trip until next year! Also, loved the survey!! I’ll be excited to see which book you end up reading!
It was so good and such a quick read! I tore through it. I was dying to know how it would all turn out.
I know, walking through the streets of NYC like this was so strange. The first time I did it, it was interesting to see and I snapped pics along the way. But then other times, it was so depressing. Not only because so few people on the streets but sometimes the ones who were out, were not in a great place. There are images that are too personal for me to capture. I know there are photographers who would but I’ll leave that to the pros.
Such an up & down period of emotions. These are old pictures so there’s more people out and about right now whether that’s good or bad, we shall see. I’m hopeful that it’ll be okay.🤞🏼
Thank you so much for reading and your support. Thank you for your feedback! It’s so helpful. Seems to be the consensus which makes me feel so happy! I’m glad I asked because now I can go about my tours without overthinking too much. I will definitely wait until it feels safe to do them and also possible. It will definitely be different with all the varying dynamics. We shall see! Thank you again for reading!
Happy to see you back at blogging!!! And those photos of NYC are unreal!!! I haven’t been to the city since March, so I had no idea that people are ACTUALLY staying home so much…it’s awesome! But surreal to see the City That Never Sleeps taking a bit of snooze. 😁 i hope you’ll be able to start taking some literary dates again soon! And, yes, this book is on my TBR list. My library ebook hold tells me it will be available in thee years. 😁
Hi CJ!!! Thank you so much for reading! You’re awesome.
You’re right, the city has been so surreal. These are old pictures so people are starting to get out more, whether that’s good or bad, we shall see!😬
Oh my god. 3 years!? How crazy. So popular! It was so good. I can’t wait for you to read it. I hope I’ll be on some literary dates soon too! They will be quite different that’s for sure.
I am so glad that both you and Kathy enjoyed this book rec. I get super nervous when I make book recs because as Kathy can attest, we don’t always have the same taste (although mostly we do).
Ahaha, I am all about David and the bagel idea, too. Usually when I work out, I fantasize about my next meal as I get more and more tired. If it’s a really long hike, this tends to be giant meatball grinders. And, of course, wine. Bagels with vegan cream cheese work, too, and as you know, I need to try this whitefish bagel that Dannie kept obsessing over. When I come to NYC, take me; pleaseeeeee!!
I think what was so captivating for me with In Five Years was that I hadn’t really remembered why I put the book on hold or what it was about when I got to it. LOL I was in for a huge surprise. As you know, I read the novel in 4 hours or so. I was so completely hooked on Dannie’s future–just like her–that everything blindsided me–hence the power of the book.
I really loved the ending too, and as you know, I was like HIM?!?!…. HAHA… But it actually felt satisfying. Women’s friendship novels like this are important and necessary.
I voted in your survey with the monster title that I am waiting to read too: A Starless Sea. I have heard such mixed reviews. I actually put myself back in the queue for it because I’ve also heard that it’s a long one–right now, my mind just isn’t there.
I cannot wait to see what you pick, and thank you for always promoting responsible travel.
OMG, so many books are set in Gramercy Park.
I get nervous about it too! You always have great book recommendations though so I wouldn’t be nervous if I were you.😉 I forget what kind of books Kathy likes. I think she told me before. I’m so forgetful!🤦🏻♀️
Haha! A giant meatball grinder! I get it. When you’ve worked out so hard it can lead to a giant carnivorous appetite.😅 I’d be like give me a Beyond Meatball grinder!😅 After canyoning in Switzerland, they give you a beer. Which sounds funny but I think I read once that after an intense workout, a beer is better at rehydrating than water. Don’t take my word for that. I could have read that off TMZ instead of somewhere legitimate. “Mark Wahlberg rehydrates with a beer!” If he does it?😉
I will definitely take you to that spot! I still haven’t been. I have to go soon.😋
I actually love not knowing much about the book before reading. I love being blindsided by a book so that’s what makes trigger warnings tough for me. But I know they are needed.
I just read a trigger warning for one of my favorite books that had domestic violence in the story (which completely blindsided me), it’s written on Amazon as – this book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter. That’s pretty good, right?
