Monica’s Musings: In Five Years

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

“The future is the one thing you can count on not abandoning you, kid, he’d said. The future always finds you. Stand still, and it will find you. The way the land just has to run to the sea.”

― Rebecca Serle, In Five Years

This book caught my attention when I read the summary on the inside cover. Dannie is living a life that she has tediously planned. Every minute is meticulously mapped out in her mind, leaving no room for error. However, when she wakes up from a nap and is five years in the future, she is shocked by what she sees. She is in a different apartment, with a different man, and has a different ring on her finger. When she is snapped back to her current life an hour later, she tries even harder to control things to prevent that moment from happening.

Before her journey to the future, Dannie and her boyfriend of two years, David, live together and they both are working hard to achieve their career goals. When he proposes, of course, she says yes. Everything so far is going according to their five-year plan. However, after her vision of the future on the night she says yes to David, her plan starts to crumble.

While this book focuses on Dannie’s five-year journey, there is another story line also taking place. Her childhood best friend, Bella, is the total opposite of her. Bella is a free spirit who lets the world decide her fate. They balance each other out, and they both rely on their friendship as the one thing that stays consistent in life. The author is able to capture the love between two friends, and it seems that their support for each other is the true love story in this book.

I enjoyed In Five Years, because of the fast pace at which the story evolves. It was a quick and easy read. However, I was expecting more of a grand finale to the book. About halfway through, my predictions on the ending were accurate. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a short, entertaining read.

It was focused on love, and friendship, and learning to let go of the things that cannot be controlled. When the book was over, I was left with the mindset of, “what will be, will be”, and there is no reason to spend life trying to alter the future. I would rate this story a 4.5 out of 5.

Mom and Me Reviews: If You Come to Earth

Quinn writes a letter to anyone who might visit Earth, and tells them about all the things they might see if they were to visit. Quinn tells them what earth looks like, who lives here, and how life is different for each of them.

First Line: “Dear Visitor from Outer Space, If you come to Earth, here’s what you need to know.”

Summary: Quinn writes a letter to anyone who might visit Earth, and tells them about all the things they might see if they were to visit. Quinn tells them what earth looks like, who lives here, and how life is different for each of them.

Ratings:

                Maggie:

Four Stars Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

                Conor: one point toward the planet earth

                Mama Lala:

Four Stars Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock

Their Thoughts: My children did not have much to say about this book. They read it with me, dutifully, but didn’t think much of it. Maggie “liked” it, that’s about as much as I could get out of them.

My Thoughts: The illustrations in this book are beautiful, which makes sense since Sophie Blackall is a two-time Caldecott Medalist. I also appreciate the lettering of this book. (For those unaware, lettering is the style and placement of the words and letters in a book, though not the content of the words themselves.) The idea behind the book is quite lovely, as well. A beautiful book, top to bottom. I suppose the book may be a bit too cerebral for the audience it is directed at, which is why it lost a star for me. A great idea can only go so far, if it doesn’t connect to its audience. I recommend it more toward older readers, or teachers prepared to discuss the content with their class.

Happy Reading our friends,

Mama Lala, Maggie, & Conor