I love reading and watching strong female friendships too. Some of my favorite shows had that, Meredith and Christine in Greys. Alexis and Twyla in Schitt’s Creek…okay maybe not.😂
I haven’t read the reviews for A Starless Sea. Now I’m a little curious…but I’ll try not to read them.
Thank you for reading my post! Reading your comment while in the airport headed for my vacay in New Zealand was just what I needed. Jk! I’m not in an airport. I’m in my apartment keeping my Covid to myself.😅😉
Are you reading about a lot of rich people in NYC? I took my bookstagram shot in front of Gramercy Park. Since I accidentally ran into it on my commute home that one day, I figured I could go that way again for my bookstagram shot.😊
Thank you again for reading and voting and recommending awesome NYC books to me!
Wow I use a lot of emojis!😮
In Five Years sounds so interesting! I wish I had more time to read because I feel like I’d love this one…but my TBR list is soooo long. I’m cracking up at your comments about the city – everyone has their dream neighborhood for sure. For me it used to be Chelsea…or the Village but only in my dreams LOL. I feel you in the Upper East Side, though.
I think you should do your tours when you’re comfortable and how you see fit, but I get that it’s a really tough playing field right now. I love the idea of a live tour, especially for the awkward and funny but REAL moments! I never imagined that we’d actually see NYC like this. It’s unreal.
And, because it’s not fun to end on a sad note – I saw that you were talking about Gossip Girl in the other comments. So my dad worked at that hotel for 35 years. I almost got married there! I’m so obsessed with it and I literally have memories of riding around on the luggage carts and running around that grand staircase. But here’s something kind of funny. All the “official” NYC Gossip Girl Tours aren’t allowed into the hotel. There may or may not be an employee or two who have given a “tour” as a side hustle for unassuming tourists (not my dad haha)not realizing they aren’t on an actual gossip girl tour but simply being shown around a fancy hotel.
You should read it! It’s so good and such a fast read! Let me know what you think.😉
I’d love to live in the west village too! My first job in NYC was in that neighborhood and I loved walking past Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment. I also wouldn’t mind living in the east village because it’s more laid back and lots of vegetarian options there.
Thank you so much for your thoughts on my tours. It will be a whole new world. We’ll see how it goes. So really, you think I should go live? Eeek I’d be so nervous. I’d probably fall off the Brooklyn Bridge. Ha!
Hahaha!! I love your Gossip Girl tour inside info. So funny imagining how they first started with their side hustle…whispering, “Hey girls, ya wanna get a real tour?” Uhhhh sure! Didn’t their mamas teach them anything about strangers in NYC? I guess, luckily for them, it was just guys wanting to make an extra dollar!😂
This book sounds like it needs to be pitched to Hallmark, so they can make a great, cheesy, but lovely movie about it :’) Honestly, I think you should continue to go on your book tours (when the time comes, of course), and keep talking about them to us!! It’s a nice form of escapism, and I think it will be encouraging to the many people who live in or want to visit NYC. Continuing to wish you health & stability <3 xx
It should be a movie! I could definitely see that happening. I loved it. I don’t think I was able to convey in my review what makes this book special to me. Christine from The Uncorked Librarian said it well when she shared my post calling it a book with “a gorgeous message.” I couldn’t agree more! The book cover also has written on it- “This is a love story but not the love story you’re expecting.”
It’s such a good book and such a fast read. Let me know if you ever read it! Thanks for reading my post!
Ooo, this sounds like such an interesting read! I’m adding it to my to-read list!! :] If I find any books set in NYC, I’ll be sure to send em’ your way. That’s cool that your tour days are like a vacation day (they definitely sound like fun/what I do when I’m exploring new places!)!
I loved this book! I’m not sure if I did a great job with my review. Pay attention to the tag line on the book cover- it’s a love story but not the love story you’re expecting. I didn’t pay attention to that and many others didn’t either. This book was not what I was expecting, however, I still loved it.
Yes, definitely let me know if you hear of any Books set in NYC. Thank you!